A Crying Shame
Tawny
V'tor had walked Nerys back to her quarters after dinner. It had been
one quiet discussion after another...all either lighthearted small
talk, or politics. But still there had been that undertone of...was
it longing?...in her voice. For something more personal. It even
seemed, when he'd walked her back, she'd wanted him to stay. He'd
excused himself with the least amount of urgency, sitting the need to
make sure the girl that had cornered him earlier would know her
place. For Nerys' peace of mind, of course.
However, his goal was not to put away Kora...quite the contrary. He'd
keep her as long as she'd have him. And he hoped he'd have the chance
to speak to her again tonight. His quarry, in fact, was Faelon. The
girl had quite made a fool of herself in the kitchens, and he was
quite determined to get to the bottom of the matter.
He strode purposefully back through the Dining Hall, boot heels making
quite a racket on the stone floors. He could hear the murmurs and
hasty skitterings of some of the staff in the room, already clearing
away dinner dishes. He dared not look at them, for the possibility of
catching Kora's eye...and the charade they played in public would be
broken then. Stopping abruptly, he caught one of the younger girls by
the arm in a viselike grip. "Faelon, girl. Where is Faelon?"
"She's gone to bed," One of the old aunties said as she straightened
from where she sat her gaze lifting to meet the Weyrleader's. He had
always been such a nasty boy up to no good when he was younger. Now he
was a nasty man picking on poor girls as always "You should leave her
be, she's had a long day."
That woman had hated him from the time he was a child. Clenching his
jaw, and holding back the urge to throttle both the stupefied girl
whose arm he'd latched onto, and the old woman, he forced a smile,
releasing the ....what was she? Twelve? ...Twelve year old's arm.
"Thank you, Auntie Tess," he said snidely, and stalked off toward the
cot rooms where the kitchen women lived.
He'd known this room well for a while....both Faelon and Kora had
lived here before Kora had been promoted to an Assistant. A small
smile quirked his lips, which faded just as quickly as he rounded the
corner into the cotroom, pushing the door wide. The room was dark.
Batty old woman. "Faelon, stop hiding. I wish to speak with you."
A small sniffle escaped the girl as she had laid in her cot willing
herself to go to sleep. She had managed to keep a straight face during
dinner, taking time to escape the hall and collect the Weyrwoman's
laundry for her care in the morning, before she laid down a few
minutes ago trying everything in her might to drift asleep. However,
the days events played across her mind tears continuing to trickle
down her face as she thought about her last failed impression attempt
last week and now the man she thought who liked her seeing the
Headwoman assistant once more. That was when the door's opening broke
her trance his voice echoing in the room sounding gruffer than she had
imagined it. Slowly she pulled herself from her blankets crossing her
arms across her chest as the thin slip clung to every curve of her
slim figure.
"V'tor?" She said her voice soft as she attempted to hold back further
tears.
He leaned against the doorjamb quite casually, and looked in on the
room. At least she could have the decency to open a glow basket.
"Who else would it be?" he asked quite acidly.
"I came because I had a few questions for you. You made quite a fool
of yourself in the kitchens today. Might I ask why?" his tone had
gone quite flat.
She allowed the darkness to shield her against his eyes trying to will
the tears to finally stop falling down her cheeks. "I had cut myself,"
she quickly lied, "while I was cutting the dough, I..I went to see the
healer." Which she had hurt herself tonight, but it wasn't a direct
result of dough cutting, but he wouldn't know that would he?
Interesting. Taking one measured step into the darkness, he allowed
his eyes to adjust to the darkness Faelon preferred to cloak herself
in. "I kno, as well as you, that you do not relish pain. How, then,
did no one hear you cry out? You would have. We both well know it."
He took another stalking step in her direction. "How about, we begin
again, and you tell me why you left so suddenly...."
Tears began to flow down her cheeks more freely as V'tor entered the
room, Faelon working hard to choke back a strangled sob. "I'm sorry,"
she murmured her hands moving to wipe the tears from her face. He had
been so kind to comfort her after the hatching after she left again
alone. "I...was jealous." She finally whispered her eyes pinned on the
outline of his figure. "I couldn't help it,"
That got him smiling, his feet bringing him closer still to her
bedside. "Jealous?" He let out a soft sigh, "Faelon, you have been
jealous of everyone...."
"Your flaw is, the women you are the most jealous of have either known
me all of my life or I have known them all of theirs." He leaned up
against one of the bedsteads next to hers. Just watched her, now that
his eyes had adjusted to he light. Waited for her to speak.
"I'm sorry," she whispered again wanting to hide forever. She still
hadn't become use to the weyr's since of right and wrong, shouldn't a
man be faithful to his chosen? Versus V'tor's trend of weekly picking
a new favorite, a new face to fill his bed if he couldn't have what he
wanted. He had sought her out more than the other girls and perhaps
she thought that somewhere inside he truly cared about her. "I'm
sorry," she whispered again fighting the urge to dissolve into a heap
of ragged sobs. She had been warned by the Aunties of the men's
tendencies and still she fooled herself into think she might find
someone that would love her how she wanted. "I'm sorry"
He made a sound halfway between exasperation and disgust. "Don't
apologize. Do you not realize, that no one is completely happy in
life? It is our trial. My duty prevents mine, though in her own way,
I love Nerys as much as any woman I've loved my entire life. Nothing
is fair, Faelon." He looked down at her, "Maybe a man...with a
more...traditional, I think you call it? Yes, a more traditionally
minded man to bed would suit you better than I."
He shifted his weight slightly, "For Faranth's sake, stop
blubbering."
"You must love her as much as you love Kora," The words fell out of
Faelon's mouth before she had even realized what she said, her throat
instantly constricting in fear. She doubted anyone could love Nerys in
any shape or form, even her own children spoke ill of her.
Half a threatening step, hand raised, and he stopped himself. It was
a reaction so practiced that it was reflex now. Trying to defend a
woman he was scarcely allowed. "Never speak her name in my presence."
Dropping his hand, he relaxed, striding up to her until he was a hands-
length away from Faelon. His eyes wandered over her form, then around
the room, his eyes settling on a cot only a few away from hers. He
shook his head. "This room holds many memories, hmm?"
"A few," She murmured resisting the urge to back up further, her teeth
settling upon her tongue to make sure no wrong word slipped. He would
have no regrets striking her now after his warning. She knew his
attention focused on the cot that Kora has spent a good deal of time
in before her promotion. She wish she could just ask him to leave.
He chuckled, a wicked tilt taking his voice. "Only a few?" he
mocked. He backed away a step, noticing she was fighting an instinct
to back away from him.
A flush immediately lit her face as she sank to her cot drawing a
quiet breath. "I won't say anything again, I promise. I'm sorry," She
murmured wishing she could will him out of the room. "I will keep
Nerys happy so she won't ever question anything again... I've already
begun on her laundry. I'm sorry..." She resisted reaching out to him
giving him any ideas.
Fair enough, he supposed. Sinking to a sitting position, he found
himself sitting across from her. "Will you, please, stop saying
that?" Annoying habit....
He peered at her curiously. "You must know. I was the most surprised
to see Yedrath win this flight. Nerys is an enigmatic woman. She
surprises me at every turn. She is also a very jealous woman. And
she has never quite...well, it's never been easy to be who I am. You
must know that."
"Of course," She murmured her gaze pausing on his features, "She was
the same way with H'zar, if it makes you feel better. Just favor her
and bring her presents and she'll be kind."Faelon would know of the
gifts as she made a fair few herself for the Weyrleader. "She likes
embroidery, she does most of her own clothing herself," Faelon had
washed more of the Weyrwoman's clothing to know this by now. "And
wine, and sweets," she added resisting the urge to hunch down.
He stood once more, looking down at Faelon's face. "You are a
remarkable woman. I..." he smirked. "I'd better get going. I have
many things to attend to."
"I won't keep you," she said as she stared at his face. Such a heated
conversation dissolved into such softness, the softness she enjoyed so
thoroughly, and yet he expected her not be jealous of his conquests. A
single tear ran down her cheek at that moment. Yet another cruel trick
that this weyr constantly played upon her. Time and time again she
wanted to return home, but she had no way to get there. She didn't
care any longer.
A small smile touched his lips, before formally bowing to Faelon, and
turning on his heel. He reckoned the hall would be near cleared by
now. The corridors opened up onto the main Hall and his eyes searched
around for the blond head he knew.
Shai
from her hiding place under the blankets. The indistinct shape came
to rest almost soundlessly, the soft whisper of fabric swishing to
stillness as she hovered near the foot of Faelon's bed. She wore a
similar shift to Faelon's, though it had little curvature to cling to.
"He's a horrible man, you know," the girl said, voice wavering for
reasons far removed from the other's. She was incensed beyond reason,
or reason enough to keep her mouth shut and go back to sleep. One
part of her mind told her how futile it was to reason with Faelon
about this subject, but another downright screamed its need to try to
communicate the truth. "He will never really care about you, no
matter how many times he visits your bed."
She paused, fidgeting and fighting with her words. "And... I don't
care who he is! He would change his tone as soon as likes of a lower
caverns person were to impress a dragon." Her lips pressed tightly,
still fighting with herself not to yell. To proclaim to everyone how
despicable the Weyrleader was. Perhaps he had used a gentler tone
with Faelon later on in their conversation, but Aivee had seen the
raised hand as she peeked out from the covers, the deadly clicking of
his approaching heels ringing through the expansive room... "How many
wherry teeth have to spew from his mouth before you realize it's all
lies?"
"I know you don't want to hear this, but that's how I see it. You
should know he only cares enough to save face. He doesn't want you to
'get in his way' later on." As she glared at Faelon, she blurted with
a stamp of her small foot, "And you know where I come from, so you
can't say I don't get it!" Nevermind that she had little faith in
anyone, including - no, especially - men. But this was someone she
felt deserved so much more in life. And she came to realize something;
maybe she really did care for Faelon after all, as a friend and not
just the injustice of her plight.
She wondered briefly at V'tor's rashness for stalking in here like
this, broadcasting to everyone in earshot what went on between himself
and Faelon. As well as between himself and Kora. If they hadn't
known already, they did now! What if... what if someone were to
whisper about those two to the Weyrwoman? Wasn't Kora Nerys'
daughter? Oh, but he would suffer for that, and she liked that
notion... But would it hurt Faelon somehow? Would V'tor take it out
on her? She debated... torn between her wrath against life's
injustices and Faelon's safety.
Tawny
pinned on the shadows upon the stone floor that seemed to dance before her
bleary eyes. Sinking her teeth into her lower lip to keep herself from
letting out another ragged sob she tried to resolve herself on the spot to
never trust another man as long as she lived. Clenching her fists upon her
legs she heard a soft voice speak from the darkness that brought Faelon to
realize that she was not the only one to bear witness to V'tor's tantrum.
Embarrassment, frustration, and fear rose in Faelon immediately. She had an
urge to grab what was hers and flee the weyr immediately too to live here
any longer. That was until she realized the person who spoke was Aivee, her
words soft and filled with hatred that Faelon couldn't even muster for
herself.
~"He's a horrible man, you know," "He will never really care about you, no
matter how many times he visits your bed."~
Unlike Aivee she knew her parents she had a home to return to a life she
could just pick up again, the only thing was finding someone anyone that
would take her back to the main land. She hadn't found anyone she trusted
nor could she pay for a way home. "I know," she said finally taking a deep
breath trying to steady herself. "Thank you Aivee," Faelon murmured her
hands moving to wipe the tears free from her cheeks. "I can't sleep," she
murmured staring at the girl's outline in the dark.
"Do you want to sneak into the stores?" she asked meekly. There were a few
stashes of sweets left that very few people knew about and she had a sudden
urge to eat half it alone.
(Tag Aivee!)
Shai
Aivee was pleasantly surprised when Faelon did neither. Though she
seemed in fact ready to bolt or perhaps collapse into more sobs, what
she did was thank her. Immediately the girl smiled, so unused to
praise. That was why Faelon was different from most people she knew
around here. Maybe V'tor found fault in her ideals and the concepts
of loyalty and honor, but Aivee had always wanted to know people like
this.
At her question Aivee smiled, biting her lip, and quickly looked
around for something warm to wrap up in. She offered something out to
Faelon as she rounded the cot. It might have been a shawl. "Yeah,
let's go."
( tag! )
Tawny
as she slipped her feet into her soft bed shoes. "It's in the back of
cavern," Faelon said as she felt her way toward the door and the glow
baskets that lined the wall. Gathering one she carefully drew the shield
back and looked back to Aivee. They both would be exhausted in the morning;
however, she just didn't care anymore. She was tired of being good and doing
what she was told and expected to do. Putting her finger to her lips she
forced a wane smile as she led the girl into the hallway. She could still
hear Auntie Tess yelling in the dining cavern from her rocking chair most
unpleasantly annoyed at someone. Probably one of the young weyrlings given
clean up duty by the Weyrling Master as clean up.
Slipping down the hallway her dark hair bouncing behind her as she went
Faelon moved immediately toward the storage caverns. When well out of ear
shot did she slow down. Auntie Tess had been in such a bad mood as of late,
she didn't dare seek the old woman's wraith. Perhaps her anger stemmed from
sleeping in her rocking chair all night as no one bothered to help the old
woman to bed. She quickly found herself carrying the old woman first thing
in the morning before she was able to attend to her baking for the day.
"This way," Faelon whispered to Aivee the smile she had forced relaxing into
a more natural smile as they got further and further away from the sleeping
chambers. Stopping a little ways a way she dragged a spare key out of a
hiding spot to unlike the great door the monstrous cavern. They key was left
in the same spot for those who had permission of the headwoman to enter the
storage cavern without her presence. "I think Nerys requested this last time
and forgot that we even had it," Faelon said as she unlocked and dragged the
large door open to the Storage Cavern. "If anyone asks I forgot to put away
something properly, and I didn't want to come down here alone" Faelon said
as she stepped inside the dark room her arm dangling the glow basket ahead
of her. There were shelves everywhere full of goods more than most people
would know what to do with. Pulling the shield of the glow basket wide open
Faelon dangled the basket near each of the shelves as they walked peaking at
the contents as she went.
She never paid much attention to anything in this cave until suddenly.
Perhaps it was the feeling of bitter jealousy that V'tor had stirred in her,
as she knew she would never escape her position. As they passed a shelf of
bolted cloth Faelon stopped her eyes focusing on the fabric for a brief
moment before forcing her to continue on. They had come down here for one
thing and one thing alone, sweets!
(tag Aivee)
-----Original Message-----
From: is...@googlegroups.com [mailto:is...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of
Shai
Sent: Saturday, August 11, 2007 6:35 PM
To: Ista7
Subject: [Ista Weyr] Re: A Crying Shame
Shai
was, though she had not actually been inside. Wrapping her blanket
around herself and clasping it with one thin hand, Aivee scurried back
to her cot and slipped her work boots on over bare feet. They clumped
mutely as she followed Faelon to the entrance of the sleeping cavern
and took up a glow basket of her own. Just in case.
Little worry wandered through the girl's mind about her level of
exhaustion the next day for she knew she could probably nap in some
dark corner without being noticed. Had she been someone important
like Faelon, she may be missed. And unlike her friend she had little
care about being 'nice' or 'good.' Few people were ever nice to her,
why should she be nice first? Just so they could walk all over her,
like they did Faelon?
Keeping her sentiments to herself, Aivee slipped along the corridors
behind Faelon with surprising quiet. She noticed Faelon relaxed in
her movements as they neared the store room and was glad she had
spoken up after the Weyrleader's retreat. She watched for the key's
hiding place with sharp eyes; she watched everything keenly now,
taking every detail in.
As Faelon entered the cavern, Aivee crept in cautiously. Not because
she expected someone to jump out at them, but to take note of
everything. The shelves were well-stocked, though they betrayed the
fact that it was tithing time yet again. Only one who is used to
handling vast quantities of food would know. So what could they leave
with that would not be noticed? Sweets? Aivee thought, with her
youthful logic, that those would be the first things to go...
Finally she spoke up in a voice that was hushed from the sheer size
and empty quality of the room. "Um... what was it you wante from in
here?" she asked, feeling a little awed.
(tag!)
Tawny
awed.~
"Over here!" Faelon called softly as she began to shift a few things upon
the deep shelf. Taking as second to reach to the far back she dragged a clay
pot forward. Grinning in delight she pulled it to the front of the shelf
pulling the lid off and immediately sticking her hand in to grab several
sweet sticks. "Maybe these?" she said as she extended her hand toward the
smaller girl a large grin planted on her face. She knew how long they had
been back in this part of the storage and yet no one had ever sought this
container.
"They won't miss them, and even if they did I really don't care at the
moment," Faelon said taking one of the sticks and immediately sucking up in
a true smile crossing her face. Not that Nerys needed any sweets herself as
nothing could over that old woman's bitter taste.
"Wonder what else is in here?" Faelon asked as a side note her gaze drifting
toward the shelves above her. She was half tempted to go through the stores
of clothing they were very rarely allotted anything from.
(Tags to Aivee)
-----Original Message-----
From: is...@googlegroups.com [mailto:is...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of
Shai
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 9:38 PM
To: Ista7
Subject: [Ista Weyr] Re: A Crying Shame
Shai
squeal of glee and as Faelon brought out the sweet sticks. When she
finally trusted herself, she removed her hand and took what was
offered. "I love these! I haven't had one in... since I was very
small," she finished with subdued tones. Staring at the candy, she
finally looked back at Faelon. "Are you sure? You're probably the
one that would get in trouble..." But the sweet stick was already in
Faelon's mouth, so the girl shrugged and slid the gift into her
mouth. She started to feel extra warmth simply from her unaccustomed
happiness as her mouth filled with the rich, sweet flavor.
She stared around them with huge brown eyes as they snooped around in
the store room. She saw bags of flour and other baking ingredients,
ground klah, jars of herbs... "What is that sheet of fabric?" she
asked suddenly, remembering a large shelf that Faelon had paused at
earlier.
( Tags Faelon! )
Tawny
large shelf that Faelon had paused at earlier.~
Lifting her head from the shelf she had focused her attention on
Faelon moved toward Aivee her eyes straining against the darkness as
she suddenly realized it had been the bolts of beautiful fabric that
had been in storage as long as she had been at the weyr. "I think
Nerys ordered it," Faelon said in a slightly muffled voice as she
craddled the sweet stick in one cheek as she reached out to pull the
bolt to her. The fabric had been one of the most beautiful shades of
pale pink she had ever seen. Even her mother's attempts at dying never
turned out so lovely.
Unwinding the bolt slightly Faelon held part of the fabric out toward
Aivee her gaze moving between it and the girl a slight grin crossing
her face. She had a gather dress that still fit her a welcoming gift
from the weyr after her first failed impression as she wasn't given
much time to gather her belongings. "I wonder if the headwoman would
allow me to make you a dress for the gather... She would want any of
us attending the hold to be dressed up I'm sure, and you deserve it
you know," Faelon said feeling another wave of indication rising in
her chest.
(Tag to Aivee)
Shai
looked a little dusty. What a waste, even if it was really pale.
Kind of pretty... The girl spun around to investigate other nooks in
the storeroom, her slip billowing slightly as it slid across her
body. She fought against dark thoughts that sprang up as a result of
the announcement earlier. A Gather would take place in a month, about
four sevendays. Such fabric should have been made into a dress for
this Gather, not wasted on the Weyrwoman, hoarded and forgotten in her
private stores.
She turned again as Faelon continued, munching on the end of her sweet
stick. Eyes widened in disbelief. "W...what? Me? You're joking.
I'm not going to the Gather. Use that fabric on someone else... a
crafter or something... like you." Someone who would wear it better.
Someone worth more? Aivee bit the corner of her mouth nervously.
( tag! )
Tawny
that fabric on someone else... a crafter or something... like you."~
"I've got a gather dress, its your turn for something nice. Maybe we
can find you a nice holder boy," Faelon teased she eyed the fabric
against Aivee's soft ivory skin. "There's plenty of fabric, I'll ask
the headwoman. I'm sure it'll be fine," Faelon said as she peered
toward the other shelving the sweet stick shifting from one cheek ot
the other. They could spend hours just going through box after box.
Sometimes she wished she had the opportunity to have Kora's position
and priveledge, but she knew it was for two things. She hadn't spited
her mother like Harina had. "I'm sure there might be a few made
dresses here, but they might not fit you as nicely," Faelon said
moving to the next shelf and moving a few of the crates excitement
running through her. She had only helped once with inventory and you
really couldn't call it helping. Dragging one of the crates forward
Faelon grinned as she pulle the lid off reaching back to grab the glow
basket and peering inside.
(Tag Aivee)
Shai
not really sure what to say, beyond interjecting her mild
protestations. Fidgeting spread from her fingers and the worrying of
her sweet stick between her teeth and tongue, down to her unlaced
leather boots where one boot's toe tapped against the other. "Well...
we could at least try the pre-made ones," she said lamely.
But Faelon was on a roll - literally, as she looked at the bolts of
fabric and went on to the other shelves - and likely there would be no
stopping her. What was Aivee going to do with such a nice dress?
People like her did not go to Gathers. What was the point? Her
thoughts were harsh and dark, but something about all of this felt
unreal and ... warm, like wrapping up with a thick blanket in front of
the hearth with a hot cup of klah. When was the last time she had
done something like that?
(Tag!)
Tawny
"Hoping to take a turn on the dance floor with him?"
~"Well... we could at least try the pre-made ones," she said lamely.~
"We could, but they are hideous," Faelon said her nose wrinkling a bit
as she dug deeper into the crate. "I would rather make you something
more flattering. I must of taken the last nice dress the weyr had. At
the least I can make yours?" She said grinning a bit as she carefully
placed the contents of the shelf back into place.
"Tomorrow morning, after I talk to the headwoman, I'll measure you,
and I can get started during my free hour, before I bake for dinner.
How about that?" Faelon asked taking seat on the shelf. It had to be
at least an hour to two hours after her normal bedtime and yet she was
still awake. She really needed to sleep soon or she'd never wake up in
the morning.
"Yah know they have parties at night outside," Faelon said as she
swung her legs her eyes pinned on the soft material. Taking a moment
to carefully wrap it up so she can replace it when she rose."I've
always wondered what they did out there beyond drink... I think I
heard the harper playing once." She said hopping off the shelf to move
toward the jar still centered in the middle of the floor. Taking
another pair of sweet sticks from it and offering the extra to Aivee.
"Extra one before I put it back?" she asked grinning at the funny look
on the girl's face. It had probably been a long time since either of
them had a little treat on the weyr's expense.
Shai
would be no dresses to suit her. But didn't Faelon like to sew? A
dress made by her would be amazing...beautiful... but Aivee did not
feel like a beautiful or amazing person. Numbly she nodded though, as
Faelon suggested a fitting session after breakfast. "Um, I should be
cleaning floors tomorrow. I shouldn't be hard to find."
She looked curiously at the other as she spoke of nighttime
festivities. She did not really know anything about parties, other
than having to serve people drinks and snacks. It had never seemed
like much fun standing around and talking all night. She grinned
though, taking the last sweet stick Faelon pulled out of the jar and
offered to her. Maybe she'd save it for later. "Do you mean what's
going on outside tonight?"
Tawny
"Yup," Faelon said matter of factly as she stretched a yawn trying to free
itself. As a candidate she was discouraged from joining such gatherings in
cases she or someone else got ideas. Now as a Lower Cavern woman she could
in theory do what she pleased if it weren't for the fact that she was
suddenly very tired. Holding back a yawn Faelon grinned a bit and rubbed her
eyes. "They get to do fun things like that all the time, they are spoiled
compared to us," Faelon said as she gathered her glow basket. "Probably best
to go to bed anyway, I'm not looking too forward to getting up tomorrow
morning." She murmured as she moved toward the door taking a moment to duck
her head out into the hall to gaze about before opening the door wide enough
to admit herself and Aivee. "Better get to bed before they run out of food
or drink," Faelon said as she ushered the girl out taking a moment to lock
the door once more and replace the key.
"I'll come find you tomorrow morning once I'm done with my duties and we can
get started on that dress," Faelon said yawning a bit as they moved into the
darkened corridor. Bed was definitely a need at this point.
(Tag Aivee)
-----Original Message-----
From: is...@googlegroups.com [mailto:is...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of
Shai
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 6:51 PM
To: Ista7
Subject: [Ista Weyr] Re: A Crying Shame
Shai
for her. Be it a large Gather or a small party in the courtyard, what
did it matter? But if Faelon was determined to make her a dress
regardless, wouldn't it be all right - if not prudent - for her to get
used to dancing and talking with people? Making a fool of herself in
thanks for all that hard work just would not do. Besides, she had
someone to find. Perhaps she would catch his eye...
But not tonight. Faelon was right, it was getting late and she had so
many new considerations swirling around in her head. Adding to the
mix by making an appearance at the party would be overwhelming. She
allowed herself to be herded out of the store room. When she again
offered to meet up tomorrow after chores, she nodded.
The trip back was uneventful and they had little to say that was not
interrupted by heavy yawning. Tonight had been eventful, both
terrifying and exciting. And as she lay in bed, Aivee curled up
quietly, hugging her pillow close. Her extra sweet stick lay safely
under her pillow, next to her hand. Eventually, thinking about this
evening brought tears to her eyes, sometimes out of fear, or
happiness. They all fell across her face silently until sleep finally
found her.
> > them had a little treat on the weyr's expense.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -