It's a Long Road Down the River Deep n Wild

Writers: Paula
Date Posted: 6th March 2015

Characters: Alfginna, Rolfina
Description: Alfginna is making her way to the wide world.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 11, day 16 of Turn 7

Alfginna sat on a crate on the deck of a river boat. The boat was traveling back and forth along the river which connected Garnet Valley hold and River Bluff Weyr. She had been told that the boat didn't actually go all the way to the Weyr. It's northern end dock was small hold called Dragon's Ford (or Dragon Ford, she was not sure of the spelling) near the Weyr. From there, she could either walk or ride to Weyr. From Weyr's port, she could get a ship to any coastal hold. Or, pay to a dragonrider to take her anywhere she wanted to go.

She watched one of the river boat crew working, singing softly:
"It`s a long road down the river deep `n wild
Every twist and turn a wonder-dale
It`s a scary ride we`d give anything to take
Let yourself bleed
Leave a footprint on every island you see."

It was a song that fit her mood perfectly. Leaving Garnet Valley was turning out to be both wonderful and scary. It also fit the landscape they were passing. Untamed, wild country. They hadn't seen any signs of humans for past few days. The both banks of the river were covered dense, dark forests. Last night she had heard the call of hunting feline. There were wild whers out there too. Or so she had been told. Sometimes she wondered if they were telling her tall tales, taking advantage of her ignorance. She never been outside Iron Lake and Garnet Valley hold before.

When Rolfina had finally accepted that Alfginna was leaving, she had been fair and generous. She had given Alfginna a large amount of marks. "A reward of the work you've done for the good of the hold for many Turns. Unselfish and never asking anything for you, you deserve the compensation." Alfginna had also received one third of her mother's jewelry, as an inheritance. Those jewels had nearly caused a fight between the sisters, Alfginna smiled when she remembered that. Rolfina had wanted to give her the best, most valuable pieces, while Alfginna wanted Rolfina to had them. She was the holder's wife now, and needed them to look the part. She had to look wealthy at the social occasions, otherwise it would reflect badly on their hold.

In the end, Alfginna had won, she took those that were easiest to sell for marks, those with no sentimental value. Their third sister would also receive her share of mother's jewelries. So, she was financially solid for a long while unless she started wantonly spending marks. Which was not like her at all. She could buy passages on ships or even dragons, stay at taverns. She was free, she was independent and she was scared.

"We will go down we will drown drown, deeper down
The river wild will be our last ride
We will go down we will drown drown, deeper down
The mills grind slow in a riverbed ghost town"

Beautifully shy as you are
Never lose your heart
And do come across."

Last updated on the March 18th 2015

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It's a Long Road Down the River Deep n Wild