Just Helping Out

Writers: Avery, Leigh M-F.
Date Posted: 9th February 2016

Characters: Corran, Nohria
Description: A chance meeting leads to a close call. Watch your back, Corran.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 3, day 26 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Zathris, Benani

Usually all the guards were out of the barracks at this time of the
morning, either on patrols or at drills. But Corran had been mildly
unwell, so he was sitting around working on mending. When the door
cracked open, he started.

"Coming in," a woman's contralto said as a warning to any who might be
indecent to put something on. After a moment, the woman followed her
voice in, pushing a small cart bearing a tray of food and some
cleaning supplies. She was tanned and wore a plain brown dress, and
had long black hair pulled back in a sensible bun. "I was told you are
not at your best, so I will be tidying up while you're refreshing
yourself." she said briskly, bringing over the tray.

"Thank you very much," Corran said automatically. "I wasn't expecting
food - this is much appreciated."

The woman shrugged as she placed the tray before him. "I suppose your
fellow guards would rather you be back at full health soon." She went
back to the cart and grabbed a duster, beginning her work.

"That's a fair point," the guard said. Trying to mind his manners, he
said "I'm Corran. And you are?"

The woman gave him a quick smile that made her black eyes seem to
shine. "Nohria, formerly of Amethyst Cliffs," she said simply,
continuing to do her job.

"I was from there too." Even though now it had been Turns, and he
could say 'Corran, of Amber Hills' without it feeling like ashes and
lies on his tongue. He found himself missing the familiar halls of the
Hold where he'd become a man. And it was nice to meet someone else
from the territory. It was like a small moment of kinship, a sense of
'we've lost there

Ah, here was an opportunity. Wait, two opportunities; someone had left
a couple of keys on the dresser over there. Nohria began to meander in
their direction. "Do you like it here well enough?"

"It's warmer. And I've made friends. But sometimes I miss the familiar."

"I appreciate the warmth myself. What is your opinion of Lord Zathris?"

"He seems fair enough," Corran said. "Though he's had a rough time
here lately. The Lady's kidnapping was awful."

"Mmm." That event had been a spanner in the scheme of things. Not that
Nohria would wish that kind of thing on any woman; especially not one
who had no idea how to defend herself. But really, it was a mark
against Zathris, too. If he couldn't protect his own wife, how could
he defend his holders and their interests at large?

"At least it's been quiet recently," he said.

Nohria picked up the keys to dust under them, then placed them back
with an audible clink. But with her back hiding her hands, she slipped
one key up one sleeve and the other into one of her dress' pockets.
"Yes, let's be thankful for the quiet. It makes my work easier."

"I imagine so. It must be busy with big events like Turn's End and
Gathers, but nothing's scheduled till late fall if I remember
correctly," he said.

"I can live with that," Nohria said. "Less strain on me and my fellow drudges."

"I appreciate less strain on the guard staff as well, so I suppose
we're both happy."

**You go on believing that, guardsman,** Nohria thought, returning the
duster to the cart and bending slightly to get the broom. Even that
slight incline made her bust strain against her dress. "At least it's
honest work to have."

"Being a hold worker?" he asked.

"Mm-hmm." In lieu of not being able to become a woman's specialty
healer, having something to do was preferable to doing nothing at all.
Nohria needed work like fire-lizards needed to fly. She swept
efficiently, taking care not to stir up too much dust.

Corran watched her work because seeing her industriously move around
the barracks was was more interesting than mending, but soon he
realized that she probably would think him inappropriate to be staring
so. So he looked down at the meal instead, picking at it listlessly.

The woman finished soon enough and put her supplies away, and walked
over to see if Corran was finished. "I'll take your- you barely
touched it. Are you nauseated? Do I need to get some ginger tea for
you?"

Actually, he was nauseated, and the ginger tea sounded good, but the
guard felt bad. "If it's not too much of a distraction from your
important work," he qualified.

Nohria looked at her cleaning supplies, then at him, and snorted
expressively before picking up the tray. "Wait here," she said, placed
the tray on the cart, and left, thinking as she walked. It would be
easy to slip the guardsman something that would make him just a little
sicker for a couple days; she could mix up the right herb mix to do
just that and leave the guard one man short a little longer. But it
would take too long to fit into a trip to the kitchen, and if that
happened directly after Nohria gave him tea, she would fall under
suspicion, and that was the last thing she wanted. So instead, she had
the meal warmed up, took a serving of untouched ginger tea, and
carried it all on the tray back to Corran.

He gratefully accepted the cup, and flashed her a smile. "Thank you,
very much. You're far too kind."

**You can keep believing that as well,** Nohria thought. "You're
welcome. I have to move on now, so someone else will pick up the tray
later."

"Alright. Have a good afternoon, Nohria," he said to her.

Last updated on the February 21st 2016

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