A Snowy Assignment

Writers: Estelle, Heather, Suzee
Date Posted: 18th January 2019

Characters: L'keri, Demir, Rethisa
Description: L'keri stops at Amber Hills on sweep and meets Demir and Rethisa.
Location: Hidden Meadows
Date: month 9, day 4 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Zathris, Benani (not by name)

L'keri

Demir

L'keri didn't know if he was assigned to sweepriding in the snow because
he'd annoyed the Wingsecond, or if the schedule had just turned up a
dose of bad luck. After several hours in the air, the frozen chill had
seeped through his heavy, fur-lined riding gear, and he had to keep
brushing flakes from his goggles before they iced over.

It was a good opportunity to get to know the territory they protected,
he told himself, since a lot had changed since he'd last been at
Dragonsfall. Amethyst Cliff Hold was no more, for a start, while more
holds had sprung up in the lands around Amber Hills over which he'd been
assigned to fly. But he wished he could have been studying that
territory in the comfort of the Weyr, with a few maps and a mug of klah.

}:There is a message flag, down below.:{

**Oh, thank the stars.** L'keri leaned forward and peered down through
the misty air at the snow-covered land below them, just making out the
brightly coloured banner that flew over what looked like a large and
prosperous hold. It wasn't an urgent signal, but right now, he didn't
care if they were calling on a dragonrider because their lady had broken
a fingernail. He just wanted to get inside and have a hot drink. **Let's
land and find out what it is.**

"Welcome brownrider," Demir said as he trotted toward where the dragon
had landed. "Thank you for coming, Can we provide you with lunch? It
should be serving in the main hall in just a few minutes."

The rider pulled down his scarf, revealing a delighted grin. Lunch! That
was better even than hot klah. "That sounds wonderful, if it wouldn't be
any trouble." He held out a hand. "I'm L'keri, rider of Rhalith."

"My duty to you and your dragon," Demir said with a bow of his head.
Then he extended his hand to the rider. "Just this way," he smiled and
led him into the hold proper.

L'keri sighed in sheer pleasure as the door closed behind them and he
felt the warmth of the hold's fires start to seep through his layers of
flying gear. Still, he spared a thought for his dragon, who was still
outside. **Will you be all right?**

}:I am fine, but we can't stay all day. We must finish the sweepride.:{

**True enough, but a good meal will help!** He pulled off his helmet and
shrugged out of the snow-dusted riding jacket. "This is Hidden Meadows,
right? I haven't flown here for a while," he explained with an
apologetic smile. "I'm still re-learning the territory."

"Yes," Demir smiled. "I'm Demir, holder here after my father and
beholden to Lord Corowal at Emerald Falls." His father had likely
still been alive if the rider hadn't been around in turns.

"Well met, Holder Demir." L'keri didn't recall the name, but the
holder looked young, about his age; perhaps he hadn't been in charge
last time L'keri had been at Dragonsfall. He breathed in deeply,
detecting the scent of warm bread as he followed the other man towards
the dining area. However, he remembered guiltily, he wasn't here to
fill himself with the holders' food. "How can Rhalith and I help you?"

He smiled as he looked past the dragon rider to a beautiful woman
descending the stairs and he held out his hand. "My Lady wife would
like to visit her brother and his wife if it is possible," he said.
"She is ready to go if you have the time to take her to Amber Hills."

Rethisa had on her best riding outfit for the occasion. What looked like
a long, modest skirt was really a pair of riding trousers. Her riding
habit was a deep blue velvet, trimmed with fur and sewn with a sturdy
wool on the inside to fight off the cold. Since she had hoped that there
would be a dragonrider passing by to offer her passage, she'd had Allera
braid her long, platinum waves into a single braid that was draped over
her shoulder.

"My duty to you and your dragon, sir," she inclined her head toward the
brownrider.

L'keri's eyes widened a little in appreciation of the lovely woman who'd
just joined them, but even he was not foolish enough to flirt with a
married holder while her husband was standing right beside her. Instead,
he bowed politely. "I would be honoured to take you anywhere you wish to
go, my lady, as would my Rhalith. But..." He looked hopefully at Demir.
"You mentioned lunch?" If he played his cards right, he might get fed
both here and at Amber Hills. Sweepriding was hungry work.

Rethisa chuckled softly behind a raised hand, "Follow me, I know where
there is hot soup and fresh bread being served."

Demir smiled. "I did offer him lunch," he said as he followed.

"Well, if it's no trouble, it's good to have a hot meal inside you
before going /between/," L'keri said earnestly. He could feel his mouth
watering already.

Demir continued to smile and followed his wife toward the dining room.
He walked to his usual place at the table which was already half full
with the usual lunchtime workers and staff. He was a worker at the
Hold himself and didn't stand on any ceremony where his own status was
concerned. "Everyone, this is dragonrider L'keri who has answered our
call and will be taking Lady Rethisa to visit her brother, Lord
Zathris and her family at Amber Hills."

A murmur of welcomes swept around the table and Demir smiled before
indicating a chair for the dragonrider.

L'keri raised a hand in greeting and waited politely for the holder's
wife to take a seat before sitting down himself. He couldn't help
feeling pleased by the warm welcome he'd received, and the admiring
glances of a group of children at a nearby table. He should visit holds
more often!

"You are the sister of Lord Zathris, my lady?" he asked while they
waited for the soup to be served. "So you're not from Amber Hills
originally?" He thought he'd heard that the Lord Holder wasn't native to
that Hold, but had married into the family.

"Yes, I am Zathris' only full sister. We have several step-siblings.
We're from Jade Harbor originally. My father is the Lord Holder there."
Rethisa did not miss Jade Harbor in the slightest, nor her father, for
that matter.

The brownrider nodded courteously. Inwardly he felt very much relieved
that he hadn't attempted to flirt with someone who was related to two
Lords! "I used to fly over Jade Harbor's territory when I was at River
Bluff. Lovely place. Rhalith enjoyed the beaches." His face clouded for
a moment as he remembered happier times, but his smile returned as the
food arrived and he breathed in the delicious aroma of hot soup.

Once their lunch was finished, Darvin rose from the table and took his
wife's hand. "We're going to miss you My Lady," he murmured. His eyes
looked warmly into hers. This was nothing new to most of the people
around the table. Their Holder loved his wife and all of them knew it.
"Don't stay away too long."

Rethisa's gazed warmly back at her husband, perhaps more so than what
etiquette allowed, "I'll be back soon."

L'keri wondered what he should do. A loving gaze was hardly unknown at
the Weyr, but he wasn't quite sure how it would be polite to react in a
hold! He suppressed a grin and cleared his throat. "Ah - Rhalith is
ready to fly, whenever you are, my lady."

"I'm ready," she said, turning to the dragonrider.

His eyes unfocused briefly as he informed his dragon that they were
ready to depart. It was with no small measure of reluctance that he put
on his riding jacket and gloves again. The Hold was so cosy and
welcoming, he could have stayed there all day.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Holders," he said with a bow. "That
soup will keep me warm all through my sweepride."

"I'm so glad. It must be freezing being in the wind for so long."
Rethisa said as she pulled up the furlined hood of her thick coat.

"Then we have done our duty by you dragonman," Demir said warmly.
"Please keep My Lady safe until she reaches her brother." He nodded
and took his wife's hand, leading them back outside. He squeezed her
fingers and led her to the waiting dragon.

Last updated on the January 24th 2019

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A Snowy Assignment