Fair Winds (3/3)

Writers: Estelle, Iluva
Date Posted: 6th August 2024

Characters: Ashela, Th'reyos
Description: Ashela and Th’reyos negotiate more than just the tithe
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr, Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 12, day 21 of Turn 11

Ashela

Th'reyos

Over the brownrider's shoulder, she saw a group approaching. The Holder

and his wife were a well dressed middle-aged couple, the man's face

weathered by Turns as a sailor and sea holder, while the woman's was

rounder and softer. They both seemed respectful but not over-awed by the

dragons. They were accompanied by two other men, one older, with

thinning grey hair, and a younger one carrying a roll of hides and

papers, who definitely did seem awed by the golden queen.

"Lady Ashela, welcome to Fair Winds, and our duty to your magnificent

Aglayath." The holder bowed, signalling to the others to do the same.

"You've met my wife?"

"Yes, of course. Holder Ganilla," Ashela replied with perfect courtesy,

extending a hand. "I still remember your kind words at Aglayath's

Hatching." Actually, she'd no memory at all of the woman, one holder's

wife being much like another to her, but the comment appeared to please

Ganilla.

"My Steward, Osgrald," Janethos went on, introducing the older man, "and

his assistant Edgray. I asked him to join us today, to help in our

discussions."

"That's very thoughtful of you. Greetings, holders." Ashela nodded to

the older man and gave the younger one a dazzling smile, at which he

blushed and nearly dropped his papers. "This is Th'reyos, rider of

Zarkarth, my escort."

"I've asked for klah and refreshments to be served in the Holder's

reception room," Ganilla said. "If you'll follow us, Lady?"

"Thank you." Ashela joined the Holder and his wife as they started back

towards the main building of the seahold. Remembering what Th'reyos had

suggested about keeping an ear out for talk at the hold, she turned back

to glance at the steward's young assistant with another bright smile.

"Edgray, wasn't it? Would you be a dear and look after Brownrider

Th'reyos while I'm discussing business with Holder Janethos? Perhaps you

could take him to the kitchens for a drink. It's so warm out here."

"Y-yes, of course, m'lady." The young man glanced at the steward, who

nodded with a tolerant smile. As they passed through the big metal-bound

doors into the cooler interior of the hold, he turned to Th'reyos and

gestured towards a side corridor. "Sir? It's this way."

With all the decorum of someone who hadn't grown up believing the 'Sir's

were everyone else, Th'reyos said, "Thank you. That would be much

appreciated." He followed a pace or so behind the young assistant and

tried not to smile too much.

The bright afternoon narrowed into cool and dark, and like a Lady being

excused from a conclave his path thus became the side corridor. "Ready

whenever you're ready, ma'am." He said to his 'Lord', and gave an

obliging nod to Jantheos and his wife. "Holders. Pleasure meeting you."

They were halfway down the corridor when the jacket fastenings came

undone. "You wanna join me for that drink, Edgray? It's warm everywhere.

Just to warn you though - I'm gonna ask your advice."

"Oh, yes, I'd like that," the young man replied, sounding both thrilled

and a little nervous at the prospect of drinking with a dragonrider. He

certainly seemed to prefer it to listening to the Holder and Steward

drone on about tithes and trade. "Though I don't know what advice I

could possibly give you, sir."

He led Th'reyos into the kitchens, where the arrival of a dragonrider

caused a stir and a swell of whispering and giggling among the workers

there until an older woman, likely the head cook or the Headwoman,

sternly ordered them to settle down. Edgray exchanged a few words with

her and she approached. "Welcome, brownrider. What can I get you - klah,

or a cold drink? Juice or water, or we can get you some beer?"

"Good day, ma'am. Water would really hit the spot." A smile tugged at

the brownrider's mouth, which only widened as he nodded to the young

assistant. "And whatever Edgray here wants. He's being kind enough to

keep me company."

"Alright," Th'reyos leaned against whatever was the nearest surface,

seemingly oblivious to the noises and faces geared in their direction,

to anyone other than Edgray or the last fastening on his jacket. "First

thing, you can drop the 'Sir's here. Th'reyos is fine. Second thing, and

I gotta level with you, ain't quite as straightforward. You got someone

to court, Edgray? Or a wife? A _betrothed_?" He arched a brow, having

the decency to only look a little sly.

Edgray's cheeks flushed beneath his tan. "Well...there is someone, sir,

uh, Th'reyos," he confessed in a low voice. The woman returned with two

cups of water and a jug, and he clammed up until she'd placed them on

the table next to them and returned to her work. "But I can't even

_think_ about courting her until I've saved up some marks and got a

promotion. Uncle Osgrald - the Steward - he says I should be focusing on

my work and there'll be time for marriage later."

"Uncle Osgrald's a smart man," Th'reyos smiled knowingly, indulgently,

twisting enough of himself around to fill the glasses. He passed one to

the young Steward and continued gesturing casually with his glass as he

spoke. "But here's the thing," all matter of fact-ly, "talking ain't

courting. Is it? Nah. Not here, and not in a Weyr. I grew up in a hold

like this," -kinda- "and either way, either place, when there's someone

you gotta keep in mind, and you wanna please them, they gotta be part of

the question and the answer. You following me?" He didn't pause. "I'm

just sayin' you gotta talk _first_. She might like it. " He nudged him

gently with a bony elbow.

"Besides, strapping man like you with a nose for priorities? Edgray

you're further along than you think, my man. My advice, if you want it -

get yourself a chaperone or whatever, but it's nice to know what she's

thinking. She might like that, too. Cause even when they _don't_ talk to

you, and you're _not_ courting, women-- ladies, they wanna know you're

paying attention."

"And that," his voice slid a fraction lower, "is where I need to ask

your advice, Edgray."

The young man had nodded along to Th'reyos' suggestions, his eyes very

round. "I'll do my best. But I don't know what I could tell a

dragonrider about ladies...um, no offense," he added hastily, turning

even redder than before. Dragonriders did have a reputation, at least in

the stories, but perhaps it would be rude to bring it up.

"That's good," Th'reyos snorted softly, not really hiding his amusement,

"cause I just want to know where's the best view to eat a meatroll here.

" He took another gulp of water followed by an unhurried look around the

kitchens, the faces and shelves. Then he shrugged. "The Lady Goldrider

and I discussed taking a walk before we head back. She's reluctant to

take suggestions-" his brownrider's knots rustled, "but she'd be

grateful for a break. Coming from you, future Steward, she might even

listen to me."

"Oh!" Edgray managed to look both relieved and embarrassed at once.

"There's a good place up on the cliffs up above the bay. If you go out

past the docks, there's a track that curves off the right, you can't

miss it - it's a bit of a climb, but it's worth it for the view. Very

popular with couples - uh, not to suggest that you and the Lady

Goldrider..." His words trailed off in confusion. "Anyway, there's an

old fallen redfruit tree at the top, where you can sit and have a bite

to eat and look out over the sea. I'd show you if I thought Uncle

Osgrald would let me get away from my work. It'd be a pleasure to help

Lady Ashela." He sighed. "She's awfully pretty."

Th'reyos' smile wrinkled his nose. "She is." He agreed, setting the

glass down on the table behind him. "She likes her things pretty too, so

that sounds perfect." He thought, too, that observing the hold could be

its own advantage. Seeing the workings, wares, and spaces that dictated

negotiations might flesh the image of Fair Winds and their coffers out

just a little. Of course Aglayath would be on her own for a bit, but he

doubted that would bother her. It was after all the duty and burden of

all queens: constant admiration.

"You go up there much? Wanna show me from the air?" Gesturing for Edgray

to join him, his stride took up an easy rhythm. This youngster was a

better wingman than his own dragon. Th'reyos gave the young Steward a

silly wink, ignoring Zarkarth's irritation. "Alright Edgray, let's find

you an Osgrald and Lady Ashela a view."

"Really? I could fly with you?" Thrilled by the offer, Edgray hurried

after him, almost breaking into a jog to keep up with the brownrider's

longer stride. A dragon could fly to the cliff and back before his uncle

and the Holder had finished their meeting. But even if he was worried

about being late, nothing could make him pass up this opportunity. "I've

never flown on a dragon before! It's such an honor, sir, I mean,

Th'reyos. I'll show you exactly where it is, and I know Lady Ashela is

going to love it."

Last updated on the August 29th 2024

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Fair Winds (3/3)