An Ambassador of a Different Kind

Writers: AL, Heather
Date Posted: 10th January 2025

Characters: K'yne, Ki'ben, Vadira
Description: Ki’ben visits a girl he’s been seeing on the side.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 1 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: J’ackt

K'yne

Ki'ben

“Surely you’re not running off to that Hold again,” K’yne said with a
frown and a touch of disapproval in his tone.

Ki’ben rolled his eyes at his uncle. “Don’t act like you never visited
women outside of the Weyr.”

K’yne’s lips pursed. That was certainly true enough. Ocktima had born
him J’ackt, although he hadn’t known it for most of the boy’s life.
“That was different. Ocktima only went back to the Hold after her
dragon died.”

“Semantics,” Ki’ben said in a singsong voice.

“There are plenty of women around the Weyr willing to spend time with
a young bronzerider, you know.”

Ki’ben buttoned up his riding jacket, and then clapped his uncle on
the shoulder. “You worry too much. See you, tyke,” he said to his
cousin Keriv, who was wiggling in K’yne’s lap, eager to be turned
loose to run around.

K’yne watched his nephew stride out to the the weyrledge where Setoth
waited for him. **He’s going to end up in trouble,** he guaranteed.

}:All young ones must have their fair share of it before they’re ready
to lead,:{ Arinoth said wisely.

--

While it was true that Ki’ben had been visiting the Holds, and had
found more than one receptive woman, there was one in particular at
Shadow Mountain in the Amber Hills area that he preferred to the
others.

When his small bronze landed in the field behind a cluster of small
houses, a solitary figure emerged. He knew immediately from the
crimson skirt and white blouse that it was her.

The rest day had dawned bright and beautiful, and people had taken
advantage of the day to enjoy other, more relaxing pursuits. Alas,
rest days were not completely free of responsibility. Among the
necessary tasks were cooking, and Vadira had spent a good portion of
the morning helping her mother. As time had worn on, she’d grown
antsy. Attributing it to being young and sequestered indoors, her
mother had finally given her the freedom she so greatly desired.
After packing some food with extra to spare, she had hurried out to
the field to wait.

Inhaling the sweet scent of late blossoming flowers, she spent the
time gathering a cluster of them, and only paused when she heard the
deep rush of wind that announced the arrival of a dragon. Turning,
her face immediately brightened at the sight of the familiar bronze,
but especially at the man who wrode him. Waiting until the creature
properly landed, she ran to close the distance and approached just as
Ki’ben set foot on salad ground. “I’ve been waiting for you!”

Ki’ben’s grin was from ear to ear as he leaped to the ground and
caught Vadira up in his arms. They were far enough away from the main
cluster of buildings to avoid being heard, and down the sweeping hill
to the point where they weren’t easily visible. He greeted her with a
kiss, capturing her face between his hands.

“Vadira,” he breathed her name as he inhaled her scent, which was now
mingled with the flowers. “I’ve missed you.”

“And I you.” She grinned, rubbing her nose against his, then pulled
away just enough so she could lift the bouquet she had clutched in her
hand. “I thought someone deserved some flowers.” Even as she said
it, her eyes twinkled with a hint of mischievousness.

Ki’ben’s look instantly matched her own. “Oh you did, huh?” He sniffed
the flowers appreciatively but sneezing, which sent the petals of the
flower careening away on the breeze. “Whoops.”

Fortunately, only one of the hapless flowers suffered badly and she
plucked it from the bunch and tossed it aside. “Not for you.” She
giggled, then turned away from the man and to the dragon, drawing
closer to the great beast. Reaching up, she scritched an eyeridge and
extended the flower to the creature. “These are for Setoth.”

The bronze turned his head at the mention of his name and then he
lowered his great muzzle down, one large whirling eye regarding the
things held aloft in the woman’s hand.

“He says you can stick them in his chest strap,” Ki’ben said, chuckling.

Offering one last scritch to the dragon, she moved forward and ducked
under to tuck the flowers into the strap indicated. That done, she
captured the rider’s hand in hers and tugged him toward the small
bundle that she had left behind in her exuberant greeting. “I did
bring something for you though. But you’ll have to wait to receive
it. First, tell me everything that’s happened at the weyr since you
last visited!”

Ki’ben followed her eagerly. “Well, there’s a new clutch on the Sands,
and this time there's a gold egg. It’s the first one Dragonsfall’s had
in Turns.”

Vadira’s eyes brightened at the mention of the gold egg. What girl
hadn’t imagined herself upon the sands, a gold egg rocking back and
forth, splitting open, and a glimmering, gorgeous gold stepping
regally from her former prison. What child hadn’t imagined the
majestic head swivellingn to and fro, seeking out the perfect match,
the only One who would do. Or even more dramatic, what little girl
hadn’t imagined that maybe, just maybe, she attended a hatching as a
spectator, only to have the gleaming creature call her forth from the
stands, unwilling to accept anyone save one who hadn’t even been
Searched? Such was a thing for dragon tales, but Vadira had not been
exempt from such dreams - even if she knew they would never come true.
“Does a gold mean that more people will be Searched? Or do they
usually have the same amount of candidates?”

“There will _definitely_ be more girls sought out. There’s usually a
fair amount, anyway, but it’ll certainly bring more in.” Ki’ben didn’t
really pay much attention to it, though. He wouldn’t be interested
until the next gold was old enough to fly, then she and her rider
would have Ki’ben and Setoth’s full attention.

“You’re glowing today,” Ki’ben said, stroking a piece of Vadira’s hair
away from her face and tucking it behind her ear.

“Am I?” A light flush danced over her cheeks, eyes shining at his
touch. Leaning into him, she smiled happily, then pulled away as she
tugged out a blanket and handed it to him. “Help me spread this out?
Then we can eat.”

Grabbing corners of this blanket, Ki’ben helped unfurl the blanket,
although he wind kept trying to catch it. “What did you bring to eat?”
he asked.

“All your favourites.” With some effort, the two of them managed to
get the blanket on the ground and Vadira settled the basket on one
corner before opening it. “And I made sure to bring plenty. I
couldn’t let you starve!” She smiled brilliantly even as she opened
the basket and began to set out various offerings. When she stated
she’d brought plenty, she hadn’t been joking. Meatrolls coupled with
two large meat pies, various cheeses, crackers, rolls, finger roots
with a dip to accompany them, sausages wrapped in roasted leafy
greens, fried and breaded fowl, and, to top it off, three individually
sized redfruit bubbly pies. “What would you like to do after we eat?”

“Good grief, Vadira, you weren’t kidding. This is a _spread_.” Ki’ben
said as the food kept appearing out of the picnic basket. “As far as
after we eat…” his voice turned sultry. “I thought there’d be
dessert.”

“Oh…you don’t think the bubbly pies will be enough?” Vadira’s eyes
fell to the pastry in question. She had brought three, one for her,
two for him, but perhaps he wanted something else.

Ki’ben’s smile was salacious. “I think we both know the bubblies won’t
be enough.”

Vadira’s gaze tore away from the food at the tone in Ki’ben’s face and
as she noticed the expression, her cheeks went aflame. Even so,
anticipation swelled and the young woman leaned into the bronzerider,
unable to resist the temptation.

Last updated on the January 11th 2025

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An Ambassador of a Different Kind