The little family secret

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 17th January 2007

Characters: Sh'dori, Shadux, Balixa
Description: Sh'dori visits his sister who's settling in to Amber Hills and meets Shadux.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 1, day 21 of Turn 4

"Happy birthday, sister!" Sh'dori called when he entered the cot.

"Sh'dori! You remembered!" his sister cried and rushed to embrace him. "And you found this place too," she continued. She was two turns younger than Sh'dori, one of his few surviving full-siblings. She had chosen a hold-life instead of weyr and was married with a woodcrafter.

"I had to ask for directions twice. It looks nice here," the brownrider answered. He handed her a gift.

"Oh, you shouldn't," she said and opened it.

"I did. My sister turns 50 only once and I don't have that many sisters," Sh'dori replied seriously while she uncovered the beautifully carved wooden box. It was kind of where you could keep jewelry or other small items.

"It's lovely, thank you, big bro," Balixa said and kissed him.

"You're welcome. Where's Raydori? I have something for him too," Sh'dori asked.

"In here, " Balixa said and led her to a bedroom door. A boy about ten turns old was playing there quietly with building blocks. One look of him told you that the boy was not normal, he was a retard. Sh'dori felt the familiar ache in his heart when he looked his son.
"Raydori, look who came to visit!" Balixa said and the boy looked up.

"Da!" he cried and his round face lit up. Sh'dori croutched to hug him and gave his present, a wooden runner-figurine.
"Hello, son. Here's another one to your collection," he said.

"T'ank you," the boy said and was soon back in his own little world, the runner galloping over the carpet and jumping over blocks.

Sh'dori shook his head ruefully. He and his sister moved to the kitchen and she started to make klah.

"So, how are you settling in to this new hold?" Sh'dori asked. "They are not giving you any trouble because of him?" he nodded towards the bedroom.

"Quite well, the Amber hill's people have been friendly and setting up new hall is keeping my husband busy. And they can try," Balixa replied, a hint of steel appeared to her voice. When it came to her fosterling, she was fiercely protective and she had a strong personality that took no nonsense
from anyone. "He really is a sweet boy," her voice softened.

"He is," Sh'dori agreed. "Has his mother been in any contact?"

"No, she hasn't."

"Maybe if I talked to her?"

"No, that wouldn't be wise. I kind of understand why she wants to forget him. She must have felt like she had failed, as a mother and a woman, when Raydori was born."

"It's still not right. He is her son, no matter what, handicapped or not," Sh'dori insisted. It was an old argument between them.

"Oh, Sh'dori. You must the most gentlest, most loving and most honourable man on Pern."

Her compliment made the brownrider blush.

"It's the only reason why I agreed to take him, when you brought in Raydori ten turns ago. After all, I have my own children. I knew you wouldn't abandon him. It would had been so easy for you, just dump him with a fostermother and forget he ever exsisted. But that is not you. You keep visiting him, bringing him gifts, often enough so he recognizes you, remembers who you are and knows you're his dad. Now, here's klah and cake, let's celebrate."

Just then there came a tap on the door.

"I'll see who is it," Balixa said and went to the door.

"Let's not hope it isn't someone complaining that Rahmuth's parked on their field," Sh'dori said.

"Hello Balixa," Shadux smiled when she opened the door. "This may be a strange question, but do you have a brownrider here?"

"Why, yes. My brother is visiting from the Dolphin Cove weyr," Balixa replied.

"Ah." That explained the appearance of an unplanned rider. "Well, do you think I could come in for a moment? I just need to talk to him for a moment."

"Certainly, come in," Balixa said and let the assistant steward in.

"Good afternoon, brownrider. My duty to you and your lifemate," Shadux greeted Sh'dori formally, though his smile was friendly. "My name is Shadux. I am an assistant steward of Amber Hills."

"Hi there, I'm Sh'dori, lifemate of brown Rahmuth, how can I help you?" Sh'dori asked amiably.

The rider certainly seemed nice enough. "Well, sir, it seems your brown dragon is spooking the herdbeasts in the field. Do you think he could move to the Gather Square?"

Sh'dori winced when he heard that. "Sorry about it, I'll take care of it," he replied apologitically.
** Rahmuth! People are complaining about you scaring their beasts. Go to the gather square or to the canyon ridge as I told you earlier.**

}: But I'm having so fun! :{

**Rahmuth!**

}: Yea, yea, I'm going}, :{ the brown grumbled but obeyed.

"He should be moving right now," Sh'dori told Shadux.

"Thank you." Now Master Shastin could stop worrying that one of the runner would bolt and break a leg. "I'm sorry to have distrupted your little party."

"That's all right. Do you want a piece of cake too?" Balixa asked.

"You have cake?" Shadux asked, surprised at the indulgence. When they had so little in stores something that extravegant with so little nutritional value had been saved only for the rarest of occassions. "Oh I... wouldn't want to eat your cake..."

"It's my 50th birthday," Balixa said.

"Happy birthday, Balixa. Fifty turns? I would never have guessed," the assistant steward smiled. "It's quite an important event, then."

"Yes, it is," the woman smiled. "Raydori! There's cake and juice!" she called.

Shadux's mouth was watering as he eyed the delicacy. "Well, maybe a very small piece, if you're sure you can spare it..."

Last updated on the January 17th 2007

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The little family secret