Shells, What a Day
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: April, Eimi
Date Posted: 7th October 2005
Characters: D'cal, Z'al
Description: D'cal visits with a bedridden Z'al.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 7, day 10 of Turn 3
"Shells, what a day." D'cal flopped into the chair next to Z'al's bedside. "How are you today, brownrider? Any word on when they'll let you out of here?"
"Course not." He tried a smile. "Joziah is intent on keeping me here until He is sure the slight infection in the scoring on my face is entirely gone. He is afraid it ma have damaged my eye. It was fine before the infection. I'll probably spend the rest of my days in this bed." He tried to be his usual joking self. He grimaced when the slight smile he had hurt and then grunted in frustration when the grimace hurt as well.
His friend gave him an understanding smile. One thing he had become intimately acquainted with was frustrated patients, not that he could blame them. He tried to lighten his friend's mood a bit. "Well, you know, Joziah has always had a crush on you. I think he doesn't want to let you out where the girls can get at you again."
"Oh, he told me he tried dabbling in that a bit but just couldn't get it right. He said guys are more like a wherry then ladies are." He tried his smile again and then frowned at the constant reminder of his mistake. "Not like many girls will notice me now." He said grumpily.
"Are you kidding? Handsome riders are nice for the eyes, but one with battle scars? That makes him not only handsome, but mysterious and heroic to boot. You have absolutely nothing to worry about on that score," D'cal said confidently.
"Tanks D'cal. You truly are a good friend. I'm sorry about your lady friend. I heard she was hurt too."
"A bit. But she'll recover." At least, that was what the healers kept assuring them. There were moments, however, when even D'cal's faith in the situation waned a bit as to just how soon it would happen.
"Tell her I understand any and all frustrations and that her and I should bully the healers into moving one of us closer to the other so we all can visit easier. It is kinda lonely over her at times. Well. that is when the girls aren't coming by." He chuckled a bit at thoughts of his sisters. "I forgot to tell you. last month I found out I am a father and my son is now here at the Weyr."
"What?" D'cal was genuinely surprised at that bit of news.
"You remember Animalyia?" He asked.
"Hmmm..." The weyrling's face turned serious in thought. "I'm not sure. Refresh my memory."
"Young woman I had been about to ask her hand. Her family were pretty well off and married her off to a man even better off. She had no choice in the matter. She showed up last month with a two year old boy and told my parents he was mine and that she feared her husband would harm him when he found out. She then just up a disappeared. I've heard that he has been coming here to try and cause problems. The boy looks just like me.
We'd only _been_ together once." He sighed.
"Once is all it takes sometimes," D'cal said with a nod. It sounded like a messy situation. "Do you know where the woman may have gone?"
"That's the problem, no one does. Macklin thinks she is here. I know for sure she isn't."
"Where is he now? The husband? Still here?"
"I think the Weyrleader has finally had him escorted home." He sighed.
"Just what I needed. I have to deal with him and all that, while stuck in bed."
"Well, if he has been escorted home than you have nothing to deal with other than your injury. No one can just walk into a Weyr and make trouble, you know," D'cal said with a reassuring squeeze on his friend's arm.
"He keeps threatening to get the lord holder involved. I hope he doesn't. I hope he just goes away." He sighed but took comfort in his friends understanding.
"Don't worry, Z'al. He can have no claim to the child. The babe is yours, the mother gave him to you herself, and now he is the Weyr's business." D'cal didn't feel as confident as he sounded, but he figured his friend needed encouragement more than truth at the moment.
"Thank you. I had best let you get to bed. You look bout ready to fall over as it is. Can't have that now can we?"
"No, that we can't," D'cal agreed with a weary nod. "When you're better I would love to meet your son."
"I would love for you to. Till then." He smiled as he clapped his friend on the back.
Last updated on the October 7th 2005