Winter Weather 2

Writers: Yvonne
Date Posted: 27th October 2005

Characters: Firsa, Jacek
Description: Firsa and Jacek spend some time together, for their own reasons
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 8, day 14 of Turn 3
Notes: PG-13 for some mildly sexual scenes.

Jacek was still at the Weyr: they were outfitting the wagons they'd rolled in on with skis, and waiting until the weather cleared a little more before heading back to Sandstone Gorge. Firsa had spent every evening with Jacek: he'd come by to check on his animals, then he'd ask her to join him for dinner. Once there, he didn't seem to know what to say and would sit and watch the people around them, wide-eyes. Firsa would sit and watch him, and they'd say very little.
But it was still enjoyable.

The Beastcrafter pushed her soup bowl aside and leaned back in her chair, briefly catching Jacek's eye before he looked away, back at the table of greenriders close to them. She couldn't quite read his expression as one of them tossed her hair over her shoulder and blew a kiss to the woman beside her. She bumped Jacek's foot with her own.
"I thought I'd go for a ride tonight since it's clear. The stars will be crisp. Will you come with me?"

Jacek dragged his attention away from the greenrider who was grabbing her breasts and smiled. "I'd like that. It feels strange not to be riding every day after traveling for so long."

"Good." Firsa rose to her feet. "I'll meet you in the stables in half a candlemark, then. Unless you'd rather join them?" She tipped her head toward the greenriders, and Jacek flushed.

"I don't think I'd fit in," he said quietly. Firsa thought that she detected a hint of regret in his voice. The Beastcrafter smiled. "You'd be surprised."

~*~

Rainy's breath steamed in the cold as Firsa guided her up the trail to a nearby hill. Her hoof beats were dainty compared to Jacek's mount and Firsa felt a twinge of pride. "Look," said Jacek, "There's a ring around the moons,"

Firsa reined Rainy in and Jacek stopped his runner next to her. Rainy put her ears back as his leg brushed Firsa's, and the Journeywoman suppressed a smile as she turned her face skyward. Little rainbow commas drifted to either side of Beilor like lost little caprines, or silvery fish swimming in the night. "I was wrong about the stars,"
she said. "It's too bright out."

Jacek smiled. "It's still worth the trip." His runner stamped its foot impatiently, but he didn't move. Their knees brushed again.
"It's much different here."

"Weyrs are very different from Holds," Firsa agreed. The conversation was inane. It didn't matter. His eyes were dark in the moonlight. "Is it what you expected?"

"It's everything that I hoped for," he said. He leaned over and kissed her until Rainy sidled out of the way. Her lips burned where they'd touched his, and the skin on her chin felt itchy from his beard. She smiled. "We'd better start heading back." Jacek nodded and they turned their runners around. For a long time all that was heard was the crunch of snow beneath runners' hooves.

"What is Sandstone Gorge like?" Firsa asked, breaking the silence between them. It had stretched thinner and thinner until she thought it would drive her mad. Usually she craved the quiet, but Jacek's silence was too... nervous.

Jacek cleared his throat before speaking. "It looks much the same.
We're built into the side of the cliffs, which look gold in the sunshine. There's a river with a bridge across it too."

"A big river?"

Jacek shook his head. "Not overly. I can swim across it easily in the summer. It's slow and muddy, but the fishing's good."

"And the people?" she asked. There was no reply, so she glanced over at her companion. Jacek caught her looking and smiled, although it looked a little forced around the edges.

"They're a good bunch. Loyal. And," his voice caught, "and they're not here." Perhaps he missed them? Firsa asked and got a negative in response. "Not as much as they'd like me to," he said. But she could tell that he was lying.

~*~

That night, after dinner, Firsa invited Jacek back to her weyr. Their conversation earlier that day, when they'd gone riding together, lingered in her mind but she found herself asking him anyway. He'd agreed with more bravado than confidence, and then she'd taken him by the hand and led him to her bed, where they kissed and slowly undressed. His hands were calloused and rough against her breasts, his beard a constant brush that made her knees weak and small tendrils of fire curl outward from her middle. She twined around him, pushed him down, took charge and led them to both a climax. He was from the Hold, and consequently wasn't very experienced. She hadn't expected him to be.

Afterwards they lay in silence, listening to the even breathing of the near-stranger that lay in their arms. Jacek's chest hair curled against Firsa's cheek and she could hear his heart beat. He smelled of snow and leather and sweat, and when she licked her lips she could still taste a faint saltiness. He was running his hand through her hair. "I'm sorry," he said.

Firsa looked up at him and rested her chin on his chest. "For what?"

"For..." Jacek frowned, then rolled away and sat up. "I can't do this." The Beastcrafter was silent. She drew her blankets around herself as he put his head in his hands. "I lied to you. I'm sorry."

"Lied about what?" Firsa already knew the answer.

Jacek wouldn't look at her. "I'm... I'm married. My wife just had our first child a few months ago. I can't- it was arranged. I don't love her, and after Wenek's birth I don't find her attractive anymore.
She's fat and she's the mother of my _child_, for Faranth's sake!"
Firsa reached out and gently ran her hand down his back, but Jacek flinched from her touch. "I just wanted- I can't do this. I'm sorry."
He reached for his pants and stood to pull them on. Firsa discretely averted her eyes until he was clothed - or his bottom half was anyway. "I'm sorry I used you. You deserve better." "It's all right," she said. Jacek smiled weakly, and looking sick with guilt gathered up the rest of his things and quickly left. Firsa lay back in the sheets and inhaled the scent of sex and _him_.
"You're not the only one who uses people for their own purposes," she told the dark. It didn't reply, and she didn't feel any better about it. It was a lonely night.

Last updated on the October 29th 2005

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Winter Weather 2