He's Not Here
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: Emma, Jane
Date Posted: 27th July 2009
Characters: K'sedel, K'hetah
Description: K'sedel visits his son at Dolphin Cove but finds K'hetah instead.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 3, day 21 of Turn 5
The Cyclone Wingleader stepped back to admire the sheen on his desk. After a moment he moved forward and buffed at one spot that looked as if it might be marginally smudged - but not enough that it needed more polish - and then stepped back again to admire his handiwork. Perhaps it was taking his clear desk preference a step too far, but it amused him to see the faces of people visiting the office when confronted with a completely empty desk in front of the Wingleader.
No ornaments, no papers, pens, hides, or charts. No clutter. Just bare, polished - highly polished - wood.
"K'deren," came a voice at the door. "Your sister and I thought we'd drag you away from the hide work for a bit."
"He's not here," K'hetah called out, opening on of the drawers under the desk's shining top and placing the polish and two cloths inside it. "Come in, though."
And that led the to the former Weyrleader of River Bluff, coming into the office, toddler in his arms. "You must be K'hetah?"
"I am." The younger bronzerider didn't need the other man's knots as a prompt; it would be a rare Wingleader that didn't know all of Pern's Weyrleading bronzeriders by sight. And K'sedel had been that until the last flight of River Bluff's senior queen. "I don't think we've met before, but I recognise you, K'sedel. And this is - " The younger man smiled at the child in the other man's arms. "K'deren's little sister?"
"My daughter Radela." The youngster managed a half smile before burying her head in her father's shoulder. "She was a surprise arrival, but one we enjoy having around. Although it will be fun trying to explain to her why she has nieces and nephews older than her in a few turns."
"I'm sure she'll enjoy trying to boss them around from her superior status as their 'Aunty Radela'." K'hetah indicated the Wingsecond's empty desk. "I don't know where he is. Not working, because the Wing's stood down for the day." He grinned. "We finally got the drill as good as it could be without Thread to practice with."
"Not that she hasn't got enough willing 'slaves' to bow to her every wish at the moment, and she knows it. Good job her Mama is a harper as well as a greenrider."
"Why? Because she is sensible in the face of rampant spoiling?"
"Pretty much," not that many weyrbrats were spoilt in the way that the children of holders could be. Many of them now were growing up with only one parent, or injured parents. They saw the facts of life fairly early on.
"Is she very much the youngest?" K'hetah asked. He knew that K'deren had other siblings - adult siblings - but didn't know if there were many in age between his Wingsecond and this little one.
"By turns, over twenty of them," admitted K'sedel.
"And are there any younger than her?"
"She's the youngest. Whether she had any younger siblings to come, nobody knows."
"Then she'd better enjoy being special now, in case she has to share it later. Would you like me to hunt up K'deren for you?"
"No, but thank you for the offer. I'm sure that Nikornath can help me track him down through Donneth."
"Enjoy your visit, then." K'hetah smiled down at the still-shy child. "You too, Radela."
"I'm sure we will. It was nice to meet you."
"And you, K'sedel," the younger man replied.
Last updated on the July 27th 2009