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Story Listing
Series Listing

Weyrling Training

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 26th August 2005

Characters: Jio, Cinale
Description: Jio tells Cinale about Miryene's bruises.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 7, day 23 of Turn 3

Cinale

"And who is that beautiful creature?" Jio asked as he stepped into the kitchen. He had caught Cinale looking lovingly at a small green ball in her lap. A knowing smile crossed his lips.

"This beautiful creature would be Fey," she smiled, turning her face up to Jio as he approached. Gently, she smoothed a long finger over the fire-lizard's small body, admiring how smooth she was, how pretty her coloring was.

"She is beautiful," Jio admitted very proudly. His brown, Pomace, after all was the sire. "And this," he said as he held out a sleeping blue hatching that had been hidden between his body and his arm, "is Mulch."

She grinned up at him, moving over so he could sit beside her on the bench. "And what a handsome blue he is! What does his sire think of him?"

Jio chuckled. "I think Pom is quite proud. I have never seen him preen so much. I think he wants all the lady flits to see how virile he is."

"Quite virile," she laughed, shaking her head as she turned her gaze back to her sleeping hatchling. Gently, she fitted one palm around the slender curve of Fey's back and wings, a motherly look crossing her face. "You'll have to give me pointers on how to train her," she told him after a moment.

"Certainly." Jio replied before a sly smile spread across his face. "Although, I do hear that our new Hallsecond has an excellently trained _bronze_ flit. Perhaps he could teach you a thing or two?"

Hearing his tone, the cook glanced up at him. She wondered if there was a double meaning behind his words... And in seeing that sly smile, she knew there probably was. Deciding not to rise to the bait, she just smiled at him. "I'm sure he can. Maybe that bronze of his can teach my little beauty some good habits."

"She is a little beauty," Jio agreed. "Miryene Impressed green as well."

"Did she? I'm glad, Jio." **Maybe that will bring some smiles to her again...**

"Yes, she looked so happy. It was nice to see." But the smile faded from Jio's face. A look of doubt took it's place. Finally he said quietly, "Cinale, I must talk to someone about something. It's something that is troubling me deeply. You our my good friend, and you are Miryene's too, so I feel comfortable talking to you about it. Can I tell you?"

Cinale looked into his eyes. "Of course you can, Jio. Don't ever hesitate..."

"I know, I know," Jio nodded. Of course she was always there for them. But this? "It's just that...well, it's a very sensitive thing, and I just am hesitating to involve you, not in trusting in you."

"Tell me, hon."

The journeyman sighed, relieved and at the same time feeling guilty for unburdening his fears to Cinale. "Twice when I have been to visit Miryene, I have found...well, unusual bruises on her face, neck and arms."

Cinale's fingers stilled over the sleeping Fey, her eyes searching Jio's as the implications of his words hit her with a sudden force. "Did you ask her about them?" She kept her voice low and even.

"She said they were accidents. But I don't believe it," he answered matter of factly.

"How severe were they?"

Jio's forehead knotted as he remembered the deep purple bruises. "Bad enough to tell they were no accident."

"Oh, Jio..." She felt an icy fear clutch at her. But Jhonnel...he _couldn't_ have...could he? But Miryene had said that they hardly saw each other... "Jhonnel?"

"I don't know what to do, Cinale," Jio said with a frustrated shake of his head. "She denies it. But I know what I saw."

She was silent for a long moment as conflicting thoughts whirled in her mind. Finally, she told him quietly, "I need to see her, Jio."

"I think that is a good idea. Please see her and tell me I'm not just imagining things." Though Jio did not like the fact that Miryene had married Jhonnel, he truly did wish her happiness with him. She deserved no less. If it turned out that Jhonnel was hurting her...

Cinale looked up at him. "I will, Jio."

~*~

Eimi (sea_spray_singer@fastmail.fm)
Jio, Sr. Jr. Vintner, ACH-VH

Dana (dana@triadweyrs.org)
Cinale, head of the kitchens, ACH-VH

Last updated on the August 26th 2005