Sanctuary

Writers: Eimi, Yvonne
Date Posted: 29th January 2006

Characters: K'far, Firsa
Description: K'far seeks sanctuary in the stables... although Firsa doesn't seem to impressed by it.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 9, day 13 of Turn 3

There was one place where the brownrider felt drawn to whenever he needed to brighten his day. Despite the chill, he wrapped his weyrhide jacket around himself, pulled his riding cap down around his ears, and braved the cold winds as he walked towards the stable.

"Sharding woman" he muttered over and over.

}:Stop thinking about the annoying one,:{ his Torth's voice rolled sleepily in his mind.

**Sorry, love,** K'far replied, breathing deeply of the cool air to calm himself.

The brownrider stamped the snow off his feet as the smell of fresh hay mixed with the unmistakable sent of runners washed over him. It had been a long time since he had indulged in one of his favorite past-times. Now seemed like a good time. Perhaps it would help get his mind off of things...

"Can I help you?" The stablemaster stood just inside the stable door, a tacked up runner impatiently waiting beside her. It wasn't often that dragonriders invaded her domain, although there seemed to be more of them after the late Weyrwoman's passing.

"Yes, actually," he said with a brightening smile. Just being around the runners seemed to have a calming effect on him. "I was wondering if I could borrow a runner for a couple candlemarks."

"Why?" Firsa asked. "Just for riding?"

"I thought a little fresh air could do me good," he nodded, absently reaching up to scratch the muzzle of a grey runner peeking his head over the stall door, hoping for a little attention.

"And... you can ride?" Firsa sounded a little doubtful. "Riding, that's when you put one leg on each side of the runner and..." he waved off his pathetic excuse at a joke. "Yes, ma'am. I've been riding for about eight turns now."

"Riding runners, not dragons?"

"Amazingly I can ride both," he smiled.

"Good for you." Firsa looked at the runner beside her - Rainy was impatient to get out, but it looked as though they'd both have to wait. She was going to ride along the fence line for the dragons' feed enclosure; it was a monthly task that she enjoyed. "Can you tack up?"

"I've seen it done enough times, but..." he shrugged. "I guess the Dolphin Cove stablemaster didn't trust a dragonrider with his runners."

**I can't imagine why not.** Firsa gave Rainy an apologetic pat, then turned the mare around and led her back into her stall. The runner balked for a moment, but then resigned herself to the inevitable. The Journeywoman loosened the girth and removed Rainy's bridle before turning her attention back to K'far. "Right. Well. I'll tack up... Leaf for you." Leaf was old, good-natured, and slow moving.
The dragonman would have a hard time falling off the gelding. "What's your name?" "K'far." He followed her into the stall were the hay-colored gelding stood waiting. "I'm sorry if I interrupted you."

The Journeywoman shrugged. "It happens. Although it's not often by dragonriders." She slipped a halter over the gelding's head, shoo'ed K'far out the stall door, and led the runner out after him. She clipped a lead attached to the wall to one side of his halter and Leaf shook his head in protest. "Not many of you show an interest in runners unless it's a runner for your dragon's belly."

"Well, I assure you, I have no intention of feeding him to Torth," K'far laughed. "Riding is just a hobby of mine. It started out as a way to impress a lady, but I found I really like it and have kept up with it ever since."

"Mmmm." The stablemaster fetched a curry comb and a soft brush, the latter of which she tossed to K'far. "Make yourself useful and brush him after I've curried him. Long strokes, and flick the dust and loose hair off at the end of each one."

"Yes, ma'am," he smiled as he fell in line behind her. "So are any of these yours?"

She shook her head. "Only one."

"The one down there?" he asked as he shook out the brush at the end of the stoke.

Firsa glanced over at where her dapple grey mare stood impatiently in her stall. Rainy laid her ears back in annoyance. "Very astute, brownrider."

"Why thank you. Making astute observations is only one of my many talents," he smiled, choosing to ignore the sarcastic tone in her voice. The Journeywoman chose to ignore his reply all together, and instead moved around to the other side of the runner. Leaf sighed, shook his head, and cocked a hip as she stopped to inspect a small cut on his neck. It looked like another runner had bit him. "You'll have to be careful where you put your hands. He's got a sore spot."

K'far moved around to stand behind her. "Ah, so he does. All right, I'll be careful of that."

He stood too close; she could feel the heat from his body brushing against her arm. Firsa stepped away and tossed the curry comb into Leaf's feed box - she'd pick it out later. "Finish brushing him, but watch out around his withers because he's a little ticklish. I'll be back in a moment." When she turned, she could feel him watching her as she walked back down the hall. **Stop it,** she told herself. **So he looks a little like Daremek. So what?**

"Sounds like your friend there has some sort of chaffing going on under her saddle, doesn't it boy," K'far whispered to the gelding as he continued to brush. He shook his head and chuckled. She must really not like dragonriders. It was too bad...

The Journeywoman returned a few minutes later with a saddle over one arm, and a bridle draped over the other. The bridle she handed to K'far before lifting the saddle onto Leaf's back and settling it into place.
She tugged the corners of his saddle blanket more because it was a reassuring gesture then because it was effective, and she poked him in the belly as she tightened his girth - the elderly runner liked to hold his breath so that it wasn't as tight. Nice for the runner- but bad for the rider if the saddle slipped. "Bridle, please?"

The brownrider obediently held it out for her. He smiled as he watched her work. She obviously knew her runners! "How long have you been working with the runners here?"

"Here? Since I was old enough to apprentice." She stood alongside Leaf's head with the bridle in one hand, ready to slip into his mouth. He wouldn't accept the bit straight off, so she grabbed his jaw and stuck her fingers into the corner of his mouth to tickle his tongue.
The runner opened his mouth reluctantly. K'far chuckled to himself. He certainly didn't envy her slimy fingers after that maneuver. "So you're Weyrbred then?"

"No." She buckled Leaf's cheek strap, then handed the reins to K'far and unclipped the gelding from the wall. "Lead him outside and wait for me there."

The brownrider nodded his understanding and watched as the journeyman stepped out of the stall. He gave Leaf's nose a friendly pet as he whispered, "You're lady's a friendly sort, isn't she. Somehow I get the feeling, she doesn't like dragonriders. But you and me, I can tell, we'll be good friends."

He gently led the gelding out into the fresh winter air. The runner nodded his head excitedly as they waited for the journeywoman as they had been instructed.

She appeared a moment later leading her own runner, who had lost her impatient look. Firsa told K'far to mount his runner and adjusted his stirrups for him, then climbed onto Rainy's back. Her breath puffed white into the cold air. "All right. Walk him to the fence, then trot back again."

"Ah, this is the 'I don't think you know what you're doing' test, is it?" he grinned. Before she could answer he applied pressure to Leaf's sides and steered him in the direction of the fence. The gelding took it at a nice leisurely walk, and K'far could already feel a smile spread across his face as he enjoyed the gentle rocking and rhythmic motion. It was so soothing. Reaching the gate, he gently pulled the reins to get Leaf to turn back and brought the gelding back in at a nice easy trot. "And still no runner-eating dragon in sight. Do you trust me with your runner yet, journeywoman?"

She gave him a long, impassive look. "Guess I'll have to," she said finally, then sighed. "There's some trails along the west fence line that lead into the trees, or you could go along the cliff top. If you head toward that hill there," she said, pointing, "You'll hit the main road. Just don't run him hard or be out too long - you're heavy for him."

"Don't worry, journeywoman. I won't break your runner," he said with a grin and a wink before turning the gelding off in the direction of the hill. He could help a glance over his shoulder as he turned towards the main road, but by that time the woman and her runner were out of sight.

Last updated on the January 29th 2006

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Sanctuary