Worst. Family Reunion. Ever. (1/2)

Writers: Avery, Leigh M-F.
Date Posted: 15th December 2015

Characters: Talwynn, Eionen, A'kua
Description: If he survives this, making things right with his son will be a snap. Right?
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 22 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: NPCs Bailan and Shastia, Lissath and Genna, Kenirath and D'kere,
Chioneth and Saibra.
Notes: (Dun dun duuuuuun!)

The tithe train was small, but reliable, and it moved fast. The harper was
actually surprised by how much ground they had been able to cover once they
left the minor hold in Dragonsfall's territory. He was also surprised that
in all his traveling, he couldn't recall if he had ever been to this
particular Weyr. But Bailan had said this was a possible place to go, so he
was glad to be here, even if it meant he would get pointed in yet another
direction. The tithe train came to a halt along the wall of the Weyrbowl,
and people began dismounting and hopping off wagons. Eionen dismounted from
the runnerbeast he'd been loaned, passed it off to one of the holderfolk,
and looked around for someone to talk to.

Over there was a woman and a green dragon. Dragons could speak to minds;
maybe this one would at least have some useful gossip. Eionen approached
them, trying to stand up straight and look less tired and bedraggled than
he actually was. "Excuse me, but would you have a moment?"

Talwynn turned to face the person addressing her. He was unfamiliar, which
probably meant he'd come in with the tithe train. What would he want with
her?

"I do," she said guardedly.

"Thank you very much," Eionen said, bowing politely. "My name is Eionen,
journeyman harper. I'm looking for a young man named Aluka, from minor hold
Bex," he went on, the words spoken so often by now they came out sounding
like lines from a play. "He's my height, with red hair, blue eyes, and a
distinctive drawl. He might have had a bass gitar with him. I- I've been
told we look rather alike. Please, has- has he been here?" he asked
anxiously.

"Good to meet you, Harper. I'm Talwynn of green Riveth," she said. It was
an honorable craft. But then she listened to his story, and her eyes
narrowed. Who was this man looking for A'kua? And why?

"Red hair and blue eyes...unique combination," she said to buy time. "Why
are you looking for him?"

Eionen scratched at his growing stubble before answering. This part somehow
still didn't come easily. "Well, I- I have reason to believe I'm his
father," he said hesitantly. "I also have news from someone he cared for in
the hold."

Talwynn hadn't gotten close to A'kua yet, not like some of his friends. But
she felt an affection for the bronze weyrling. And there had been some
rumors swirling around his family. With those in mind, her next words were
surprisingly cautious.

"Let me check in with the weyrlings, see if there's anyone like that," she
temporized.

"Thank you so much," Eionen said fervently. "Truly, thank you."

"I'll let you know what I find," she said.

She turned away from him and half-closed her eyes. }:Riveth, could you tell
Zeiranth that someone from a caravan wants to see him?:{

As she waited for an answer, she wondered about the rumors. His dad was
nasty. His dad had left him. Wasn't he an orphan? So who _was_ this man?

The reply from the baby bronze was quick. }:A'kua is very confused. He says
there's no one from outside the Weyr who could be looking for him. His dam
is dead, the girl he cared for didn't care about him, and his sire doesn't
know he exists.:{

Riveth forwarded Zeiranth a picture from her rider's eyes. }:He looks like
this.:{

There was a pause. }:A'kua says that man seems familiar, but he doesn't
know him. Why does he want to talk to my partner? Is he from that place
A'kua doesn't like thinking about?:{

Eionen fidgeted, trying to be patient, but his nervousness showed clearly
in the way he cracked his knuckles, twisting his wrists inward and curling
his fingers from pinky to thumb. The gesture was very similar to the
threatening motion A'kua had used from time to time among other weyrlings.

"Why don't you take a seat?" Talwynn asked, seeing the man fidget. "This is
a big Weyr, it might take more than 5 minutes for me to find someone."

}:He says he's from a minor hold and he wants to talk to your rider. My
rider is suspicious. She says yours doesn't have to talk to him.:{

}:A'kua is suspicious too, and-:{ Another pause as the little bronze
searched for the right word. }:Apprehensive? But he wants to get to the
bottom of this. He wants to know if you and the man will come to the
classroom. He's leaving the dining cavern now.:{

}:We will. Also, mine says if yours gets nervous, we call a big dragon to
help.:{ When Riveth thought big dragon she also sent over impressions of
gold hide.

Talwynn opened her eyes and turned back towards the man. "My green says
there's someone with red hair from a cothold who Impressed recently. Follow
me."

Eionen brightened at once. "Of course, greenrider!" he said, hastily doing
just that. Oh, he was so nervous! Was this really it? Was he finally going
to meet Shastia's boy? Talwynn had said "Impressed", too; if Aluka was this
person, that meant he had been and would be cared for and valued, so that
was a weight off his shoulders. Being at a Weyr was almost as good at being
in the Harper Hall.

The further they went, the harder Eionen's hands shook. He clasped them
behind his back like his old voice teacher, attempting to hide that to no
avail; the rest of him started shaking and his forehead started sweating
instead. He hadn't been this twitchy since his first stage performance. The
anxiety had nearly made him retch. At least now, as an adult, his digestive
system was under better control.

He hoped, anyway.

"Hold on a second," Talwynn said, stepping into a nearby classroom and
finding it empty. "I'll go see what the holdup is."

And by that, she meant she was going to check on A'kua first.

"Oh- Uh- Of course, greenrider," Eionen said, entering the classroom to
lean against the lecturer's desk. "Thank you again for all your help. I'm
at a loss for words to express how grateful I am." He fished a purple
handkerchief from his belt pouch and dabbed at his forehead, swallowing
hard as his anxiety ramped up.

She didn't say anything, just left to go a few rooms down to see A'kua.
Rather than waste time with pleasantries, she hopped right into what she
was dying to say. "So this guy says he's from a minor hold and he has news
about someone you cared about. Do you even want to talk to him or should I
tell him "nope, nobody here by that name?"

A'kua had been pacing and trying to keep Zeiranth distracted. He turned on
hearing Talwynn's voice, processing the information. "There was one person
besides my mother I cared about," he said. "Too much is addin' up here. I
need to know." He shook his head in bewilderment. "His face- I know his
face, but I've never seen him before. Did he tell you his name?"

"Journeyman Harper Eiornan?" she said. "He said he thought he might be your
father. He seems to like blurting out his story to everyone he meets," she
added caustically.

A'kua became very still. Ancients. Ancients, there was just no way this was
possible, and yet it was happening. "Where is he now?" he whispered, all
trace of accent gone.

"Three classrooms down. I wasn't gonna walk him in here if you didn't wanna
see him. I can tell him "nope, sorry, nobody by that name", and play the
poor stupid greenrider trick," she said again. And it was a measure of her
esteem that she'd do it.

A'kua didn't answer, instead rushing past her to the other classroom and
shoving the door open. Eionen jumped, startled, and their eyes met and
their breaths caught. The red hair with gold highlights, the shade of his
skin and shape of his lips, and dark blue eyes- oh, it was like looking
through time to see Shastia again. Eionen was completely overwhelmed by
absolute joy and relief. Here was his _son_. Aluka was safe, and he looked
healthy and well fed. "Oh," Eionen breathed, a hand going to his mouth,
then lowering. "Oh, you- You're everything Bailan said." He smiled shakily
but radiantly, exposing canine teeth that looked a lot like fangs. He
couldn't believe it. This was really happening! He pushed off the desk,
revealing them to be of a height thanks to their heeled boots. "That is- I
mean- You are Aluka, right?" he asked shakily, and touched his own chest
with his left hand. "I'm Eionen, Journeyman harper. Did- Did Shastia tell
you about me?"

Pern stopped spinning. His heart stopped beating. The name, dark red hair,
deep brown eyes, freckles, flamboyant clothing, the familiar face and teeth-

A'kua saw that face in a mirror every time he needed a quick shave.

Last updated on the December 21st 2015

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Worst. Family Reunion. Ever. (1/2)