Tea And Dragons (1 of 2)
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyrhold
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Elsewhere on Pern
NPC Weyr (NPC)
River Bluff Weyr
Seacraft Hall
Writers: Heather, Suzee
Date Posted: 18th April 2019
Characters: Benani, Nazli, Siya, W'ser, Nazima
Description: Nazima has tea with the Lady Holder
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 7, day 28 of Turn 9
Notes: Directly follows "Faces from the Past"
Mentioned: Benamil
"Remind me again why we are having tea with this woman?" Siya asked
Benani as they waited in the Lady's parlor to receive their guests.
"She has no ties to the Blood and she's just here delivering tithes."
Benani stood like a tower in the room. Warm and friendly to those she
knew and loved, she could be every inch the unimpressed Lady Holder
when it was needed. Her sister Yanley had taught her well. "She's
here to make trouble for Lady Nazli, and we're not going to let her,"
her smile held no warmth as the woman entered the room.
Nazli hurried over to her sister-in-law and mouthed "I'm sorry,"
without making a sound.
Benani gave her a small shake of her head though it was a much warmer
look than the one she gave the woman behind her.
"Lady Benani, may I present my Aunt," Nazli said with a tilt of her
head as she turned back around to stand next to Benani watching Nazima
oil her way into the room with an ingratiating smile. "Aunt Nazima,
Lady Benani."
Benani hesitated a moment before extending her hand to the woman.
Nazima, completely unaware of the type of manners to display in front
of the blood was simultaneously attempting an awkward curtsey and to
take Benani's hand rather than just lightly clasp her fingers for a
moment. "My Lady, such a pleasure to meet you. I never thought I'd
have such a wonderful opportunity." Her eyes were everywhere in the
room like she was evaluating the worth of every piece of furniture and
plate in the room.
"Yes, well," Benani withdrew her hand. "Won't you have a seat?" She
waved toward the round table where tea was laid and herself took a
seat.
Nazli moved to another and threw a pained look at Siya.
Siya had all but refrained from snorting outright at the woman's
attempt at a curtsy-handshake. In her opinion, they shouldn't even be
entertaining this sort of petty family squabble. If Nazima was trouble
then toss her out on her rump, it looked big enough to cushion her
fall, and call it a day. Releasing a long-suffering sigh, hidden
behind a politely poised hand, Siya lowered herself into her seat,
adjusting her skirts about her as she did so.
**If I were the Lady this sort of thing wouldn't be tolerated,** Siya
thought, glancing at her Aunt Benani, who was younger than she by only
a Turn or so, but it was enough in Siya's mind to convince herself
that she knew better than the Lady Holder.
Benani glanced at Siya but her expression didn't change. She was
giving her brother the chance to deal with the uncle and didn't plan
on cutting his time short so her niece would just have to deal with
it. The tea seemed to move as slow as syrup but at last the finger
foods were gone and she could send the woman off.
Nazli rose as she saw the dismissal in Benani's eyes. "Well Aunt
Nazima, shall we go find Uncle and Benamil?"
"No," Nazima said rudely to her niece. "Sit down girl."
Nazli drew in a breath and opened her mouth.
But Benani cut in first. "You don't give commands in this room
Nazima," she said with narrowed eyes. "We," she motioned to Siya and
Nazli, "Are Ladies of the blood. Siya and I by birth and Nazli by
marriage to my brother. Therefore you will call her Lady Nazli if she
allows you to speak to her at all."
Nazima's bushy eyebrows rose almost to her hairline. The Lady had been
so nice to her all through tea she could only imagine what Nazli mush
have done or said. "What has she told you? What lies has she been
spouting?"
Siya's eyebrows shot into her hairline and her eyes slid sideways to
judge Benani's facial expression. She hadn't been around her uncle's
wife much, only enough to know that the wedding had been a very quick
one. Siya had wondered when the news came that they were to be married
what Benamil had seen in Nazli, the woman was so nervous and quiet,
she thought. **Although she's married and I'm not, I suppose I don't
have room to talk,** she thought sourly, bringing her cup of tea back
up to her mouth as she observed the tension in the room.
Nazima's face turned ugly, "She's nothing but the illegitimate get of
a randy dragonrider. Did she tell you that? She's no more blood than I
am a..."
"Auntie, please," Nazli cried.
"Enough," Benani shouted and stood suddenly to her feet. Her guard
canine growled in warning. "It is time for you to leave." She called
her canine to heel and sailed from the room toward the Hold entrance.
Last updated on the April 26th 2019