Freezing My Gams Off

Writers: Chelle, Paula
Date Posted: 7th November 2014

Characters: Nokala, Yanley
Description: The two women meet and Nokala expresses her concern over the weather.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 10, day 13 of Turn 7

Yanley

She was used to commanding curious stares when she entered a room and now
was no different. Nokala pulled her heavy fur coat closer around and headed
for the table near the hearth for warmth. The harper was finding it
difficult to get used to Dragonsfall in the winter but she was gamely
trying. At least there was heat inside, thank Faranth. Still, the fire in
her quarters burned most of the day and all night. If only there were
someone warm to sleep with. Her eyes roamed the Cavern, calculating.

Yanley was carrying Daley, propping him against her hip. The baby's nose was
running and he was being cranky. His face was crunched up to like he was
about to start bawling. "Now, now, no crying, sweetheart. I know you're not
feeling well right now," Yanley spoke to him soothingly.

"You know..a bit of lotion on his nose might help some." She wasn't exactly
a mother or even a fostermother but Nokala dealt with children often so it
was something she had learned.

"It might if he didn't constantly rub it off," Yanley replied with a sigh
and gave the other woman a friendly smile. "I've also tried menthol drops."

"Ah well. Fruit does wonders. Here, there's not much of it that's fresh."
She frowned, realizing once again the differences between her home and this
new place. Nokala tried to soak in the heat from the fire. "If it was
teething, I'd just say put a bit of alcohol on his gums, but of course it's
his little nose."

"It's a mild cold. Taren said it's nothing to worry about since he doesn't
have fever," Yanley said. She warmed her free hand over the fire. "Half of
the weyrbrats seem to have a running nose right now."

"I'm mildly afraid of contracting something worse myself. This is my first
winter in anything like this cold." To illustrate her point, she shivered
just a bit.

Having grown up in Amber Hills, which was tucked in near mountains, Yanley
was quite familiar with cold winters. "Don't worry, the winter is almost
over. It will get better soon. Well, wet and sloshy at first but warmer,"
she answered.

"I hope so. I feel like my feet have frozen off." Sighing, Nokala gulped
down hot klah. "And a harper needs her feet."

"So does an assistant Headwoman," Yanley replied. "I can't wait for summer."

"So what duties do you take care of?" Nokala was curious. She had seen the
knots and she understood that an assistant headwoman usually had a specific
sphere of influence. She wondered what Yanley was trusted to oversee. The
woman being raised in a Hold likely meant that she understood inventory
quite well. It was also good to know people who had influence.

"Most of the time I seem to be supervising candidates," Yanley replied. "I
also do my share of the hidework."

"Oh...well if there are any of them that need help with reading or
arithmetic..." She raised her finger to indicate she would help. Nokala had
done some of that back at her home Weyr and it was easy work.

"I keep that in mind," Yanley replied with friendly smile and nod.

Finishing her soup, she supposed she should go say hello to another harper
she saw come in. "It was nice meeting you, Assistant Headwoman. My name is
Nokala, senior journeyman harper." Dark eyes searched the Cavern for other
possibilities before focusing again on Yanley.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Yanley and this is Daley," Yanley replied.

"Hello Daley. Hope your nose gets better, little man," Nokala replied,
getting up. "Have to go see a colleague. I'll be sure to see you around."
And then she gave one of her easy grins before loping off.

"Well, that's very likely," Yanley replied and grinned at way she left.

Last updated on the November 16th 2014

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Freezing My Gams Off