AHH-LRmH: A Muddy Mystery
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 9th June 2017
Characters: Benamil, R'axe, Avral, Peckett
Description: Benamil is transported by Bluerider R'axe to Lantern Ridge, but something strange is going on at the minor hold.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 12, day 2 of Turn 8
"The dragonrider is here, sir."
"Thank you, Yaermen." Benamil slung his canvas bag over his shoulder and clapped the old drudge on the shoulder before striding out to the waiting blue dragon.
A blue dragon.... Benamil had learned enough in harper studies to know the kind of men who rode blue dragons... Men like him. He privately wished he could ask the blue dragonrider a few questions, but there really was no good way to broach the questions that he had without giving away his secret.
"Well met, I am Benamil," he said as he came up to the dragonrider, arm extended.
"R'axe, and this is Jayth," the bluerider had an easy going smile as he took Benamil's arm in greeting.
"My duties to your dragon. I am very grateful for the transportation."
R'axe tipped his head at the thanks, inwardly grateful for Benamil's friendly nature. Sometimes the bluerider showed up to transport a holder and they got all huffy about having to ride on a blue instead of a brown or bronze.
}:Why should they be huffy? They should be honored to be in my presence.:{ Jayth sniffed, although R'axe could detect the underlying tease in his lifemate's tone.
"Heading to Lantern Ridge, huh?" R'axe asked, taking the man's bag and stowing it safely away for the trip.
"Yes, they had a rock slide there, took some considerable damage to one of their mines, as well as some of their cots." Benamil watched as the taller man climbed to his lifemate's neckridge with impressive agility.
R'axe shook his head at the news of the rock slide, "That's some bad luck, for sure." He reached down for Benamil and helped the beastcrafter up into the padded, leather seat, made specifically for carrying multiple passengers.
"When it rains it pours." Benamil responded.
"So what will you be doing at Lantern Ridge?" R'axe asked curiously as he clipped Benamil into the straps.
"Lord Zathris is my brother-by-marriage, so I'm basically going to be an extension of him. He can't leave Amber Hills to give physical support and aid to Lantern Ridge but I can. Supplies and men have already been sent ahead, I'm just going to make sure they do their job and to make Lord Avral feel as though Amber Hills is doing all it can to help."
"Ah, an ambassador of good will then."
Benamil grinned a little, "Or glorified baby-sitter, either works."
R'axe barked out a laugh. He liked this holder. "Let's get you to Lantern Ridge then."
He must have spoke mentally to his dragon, Benamil thought, because without another word the blue crouched and then sprang aloft, leaving the heights of Amber Hills behind quickly with large sweeps of his wings.
~*~
Lantern Ridge was a small mining cothold nestled into a mountain range east of Amber Hills. The place would normally have been beautiful, Benamil thought, but currently there was thick mud everywhere from heavy rains, not to mention the ruined and splintered homes courtesy of the rock slide.
Jayth hovered where he was for a moment, letting his rider and passenger take in the aerial view of Lantern Ridge before flying down and landing in a flat field area not far from the main gates.
"Thanks for the ride," Benamil said as R'axe removed the riding straps and helped him down.
"Any time," R'axe tossed down Benamil's bag. "Good luck here," R'axe said, noting the looks he and Jayth were receiving from the cotholders who had turned up at the sight of the dragon in the sky.
Benamil noticed the skeptical looks as well, a few of outright animosity he thought, "Thanks." He thumped Jayth's flank in gratitude before stepping back so that the bluerider could leave.
R'axe and Jayth wasted no time in hanging around Lantern Ridge, as soon as the holder from Amber Hills stepped away Jayth took off again.
"Excuse me, I'm here to see Lord Avral." Benamil said to the person nearest him with understeward rank knots.
The man had a sharp, pointed face and shrewd eyes. He didn't even try to hide the way he sized Benamil up, "Lord Avral is this way, although we were expecting Lord Zathris himself."
That statement bewildered Benamil. Why were they expecting Zathris? The Amber Hills Lord had made it quite clear that he would be sending a representative in his place. With the things going on around the main Hold there was no way Zathris could be absent for any extended period of time.
Trudging through the muck proved to be difficult as Benamil's boots kept wanting to sink into the sticky mess. How much rain had they gotten? And where was the grass? Surely they weren't one of those cotholds that believed in no greenery because of Thread. Farming taught that no grass or trees were a good way to cause erosion, **And possibly a rock slide?** Benamil wondered.
Benamil tried wiping his boots on the threadbare rug that was laid at the main entrance of the Hold, but it wasn't enough to stop the muddy boot prints he left behind as he followed the pointy-faced understeward to Lord Avral.
Lord Avral was a tall, severe looking fellow, and he sighed through his long nose when he looked up and saw his understeward enter in with Benamil.
"The servants said they saw a blue dragon. I knew then that Zathris wasn't coming, a Lord Holder would surely warrant a bronze escort at least." Avral didn't even bother standing as he looked Benamil over. "Who are you?"
Benamil licked his lips, wondering if no one had read the letter Zathris had sent ahead. "I am Benamil, son of Benaroy, and Lord Zathris's brother-by-marriage. Lord Zathris regrets that he cannot -"
Avral waved off the excuse with one of his large hands, "Don't bother with the pleasantries. The Lord Holder couldn't be bothered to come, is all you need to say. Well? Did he at least send some supplies?"
"Supplies were sent ahead days ago, they should have reached you already." Benamil's eyebrows were furrowed in confusion. What was going on here?
"Ha!" Avral barked a laugh of outrage. "You're the first person from Amber Hills we've seen. It's been days since we sent to Amber Hills for aid."
"Lord Zathris sent a letter to let you know that -"
"I've not received any letter from Zathris. Not that a letter would have sufficed anyway. I knew he couldn't be bothered to come all the way out here."
Benamil didn't know what to do. Clearly there had been a break down in communication, and where were those supplies that had been sent ahead?
"If you would be so kind as to allow me a room, I will contact Zathris and see if we can't resolve this situation."
Avral waved another dismissive hand, as if he didn't care what Benamil did, "Peckett, see him to a room."
The pointy-faced understeward came forward. "This way."
Benamil inclined his head politely to his host, "Thank you, Lord Avral. I promise we'll get this fixed. Amber Hills has not forgotten Lantern Rige." At least, he hoped they hadn't. What kind of mess had Zathris gotten him into?
Last updated on the June 16th 2017