Bearer of Bad News Already Borne (1/2)

Writers: Aaron, Estelle
Date Posted: 13th February 2019

Characters: Brennault, R'fal
Description: Brennault has news for R'fal and asks Lydela to help find him
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 7, day 6 of Turn 9

Brennault

Brennault ran his hand through his damp hair as he headed back out into
the bowl to track R'fal down. His letters all delivered and having had a
bath, he was free to attend to his own business. He might have wanted to
grab a bit more to eat than a quick snack, but it was more important
then to check on R'fal first of all.

Brennault looked up to gauge the time, but then he realized knowing what
time it was really did not give him much of an idea of where R'fal might
be. Well. There were dragons all around a weyr, and if he found one with
a rider he recognized, he could ask for them to find Marlath for him.
And Marlath would know where to find R'fal.

There. That was one of the ones R'fal had introduced him to the last
time he was at the weyr. Brennault waved and jogged toward them.

Lydela was walking across the weyr bowl with Liannith, fresh from a swim
in the lake. The young green's hide gleamed with oil, and she arched her
neck, casting her gaze from side to side to see if she was attracting
any attention. She was often this way after her bath, but every time, it
made her rider smile and assure her that she was very beautiful indeed.

As they passed the entrance to the lower caverns, she caught sight of
someone waving. It was that good-looking runner from dinner the other
night - R'fal's friend! And while Liannith was looking her best, her
clothes were damp from the green's splashing and she was sure there was
oil in her hair. Still, at least she was clean. She smiled and raised a
hand in greeting as he approached.

Brennault did not take long to remember the name that went with this
beautiful face. He returned the smile and slowed to a walk.

"Lydela!" he greeted her. "Lovely to see you again. And you, pretty
lady!" He felt a twinge of guilt for not so easily remembering the
green's name. "You look resplendent today." He made a little bow to the
green.

"I hate to be a bother, but I've just gotten in, and I hoped I might
convince you to do me a small favor. Perhaps I might buy you a drink to
make up for it." No, not a drink! They had only just gotten in trouble
for that. "Once it's permitted, of course."

Lydela laughed. "One glass should be fine. I can hold my drink a lot
better than R'fal," she added, remembering how they'd teased the brown
weyrling mercilessly about that over dinner when Brennault had been
there. "What can I do for you?"

Brennault laughed with her, relieved that drinking was not completely
out of bounds after all. One drink was perfect.

"Well, speaking of R'fal, I got some news from his home cot, and I
wanted to make sure he's heard it," he explained. "Would you please ask
Marlath," he then asked directly to the green, "to ask R'fal to meet
me?" He reached out slowly to offer his hand for scratchies, if she
wanted them.

Liannith crooned gently and lowered her head, bumping her snout against
his hand. Meanwhile, her rider reached up to stroke the green's neck, a
slight frown creasing her brow.

"She says she can ask, but I'm not sure what he'll say. R'fal has been
acting really strangely these last few days. He spends all of his free
time in his weyr and hardly talks to anyone." She bit her lip. "We were
all wondering if the Weyrlingmaster told him he can't graduate to the
Wings with us. Because of the party, or something. But he won't say what
it is."

"I understand if he won't come down," said Brennault, happily scratching
Liannith. "If he won't answer, then at least you can definitely take me
up on that drink as soon as you're not busy." He offered what he hoped
was a reassuring smile and then patted Lydela's arm.

Brennault suspected that whatever it was keeping him secluded had more
to do with the news from home than it did from the party, but who could
say unless he agreed to talk?

"I've asked her to tell him that you have news from his home. That might
cheer him up." Lydela's eyes took on a faraway look as she spoke with
her dragon. "Oh, he's going to come down and meet you."

Although she was curious to hear the news, and maybe find out what was
bothering R'fal, Lydela's instincts told her that she'd better leave the
two young men to talk together. "I've got to go and get Liannith
settled. Maybe we can get that drink later?" She could ask what he'd
found out then.

Brennault suspected that his news would do nothing of the sort, but he
was going to keep that to himself. Runners knew very well to keep
personal information private, even if this was technically a broad rumor
when it started.

Still, the runner smiled and nodded. "Where should I meet you?" he
asked. It might have been a bad idea to ask Marlath to ask for him,
considering the mood R'fal was bound to be in when they were done
talking. "Give me a little while to make sure everything's OK with
R'fal, and then I'll see if I can find someone else to tell Liannith
it's time, alright?"

"I'll be in the dining cavern, with the other weyrlings." Lydela smiled
and turned to go, then stopped and looked back over her shoulder. "Tell
him we hope he's all right, won't you? And that we want to see him,
outside of drills."

Brennault smiled softly and nodded. He knew what it was like to miss
friends, living on the road as he did. But this was not quite the same.
This was a matter of something keeping him alone. Something Brennault
might be able to help with.

"I will," he said. And then he turned to look up toward where he was
pretty sure R'fal's weyr was.

A few moments passed, then there was movement on one of the high-level
weyr ledges. A dragon emerged, crouched on the edge to allow his rider
to mount, then spread his wings and glided down towards the bowl and the
clear space where Liannith had just left.

Last updated on the February 28th 2019

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Bearer of Bad News Already Borne (1/2)