Faces from the Past
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
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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: Eimi, Heather, Suzee
Date Posted: 16th April 2019
Characters: Benamil, Nazli, Nazima, Litram
Description: Nazli's destructive aunt and uncle show up at Amber Hills.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 7, day 27 of Turn 9
"But Benamil," Nazli sighed with a worried frown. "Do I have to go
with you to accept the Tithes?" It seemed to her like she was
redundant. But she also knew she was now part of the family.
Benamil's brow furrowed a bit as he turned to Nazli. It was unlike her
to complain, she typically took on the role of his wife in stride.
"It's customary," he answered. "Are you nervous? You won't have to do
anything but stand there," he assured her.
"Yes," she said. "Oh Ben," she shook her head. "My aunt and uncle
could be there. I just don't want to see them." Her voice trailed off.
She knew she couldn't avoid it forever but if he was there she wasn't
sure she would have the fortitude to deal with it. He was the one who
had assaulted her in the past. Her hands began to tremble so she
clutched them in front of her.
"I know," he pulled her in for a hug, "but you won't be there alone. I
will be there, and so will the rest of your new family."
She took a deep breath and blew it out to steady her nerves then
nodded. "Alright," she said. "Let's go."
--
"See, it's not so bad, is it?" Benamil murmured in Nazli's ear as he
patted her hand while wagons and animals loaded with baskets or sacks
were brought into the Hold.
"No," she smiled tentatively. But then she stiffened and gripped his
hand as her Aunt and Uncle came into view.
At almost exactly the same moment, as he reached for a rope to untie
the large canvass covering their load, Nazli's uncle's eyes feel on
the young woman. "Well, hello..." he murmured under his breath. He
nudged his wife with his elbow as she walked up beside him to help.
"Nazima, look." He jerked his head in the direction of the couple
standing close to the lead runner, though he looked back at his rope
to not draw too much attention to himself.
"Hmmm?" Nazima looked up in the direction he indicated and her eyes
widened. "Well, well, well, didn't we land on our feet." Her face did
an amazing transformation from her normally sour expression to a
pleasant sort of look. "Shall we go say hello?"
His hummed his agreement as he threw the rope he had just unknotted
over the canvass cover. "This I have to see with my own eyes."
Nazli felt a little stiff under his arm, but Benamil didn't think much
of it as he kept his arm around her shoulders. "Well met," he said
with a nod to the couple who was approaching.
"Nazli, sweetheart," Nazima said with a huge smile. "It's so good to
see you. We've missed you so." She reached out to put her arms around
the girl.
Nazli flinched. "Aunt Nazima," she gritted her teeth and stuck out her
hand instead.
Litram let the women talk as his attention turned to the man at
Nazli's side. "Lord Benamil! What a surprise, sir! How is it that
you have come to know our niece?"
Benamil's insides froze a little when he heard Nazli call the woman
"Aunt." Even though the woman reached out as if to hug Nazli, Benamil
did not release his wife from his side. "Nazli did me the honor of
becoming my wife, some months ago now," Benamil's face was the picture
of politeness, etiquette that had been drilled into him as a boy.
Nazima took the hand in both her own and smiled a false smile at the
pair. "She was always so lovely our little Nazli." Then she let go and
made her curtsy a muscle working in her jaw as she bent her head.
"Lord Benamil," she said. "We're so very pleased for you both." Of
course she was nothing of the sort.
Nazli wanted to run but she gritted her teeth and stayed right there
attached to her husband's side as though nothing would move her away.
"Ah, well, our Nazli finally caught her man," Litram said, turning his
eyes onto the young woman briefly with a deep smile that didn't quite
reach his eyes. After a moment, he turned back to him. "Lord
Benimil, after we have finished unloading our cart, I wonder if I
might have a word with you. Man to man."
**"Caught her man."** Benamil's jaw clenched, his fingers, which were
curled over Nazli's shoulder, tightened, in an effort not to punch the
man in the mouth. "Of course," he responded, teeth grinding into a
polite smile. Oh, he would love to have a "man to man" conversation
with Litram, one that wasn't so public.
Nazli felt a little faint and clung to Benamil. He wouldn't leave her
alone with them. Couldn't leave her alone with them. She just kept
repeating the same words in her head and closed her eyes for a moment
and when she opened them Aunt Nazima was smirking at her.
Feeling his wife's grip on him tightening, Benamil added, "Nazli, I'm
sure Lady Benani would be happy to host your aunt for some tea while I
speak with your uncle."
Her hands were shaking but she nodded. "Yes of course," she said.
"Come along Aunt Nazima, I'll introduce you to Lady Benani."
Nazima threw a victorious look at her husband and bounced off after
Nazli's quickly retreating back.
Last updated on the April 26th 2019