Something Came Up (2/2)

Writers: Aaron, Estelle
Date Posted: 12th May 2019

Characters: Lorican, Brennault
Description: Brennault talks to Lorican after his arrival at Rocky Bay
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 10, day 22 of Turn 9
Notes: Takes place at Rocky Bay Hold

Brennault

"Not clearly," Lorican said. He reached for the sweetsand and began to
rub it in to his back and chest. "I remember parts of it, but not a
face. Nothing that would be useful to the guards, anyway. They'll get a
better description out of the smith who bought my tools, but I expect
whoever it was is long gone." He sighed. "I just hope he doesn't do this
to anyone else. I was lucky. Good thing we smiths have hard heads!"

Brennault relaxed a bit, though he was still troubled to be reminded
that whoever this was that had done this was still out there.

"Dad still hasn't heard anything new, either," said Brennault. Gossip
passed quickly among runners, but there was nothing when it came to the
assailant.

"But I'll let you know if he does."

"Thanks. But speaking of mystery attackers, what's been going on at the
Weyr? There's a rumor going round here that someone tried to kill a
dragonrider." Lorican shook his head in disbelief at the enormity of
such a crime. "Is it true?"

Brennault sat dumbfounded for a moment. That should have been the first
thing on his mind. Two attacks within such a short time of one another,
and Brennault had only just considered that they might be related. He
blushed hotly, embarrassed at his oversight. He could, he supposed,
blame it on his focus on Lorican's situation, but it had simply just not
occurred to him that it could have been related.

"I, uh... Ashes, I should have thought of that. They probably already
caught him, and I didn't even make the connection... Well. I'll be sure
to pretend I noticed all along next time I see my dad, yeah?" He laughed
nervously. "I don't know anything about who it is, or anything, but I
heard they caught whoever it was."

Lorican hadn't thought of that, either, since he knew the man in
question had no reason to carry out such an insane act. Or thought he
did. There'd been a lot about Jilmon he hadn't realized. He thought for
a moment. "But wait, if the person who sold my tools was the same that
attacked me, then he was traveling away from the Weyr, along the coast.
Why would he come back, especially if I was there and might recognize
him? I expect it was just a coincidence. Two different people."

He sank back into the water and gave the younger man a reassuring smile.
"It's good that they were caught, anyway. For a while there I was
worried they might think it was me, since I arrived in such unusual
circumstances, and disappeared about the same time. I was having visions
of a Wing of dragonriders turning up at the hold to drag me away."

"Right," said Brennault, nodding as his voice quieted. He was not sure
whether that was better or worse – that he had not considered whether it
might be the same assailant or that once he had, he did not see the
obvious reason why it could not be.

At least he never once thought it might be Lorican.

"I never even thought about that they might think you had something to
do with it. I'm glad you didn't have to go through any of that on top of
everything else. If it was the same person, you'd think he'd have used
one of your tools to do it so it would look like it was you. Except that
he should have stolen your tools once you got to the weyr and left you
walking about instead of for dead on the side of the road if he was
going to do it that way."

He smiled softly and added, "See, I *can* think things through if I give
myself half a minute before opening my mouth."

"Hey, it's all right. You didn't know about the tools," Lorican
reassured him, patting the young man on the shoulder. "I'm glad I can
come back to the Weyr without fear of arrest. I've been missing the
place! Although I'd better wait a few months until that healer
journeywoman has forgotten about me," he added. "I had to leave without
her clearing me to travel."

"The place has been missing you, too," said Brennault. "But yeah, it
might be best to stay out of the healer woman's way." That was likely
good advice in general, regardless of who the healer was. "I can take
this route again sometime," he offered. "It doesn't keep me away for
too, too long."

"I hope you will. Come back in a month or two, for certain." Lorican had
an idea of how he might show his gratitude to the runner for saving his
life, out on the road. The design was mostly clear in his head, but he
needed time to work on it. "But now your firelizard has seen Rocky Bay,
he can carry a message, can't he?" He grinned. "Good thing he can't
carry anything too heavy, or he'd be putting you out of a job."

"And then who knows what I would do," Brennault laughed. "I think he
could get back here if I needed him to before I come back myself," he
agreed. "I've never sent him anyplace but the waystation. Or to the weyr
from there. But as long as there's treats in it for him, I think he'd do
just about anything I would ask."

"Must be a funny thing. Having another creature's thoughts in your
head," Lorican said. "How does he manage with your running? Does he fly
alongside you, or go /between/ to your destination?"

"He usually flies along for a little while, and then betweens the rest
of the way. It might be because he's not full grown?" Brennault guessed.
"He rode along on my shoulders for the rest of the way the first time he
made it there, but he doesn't like being jostled."

"And it didn't take that long to get used to it," said Brennault.
"Hearing his thoughts, I mean. But then, I've had more than one dragon
tell me I could Impress if I Stood. So maybe that's why."

"Have you?" Lorican asked, intrigued. He knew very little about what
made a person a potential dragonrider, other than what the teaching
ballads told about Search. "So, are you going to? Stand, I mean."

"I don't think I will." Brennault wanted to tell Lorican that one of his
biggest reasons was that he wanted to ride bronze, but bronzes did not
want him for a rider. For now, he had a feeling that might make Lorican
more uncomfortable than it was worth. "Fire and death rain are pretty
far outside my wheelhouse," he said. "I'll leave it to the professionals."

"Don't blame you. As much as I'd like to fly again, I wouldn't care to
be out in Fall. Though, as we found out, the road isn't entirely safe
these days, either." Lorican ducked his head under the water to rinse
the foam from his hair. "Well, I'm getting out. Dinner should be served
soon." He smiled as he got to his feet. "You should get an extra
helping, since you're the reason the Holder's not looking for a new
smith right now."

Brennault finished up, too, and climbed out to dry off along with Lorican.

"I hadn't thought about that!" he said, excitedly. "I wouldn't dream of
asking for it, but I'll never turn down the offer of an extra helping of
dinner."

"I am glad," he said after a moment, "that you're still OK."

Lorican paused in the middle of towelling his hair dry. "Ah, I'm fine.
It takes more than some scrawny thief to get the better of a smith. It's
all behind me, now." He hoped. "As to your second helping, there's no
need to ask. I can put in a word with the cook on your behalf."

He winked. "You should make the most of the story. Don't be shy. You'll
have the girls hanging off your every word if you tell it right. And
I'll back you up."

"Shy and I have never met," said Brennault, easily grinning the most
broadly he had yet. "And speaking of things I'd never turn down if
offered, I am certainly happy to have you for a wingman." The prospect
of dandling a few hold girls on his knee for a bit of kiss and tickle
was enough to brighten Brennault's mood any time, any day.

The smith laughed aloud. "I doubt you'll need any help from me." The
arrival of a handsome young runner was bound to cause quite a stir among
the girls of Rocky Bay. In fact, he thought, they'd probably spotted him
on his way in. There would be some flirting and fine attire on display
this evening. "Come on, then. You must be starving after that run."

Brennault's stomach growled in agreement, and at the mention of food,
Marvel popped back in from between to cheep at them both.

"I can't argue with that!"

Last updated on the May 15th 2019

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Something Came Up (2/2)