A Welcome Arrival
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: Estelle, Nici
Date Posted: 30th July 2005
Characters: Kohler, Enrizial
Description: Kohler arrives at Emerald Falls and is met by Enrizial
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 7, day 12 of Turn 3
It was just over a Turn since the holder of Green Valley had driven his wagon down the road leading to Emerald Falls, with his herdsmen driving their beasts along behind him. Then, he had been just another holder; now, thanks to his loyalty to Lord Enrizial during the brief reign of his half-brother, he was high in the Lord Holder's favour and it was Enrizial himself, not a guard, who awaited him by the side of the road.
"Kohler!" Enrizial was smiling, and all traces of the uncertainty he'd shown when he'd last visited Kohler at his home had vanished. "I got your message by Mirdra's firelizard. It's good to see you again!"
"The feeling is mutual!" Kohler shook hands with Enrizial. "Things look much improved around here...and you look...happy."
"I'm very well. And I have reason to be grateful to you for that, thanks to your advice." Enrizial took a seat beside Kohler, lowering his voice. "My Lady has come home to Emerald Falls."
"That's wonderful news, Lord Enrizial. Emerald Falls needs her, needs _both_ of you. Mirdra will be pleased when I tell her."
Enrizial only wished he could say the same for _all_ of his holders. While some were pleased that the Hold once again had a Lady and was being restored to its former magnificence, others were beginning to mutter about the extent of her influence over her husband. He refused to let such thoughts cloud his pleasure at seeing Kohler again, however. The holder was not only loyal and trustworthy - he was also a friend.
"How has Green Valley fared these past months?" he asked.
"It's been a stellar year and I think you'll be happy with what I've brought you. You in turn can catch me up on any other news I've missed, perhaps?"
"Of course. You'll eat with my Lady and myself at the high table tonight - and you can meet my daughters beforehand," Enrizial said, with the certainty of any proud parent that any visitor would want nothing more than to admire his children. "I'm glad to hear you've prospered..." He allowed himself a faint smile. "No doubt that was due in part to all those bovines you forced me to milk."
Kohler laughed. "Ah, but when you eat the meat and drink the milk from them, won't you feel a thrill of pride in knowing the part you had in it?"
"I'll feel something, all right," Enrizial said darkly, then allowed himself a more open grin. "How is Mirdra? And your fosterlings?"
"Mirdra is doing well as are all the fosterlings, especially one in particular..." Kohler thought of Cazlik and how much a part of their family he'd become. "Very well..."
"I'm glad to hear it," Enrizial replied, understanding what he meant. Until he himself fathered a son, Cazlik was the only male heir left to Emerald Falls. The child did not know it, but he might turn out to be very important. Still, most of the holders believed Cazlik to have died with his father, and Enrizial wanted to keep it that way for now. "Perhaps soon you and Mirdra will have children of your own to play with them."
"Unfortunately we've not been lucky enough, Lord Enrizial. I keep hoping. I'd like one or two sons to help carry on." Why Mirdra showed no signs of becoming with child were a mystery that he often tried not to think about--he wasn't going to give her up. Period.
"I'm sure you'll have them. You and Mirdra both have plenty of time, after all." Enrizial thought back to Kohler's wedding. It had been not long before Faraline had been born, and Faraline was only a few sevendays short of her first birthday. It was unusual that there'd been no sign of a child in all that time.
The cart drew up before the Hold and Enrizial jumped down, his demeanour becoming more formal as they came within earshot of holders and guardsmen. "I bid you welcome to Emerald Falls. My men will take care of your wagons and herdbeasts, and I hope you'll stay for dinner after you've seen the Steward and myself."
Kohler tipped his wide brimmed hat to Enrizial and smiled. Odd how two such different men, with turns between them could be...friends. But they were and there it was. "With pleasure, Lord Enrizial, with pleasure!"
Last updated on the September 6th 2005