How Much You're Willing to Put In
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: Aaron, Curious
Date Posted: 6th April 2022
Characters: Ay'ell, Ç'pier
Description: Pierce has heard he might have a way to shake Blue's father off their tails.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 16 of Turn 11
Pierce's ear was always to the ground, and now that he had heard someone was asking after Blue on the mainland, he was listening even more closely than usual.
This was not the first Searcher he had run across since he hatched the plan to get to the Weyr. But this was a delicate thing. He could not simply approach and offer a bribe outright. For all he knew, the number of dragonmen willing to accept one was higher than the number who would not, but tact was tantamount. If he approached a Searcher too openly, and they rejected the offer, it was that much more likely that someone at the Weyr would know he did not belong there.
For this to work, he and Blue had to get themselves rooted in the Weyr before anyone could notice Blue's hearing loss and before Pierce got too old. They had to form relationships with people who would vouch for their ability to stay and contribute. The more people who could point at him and say, ‘that man tried to bribe me to Search him’, the less likely they would make it.
Running into someone at a tavern made things all the easier when it came to starting a conversation roundaboutwise, so things were off to a fair start when Pierce saw a man that fit the description finishing a drink.
"Hey, there, darlin'," he said to one of the servers as he pressed a coin into her hand. "Would you bring me a whiskey, and one more of what this fine gentleman is having?" He gave her a wink and when she had left to get the drinks, he nodded to the Searcher.
"Mind if I have a seat?" he asked.
No matter how cushy of a life Ay'ell arranged for himself, the fact remained that as a dragonrider, true leisure time was something of a commodity. When he got it, he liked to find a nice tavern, kick back with a nice drink, and just let all his worries wash away.
Letting his worries wash away usually meant not doing work of any sort. However, there were some opportunities that he always kept his eyes open for.
Money made the world go 'round.
Ay'ell offered Pierce a dashing grin. "After that? Not at all." He gestured to the seat beside him and downed the last of his drink before asking, "And what do I have the pleasure of calling you?"
"Call me Pierce," said the man. By his own grin, he most definitely found Ay'ell's countenance as dashing as he intended " and by the metal adorning his ears, it was clear where his appellation came from. "What about you?"
"Ay'ell." He paused, letting his grin grow wider before adding, "rider of blue Tseyth."
The server returned and set down the drinks. Pierce paid, along with a hefty tip, and then he raised his glass toward Ay'ell.
"To Tseyth," he said, never letting his smile fade. It was not all an act, either. Even if this did not end with a ticket to the Weyr, he might get a roll in the furs out of it.
"This place must serve a mighty fine brew if a man who can go anywhere came here."
Ay'ell took his glass and took a quick swig at Pierce's toast. "Aye, to Tseyth."
Afterwards, he set his glass down and raised a hand to make a see-sawing motion. "It ain't bad, but it's the travel I enjoy. I prefer not to stop at the same tavern twice in a fortnight if I can avoid it." He paused, tilting his head curiously. "How about you? Traveler or homebody?"
"My home is on the road," said Pierce. "Has been for Turns." He tossed the drink back and then gazed at the remaining drops that clung to the walls of the glass as they flowed back down to the bottom. "I never thought to envy a dragonman, but... Well." He looked up and glanced around briefly.
"Lately, I've been thinking it would be nice if it were harder to catch up to me."
Ay'ell hummed. He briefly ran his index finger along the rim of his glass before dropping it down to tap at the table. "I find that short of death, there's nothing in this world that cannot be outrun," he slowly said. "It just depends on how much you're willing to put into our escape."
"It's not an easy lift, that's for sure," said Pierce. "Yes, darlin', thank you." He gave the server another coin and the glass when asked whether he wanted another.
"It's not just me, after all. But I think I'd be willing to part with quite a bit to make it happen, if I knew where to turn."
Ay'ell continued tapping the table. "Interesting. I don't suppose you'd be willing to share a little about _why_ you're seeking new horizons?"
Pierce looked around the room to make a show of checking for eavesdroppers, then leaned in a little closer toward Ay'ell and lowered his voice.
"I don't like to go blabbing it around, in case it gets back to him, but... My boy's father's decided he wants him back," he said. "He's been asking after him, setting hounds to sniff him out. I don't have any mind to let him have his way, but I've got to find a way to give him the slip."
Ay'ell stilled his hand. "I see," he murmured. "Well, a dragon is certainly one way to accomplish that. And if you're searched..." He paused, allowing a wry smile to tug at his lips. "A search means that even if he finds you, he won't be able to drag you back. _But._" He drummed his fingers against the table again, just once. "One would need to know more about yourself and your friend before any promises could be made. It's important to figure out all the details, you see."
"A Search..." Pierce breathed out and stared at the bartop, his eyes scanning back and forth as he pretended he had not thought of it, that he had not approached Ay'ell for this very reason.
"That... might work for me," he said, keeping his voice down. "But there's a bit of a rub with my boy. He's not exactly the Standing kind. He lost most of his hearing a few Turns back." This was where the wheel would meet the road.
"He can pretend well enough. Do a little bit of lip reading, and he learned to speak before. I don't know how long he could keep it up at the Weyr without someone noticing. He'd have to fool the Searcher, too, wouldn't he? Or else find one kind enough to let him come along with his only family. A lot of details."
"Well. I suppose it all depends on how much I'm willing to put into our escape, doesn't it?"
A flicker of apprehension darted across Ay'ell's face. However, it evaporated at Pierce's last remark.
"Clever boy," Ay'elll said, a smirk pulling at one side of his mouth. "You're right. As with most things, the success of this endeavor will be dependent on how much work you're willing to put in... and in this case, I'm afraid you'd have to make quit the investment."
Ay'ell shot a careful look around the cavern before continuing in a lower voice. "If you pretend that he's hearing, if the truth comes out, I'll need to lie and say that you tricked me as well. That'll cost you extra, because it's extra risk on my end. Alternatively..." He paused to take a long draw from his glass before continuing. "..._You_ could be the only one who's searched, and I could take him along as a tag-along. It wouldn't cost as much as a search for both of you, especially with his condition, but his position would be less secure if anyone were to come looking for you."
Pierce held back a visible show of his relief at having moved past the innuendo phase. He knew the art of bargaining as well as the next caravan hand, and he also knew that as much as he might have saved, it was likely not enough to reward such a risk.
"I need at least a little time for him to find some other way to stay. If his father shows up before we're dug in, we could be done for. Before he's found out, maybe he could have made some headway into learning a craft and found himself a master who wants to keep him. Or he could have got the Weyrwoman's daughter with child " something." He realized it was a ridiculous suggestion, but Pierce hoped it illustrated the lengths to which he would go.
"When he comes to meet you, he's going to think it's real. One less thing to worry about, and it'll ensure he puts on his best show at convincing you."
Now, he was going to do something really stupid. But he was going to keep Blue with him, whatever it took.
"I can make a handsome donation," he said. "But like you said. Your neck will be on the line more than usual. So name your price." He would start off on the low end of ‘all my worldly possessions’ and work his way up to ‘any favor, whenever you ask, no questions asked, for as long as we stay, or up to some number of Turns, whichever comes first.’
Ay'ell chuckled. "I wouldn't suggest trying to get in with the Weyrwoman's family," he said. "They're a dramatic bunch, and likely to be on high alert with recent events. My advice would be to push him toward a Mastercraster - a kind one, so they won't kick him out outright once he's found out. Because I promise you, he _will_ be found out."
He paused then, giving Pierce a heavy, assessing look. He didn't comment on the fact that this plan to save his friend apparently involved tricking him. That sounded like a good way to end a friendship if he was ever found out... but he wasn't going to find out, was he? _Ay'ell_ certainly wouldn't say anything, not when doing so ran such a high risk of revealing his own scheme, and Faranth help the poor soul who figured him out. Besides, what did it matter to him if he eventually lost the friendship that he was working so hard to preserve? _Marks_ were what made the world go round, and Ay'ell was about to have quite the pay day.
"...I'll cut you a bargain, considering your situation," he eventually declared. "Fifty marks up front, then a hundred more that you can pay off over time. I might have to add more if it goes over a turn or the situation gets too dicey, but..." A wry smile crossed his lips. "I /am/ taking quite the risk here."
Pierce's eye twitched, but he otherwise did not react to the price apart from finishing his drink.
"Twenty marks up front," he countered. That was pushing it. He would have to scrape and beg as it was to make that happen, and he would be bereft of anything. Anything but Blue.
"After that, I won't have the same opportunity to make money. I can't promise I can ever give you a hundred marks. But what I can give you is whatever work you give me for... ten Turns. No questions asked, results guaranteed, no charge. Anything but what would hurt my boy. Or my dragon, I guess, if it comes to that. Hurt me all you like."
Ay’ell shook his head. “Twenty marks is only ten each. I wouldn’t search _anyone_ for only ten marks, let alone someone with your boy’s challenges. I can do twenty up front, if you’re truly pressed, but I’ll need more going forward. Your promises are good, and I’m willing to work out a plan, but…” He drummed his fingers against the table. “Twenty marks up front, then thirty paid as you get them, along with the ten turns. I know it may seem rough, but it’s a better deal than you’ll get anywhere else.” He smiled faintly. “Assuming you’re able to find anyone else willing to offer what I am.”
"Not at all. It's more than fair. Like you said, you're cutting me a bargain, and I won't let your kindness go un-repaid," said Pierce. He was well aware that even if he could find another opportunity like this one, it would be too late by the time he did. One way or another, he could find a way to make the money, and even if this deal left him working for Ay'ell for longer than they agreed on now, he could not imagine anything that the man could ask him to do that he would have a qualm over " not after he had already made the caveats about Blue and the theoretical dragon. Theoreticath, he could call him.
Pierce held out his hand to Ay'ell to shake.
Ay'ell grinned, bright and beaming. "I'm glad that you see it that way."
He shook Pierce's hand.
Last updated on the July 15th 2022