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Elsewhere on Pern
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River Bluff Weyr
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Story Listing
Series Listing

Weyrling Training

Writers: Bree, Clancey
Date Posted: 20th July 2006

Characters: Miralani, Daynar
Description: Miralani pays a visit to the Smith Hall to look at some jewelry... and to make sure Daynar gets a good look at her.
Location: Smith Hall (NPC)
Date: month 12, day 27 of Turn 3

When he roared at the fifth person in as many candlemarks, Daynar knew he was in trouble. Normally grumpy on a good day, he was beyond grumpy today. Word had spread fast, thanks to a no-good drudge who'd been cleaning in his room when he got the note from Miralani that she was visiting today to make some purchases. Of course, Daynar had given it away by telling .. yelling .. at his daughter to get his best gather clothes cleaned. If she was coming, than he'd sharding well look good for her. She had specifically asked for him, no doubt knowing only he was of rank enough to take care of her needs. And she would be here any minute. His thick hair was slicked a little, where he'd try to make it lay flat and failed. His Gather clothes looked clean, but were rumpled on one side where he kept leaning against his workdesk. There was even a small burn in one cuff as he'd tried to work to pass the candlemarks. And she would be here any minute. Any minute turned into _this_ minute as Miralani stepped through the main doors and paused for a moment, letting her eyes roam over the building, the furnishings, and finally the people inside. She was quite obviously dressed to impress, with an elegant gown and rather more jewels than were necessary for such a mundane visit. Her eyes skipped over two apprentices and a journeyman before settling on Daynar. "Master Daynar. Good afternoon."

He immediately smoothed his clothes. Despite a few obvious troubles, he looked well enough in his nice gather clothes. It was clear, however, that he needed a woman's hand. He half bowed politely to her from the waist.
"Lady Miralani. Please do come in." He waved a hand to his apprentices and the journeyman to dismiss them, and extended his own arm to her. "I would be glad to take you around our showroom myself, Lady." He paused. "You look lovely. I have some things that would compliment you perfectly." The interior of the Hall had been scrubbed within an inch of its life. The wood glowed with loving care and everything was in its place. There were some large windows that let in the sunlight, and it was patently obvious that the Smithhall, despite its grumpy Master, was doing well. Slipping her hand into his arm, Miralani smiled up at Daynar. "I can't wait to see them. My late husband was an admirer of the jewelry you produce here, as I'm sure you can see by how much of it I own."

"He must have also been an admirer of beautiful things to have married you, Lady." Daynar supplied, at his Gather flirting best. Where was the gruff, miserable wherry's arse that most knew and did _not_ love?

He escorted her eagerly into the jewelry showroom, taking her right to a shelf laden with beautiful necklaces; some with stones, some without. "I am pleased to see you, Miralani. I had hoped to see more of you, as you know. But work.. " and he waved an expressive hand. "...the marks just keep flowing in from all over Pern!" "Hardly something to complain about," Miralani replied as she peered at a particularly fine looking pair of earrings. "Indeed, Lady." He paused, watching her gaze for what she fancied with the practiced expertise of turns doing just this very thing. He may have been a right wherry's arse, but he knew how to take care of the Smithhall. "In fact, our business has grown so much, I have needed to expand the workrooms and the amount of journeymen on staff here. Sadly, my kitchen staff has not grown to accommodate our needs. I am badly lost without a woman in charge of that sort of thing." He shook his head, his lips quirking wryly. "My daughter tries..." He trailed off, moving around the case to pull the earrings she was admiring out into view. He murmured softly, "These would look lovely."

She ran her fingers over the cloth the earrings rested on, careful not to touch them. They were delicate and intricate and probably worth a good deal more than a woman in a cothold would seen in months. They also had blue stones the exact color of her eyes, which she knew would look stunning on her. "They are exquisite!"

He bowed in a proper fashion. "Take them as a gift, Lady." She would buy more, he knew, and also knew the benefits from such a gift would be several-fold. Miralani glanced up at him, her face pleased. "Oh, I couldn't take such an expensive gift!" But her fingers were already creeping toward them of their own volition. Daynar's eyes narrowed and he laughed gruffly. "My Lady, you and I both know you'll take them and enjoy them." And he pushed the earrings more firmly to her. "Otriana liked her jewelry too. Many women do, I would say." Perhaps not the wisest thing to say, but this was _Daynar_ after all.
~*~
Continued in Part 2
~*~

Last updated on the July 23rd 2006