Like the Lord Holder's Son?

Writers: Emma, Jane
Date Posted: 30th May 2007

Characters: Royah, Rikka
Description: Rikka takes a break from her work and meets The Lord Holder's son, Royah.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 4, day 12 of Turn 4

Rikka had spent the morning working in the small hut beside the sluice
gates for the irrigation channel. Small, windowless hut. When her
stomach had rumbled, she hadn't hesitated to pick up the basket
containing the midday meal that the kitchen staff had been packed for
her and step out into the sunshine. She had smiled, ignoring the chill
in the air, just savouring the light and and brightness of the day.
Blue sky and the continual noise of the water through the sluice gates
close by.

She had headed down the path beside the canal until she had found a
sunny spot to settle and done exactly that. Sitting cross-legged with
her skirt making an arc around her own the ground she grazed through the
contents of the basket and enjoyed the sunshine and solitude.

Soon though, a shadow passed across the sunny picture. It was thrown by
the Lord's son, Royah. "Nice day, isn't it?"

"Lovely. Snow earlier in the sevenday, and now this," Rikka said
lazily, too happy enjoying the sunshine to bother about who she was
talking to.

"Indeed, but soon winter really will be upon us."

Rikka nodded. "I like the seasons," she said, the indicated her basket.
"Would you like something to eat? They packed plenty for me."

"I'm fine thank you," he said. "Journeywoman," he added after a moment
when he spotted her knots. That at least explained a little of why she
was out here and not in the dining hall with the others.

"Rikka," she said in introduction.

"Technician? Right?"

"Yes." She smiled. "I've been working on the irrigation gate
controls," she said, waving her hand to indicate the hut which was out
of sight down the path.

"Was there anything in particular that needed doing?"

"No. We check routinely because of the consequences of failure. It's
not like a light failing in a room in the Hold. It's a good job; I like
the irrigation canals," she admitted, glancing past him to where the
water flowed along in a smooth stream. "We didn't have anything like
them at home."

"Where's home?" he asked conversationally.

"A Technician's Hall on the tropical coast. Jet Harbour is the name of
the Hold. And believe me, the area doesn't need irrigation! In fact,
our 'canals' sit empty most the Turn until the rains come. That's when
it's obvious that they're drains, not canals at all."

"So you have a couple of months where it's very wet then?"

"Very, very wet. The rest of the Turn is pleasant, though, but we don't
have anything as exciting as snow."

"Oh believe me, once you've seen the snow here... You'll want the sun to
come back, and in a hurry."

"We'll see. I'll let you know if that's how I feel after the winter."
She started to pack her basket with the remnants of her meal.

"May I help you with that?"

"Thank you, but it's not much. Oh, well, you can hold this," she said,
extending the basket to him so she could get to her feet unencumbered.

He took the basket from her, waiting as she got to her feet. "Can I
escort you back to the hold?"

"That's kind of you but I have some more work to do." She smiled at the
blue-eyed man. "I don't know your name."

"Royah."

"Isn't -" She turned and frowned at him. "Like the Lord Holder's son?"

"That's me," he said.

"Oh dear," Rikka said with a regretful smile. "Have I said anything
inappropriate?"

"No," but there was something there in his voice that might have been
tempting her to see how she'd react, or not.

"I'm glad. Sir," she added belatedly. "I guess you know all about the
irrigation canals, then."

"Sometimes it's more than I need to know."

"Really?" Rikka wasn't sure she would ever know more about anything
than she needed to know. The whole of Pern, as well as her craft,
seemed to be full of things she was interested in.

"Well when things go wrong with the irrigation, one time the flow got
mixed up with that from the sewers all thanks to some very heavy rain."

"Uh-oh." She grinned. "Did you get to fix that yourself?"

"Fortunately not, but we could smell it."

"Well, I hope it doesn't happen again. Especially while I'm at the Hold."

"I hope not either. It wasn't pretty."

As the hut came back into view she nodded toward it. "My work."

"Perhaps I should let you return to it then."

Rikka nodded. "It's been a pleasure to meet you, sir."

"And you Journeywoman."

Last updated on the June 2nd 2007

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