Reading Between the Lines

Writers: Jane
Date Posted: 7th July 2007

Characters: Tarehg
Description: Tarehg's former wife, Renada, visits him during Threadfall.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 5, day 2 of Turn 4

"Greah says that Threadfall at the Weyr is much more exciting."

It was some sort of diabolical plot to drive him mad, he thought.
Letting his idiot former wife have an office – something she didn't need as a journeywoman in his opinion – and one in the same part of the building as his.

And then to shut most people into the Hall during Threadfall.
Candlemarks of boredom for people who were normally outdoors and active – it was bound to elevate the incidence of stupidity, inanity, and – most horrifically – small talk.

"Are you listening to me?"

Over thirty Turns of marriage and she had to ask?

"Not in this lifetime," he growled.

"I said –"

He watched her enter his office and walk around behind his desk to lean her backside on it. Other than being in a different continent nothing had changed. He still wanted her to vanish from the face of Pern; she still delighted in tormenting him with her stupidity.

"- That Greah, our daughter, -"

"I know who Greah is," he said, finding it hard to believe he was engaging in conversation with Renada. It was like having a broken tooth and not being able to leave it alone. Despite knowing full well it would be an exercise in futility to have a sensible discussion with her he seemed unable to resist getting involved.

"She said that –"

She even dawdled when speaking. Dithered and wandered and even drawled the actual words for the sole purpose of push him to the point of insanity.

"Threadfall was more exciting at the Weyr," he said, finishing the sentence for her before he wasted too much of his life waiting for her to get around to it. "Doesn't that seem obvious? Even to you?
Dragons? Threadfall? Some sort of interaction there which would make the event _slightly_ more significant at the Weyr than at the Hall where everybody cowers under slate and stone?"

"Are you more tetchy than normal?" Renada asked lazily, eyeing her former husband with amusement. Nothing was more entertaining than annoying Tarehg while she waited to do her part with the ground crews that the Hall mustered. And she must remember to mention the ground crew thing, too, since his damaged hip prevented him undertaking those duties. Nothing like jabbing him - figuratively - in his weakest point.

Not that actually jabbing him in the painful joint didn't hold some appeal but perhaps it was going a little too far. Besides, Tarehg was a man of words, and while battles with words weren't a particular skill of hers, Turns with the man had given her some ability in holding her own with him.

"Seems more likely that you're being more simple-minded than usual.
What did you actually _want_ from me, Renada?"

"From you?" She appeared to consider that and fail to find an answer.
"What could I possibly want from you?" She shrugged, dismissing the question. "Just passing the time until Thread moves on and the ground crew is needed."

"You forgot the 'able-bodied' comment," Tarehg pointed out drily. She just couldn't help herself; she had to come and needle him about his hip – about anything she could find, usually, but especially about being crippled on Threadfall days.

"I didn't think I needed it." She leaned forward and patted him on the cheek before he pulled away, the movement making her smile all the more.
"You're so very smart, Tarehg. I knew you'd have no trouble reading between the lines."

Last updated on the July 8th 2007

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Reading Between the Lines