Ylisahn Being Nosy

Writers: Jane
Date Posted: 29th June 2008

Characters: K'hetah, Ylisahn, Ravere
Description: K'hetah and Ylisahn talk for a moment on the restday evening.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 28 of Turn 4

"You have a family," K'hetah said in surprise.

Ylisahn laughed. "Headwomen are allowed them, you know." She supposed that wasn't the reason he had assumed she didn't have children, but his unthinking words were reason enough to tease the Wingleader. He extended a lightweight even-handed friendship to everybody he met but she was sure he was quite deliberately avoiding anything more than that.
It intrigued her because she didn't think he had always been that way.

"Ahh." He felt a little embarrassed knowing that Ylisahn understood very well why he was surprised. "The boy looks like you."

"Ravere," Ylisahn said, naming the young man sitting across the table from Wirril. "Yes, for all our faults my family do carry a strong likeness. And Rilisa is Wirril's, in case you were wondering."

"I was," the bronzerider admitted, giving up any hope of redeeming himself or the situation. When he had realised that the Headwoman's weyrmate was another woman he had just assumed the couple had no children and had been startled into commenting when she had seen Ylisahn wave to the occupants of the table not far from the servery.

Though the 'children' were adult the likeness of the young man to Ylisahn was so obvious there was no doubt that they were a family - and that they were waiting for Ylisahn to join them. But he had wondered if both the children were hers, or if the younger woman was a weyrmate or lover of Ylisahn's son.

"We both wanted to have a baby, we both did. Pregnant at the same time and all that sort of thing. Terribly romantic." The Headwoman's eyes twinkled with amusement. "We were young and the romanticism did have its appeal. Rilisa and Ravere were the result." She sighed. "All grown up now," she complained lightly before catching the Wingleader's gaze. "What about you? Do you have a family?"

"No weyrmate," he said with a light-toned dismissal.

"Not always necessary. Children?"

He had recorded none in her records when he had arrived at the Weyr and the people he wanted advised in the event of his death were holder folk, again implying that there was nobody in the Weyrs that he regarded as having a closer relationship. But he was an adult male in his late thirties, a bronzerider; there were bound to be children somewhere.

"None."

There was something in his expression that made her pause. "None, ever?" Some men didn't father children, but they weren't usually the ones who Impressed bronzes. She was fairly sure from his tone that his denial didn't include children who had died. But - _none_? Women in the Weyr had the means to reduce the likelihood of pregnancy but no method was perfect.

"None ever," he assured her, waiting with some amusement to see what she would have to say about that.

"How unusual."

He grinned. That wasn't a response he'd had before. "I suppose it is."

"Not just waiting for the right woman?" she asked and was delighted by his laughter. "No, perhaps not. Do you mind?"

"Not being a father?"

"Not fathering children," the Headwoman corrected, her tone a little wry for the number of men in the Weyr who found it no problem to father children and exceedingly difficult to be a father to them.

He shook his head. "It's never bothered me."

"Then that's all right." Not being mothers hadn't worried her and Wirril for Turns, then suddenly it had bothered them, but they had been able to do something about it. "Remember, though, if you ever feel the urge to try the fatherhood thing there are plenty of youngsters around the Weyr who could do with a male influence in their lives."

"I can't imagine ever wanting to, but if I do, I'll remember," he promised, then he nodded at something he could see over her shoulder.
"I think your son's coming to get you."

Ylisahn glanced around and waved at Ravere as he threaded his way through the crowded dining cavern. Looking back at the bronzerider said explained: "He probably thinks I'm working."

"Aren't you?"

"No, no." She patted his arm in an affectionate gesture. "That wasn't the Headwoman asking. Just Ylisahn being nosy."

K'hetah smiled down at the woman and then leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "I think it was probably Ylisahn befriending somebody she thinks doesn't have enough friends."

"I think you have exactly as many as you want to have." All the same his kind words - a the kiss - were sweet and she had to admit he was a favourite of hers, this dragonrider. "Have a good evening, K'hetah."

"You too, Ylisahn."

Last updated on the June 29th 2008

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Ylisahn Being Nosy