News From Afar

Writers: AL, Devin
Date Posted: 25th January 2009

Characters: N'vanik, Arosil
Description: N'vanik pays a visit to Arosil, provider of tasty treats.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 22 of Turn 4

N'vanik

N'vanik slid off Loseth's neck and gave him an affectionate pat before
walking toward the woman and her cluster of children. He pulled off
his helmet and smiled at her. "Hi, Arosil. Do you think can spare a
few cookies for me?"

"Of course!" Arosil offered the bronzerider a warm smile and motioned
for him to follow. "I have some cooling right now, as a matter of
fact. Please come in and sit a while. It's been some time since your
last visit."

"Been busy," he said, following her.

"Busy enough to not visit and get your cookies?" Arosil clicked her
tongue, amused. "You must be busy! Tell me, what's kept you so
busy?"

"What? You haven't heard?" He thought she got plenty of news from the
sweepriders.

"Heard what?" Arosil's smile faded. "Is something wrong? Did
something happen?"

"Nothing bad." He pointed to the knots on his shoulder. "You know what
these mean?"

Arosil let her eyes slide to the knots. She hadn't paid attention to
them before, but once she realised the change her eyes widened. "That
was you? You were the one who won the Weyrleadership?" Her face
brightened into a wide warm smile. "Well! I should have known!
Congratulations N'vanik! I think this calls for extra cookies!"

It bruised his ego a little to know the news hadn't reached her. "I
think so, too." He followed her into the house. The two older children
were looking at him with awe.

"Are you going to save some for your friend?" The woman asked
playfully as she pulled a tray out of the oven. The sweet scent of
spices filled the room and she waved a pot holder over them in order
to get them to cool faster.

"Yeah. She loves your cookies." Maybe one of these days, he would
convince Talryne to come with him.

"Well I'll put a few extra in." Arosil gently poked at one of the
cookies, then fanned them some more with the potholder. "So how do
you find your new position? I have every confidence that you're doing
well!"

"It's not easy," he said. "But I manage." N'vanik sat down at the kitchen table.

"I'm sure you're doing wonderfully." Arosil stepped over to pat
N'vanik on the arm. "Would you like anything to drink?"

"Milk would be nice." It wasn't a very common drink, but nothing went
better with cookies.

"You're in luck, we have some fresh this morning." Arosil bustled
about and fetched a mug and the container of milk. She carefully
poured it into the mug and set the jug aside. She then grabbed
another container and, using a spoon, skimmed the fat off of the top.
Then she brought the mug over to N'vanik. "There you go. Now, tell
me all about your new Weyr and how things are going." Arosil lowered
herself in a chair opposite the Weyrleader, eyes sparkling with her
smile.

"It's warmer." N'vanik chomped down a cookie in a few bites. "We've
got a rider shortage, but it's still a busy place with the dolphineers
and the harpers around."

"It sounds lovely. How long until the eggs hatch?" Arosil had no
idea the time frame of such things. "It must be exciting, your first
clutch!"

"It is." N'vanik grinned. "Should be any day now. There's forty eggs,
and one of them's gold!" His grin widened and he reached for another
cookie.

"I heard about the gold!" That was, perhaps, one of the most exciting
events to occur at a Weyr and news about that had certainly spread.
"You should be quite proud of yourself and your lifemate, N'vanik.
It's truly wonderful."

"I'm very proud. We're both proud." Then, on impulse he asked, "Would
you like to come to the Hatching?"

"Oh N'vanik!" Arosil's eyes grew wide at the invitation. "I would be
delighted!"

"Your husband and the kids can come along, too." He smiled at her excitement.

"That was going to be my next question!" Arosil's grin grew broader
and she clapped her hands together. "Thank you N'vanik, this is so
exciting!"

"You're welcome. I'll send a dragon for you when the Hatching starts."
He wondered if she'd ridden a dragon before. After all this time
feeding sweepriders, someone must have taken her for a ride at some
point.

"I will make sure that my children and husband know and we'll be as
prepared as we can." A sparkle of excitement danced in the woman's
eyes as she thought about the upcoming event. To go to a hatching was
a grand thing indeed! "You are so sweet, N'vanik."

"Not as sweet as your cookies." He reached for another one.

Last updated on the February 10th 2009

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