The Way home

Writers: Suzee, Paula
Date Posted: 21st June 2011

Characters: Yanley, Benani, D'ale, Golansin
Description: The brownrider goes to retrieve the Lady Holder's Sister
Location: Amber Hills Hold, Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 2, day 7 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentions: Wirnan (not by name)

Follows: I want to bring her home

Yanley

Benani

D'ale

D'ale had been assigned to attend to a transport task requiring
diplomacy on behalf of the Lord and Lady Holder's at Amber HIlls Hold.
The Lady herself received him but he could tell she was almost livid
with anger and it was the Steward who gave him his instructions.

He felt a bit sorry for whoever had upset the Lady Holder but even as
he watched out of the corner of his eye she visibly calmed and
regained control.

"Please convey my love to my sister and tell her we will receive her
at Amber Hills with the honor she deserves," said Benani. "We would
like her home as soon as possible. Her situation at Lazur Lake Hold.

"Of course My Lady." Dale nodded a small bow at her instructions. He
had been warned when he was summoned and Torerath was fully equipped
with cargo nets and seating appropriate to a personage of rank.
Sending a brownrider for the Lady in question would indeed help to
communicate her importance to her home hold.

At her dismissal, he turned and left the room heading for the yard
where Torerath awaited. A picture of Lazur Lake hold formed in his
mind and they leaped for the the sky and soon winked out only to
arrive a few heartbeats later at their intended destination. Torerath
called their intentions to the watchpair and they circled once while
people scurried below them. Touching down lightly in the hold yard,
D'ale dismounted and walked toward the main entrance of the hold.

Yanley walked out to greet him. "My duty to you, brownrider. Welcome
to Lazur Lake," she said, her voice filled her customary warmth.

D'ale didn't miss the watchers in the windows and across the yard and
saluted. "My Lady, your sister the Lady Holder of Amber Hills sends
her love to welcome you back." Truthfully that wasn't all she sent but
he wasn't really here to foment trouble. He bowed over her hand and
smiled his most charming smile into her warm brown eyes. Inwardly he
shook his head a husband who could set aside such a woman.

"Benani always was quick to act. My things are just inside," she
gestured towards the entrance. She had packed in a hurry and left a
hurried good byes to her friends. She was going to leave some very
dear friends behind. Perhaps hurried goodbyes were the best, since
prolonged once would only make her cry and she had done enough crying
already.

D'ale nodded and stepped toward the door to grab the Lady's cases. A
young drudge came running "I'll help you sir," he said and lifted one
of the bags. He was surprised that she didn't have more bags. He'd
expected fully twice as much as was sitting there waiting. In a
matter of a few moments they had all the bags out in the sunshine and
D'ale was climbing Torerath to arrange them.

A green flit appeared and circled around the dragonrider, making
agitated chitter. "Come here, Thi!" Yanley tried to call the
firelizard to her shoulder. Her brown brother/mate appeared too, but
acted more calm. He was more curious about the Torerath.
"I do apologize for them, they know something is going on but they
don't quite understand what," Yanley said, while Thi continued
circling the brownrider.

"What is going on here?" a man hurried out from the hold, and Yanley
stiffened. Of course Golansin would come out to see why the
dragonrider was here.

"Golansin. This is brownrider D'ale. He came to take me back to Amber
Hills," Yanley answered.

"Hello there," he greeted the little flit with a grin. He figured she
was only curious about her great brown cousin. But when the holder
came out of the Hold he descended from the dragon and crossed to where
they stood.

"Sir," he said politely with a small bow of his head. He turned his
shoulder slightly so his new Wingsecond's knots showed plainly on his
shoulder. "The Lady of Amber Hills desires her sister home as quickly
and easily as possible."

"You did want me out of here," Yanley reminded him with a bitterness
in her tone.

Golansin knew that and couldn't really protest. Her presence was a
painful reminder and caused dichotomy among the hold population.
People loved her and were angry at the way he'd treated her. Things
would settle down and return to normal when she was gone. He could
enjoy his young wife's company without feeling guilty. For there had
been time when he had loved Yanley. They had been young. Things had
changed when time passed and she did not get pregnant. He had taken
lovers, but none of them had gotten pregnant either. He accused her of
being infertile, but deep down he knew it was him. Guilt and
self-loathing caused strange reactions.

D'ale stood still waiting while the Lord stared at his former wife but
after a few moments when the man hadn't replied he offered his hand to
her. "M'lady?"

Golansin wanted to say something, wish her well, but just couldn't get
the words out. Instead he just turned aruptly around and stalked back
in. Yanley left to watch him leaving and blink her eyes in confusion.
"Well, clear skies to you too," she said quietly and sadly. You just
couldn't forget 25 Turns together.

She turned to D'ale, "I'm sorry about that. We better get going." She
gave him a warm smile with a touch of sadness in it.

"Don't worry for me My Lady." He helped her up into the her seat
aboard Torerath and buckled her in. He arranged her cloak to make sure
she was well covered. Then he took an extra helm and scarf and handed
them to her. "You will need these as well. Have you ridden dragon back
before?"

"Yes, I have," Yanley replied with slightly amused tone. She was...had
been... A lady holder. How else but dragonback she would have gotten
to all those celebrations and Hatching Feasts she needed to take part?

He smiled his most charming smile and swung into his seat in front of
her. Once they were all set he gave Torerath the go with a **Gently as
possible please. Let's not snap her head back.** Torerath extended his
mighty wings and galloped a few strides before lifting off and
stroking strongly into the sky. They circled the hold twice gaining
altitude before they winked /between/.

No matter how many times she took the trip, she never grew accustomed
to the /between/. She closed her eyes and held her breath for the time
they were /between/. Her grip on his waist tightened too.

He admired her calmness and fortitude. She didn't complain or chatter
nervously. The only outside evidence of any reaction were her arms
tightening around him.. He softly patted a hand in reassurance where
it clutched his jacket and called, "Almost there M'lady. Look!" He
pointed to the ground ahead of them as they spiraled down into the
yard in front of the Main Hold. The entire valley was laid out below
them beautifully in the late afternoon sun.

"I am looking," Yanley leaned almost dangerously to the side to see
past Torerath's bulk to the hold below. Two little popping sound
announced that her flits had found her.

D'ale's hand went instinctively back to try and steady her. "Don't
lean too far." he said with a chuckle. It wouldn't pay to drop her on
her home hold from hundreds of feet in the air. "We'll be down in a
second," and as good as his word they dropped adroitly into the yard.
Torerath backwinged to touch down almost gently.

"I'm eager to be back home, I suppose," she chuckled. "Thank you for
smooth flight, Torerath."

"He says you are very welcome," relayed D'ale. He slid down the
brown's flank after they'd landed. D'ale could hear a commotion
inside. He expected her extended family to erupt from the wide doors
at any second. He stood on Torerath's extended leg and helped her
unbuckle before lifting her to the ground. "There you go M'lady,
safely delivered."

"Thank you, D'ale," she said and smoothed her skirts.

D'ale nodded, "my pleasure," he smiled as he stepped back. Then the
Hold residents seemed to boil out of the entrance and she was swept
into a fierce hug. He busied himself with unloading her bags and
setting them on the steps watched for a few moments. There was a woman
he wouldn't mind getting to know better.

Last updated on the June 24th 2011

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

The Way home