Zoneta stood up slowly and groaned slightly as her back complained. She sighed ruefully and knew she had been kneeling for far too long. She angrily threw the brush she was using to clean the couch back into the bucket, barely missing the white Feloran who stood next to the bucket. The white creature leaped to the side and started cleaning her fur.
"Do you mind, Zoneta? I just had a wash," the Feloran said, plaintively. Zoneta laughed haughtily and replied, "Well, Anastasia, don't stand so close to the bucket next time." She looked angrily at the stain on the floor next to the couch she was cleaning. The stubborn spot would not come up. She sighed wearily and wondered what her parents' servants were doing. Anastasia caught her sigh and grinned.
"Wishing for servants over again will not make them appear," she chided. "Your rich parents cannot take care of you here." Zoneta looked slightly sheepish, but still felt angry. She wasn't used to taking care of herself. The only thing she ever cleaned and took care of herself was her harp. She took great care of the harp that stood in the far corner of her weyr. Zoneta dusted her hands off and walked over to where the harp stood. She sat down and lovingly caressed the strings. The music that cascaded then was enough to send Zoneta into her usual musical trance and she played through one of her favorite songs.
It was only after she was through did Zoneta notice that her back didn't hurt anymore. She then remembered the healing power she released when she played that song. She laughed and stretched, exhilarated from the strong chords. She noticed that Anastasia had fallen asleep and Zoneta looked slightly proud that she hadn't. Zoneta looked for the lunch usually laid out for her by her personal servants and sighed again when she remembered she had none here. She looked around the room and arrogantly stalked to the kitchen where she made herself a small cup of tea and bowl of vegetable soup.
The Feloran had awoken by this time and was not very happy about being put to sleep in the first place. She looked up as Zoneta set her soup and tea down and padded over. She lapped at the tea then said, "Why do you play that song when it puts everyone to sleep around you?" Zoneta looked at her proudly for a second, then said haughtily, "Because it's my favorite and I don't fall asleep. Besides, I feel much better now. The music helps focus my healing skills." Anastasia growled a little at her carefree tone then ate a little of teh vegetable soup.
"What do you think will happen if you start humming that song while you're flying your dragon? The poor thing will fall asleep and plummet," Anastasia said, testily. Zoneta waved that off, saying, "Then I'll be careful not to hum or sing it while I'm riding. Besides, I don't think I'll do much flying at Fire Ridge. I'll be too busy taking care of the sick and wounded with my dragon." Anastasia just growled again and ate some more of the soup. Zoneta let her mind drift, letting Anastasia eat most of the soup. She wondered if she would find anyone to teach her more about healing than she already knew.
"You know, if you asked, I bet you could find a healing teacher," Anastasia purred, following Zoneta's thoughts. Zoneta gritted her teeth, trying to rein in her temper. Anastasia was very good at reading her body language and often seemed to read her thoughts. Zoneta said quietly, "Please don't do that. I don't like when you echo my thoughts like that. It's uncanny." Anastasia simply smiled and finished off the last off the soup. Zoneta again waited for the servants and bit off a curse when she again remembered there were none.
After quickly cleaning the dishes, Zoneta went back to cleaning out the weyr her dragon would have. She finished cleaning all the dirt and pebbles off the couch and swept them out of her weyr. She put a small lamp in the corner so that she would be able to see if she came in here at night. Finally, she put a woven rug down on the floor to keep it warm. The rug was woven by her mother and carried the owl-and-horse motif of her family. Zoneta's mother, Liselly, often made many of the rugs and blankets in the house while other servants took care of clothes and curtains. Zoneta's blanket had been made by her mother and had a large stylized dagon in full flight on it. The dragon was a rainbow of colors, something Zoneta definitely appreciated.
As usual, Anastasia came in to offer her help when most of the hard work was finished. Zoneta looked angrily at her then chucked a rag at Anastasia that she was using to wipe up the water from the bucket she had tipped over. Anastasia dodged nimbly and laughed. She asked, "You done? We can go tell the Weyrwoman now? Oh, you better hope your dragon likes music if you insist on playing you harp all the time." Zoneta nodded and Anastasia pranced in place. Her purrs were quite loud and Zoneta could hear them from across the room. Zoneta sent up a quiet prayer that her dragon would have a love of music like she did. Who knows, maybe the dragon will be able to accompany her sometimes. Zoneta smiled and hurriedly changed, biting back another curse at having to get and put away her clothes. She then walked out to tell Weyrwoman Copper of her desire to become a candidate with Anastasia prancing at her heels.
