Living Cavern (#4190)

Archellian is standing against a chair, one hand on the back in a partial lean, sipping from a mug of juice, taking little notice of the room around him, turquoise eyes clouded over with thought. Piles of clothes would be scattered nearby, along with a sewing box, needles and threads and suchlike.

Run, hide, she's back! Kate wanders in, eyeing Arch cautiously. He still planning on talking her into manual labor? Surely he wouldn't stoop that low? Girl makes cautiously for abandoned klah pot, eyes on Arch, as if daring him to say something about sewing.

A shreak sounds from the doorway that leads to the bowl, followed by the soothing sounds of a mother trying to sooth her infant. Kae hums softly to the infant in her arms, the pads of her fingers gently slipping over her daughter's cheeks, which, when including with the humming, unbelievably causes the baby girl to quieten herself into soft, gentle sobs. A nod of the harper's head and a smile are offered to Archellian as she walks slowly toward the table of food.

Kiiran ambles blearily into the Living Caverns, picking randomly at the scales on a decidedly dead fish. He sizes up the contents of the Caverns- candie, stranger, Female- squares his shoulders, and flops into a chair to give the floppy corpse his full attention. He's got to appear proficient in such a Manly Task, doncha know. Voice drops- "Hey. Pst, hey, Arc- you busy?"

Well Archellian would be leaning against the back of a chair, trying to get the blood flow back into his legs as he stretches them, all that sitting finally having taken it's toll. Mug of juice is tossed back in a few gulps and set down wherever dirty mugs go, his strides flowing more this time, finally feeling close to human again. Golden locks tossed over his shoulders, dazzling smiles given all round to the newcomers. Mother and infant are eyed for a moment, before he turns towards Kate and grins, "the sewing's still waiting for you," he comments, gesturing to the large piles with a grin. "If you still want to learn that is." He glances at Kiiran, a frown as he desperately tries to remember that face, "you?" one word is sput out with a mixture of malice and utter confusion at the sight of that knot. Yeah he remembers seeing Kiiran around just... cogs in his brain click slowly, utter bafflement on his features. "Karnie? You're not a girl." Both are stated quite simply, in utter disbelief.

Katen offers as polite a scowl as she can, eyeing the evil linens and such. *Her?* Sew? Such evilness is at work! No siree, Kate does NOT sew. "I can't sew," she repeats flatly from an earlier conversation, eyeing the needle lost in Arch's fingers with suspicion. What if she were to prick herself with such a sharp, evil thing?

Kae finally reaches the table of food, her daughter now squirming unhappily in her arms, but at least she's no longer screaming. The harper looks longingly down at the food, glances around the room, and looks down at the food again before sighing. "Where is T'rell when I need him?" she mumbles softly under her breath, her voice practically dripping with exhaustion. After another glance, toward the table where young man is standing, she takes a deep breath. "Excuse me?" she speaks softly, her eyes searching his shoulder for some sign of who he is as she adjusts the infant in her arms. "Do you think you might could give me a hand for a moment?" With a warm, shy smile, she nods her head at the food nearby, and then at the squirming Brencia, "I'm afraid I've my hands full."

Kiiran tries to squelch his immediate frustration, he really does, but the effort rather tellingly sets wrinkles in milk-pallid brow. A hand passes lightly over eyes; let's regain our poise, here. "I'm Kiiran. You can tell by the hair. And the knot." And the fact that he's a /man/, Faranth scorch it! Volume hushes once more, but his hoarse whisper is decidedly crankier: "And Arc, are you busy? I- I don't know how to scale this stupid fish." But you never heard it from him.

Aruna blinks as she looks around. She slowly moves out of the entrance as she glances about the cavern. She's been stuck in the wagon all day and there's no more food for Bansi...She sighs, trying to locate items around the unfamiliar area.

Tynar mrrrms and shakes his head quietly, gently lifting himself out of a nap that decided to sneak up on him. He glances around, checking to see who's still here that he remembered talking to.

Babies? Eep. Archellian almost voices both but just manages to stop. A desperate glance is given to Kate, turquoise eyes pleading for her to rescue him, and ensure he doesn't have to get too close to aforementioned infant. Scatter brained, absolutely confused by all that's going on he does what he does best, order people around. "Um, Kate, I think the sewing could wait, could you please help this nice woman," he gestures to Kae with a nod of the head, almost immediately regretting it as Kiiran mentions gutting fish. "Kiiran? Not Karnie?" that takes a little getting used to. "The hair? Yes it's all the same colour," he comments, "and... you look like a man, well sort of," about as much of a compliment as Arc's capable of at the moment, though the statement is a bit like the pot calling the kettle black. "I was busy sewing but well I'll... scale fish?" he remembers to lower his voice. "Um, try using the knife just to scrape them off," he suggests, "it can't be that difficult, it's the gutting and boning that's the problem."

Now, Katen is not the most active person. But TOTALLY mean and cruel this little Telgar girlie isn't. She steps forward somewhat nervously, offering timid arms. "Sure, I can help," she says somewhat meekly. Babies are NOT her strongest point either. She gives Arch a 'You owe me one!' sort of look, waiting for the infant's mother's reply.

"Just a mug of klah," Kae requests softly, the tired look on her face and in her eyes showing that she probably needs it more than she even realizes. "If you could pour me a mug of it, and carry that and a meatroll to a table for me, I'd *greatly* appreciate it. I don't want to risk holding that steaming pitcher while she's squirming about so," the journeywoman explains softly, giving Katen a greatful smile as she does. She doesn't ask for much, and asking someone else to hold her infant, that *is* much. "I'll return the favor sometime, if I can," she adds softly, adjusting the infant yet again.

Katen softens the somewhat nervous look on her face, somehow feeling guilty. "No trouble," she says softly and gently, fixing said klah and meatroll, heading for a table not strewn with clothing, setting each down carefully.

Kiiran's nostrils flare, runner-like. Or like a large rabid feline that just had its tale pulled. ...Or like a Kiiran that just got called almost male, for that matter. There's only so much one guy (guyguyguy) can take. He nods, and if it's a little stiff, it's simply from the hours spent prying at the idiotic fish. Really. "Thanks." Monotone, he takes his knife and his fish and walks jerkily back towards the barracks. Next time he's wearing a shirt that opens in front.

"Thank you *so* much," Kae gives Katen another warm smile as she follows behind her, slipping down into a chair near the food with a soft sigh. "You have no idea just how greatful I am...." she studies Katen's face for a moment as if searching it for a name, "I'm Kaeryn, harper around these parts. You are?"

Katen fidgets. Fidgetfidget. As if not used to such...gratefullness..she rubs the back of her head, brown curls tousling a bit. "Really, it's nuthin.." she says, embarassed. "I'm Katen, uhm...girl...around these parts?" she fills in lamely. "I prefer Kate," her trademark quote is added.

Turquoise eyes follow Kiiran with something akin to amusement as he walks out not actually noticing any sign of anger. Archellian turns towards Kae, and blushes a bit, "sorry about that, I..." he shrugs, "nothing but sewing to do for hours and then suddenly everyone needing my help at once. I'm Arc," he offers his name as a somewhat gift, along with a soft smile. "Thanks Kate," he says to the other girl, "now want to learn how to sew? Or should we leave it till another day? I'm sure if you follow Kiiran he'd be willing to have some help gutting fish," his nose is most definitely wrinkled at the prospect of that. "What is it you do around here anyway? Sorry I guess I never asked before."

Katen reddens further. "Really, it was NOTHING," she exclaims, putting emphasis on the 'nothing.' Her nose wrinkles as well. "I don't gut fish, either," she says, in a most positive way. For Kate, anyway.

"Well met, Kate, Arc," the harper gives a respectful nod of her head to both, a smile following each. "Most call me Kae, actually, but either is fine with me." Introductions made, daughter finally settled in her lap, her tiny fingers curled around her mother's golden curls, the harper actually has a moment to take a drink from the steaming mug, which she obviously enjoys, the way her eyes slip closed for just a second. As the mug is returned to the table, she looks from Kate to Arc and back, "Rumor has it that the dragons have been out searching already. I don't suppose one of you is one of their lucky finds, are you?"

Katen hides a look of intense longing on her face by feigning a terrible coughing fit, biting her lip afterward. "I wish," she says softly, before she can stop herself. "Err.." She looks up, alarmed. Kate made a booboo? She never replies to Arc's inquery about her job, however.

"Does anyone enjoy gutting fish?" Archellian asks as he settles himself back down in a chair, his break taken, he goes back to sewing, stitching and mending the collosal pile of clothes. "I see Ainyans managed to sneak out," he sighs most definitely at that. "I really hope that I don't have to do this all on my own." A nod is given to Kae as she speaks, "well met Kae, and well..." his eyes narrow suspiciously at her statement, "I'm already kind of busy doing the mending, so well whatever you want done, can it wait?" Already settled into the system of people only ask for a candidate when they want something.

Hikaru stumbles in, yawning and rubbing her eyes. Need sleeeep. Klah is spotted. SHe rushes to the target and pours herself a mug. It's taste and warmth help wake her up, and soon she'll get the buzz that comes with klah. She overhears something about gutting fish. Ewwwww, yucky. She's had to clean fish before. A messy and smelly job.

Katen rubs an infernal itch on the back of her head again. Drat this evil guy and her guilt! Hands wring consistently as she bites her lip in agitation.

"Whatever I want done?" Kae repeats the phrase, a look of confusion on her face at first, which is replaced with a look of amusement. "No, I don't want you to *do* anything for me, you poor thing," she immediately eases his fears with a smile and a shake of her head. "Though you might want to watch out for my 'mate, T'rell, he's likely to find something for you to do." With a wink and another grin, she reveals the true reason for her querie. "Actually, I'm an artist, and I thought it might be a nice idea to do some sketches of the candidates, since I always do sketches of the new riders and their mates after impression."

"A picture? Of me?" Archellians jaw drops at that prospect, immediately preening under the possibility, golden hair getting tossed over his shoulder, warm smiles cast at the Harper. "How much?" the question of marks immediately brought up just in case he ends up being out of pocket. "I have a friend who's an artist," he wrinkles his nose at the memories of that encounter, "he drew me," there's a most definite shudder there as he states that. "Would be nice to have a real picture though, um, or do you keep them? Yeah I guess you'd keep them," he rambles on.

Katen chuckles, despite herself. Of course, our resident cavern haunter must be envious of SOMEbody. See, Arch has something to gloat about. Poor little Kate is gloatless, for the moment. Lucky for the sake of all sane ears that might bother to listen. Bwaha.

"Actually, I figured I'd keep a copy for myself, and then give one to each of the candidates," Kae explains as she slowly manages to break a piece of the meatroll off, which is a hard task with one hand, and get it to her mouth. She chews slowly, thoughtfully and then gives Arc a shrug after swallowing, "If you impress, and I wish you luck that you do, I'll do a sketch or painting of you and your dragon as well. I don't ask for any payment other than perhaps favors. You know, help me gather the flowers I need for the paints or something."

Katen offers Hikaru a wave at last, still interested in the candidate's reaction to getting drawn. Or perhaps the prospect of someone else maybe getting a dragon? Nosy, picky little Kate must see, anywho.

"You use flowers for paint?" Archellian asks, actually sounding interested at that prospect, "how do you make paints from flowers?" He would indeed be listening quite intently to this. Or at least attempting to before his mind flutters back to her previous statements, "but don't your materials cost marks?" he asks, ever conscious of such things, comes from being Assistant Steward and balancing books. "You just give the pictures away?" Well not to look a gift runner in the mouth or anything, "will you need me to pose? Or will you just draw me?" his thoughts oblivious to all else.

Hikaru smiles at Katen, finally beginning to wake up, some at least. "Hullo." she doesn't say anything more unless she hears something in the conversation that she knows much about. Art isn't really her thing.

Nor is it Kate's. She turns now to torment poor, unknowing Hikaru, whereing one of her thin smiles. "Hi!" she says quite cheerfully. "M'name's Katen, but I prefer Kate," she puts in swiftly, before sniffing and pondering getting her own klah. She, herself, is sleepy, rubbing an eye absently.

"The materials do cost money," Kae agrees with a shrug, "the ones that I don't make myself, of course. Marks are always appreciated for most of my works, but since I know that, generally speaking, candidates are without a way to make the marks themselves, I prefer to give a choice of helping me gather the things I need for making my paints, or some other task I can't do alone. It isn't fair that only those with marks get something, is it?" A long pause follows, as the harper slowly drinks from her klah, the steam rising from her mug and drifting up around her face like a cloud. When it's returned to the table, she lifts her gaze so it means Arc's, "Of course you use flowers to make paints, it's relatively easy to do, though not as easy to do it well. They have the pigments I need, and crushing the petals cause the oils to be released and, well, that's about it."

Hikaru blinks. Katen's a wee bit too cheerful for someone with her tired mind can cope with at the moment. "Oh...uh, nice to meet you Kate, my name is Hikaru." she doesn't really have a nickname, except RooRoo, but /no one/ calls her that but her mother. No one. Anyone else who does will be pranked in their sleep or something. She shrugs and grins, "Anything interesting happen since I fell alseep an hour ago."

Katen shrugs. "I've been settling down...just got to the Weyr," she replies, peering at the ceiling a moment. "First time to Ista," she adds, eyes searching for any signs of revulsion or gawking of the crowd. yah, ya heard right. First time at Ista. Big whoop de doo. Kate lowers her gaze again, wearing her smile once more.

Archellian nods in response to Kae's words, "yeah I guess you're right. And I never really thought about how paints were made. I had the drudges make up the paints for the redecorating we do at Gar, and well they seemed to know what they were doing and it stank so bad I decided it was probably best to leave them to it." Whether it was the drudges or the paint that stank he's still unsure. "Well, so you'll want help picking flowers and things... hmm.." he ponders the idea, "well I suppose it's better than a lot of things. If I can find the time from the rest of my busy schedule just ask me and well I'll try and help."

Hikaru smiles pleasantly at Katen. "I just got here yesterdey, it's /my/ first time at Ista, as well. But I came from Igen Weyr, so I'm used to weyrlife." She's weyrfolk to the bone, and does all the same strange customs as the best of them. She's also pretty open-minded, at least, compared to your average holdbred resident or crafter.

"No, that's only if you impress and want me to do a painting," Kae corrects him softly, giving him a wink. "And it only 'smells' if you are cooking paints for outdoors and such. Me, I use oils and water, no smells." As Brencia finally drifts off to sleep, the harper adjusts the infant so she's resting across her lap, and is able to actually move both of her hands. "Last search, I traded for transportation, but I'm afraid I'm no longer in need of those sorts of favors." After all, who needs to beg weyrlings for transport when you've a bronze dragon and his rider willing to take you?

Katen nods. "I'm of no noble Blood, but I am from Telgar Hold," she responds proudly. Ya, the evil, spoiled Holder kid.."Mother's a retired trader, and Da used to work as a smith," she continues proudly, but looks sleepy. "I'm going to have to apologize and take my leave," she yawns, well due for a nap. "Talk again?" she halfway asks/promises, shuffling off on her way.

Archellian blinks and realised he dozed off, or at least drifted off into a daydream, a soft blush covering his cheeks, "um sorry I think... oh shards..." he looks down at the sewing and realises he's stitched a sleeve together, reaches down for the scissors and begins to unpick his work. "Don't tell anyone will you? They all seem to think I'm a Master Weaver or something," he bursts into laughter at that. "Now well what were you saying?"

"If you could see the things that I have tried to sew," Kae shakes her head with a sympathetic laugh as she begins pushing her meatroll around on her plate. "Vivian, have you met her yet? She's a wonderful weaver, even made a ballgown for me the last time I was living here at the weyr. She's gold Amerasuth's rider, so I'm sure you'll get to know her pretty well. Anyway," the harper does ramble, and sometimes, if you're lucky, she actually manages to realize it before rambling too much. "Vivian made me promise that from now on, all my sewing goes through her, and I'm not to do it myself."

"No I haven't met Vivian yet? I have these gorgeous clothes my friend Maral made for the last gather at Gar though. She's a Journeyman Weaver, real good too. She made Holder Natch's clothes too," Archellian says happy in his memories. "She's a gold rider? Why would I get to know a gold rider?" shocked at that idea. "Wish I could get Maral to visit here, then again I think she's a bit above doing this sort of labour, and I wouldn't force it on her. Might ask her to make my candidate dress thing though," still he refuses to call it a robe. Things without trousers=dresses.

"Because Vivian makes it her business to get to know each and every candidate, that's why," Kae explains softly, not wanting to speak up for fear of waking the infant in her lap. "One thing you'll learn about being at the weyr, it's harder to avoid meeting and getting to know people than it is to take the time to get to know them. People watch out and take care of each other around here, it's one of the reasons I love it so much." A mischevious sparkle appears in her blue eyes and she adds in a whisper, "besides, dragons are generally much better subjects for my art than most people."

"People do the same at Gar," Archellian feels the need to point out, "everyone knows everyone and well... it's lovely and cosy, even with the starcrafters and the vintners. Have you ever been to Gar? It's a beautiful place," a soft smile curves his lips, "I miss it already. And all my friends. Well I guess I'll be back soon enough anyway, and not all that much time for missing it with all this work."

"Aye, I have," Kae looks a little startled at herself for the use of that word, one that isn't usually part of her vocabulary, but she recovers quickly enough. "I've cousins there, actually. A set of twins, one's a starcrafter, the other works in the gardens there. Perhaps you know them, Alister and Ashlyn?"

"I know Alister, well vaguely at least, I've met her a few times, she seems a very nice girl," Archellian says surprised that he actually remembered her. "She's a gardener at the starcraft, right?" just to make sure that he has the right person, then blushes as he realises she said that. "Um, sorry guess my thoughts are elsewhere. Yeah I know Alister, don't know her sister though."

"Alis is usually out and about, while Ash is the one hiding in the library behind her book, or at least that's where she is every time *I* go to visit. I think she got that from me, to be honest," Kae can't help but grin at the realization that one of her cousins is probably entirely too much like herself. "T'rell and I have gone out for a visit a time or two, though I haven't seen either of them, or left the weyr much really, since Bren was born. *She* keeps me busy." A look of distaste is given in the direction of the clothes, and she wrinkles her nose, "I sometimes wonder why it is that they think candidates need to work *so* much."

"It's to help us settle in at the weyr," Archellian says after listening to her other words, a smile curving his lips, "or so they say at least. Actually I have no clue, I wish I knew why we had to keep working. They never said that when they searched me. Never said much at all when they searched me about anything. Well nothing specific. I guess well, the drudges need a break or something," he shrugs, "I dunno, who can tell. Perhaps it's to see how much they want dragons. If they're willing to do all the worst chores it shows a strength of character, a dedication and they... well not for me, but well... keeps them out of trouble."

"I guess I can kind of see that," Kae admits dryly, giving an apologetic grin as she does. "Being a rider entails so much more than a person would realize, before they impress. I never realized it either, until I returned to the weyr to be with T'rell, and see the things he has to do, and the hours he works. Know this, it's a hard life, not only for you, but for those you love as well, but," she pauses, giving him an encouraging smile, "the bond between rider and dragon, it's worth it, it has to be. T'rell and Sejith... well, they take care of each other, and us too."

"I don't think anyone can possibly imagine what it means to be a rider," Archellian replies to her statement, "not unless they have a dragon. They're so different from us. I don't think I understand them at all," he chuckles softly at the admission. "I well... I guess..." he trails off trying to find a strand to pick up, "what's it like being weyrmated to a rider," he blushes softly as he asks, "is it true they share their weyrs with lots of people? Um... I'm not meaning to be rude or prying, you don't need to answer. Just well... I've heard lots. Everyone..." he finishes with a shrug. "Sorry."

Kae's cheeks flush slightly with a hint of pink, but she responds anyway. "Actually, I don't really think you could call us 'mated, though most say that anyway. We have a special relationship, I guess you could say. I mean, we have our own space and all, but with Bren here," a proud gaze is offered to her sleeping daughter, and she smiles sheepishly when she remembers she's being watched, and continues, "it kind of changed things for us. T'rell is, well.. T'rell and Sejith, hmm, how to explain this..." Tanned, slender fingers slip through her golden curls, pushing them back behind her ears as she searches for the best way to explain it all. "He hasn't made a promise to me that I'll be the only one in his bed, and I can't ask him to make that promise, because riders have to follow their dragons at times, and flights... well, we all know how that goes. But, he has promised that I'll be the only one in his heart, and that's enough for me to stay. Riders change sometimes, after impression, because you and your dragon, you're more one being than two, and you always have to keep your dragon in mind and in heart. It isn't likely you'll be able to stay with someone if your dragon doesn't like them, you know."

"Does that mean you might have to be with someone because your dragon does like them?" Archellian asks after moments of silence pondering her words, trying to wrap his mind around that. "Not that well... I don't plan on impressing or anything. I'm only here because I don't know how to say no to two riders, my... 'friend'" that word is heavily accented, a hint of a deeper relationship there, "and a ten year old boy. I supposed it'd be nice to be away from Gar for a while, I was planning a break anyway. Besides now I get to meet new people and all. A break from all my responsibilities, I feel bad about that though. Sta needs me at Gar and here I am here instead. I guess there's things I didn't know about riders. Shards, I made a promise..." he trails off looking wistful. "Not that it matters I'll be back at Gar soon enough." No self pity in there, in fact a touch of hope within that statement.

"Not usually," Kae shakes her head, "but if your dragon *doesn't* like them, there really isn't much hope there for anything beyond friendship, because you'll learn that a dragon always comes first. And for some, that's a hard thing to come face to face with. For me," the harper's fingers find their way to the silver chain that hangs around her neck, and she touches the charm on it, "it wasn't really a problem, because T'rell and Sejith have always been one in the same to me. I love Sejith as much as I love T'rell, but had I known him *before* he impressed, I might not be able to say that." With a gentle smile, she studies Arc's face, as if looking for the words that he needs to hear, looking for a way to comfort him, but the frown that touches her lips shows that she doesn't know how. "If you feel so much that you need to return to Gar, there is always a chance that the dragons will know that, I suppose, but if there is a dragon for you out on those sands and he or she wants you, I'm afraid you're priorities will change pretty quickly."

More moments pass in silence as Archellian considers her words, a soft sigh slipping from his lips. "I don't think I could return to Gar just yet anyway," he murmurs the words softly, "if I go back now, fingers will be pointed, I'll be laughed at. I don't think anyone will understand. Besides well, it gives my friend time to think at least, sort themselves out. Anyway I'm meeting new people here and even the chores aren't too bad. It'll be an experience of nothing else, something I can tell everyone about, and dine out on for turns to come," he chuckles at the thought of that. "Alexander will undoubtedly love hearing about it, I wonder if he'd be able to come see the hatching, perhaps Dove too and..." he shakes his head, "listen to me I'm getting almost as bad as they are," his ramblings scaring off his worries about other things. "Soon I'll be begging the riders to let me wash them... I mean their dragons and talking constantly about eggs. The eggs are beautiful though, do you paint them too?"

"Let's see, first off, who is Alexander? Is that the 10 turn old?" Kae tries to sort her way through all the rambling that Arc has just done, checking to make sure she has it all straight. "If nothing else, being here at the weyr will help you learn more about the lives of riders, and see what weyrlife really is all about, which is something not many hold or craftraised people get a chance to do." Eggs, eggs, did she... her brown is wrinkled as she tries to figure out what is meant, and then her mouth forms into the shape of an 'o' and she nods, "Yes, I'll try to do them as well, if this little one gives me a chance."

Hands rubbing together as if to rid them of some unseen nastiness, Caylea walks through the tunnels towards the living cavern, eyes taking in it's rocky outcropped cavern as she enters. Palms still clinched, she searches for anything familar. She's been here a few times, but never really lingered long enough to know her way around. Aside form the fact that this was another time she wouldn't be lingering, Caylea walks across the enormous dining hall, soft green lights dancing off her skin, paling her appearance, casting a haunted glow on her otherwise depthed features. Away from anyone, she picks out her own long table, setting down quickly on the bench.

"Yeah Alexander is the ten turn old," Archellian says with a warm smile, "I think he'd probably enjoy the chance to see a hatching. Though whomever will look after my canine if he comes I have no idea." He nods at Kae's words, something he's been doing a lot, "yeah I suppose it'll help me learn that though what use that will be at a hold I'm unsure." He closes his eyes in thought, trying to work out something else to add and drawing a blank, the long forgotten mending on his lap is paid heed to again as he begins to mend yet another tear, slow methodical stitching fixing it easily.

Kryll takes a deep breath, puffing up his cheeks, and, in a cold gush, disappears ::between::!

"Caylea?" Archellian asks genuine surprise in his tone as he catches a glimpse of the healer from the side of his vision. "It is you. Shards I was worried, couldn't you have left a note, told someone before you upped and left?" his tone harsh with concern, "how are you anyway?" Other questions stifled as he turns his attention back to the work at hand, remembering, well remembering some form of manners.

"It's always good to know what life is like all over Pern," Kae replies, knowingly, being the well-travelled harper that she is. "After all, you could teach Alexander all about weyr life, things that he wouldn't know without you telling him, or he being here himself." Brencia stirs in Kae's lap, whimpering softly, threatening to cry again, but as soon as her mother's gentle fingers touch her back, she is soothed into sleep again.

She's never enjoyed a batter of questions sent her way, or being attacked all of a sudden, and being on mildly on edge already, Cayles slowly averts her eyes in Arc's direction. After a moment's pause, quicksilver eyes widen noticably. Her lips form his name on them, far to softly for any but the nearest to him his name uttered in surprise as well. Finally she speaks up, almost in a jolt of reconizition. "Archellian! Shards, what are -you- doing here?" Quick check. A matter of a seven day ago and he was still at Gar. Now..Well, hopefully he was here just to watch the clutching. She knows to little about him to know that this wouldn't be the case. "I...well, the Holder knew that I'd set off again. I didn't think anyone would take much heed to a travelier leaving their midst, so thus no note."

"I think Alexander plans to see it all himself one day," Archellian replies with a smile, "I doubt he'd sit still for long enough to listen to me tell a story. He's a harper in the making that one, with his desire to travel and his love for telling tales of his own. He nearly ran away with the traders once so he could get out and about. I doubt well..." he trails off unsure of what else to say, attention diverted by Caylea, "I got kidnapped," he rolls his eyes at Caylea, then smiles, "what're you doing here? And I never... well um... it would have been nice to have known. How are you anyway?" his tone softer now.

Kae laughs and shakes her head, "Tell you what. When he gets a little older, you bring him to see me, and we'll see how much of him is a harper." With that, she sighs softly, gathers Bren up into her arms and gets to her feet. "If you don't mind, I think I'll return to my quarters now, and get my daughter to bed so I can get a little work done before *I* am sleeping. I'm sure I'll be seeing you around the weyr, and," she pauses by his seat on the way out, touching his shoulder ever-so-lightly with her hand, "if you feel overwhelmed with work, or need a place to hide for a bit, come see me in the harper's area. I'll be around.

Archellian nods a goodbye to Kae, "I'll seeya around, thanks for the offer and it's been nice talking to you," he calls after her."

Kaeryn nods, waving again, as she slips from the room, her sleeping infant in her arms.

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