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Although this room doesn't have any windows to speak of, the fireplace against the far wall from the main door and glows set all around the room combined with a very light olive green coloring scheme keep the light level comfortable. Set in the center of the room, infront of the fire place is a set of three earthtone couches surround a low, heavy set and sturdy looking table. In the far corner sets a large desk, one that looks like it would fit about two people. On the left side of the desk all of the papers and work lies in tidy stacks, while on the right the organization seems to be more of a controlled chaos. Setting in strategic places all around the room are neatly patterned throw rugs that resemble Terran orientals.
It is a summer sunrise. Kaeryn is here.
Obvious exits: Classroom Bedroom Hall
T'rell knocks, and peeks in. "Hello?" he calls into the half-lighted room. He steps softly in, closing the door behind him, and calls again, at half-volume. "Hello?"
Kae peeks up from over the back of the sofa, and she smiles tiredly. "Good morning," she responds as she stands up from where she was sprawled on the floor.
T'rell continues across the room to stand next to Kaeryn. "Feeling better?" he asks, half amused.
The look on Kae's face should answer that question, but if it doesn't... "It's too early, I'm just not awake yet," she replies as she smooths her hair away from her face.
"I could help you wake up," T'rell offers...
Kae groans and shakes her head as she collects the things on the floor and stacks them into a small pile, pausing to grin at T'rell, "At the beach?"
T'rell gives an innocent look. "Of course." He gives a quick, easy grin back.
T'rell bends to help Kaeryn with her things. "Got a towel?" He doesn't ask about a bathing suit.
"In my bag," Kae points at the wherhide bag leaning against the back of the sofa. "Along with my suit, and some fruit," she adds with a grin as she stands again. "You?"
T'rell picks up Kaeryn's bag to carry it for her. "Sure. Brought some sandwiches from the kitchen, too. What's a picnic without a picnic, after all?" He leans against the back of the sofa casually. "Need to do anything before we go? I thought maybe we'd head out to one of those Istan coves," he suggests. "Or would you rather look for a northern island?"
"No matter to me, as long as I can soak in the sun while I float around on the water," Kae moves over to the back of the sofa and wraps her arms around T'rell's waist in a belated affectionate greeting. "Let's go soak up some lazy time."
T'rell captures Kaeryn, planting a quick kiss on her forehead; then pushes a few strands of hair out of her face. "The sun's just waiting for us. Sounds like we want one of those Istan coves," he decides. "The sea around here's too rough today."
Kae smiles softly and nods her head, "sounds like a good plan to me." She releases the embrace she holds on T'rell's waist and loops an arm through his, nodding her head toward the door. "Sejith up for a swim, then?"
T'rell waves a hand casually. "He's always up for a swim, the rougher the better." He chuckles, recalling, "The best part about the transfer to Ista was the ocean."
The light in this hallway is bright, glowbaskets are opened fully, and many people traverse the corridor. The carpet is worn thin, making footfalls easily heard. However, the sounds of the common rooms also make their way into the hall; women talking, water splashing and children singing hall; women talking, water splashing and children singing float in through doors when they open and close. The walls are covered in tapestries of everyday life in Tillek; men fishing, women sewing and knitting, and children playing. The lush colors of the tapestries have been faded a bit by fingers handling them too often, but that simply adds to the hallway's lived-in look.
On the perch is Shaoran.
Obvious exits: Stairs Residence Hall Hold Harper's Apartments Classroom Western Hall Sewing Room Baths
Kaeryn nods her head in agreement, "It's entirely too cold here for my bones. the first winter I spent here, I just /knew/ I was going to freeze in my sleep."
Brina arrives from the Residence Hall archway.
T'rell grins at Kaeryn, walking with her down the hallway. "The first winter at Ista I thought I'd boil," he recalls. "Now I think I'm with you."
Kae smiles brightly, nodding her head as T'rell speaks, but she pauses as Brina enters the hallway. "Morning, Bri," Kae greets her young cousin. "What are you doing up so early this morning?"
"Good Morning, Kae. I am just wandering around." Brina replies. "What are you doing this morning?"
T'rell chimes in, explaining with a quick smile, "I'm kidnapping the harper."
The harper begins to reply to Brina, but at T'rell's comment, she can't help but laugh. "T'rell and I are going to spend the day soaking in the sun, since he thought I could use some rest and a tan," Kae winks at T'rell and her smile brightens her pale face. "Oh, um, T'rell, this is Brina, she's my cousin who just moved here from home. Brina, this is T'rell, he's, well...T'rell."
"It's very nice to meet you T'rell. I am glad that you are going take my cousin away for some rest. She hasn't been looking to well lately." Brina replies as she quickly gives a worried look to her cousin.
"Sejith's rider," T'rell adds, amused, to Kaeryn's rather vague introduction. He raises his eyebrows. "Your cousin, eh?" He nods in greeting, with a smile. "Glad to meet you. How're you liking Tillek so far?"
A light pink color appears on Kae's cheeks, and she looks down at her toes. So she doesn't think well in the mornings, or something like that. As the two carry on a conversation, Kae opts to just watch and listen, and she leans her head against T'rell's in a relaxed pose.
T'rell glances sideways at Kaeryn. "Told you you were working too hard," he half-scolds. "I had to practically carry her, kicking and screaming, down to dinner last night," he exaggerates to Brina.
With strawberry-blond hair that curls to her shoulders and her wide inquisitive blue-grey eyes, Brina has the look of a girl that is always looking for something to do. Rukbat's warm rays have blessed her small nose with many tiny freckles, and her sun-bleached lashes enhance the color of her eyes. her Sun-kissed cheeks make her 12 turns seem young as she is at a slightly smaller stature than her peers.
Brina is wearing a pale green sundress tied in a bow in the back while wearing brown sandals on her feet.
Brina is 12 Turns, 1 month, and 21 days old.
"She is always workihg too hard and not getting enough rest. And I am enjoying Tillek very much." Brina smiles as she looks at her cousin.
With a height of about 5 foot 4, this young woman is not exactly overbearing in stature, but the confident air about her makes her seem a little taller. The strands of her golden hair flow fluidly down her back, ending in gentle curls at her waist. Bringing attention to the features of her heart shaped face are her blue eyes, highlighted with golden flecks, that sparkle mischievously in the light. Her skin is lightly tanned and delicate, tiny freckles powdering her small nose. A mysterious look in her eyes, and the way her pale pink lips upturn in a smile make her seem even more attractive. On her right wrist, there is a strip of harper blue wherhide that was formed into a bracelet. On her left hand, a glimmering band of gold wraps around her ring finger, shining brilliantly as it catches and reflects the light. The gold was molded carefully into the design of two intertwined firelizards, the eyesof each set with small but brilliant stones, one of a deep but shining green and the other of a spectacular cyan.
A soft, luxurious flaxen dress in a rich shade of russet drapes gracefully from Kaeryn's shoulders. The neckline is a demure scoop and is decorated with tiny golden tigerlilies. The sleeves are long and close fitting, tapering to a point at the base of her wrist. The bodice is close fitting as well but flares out from the hips to allow full dance movement. A black belt with a simple gold clasp sits snuggly around her waist. A pair of russet, calf height, wher-hide boots completes the ensemble. Hidden mostly behind Kae's golden curls is a slender golden beauty, only the whirling blue eyes giving away Eppie's hiding place.
A knot of blue and white adorns Kaeryn's shoulder. Two twisted chords formed into a loop and a long tail represent her ranks as a Journeyman of the Harper Hall. Within the knot is a ribbon of dark blue and a ribbon of white signifying her posting at Tillek Hold.
She is wearing a silver chain bracelet with the Dolphinsinger charms.
Kaeryn is 25 Turns, 6 months, and 2 days old.
T'rell grins at the girl. "You work too hard too?" he asks. "I suppose it runs in the family."
"Not that I could eat anything /anyway/," Kae notes with a wrinkle of her nose. "I told you both that I'm just a little sick, I'll be fine." Shoulders are raised in a shrug and she changes the subject, "Would you care to join us at Ista? You can lounge around all day, it'll be fun."
Brina smiles as she answers her cousin. "I would love to join you at Ista. It should be a lot of fun."
T'rell nods in agreement. "Great. Ever been to Ista?" The rider asks, holding out an elbow each to escort both cousins as they walk.
Brina shakes her head at T'rell. "I haven't been to Ista before so it should be an adventure." Brina answers as she locks arms with T'rell. "I can't wait."
Kae lifts her head from it's prop against T'rell's as they begin to walk toward the stairs leading down to the Great Hall. "She's never riden a dragon before either," she whispers to T'rell.
You step through a connecting corridor, on your way to the less-lit West Hall.
The grand staircase winds down to the Great Hall, tapestries adorn the walls of it, depicting all sorts of sea life and boating scenes. These deep rich colors extend down the length of the hallway, exaggerated by the dim light of intermittently placed glowbaskets. These walls, too, are adorned with tapestries, which are broken up by the many doors that line the hallway. Three men can walk abreast down the hall, the doors to the rooms open inward, as not to hit someone who may be walking down it. The thick wood of the doors allows little noise to seep through from the rooms, and the floor is carpeted with a thick rug, giving the hall an eerie silence. On the perch is Trip.
Obvious exits: Eastern Hall Guest Quarters Lord Holder's Apartments Grand Stairs Rooms
T'rell gives a quick wink to Kaeryn as he asks Brina, "Ever ridden a dragon?"
Brina shakes her head at T'rell. "Are we gonna ride a dragon today? Is Sejith going to take us to Ista?" Brina asks.
Kae uses her free hand to balance herself against the banister of the stairs as they work their way down to the bottom, leaning a little more against it's assistance than T'rell's, refusing to show to him that she's still too tired to do it well on her own.
You step down, heading down the magnificent Great Staircase of Tillek Hold to the first level.
This great, expansive room envelopes visitors with a feeling of smallness, no matter how many are in the room, it never seems to get full. Tapestries adorn the walls of the hall, depicting all sorts of scenes of sea-life in lush colors and fabrics. Directly ahead of the Great Doors are the giant double doors of the Dining Hall, usually left open as an invitation for all to enter. To the right the Singing Shipfish beckons with the sounds of people laughing, cursing and mugs clanging together in camaraderie. The door the tavern is shaped like that of a ship hatch, a porthole in the middle of it letting in a little of the light from the glowbaskets beyond. A great staircase leads upward, tapestries hanging on the walls that run along it. Part of the second floor is visible from here, the lushness of it indicating the Lord Holder's personal rooms' rest there. Mounted on the stairwell is a great wooden carving, portraying a large sailing vessel being tossed upon a stormy sea, the bow of ship dangerous high in the air, the entire ship perched precariously on a crashing wave. The carvings are deep and dark with age, though the detail, is sharp and the crevices free of dust.
To the southwest, you see Sejith. On the perch is Orson. You see Tauski here.
Obvious exits: Infirmary Dining Hall Hold Offices Greater Doors The Singing Shipfish Upstairs
You stand in the Great Hall.
T'rell chuckles as he replies to Brina, "Well, otherwise we'd have to swim there, and that'd take a while."
Brina giggles as her young cheeks turn a little pink. "I didn't think of that. I am just so excited to be going to Ista and going to get to ride a dragon too." as Brina's voice gets a little bit of excitement in it.
"Just wait until you meet Sejith," Kae notes to her cousin with a wink to T'rell. "He's the 'perfect' bronze," she explains, perhaps trying to make Brina more excited, or just compliment T'rell.
T'rell grins, just a little proud; hey, he can't help it if it's true. "Sure is. You'll never meet better, and I'm not the least bit biased on this," he assures them both.
"I can't wait to meet him. And he is a bronze too? And perfect? I am getting even more excited to just thinking about meeting him." Brina giggles.
"You don't have to convince /me/," Kae pats T'rell's forearm affectionately. "You know I agree, already. And I would /never/ be biased about that." No, her obvious affection for T'rell has /nothing/ to do with it.
You step through the massive set of doors which serve as the central entrance and exit for the Hold, and you step out into the courtyard.
Wind-swept cobblestones pave this courtyard's broad, single-terraced expanse, walled 'round by a stone wall a full four meters in height and inset with two watchtowers. The larger, to the south, spans the second in girth and mass both and has a groundfloor entry in the courtyard. Connecting the two is a rampart walkway wide enough for two men to pass. Stone tables and a myriad of benches scatter about it, although the treading of many feet has shaped distinct pathways; what little greenery has been left out is in large clay pots, all the easier to drag beneath the metal awnings that jut from the walls. The Hold's sheer palisade rises high, a salt- and air-polished gray, pocketed by narrow windows and shutters patinaed with darkest bronze, the carving over the doorways worn away to uneven smoothness by the effects of time, although its grandeur is ever unfaded.
Doorways lead off in all directions; each marked by a different series of craven bas-relief. The smaller kitchen courtyard is walled off from the main, accessible by an archway wide enough to cart through. The Great Hall and entryway to the Hold itself lies to the northeast, with the entry to the Vintner's Hall in the corner adjacent. Similarly carved doors lead to both the guards' barracks and office, which is seated in the base of the largest tower. The ramp onto the terraced fields beyond and away from the Hold is to the southwest, passing underneath the watch rampart and the two towers.
It is a summer midmorning. On the perch is Akin. Bronze Sejith is here. You see Tease and Shushu here. T'rell, Kaeryn and Brina are here.
Obvious exits: Kitchen Courtyard Greater Doors Vintner Hall Guards Barracks Ramp Guardoffice Stairs to Lower Courtyard
You stand in the Courtyard after a short trek through the Great Doors.
"Is that Sejith?" Brina asks her eyes wide with excitement and marvel.
Sejith stirs -- he'd been snoozing lightly, but now he begins to stretch, his full length pretty darned impressive in the rising sun.
"Morning, Sejith," Kae calls out in her soothing, harper voice as they move down the steps and closer to the sleepy bronze.
T'rell smiles, affection for the dragon obvious as he nods. "Yep. Watch out there, buddy," he calls across the courtyard. "Don't knock over that potted tree."
Brina giggles as she watches Sejith stretch. "He is gorgeous and looks to be perfect just like Kae says." Brina answers with amazement in her voice.
Sejith finishes his luxurious stretch only after several long moments and a few satisfied, rumbling grunts. With a deep breath, he rolls to his feet, shifting the riding straps around his neck and shoulders as he cranes his neck around to blink blue-green at Kaeryn and Brina.
Kae pauses at the bottom of the steps, waiting patiently and watching as Brina studies Sejith, and vice versa. "I think she's impressed," she whispers close to T'rell's ear.
T'rell courteously unlinks arms with the ladies. "Brina, meet Sejith," he introduces, then strides over to tighten several large buckles on the riding harness, adjusting it to a more snug fit for flight while the dragon lowers his head to the person-level.
"It is very nice to meet you Sejith." She says not really knowing how to meet a dragon for the first time.
Kaeryn slips down to a seated position on the bottom step while Brina and Sejith get acquainted with one another. Her elbows are propped up on her knees, and she shivers slightly at a chill that apparently only /she/ feels in the air. Her arms cross over her chest, and she rubs her hands over her shoulders to warm them.
Sejith breathes lightly, causing a few dried leaves that were missed by the broom to swirl across Kaeryn's feet while his rider makes the final adjustments, leaping up onto the dragon's shoulder to mount with the ease of long practice. "All set," T'rell calls from his new vantage. "Toss up your bag, and I'll give you a hand."
A bright brassy hide gleams, deepening in gradual shadow under wings and down to graceful talons in a rich bronze. Filling out with age and maturity, Sejith is well-muscled and sleek, his lack of obvious threadscore speaking of his easy coordination and airborne precision. Calm and steady in just about any situation, his exacting skill speaks of an inner intensity.
His eyes whirl a deep aquamarine blue, matching the ocean.
Brina looks quickly to her cousin and walks toward Sejith and T'rell. Brina lifts her hand to T'rell to help me.
Brina scrambles up Sejith's shoulder to sit between two neckridges.
T'rell pulls Brina up the last mile to sit behind him, handing back a couple of straps to hang onto. "Comfy?" he asks, reaching down to help Kaeryn as well.
Brina reaches for the straps and replies to T'rell, "Yes, thank you."
Kae moves from her place on the steps toward Sejith's foreleg, and watches as Brina gets settled in behind T'rell. She waits patiently as T'rell helps the younger girl before lifting a hand to accept T'rell's assistance. It's a struggle for Kae to reach Sejith's neck, her tired body causing her to depend on T'rell's assistance more than usual.
Kaeryn scrambles up Sejith's shoulder to sit between two neckridges.
T'rell keeps hold of Kaeryn's hand until he's certain that she's well-situated and steady, then passes back the straps. "You two just hold on to me and those straps, and Sejith'll make sure none of us get joggled too bad," the rider assures his passengers with an encouraging smile. "Ready back there?"
Kae nods her head as she settles in behind Bri, taking hold of the straps and giving Brina an encouraging smile. "Hold on tight to T'rell if you need to, he's used to it."
"I'm ready to go." Brina replies as the excitement in her voice is almost trippled. "I think I might do that." as brina put her arms around t'rell.
T'rell rolls his eyes slightly, laughing. "Aye, I've had much heavier passengers with grips of death, too," he jokes, patting Brina's hands. "Here we go, up up, and away," On cue, the dragon rises on his haunches and spreads out his massive wings, gathering himself to leap upward into the air.
Below you, Tillek Hold clutches itself tightly to the cliff face it's embedded in, while the fields and woodland around sprawl in a lacework of vineyards, orchards, and forests. Directly below is the triple-chamber of the courtyards; main, kitchen and lower, where the Hold business is conducted at the usual feverish pace. Windows and gaps line the cliff's face, and towards the top a narrow ledge has been chipped out where it starts to slope from erosion wearing away at the surface. It is a summer midmorning.
Obvious exits: Up Points
Sejith beats his wings steadily, climbing and circling higher above the Hold. With the wind whipping past the riders, words are nearly impossible, but T'rell looks back at his passengers and makes a grand gesture at the impressive landscape below.
Kaeryn sighs happily as Sejith lifts from the ground, into the air, enjoying the feeling of being above Pern once again.
You visualize Above Blacksands Valley for Sejith. Sejith thinks to you, << Ok, I am now envisioning... >>
Brina's eyes are brightened by seeing Pern from such a high perspective.
T'rell holds up an arm; his fingers count off -- 1, 2, 3... and the world blinks out.
Sejith winks into ::between::!
You hang, senseless, in the dark nothingness of ::between::... absolute darkness surrounds you, and the profound cold stings you... you wait, and count...
Black...
Blacker...
Blackest...
Sejith blinks in from ::between::!
You soar high above the forested valley of Blacksands. Below, you can make out the buildings of Blacksands Hold, nestled along the black sandy beaches of volcano cove. To the east, the ridgelines separate this valley from Ista Hold and southern Ista, while west you can easily see the five-pointed rim of Ista Weyr, rising out of the haze in the distance. It is a summer midmorning. Gliding around is Yarll.
Obvious exits: Hold North East South West Beach Feeding Ground Ledge
Sejith sweeps toward the Istan coast.
You fly westward, over Ista Weyr.
You fly high above Ista Weyr, its five-pointed rim yawning up at you like a gaping maw in the landscape below. You are probably more than two thousand feet in the air now, and the ground of the Weyr Bowl seems VERY far below now. To the northeast, the central mountain ridge of the Island rises into the sky, although the ridgeline doesn't appear to be that much taller than the Weyr itself. East, a forested valley slopes away towards Blacksands hold. North lies Silver Forest. It is a summer midmorning. Gliding around is Maguire.
Obvious exits: Weyr Bowl North Northeast East Southeast Southwest
You glide northward, and the Weyr slips behind you. You soar over Silver Ridge and beyond, over the treetops of Silver Forest.
Below, a wide expanse of Istan forest stretches for miles all around you. The leaves on the trees in this valley are a pale, mouse green, and when the wind blows, they turn to reveal a silvery underside - hence the name, Silver Forest. The trees end in the white sandy beaches of Silver Cove, and beyond are the turquoise blue waters of the cove itself. It is a summer midmorning.
Obvious exits: East South West
You glide west, out over Silver Cove.
You soar above Silver Cove. Below, the turquoise waters look cool, clear, and inviting. You can see fish swimming around beneath the waves, and firelizards cavort in the waters. It seems like quite a peaceful place. As you look about, you notice a wide expanse of beach bordering the cove on the north and east, and you can just make out the roof of a building beneath the trees off the northeastern beach. To the east, Silver Forest stretches for miles. Further south of here, Silver Ridge separates this valley from the Weyr valley just beyond. It is a summer midmorning.
Obvious exits: Dive North Beach Main Beach Above Silver Forest Ridge
Kaeryn leans slightly to the side so she can where they are headed, and to enjoy the feel of the wind against her face. "This is what I need," she says loudly so both T'rell and Bri can hear her. "Just a little sun."
You glide down for a landing.
You stand on Silver Cove's main beach, the sugary white sands stretching off to the north and south. As you look westward, you see the crystal clear waters of the cove itself, rolling up in waves upon the beaches. It looks so inviting, you just want to jump in for a swim. To the east, a trail leads into the trees. It is a summer midmorning.
Curled up in the sand is Agile. Obvious exits: Forest North Water South
Sejith lightly settles on the sand, folding his wings as his talons sink into the soft ground.
T'rell smiles generously as he turns to Kaeryn and Brina. "Welcome to Ista." He holds out a hand to help Kaeryn dismount -- always easier than mounting, thanks to the wonders of gravity.
Kae gratefully accepts T'rell's assistance as she slips down from Sejith's warm neck to the ground beneath them. As she steps out of the way, she inhales deeply, enjoying the warm arm that fills her lungs.
Kaeryn slithers down Sejith's shoulder to land with a thump.
T'rell gives Brina a hand to hang onto for the drop to the dragon's shoulder as well. "Hey, catch," he calls jokingly to Kaeryn as he starts to send her cousin down.
Brina giggles as she slides down Sejith's shoulder on to the warm sands. "Thank you Sejith for letting me ride you. It was a pleasure." Brina tells the bronze dragon.
Brina slithers down Sejith's shoulder to land with a thump.
Kae reaches up her arms to 'catch' Brina as she's passed down from Sejith's high neck, and pats her gently on the back as she lands on the ground beside her. She jokingly turns back toward T'rell and holds her arms up to catch him as well.
Sejith inclines his head in response to Brina and Kaeryn, settling down into the sand even before T'rell has dismounted, which he accomplishes by sliding down the bronze's neck and shoulder, arms outstretched as if to bowl the harper over.
You land with a thump. That was a long way down!
Kaeryn squeals softly, much like an amused child, as T'rell slips down towards her arms, and she manages to wrap her arms around him as soon as he hits the ground.
T'rell oofs quietly. "Good catch," he compliments, proceeding to pick Kaeryn up by her own embrace to start carrying her down toward the water.
Brina giggles quietly as she watches T'rell carry her cousin, Kae, towards the clear water.
T'rell holds Kaeryn only slightly more comfortably than a sack of firestone, unceremoniously transporting her to just above the high tide mark. "Care for a swim?" He asks, grinning at his captive with a joking twinkle in his eye.
Kaeryn gasps and shakes her head, "Not yet! Not in my clothes!" she exclaims, just slightly struggling to get away, though it's obvious she's quiet happy to be in his arms, even if it is struggling. "If I go in, so do you!"
"Okay." T'rell calmly agrees, setting Kaeryn back onto her feet and stripping off gloves, jacket... "Well?" he asks, jacket halfway off of his shoulders, looking at Kaeryn, who's still dressed.
Kae watches T'rell pull his gloves and jacket off, and grins sheepishly when she realizes that she's staring. She turns her back to him and slithers out of her dress, revealing the swimsuit that has been hiden beneath it.
Kaeryn removes her her Journeyman Harper knot with gentle fingers and puts it in a small box before slipping it into her bag for safe keeping.
With a height of about 5 foot 4, this young woman is not exactly overbearing in stature, but the confident air about her makes her seem a little taller. The strands of her golden hair flow fluidly down her back, ending in gentle curls at her waist. Bringing attention to the features of her heart shaped face are her blue eyes, highlighted with golden flecks, that sparkle mischievously in the light. Her skin is lightly tanned and delicate, tiny freckles powdering her small nose. A mysterious look in her eyes, and the way her pale pink lips upturn in a smile make her seem even more attractive. On her right wrist, there is a strip of harper blue wherhide that was formed into a bracelet. On her left hand, a glimmering band of gold wraps around her ring finger, shining brilliantly as it catches and reflects the light. The gold was molded carefully into the design of two intertwined firelizards, the eyesof each set with small but brilliant stones, one of a deep but shining green and the other of a spectacular cyan.
A simple swimsuit of deep blue covers Kae's slender torso, covering enough skin to be considered a modest outfit, but still formed well for swimming and other water activities. A strap of fabric crosses over each of her shoulders before angling towards the center of her back where they cross, making an 'X' between her shoulder blades. A single stripe of white wraps around her body at her waist, accented by a thin cord that ties in the back to adjust the fitting of the suit for the wearer. Hidden mostly behind Kae's golden curls is a slender golden beauty, only the whirling blue eyes giving away Eppie's hiding place.
A knot of blue and white adorns Kaeryn's shoulder. Two twisted chords formed into a loop and a long tail represent her ranks as a Journeyman of the Harper Hall. Within the knot is a ribbon of dark blue and a ribbon of white signifying her posting at Tillek Hold.
She is wearing a silver chain bracelet with the Dolphinsinger charms.
Kaeryn is 25 Turns, 6 months, and 2 days old.
T'rell dumps his jacket on the sand, then glances back to Brina. "Coming for a swim?" He continues stripping down to his trousers, then sits on the sand to untie his boots -- very cumbersome in the water.
Brina nods her head as she is turning around and slipping off her dress to reveal a swimsuit perfect for her young age. "I am just about ready to go swimming." Brina answers
Kae kicks her sandals off and moves over to stand behind T'rell, running her fingers through his short hair as he pulls his boots off. "Sejith joining us?" she asks him as she leans over to wrap her arms around his bare shoulders.
T'rell glances over at the dragon, who's gotten quite comfortable. "He'll nap a while and come in later." He smiles fondly. "Can't even get those fighting straps off 'im 'till he wakes up." Off comes the second boot, tossed casually aside. He stands, finally revealing a pair of colorful swimming shorts. "Last one in's a rotten egg," he challenges Kae and Brina, ready to dash toward the light surf.
A small fellow, his shoulders are broad, his hands well-calloused, and his form compact and fit. His dirt-brown eyes sparkle with mischief and humor to lend a joke to his short and wavy hair, which has become quite a remarkable shade of light grey. His features are unlined except when he's laughing and are free and mobile with his expressions, such that all his five feet and four inches of height are alight with a juvenile and contagious spirit.
A short beard is trimmed more or less neatly, the light brown-grey adding definition to a firm jawline.
Bare to the waist, his shorts are a colorful blend of patterns and designs, made of a light cloth so as to dry quickly. His skin is tanned, as it has been for many turns now, over wiry well-defined muscles, and an old threadscore is scarring over down his left ankle.
T'rell is 36 Turns, 1 month, and 26 days old.
As he gets to his feet, Kae sprints toward the water, preparing to dive as soon as the water is deep enough. Instead, she manages to stumble and fall face first into the shallow water, and she lifts her head, sputtering.
Brina looks at Kae and T'rell and realizes she is being left in the dust. with a start, she races off to the surf letting the water hit her.
T'rell follows close on Kae's heels -- close enough that when she stumbles, he has to dodge to avoid falling *oomph* on top of her. Off-balance, he twists in the water and splashes down right in front of Kae with a rather surprised look. "Whoa, don't stop like that," he grins, offering a hand even as he picks himself up, standing thigh high in the sea. "You okay?"
Kae nods her head, laughing at herself and T'rell. "Sorry, didn't /mean/ to fall here," she apologizes as she takes his hand and gets to her feet. "Looks like Bri beat us though," she points at the youngest of the group, who's managed to get herself into the water without falling. Tugging on his hand, she moves further out into the water.
Kaeryn wades into the waters of the cove.
You wade into the cove.
The turquoise waters of the cove rise and fall gently as the ocean swells roll into the beaches to the east. The water is crystal clear, and you can see down to the white sandy bottom of the cove, where schools of yellowtail and silvery fingerfish dart among the waves. You see a small pier extending from the north beach of the cove, and you can just barely make out some sort of structure through the trees just beyond the north beach. It is a summer midmorning.
On the main beach, you see Sejith and one person. To the southeast, you see Amanoth.
Obvious exits: Main Beach North Beach Pier South Beach Sea
Brina swims out from the main beach.
T'rell holds up a finger in some manner of signal to Kaeryn, an unmistakeable glint in his eye; he strokes casually over toward Brina.
Kaeryn pauses where she is in the water, and opts to lift her feet up so that she floats about lazily in the water.
Brina starts to swim backwards as she notices T'rell coming towards her. "You aren't going to splash me first." She emphatically says to T'rell.
T'rell shakes his head assuredly. "That's right. I'm not." Without giving her time to think, he ducks beneath the surface.
Kae glances over her shoulder toward the others, and she can't help but grin. "Careful, you two!" she calls out to them before kicking her feet a few times so that she's a little further away from them.
Brina looks around for T'rell and realizing that he is under water somewhere, she decides to start swimming around hoping that he isn't coming to dunk her. "T'rell, Please don't dunk me," Brina says giggling.
A mass of bubbles rises right behind Brina, close enough to tickle her back as they pop at the surface. A fraction of a second later, T'rell pops up, hands lifted to lightly push down on the girl's head -- just enough to give her time to get a good breath before he submerges them both.
Kaeryn turns over on her stomach so she can watch the play occuring between T'rell and Brina. Long, lazy strokes move her around in the water, her legs mostly just floating along behind her.
Brina takes a big breath of air before T'rell pulls them both under. After wrestling with him for a few seconds, she pops out of the water trying to cath T'rell.
T'rell pops up a moment later a couple of feet away, grinning and dripping. "Hah!" he exclaims. "I lied." He sweeps across the water with an arm, sending a huge splash of water flying toward Brina... and, coincidentally, toward Kaeryn.
Squeaking softly, Kae slips under the water, trying to get away from T'rell's splashing, and to get him from beneath. Only bubbles give away her place under the surface of the water as they get closer and closer to his legs.
Brina giggles only after being splashed in the face by T'rell. Noticing what her cousin is trying to do, Brina tries to distract T'rell by returning the splashes.
T'rell, ducking away from Brina's splashes and trying to outmaneuver her in the water manages to inadvertantly outmaneuver himself. Almost within Kaeryn's grasp, oblivious, he lets go another rush of water toward the younger girl.
Tiny attacks are made at T'rell's legs, Kae's fingers pinching gently at them, trying to mock fish biting at them. Pinch. Pinch. Pinch. The 'bites' work their way up T'rell's legs in sporadic patterns.
"What's wrong T'rell? Is something biting at your legs?" Brina asks innocently, as she looks to see what her cousin is doing.
T'rell kicks to shoo away the 'fish', propelling himself backwards, up and over Kae in a dolphin-like arcing surface dive which brings him underwater, atop the nibbling harper. Reaching down, he simply tickles her sides mercilessly.
Kaeryn gasps for air, once all of hers is expelled forcefully through her laughter, and she forces her way up, breaking her way through the surface of the water. "Eek!" she exclaims, turning to attack T'rell again, now that she's refeuled with air. Under the water she slips again.
Laughing at her cousins antics already, seeing T'rell do what should have been a gracefull dolphin dive made Brina's laughter start hurting her sides. "That'll teach ya not to splash Kae, won't it T'rell?"
T'rell slips away through the water, resurfacing a couple of yards distant. At the first sign of pursuit, he starts swimming further. "Uh, oh! Hey, Brina, grab her feet," he instructs.
Kae moves quickly, just under the surface of the water. All those swimming classes she's required to take are evidently paying off with speed and grace. T'rell's toes are almost within reach, and that's her goal. Toes!
"You only think that I am going to grab her feet. She will turn against me too. I don't want those pinchers coming after me like they did you." Brina remarks as she starts to gang up on T'rell and start splashing him.
T'rell strokes toward the beach and Sejith, as quickly as possible. Backup. ;)
****** later ******
You stand on Silver Cove's main beach, the sugary white sands stretching off to the north and south. As you look westward, you see the crystal clear waters of the cove itself, rolling up in waves upon the beaches. It looks so inviting, you just want to jump in for a swim. To the east, a trail leads into the trees. It is a summer noon.
Curled up in the sand is Agile. Bronze Sejith is here. Kaeryn is here.
Obvious exits: Forest North Water South
T'rell clambers on and around Sejith to unfasten the flying straps now that the dragon has decided to wake up and go for a soak. Buckle by buckle, the wherhide slides down his smooth hide until finally the picnic basket tumbles down from above into the rider's waiting hands. "Hah," he exclaims to Kaeryn. "Time for lunch."
Kaeryn climbs up the beach so that she's away from the moving water, and spreads a large blanket out on the beach before rubbing a towel through her hair to dry it off.
T'rell unpacks a blanket first, spreading it out on the sand in a broad checkered plaid. Sitting upon it, he begins to rummage through the basket.
Once her hair is dry, Kae uses the towel to rub the water off her body and then drops it on the edge of one of the blankets to keep it from collecting sand. Dropping onto the blankets, she rolls over, resting her head against T'rell's leg. "What's for lunch?"
"Sandwiches, made from yesterday's leftovers, I think." T'rell answers, pulling out a few wrapped packages and setting them out on the blanket. "Hope you like roast beast." He glances toward the water, watching Brina for a moment.
Kae reaches for one of the sandwiches, rolling over onto her stomach so that she can unwrap it. A glance is given to her cousin out in the water before she turns her attention back to the food at hand. "Sounds lovely," she replies as she studies it.
Eppie and Brina play in the waters of the cove.
T'rell chuckles at the girl and firelizard. "Where'd you say you picked her up again? Cute kid." He, too, unwraps a sandwich and reclines on the blanket, enjoying the slight shade and the warm breeze.
"She's from Keroon, where all of my family is," Kae explains, nodding her head in Brina's direction. "My father sent word to me that she was in need of leaving home, being around other people so that she can study and grow, so I offered Tillek as a new home for her." A tenative bite is taken of the sandwich, and she chews thoughtfully.
T'rell nods appraisingly. "Good a place as any." He gives the harper a small smile. "Seems to have done well enough for Oli, anyway. What about when you leave again?" he wonders, taking a thoughtful bite as he swats away a tiny flying insect.
"Hopefully she'll feel comfortable enough there by the time I leave so that she isn't alone," Kae replies with a contemplative frown on her lips. "She's making friends, I guess, and she can study with some of the harpers there." Another bite is taken of the sandwich, and she looks at it in wonder.
T'rell pulls out a jug of water from the bottom of the basket, places on the blanket, and rummages around again in it. "Hmm. Cups, cups, where are they?" he mutters softly.
T'rell produces one with a small air of exultation, then another. "Only two," he apologizes briefly. "Didn't think there'd be more of us. How's the sandwich?"
"There's fruit in my bag," Kae points at the small bag on the edge of the blanket. "And I can share with you or Bri, it doesn't matter to me," she replies with a careless shrug and looks at the sandwich and the two bites gone from it. "Sandwich is good, just eating slow."
T'rell hadn't noticed Kaeryn's progress until she mentioned it; now, he raises an eyebrow. "Still not hungry?"
"Hungry, just being careful," Kae smiles softly after swallowing another bite of the sandwich. "After the way my stomach has been handling food the last few days, I thought it would be best to just chew carefully, and eat a little at a time." Her fingers touch T'rell's leg lightly and her eyes meet his, "Don't worry about me, I'm fine. Honest."
T'rell shrugs, and chuckles. "The more you insist, the more suspicious your friends get," he points out, taking a very healthy bite of his own sandwich. Mouth half full, he proclaims, "Not bad, for leftovers."
Kae rolls her eyes as she takes another bite of the sandwich, and she tilts her body so that she's leaning on her side, watching her cousin splashing around in the water with her firelizard. "Water?" she asks, rolling back to her stomach and reaching around for one of the mugs.
T'rell unstoppers the jug, feeling the condensation on the side for temperature. "Still cold from ::between::," he grins, wiping the moisture off on the blanket. "Say when," he requests, and pours.
"When." Kae says when the mug is almost filled, peering into the mug as though she hasn't had anything to drink all day. "Cold is good, very good."
T'rell smiles. "Yeah, handy having ::between:: around, ain't it?" He pours his own, then restoppers the jug and sets it in the shade. "How's the dolphineering going these days? Still like the seafaring life?"
"It's harder for me to deal with being on land," Kae laughs at herself for admitting the truth. The water swirls around in her mug, and she watches it quietly for a moment. "It's soothing in it's own way, but I do miss being able to see everyone when we're away for so long."
T'rell raises his eyebrows. "Too many people on land, not enough at sea?" he guesses. "Yeah, me and Sejith, we've got the best of both, I think. People start bugging us, we just fly away." He grins, using a hand to illustrate. "Hey, lazy, I thought you were going for a swim," he reminds Sejith as the dragon unlids an eye to regard the pair.
Sejith pushes to his feet, shivering his skin to shake the sand off in small cascades. In a slow, relaxed manner, he walks down the beach, stopping at the water's edge for a moment before sliding in with a deep sigh.
Sejith> Sejith slides into the water until all but his nose and eyes seem submerged.
Sejith> Brina looks at Sejith. "Hello there Sejith." Brina says as she smiles.
"Exactly," Kae nods her head in agreement as she finishes off her sandwich and brushes the crumbs off her hands. "I get lonely, sometimes. Oli's great company, but we both have our own things to do sometimes." She rolls over on her back, resting her head against T'rell's sun-warmed leg so that she can watch the water rolling in.
Sejith> Eppie chirps softly and floats over toward Sejith, regarding him with a careful look, as if she's worried he's going to blow her over.
Sejith> Sejith might, if he's not careful. Luckily, he's usually pretty careful. The first lids cover his bejeweled eyes, dimming their sparkle with a transparent veil as he sinks yet deeper -- just deep enough to blow bubbles.
T'rell adjusts his position to give Kaeryn a more comfortable cushion, one hand reaching over to rest on her hair. "Not much in common with the rest of the crew?"
Sejith> With a look of delight at both Eppie and Sejith, Brina chuckles at eppie and scritches Eppie's eyeridges. Brina giggles at Sejith and his trying to blow bubbles. "You look very cute there Sejith." she exclaims.
"They've been on the water for turns and turns," Kae explains as she lets her eyes droop closed. "Everything that I still need to learn about the sea and dolphins, they seem to already know. And Master Thorn, well, he scares me to death, to be honest."
Sejith> Sejith sinks deeper, the bubbles billowing to the surface like boiling stew.
T'rell chuckles ruefully as he idly plays with the woman's long hair. "Aye, that man is something else again, ain't he? I used to be scared of him, too." With his free hand, he sips from the mug, looking out to sea.
A soft, happy sigh escapes from Kae's lips, showing her obvious contentment at being here. She nestles closer to T'rell, curling up as if she's going to drift off to sleep. "He demands the best from everyone," she explains, her voice quiet, "and if you don't get it right, you'd better be prepared to keep doing it until you /do/. That's not really bad, but it's hard."
Sejith> Brina giggles at Sejith. "You look very cute doing that sejith' Brina exclaims with a look of excitement on her face. "I have never seen a dragon do that before."
Sejith> Eppie glides around, close to Sejith's neck, for a moment, before deciding that his neckridge is a good place to curl up for a nap. She settles down, curling her tail loosely around his neck, and gets comfortable.
T'rell drains his mug, setting it down out of the way so that he, too, can recline, putting hands behind his head as he faces the overhanging branches of the forest. "Sounds like my weyrlingmasters," he comments thoughtfully.
Sejith> Sejith waits for Eppie to land, then begins to glide in large circles around Brina -- gradually getting lower in the water until it washes against the firelizard in gentle but insistent waves.
Sejith> With amusement in her eyes and her voice, Brina turns in circles watching the dragon play with the firelizard. "You have such a personality, Sejith. Trying to make sure Eppie doesn't get too comfortable on your neckridge." Brina remarks with laughter in her voice.
"But you learned what you needed to know, right?" Kae mumbles quietly. "I mean, you're still alive, so that's something."
Sejith> Eppie squawks as the water touches her, and she moves further along Sejith's back, looking for a dry spot.
T'rell nods thoughtfully. "Yep, the method works," he agrees. "Can't complain." He grins, and chuckles softly as he shakes his head.
Sejith> Sejith continues his downward progress, just ever so gradually touching Eppie with the water as he swims.
Kaeryn moves along the blanket so that she she can curl up beside him, and rests her head against his chest, her eyes close again and her breathing gets long and slow, slowly drifting off to sleep.
Brina swims to the main beach, and wades out of the water.
T'rell holds up a quieting finger to Brina as she approaches, pointing to the sleeping Kaeryn curled up next to him where he reclines on the picnic blanket.
Tiptoeing up to the blanket so as not to disturb her cousin, Brina sits down on the edge of the blanket. She whispers to T'rell "has she been asleep long?"
T'rell shakes his head, pointing Brina to the basket which still contains quite a few sandwiches. "Nope," he speaks quietly. "She just dozed off. Good thing, too."
Kaeryn shifts slightly in her sleep, getting into a more comfortable position, with her cheek laying against T'rell's chest, her legs stretched out.
Brina reaches into the basket and pulls out what seems to be a deliscious sandwhich. "Good. She needs to have as much sleep as possible. She has been so tired and not feeling well lately." Brina states in a hushed tone. Seeing Kae shift slightly, Bri quiets down even more.
T'rell nods, lowering his light baritone even more. "That was the idea behind this day off," he agrees. "Grab yourself a sandwich if you're hungry," he waves vaguely at the basket. "There's water in the jug. You can share her mug." He reaches across Kaeryn's sleeping form carefully, retrieving the ceramic vessel.
Brina takes the mug from T'rell and fills it with water from the jug. After a quick drink of water, Brina feels refreshed. She takes a bite of the sandwich she pulled from the basket and sinks her teeth into the flavorful meal. "Thank you T'rell for taking such good care of my cousin." She says after finishing the mouthful of food in a quiet tone. She quickly finishes her sandwich and pours herself another mug full of water.
T'rell shrugs. "She takes care of me now and again, too. I figure it all works out." He grins to Brina. "Hungry?"
Kaeryn opens one eye and peers over T'rell at Brina, looking a little confused. "Mmm?" she mummers as her eye droops closed again and she moves her arm so that it's draped across his chest.
****** time passes ******
T'rell opens his eyes again, having realized only belatedly that he had dozed off. He glances around to locate Kaeryn and Brina -- the harper being rather easy to find, being right next to him, still dozing.
"Did you have a nice nap?" Brina asks quietly as she notices that T'rell has woken up from his slight nap. She sits back down on the blanket after having walked around while T'rell and Kae were dozing off.
T'rell shifts position slightly, careful not to disturb Kaeryn's sleep, and grins up at Brina before stretching -- almost as luxuriously as his dragon.
Kaeryn stirs slightly, lifting her head from T'rell's chest and moving it over just a little. Her eyes flutter open and a smile touches her lips when she realizes where she is. She traces her fingers along T'rell's chest and up to his chin. "Hi," she says softly.
Looking over at T'rell and noticing that Kae has started to stir, Brina aks her drowsy cousin. "Are you feeling any better after your nap?"
T'rell catches Kae's hand, holding it gently as he grins at Kae, flicking his eyes over in Brina's direction while reserving his look entirely for the reclining harper. Not in front of the youngsters... He takes the opportunity, now that Kaeryn is awake, to sit up.
"Mmmhmm," Kae nods her head slightly, as T'rell moves from his reclined position, and moves into a sitting position as well. "That was a very nice nap, I should do this more often," her answer goes toward both cousin and friend.
Brina agrees totally with her cousin. "Yes, Kae. You should do that more often. You looked so peaceful sleeping in the sun." She states as she looks from T'rell to Kaeryn.
T'rell tousles Kaeryn's hair lightly. "Anytime." He starts to yawn widely, then covers it. "Mm."
"Any water left? Not that it's still cool but," Kae licks her dry lips and struggles to get to her feet, "I'm thirsty, and feel like I could really use a bath. Anyone up to heading back to Tillek?"
Sejith, still reclining in the shallows, doesn't seem all that inclined to move. T'rell, too, gives a glance across the beach. "Oh, I suppose," he agrees reluctantly. "As long as you don't go back to work." He grins at Kaeryn, then glances to her young cousin for support. "Brina and I will make sure of it, won't we?"
"Yes, of course we will." Brina replies to the dragonrider. "You just can't go back to work today." She states emphatically towards her older cousin. "I don't want to see you get tired again too quickly."
Kaeryn groans softly as she stretches her muscles out, and then reaches for her dress. She steps into it, and refastens it over her now-dry suit, smoothing the wrinkles out before slipping into her sandals. "We can pick up dinner and take it up to my quarters and just rest then, deal?" she says with a grin that spreads across her sunkissed cheeks.
Brina reaches for her sundress and pulls it over her swimsuit and slips into her sandles. "I am ready to go whenever we can convince Sejith to move." Brina says sending an amused look towards Sejith.
T'rell looks over at Sejith, an amused fondness in his voice as he answers an unspoken comment. "Sure, we can come back later. I know you like this one." He gives a sigh of his own, getting to his feet and brushing off bits of sand. "Clothes," he suggests, just having remembered them. "A good idea for ::between::, no?" He cocks an eyebrow questioningly down at Brina.
Kae picks up one of the blankets and moves away from the others to shake the sand from it before folding it up and sticking it in her bag, before gathering the mugs from the other blanket and placing them in the basket. At the mention of ::between::, Kae shivers. "S'gonna be cold any which way you look at it, after soaking up heat all day."
Brina giggles profusely. "Yes, T'rell, I do think that having clothes on might keep you just a tad bit warmer that what you would be in that." Brina answers. She glances at Kae and notices her gathering up all the stuff from the picnic. "Do you need any help carrying anything, Kae?" Brina asks
T'rell gathers up the rather haphazard pile of cloth and wherhide that is his clothing, bringing it back to the picnic spot as he begins to dress. "You take my jacket, Kae. I'll survive one trip." He tosses it to the ground at her feet where it settles into an beatup, indistinguishable lump, and sits to lace up his boots.
Kaeryn's face softens immediately at the offer, and she picks up the jacket, hugging it to her chest before slipping it over her shoulders. "Thank you," she says softly before heading toward Sejith, arms full of things.
"That was very nice of you T'rell," Brina says looking to T'rell as she follows her cousin towards Sejith. "Wait up for me, Kae!"
Sejith heaves a huge, almost melodramatic sigh, wading out of the water onto the dry sand. Once there, he sinks again to the sand, resting his head where he can watch Kaeryn's progress with a look of draconic dismay.
Kaeryn pats Sejith affectionately as she waits for T'rell to finish getting dressed, she leans tiredly against his foreleg, leaning her head back and closing her eyes.
T'rell grabs the remainder of the gear, most of which is an immense pile of wherhide fighting straps. "Alright, I *know* you want to stay, but we can come back tomorrow after sweeps. Deal?" A few loose ends trail in the sand as he drags the straps back over to the dragon, tossing them up and over with a calculated throw. When he finally finishes tightening all the various buckles and straps, both he and Sejith seemingly satisfied. "Load on, ladies," he tells the two, hanging the basket with an extra loop of wherhide.
You scramble up Sejith's broad shoulder with the help of a convenient foreleg.
A bright brassy hide gleams, deepening in gradual shadow under wings and down to graceful talons in a rich bronze. Filling out with age and maturity, Sejith is well-muscled and sleek, his lack of obvious threadscore speaking of his easy coordination and airborne precision. Calm and steady in just about any situation, his exacting skill speaks of an inner intensity. His eyes whirl a deep aquamarine blue, matching the ocean.
"Ready?" Kae asks Brina and motions for her to follow T'rell up.
Brina reaches up to grasp hold of T'rells hand and starts to climb up Sejith. "ready" Brina replies
Brina scrambles up Sejith's shoulder to sit between two neckridges.
T'rell helps up each in turn, passing back the straps. "Hang on tight... Wake up, Sejith," he teases the reluctant dragon.
Kaeryn lifts her hand to take T'rell's and lets herself be pulled up to his neck, where she settles herself in before closing up the jacket that covers her.
Kaeryn scrambles up Sejith's shoulder to sit between two neckridges.
"I still am worried about Kae, T'rell. I think she needs to go see someone to find out what's wrong. Maybe we should stop by an infirmary or something so a healer can look at her," Brina whispers into T'rell's ears.
T'rell glances back briefly at Brina, appraisingly at Kae; for a long moment, he says nothing but simply watches the harper settle herself. Then he gives an almost imperceptible nod to Brina, and a half smile. "Hang on tight."
You take off.
You soar above Silver Cove. Below, the turquoise waters look cool, clear, and inviting. You can see fish swimming around beneath the waves, and firelizards cavort in the waters. It seems like quite a peaceful place. As you look about, you notice a wide expanse of beach bordering the cove on the north and east, and you can just make out the roof of a building beneath the trees off the northeastern beach. To the east, Silver Forest stretches for miles. Further south of here, Silver Ridge separates this valley from the Weyr valley just beyond. It is a summer afternoon.
Obvious exits: Dive North Beach Main Beach Above Silver Forest Ridge
You visualize Sky High Over Tillek for Sejith. Sejith thinks to you, << Ok, I am now envisioning... >>
Sejith winks into ::between::!
You hang, senseless, in the dark nothingness of ::between::... absolute darkness surrounds you, and the profound cold stings you... you wait, and count...
Black...
Blacker...
Blackest...
Sejith blinks in from ::between::!
Below you, Tillek Hold clutches itself tightly to the cliff face it's embedded in, while the fields and woodland around sprawl in a lacework of vineyards, orchards, and forests. Directly below is the triple-chamber of the courtyards; main, kitchen and lower, where the Hold business is conducted at the usual feverish pace. Windows and gaps line the cliff's face, and towards the top a narrow ledge has been chipped out where it starts to slope from erosion wearing away at the surface.
It is a summer afternoon.
Obvious exits: Up Points
You glide down for a landing.
Wind-swept cobblestones pave this courtyard's broad, single-terraced expanse, walled 'round by a stone wall a full four meters in height and inset with two watchtowers. The larger, to the south, spans the second in girth and mass both and has a groundfloor entry in the courtyard. Connecting the two is a rampart walkway wide enough for two men to pass. Stone tables and a myriad of benches scatter about it, although the treading of many feet has shaped distinct pathways; what little greenery has been left out is in large clay pots, all the easier to drag beneath the metal awnings that jut from the walls. The Hold's sheer palisade rises high, a salt- and air-polished gray, pocketed by narrow windows and shutters patinaed with darkest bronze, the carving over the doorways worn away to uneven smoothness by the effects of time, although its grandeur is ever unfaded.
Doorways lead off in all directions; each marked by a different series of craven bas-relief. The smaller kitchen courtyard is walled off from the main, accessible by an archway wide enough to cart through. The Great Hall and entryway to the Hold itself lies to the northeast, with the entry to the Vintner's Hall in the corner adjacent. Similarly carved doors lead to both the guards' barracks and office, which is seated in the base of the largest tower. The ramp onto the terraced fields beyond and away from the Hold is to the southwest, passing underneath the watch rampart and the two towers. It is a summer afternoon.
You see Tease and Shushu here.
Obvious exits: Kitchen Courtyard Greater Doors Vintner Hall Guards Barracks Ramp Guardoffice Stairs to Lower Courtyard
"Off ye all get," T'rell announces as the dragon settles himself down on solid ground.
Kaeryn lets herself slide from Sejith's neck down to his shoulder, and from there she slips to the ground, landing carefully on the ground. Once she's there, she loosens the borrowed jacket, but keeps it draped over her shoulders.
Brina dismounts and lands on the ground. She turns to Sejith and says "Thank you Sejith for taking us to a beach and playing in the water and being a perfect dragon." Her eyes gaze adoringly on Sejith.
T'rell chuckles softly as he swings his leg over to slide down. "You're very welcome, Brina," he passes along.
T'rell offers his elbow once again to Kaeryn, glancing meaningfully at Brina -- uh, covertly, of course. Yeah.
Kae loops her arm through T'rell's and takes the first step up to the doors, pausing halfway to take a deep breath so she can make it up the rest of the way. "I think the sun might have made me even /more/ tired," she mutters softly.
"All that swimming," T'rell suggests, offering as much support as Kaeryn might need as he slows his pace up the stairs for her.
With a look of concern covering her face, Brina looks toward her cousin. "Kareyn, are you sure you are okay? I don't like the way you look."
"Just tired," Kae waves her head in Brina's direction. "I'm fine." As they reach the top of the stairs, she pulls the door open and steps inside.
This great, expansive room envelopes visitors with a feeling of smallness, no matter how many are in the room, it never seems to get full. Tapestries adorn the walls of the hall, depicting all sorts of scenes of sea-life in lush colors and fabrics. Directly ahead of the Great Doors are the giant double doors of the Dining Hall, usually left open as an invitation for all to enter. To the right the Singing Shipfish beckons with the sounds of people laughing, cursing and mugs clanging together in camaraderie. The door the tavern is shaped like that of a ship hatch, a porthole in the middle of it letting in a little of the light from the glowbaskets beyond. A great staircase leads upward, tapestries hanging on the walls that run along it. Part of the second floor is visible from here, the lushness of it indicating the Lord Holder's personal rooms' rest there. Mounted on the stairwell is a great wooden carving, portraying a large sailing vessel being tossed upon a stormy sea, the bow of ship dangerous high in the air, the entire ship perched precariously on a crashing wave. The carvings are deep and dark with age, though the detail, is sharp and the crevices free of dust.
To the southwest, you see Sejith. On the perch is Orson. You see Tauski here.
Obvious exits: Infirmary Dining Hall Hold Offices Greater Doors The Singing Shipfish Upstairs
T'rell begins to lightly steer Kaeryn in a different path than one would usually take through the hall if one were to go up the stairs; casually, he smiles. "When does your ship leave port again?"
"Couple days?" Kae replies, not really paying attention to where they're headed, just letting T'rell take the lead.
"That soon?" The rider seems slightly dismayed, opening the infirmary door for Kaeryn and holding it for her to go first. "There's nowhere to land on that tiny little boat," he complains.
Following T'rell's lead, Brina asks Kae "Have you gotten enough rest to go back on to the ship? You have worked yourself entirely too hard lately."
"Are you telling me Sejith can't land in the water?" Kae replies, grinning up at T'rell, until she realizes that she's being nudged into the infimary. "Why are we going /here/?" she asks, frowning slightly, but tightening her grip on T'rell's arm all the same.
You go to the Infirmary.
Along two walls of the room, cupboards use all available space, their contents ranging from dried herbs to salves to finished tinctures and syrups. One of the cupboards on the far wall is kept locked, containing fellis and other such items only for use by a Master Healer. The countertops atop the cupboards have been scrubbed clean and smell faintly of redwort. This is just one of the many tedious duties entrusted to healer apprentices posted at Tillek. At the end of one set of cupboards is a small stand upon which rests two caraffes, one of hot water and the other of Klah. Maintaining the caraffes' contents is another of the healer apprentices' chores. Cots line the third wall; covered in crisp, clean, white linens, ready and waithing to be used for the sick or injured. Hanging in one corner of the room, near one of the three doorways leading into the healers' living areas, is an interesting assortment of baskets. They contain various herbs that can be grown indoors. Watered frequently by the ever busy healer apprentices, they are thriving well and often used by the healers when taking care of patients. The room is kept brightly lit by the numerous glowbaskets lining the walls.
On the perch is MoonBeam. You see Diogi, Chiriko, and Kipper here. You notice Kent and Derick asleep here. Jathen, T'rell, Brina and Kaeryn are here.
Obvious exits: Apprentice Dorms Great Hall Rooms
Jathen lays on a cot, reading a hide, not really paying attention to anyone.
As Jathen turns to face you, the first thing you notice are his piercing dark green eyes that lock you in their grip. They have an almost flinty appearance to them. As the initial glance wears off, you notice that he has dark brown hair that has a tendency to hang in his face. His tan forearms are laced with very nasty looking threadscores. His face remains pleasant and his look is friendly. His look is often sarcastic. He is just above average height. His arms, legs and chest are obviously muscular but he retains the soft, gentle hands of a Healer. His fingers themselves seem a bit longer than they should be but perfectly in proportion with the rest of his body. He carries himself with a very casual look. He usually gives a smile and a nod to everyone.
Jathen wears a pair of dark green weyrhide pants that are a bit too large for him, but are fastened with a fairly nice leather belt. He also wears simlpe, long sleeved, loose shirt of an off white color. On his shoulders hangs a dark brown jacket that comes down to his ankles. As he walks it swirl around him like a cape. Jathen's Bag o Tricks hangs heavily from Jathen's shoulder.
Jathen wears the knot of Journeyman. He is a Healer.
Jathen is 23 Turns, 9 months, and 13 days old.
T'rell hmms innocently, as if he hadn't expected to be asked why they were coming here. "Oh, just thought it might be a good idea. Ah," he notices Jathen. "Excuse us, I wonder if you've got a moment?"
Jathen looks at the man for a moment and then looks back at the hide, "No, I'm not giving out sweet sticks anymore..." He shakes his head.
Kaeryn looks around quietly, taking a step closer to T'rell, despite the fact that he's the one that has brought her to the infirmary. At the healer's response, a confused look crosses her face and she looks from T'rell to Brina.
T'rell raises his eyebrows. "Well, then, that's that. Sorry, Brina. Now, about you, Harper Kaeryn," he adds, proceeding onto the real cause of the visit. "Maybe while we're here you could have him just check you out?"
"Yes, since he isn't giving out any sweet sticks he might want to see why you have been tired lately." Brina says with a twinkle in her eye.
Kae takes a deep breath and steps further into the room, though the look on her face shows that she isn't really sure she wants to be there. "I told you, I'm just tired, and I must have gotten sick from being out at sea, that's all," she tries to explain, though she doesn't sound very convincing.
Jathen sits straight up and raises a brow, "She's sick? Finally..." He gets up off the cot and goes to wash is redwort, "People have been coming in here day and night for bumps and bruises...Anyway...take a seat on one of the tables, will yas?'
T'rell shrugs, looking at Kaeryn. "Well, then, what's the hurt? We're here, he's here... even if he's not giving out sweetsticks. Thanks," He turns to address the healer again, gently urging Kaeryn over to the table.
Kaeryn removes the jacket that was draped over her shoulders and hands it to T'rell before taking a step over toward the table that T'rell urged her toward. She takes a deep breat before climbing up on the table as instructed.
Jathen rolls his eyes and grabs a sweet stick from a jar and hands it to the little girl, "Here ya go, kiddo." He bends down to the kid's level, "Would you mind terribly leaving the adults to some adult buisness?" He smiles kindly.
T'rell holds his jacket, accompanying the harper to the table to lean against it next to where she sits. "Just to humor us," he gives a quick, half-apologetic grin. Then, noticing the jar come out... "I guess he did have some left after all." He chuckles softly.
Brina looks towards the healer and says "nope sure don't mind. Thanks for the sweet stick. I am just gonna step outside then okay?" brina says in hopes that the healer finds out what is wrong with Kae.
Brina walks to the Great Hall.
Kaeryn watches quietly as Brina leaves and she turns her attention back to the healer and T'rell. "Well, what do we need to do?" she asks quietly, her hands folding in her lap.
Jathen nods and then turns back to the two other adults, "Alright kids, shall we get down to the matter?" He raises a brow walking over, "Kaeryn? Right...alright..." He rolls a tall table over with hides on it, "What are you feeling and have you gotten sick lately? Possibly every morning? Dizzy, nausea, light headedness, feinting?"
T'rell raises his eyebrows without speaking. Rather a litany.
Kaeryn listens to Jathen tick off the symptoms and she nods her head at some of them. "Nausea, yes. Light headed a little, but only when I've been seated for a long time... No fainting. Ummm, tired, kind of weak?" She turns her head to look at T'rell to see if he has anything to add.
T'rell shrugs more eloquently than he might speak.
Jathen frowns slightly and walks over to a wooden, rectangular boxes, hmmms and then pulls out a hide and walks back, "You're over due for you last physical...?" He raises a brow.
Kaeryn ponders thoughtfully, "My last would have been over a turn ago, probably," she admits with a slight frown. "Been out at sea on the Lady Rose, and just returned." Her hands move from her lap to a place behind her on the table, holding herself up.
Jathen nods again and scribbles on the hide, "Are you... /active/?" He askes without looking up.
T'rell watches Jathen's serious efficiency with a slightly bemused expression.
Kaeryn's face immediately turns a bright shade of pink. For a harper, she's very modest, very shy, and it shows in her expression. She takes a deep breath before answering the question, finally nodding her head slowly and answering, "Yes, though for a couple months now?"
Jathen nods, "Thought so..." He clears his throat and points to a screen over yonder in the corner, "Go over behind that screen over they and change into the nice white robe back there..." He himself goes to wash up in redwort again.
T'rell is lost; somewhere someone forgot to mention something in all this cryptic exchange. He blinks, watching Kaeryn disappear behind the screen.
Kaeryn turns her head to look at T'rell, a look of confusion in her eyes, before leaving the table and moving behind the screen. She changes quickly, reappearing in just a moment with the robe on.
Jathen goes over the T'rell and grins, "Brace yerself, bucko..." He grins and pats the table for Kaeryn to sit on, "Now what I'm going to be doing is a surgical examination which I am fully qualified to do and authorized, and what I need you to do is spread you legs a lay back." He looks very grim and professional.
Kaeryn's face turns white as the blood drains completely from her face. She glances back at T'rell before doing as instructed. Eyes are tightly closed, and she bites down on her lower lip
T'rell moves out of the way and away from the table, a bit taken aback. He never knew healers did this sort of thing. He seems -- out of his element, to say the least.
*** << Crackdust, if this guy weren't a healer... >> Outside, Sejith opens an eye, watching a smallish tunnelsnake skitter across a deserted part of the courtyard, calmly replying, << He knows what's wrong? >> << I guess. >> T'rell gives a mental shrug, watching with growing discomfiture. ***
Jathen flexes his fingers before preforming the examination (I'm saving the details...you get the jist...) and feels the knot and then pulls his hand out and nods, "Alright...all done..." He goes to wash up and applies more redwort.
Kaeryn releases the breath that she didn't realize she was holding, and opens her eyes. Pushing herself back up into a seated position, Kae shakes her head for a moment, as if clearing it. "Should I change?" she asks, her voice soft.
Jathen nods, "If you will, please. By all means..." He walks back to scribble more notes and then turns back to the rider, "Where were you about two months and I'd say about one week and two days ago?" He's a good guess, but wonders just how good he is, "At night preferably?"
T'rell releases his own breath, not having been aware of holding it either. By this point he's retreated to a nearby corner, but now the rider steps forward. "Excuse me?" He shakes his head, not really understanding.
<< Why does this guy want to know where I was? >> << Did you do something? >> << I've done lots of things. >>
Jathen nods, "Just tell me where you were at the time that I just mentioned, if you please?"
Kae slips from the table and heads toward the screen, stopping halfway there and sinking down into a chair when her knees give out on her. "Oh..." she blinks her eyes slowly, in disbelief. "T'rell?" she whispers, her voice cracking. "With him," Kae adds quietly.
T'rell thinks, but is distracted by Kaeryn's reappearance. "What?" He glances from healer to harper.
Jathen is never going to get this answer out so he just looks at the rider and the harper at the same time.
"At Ista Weyr," Kae replies, more successfully this time. "With T'rell," she takes a deep breath and nods her head, "/with/ T'rell." She accents the word this time, putting more meaning into it.
"Two months and ... Shells, this is ridiculous." T'rell looks questioningly at Kaeryn. "Was it?" Her addition sinks in, just a little.
<< Two months ago Kae came to visit... Could that be what...? >> << I like her. >>
Jathen looks back and flips through the records and notes, "And you haven't taken your drug in over a turn Kaeryn..." He looks over at T'rell, "Congratulations..../dad/...." He looks back at his notes.
T'rell is not entirely swift on this sort of thing, and it takes a little while. Then suddenly he grasps the whole concept, nearly all at once, and is back at Kaeryn's side in a single stride, quite speechless.
<< Dad? >>
"Oh..oh...shells, oh.." Kae mumbles quietly as she runs her fingers through her hair. "Pregnant. A baby. Us." She gets to her feet, but sits down again, reaching out for T'rell. "Th-thank you, sir," she adds quietly.
Jathen nods, "Just doin' my job ma'am. And the name's Jathen. Formerly the Butcher of High Reaches Weyr..." He grins and wraps all of Kaetryn's records up in a bigger hide and files them away.
T'rell is there, and not there, and quite there, all at once, feeling much like a geranium turned whale. However, he's still well able to hold Kaeryn up. Then he frowns... "Butcher?" Hey it's the first thing he's been able to say in several minutes. "Uh... thanks."
<< This guy used to be a butcher? And he's doing what to Kaeryn? >> << You said he was a healer. >>
Kae falls into T'rell's embrace, her eyes closing, her hands grabbing onto his arms to hold her up as the shock of their news sinks in. "Jathen, yes, thank you," Kae repeats herself as she manages to open her eyes again.
Jathen grins at the acknowledgement of his title throughout all of Pern and walks back to clean all his stuff up and washes free of redwort, "My pleasure. I'll be happy to birth you when the time comes if you'll send for me..." He smiles kindly.
"Whoa, steady." T'rell braces himself and the harper. "Can you stand up?" Practicality has always been his specialty. Deal with the moment. Right. "Let's get you back upstairs."
"I will, thank you," Kae nods her head in Jathen's direction as he passes by, and she nods her head, "Good idea." She gets herself steady on her feet and nods again, "Upstairs." She takes a step toward the door and waves at Jathen again, pausing in the doorway, "How often should I see a healer, while I'm pregnant?"
"Butcher?" mutters the rider softly, to himself, as Kaeryn thinks of the important details.
Jathen hmms..."Every two sevendays if you please? Your friend there," He nods to T'rell, "could bring you by the hall. You could even go every three, but still..." Then he looks over at T'rell, "Yes...Butcher. It's the title they gave me at 'Reaches because they say I've seen more gore caused by /thread/ than any other healer, not to mention all the gore I've had on my hands healing up your kind..." He smirk, but it's a joking smirk, "Not get outta here you two. I gotta catch another rider to take me back to Ista..."
Kae nods and steps out the door into the Great Hall, her grasp on T'rell tight enough so that she is held steady.
T'rell looks only slightly relieved as he walks out with Kaeryn, a last nod to the healer.
You go to the Great Hall.
This great, expansive room envelopes visitors with a feeling of smallness, no matter how many are in the room, it never seems to get full. Tapestries adorn the walls of the hall, depicting all sorts of scenes of sea-life in lush colors and fabrics. Directly ahead of the Great Doors are the giant double doors of the Dining Hall, usually left open as an invitation for all to enter. To the right the Singing Shipfish beckons with the sounds of people laughing, cursing and mugs clanging together in camaraderie. The door the tavern is shaped like that of a ship hatch, a porthole in the middle of it letting in a little of the light from the glowbaskets beyond. A great staircase leads upward, tapestries hanging on the walls that run along it. Part of the second floor is visible from here, the lushness of it indicating the Lord Holder's personal rooms' rest there. Mounted on the stairwell is a great wooden carving, portraying a large sailing vessel being tossed upon a stormy sea, the bow of ship dangerous high in the air, the entire ship perched precariously on a crashing wave. The carvings are deep and dark with age, though the detail, is sharp and the crevices free of dust.
To the southwest, you see Sejith. On the perch is Orson. You see Tauski here.
Obvious exits: Infirmary Dining Hall Hold Offices Greater Doors The Singing Shipfish Upstairs
T'rell's step slows as they approach the stairs. "Did you have any idea?" he finally asks, his curiousity and wonder getting the best of him.
Kaeryn's face is still completely white, showing her shock and confusion. She shakes her head slowly as she takes her first step up the stairs. "No," is all she's able to whisper.
Although this room doesn't have any windows to speak of, the fireplace against the far wall from the main door and glows set all around the room combined with a very light olive green coloring scheme keep the light level comfortable. Set in the center of the room, infront of the fire place is a set of three earthtone couches surround a low, heavy set and sturdy looking table. In the far corner sets a large desk, one that looks like it would fit about two people. On the left side of the desk all of the papers and work lies in tidy stacks, while on the right the organization seems to be more of a controlled chaos. Setting in strategic places all around the room are neatly patterned throw rugs that resemble Terran orientals. It is a summer evening.
To the southwest, you see one person. Obvious exits: Classroom Bedroom Hall
T'rell shakes his head, quite bewildered.
Kaeryn slips through the doorway leading to her apartments and closes the door behind herself and T'rell. She moves toward the sofa and barely makes it there before her knees force her into a sitting position. "I didn't know, I didn't think... I didn't mean..." she stammers, trying to form a single sentence.
Accompanying Kaeryn to the couch, he finally grins, just a little, as he sits with her, embracing her in a strong, gentle hug. "So much for our plan of taking you to see a healer."
Leaning into his embrace, Kae sighs softly. "If I'd have known, I would have gone /days/ ago," she whispers softly against his shoulder. "I would have told yo... ooh," she leans back and studies his face for a moment. "I haven't been with anyone other than you since I took my posting on the Lady Rose," she feels the need to explain, just in case. "I.. just.. well.." golden curls bob around her face as she shakes her head.
T'rell raises his eyebrows. "I trust you, even if you had been," he assures her, meeting Kaeryn's eyes steadily as his hand travels up her shoulder to push some of those curls back from her face.
Kae leans her head so that her cheek presses against his hand, and she closes her eyes for a moment. "I can't believe I forgot to go for my physical before I left, I was just so busy, and I didn't think..." she shakes her head, "I didn't expect this to happen. If you don't want to be part of this, T'rell. If you don't want to be a father..." she lets the sentence lie there, open ended, giving him a way out if he wants it.
T'rell very nearly laughs aloud; what comes out is a short cough. "Kaeryn, what are you babbling about?" he starts -- probably a bit harsh, but at least it's an honest reaction. "Of course I'm part of this. Shards and shells, woman --" he grins -- "'Mom'... Wow." He's stopped by sheer amazement as the news sinks in just a little more. "I'm in it all the way, Kaeryn."
Kaeryn's posture relaxes and she lets herself curl up against T'rell, in his arms. "Thank you, T'rell," she whispers quietly, her voice shaking, "I don't want to do this alone.
T'rell pulls her close, embracing her tightly. "You don't have to." Then he pauses, and corrects. "Well, there are *some* things I don't think I can really do, but.." he grins, kissing her hair. "You get the idea, right?"
Kaeryn rests her head against T'rell's chest and sighs softly, openly relaxing as the whole evening truly sinks in. "Oh no," she whispers softly. "Today, we went ::between:: twice... I shouldn't have done that, should I?"
T'rell leans back against the cushions, thinking. He takes a deep breath before offering cautiously, "Most greenriders go ::between:: dozens of times before they find out, and they don't seem to have a problem." He squeezes Kaeryn gently again, reassuring. "Besides, you had a whole day of sun."
"Oh," Kae nods her head, listening to the reasoning and assurance offered her before she lets her eyes close again. Her posture alters so that she can curl up against him on the sofa, resting from a physically and emotionally draining day.
"At least we know why you weren't eating," T'rell offers, then looks down at Kae with concern. "Are you going to be okay on the Lady Rose if you're seasick on land?"
"I /have/ to be," Kae responds, her voice a little unsure. "I can't leave, not until Tolia is ready to take over, or until Thorn thinks I'm ready to be a DolphinSinger." She shakes her head slightly, "I'll be fine, Ilyena will send me back to land if she thinks I can't handle it."
T'rell speaks quietly but firmly as he corrects, "Hey, don't do it if you don't think you want to. I'm sure Thorn will understand, and Oli -- shells, won't she be tickled?" He chuckles softly, glancing toward the classroom. "Is she staying here tonight?"
"She's probably in the drum heights, knowing her," Kae replies, glancing toward the classroom for a moment and shrugging her shoulders. "And I can already imagine her reaction, us, giving her a cousin." Kae smiles softly, possibly for the first time since getting the news, "A baby, T'rell..."
"A baby," T'rell echoes quietly. "Who'da thunk it?" He smiles, too. "My folks'll be happy to have another grandchild. I think they expected more of me, being at the Weyr and all," he muses. "How about your family?"
"Brina'll like having a baby around to coo over," Kae grins and shrugs, "My father will be worried, since my mother had trouble carrying me... but he'll be pleased. The twins will be excited as well, and that's about it for my family."
A thought knocks T'rell in the head. "Twins.... you're not gonna have twins, are you?" He seems slightly disturbed at the possibility.
Blue eyes are opened wide at the idea, and Kae just shakes her head as she looks down at her stomach. Gentle fingers brush across it and she talks softly, "There aren't two of you in there, right?"
T'rell gently pokes a finger at Kaeryn's side, in a ticklish spot. "Nah. The Butcher downstairs would've said so. He seemed to know everything else." The man is definitely still rather shell-shocked about the whole visit.
Kae giggles and captures T'rell's hand, moving it to her belly. "Right there," she whispers, her eyes meeting his for a silent moment. "There's a baby, right there...and it's ours." She smiles softly and leans her head against his chest again.
T'rell holds his hand where Kaeryn put it, the warmth from his palm seeping through to warm her stomach. He seems about to speak, then doesn't; he just sits with her, outwardly calm for the moment, and rests his head on her shoulder.
"Tired," Kae whispers softly as she stifles a yawn with the back of her hand. "Stay with me tonight, please?" she requests, even as she curls up into a comfortable sleeping position.
T'rell chuckles soundlessly. "I don't think I could go anywhere if I wanted to." He grins at Kaeryn, comfortable. "Besides, Sejith's already gotten comfortable for the night. How could I move him?"
"Goodnight, then," Kae says quietly as she drifts off into sleep, her arms wrapped around T'rell's waist.
T'rell adjusts his position such that he's stretched out on the couch with Kaeryn. "Good night," he whispers back.
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