"Terina, this is the last time I am going to tell you," Kirati told the shaking drudge in a steely voice, "I require that my clothes be folded and on my dresser before I am awake, not while I am waking up."

Terina nodded. "Y-y-yes ma'm, I understand. I was need in the kitchens today and then I was..." her voice trailed off into a frightened squeak as Kirati gave her a deadly look that sent her running from the room.

Once the the drudge was gone. Kirati climbed out of bed and, pulling her robe around her to protect from the chill of the early morning, walked over to her dresser to inspect the clothes she had requested. They were folded neatly, at least, and, as she had thought, they would make a stunning outfit.

From her nest of sheets, Gorgeous started singing, a morning tradition for the little green. This morning, as usual, it wasn't any particular tune, just the flit making up and stringing together notes as she went along. The result was as musical as anything a harper ever wrote and Kirati found herself humming along as she dressed.

The hallways outside of her quarters were already busy with drudges and stewards rushing about every which way carrying all manner of things. Kirati strode confidently through it all, trusting people to get out of her way or be stepped on. It helped that Gorgeous, curled about her shoulders like a green scarf, snapped at anyone not quick enough to realize the Lord Holder's daughter was coming.

The morning meal seemed to be made up of more food than any family, even one as large as Kirati's, could eat in a life time. Kirati sat with her parents and brothers, picking away at her sweetroll and taking the occasional sip of her fellis juice.

Her eyes and mind were occupied by searching for one young man among the crowds of holders filing in. He had arrived last night, tall, dark skinned, black hair, and every girl in the hold was drooling over him. Kirati smirked. Of course, they had no chance. What she wanted, she got. She wanted the new man.

"Kirati would you stop looking for that man and concentrate on your meal?" her mother squawked. Kirati tore her eyes away to glare at her mother. But Kirati had learned most of her glares from her mother, and Tiarmi used one on her daughter. "Eat! There is time for flirting later."

Kirati returned the look but took a small bite of her sweetroll. Her mother made a satisfied clucking sound and then turned back to her own meal. "You know Kira dear, you must choose your husband carefully," her father began his usual morning lecture, "your sons could one day compete to be Lord of this Hold."

Kirati nodded. "I know Da."

"I mean, I have plenty of sons to fill the position when I go," he gazed proudly at his five sons, "but when whoever Holds after me goes, they'll need a new crop, and your sons will be needed."

"I'll be careful about who I pick," Kirati promised.

Her father frowned. "Well, the thing is, you're almost old enough to marry, but you're still fooling around with men whose children will not be Holder material. Now, I don't want to have to choose for you Kira, but if you don't find yourself a suitable man soon..."

"That Rennin boy, maybe," her mother suggested hopefully. "He's strong and good looking, plus he's got his father's skills as a steward."

Kirati grimaced. "Or, I could marry a wher. That would be more fun. I promise I'm looking, Da, just give me some time, will you? There's a certain visitor I've got my eye on."

"See that is just what I mean," her father fumed, "always fooling around. He's got no ties to anyone of importance, in this Hold or another, he's just a harper. How would a harper be able to bring up children to be Lord Holders?"

"Well why can't I have a bit of fun before I settle down with some power-hungry man like Rennin?" Kirati sighed, looking to her mother for help.

"We're not saying you can't have any fun," her mother assured her, sending a meaningful look her father's way, "we just want to make sure you're keeping your eyes open for a more permanent arrangement."

Kirati tolerated the rest of the meal, eyes all the time on the harper. He was, of course, flocked already with holder girls and Kirati looked down on them with a slight sneer. One of the better perks of being the Lord Holder's daughter was the fact that it gave her an edge over all other women with the average man.

As the crowd began to disperse, Kirati made her way down to where he was sitting. A few of the holder girls gave her dirty looks as she approached but she simply smiled sweetly and enjoyed the harper's gaze as he took stock of her. "I don't believe we've been introduced," he said as she reached him. "I got in late last night and I didn't have a chance to see some of the finer sights of the Hold."

Kirati smiled and extended her hand. "Well, I can give you a tour, if you'd like. I'm Kirati, Lord Kirtoren's daughter. Did they give you a name, or do you respond to handsome?"

The harper grinned and grasped her hand. "Emarian," he replied, "but handsome works just as well."

"So what brings you to our little corner of Pern?" she asked, linking her arm through his and leading him out of the dining hall. "You're a harper, right?"

Emarian nodded. "I've been assigned to your hold for a while. Could be a turn, could be ten, I don't know. They're never very specific about it."

"Well I think you'll find our hold a very friendly one, for however long you stay," she told him, her smile adding another meaning, which the harper caught, rewarding her with another grin.

"If everyone's like you, I'm sure it is," Emarian chuckled. "You know, you're both a lot alike and very different from the other Lord Holder's daughters."

"I'm sure you "befriended" every one of them," Kirati teased.

Emarian shrugged. "Depends on how you define it. But they're all hopeless flirts, often incredibly good looking, and usually spoiled brats."

"I hope that last one is where I'm different," Kirati remarked.

Emarian gave her a rougish grin. "I'll find out soon enough."

Kirati raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Yes," he told her excitedly, eyes dancing, "I have a fail-proof test. But first, you have to kiss me."

Kirati gave him a sideways look but kissed him anyways. After a few moments, she pushed him back far enough to talk. "So? What's the next part?"

"Next part?" he asked. "Oh uh... Well, that's the test."

"Mmm hmm," Kirati said doubtfully. "Well? Did I pass?"

"With flying colors," Emarian assured her.

"Emarian!" the Hold's harper Tainoll snapped, striding up to them. The short little man glared angrily up at the journeyman, giving the impression that he was two times taller. "You were supposed to meet my right after the morning meal!

"Sir, the meal just ended," Emarian insisted, all innocence and business.

"I said right after, didn't I?" Tainoll fumed. "Not right after you flirt with the Lord's daughter. Good morning, Kirati. I see you've already taken him out of the game."

Kirati blushed but still held on to Emarian. "I was just getting to know him a bit."

"Yes well, save that for tonight, dear, right now he has to work," Tainoll told her. "Come on, Emarian. Put your tounge back in your mouth and let's go."

Emarian said a hasty good bye as he was dragged off by the harper. Kirati smiled after him, then turned to find Siemma, the daughter of the Hold's stable master, glaring at her, arms crossed.

"That is so not fair," Siemma complained. "Everytime a new guy comes in, you always steal him before anyone else has a chance."

"Not true," Kirati protested. "What about that healer, Deiraon or something? It seems to me you got him."

"That's not the point," Siemma grumped. "You stole the first cute guy to come through here in ages."

"There're be more," Kirati reminded her friend.

"Not as cute as him," Siemma sighed.

Kirati smiled. "True."

. back . next .