Lazy Day

[keagan]

The early afternoon sun blazed brightly down from a clear sky. Most would say it was a beautiful day to be outside, but in Keagan's opinion it was a bit too warm, particularly in her full-length, long-sleeved deep green dress. Granted flax was not a terribly heavy material, but couple that with her under dress and bodice and it was a recipe for sweat.

Not that she really minded taking in the outdoors. After spending the majority of her week trapped inside next to a loom with her aunt glaring at her down her long, pointed nose it was nice to get some fresh air. If she'd opted to relax inside undoubtedly more work would have been found for her to do.

At present she was seated comfortably under a tree, embroidery in hand, and Orin, her enormous grey canine flopped languidly beside her. The pattern forming on the white cloth was somewhat unusual, and certainly would not have been approved of by her aunt or really any of the other conservative-minded weavers.

A gold and bronze dragon were entangled in their passionate embrace, surrounded by a network of complex yet streamlined knot work. She ran her thumb lovingly over her expertly-stitched creation. There was something undeniable magical about a dragon Flight. The excitement, joy, and unbridled passion were palatable in the air even from the distance that she witnessed them. And nothing, absolutely nothing, was more wondrous than a Queen's Flight.

An insistent whine beside her stirred her out of the daydream. Orin's soft brown eyes stared expectantly at her as he dropped a large stick he'd discovered at her feet.

"Oh, all right you big lug." Scratching the top of his head, she set the embroidery down on the hefty rock beside her. "Only for a little while though. I'm trying to relax."

Lifting the stick from the ground, she whipped it as far as she could out into an open field.

[Deleted]

Beyond the open field was the road that led to the hold, and the road wound behind them more deeply into the forest where it eventually split off into different forks. A gentle rhythmic sound came from beyond the forest. Perhaps Keagan wouldn't even notice it at first, but as they became louder and louder it was no mistake that there were runnerbeasts approaching. However, just before they came around the bend the gallops slowed and Keagan would see two men passing between the trees. They no doubt looked highly familiar. One had the height and imposing look of his sire, and the short black hair was dampened as he poured water over his head. His green eyes looked to the shorter, auburn haired, and younger man. The amber eyes of the younger man regarded his older brother thoughtfully.

The fine examples of Kajano red pawed at the ground, and that left little doubt as to who they were.

Feyotav seemed quite at ease, but maybe Rylesdai was right to think that perhaps they were going to bite off something bigger than they could chew.

"Are you sure about this. You know I don't like the dragonriders, but this could be taking it too far. I mean, what about Miranda and...Cl'fey," his brother's modified name was distasteful to say, greens the lot of them.

"They chose their lot didn't they? Once father speaks to the weyrleaders things will change in our favor, and if not..." Feyotav shrugged his shoulders.

"What about our family that's friendly with them, Rorlonslei for example?"

"Once again, their choice. I think things will proceed rather smoothly one our new step-mother is settled in. They can't go against the four of us."

No doubt they thought themselves alone though the candid conversation didn't reveal much except that perhaps Feytolian had chosen his next wife more definitively than some had heard tell. It was well known that Feytolian, Feyotav, and Rylesdai had no love of dragonriders. No doubt talks with the weyr were overdue. Feyotav's great arrogance certainly meant he was mostly blowing smoke. Feytolian was well known for keeping the peace and duty, just because Feyotav would have liked to see something happen didn't mean that anything was going to.

"Miranda...she would have been useful if any of us had paid attention." An opportunity that had slipped through their fingers. What he wouldn't give to know what the dragonriders were up to.

"She'll be invited and expected to attend the wedding. Perhaps we can speak to her." Rylesdai said thoughtfully. He couldn't think of her as anything more than just a simple-minded child.

[keagan]

Surging off the ground in a powerful leap, the massive gray canine contorted in the air to catch the stick. Grasping it gleefully in his mouth, he landed with remarkable grace for a creature his size and chomped happily on the prize. After the brief mauling he started to trot back happily in Keagan's direction.

Until this point Keagan had heard nothing behind her. One can only imagine her surprise when suddenly Orin stopped dead in his tracks, stiffened, dropped his newfound love and bolted past her in the opposite direction.

"Orin! Orin get back here!" Stumbling over the rocks around the tree, she snatched up her embroidery where she had left it and started running after him. It was only when her small self had successfully navigated around the tree that she saw the two riders. In her rush and from the distance she could not make out their faces, but the excellent quality of their mounts could only mean one thing: they were close to the Lord Holder. This may not end well for her.

"ORIN!!!" Though she sprinted as fast as she could after him, she had no chance of catching up with the canine's tremendous stride.

For his part, Orin saw this as a very good day. First he got to take a nap, then he got to play with a stick, and now there were these fun big things to play with. Usually they were kept locked up behind tall fences and were difficult to get at, but now they were here in the open and he had no rope to hold him back.

Bellowing his resounding wolf, Orin more or less skidded to a stop as he neared the runners. Bouncing up and down with glee, tail wagging furiously, the canine was so enormous that he could have easily rested his paws on either of the Kajano Red's foreheads.

[Deleted]

((Go for it ))

Feyotav's mount did an admirable job of trying to buck him, neighing and whinnying in fear and confusion. However, he was not one to let beasts undermine him.

"Sharding canine, back off beast!" He hollered, digging his heels into his rearing runner, bringing it under a modicum of control.

Rylesdai was not so lucky. His beast not only threw him, but took off in abject terror.

"I'm going to make you into stew you worthless runner!" He shouted after it, carefully picking himself up. That was no doubt an empty threat as Feyotlian would rather punish his sons in that manner than do anything to harm his precious Kajano reds.

"Girl, call off your canine!" Rylsedai snapped. Stupid girl. He had a mind to teach her a lesson. Dragonriders were an affront enough without minor holders trying upset the natural order.

"Rylesdai you fool. Father will have your head if you don't retrieve that runner. I have half a mind to flay you myself. That's good stock." Feyotav obviously thought much along the same lines as his father.

[keagan]

Bouncing with unrestrained joy in front of Feyotav's mount, Orin barely knew what to do with himself. Tail wagging a mile a minute, tongue lolling in a pink splash of drool out of the side of his mouth, he started to chase Rylesdai's beast, but stoppped short. With so many fun things directly in front of him, why chase after the one that was getting away? Completely ignoring his master's desparate pleas, he trotted up to the fallen human, whining with anticipation.

"Orin! Orin stop get back here!" Keagan's voice had taken on a desparate edge. The closer she got to the riders the more she realized what a bad situation this was. Although she had never had the misfortune of meeting any of Feytolian's brood, they were instantly recognizable at this distance.

Stumbling to a stop and gasping for air, she grasped at Orin's well-loved leather collar. Realizing his immediate peril, the gray meanace leapt away, bounding and yipping as he went.

"Orin! I'm so sorry sirs! He...he ususally doesn't act like this. Don't worry he would never hurt a thing....Orin get over here RIGHT NOW!"

Sensing the sudden change in his master's presence, the huge canine lowered his head, tail between his legs, and slunk over to Keagan in a subdued manner.

[Deleted]

"They're not stupid beasts. It will find it's way back home. Much like Miranda's mount." Rylesdai crossed his arms, looking at his brother wtih a grimace. Insult to injury that's what the dragonriders kept giving them, and poor Miranda didn't need to be among such

"You should keep your mutt on a leash. You're worrying fine Kajano stock. You're lucky my father isn't here he would take it out of your hide." Feyotav sneered, liking the life on top of his runner still.

"What are you doing so far outside the hold anyway?" No doubt an interrogation was at hand as the question from Rylesdai seemed to make them both put on their overly suspicious caps. Afterall, when things were on the rocks politically then everyone was potentially and enemy or a spy, and they weren't letting those dragonriders cart anyone else for their clutches. Let them impressing their own people. Kajano was done giving them handouts, especially from their women who just kept impressing greens of all things.

Feyotav tilted his head thoughtfully, appraising Keagan's appearance and demeanor. He thought himself capable of smelling a liar, but he wasn't quite as good as his old man. It would be like the weyr to gather information using the crafters. Once they cut the weyr out they'd be forced to turn out anyone who wanted to keep in contact. They were done bowing and scraping to a bunch of people that thought they ought to be in power, because of beasts.

[keagan]

Keagan wasn't certain exactly how to respond to the threat, so she wisely decided to keep her mouth shut. Her expression reflected a mix of indignation and fear. She did not take well to being pushed around and told what to do, but common sense dictated she'd best keep quiet on this one. It's not that the weaver lacked courage, she simply wasn't an idiot. There was no point starting an argument she couldn't win, especially one that may well lead to injury or worse.
"I'll be certain to make a habit of it, sir. He's never given me a reason before this to do so." She now had a firm hold on the thick tuft of gray hair at the canine's nape which she now shook sternly as if to reinforce her point. I swear I'll kill you this time! Of course she'd never do any such thing, but the thought made her feel better for the moment.

Feyotav was not terribly off in his appraisal of the young woman before him. Keagan was not so much a liar as she was the master of partial truths. Her appearance was certainly far from suspicious. Her conservative and well-made but loved clothing coupled with her dark braided hair gave her a wholesome and simplistic appearance, backed up by her sweet and earnet-looking face. The only thing even slightly suspicious about her was the square of fabric held tight in a circle of wood that was held limply in her left hand. Whatever picture was on it was currently hidden by a fold in her dress.

"I had completed my work for this day and was enjoying some time out in the sun. I am a weaver by trade. Well...an apprentice for my aunt, that is. She is the master Weaver at the hall."

It might strike him as odd that her tasks were completed when it was barely past midday, but anyone who knew Keagan knew her to be an early riser and a diligint, fast worker, making this fact not surprising at all.

Biting down softly on a full lower lip, Keagan wished heartily her answer would suffice. The two gentlemen had looked as though they were on business. As such she hoped they were too busy to bother with an apprentice weaver, even one who had caused them a headache.

"If you like, sir, I can send Orin after your runnerbeast. He is a good herder when he realizes it isn't playtime and I'm sure he would be able to bring it back to you quickly."

[K'ivan]

((Ampara, any idea about this thread? I haven't spoken with Cevara in a while...))