Post by Erica on Jan 25, 2009 6:25:46 GMT -5
Fort Drums #19
Who Me?
E.A. Weippert
24.03.03
Fort Weyr
Lower Caverns
"Jeysa, do you understand why you're here?" H'shonur's face was a mask of annoyance and his niece felt her stomach knot. Here it was: the Speech. With a capital S. Her uncle had cornered her on her way back from the dining cavern and pulled her into one of the alcoves that dotted the main corridor.
"To be a candidate for the next hatching..." It was hard to face H'shonur and see the disappointment clear in his features. Disappointment in her behavior.
"Right. A Candidate--not a lightskirt! Do you realize that if you don't Impress you need to be able to go back to Harper Hall and continue with your craft? You've been cavorting with every dragonrider who catches your eye...." There was an underlying tone of sympathy in his voice as the green rider continued. "I know it isn't easy, girl, I know it." He shook his head when she opened her mouth to speak. "Just for once, once look at it my way--I ride in the wings and riders talk. Do you honestly think I want to hear it from T'liren or D'nikku what you're like in the furs?" Her face started to color and the green rider nodded. "I'm glad to see that you do understand." He patted her head and stroked her dark hair. "I do love you very much, Jeysa. I just want you to be safe and not get caught up in things here. I would be proud to see you riding a dragon, but until you've Impressed, please be more circumspect? For my sake?"
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24.03.05
Mid-Morning
Candidates’ Barracks
Thalia sighed as saw the curtains that sectioned off Jeysa's area from her own. This is getting ridiculous! I didn't mean to make trouble. I can't believe that Jeysa's still mad at me for having dinner with C’leshan. For the last sevenday the other Candidate had refused to speak to her and she had had enough of it. They had been fast friends since they both came to the Weyr, and Thalia wasn't about to let a misunderstanding ruin their friendship.
Pushing aside the hangings was greeted by the sight of her friend wrapped in blankets and clutching a stuffed toy to her chest. It was obvious from the expression on Jeysa's face that Thalia was the last person she wanted sticking her head through the curtain.
"Jeysa." Thalia saw the pillow in the other girl's hand and warded it off as it flew towards her head.
"I don't have anything to say to you, Thalia! How could you do that to me? I thought I was your friend!"
Thalia stared in shock at the tears that had begun to stream down Jeysa's face. "But honestly Jeysa! I didn't realize that C'leshan was the bluerider you were talking about! I wouldn't have accepted his invitation if I had!"
"Well..." Jeysa shrugged. Tossing her dark hair from her face, she met Thalia's blue eyes. "I didn't figure that you knew it. I--I was just upset. I thought that C'leshan was one of the best looking men in the Weyr." She paused and sighed. "And one of the few who doesn't know my uncle."
Thalia sat down next to Jeysa and handed her back the pillow. "I know it can't be easy having your uncle in the Weyr; from what you've said so far it seems like he just treats you like a baby. Do you really think he'd be upset if you were involved with a dragonrider? I mean, I thought he would understand something like that since he lives in the Weyr too."
Jeysa picked at her skirt and took a few moments before answering. "You'd think that, wouldn't you? But no." Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "He doesn't think his niece knows how to act! It's fine for him to have ‘friends’ but not me. He's already told me that I had better stay away from the Weyrs because I'm likely to catch someone's eye and I'm supposed to be here to stand for Impression--not make ‘friends’!" Rolling her eyes, the apprentice harper grimaced at the injustice. "It's not my fault, Thalia! I'm pretty--just like you are--if a man notices me, what am I supposed to do? Be rude and ignore him?" Her eyes were blazing with anger and their hazel was quickly turning a rich green.
"Jeysa, I don't think that's what he means. H'shonur's probably just worried that you'll get hurt. Everyone knows that Weyr-loves aren't the most stable." She met her friend's gaze and gave her a smile. "Besides, just put it down to a little worry on his part. If anyone should know how bad a dragon rider can be... well, rumor has it your uncle has broken enough hearts in the Weyr."
"I guess. Anyway, I'm just wondering if it's likely that we'll Impress for the next Hatching since neither of us did this last time around. I don't want to go back to the Harper Hall."
"Huh?" Thalia stared at Jeysa for a moment, not understanding where the conversation had gone. "What do you mean? You're a Candidate, you can't leave now!" Her stomach was roiling with unease at the sudden thought of her best friend leaving the Weyr.
"My mother sent me a letter asking when I am going back." Jeysa sighed and Thalia patted her arm. "She doesn't understand.." Her voice trailed off and Thalia poked her arm to get her attention.
"Come on. Let's go out in the weyrbowl for a bit? You look like you could use some sun! And the snow isn't too bad outside!”
Pushing aside her covers Jeysa stood and grabbed for some clothes on top of the press.
"I'm just tired of my uncle treating me like I don't know anything! I mean, really Thalia...” She paused as she pulled on a full sleeved blouse. "I'm not a child. If I want to visit every weyr in Fort I ought to be able to without anyone saying anything! Why does my uncle have to stick his nose into my life?" Stamping her foot, Jeysa reached for a skirt and pulled it up about her waist and began fastening the buttons.
"I think H'shonur's probably just feeling like it's his responsibility--I mean if word got back to your parents, how would they like what they heard?" Thalia watched as her friend followed that line of reason.
"They wouldn't. My mother is already disgusted that I'm throwing away all those turns of study as a harper. Carmelesa respects the Weyrs as much as any harper does, but she didn't want to see me swallowed up by one. I don't think she'd care as much about whom I was sleeping with--but my da would. He'd be pretty unhappy about it."
"Then there you go! That's why he's being such a burr in your side!" Thalia set about taking down the hangings as Jeysa was tying up her boot laces. "As for who you sleep with I think you just need to let the weyrfolk know that you aren't the lightskirt they think you are."
"Who thinks that?" Intense as her gaze was Jeysa found Thalia reluctant to answer. Cocking her head to one side she studied her friend. "Do you think I'm a lightskirt, Thalia?”
"No." Thalia was shaking her head as she placed the folded fabric on the bed. "But I do think you're a terrible flirt--and the womenfolk here see that and think there's more to your behavior." She shrugged. "It doesn't help that you've been awful friendly with D'nikku and T'liren."
"Friendly? A flirt?" Jeysa cracked a smile and nodded her head. "I guess it's my own doing, but still, I've only been with those two, no one else!"
"What about that debacle with G’vrey’s mate? That sure didn't do much for your reputation!"
"Hey-ey! You're supposed to be my friend!" Poking her friend in the side, Jeysa rolled her eyes. "Anyhow if we're going to head outside you'd better grab your cloak. Snowing or not, it's still going to be cold out!" While Thalia grabbed her cloak, Jeysa pinned hers about her shoulders and waited for her friend. “You might have a point about how other people here in the Weyr are seeing me. I don't care if they think I'm a lightskirt--I know I'm not--but if I do Impress, I wouldn't want to give a bad name to the Weyr."
"T'liren, D'nikku--"She counted on her fingers. "that's only two for the three months I've been here--not counting--Rifkin in the laundry, or M'rel." She cocked her head and met Thalia's gaze. "I don't think that's promiscuous." Smoothing her hair the apprentice harper smiled.
"Uh huh." Thalia was tying her cloak closed. "Now let's scoot! You can worry about your mother and uncle later! Before you know it it'll be time for our shift in a bit and I want to have some fun before then!" With that the two women made off to enjoy their time in the mid-morning sun.
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24.03.05
Early Afternoon
Infirmary
Charris held back a sigh and forced herself to smile. She didn't know what to do with the young woman before her. Jeysa had been assigned to help the healer for the next sevenday. Unfortunately it seemed she hadn't a clue about healercraft. Jeysa looked anything but pleased to be there and the healer stifled a sigh.
"Jeysa, I've heard a lot about you..." She saw the frown on the young woman's face and hurried to add, “From your uncle H'shonur. He's been concerned about your transition to the Weyr."
"I don't see why. I know how to take care of myself." Jeysa scuffed her feet on the floor while the healer stared at her.
It was obvious to Charris’s practiced eye that the young woman wanted to talk. "Here, Jeysa, why don't we sit for a few moments and talk about it?" Jeysa slanted a look at the healer as she led her to a pair of chairs next to a cluttered desk. Taking a seat she met Charris' eyes
"I can't seem to make my uncle happy, no matter what I do..."
"Ah. I think you're in a difficult position, Jeysa." The healer tapped her fingers on the desk. "Have you tried talking to your uncle, to communicate to him how you feel about the way he's treating you?"
Shrugging, Jeysa gestured around the room in general.
"What's the point? As soon as I open my mouth he puts words in it, or worse, when I do manage to say something he twists it around to mean something else entirely!"
Charris studied the candidate and pushed back a frown. In the past most of her dealings with the greenrider had been Threadscore related. What she knew of H'shonur's personality suggested that his niece was perhaps more like him than the greenrider was ready to cope with. "Hmmm. That does tend to make it more difficult."
“One minute he tells me he's glad that I'm here, and a candidate, the next he all but calls me a slut..."
Charris heard the hurt in her voice and nodded. "Your uncle's applying the mores of the Hold to the Weyr, which is plain stupid." Jeysa's eyes opened wide in surprise--was the healer actually supporting her side? "All I can say, Jeysa, is you have to be who you are." Charris met her eyes and tapped the table for emphasis. "In the Weyr there are a lot of personalities, and there isn't any one correct way to see things. I can, of course, understand H'shonur's concern about you, but not his method of relaying it to you." She paused a moment. "Jeysa are you happy here in the weyr? Do you feel that your behavior is creating difficulties for you?"
Jeysa blushed a soft rose color and looked away. Her hands twisted the fabric of her skirt into a tight knot. After a few seconds of silence her hazel eyes met the healer’s gaze.
"I... yes. I like it here in the Weyr. It's different in a lot of ways from the Harper Hall, and I like that. I feel--." She searched for the right word to share with the healer how she felt. "Freer. Like I can be my own person...." Distress clouded Jeysa's face as her words trailed off.
"But?"
"But I don't think many people--especially my uncle--understand or approve of that." She gave a halfhearted smile. "They all want me to be someone my mother wants me to go back to the Harper Hall and resume my studies, my uncle wants me to play the meek little hold girl." Jeysa shook her head vehemently. "Well I won't do it! I won't! And no one can make me!" She glared almost accusingly at Charris and the healer felt the first genuine smile of the day cross her face. It was good that the girl had spunk to keep her going. There were a lot of pressures on her shoulders.
"Well don't look at me, Jeysa! I'm not going to make you do anything..." She threw the apprentice harper a grin. “Except help me take inventory of the herbs in the still rooms!"
"I think I can handle that!" Jeysa stood up and did a little stretch and grinned in return. "Thank you for listening to me. I really appreciate it."
"That's quite all right, Jeysa. I understand. Besides, it's part of being a good healer." When the candidate threw her a quizzical look, Charris pulled her ears. “Listening. One of the most important skills of the craft." She stood and led the candidate toward the stillroom and the herbs that filled them.
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24.03.05
Early Evening
Dining Cavern
"Hey, pass me some of the bread would you?" J'lan's voice interrupted H'shonur's thoughts as he sat drinking his ale. Passing the brown rider the basket he went back to his thoughts. The dining caverns were filled with riders and weyrfolk eating early dinners and he was glad of the noise. Jeysa had been avoiding him lately and he was getting tired of feeling like the bad guy of the weyr.
'She needed someone to guide her. Jeysa has to understand that she can't stay here at Fort--Carmelesa would never forgive me for that, and if my brother knew what kind... how she's behaving here he'd have a fit!'
"H'shonur, Kelth says that Jetath's getting broody, is that what's bothering you?" J'lan watched as the greenrider set his mug down with a thump.
"No. Not at all! Just a family matter is all. My niece isn't..." H'shonur shrugged. "Well, she isn't behaving. I gave her a talking-to the other day and now she won't talk to me."
J'lan let out a laugh and took a sip of his wine. "Oh well, that's a girl for you. They don't follow any sort of logical pattern, H'shonur." Taking a bite of his dinner, J'lan returned his attention to his food.
It was only a few moments before a group of younger riders sat down at the table behind them, the trio joking around with good-natured humor and witticisms that flew through the air.
"Well I heard that she's as good a roll as Vaela is!"
"That good? Who said that? I should knock M'rel out and see if she'll take me in his place!"
H'shonur's ears heard the bawdy remarks and stared past J'lan at the group, his hazel eyes all but burning with curiosity: who were they discussing?
"So are you ready for the next wing drill?" J’lan's voice rose over the noise of the nearby table and H'shonur threw him a frown.
"Hush it up for a moment-will you?"
"What? What's the matter?" J'lan was abruptly silenced as the green rider made a chopping motion with his hand, a well-known gesture between the two for something important. With J'lan's sudden silence the conversation at the neighboring table became clearly audible.
"She had D'nikku begging for more--how many of the women here can say that?" The red haired rider jabbed his seat mate. "You're one lucky sod, M'rel! I've been trying to catch her eye since she got here!"
"Look it's not like that...” The dark haired youth shook his head and reached for his drink. His other table mate snickered.
H'shonur felt his nerves tense, his ears straining to hear every nuance, trying to hear who the woman was they were discussing. His heart began to sink as more familiar names were listed. His temples began to throb as the dragonriders continued, unaware of H'shonur's scrutiny.
"That's not what I heard, D'verd. I heard she's on fire to have as many of the brown riders as she can--and T'liren told me himself that she knows tricks that'll make a man scream!"
"Look! I told you--Jeysa isn't like that! We're just... going to have dinner...”
"Oh really M'rel? Then what are you doing here, with us? Eating for two? You know the two of you are going to be rolling in the furs as soon as you can get her to your weyr!"
J'lan noticed the color had drained from his friend's face and rubbed his jaw. The greenrider was worked up about something, and it looked as if his temper was about to go. He gave a mental shrug and went back to eating his sandwich.
"Fine, fine, yes! She and I are going to give it a whirl... shards, can't you guys just let it...”
Suddenly, H'shonur was up from the table, the brownrider half-dangling off the floor. H’shonur’s face was a mask of anger and he was only peripherally aware of J'lan's restraining hand on his shoulder or the hands that pressed at him from M'rels friends.
"Don't let me hear you talking about my niece again! Ever-" His hazel eyes were blazing as M'rel's feet struggled to reach the floor.
"Oh--I won't!"
"Let him down, H'shonur... he can't hardly breathe...” J'lan stepped back as H'shonur released the younger man and stalked out of the cavern, his face set in a mask of cold anger.
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Thalia and Jeysa walked down the west corridor, their footfalls lost behind the sound of Jeysa's singing. Thalia was amazed at the quality of her voice and could well see why Jeysa's mother wanted her back with the harpers. Surely within a few turns Jeysa could be a master singer if she applied herself.
"I want to talk to you!" H'shonur's voice came from behind them and Thalia cringed from the raw fury that was contained in those few words.
Jeysa threw her friend a glance and shrugged. Thalia saw the familiar tilting of her chin and realized that this wasn't going to be a pleasant scene.
“Well I don't have anything to say to you!" Jeysa turned toward Thalia, but before she could start walking again H'shonur spun her around to face him.
"How dare you turn your back on me, Jeysa! How dare you! Where have your manners gone? You act the part of a slut and now... now you..."
"How dare you, uncle, call me a slut?" Jeysa's eyes nearly glowed with anger and she tore loose from her uncle and stood there with her hands on hips. "You, who have slept with nearly every woman in the lower caverns?"
He looked surprised and she threw him a contemptuous look.
"What's that 'who me' look for? Of course I know about that--and the others!" She stamped her foot on the floor, frustration making her wooden sole clatter loudly against the stone. "Well, scorch it! I've had enough!"
"Treat your elders with respect, Jeysa, or by the shell I will take you over my knee..." Jeysa whirled away from his reach and made a pushing motion with her arms. Her hair flew out like a black cape from her shoulders.
"I am sick of this, Uncle! It's always ‘Do as I say-not as I do!’ Why, why should I listen to you???" She nearly spit on the floor. "I don't care anymore what anyone else wants! Not you, not mother! Everyone thinks it's my responsibility to be what they want me to be... well, to the Red Star with both of you! I'm here, in the Weyr! I'm going to be a dragon rider and live the life of one!"
With anger seething she stalked off down the hall, leaving a shocked and stunned H'shonur as Thalia hurried to catch up with her friend.
"What have I done?" His words echoed softly through the hall and the green rider wondered what had started as a result of his unruly temper.
You've started the Weyr talking. Jetath's curt reply cut through his thoughts and H'shonur sighed. I'm hungry.
Letting out another sigh as his anger began to cool, H'shonur walked toward the entrance of the weyrbowl.
You're right about that. I'll be there in a few minutes and you can eat then, and I can think. The green's hunger began urging him to hurry and H'shonur felt like his head was going to crack open with aggravation!
You should have done that before you cornered her. She meant what she said and she's got a lot of the other dragons riled up. It is good that D'may found her on search. She belongs here.
That's hardly the point Jetath. Jeysa should be respectful, and she shouldn't sleep around like she's been. She hasn't Impressed a green yet!
Jetath snorted and H'shonur had the feeling she was holding something back. Do you know something I don't?
Who? Me? Draconic laughter filled his head and H'shonur rolled his eyes and continued on his way to the Weyrbowl and the green dragon who waited for him.
Who Me?
E.A. Weippert
24.03.03
Fort Weyr
Lower Caverns
"Jeysa, do you understand why you're here?" H'shonur's face was a mask of annoyance and his niece felt her stomach knot. Here it was: the Speech. With a capital S. Her uncle had cornered her on her way back from the dining cavern and pulled her into one of the alcoves that dotted the main corridor.
"To be a candidate for the next hatching..." It was hard to face H'shonur and see the disappointment clear in his features. Disappointment in her behavior.
"Right. A Candidate--not a lightskirt! Do you realize that if you don't Impress you need to be able to go back to Harper Hall and continue with your craft? You've been cavorting with every dragonrider who catches your eye...." There was an underlying tone of sympathy in his voice as the green rider continued. "I know it isn't easy, girl, I know it." He shook his head when she opened her mouth to speak. "Just for once, once look at it my way--I ride in the wings and riders talk. Do you honestly think I want to hear it from T'liren or D'nikku what you're like in the furs?" Her face started to color and the green rider nodded. "I'm glad to see that you do understand." He patted her head and stroked her dark hair. "I do love you very much, Jeysa. I just want you to be safe and not get caught up in things here. I would be proud to see you riding a dragon, but until you've Impressed, please be more circumspect? For my sake?"
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24.03.05
Mid-Morning
Candidates’ Barracks
Thalia sighed as saw the curtains that sectioned off Jeysa's area from her own. This is getting ridiculous! I didn't mean to make trouble. I can't believe that Jeysa's still mad at me for having dinner with C’leshan. For the last sevenday the other Candidate had refused to speak to her and she had had enough of it. They had been fast friends since they both came to the Weyr, and Thalia wasn't about to let a misunderstanding ruin their friendship.
Pushing aside the hangings was greeted by the sight of her friend wrapped in blankets and clutching a stuffed toy to her chest. It was obvious from the expression on Jeysa's face that Thalia was the last person she wanted sticking her head through the curtain.
"Jeysa." Thalia saw the pillow in the other girl's hand and warded it off as it flew towards her head.
"I don't have anything to say to you, Thalia! How could you do that to me? I thought I was your friend!"
Thalia stared in shock at the tears that had begun to stream down Jeysa's face. "But honestly Jeysa! I didn't realize that C'leshan was the bluerider you were talking about! I wouldn't have accepted his invitation if I had!"
"Well..." Jeysa shrugged. Tossing her dark hair from her face, she met Thalia's blue eyes. "I didn't figure that you knew it. I--I was just upset. I thought that C'leshan was one of the best looking men in the Weyr." She paused and sighed. "And one of the few who doesn't know my uncle."
Thalia sat down next to Jeysa and handed her back the pillow. "I know it can't be easy having your uncle in the Weyr; from what you've said so far it seems like he just treats you like a baby. Do you really think he'd be upset if you were involved with a dragonrider? I mean, I thought he would understand something like that since he lives in the Weyr too."
Jeysa picked at her skirt and took a few moments before answering. "You'd think that, wouldn't you? But no." Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "He doesn't think his niece knows how to act! It's fine for him to have ‘friends’ but not me. He's already told me that I had better stay away from the Weyrs because I'm likely to catch someone's eye and I'm supposed to be here to stand for Impression--not make ‘friends’!" Rolling her eyes, the apprentice harper grimaced at the injustice. "It's not my fault, Thalia! I'm pretty--just like you are--if a man notices me, what am I supposed to do? Be rude and ignore him?" Her eyes were blazing with anger and their hazel was quickly turning a rich green.
"Jeysa, I don't think that's what he means. H'shonur's probably just worried that you'll get hurt. Everyone knows that Weyr-loves aren't the most stable." She met her friend's gaze and gave her a smile. "Besides, just put it down to a little worry on his part. If anyone should know how bad a dragon rider can be... well, rumor has it your uncle has broken enough hearts in the Weyr."
"I guess. Anyway, I'm just wondering if it's likely that we'll Impress for the next Hatching since neither of us did this last time around. I don't want to go back to the Harper Hall."
"Huh?" Thalia stared at Jeysa for a moment, not understanding where the conversation had gone. "What do you mean? You're a Candidate, you can't leave now!" Her stomach was roiling with unease at the sudden thought of her best friend leaving the Weyr.
"My mother sent me a letter asking when I am going back." Jeysa sighed and Thalia patted her arm. "She doesn't understand.." Her voice trailed off and Thalia poked her arm to get her attention.
"Come on. Let's go out in the weyrbowl for a bit? You look like you could use some sun! And the snow isn't too bad outside!”
Pushing aside her covers Jeysa stood and grabbed for some clothes on top of the press.
"I'm just tired of my uncle treating me like I don't know anything! I mean, really Thalia...” She paused as she pulled on a full sleeved blouse. "I'm not a child. If I want to visit every weyr in Fort I ought to be able to without anyone saying anything! Why does my uncle have to stick his nose into my life?" Stamping her foot, Jeysa reached for a skirt and pulled it up about her waist and began fastening the buttons.
"I think H'shonur's probably just feeling like it's his responsibility--I mean if word got back to your parents, how would they like what they heard?" Thalia watched as her friend followed that line of reason.
"They wouldn't. My mother is already disgusted that I'm throwing away all those turns of study as a harper. Carmelesa respects the Weyrs as much as any harper does, but she didn't want to see me swallowed up by one. I don't think she'd care as much about whom I was sleeping with--but my da would. He'd be pretty unhappy about it."
"Then there you go! That's why he's being such a burr in your side!" Thalia set about taking down the hangings as Jeysa was tying up her boot laces. "As for who you sleep with I think you just need to let the weyrfolk know that you aren't the lightskirt they think you are."
"Who thinks that?" Intense as her gaze was Jeysa found Thalia reluctant to answer. Cocking her head to one side she studied her friend. "Do you think I'm a lightskirt, Thalia?”
"No." Thalia was shaking her head as she placed the folded fabric on the bed. "But I do think you're a terrible flirt--and the womenfolk here see that and think there's more to your behavior." She shrugged. "It doesn't help that you've been awful friendly with D'nikku and T'liren."
"Friendly? A flirt?" Jeysa cracked a smile and nodded her head. "I guess it's my own doing, but still, I've only been with those two, no one else!"
"What about that debacle with G’vrey’s mate? That sure didn't do much for your reputation!"
"Hey-ey! You're supposed to be my friend!" Poking her friend in the side, Jeysa rolled her eyes. "Anyhow if we're going to head outside you'd better grab your cloak. Snowing or not, it's still going to be cold out!" While Thalia grabbed her cloak, Jeysa pinned hers about her shoulders and waited for her friend. “You might have a point about how other people here in the Weyr are seeing me. I don't care if they think I'm a lightskirt--I know I'm not--but if I do Impress, I wouldn't want to give a bad name to the Weyr."
"T'liren, D'nikku--"She counted on her fingers. "that's only two for the three months I've been here--not counting--Rifkin in the laundry, or M'rel." She cocked her head and met Thalia's gaze. "I don't think that's promiscuous." Smoothing her hair the apprentice harper smiled.
"Uh huh." Thalia was tying her cloak closed. "Now let's scoot! You can worry about your mother and uncle later! Before you know it it'll be time for our shift in a bit and I want to have some fun before then!" With that the two women made off to enjoy their time in the mid-morning sun.
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24.03.05
Early Afternoon
Infirmary
Charris held back a sigh and forced herself to smile. She didn't know what to do with the young woman before her. Jeysa had been assigned to help the healer for the next sevenday. Unfortunately it seemed she hadn't a clue about healercraft. Jeysa looked anything but pleased to be there and the healer stifled a sigh.
"Jeysa, I've heard a lot about you..." She saw the frown on the young woman's face and hurried to add, “From your uncle H'shonur. He's been concerned about your transition to the Weyr."
"I don't see why. I know how to take care of myself." Jeysa scuffed her feet on the floor while the healer stared at her.
It was obvious to Charris’s practiced eye that the young woman wanted to talk. "Here, Jeysa, why don't we sit for a few moments and talk about it?" Jeysa slanted a look at the healer as she led her to a pair of chairs next to a cluttered desk. Taking a seat she met Charris' eyes
"I can't seem to make my uncle happy, no matter what I do..."
"Ah. I think you're in a difficult position, Jeysa." The healer tapped her fingers on the desk. "Have you tried talking to your uncle, to communicate to him how you feel about the way he's treating you?"
Shrugging, Jeysa gestured around the room in general.
"What's the point? As soon as I open my mouth he puts words in it, or worse, when I do manage to say something he twists it around to mean something else entirely!"
Charris studied the candidate and pushed back a frown. In the past most of her dealings with the greenrider had been Threadscore related. What she knew of H'shonur's personality suggested that his niece was perhaps more like him than the greenrider was ready to cope with. "Hmmm. That does tend to make it more difficult."
“One minute he tells me he's glad that I'm here, and a candidate, the next he all but calls me a slut..."
Charris heard the hurt in her voice and nodded. "Your uncle's applying the mores of the Hold to the Weyr, which is plain stupid." Jeysa's eyes opened wide in surprise--was the healer actually supporting her side? "All I can say, Jeysa, is you have to be who you are." Charris met her eyes and tapped the table for emphasis. "In the Weyr there are a lot of personalities, and there isn't any one correct way to see things. I can, of course, understand H'shonur's concern about you, but not his method of relaying it to you." She paused a moment. "Jeysa are you happy here in the weyr? Do you feel that your behavior is creating difficulties for you?"
Jeysa blushed a soft rose color and looked away. Her hands twisted the fabric of her skirt into a tight knot. After a few seconds of silence her hazel eyes met the healer’s gaze.
"I... yes. I like it here in the Weyr. It's different in a lot of ways from the Harper Hall, and I like that. I feel--." She searched for the right word to share with the healer how she felt. "Freer. Like I can be my own person...." Distress clouded Jeysa's face as her words trailed off.
"But?"
"But I don't think many people--especially my uncle--understand or approve of that." She gave a halfhearted smile. "They all want me to be someone my mother wants me to go back to the Harper Hall and resume my studies, my uncle wants me to play the meek little hold girl." Jeysa shook her head vehemently. "Well I won't do it! I won't! And no one can make me!" She glared almost accusingly at Charris and the healer felt the first genuine smile of the day cross her face. It was good that the girl had spunk to keep her going. There were a lot of pressures on her shoulders.
"Well don't look at me, Jeysa! I'm not going to make you do anything..." She threw the apprentice harper a grin. “Except help me take inventory of the herbs in the still rooms!"
"I think I can handle that!" Jeysa stood up and did a little stretch and grinned in return. "Thank you for listening to me. I really appreciate it."
"That's quite all right, Jeysa. I understand. Besides, it's part of being a good healer." When the candidate threw her a quizzical look, Charris pulled her ears. “Listening. One of the most important skills of the craft." She stood and led the candidate toward the stillroom and the herbs that filled them.
+++++++
24.03.05
Early Evening
Dining Cavern
"Hey, pass me some of the bread would you?" J'lan's voice interrupted H'shonur's thoughts as he sat drinking his ale. Passing the brown rider the basket he went back to his thoughts. The dining caverns were filled with riders and weyrfolk eating early dinners and he was glad of the noise. Jeysa had been avoiding him lately and he was getting tired of feeling like the bad guy of the weyr.
'She needed someone to guide her. Jeysa has to understand that she can't stay here at Fort--Carmelesa would never forgive me for that, and if my brother knew what kind... how she's behaving here he'd have a fit!'
"H'shonur, Kelth says that Jetath's getting broody, is that what's bothering you?" J'lan watched as the greenrider set his mug down with a thump.
"No. Not at all! Just a family matter is all. My niece isn't..." H'shonur shrugged. "Well, she isn't behaving. I gave her a talking-to the other day and now she won't talk to me."
J'lan let out a laugh and took a sip of his wine. "Oh well, that's a girl for you. They don't follow any sort of logical pattern, H'shonur." Taking a bite of his dinner, J'lan returned his attention to his food.
It was only a few moments before a group of younger riders sat down at the table behind them, the trio joking around with good-natured humor and witticisms that flew through the air.
"Well I heard that she's as good a roll as Vaela is!"
"That good? Who said that? I should knock M'rel out and see if she'll take me in his place!"
H'shonur's ears heard the bawdy remarks and stared past J'lan at the group, his hazel eyes all but burning with curiosity: who were they discussing?
"So are you ready for the next wing drill?" J’lan's voice rose over the noise of the nearby table and H'shonur threw him a frown.
"Hush it up for a moment-will you?"
"What? What's the matter?" J'lan was abruptly silenced as the green rider made a chopping motion with his hand, a well-known gesture between the two for something important. With J'lan's sudden silence the conversation at the neighboring table became clearly audible.
"She had D'nikku begging for more--how many of the women here can say that?" The red haired rider jabbed his seat mate. "You're one lucky sod, M'rel! I've been trying to catch her eye since she got here!"
"Look it's not like that...” The dark haired youth shook his head and reached for his drink. His other table mate snickered.
H'shonur felt his nerves tense, his ears straining to hear every nuance, trying to hear who the woman was they were discussing. His heart began to sink as more familiar names were listed. His temples began to throb as the dragonriders continued, unaware of H'shonur's scrutiny.
"That's not what I heard, D'verd. I heard she's on fire to have as many of the brown riders as she can--and T'liren told me himself that she knows tricks that'll make a man scream!"
"Look! I told you--Jeysa isn't like that! We're just... going to have dinner...”
"Oh really M'rel? Then what are you doing here, with us? Eating for two? You know the two of you are going to be rolling in the furs as soon as you can get her to your weyr!"
J'lan noticed the color had drained from his friend's face and rubbed his jaw. The greenrider was worked up about something, and it looked as if his temper was about to go. He gave a mental shrug and went back to eating his sandwich.
"Fine, fine, yes! She and I are going to give it a whirl... shards, can't you guys just let it...”
Suddenly, H'shonur was up from the table, the brownrider half-dangling off the floor. H’shonur’s face was a mask of anger and he was only peripherally aware of J'lan's restraining hand on his shoulder or the hands that pressed at him from M'rels friends.
"Don't let me hear you talking about my niece again! Ever-" His hazel eyes were blazing as M'rel's feet struggled to reach the floor.
"Oh--I won't!"
"Let him down, H'shonur... he can't hardly breathe...” J'lan stepped back as H'shonur released the younger man and stalked out of the cavern, his face set in a mask of cold anger.
+++++++
Thalia and Jeysa walked down the west corridor, their footfalls lost behind the sound of Jeysa's singing. Thalia was amazed at the quality of her voice and could well see why Jeysa's mother wanted her back with the harpers. Surely within a few turns Jeysa could be a master singer if she applied herself.
"I want to talk to you!" H'shonur's voice came from behind them and Thalia cringed from the raw fury that was contained in those few words.
Jeysa threw her friend a glance and shrugged. Thalia saw the familiar tilting of her chin and realized that this wasn't going to be a pleasant scene.
“Well I don't have anything to say to you!" Jeysa turned toward Thalia, but before she could start walking again H'shonur spun her around to face him.
"How dare you turn your back on me, Jeysa! How dare you! Where have your manners gone? You act the part of a slut and now... now you..."
"How dare you, uncle, call me a slut?" Jeysa's eyes nearly glowed with anger and she tore loose from her uncle and stood there with her hands on hips. "You, who have slept with nearly every woman in the lower caverns?"
He looked surprised and she threw him a contemptuous look.
"What's that 'who me' look for? Of course I know about that--and the others!" She stamped her foot on the floor, frustration making her wooden sole clatter loudly against the stone. "Well, scorch it! I've had enough!"
"Treat your elders with respect, Jeysa, or by the shell I will take you over my knee..." Jeysa whirled away from his reach and made a pushing motion with her arms. Her hair flew out like a black cape from her shoulders.
"I am sick of this, Uncle! It's always ‘Do as I say-not as I do!’ Why, why should I listen to you???" She nearly spit on the floor. "I don't care anymore what anyone else wants! Not you, not mother! Everyone thinks it's my responsibility to be what they want me to be... well, to the Red Star with both of you! I'm here, in the Weyr! I'm going to be a dragon rider and live the life of one!"
With anger seething she stalked off down the hall, leaving a shocked and stunned H'shonur as Thalia hurried to catch up with her friend.
"What have I done?" His words echoed softly through the hall and the green rider wondered what had started as a result of his unruly temper.
You've started the Weyr talking. Jetath's curt reply cut through his thoughts and H'shonur sighed. I'm hungry.
Letting out another sigh as his anger began to cool, H'shonur walked toward the entrance of the weyrbowl.
You're right about that. I'll be there in a few minutes and you can eat then, and I can think. The green's hunger began urging him to hurry and H'shonur felt like his head was going to crack open with aggravation!
You should have done that before you cornered her. She meant what she said and she's got a lot of the other dragons riled up. It is good that D'may found her on search. She belongs here.
That's hardly the point Jetath. Jeysa should be respectful, and she shouldn't sleep around like she's been. She hasn't Impressed a green yet!
Jetath snorted and H'shonur had the feeling she was holding something back. Do you know something I don't?
Who? Me? Draconic laughter filled his head and H'shonur rolled his eyes and continued on his way to the Weyrbowl and the green dragon who waited for him.
