Logs:Covert Correspondence
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| RL Date: 29 December, 2013 |
| Who: Edyis, Telavi |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Esvay throws a Pre-harvest party, Telavi learns a little bit about family politics. |
| Where: Esvay Hold |
| When: Day 28, Month 8, Turn 33 (Interval 10) |
| OOC Notes: If there are issues with theme or continuity let me know, I will be more than happy to correct them. |
| Esvay Hold is not the grand stage that Nabol, Keron or even Benden lay claim to. The grounds are modest but teeming with Holders from the cot holds nestled in the valley. The landing area is a patch of green, and the place is teeming with minor holders chatting away as though a harsh winter and Rone's men had never touched the place. Still the marks are evidenced in the scorched stones of the barns, which look to have been recently rearranged or rebuilt. A bundle of nerves is Edyis, though whether from a still present nervousness at flying, or from the prospect of stepping foot home for the first time in seven months with little word of home in that time. Relief evident when they land, in part to have her own feet on solid ground, and in part because she had almost believed the place gone in her absence. Still after she manages to disentangle from the straps (possibly with a great deal of help and after being pried from the poor beast's neck ridges) she seems frozen. Solith had slipped out of between as though on the breeze itself, shadows lending bluer depth to her hide from the perspective of those who might eventually have watched from below, but it probably didn't help Edyis' chill that she hadn't immediately descended towards that landing area but rather continued to waft above the sights, seeing what there is to see or perhaps just simply enjoying the unfamiliar airspace. Telavi, conservatively dressed in caramel but extremely well-fitting leathers with her hair braided up beneath her cap, seems well-enough used to having to pry like that; she says brightly, "I'll just slip down first," and after she does so, wiggles her fingers up towards Edyis. "You can't be heavier than three sacks of firestone. Come on down." Whoever's going to watch, let them watch; greetings can wait. The sun is warm, and it does help the chill a great deal, loosening her up some, Telavi's joke probably does more though to bring life back to the young Nabolese woman. "Thank you again for bringing me, Esvay's parties aren't like Gathers I warn, We live at the edge of the valley on the way to Nabol, those who can't reach the main hold entrust their goods to merchants who stop here because of the proximity to the river, It's become something of a tradition for Esvay to hold a party before and after the harvest. We are a community that looks after each other here, and have been since Esvay was founded." She checks her clothes, a modest green linen dress that has seen much use for such occasions, smoothing the wrinkles. And watch some do, or at least there seems a trio composed of two very similar looking girls and a young boy with dishwater curls sticking out every which way and half covered in mud. They scuttle off in the direction of the main house, without breathing so much as a word. Edyis frowns. "What a nice tradition for your family," Telavi says brightly, teasing a moment thereafter, "and for your family's mark pouches, too. I wish you'd told me there's a party, though, I'd have worn a nicer pair of earrings at the very least, and my hair!" Evidently she has to pat it to make it better, once she's gotten her cap off and stashed, or at least to make herself feel better. She doesn't look in the children's direction, and they're gone soon enough, but either she has eyes in the back of her head or Solith's helping out. "Are they your relations?" Edyis laughs, "I dressed nice out of habit, but we will probably see more folk dressed as though they just came from the fields or the forest. You look fine, but you always do." She teases the greenrider. "Well you know what they say about the Nabolese, were a greedy bunch." Though the tone would suggest she thinks it a half truth, "Esvay isn't a wealthy hold, at least not in the way some would think of wealth, but the way the men talk about it you'd think they could wish themselves into being Lords." Her eyes watch the children go and she nods, twisting at the fabric of her dress. "Half siblings from Gretvyn's brood. I would have thought they'd say Hello, or at shown curiosity about Solith." The worry in her tone is pushed back, as she smiles. "You do know country dances right?" The Nabolese woman can't help but chuckle, "As it may be there is some truth to it, then again I suppose every place has those who think themselves higher than their station." She opines. She seems to contemplate the matter of the messages, "Considering that the repairs have happened and Esvay is still standing, I'm not entirely sure I want to know the answer to the question of the messages - still Divide and conquer? There should be a bonfire set to be lit near the Doors of the hold proper we can meet there later - or go dancing and enjoy ourselves." "We can divide and conquer if you like, though I don't exactly have an excuse to rummage around your Hold without you-- unless I'm looking for you, or I suppose your parents, that might work," Telavi decides. "Unless, because you mustn't think I didn't notice you didn't answer, Gretvyn is... your stepmother? Does she have a tail, an udder an horns? Perhaps they'll come eye Solith later, she's a pretty thing, is Solith." "We can divide and conquer if you like, though I don't exactly have an excuse to rummage around your Hold without you-- unless I'm looking for you, or I suppose your parents, that might work," Telavi decides. "Unless, because you mustn't think I didn't notice you didn't answer, Gretvyn is... your stepmother? Does she have a tail, an udder an horns? Perhaps they'll come eye Solith later, she's a pretty thing, is Solith." " There's a downward twitch of the would be scribe's mouth at mention of parents. "Gretvyn would be the sensible place to start, and yes she is my stepmother, but she isn't quite a herd beast. She's just well think if Headwoman Giorda was hold bred, but slightly less sour of disposition." Explains Edyis, and there is a smile, "Solith is very pretty, I'm sure she'll draw attention," Hooking her arm through Telavi's. As though to emphasize the point Solith has been getting looks from just about every passerby. Solith doesn't seem to be inclined to eat anyone, in case those passersby are concerned about that. She settles to her paws, wraps her lithe tail prettily about herself, and proceeds to sun. Telavi encourages, "Then lead on. Where do we find your Gretvyn? I wonder if it has anything to do with the letter 'G'... Promise me, if you do ever pop out a child or two, you won't name it Gedyis or Gissed." Along the way, she has her own pretty, pretty smile for any passersby looking at them. There's a snort, as they make for the doors through which the children may have disappeared through. "We already have a Greta and Gerta, and a Giorgee, I think I shall stay firmly away from G names if I ever do feel so inclined as to reproduce. What about you and your family, you came from Benden yes?" Of course in the time it takes them to wind across the dirt to the great oaken door inset with colorful ceramic tiles, the Door happens to swing open with a serious looking woman with more grey in her hair than blond. Her eyes seem the only indication of her true age, which must be very much younger than her appearance might otherwise suggest. "Well, well, well, look what the dragon flew in." "Marvelous. I'm so glad we could come to an understanding," Telavi teasingly agrees, looking about with interest as they make their way around. "Yes, Benden Weyr in fact. My uncle," but look, there's the door. Faced with the woman, she moves to pat Edyis' arm gently and let her loose, the better to lightly stride ahead and deploy a warmer version of one of those smiles. "Indeed! It was our pleasure. The dragon in question is named 'Solith,' and I'm Assistant Weyrlingmaster Telavi," which is to say, not just any old rider. "Would you be one of Edyis' relations, ma'am? It's wonderful to see Esvay looking so well." It may be for the best that Telavi disentangled herself, because even Edyis' eyes go large at the fierceness with which her stepmother hugs her. Telavi may accidentally get grouped in if she's standing too close. The woman regards Telavi with a wide, if confused smile. "But the last letter, I thought you hadn't impressed," Directed at Edyis, who blushes. "I didn't." Edyis doesn't offer anymore answer than that, so Gretvyn turns to smile, "It's thanks to the efforts of the riders that we've recovered so quickly, but - surely you have more important duties to tend to than ferrying residents about." To Telavi. "I do," Telavi admits with blithe immodesty, now that she's disentangled herself from that accidental embrace, and now that the other two have had the chance to share a few words. "Yet for a girl like Edyis, why, I'm happy to help out a little extra. Besides, it's nice to have the opportunity to see a place through a family member's eyes and not for work for once, don't you think? I'll be sure to pass along your thanks when I get back to the Weyr as well! But you surely haven't had only one letter since the Hatching, have you?" "I do," Telavi admits with blithe immodesty, now that she's disentangled herself from that accidental embrace, and now that the other two have had the chance to share a few words. "Yet for a girl like Edyis, why, I'm happy to help out a little extra. Besides, it's nice to have the opportunity to see a place through a family member's eyes and not for work for once, don't you think? I'll be sure to pass along your thanks when I get back to the Weyr as well! But you surely haven't had only one letter since the Hatching, have you?" The woman studies Telavi a moment, eyes flicking between the two women, perhaps connecting dots she shouldn't. "I see, well it is very kind of you to take the time to do so. Esvay may be a small hold, but we take pride in our little valley. Sturdier than most, Rone's were not the first fires we've endured, I doubt they will be the last." At mention of the letters, warmth melts from Gretvyn's expression, "I had assumed she was just busy after refusing Cron's order to come home." Though something in the woman's tone suggests she's internally scolding herself for thinking such a thing, her mouth forming a grim line. "It would be nice if they were the last," Telavi declares, flicking or no flicking. But then as Gretvyn continues, the greenrider's brows draw in, and she turns back to Edyis. "Go ahead," she murmurs far more softly, but with that hint of underlying concern. "Tell her." "I see." Gretvyn's grey eyes settle on her stepdaughter, "How many Edyis?" The dark skinned girl, frowns. "Two a week since I refused Cron, I sent the girls ribbons after the holder conclave in Keroon, they didn't even say thank you." Gretvyn, shakes her head, resting a hand on the younger woman's head.
Keys. Keys are fascinating in their implications, and combined with the prospect of going where they mightn't want to get caught-- "I'd be glad to, ma'am," Telavi assures, quick to trot along wherever the woman will leave. Almost wherever. Gretvyn leads on, and the interior of Esvay is much like the exterior, mats of woven grass in place of rugs, and the only tapestries on the walls appear to be quite old and threadbare. She leads them to a small study off the main passage, moving directly to a small rolling desktop that shows greatly the signs of wear and use. The key is slipped into the lock, and with an ominous click, she opens the locked desk. "Cron has been taking personal charge of hold matters since he arrived. He is the one with legal right to the hold so I let him." She reaches in pulling open drawers and checking the cubbies. "He doesn't have the rapport your father did with the other cot holds in the valley, and he certainly didn't inherit tact or subtlety either." Telavi can chatter, but evidently for this she's more minded to listen, staying at a discreet distance where she can do just that and let Edyis stay closer to her stepmother if she likes... but also keep an ear and sometimes an eye out for anyone approaching. A bundle of letters is found, apparently bound with the aforementioned ribbons. Gretvyn shakes her head, "I'm sorry Edyis, I should have checked sooner, but I didn't think he'd throw this much of a fit." Telavi is given a meaningful look. "Cron is a traditionalist, and Edy, well sweetheart until recently you've always done as you have been told." She lift's a finger that silences a protest from the bronze skinned girl. "I'm proud of you for what you did girl, make no mistake on that. I'm glad you've found a good friend to look after you too." She looks to Telavi, "I appreciate you looking after her." If Gretvyn's emphasis were in any way unusual, it's certainly nothing that Telavi draws attention to; she merely drops her lashes demurely for a moment and murmurs, "I'm happy to." Though then, more practically, "Do you two have any other way of sending messages just now? That won't be intercepted?" Gretvyn shakes her head, "No, at least not from this end." Edyis frowns, "I was planning on bartering with some riders, to try getting my hands on a firelizard, but it would be a while before he or she would be old enough to carry messages." There's an exhaled breath. "It doesn't matter, it's enough to know that everyone is ok, and that the hold is doing well." Jaw set firmly, "Can you make sure everyone knows that I didn't break my promise to write? I'd hate for them to think I'd forgotten." Gretvyn tucks the packet of letters into her apron re locking the desk. "I'll make sure they get to read them, but we best get back out to the party." The look at the desk might reveal another packet of letters that Gretvyn may have missed, and a small painted portrait of a man and woman together, between the two one might be able to extrapolate that the portrait is of Edyis father and mother. As she's closing the door she frowns, "It's not like he can do much if he does get angry. Cron never really liked the idea of his father remarrying, so you could say we've learned to deal with each other. Besides, he couldn't run the hold without me, Farm craft taught him how to manage fields but he knows nothing about people." Telavi's "As you say, ma'am," holds just as much quiet respect as, earlier, there had been quiet concern. Tela doesn't speak of what Gretvyn might have overlooked, accidentally on purpose, not to her; it'll be later that she mentions to Edyis all offhandedly that she might have glimpsed a second packet, possibly after that promised dancing... and if Cron has already discovered the one loss and secured the remaining letters against another, so be it.
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