Difference between revisions of "Logs:Carried out."

After his meeting with Aishani, E'sren took that plate of brownies and made his way straight for the lake. Not before almost turning back for the brownie he left behind, but he resisted the guilt.

Ahruth meets him in the bowl and walks with him the rest of the way, his head tilted and dropped low enough so he can watch his rider's face on the way.

Are you okay?

Yeah, buddy, I'm fine. Just a little stressed out about everything.

I'm here for you.

I know.

The hour had been kind of late to begin with, when she summoned him for their talk, and now after it it's almost impossible to expect anyone to be awake. Which is why when he approaches the wagons, he's surprised to see a glowing ember, Siobhan smoking a clove on a bench with one knee drawn up. The glowing cherry casts her face in its warm orange light, her dark eyes even darker and her hair like fire. Ahruth waits back a bit while E'sren comes closer.

"You're up late," he murmurs, quiet so as not to wake anyone else. He sets the plate of brownies down next to his mother and she looks down at it, then up at her son with a little smile in place.

In a low, maternal voice she replies, "I couldn't sleep. What's this?"

"A bribe."

Understandably, Siobhan has some questions. "For? Or more importantly from?"

E'sren pulls one of the nearby chairs closer and sighs as he sits down. "Aishani Vijay. Asked me to volunteer one of us to go watch the wedding at Tillek tomorrow. To... watch it."

She narrows her eyes and exhales a cloud of smoke through her nose. After a moment, "And which one of us did you offer up?"

"...Seamus has experience with crowds. And he has enough tricks that he can blend in as a performer."

"And that's all?"

"She said High Reaches would be there."

Whether or not this has any effect in Siobhan's mind, she just takes a deep breath in of clean night air and lets it out slowly. "We've long since been a family who pays back kindness and hospitality. But the Weyr's already taken one of my sons. Let's just hope it gives the other one back."

She stood to rouse Seamus from his sleep, and with E'sren's help prepares him for the day. Whatever clothes he'll need to wear were chosen, laid out, and she packed him a bag with supplies for the trip, both for tricks (his juggler's balls) or for just in case (a utility knife). After about an hour, Seamus has been briefed and readied as much as is possible for the night, and E'sren gives first his brother a hug, then his mother, who pulls him down to her level so she can whisper something in his ear.

On the way back to the bowl, Ahruth following along silently, E'sren thinks on those words and walks the wooden totem he always carries along the backs of his fingers one way, then the other.

If I could, I would.

Would what? He wasn't paying attention, but Ahruth's gentle voice is understanding.

Take him to Tillek.

Hey...

This halts the man, which halts the dragon, and the former pockets the mark so he has both hands free to reach up for the blue's head and bring it down to eye level, a lot like his mother moments ago.

In his real, human voice he says, "Don't you feel bad about that, not even for a second. You're still a baby. You're not supposed to be able to do that stuff yet. Soon you will, but don't you apologize for that."

Ahruth croons softly and whuffs, then pushes his head once against his rider's hands, a nod.

The two finish their moment and E'sren, raking his fingers back through his still-growing hair, continues to lead the way back to the barracks. Moments later, Ahruth peeks in on Iesaryth with a wash of lavender.

It's done.