Difference between revisions of "Logs:AU - A Harper's Intervention"

Month 3, Turn 26

The office was empty, as it should have been at this time of night. Devaki's fingers fumbled with the hides -- the precious hides that held the ancestry of the Islanders, that might provide for their future, too.

He focused on the names. Traced them, murmuring the lineages to himself as he always did. He found Riorde's name, then in a moment of whimsy, Iolene's. And something he'd never noticed before.

He pulled the glowbasket closer, holding the hide almost against it. In the weak light of the glows they'd had left on the island, he'd never seen that faint mark beside Iolene's name, like a squiggle with a line through it. His heart thudded. He sat, undecided, for a long time, then rolled the hides carefully up and returned them to the pouch.

The infirmary was deserted -- mostly. He'd hoped, briefly, that Madilla would be on duty, but it was an older man. On a scrap of paper, he drew the symbol. The healer frowned at it for a moment, then explained it expressed a kinship. Like one that described the relationship between dragons and firelizards.

He forgot to breathe for a moment, before one of the Weyr's harpers, in for his check up, leaned over and scoffed. "That's kinship, but not what he's talking about. It means a betrothal. It's used in the Hold's markings when children are infants, to indicate promised marriages."

His relief was palpable. For a moment, he'd thought Iolene might be...

He couldn't even finish the thought.

Month 3, Turn 26

Later that day, he lured his cousins out of the Weyr -- as far as the dragonriders would let them. Tomaeran was his usual asshole self, and Jaques surprised them by telling them he wanted to stand.

In that moment, Devaki thought of Jaques' wife, Evie -- how she would feel. How he might feel, if...

"I want to marry Io." It was out before he thought about it, and no less true for all the lack of consideration.

His cousins stared at him in disbelief, and before they recovered, added, "Would you stand in for her father, Jaques?"

Tomaeran punched him in the shoulder, "Why not me?"

"Because you're a douche."

He wasn't sure who threw the first punch, but it was lively -- like old times. Like being back on the island again.

Month 5, Turn 26

The sun was rising as the elders gathered on the diving cliff by the lake. Devaki stood there on the edge, looking down at the water. He'd imagined it differently -- by the cliff overlooking the sea, on their Island -- but the Weyrleader refused to let them leave, even for this.

Tomaeran nudged him in the ribs, and he looked back -- to see Iolene climbing the cliff, escorted by Jaques. He only had eyes for the girl -- no, the woman -- by his side, however. She was no longer the girl who tagged around after them on the Island. She was -- would be, his wife.

The faces around them were all familiar, all Islanders, and through the whole ceremony, he felt at peace, at home -- his fingers reaching out instinctively for Iolene's while the Elders impressed upon them their duties to their people. Devaki wasn't listening, though -- instead sneaking glances at Iolene.

The Weyr, at least, allowed them their own room for their first night as man and wife. His wife, as it turned out, was very demanding, but he was happy to indulge her.

Month 6, Turn 26

They'd secured a seat halfway up the galleries, the Islanders -- those that hadn't been Searched. The idea made him nervous, uncertain, uncomfortable. Iolene must have sensed it, because she leaned her head against his shoulder, drawing his attention away from the rocking eggs.

He missed the first shell cracking, but after that, his eyes were glued to the sands.

Devaki couldn't help the wince as he saw his people Impress -- Riorde, Jaques, Emmy, Rhaelyn... even his sister. When the queen hatched, she began wobbling towards the galleries, so determinedly that Iolene gasped in fright and turned to hide her head in the crook of his shoulder. Moments later, the queen turned, and abruptly Impressed to Quinlys, the Weyr favourite. He heard the sighs all around him, murmurs of relief that an exile had not impressed the queen.

Later that evening, while Iolene danced with Jaques, Devaki took a moment to slip out, finding a quiet corridor. Shortly after, Raum found him, and pressed something into his hands. By the faint light of the nearby glows, he read it with shaking hands. The look in Raum's eyes told him something else had happened, but he knew whatever it was, it was worth it, for his people.

Soon after, when he heard about Seani, he knew. Iolene sobbed, clinging to him, and he held her, stonefaced. He had to be the strong one. For his wife. For all their people. If he didn't... they'd all be walked over. But first, they had to get out of the Weyr... and he knew just who to talk to.

V'teri was of Riverbend descent. He was their kin.

Month 1, Turn 27

They'd settled comfortably into lift at Riverbend. It wasn't their place, not like the Island was, and it didn't have the sea. Some of their people didn't find it entirely comfortable, and Devaki could sense their restlessness, their desire to be connected with their heritage.

He'd sought air, high on the fireheights, and distantly, he could hear Iolene. Their first child was coming, and he felt a mixture of anticipation, excitement and impatience. He'd hoped to have their child come into the world knowing his -- or her -- place. But for all they were settled at Riverbend, it felt so temporary still.

As if sensing his mood, Raum appeared at his shoulder, as he was want to do. "How did your meeting go with Holder Evarlan?"

"He's to name me heir; he recognizes our Blood." Devaki answered distracted; still listening.

"Yet you don't look pleased." The red-headed Other smiled at the grunt from the exile.

"We are not where we should be." Was that the distant cry of a child on the wind? Devaki felt a rush of something -- relief, certainty, and it made him look sharply at Raum. "I've been too... placid. We need to work harder."

Raum smirked. "What do you suggest?"

"Let's start with Evarlan. He is getting on..."

Month 6, Turn 27

His confirmation had been a simple affair. It almost hadn't been -- Lord Rynien of High Reaches Hold had refused to acknowledge the exiles' Blood claims, and yet, conveniently, the old Lord had passed in his sleep. Devaki had taken this news from Raum with a placid acknowledgement, and added him to the list. Seani, Evarlan, Rynien. The people who had to die, for the future of their people.

They'd held a gather that month in celebration. Lady Edeline of Tillek and her young heir Theldrin had attended. He'd left the negotiations to Iolene and Edeline -- and his sweet, determined wife somehow managed to secure an agreement for the eventual betrothal of their daughter, Iora, to Theldrin. There was nine Turns' difference, and it would be Turns away, but it secured a possible future for them.

"Our next will be a boy, to inherit Riverbend," Io had told him.

"A boy," Devaki agreed, "But he'll inherit more than Riverbend."

Iolene looked at him, but she didn't ask. She never did. She trusted that he would make it right.

Month 3, Turn 28

They'd left their children at Riverbend when they travelled to Crom for Issedi of High Reaches' wedding to Aughan of Crom. Devaki had worried about Iolene -- she'd only just given birth to their son Arami, but she'd insisted. A wife should be with her husband, she'd said.

They had enjoyed the feast, and Devaki got a moment to chat with the new bride, Issedi, on the dance floor. The girl seemed sweet, not entirely taken with her new, much older husband, but there was a sense of duty about her that Devaki admired. He'd wanted more of a chance to talk to her, but Iolene had intervened, claiming her husband with a look Devaki knew was jealousy. The idea that she was still jealous made gave him a little thrill -- even though he had looked at other women, he never felt the urge to stray.

Aughan's niece, Yuliye, however, was the hardest to resist. She bailed him up in the hallway, and he'd practically had to run from her. That one had a determination and voraciousness that exceeded Iolene's by far. She also had a ruthless streak that, Turns later, would lead him to suspect she had something to do with the fact that Issedi never conceived.

While Devaki hadn't much time to interact with Issedi, he managed to secure far more time with Braeden. The fact that the High Reaches' Lord's gaze wandered didn't escape his notice, nor did it escape his notice who his gaze wandered to. He wouldn't have to worry about any heirs coming out of Braeden anytime soon, and yet... while Braeden had been happy to acknowledge their Blood relation, there was a cousin whom had a slightly stronger claim.

Devaki'd learnt a lot from Raum in the last couple of Turns, and on their way back to Riverbend, he had the rest of their entourage escort Iolene home, while he detoured.... to look at some of their outlying land. Raum was silent, welcome company on the trip -- though he still found the Other unsettling, the more time he spent with him, the more he understood. That should've frightened him more than it did.

Raum watched from the cover of darkness as Devaki approached the outlying stable of the small cothold. It was surprisingly simple for a man who could be considered the heir to High Reaches. Make it look like an accident,, Raum had said. The runners were shifting restlessly in their stables, and he picked up a spare horseshoe hanging from a nail as he headed inside.

It was surprisingly easy to kill a man.

Less easy to forget it.

He added another name to the list.

Month 12, Turn 28

The problem, as he saw it, was that he genuinely liked Braeden. They'd grown friendly in the intervening months, with Devaki spending periods at High Reaches Hold learning from Braeden -- often with Iolene and their children, too. Could one like someone but still kill them? If it meant the future of his people would be assured?

He knew that, had it been him in the Weyrleader's weyr, Seani would not have died. Not Seani. But he'd come so far, now.

At the Weyr, Quinlys' Ysavaeth's clutch Hatched. Iolene was still wary about the hatchlings, but so much more excited by the fact that they now received second-row seats, directly behind Braeden. Their children, too, were fascinated, and Devaki made a mental note to keep them clear of the Weyr when they grew into Search age.

"She doesn't look happy. Shouldn't she be happy?" Iolene asked, gaze on Quinlys as she hugged Iora to her chest.

Devaki shook his head; he didn't have an answer -- he still didn't fully understand why the Weyr worked the way it did. Still, she was right -- the junior didn't look pleased on a day that everyone claimed was happy for everyone. Even the Weyrleaders -- Tiriana with her set jaw but a shade of something content, and K'del with his stiff shoulders at her side -- seemed uncomfortable.

Later, he'd hear the rumors -- that Tiriana had decreed that one of their golds would leave, Iovniath not standing for a Weyr full of so many queens. He heard, too, that the Weyrwoman had been negotiating with Benden to take K'del and an entire wing along with the excess queen. Devaki wasn't sure why they allowed a woman to dictate such things, and apparently it had the whole Weyr unsettled.

Later, he heard Iovniath had been flown by a brown from Monaco, Svissath. He didn't know, or care, who the rider I'kris was. Some said the entire Weyr heard Tiriana's screams the morning after the flight, though.

Month 7, Turn 29

Two sevens after the birth of their third child, a boy, Devaki woke in the middle of the night with a certainty.

It was time.

He dressed and slipped out of the bed, trying not to wake Iolene. As his fingers touched the door, he felt a presence at his shoulder. He expected Raum, but was surprised when he saw Rilka there.

"The Sea wants this for you. For all of us."

He knew. But he still wasn't sure how he would do it -- only that he had to.

Braeden had been drinking, and welcomed him into his suite late that afternoon. They drank, and talked -- in Braeden's case, his worry about the future of the Hold. "I tried, for my father. I never wanted to be a disappointment to him, but..."

In his ears, Devaki heard the pounding waves of the sea -- he could almost imagine he even scented the salty tang of the air. Later, he'd realize it was his tears, as he held the pillow over Braeden's face, waiting until his friend had stopped struggling.

Braeden's name made the list. It was, he hoped, the last, but somehow... he felt certain that he wasn't.

Whatever it takes, he told himself, as he called the healers in, watching them work futilely on the Lord Holder of High Reaches.

Former Lord Holder.

He was crying when he climbed into bed with Iolene, two days later. She didn't ask why; she just drew him close, kissing his forehead. His light in the darkness. She would never know that other part of his life.

Month 9, Turn 29

Devaki had expected to feel some sort of satisfaction, when the Conclave confirmed him. Then, when that didn't happen -- at the celebration Gather. When the Elders congratulated him.

It wasn't until he stood at the lighthouse deck, later that evening, watching a group of people down by the rocky beach, splashing in the sea.

He recognized them: Rilka, Xoami, Riorde, and Iolene. And his children -- splashing around in the shallow waters of the ocean.

Yes, this is where they were meant to be.

Home.