Logs:The Cruellest of Affections
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| RL Date: 22 November, 2014 |
| Who: R'hin |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Vignette |
| What: R'hin searches for his wayward daughter. No, not that one, the other one. |
| Where: All over Pern |
| When: Day 4, Month 5, Turn 36 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Suireh/Mentions, Leova/Mentions, Satiet/Mentions, Riahla/Mentions |
| They had been playing cards for about an hour when B'fek casually mentioned he'd seen "that harper girl of yours arrive on a Fort dragon a few sevens ago." R'hin had felt a genuine moment of rage, and it must've shown on his expression, since B'fek gave him a startled look. He schooled his expression into something more-at-ease to hide the fury inside as he tossed his cards down in disgust like his reaction had been to the card he'd been dealt. "Stayed for a while, visited Vriath's ledge," B'fek finally continued with a knowing nod. He could ask Leova. She might tell him. Buf if she'd been willing to, she would have already. He went, instead, to Fort. A couple of rounds of drinks with some of the harpers later, and he had the name of a watch rider pair on duty that day for the Hold. A few carefully placed inquiries by Leiventh provided them an image, and a vague description. Travelling folk. Between felt colder than he remembered. What was the feeling in his chest? Dread, or anticipation? He wasn't sure. R'hin tracked them southwards, betweening where he could to save time. He knew where to look -- the places they'd stop, and the places they'd skip. He once called himself a trader, and the Beowins still claimed him as their own. They arrived high above and south of the next waystation, so they could scout the place without being seen. It was a relatively small holding, not the sort a trader caravan usually went to. There were tents set up here and there, suggesting others had travelled to see... whatever it was. Leiventh descended to the north, out of sight. Changing his clothes was a familiar routine, done without thought. He'd always had a spare set of clothes in his bags for such a reason, and as he did so, a name and profession, a history came to mind without too much recall, matching his garb. He wouldn't need it, but that, too, was habit. Had Suireh been this way when Satiet died, too? He couldn't remember; the memories were fuzzy. He'd been drinking a lot in the seven before he collected the twins and took them to the Beowins with him. He suspected the Beowins looked after him more than the girls. He'd never asked, and they'd never told. Some things were better left undisturbed. Music drifted out from the tents. From where he stood, on the uneven edges of the road, he recognized her almost before he saw her. That momentary shock of, Satiet? before he corrected himself, as he always did. He sees in flashes. How she tilts her head to look up at the young man. His warm smile. The way their fingers twist together. The genuine, unbridled laughter that spills from her throat. An uncomfortable feeling wells up inside him, and R'hin finds himself surging foward to do... what? He isn't sure, and by the time he's taken two steps, the sensation has faded away entirely. « She looks content. » It was rare that Leiventh took enough interest in other people to comment; it made R'hin look sharply in his bronze's direction. At least until the dragon added, « You should leave her be. » That was more expected, and he looked back at his daughter. "A parent's expectations is the cruellest of affections." His father had said that once, shortly before they fled Bitra all those turns ago, albeit with a heavy and sighed, "Son," at the front. He hadn't understood it then, and yet he did now. He imagined Suireh would not understand, either. Not until she had children of her own, at any rate. R'hin had Leiventh reach out to Zeth, letting him know of his findings. He wasn't sure what Suireh's twin would do with that information, but she deserved to know, either way. They spent the rest of the afternoon at Fort Hold; first with a generous present of booze to the Fortian watch rider, and later catching up with healer Enwei and one of the younger harpers he'd met by coincidence in his infrequent visits to the hall. One way or another, he'd know when she was back. |
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