Rei
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Post by Rei on Mar 29, 2010 0:34:10 GMT -5
The man that interrupted the fight was large and imposing and so when he turned and ordered her to stay Ruliana did just that. She didn’t move, not even a twitch. She just stood there wide eyed and waited for something to happen. Oh shards they where in trouble weren’t they? The man’s knots marked him as none other than the Weyrleader and Ruliana had the vague notion that she was suddenly in a whole heap of trouble. Heart beating as if she had just ran a particularly large distance she waited pale and trembling as Kelor was addressed. Her eyes shot momentarily to the dispersing crowd but the brownrider and his fire lizard companions where already gone. In a weird way she was grateful to him and a bit happy that Kelor had gotten the short end of the deal but she still hated violence.
Kelor was in a far different frame of mind when he was suddenly yanked from his target. Especially since he was suddenly bombarded by screeching demons from hell. It took the man a moment or two to come to grips with his situation but when he finally worked out what was happening he noticed that the brownrider had fled and he was now faced with none other that the Weyrleader. Honestly he was both relived that the attack was over as well as slightly put out still.
He was still trying to get his bearings when S’rei lifted him to his feet and then proceeded to question him. Swallowing and wiping some of the blood and caked dust on his face, his eyes went to find Ruliana before turning back to S’rei. “I tackled your Weyrhealer because he punched me after threatening me with his dragon.” Simple answer and it was the truth. He raised his head to meet the eyes of the Weyrleader and waited for a comment. It wasn't as if he had anything to hide.
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Mar 30, 2010 8:05:44 GMT -5
S'rei simply stared at the harper for a long moment - certainly long enough to make most people uncomfortable - before reaching down to his belt to extract a water flask. He pulled out a worn (but clean) piece of cloth, dampened it with the water, and offered it to Kelor. Still completely silent. Finally, the older man spoke. "I heard and saw enough to figure that much out for myself," came the soft reply. "You seem awfully certain that whatever dispute the two of you were having would end in your favor. Considering I doubt you know the Lordholder any more than you do me...that's a touch presumptuous." There was just enough chill behind the words to indicate that S'rei wasn't pleased. Or impressed.
He settled his arms across his chest, looking down at Kelor and for once not bothering to attempt to minimize the effect of his size. "Although I do not approve of my dragonriders making threats, particularly in settings like this, that boy hasn't done anything of the sort since he came here. None of my dragonriders have. Which leads me to wonder what exactly it is about you that makes you so special, hm?" S'rei glanced toward the girl, lifting a hand to gesture her closer. "But let's start with a simpler question, harper, since you seem to like leaving out details."
The Weyrleader turned toward Ruliana. "You saw everything, did you not, girl?" He noticed how she seemed a bit...nervous...but he didn't acknowledge it. That would have probably just made it worse, and anyway, that wasn't what he was here for at present. "I want you to tell me what these two were fighting about. Keep it factual and concise. I'd rather know what was going on without any opinions or - twisting of words - attached." He flicked a glance at Kelor. "Then you're going to tell me where you're from and who you report to, harper. I don't recognize you as a local." Not that he knew all the harpers in the south, but it was better than pointing out that he knew he was northern by his attitude.
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Rei
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Rider Cr'oph Rider Er'ani Rider Elysia Rider/Healer Erilena Wherhandler Sydney Holdbrat Emitre Holdbrat Dileina Weyrbrat Elias Weyrbrat Terilyn
Woooo~ I am a fox!
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Post by Rei on Mar 30, 2010 15:49:47 GMT -5
Kelor shifted uncomfortably under S’rei’s stare knowing that for once he might have bit off more than he could handle. Refusing to believe such he steeled his nerves and waited. Then the Weyrleader offered him a cloth and he gratefully took it with a mumbled thanks. He began to clean his face wincing as the cloth came in contact with his nose. He kept the majority of his attention on the big man and his words however. He didn’t want to come off as arrogant or stupid. Yes he was certain that the dispute would end with him as the winner. Because he was in the right damn it. Aleta belonged to him. She was his singer. He paid for her passage among other things and until she paid him off she would remain under his care. Her voice was better than any of his other women. He needed her for the performances.
The harper tilted his head up as S’rei went on about his rider. That brat. He found it hard to believe he had never butted heads with anyone before but he didn’t voice his opinion knowing it wouldn’t be wise. Instead he shot Aleta a look as the Weyrleader proceeded to wave her over. His expression said it all. She better not make this into more than it had to be. Sharding women and their nerves.
Ruliana caught S’rei’s wave and hurried over although she wanted so badly to turn and run. Drawing up beside the pair she paled at Kelor’s look and then turned wide frightened eyes up to the Weyrleader. With a short curtsy she dropped her head to avoid Kelor’s gaze. “Yes sir I saw everything. Kelor came to fetch me. Your healer got angry with him for grabbing me. They exchanged words and it went from there.” She intentionally avoided Kelor’s gaze for fear of it making her want to vomit instead concentrating on her sandaled feet. Should she say more? S’rei had said to be factual and concise so probably not. She had fulfilled her role. Kelor fought to keep his anger from showing as he turned from Ruliana to S’rei. He couldn’t help but comment before he answered the dragonrider’s question. “Your healer had no right to stop me from taking my singer back to where she belonged. To answer your question I come from Fort hold. We traveled from there to Nerat to pick up a few other journeymen along the way. Nerat is where I acquired Aleta. I answer to Masterharper Camlin among a few others.” He raised his head and smiled not pleasantly at S’rei.
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Mar 30, 2010 23:31:37 GMT -5
S'rei stood, his face absolutely devoid of emotion as he listened to the girl, not even a flicker of annoyance at the look the man had given the girl and her obvious discomfort. Not even when she half-answered his question. She might have misunderstood, after all, since he'd said facts only. He wanted all the relevant facts, however, because he was no more clear on what had happened than he'd been at the beginning. Her use of the word 'grabbed' might be something of a clue, though it would have to be something blatant, he'd think. The healer wasn't a fighter, this much S'rei knew. Neither was he given to emotional outbursts, though he was on the dramatic side. Still, that didn't add up to threatening men with dragons and attacking people. Not when he'd fled the Weyr after the last attack for a time. Definitely didn't add up.
"Then you were sent here for the purpose of this Gather," S'rei commented neutrally. "This girl doesn't appear to be a harper, though." If he noticed the nature of the smile, he made no indication of it. Let the other man wonder if his nonverbal had been received, or if S'rei simply didn't care. His attention had returned to Ruliana, shifting to one side just enough to put Kelor in her blind spot if she looked at the Weyrleader. "Aleta. Are you a harper?" Because there was definitely something off here, and he'd rather remove Kelor from the equation as much as he could. He was tempted to take the girl off by herself and away from his influence entirely, but there was no guarantee he'd be able to find the harper later if he did that.
"I'm still unclear on what would prompt someone to start a fight over a stranger. I don't imagine you've met R'wign before. Unless you've some connection to one another?" His eyes flicked briefly to Kelor. "That, or this man must have been really manhandling you. So what is it then, girl?"
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Rei
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Rider Cr'oph Rider Er'ani Rider Elysia Rider/Healer Erilena Wherhandler Sydney Holdbrat Emitre Holdbrat Dileina Weyrbrat Elias Weyrbrat Terilyn
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Post by Rei on Mar 31, 2010 16:42:45 GMT -5
Kelor watched S’rei with carefully veiled disgust. He had never really liked dragonriders. They thought themselves so much better than the common folk. Humph. No Aleta wasn’t a harper but she was his singer. She was a replacement and a better singer than the woman he had before her. Still it didn’t look like his input was necessary at the moment. The bronzerider was far more concerned with Aleta. When S’rei moved to block his eye contact with Ruliana the man actually glared. This wasn’t going as well as he hoped. The journeyman began devising an escape plan while he had the chance.
Ruliana looked up out of instinct as S’rei moved. Blinking up at him she swallowed her throat dry. “I’m not a harper no. I bartered my singing ability for passage to the gather and lodging.” Her eyes flicked to Kelor but he was thankfully blocked form her sight. It made thinking easier. Gingerly she took another step towards the Weyrleader. She wanted to trust him. She did, but she was scared. Biting her lip she again went over Checkoth’s words and took a deep breath. “R’wign and I are half siblings. I…I just met him. I don’t know him well at all. I think he was more concerned about Kelor hurting me than anything else.” Her eyes flicked up to S’rei briefly and she pushed her hair back from the side of her head to reveal the bruise she had gotten when the harper had lashed out at her ‘accidentally’ after the first incident with the brownriders.
“He isn’t the nicest all the time. I’m supposed to behave myself.” Ruliana commented quietly enough that Kelor would have to be really listening to catch the words. Her heart hammered in her chest in a sudden bout of anxiety. She might have just completely ruined her only form of stability, but Checkoth was right. Whatever Kelor gave her wasn’t worth it. Not anymore.
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Apr 3, 2010 18:18:52 GMT -5
S'rei took in the bruise with a rather neutral expression, though the location of it was, in his opinion, more serious than the bruise itself. Her neck? He nodded, then, turning toward Kelor. "My healer has caused you some trouble." The bronzerider removed one of the small coinpurses at his belt, then hefted a second thoughtfully before tossing both at the harper's feet. "Twenty marks. That will more than cover her passage and lodging, even though her singing has undoubtedly paid off - or very nearly paid off - her debt already. Consider the rest an apology for poor behavior." No man that concerned about money would have made a poor investment, and that she wasn't a harper said much about her ability.
His hand fell on the girl's shoulder in a silent protective gesture, even as a brow lifted in Kelor's direction. "Of course, if you wish to retain her services I'm sure she would be willing to hear you out and, should she agree, you can then negotiate proper payment. For that matter, there are others here for hire, harpers and otherwise, and if you find yourself short-staffed, the Weyr retains several junior and senior journeymen of your craft who might be persuaded to take the job on short notice. If you'll excuse us?"
A matter of civility; he didn't wait for a response. Directing her lightly by the shoulder, he spoke to the girl quietly as he led her toward one of the nearby tables, snagging a cup of water for her to maybe help calm her nerves. "Just to make things clear," he commented quietly, when he was sure no one was listening, "that was for R'wign. He doesn't need to be getting himself into any more trouble over you. However...if you fear for your safety please don't hesitate to contact any of us. Your halfbrother, myself, any other riders you might have met. I can arrange something with the Lordholder here, or, if you'd prefer to stay on at the Weyr, that can be arranged to."
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Rei
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Rider Cr'oph Rider Er'ani Rider Elysia Rider/Healer Erilena Wherhandler Sydney Holdbrat Emitre Holdbrat Dileina Weyrbrat Elias Weyrbrat Terilyn
Woooo~ I am a fox!
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Post by Rei on Apr 3, 2010 20:26:32 GMT -5
Kelor just gazed with surprise at S’rei as he tossed the marks down. What had Aleta said? Curiously he tried to catch her gaze as he bend down to pick the marks up. Idly he weighed them as he considered S’rei’s words. The harper was intelligent. Aleta may be lost to him but he would be a fool to turn down the marks or the help for the gather. Hmmm. Was one woman really worth the trouble he could get into here. The answer was a resounding no. Good luck to the girl. She would need it if she was going to survive without him. Most likely she would eventually crawl back after the bronzer released her anyway. Smiling at that thought he chuckled and began to make his way back to his tent.
Ruliana let S’rei lead her away, taking the offered water gratefully. Dropping her head she nodded at his words. Yes she understood completely. R’wign was his rider. It made sense. She was very grateful nevertheless. She was free again and it felt good. Raising her head she caught the Weyrleader’s gaze and swallowed. “Thank you.” She had a lot to think about now. Where to go. What to do. She would have to figure it out soon. Needed somewhere to sleep after all. With no marks to her name and nowhere to stay she was going to have to think of something….fast.
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