Who Knows You Best
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 7th November 2015
Characters: C'rin, Devett, Amerys
Description: Carin overhears some unpleasant conversation about his mother
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 2, day 26 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Ciara, K'sedel
As usual on the first day of the new sevenday, there was a gathering of Candidates around the posted list of chores that they were assigned for the next fortnight. Crossing his arms over his chest, Carin sidled up behind the small group of those gathered, and used his height to peer over their heads to see where he was on the list.
**Laundry duty.** He read with relief the two words beside of his name. Last fortnight he'd had kitchen clean-up duties, which he didn't mind, anything was better than latrine duties.
"How did that bastard get lucky enough to get laundry? He had kitchens last fortnight! When's the last time he's had to get his pampered hands dirty in the latrines?" A voice complained loudly.
Carin knew it was too much coincidence to hope that the voice was talking about someone else.
"Well, you know his mommy is the Weyrleader's weyrmate. I guess that helps doesn't it?"
He bristled. He _hated_ being connected to K'sedel in any way. He especially hated when people tried to make it seem as if he got some sort of special treatment from it.
**Just walk away Carin.** He coached himself, exhaling slowly, and closing his eyes. His hips twisted and he made the first step to walk away when he heard, "Yeah, I guess if I got my old lady to suck the Weyrleader's-"
The voice belonged to a thin boy with a pointed face, and he stopped talking when he felt a hand clap onto his shoulder. From the looks on the faces of the people gathered around him, he wasn't going to like what he saw when he turned around. Swiveling his head slowly, his gut clenched when he looked up into the brooding face of the older Candidate.
"Oh, Carin, it's you." His eyes shifted about nervously.
Carin's cobalt eyes were hard as he looked down at the younger Candidate, "If you want to live to see the Hatching I'd suggest you watch that filthy mouth of yours." Carin was normally a pretty calm guy, but nobody, _nobody_, talked about his mother.
The older Candidate's fingers bit into his shoulder, making him whimper a bit, "Hey, I wasn't even talking about you I was talking about -"
"Are you saying I'm stupid? Do I look stupid to you?" He lowered his face so that it was close to the younger boy's.
Devett's eyes widened as he shook his head, "I didn't say that!"
"You mentioned the Weyrleader's weyrmate, that happens to be my mother, as you know, so you must think I'm stupid if you can tell me you weren't talking about my mother." Carin's voice had dropped to a growl.
"Oh, no, no I didn't mean- I didn't think-"
"You didn't think I was here? Yes, I realized that." Carin released Devett with a little shove. "Now, why don't you run along? You have some latrines to clean."
Devett took a step back, "Uh, right." With one last glance at Carin's stony face, Devett turned and quickly fell into step with the other Candidates he'd been with, their heads huddled close together as they made quiet conversation and sent furtive glances over their shoulders at Carin as they walked away.
"Feeling a little touchy today, aren't we?"
Carin didn't stop staring at the retreating figure of Devett. He already knew who the sultry voice belonged to.
"No one talks about my mother. You know that."
Amerys arched an eyebrow as she crossed her arms over her chest and came to stand in front of Carin, "Yes, I do know that. For as long as I can remember I've been watching you scuffle and fight any one who dared criticize your mother."
"So surely you didn't think I would stop now?" He finally lowered his gaze to look at Amerys. They'd grown up in the creche together, he'd known her for as long as he could remember.
"I thought you might grow out of it at some point." She chuckled as she combed her fingers through her glossy, dark blonde hair.
Carin's blue eyes skimmed over Amerys' figure, "You should know better than that."
An easy smile spread across her face, "I suppose so. Who knows you better than me?"
"No one." That was certainly true enough. Not even his own mother knew him as well as Amerys.
"Come on then, partner, we have laundry to do." Looping her arm through Carin's, the blonde Candidate pulled him along to get started on their duties.
Last updated on the November 15th 2015