Date My Sister... Now!

Writers: AL, Heather
Date Posted: 2nd January 2016

Characters: Reven, Caenir
Description: Reven asks Caenir something unusual.
Location: Green Valley Hold
Date: month 3, day 13 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Arippa

Reven

Three colts and all of them showed promise. While he would have liked to
have more runners, he knew that some things were just going to take time -
and that type of program was one of them. If he attempted to get too many
at once, he'd put the hold in debt, and that was something Caenir wasn't
willing to do. So, through careful selections and finagling, he'd managed
to procure a couple of mares and one stallion. By him, three colts had
been sired, a single from one more, a pair of twins from the other - double
fortune for them. In a few more months, he'd be more sure they'd bred
true.

After going through the tack inventory as well as setting the hands on to
restocking the feed, Caenir grabbed a box of tools and headed to the fence
of the arena where he worked with the runners. A couple of boards on the
fence needed replacing and the wood sat at the foot of the posts, waiting
for him. He paused when a familiar form strolled up the road that led to
the stables and tipped his hat to his friend. "Reven.

"Caenir." Reven tipped his head by way of greeting as he looked about the
stables. "How's it going?" he asked.

"Not bad." Which was his way of saying 'quite well'. Caenir set the box
of tools upon the ground, then leaned against a good part of the fence.
"How's the youngin and the missus'?" Of course Caenir knew they were
well, but it was always polite to ask about them.

Reven ran his hand over the light stubble on his jaw. "They're both doing
just fine. You found anyone at Green Valley that's caught your eye yet?"

The question was so completely random and out of the blue that it took
Caenir for a loop. For a long moment, he could do nothing but stare at his
friend, and when he finally did managed to open his mouth, it dropped down
and could only emit a confused, "Huh?"

"Well, you just asked about my missus, I thought I'd return the favor."
Reven said, confused as to why a natural part of conversation seemed to
startle Caenir so badly.

"I haven't a missus." Reven was aware of that, which prompted Caenir to
wonder why he'd asked. If Caenir had his eye on someone, then he'd be
courting her proper like, which he hadn't been. That sort of information
would be obvious. "Ya know that."

Reven shoved his fingers through his hair, why was Caenir being so slow? "I
do know that, which is why I asked instead if you've met anyone at Green
Valley that might be a prospect for your missus. You need to get away from
these runners more often Cae and have normal conversations." He chuckled.

Caenir snorted and turned to the fence. The post itself was fine, but the
bottom board had loosened and the top one had split on one side. After
checking the bottom, he retrieved a hammer and some nails. "Nope." With
deft hands, he repositioned the board and smacked a couple of new nails
into it. That done, het set the tools aside. As he retrieved his crowbar,
he glanced over at his friend. "Why do you ask?"

"Just making conversation." Reven said simply, resting his arms over the
top rung of the corral, his eyes watching the mare inside as she nursed her
young foal. "Have you heard from your family in Red Rush lately?"

"Aye. They're doin' well." 'They' being his parents. Caenir had actually
suggested they might consider moving to Green Valley in order to be
closer. While his mother and father had stated they would consider it, the
topic had not come up in their written conversations since. "May come for
a visit in a spell."

After prying the board from the fence, he tossed the broken pieces of wood
to the side, then grabbed a newer, sturdier one. "How's the lil'un? Last
I saw her, she seemed twice as big."

Reven chuckled, yes, Pippa was growing like a weed. "She is fine. It's
amazing how quickly she learns things. Right now she reminds me of what
Renette looked like when she was a baby."

"Really now? Can't say one way or 'nother. I didn't meet her til she was
in pigtails." Caenir had been a journeyman and it was at Red Rush he'd
spent most of his time at that rank. In fact, he'd settled there until
Reven had taken over Green Valley. "Climbin' trees and what not. Pippa
will be doing that soon enough."

"Not if Arippa has anything to say about it, I imagine. She was raised to
be a proper lady, I suspect she'll want Pippa to be the same. I fear
Renette was too influenced by her older brother." He grinned a little.

"You are a bad influence." Caenir agreed with a soft laugh. He whacked
one nail into place, then plucked another from the box. "I'm sure you'll
have some of that same influence on your daughter, much to Arippa's dismay."

Reven barked out a laugh, "I fear you're right on that. I'll just feign
innocence and hope she won't notice." He hesitated a moment before he
broached the next topic. "I was talking with my mother the other day.
They're starting to put pressure on Renette about marriage."

"Oh?" And why would Reven be talking to him about that? Caenir hammered
in another nail on the opposite side then proceeded to work on the lower
ones. "Is that bad?"

"The idea of an arranged marriage, besides wanting to be a harper, was the
entire reason Renette left Green Valley to begin with. I would hate for Ma
and Dad to run her off when she's just getting back here and settling back
in." Granted, there was constant grumblings around the Hold about the
female crafter, especially since Renette still insisted on wearing her
pants. "I'm afraid she'll up and leave again."

"I knew she wanted ta craft." Caenir had mixed feelings on the matter. On
one hand, having children and taking care of them was important. On the
other, he knew that women were smart and shouldn't be kept from crafting
just for the mere fact they were women. "You're the holder. Why don'tcha
tell them to leave her be? Well, I know they're your parents, but they
might listen to ya."

"And have my mother grab me up by the ear? I think not." Reven grinned,
there was _no_ telling Corette anything, it was clear that his father had
learned Turns ago to just appease his wife and do as she said. "You could
date Renette, you know."

That earned Reven a look over the edge of the board. "Me?"

"Sure, why not?" Reven shrugged.

Caenir hammered the last nail on that particular board fully into the post,
then stood and leaned against it. "Aren't big brothers supposed ta say
stay away from their sisters?"

"Not when a big brother is trying to do what is best for his sister. I
wouldn't ask just anyone." He pointed out.

"And what if you're sister's not interested, hm?" Caenir asked the
question, but in his mind he pondered over the idea. Renette had been a
little girl barely on the edge of puberty when he'd first met her. Of
course, he'd seen her since then, and he had to admit, she'd grown into a
beautiful woman. The turns apart, however, meant he had no idea who she
was any longer, even after her brief visits.

Reven rolled his eyes a little there. "Oh please, she had the biggest crush
on you when she was a kid, I bet it's still there." He was fairly sure that
Renette would kill him if she ever caught wind of this conversation. "She
wouldn't say no…. At least I don't think she would. You would just have to
ask her and see…. If you're interested, that is."

Caenir picked up a second board, but while he seemed to be studying it, the
furrow of his brow suggested otherwise. "Dunno. Honestly, I haven't given
it much thought."

"There's no pressure, just thought I would toss the idea out there.
Couldn't hurt right?" It was much better than what his mother was wanting
to do, which involved inviting every eligible bachelor from here to Red
Rush over to meet Renette in a blind date.

"I guess so." Caenir could at least consider the idea, he supposed. The
crafter fingered the wood, then straightened. "I'll think it over. Now,
why don't you hold this steady while I fix this part of the fence?" He
suggested as he handed over a second board.

Turning the board, Reven pressed it into place. He couldn't tell what
Caenir really thought about the idea of dating his sister, but then, the
Stablemaster had always had the best poker face Reven had ever seen. Which
was probably why he'd lost so many marks to the man.

Last updated on the January 12th 2016

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Date My Sister... Now!