Spice Cakes and Klah

Writers: AmajoS, Estelle
Date Posted: 29th January 2019

Characters: L'keri, Benna
Description: L'keri helps Benna, and earns himself a cake...or two
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 8, day 7 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: D'ale, Yanley (indirectly)

L'keri

Benna shivered a bit as she dismounted, sliding easily from her
dragon's back. It was a bright, sunny day, but cold. It was much
colder here than it was at home and even there, she hadn't been very
fond of winter. The visit had been nice though and she had several
packages of baked goods from her mother with her. Of course, Henerath
had enjoyed the visit as well, particularly the attention her brothers
lavished on her.

]:They do give excellent scratchings,:[ the green dragon agreed
cheerfully as Benna began unbuckling the riding straps.

While she worked on the straps, a brownrider, returning from the
livestock pens where his dragon had been hunting, changed his course and
headed in the direction of the green and her rider. L'keri had caught a
glimpse of red curls under a riding helmet and decided that this was
someone he'd very much like to meet. After all, he was in a new Weyr,
and it was always worth befriending your fellow wingriders.

}: They are not in our Wing, :{ Rhalith reminded him.

** They might be one day, ** he replied innocently. ** D'ale might get
sick of me and pass me off onto...whoever her Wingleader is. You never
know what will happen. Besides, a man can never have too many friends,
can he? **

The brown dragon rumbled in amusement and returned to his meal. L'keri
raised a hand in greeting as he approached the green pair.

"Nice landing!" he called.

Benna looked up from the buckle she was working and smiled, "Henerath
says thanks." Then she handed a bundle, filled with spice cakes, to
the brownrider, "Hold this for me a moment? Undoing straps is easier
with two hands."

"Of course. Happy to help," L'keri said cheerfully, taking the bundle
from her. He thought he detected a faint scent, and breathed in deeply.
"Ah! Something smells good in there. Have you been baking?"

Benna couldn't help the laugh, "Me? Oh, no. My mother made these. I
just got back from home." She glanced back at him while her hands
undid her dragon's straps by rote. "You can have one, if you want. I
did practically throw them at you after all, it's only fair."

A blissful expression appeared on the brownrider's face. He loved cakes,
and these had a particularly mouth-watering scent. "Thank you! Maybe we
could both have one," he suggested hopefully. "In the dining cavern,
where it's warm, with a mug of klah...?"

She grinned at his expression, "Well, spice cakes do taste best with
hot klah." She had meant to carry her riding straps up, but she could
set them by the door and take them up afterward just as easily.

"Most things do. But spice cakes in particular," L'keri said,
congratulating himself on how well the day was turning out. He tucked
the bundle of cakes under one arm and they started to walk in the
direction of the dining cavern. "I don't think we've met? I'm L'keri,
rider of brown Rhalith. We transferred here recently."

"Benna, of green Henerath. We were originally from River Bluff. It's a
pleasure to meet you, L'keri," she gave him a sincere smile. "It's
been eight months, but I'm still meeting new people. How long have you
been here? And where did you come from?"

"I've been here...more than a month, now," L'keri said, surprising
himself. He still felt as though he'd only just arrived. "I was at Ista
before, but I grew up at River Bluff! Hadn't been back there in Turns,
though." His smile faded slightly as he recalled what had become of his
childhood home. He shook his head, determined not to dwell on painful
memories. "But you've been here eight months, so you must be quite at
home now. How are you finding it here?"

"Well, I don't get lost in the lower caverns as much anymore," Benna
replied with a laugh. When she'd first arrived her, she'd gotten
turned around so many times trying to find her way it had seemed she
would never figure this new Weyr out. It had been a few sevendays
since she'd gotten lost though. "The hardest part has been the
weather. It didn't get anywhere -near- so cold in the winter back
home. The people have been very welcoming though, of course."

"Yes, I've felt welcomed, too. Perhaps having to huddle indoors
together, out of the cold, makes folk friendly." Life in a cold climate
had its advantages, L'keri thought. A teasing note crept into his voice
as he went on. "For instance, just a few minutes ago, a very nice
greenrider offered me a cake. I can't wait to try it."

"That greenrider -does- sound nice," Benna answered his teasing tone
with a grin over her shoulder as she entered the dining cavern. She
glanced around, there weren't too many people at the moment, so there
were plenty of places to sit.

"Doesn't she?" He set down the package of cakes on an empty table. "The
least I could do in return is fetch her some fresh klah. What do you think?"

"I think it would be a lovely way to repay such kindness," she replied
as she opened the package. "You might see if you could find us a
couple of plates too."

"Good idea. I'll be back before you know it." L'keri set off for the
kitchens at a brisk pace. He was looking forward to that cake!

It wasn't long before he returned with a jug of klah, two mugs and two
plates. He deposited the tray on the table, poured a mug and handed it
to Benna with a bow. "Your klah, milady."

"Thank you, good brownrider," Benna took the drink with an inclination
of her head. Then she reached into the package and pulled out two
small cakes, each wrapped in cloth. She set one on the plate in front
of her and the other on the plate in front of L'keri.

Having poured himself some klah, he sat down opposite her, closed his
eyes and took in a deep breath. The cakes did smell very good. Then,
deciding he'd drawn out the anticipation long enough, he picked it up
and took a bite.

"Mmm!" He savoured the mouthful with a look of sheer delight on his
face. "This is delicious. Your mother is an excellent cook."

Benna smiled, "I'll pass the compliment along." Her mother -was- a
wonderful cook and the greenrider was glad that she was able to visit
home now and then to enjoy her mother's treats. She'd suffered
terrible homesickness when she was first Searched, but now, she could
bring a bit of home back with her in baskets.

"Well, thank you for being so generous. If I had access to such tasty
cakes, I'd probably hide them in my weyr and feast on them in secret,"
he joked, taking another mouthful. "Where is home, if you don't mind me
asking? I promise I won't descend on your family and demand to be fed."

"She'd just make you help my father and brothers in the field first,"
Benna replied after swallowing her own bite of cake. "We've got a
small farming cothold in Garnet Valley, not far from the river."

"Oh, you're a farm girl?" The brownrider grinned at her over his klah.
He was rather fond of holder women...although, truth be told, he could
say the same about Hall and Weyr women, too.

"Born and raised, until I was Searched, anyway," Benna grinned in reply.

"Your hold's loss is our gain," L'keri said gallantly, raising his
half-eaten cake in salute. "You know, I've always wondered what that
must be like, being Searched and coming to the Weyr for the first time.
I was a weyrbrat myself, so I've never lived in a hold."

"A culture shock," Benna grinned. "My parents were pretty easy going
compared to most, but even still." She was glad that she had been born
a holder though, sometimes she didn't think the weyrbred knew what it
was really like out in the world, even if they'd heard stories.

"I can only imagine." The brownrider did indeed have only a vague idea
of how holders lived. "When I was young and complained about my chores,
my foster mother used to tell me I should think myself lucky, because if
I was a holder boy I'd have to get up before dawn to plough the fields,
feed the chickens and milk the herdbeasts before breakfast. I've never
quite known if she was exaggerating..." He gave her a sly wink. "But you
must be used to our ways by now?"

"Your foster mother had the right of it. If anything, she was
understating it," Benna laughed. "But yes, I did get used to it here.
Quicker than I thought I would when I first arrived."

"I'm glad. Sometimes it takes a while. We can be rather free with our
affections compared to the holds..." His hopeful expression was not so
very different from the way he'd looked at the package of spice cakes
earlier. "Or so I've been told."

Benna recognized the look and smiled invitingly, "Very free. Which is
a nice change, once you get used to it."

"I'm very glad you think so." L'keri licked the last crumbs of cake from
his fingers. "The holder way of life has its advantages, I'm sure, but
when I'm attracted to someone - a delightful red-headed greenrider, say
- I like to show it."

Benna could forgive the finger licking, if only because at that moment
it put her in mind of other things he could be licking. This was
turning out to be the best possible day. "Yes, and another advantage
is that if I happen to like the look of a man I can simply say, 'My
weyr or yours?'"

"On that subject..." His suggestive grin would have made most hold girls
blush. "I happen to have a very nice weyr. Spacious. Private bathing
room. I think the Headwoman must have taken a liking to me, when she
assigned it."

"Well, that does sound lovely. And a nice soak in a private bathing
room sounds like just the thing." And one thing would lead to another,
she decided. This brownrider was a bit older than she usually liked,
but he was handsome and such a flagrant charmer, she couldn't help but
respond. "We'll have to take my things to your weyr, unless you want
to help me carry them to mine first?"

"Let's take them to my weyr. I can carry those spice cakes again, if you
like," he offered, with a mischievous glint in his eye. "We might be
hungry, later."

"This wasn't just an elaborate ploy to get a second spice cake out of
me, was it?" Benna grinned teasingly, pushing the package across the
table toward him.

"Well..." He pretended to hesitate as he got to his feet and picked up
the cakes. "The first one was _very_ good."

Last updated on the February 28th 2019

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Spice Cakes and Klah