The Last Prank
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: Paula
Date Posted: 22nd March 2006
Characters: Corowal
Description: Corowal says his goodbyes to friends and family and leaves to become the steward of Emerald Falls Hold.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 11, day 1 of Turn 3
"So, do you feel like confessing what is your ulterior motive sending me to Emerald Falls Hold?" Corowal asked his mother. She had come to say her good-byes in private, while he was packing up his things. "Oh, come now, my son. If you can't figure it out, you're not worth of those knots you're wearing," Walrea's eyebrown rose to meet her son's intense gaze. "Maybe I just want to hear you say it. Hand me those socks, please." Walrea gave him the pile of socks. "I'm sure you can see the potentials. Enrizial has no sons, just daughters, rumour says he's alienated from his wife, his only heir is his bastard brother's brat. And here are you, old Dariel's direct descendant, with wife belonging to Coral Bay's blood and three sons." "Two, we can count off Ofewal, he's too sickly for anybody to want to name him lord over anything." Corowal could see the potentials, probably better than his mother. As a part of steward's staff, what he heard was official facts, while she relied on rumours only. "But he's also healthy young man and I'm almost twice as old as he is. Are you sure you just don't want the bragging rights?" "Maybe I want to show them how well we have done with out them," Walrea admitted with an angry hiss. "They treated us like dirt under their lordly feet. I was his legally wedded wife and they barely acknowledged you. They drove us away!" "For Faranth's sake, it was 45 turns ago. Can't you let it pass?" "No", she snapped, her fingers clenched to tight fists.
"That bitterness will poison you, mother", Corowal said reasonably and closed his bag. "Now I'm going to say my good byes to my family, the rider is waiting." He bent to give her a kiss on cheek. "Take good care of yourself, mama," he said before exiting the room, leaving her stand there, seeping in her own anger and bitterness. Corowal had never understood it. What it mattered? It had been long ago and their life has been happy here in Coral Bay. Rest of his family was waiting him in the living room. The room was a chaos of packing grates, bags, piles of clothes and other things, not to mention four over-exited children. His wife, Ofelia, looked rather frazzled and pregnant. Her face lit up when she saw Corowal. Corowal wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. "Hard time packing up?" he asked. "Yes. Why do you have to leave now? Couldn't you travel with us on a ship?" "'Cause I'm needed in Emerald Falls right now and by ship it takes too long. You know, my mother's here to help you pack." "I just hate being separated from you," she complained with a weepy voice. "I know darling, I know." Corowal held her for a moment, then separated himself from her.. "And you little one down there," he patted the bulging belly. "Be nice to your mother and don't wear her down. And stay inside." Ofelia smiled bravely and corrected her eyeglasses that had gotten pushed askew. The next moments Corowal spent hugging and saying good-byes to his children. After final kiss to his wife, he moved outside. The family followed him.
Zandan lounged right outside, waiting for him. The two men had been friends since they were little boys. "Shouldn't you be chasing drunken seacrafters?" Corowal asked teasingly. "Nah, they can get they's heads full without me. So, you're leaving. It's going to be boring here without you. Who's keeping restrains on me now?" the guard asked with a grin. The men embraced, pounded each other's back and said their farewells. While they were doing it, Corowal attached a little note to Zandan's cloak's back with a pin. He had had it ready whole the time, hidden in his hand. It did require some finger akrobatics. The steward was grinning when he finally got to the waiting young brownrider. "I'm sorry you had to wait so long. Goodbyes took time." "That's all right, sir. Shall we go now?" the rider answered. He helped Corowal up and attached his bag to the straps. Corowal waived his hand for his family and they all waived back. The rider didn't waste more time and they were soon airborne. From the air Corowal saw Ofelia point Zandan's back and say something. The guard reached with his arm and found the note. After reading it, he yelled: "Corowal! I'm so going to kill you!" Corowal cuped his hands around his mouth and shouted: "I just couldn't leave without the last prank!" But they were probably too high up for them to hear him. And then they went /between/.
Last updated on the March 22nd 2006