Easy In, Easy Out
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: Miriah
Date Posted: 5th September 2019
Characters: Lusilk, Vreena
Description: A plan is put into action
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 13, day 9 of Turn 9
Notes: Takes place after "Summons Answered, Deal Struck"
She waited and watched for two more days. She followed the patterns of movement, the schedules for when the child was taken from the creche, when Vreena went to meals and when she had guests. And she listened. Vreena was _not_ well liked, except by a few drudges and staff that had similar appetites. Even then, it was not a relationship of affection, but more of relieving of needs. Lusilk did not judge; she didn't care. Her relationships were the same, but she was far better at pretending they were not. This young woman may have thought she was fooling others, but Lusilk saw right through the false impressions. There was the look in the eye, the smiles that weren't quite right, hint of tightness around the lips corners in her assumed smiles. Vreena liked the permissive atmosphere of the Weyr, but she didn't like the work or the expectations of her. She wondered _why_ this girl had decided to come to care for the child.
It didn't matter. She wasn't doing this for answers to idle questions. Before the sun rose, Lusilk slipped into the corridor on quiet feet. The drudges were just starting to be up and about, but few riders. Her arrangements had been made and she had to move quickly. She found the door she sought and knew the young woman was alone; she didn't keep guests over night. Through the door, she heard a muffled wail of a hungry child. The lock was easy. Without a sound, Lusilk slipped into the quarters.
The blonde woman lay sprawled in her night shift, groaning as the child continued to cry. She lifted a pillow and flung it at the cradle, where it bounced off harmlessly. "Quiet, you little brat. I'm trying to sleep." She burrowed into the other pillow. Lusilk's eyes narrowed and she acted. She leaped upon the bed, straddling the woman and covering her mouth with one hand while the other held a dagger to the large vein in Vreena's throat. "Scream and I'll slit your throat."
Vreena wasn't expecting the sudden weight nor the pinch of pain at her neck. Her muffled scream of fear was immediate as she was brought quickly awake. The pinch at her neck sharpened and she held very still, hands bunching in her pillow. Her eyes wide with confusion and fright they rolled back to try to see who it was that had attacked her.
Lusilk kept her voice soft. "When a baby cries, you answer. Do you understand?" Her fingers dug in slightly around the woman's mouth, causing a muffled whimper. She felt the woman give a slight nod. "I've a message from Lord Bryvin." She felt the woman go utterly still. "Do you know what it is?" Vreena gave a very tiny shake of his head. "Oh, I think you do. He wants his daughter back. And you're going to help bring her home, aren't you?" There was a muffled squeak. "You see, if you decide to scream, or fight, I'll slit your throat. If you cause me any problems on the way back, I'll be sure to tell him how you've treated his daughter. In detail. I'll embellish a bit, but I'm sure he'll believe me. But.." She tapped the point against the girl's throat. "If you behave and work with me, when we get to Sunstone, I'll let you go. I'll keep your involvement a secret. And believe me, if Lord Bryvin decides to end you, I'll be the one doing it. And I'll take pleasure in it. I will peel your skin off of your flesh in little strips." She watched as a tear leaked down the blonde woman's face. A little fear worked wonders.
Slowly, very slowly, she moved off of the woman, but kept the dagger pressed to her throat. "Get dressed and swaddle the baby. One sound, _Vreena_ , one word from you that I don't like, it's over."
--
Fright did work wonders. Vreena had quickly and very quietly dressed, her entire body shaking and her eyes on the intruder the whole time. The baby was changed and swaddled, then provided with necessary milk to both feed and to keep quiet. But Lusilk was tense. This was the risky part. If this girl gave an outcry, there'd be trouble. She did not want to hide a body in little time and there was far too much of a chance that she'd be seen with blood on her clothing, despite the fact they were dark. She moved to stand near Vreena, placing an arm casually around her. "We're going. One move."
"I know." Her words with filled with friend and her entire body trembled as she felt the bite of a dagger at her side under her tunic.
"Good. Walk to the bowl."
"The Bowl? But..."
"Walk. Don't ask questions. And give your best smile."
Vreena gave her best smile as they walked out of the corridor, the baby in her arms. She nodded to a few, but only a few nodded back, assuming that Lusilk was perhaps a new lover. Not surprising. They found their way to the bowl and the senior weyrling was there as planned.
The young brownrider greeted them with a raised hand. "We're all ready. Just let Fomooth hunker down, and I'll get you strapped in." He smiled at Vreena, eyes lighting. "Hey, Vreena. I hope you enjoy the visit with your family. Your sister told me of the troubles. I hope your cousin gets better soon."
"My cousin..." She felt the blade press and she quickly nodded. "Yes, we all do."
"Firehead's rough from what I've heard. It's good of you to visit." He offered his hand, taking the baby so Vreena could carefully climb up.
This was the point it could all go wrong. Lusilk knew. The dagger was away from Vreena and up her sleeve, the child was with someone else and she was on the ground. One scream, one protest was all it would take. But by Faranth, she'd take the woman with her. She wondered if the threat of a thrown knife was enough to keep Vreena quiet.
It was. Vreena strapped in, taking the child back into her arms and waited until the weyrling had secured them both. Lusilk climbed up after her and whispered in her ear. "Good job. Just a few more minutes and you'll be free." She saw Vreena nod and waited for her own straps to be secured.
Lusilk relaxed as the brown leaped into the air and exhaled slowly. Her pounding heart eased and she looked back and down at the Weyrbowl just as they blinked /between/.
---
Faranth she hated /between/! The warmth of Sunstone was a balm in comparison to the chill of Dragonsfall. The dragon landed outside of the main Hold near a copse of trees as directed and Lusilk paid the young man with a half-mark, twice what had been promised. Lusilk dismounted first, then Vreena with the child. She waited until the brown was up in the air before turning to Vreena. "Give me the baby, Vreena."
"I can go?" The woman was shaking.
"Of course. Hand her to me." Vreena hurriedly handed over the child and Lusilk cradled it in one arm gently.
"Where should I..." The blow to her jaw caught Vreena off guard and she crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
Lusilk looked down at the prone woman and sniffed. "I lied." She gave the woman a quick kick in the ribs, then hurried out of the copse, baby carefully cradled in her arms. She found one of Bryvin's guards and hailed him. She looked frantic, eyes wide "Help! One of the maids has fainted and hit her head!" she gestured behind her to the trees. "Please, guard, can you take her to the infirmary?"
She waited until the guard emerged, carrying the limp body of Vreena and watched as he hurried with the woman out of sight. She then quickly walked into the crowd, just another woman with a baby.
Slipping into the group moving towards the dining area for breakfast was easy, but she held back from taking a seat, gently rocking the child in her arms. Remaining at the back of the large hall, she saw Bryvin enter, but before he sat, she moved directly into his line of sight. She made sure he caught a glimpse of her, then left, allowing him to see what direction she went into the corridor.
Last updated on the September 9th 2019