Recovery Wager

Writers: Estelle, Miriah
Date Posted: 28th November 2019

Characters: Urlene, L'keri
Description: After L'keri recovers from withdrawal, he and Urlene make a wager
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 6 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Y'gel

Urlene

L'keri

Urlene tapped on the door and opened it, stepping inside. She'd heard
only this morning that L'keri had finally ceased the trembling and
sickness and was finally lucid. Carrying his breakfast of fruit, oats
and a light syrup for sweetener, she laid the tray on the sideboard
and looked down at him. "Good morning. You look much better. Would you
like to sit up?"

"Oh - yes. Please." He grimaced at the sound of his voice, faint and
husky. He sounded ill. His throat was dry and sore from the sickness and
he felt as weak as a newborn kitten, but he was clear-headed at last,
more so than he'd been in a long while. The headache had released its
grip and the sheets felt cool and clean against his skin. Tensing, he
tried to push himself upright.

"Here, let me help." She reached under his shoulders and lifted him
enough to push pillows behind him to an almost sitting position.
"There you go." Her smile was a bit warmer; perhaps it had been seeing
him suffer the past few days had gentled her, or perhaps it had been
what she'd discovered through his hallucinations, but she found
herself with more empathy rather than contempt for the man. "This
might help." Picking up a cup of juice off the tray, she handed it to
him. "Redfruit juice with a bit of aloe for the throat. I'm not going
to give you klah until you get plenty of fluids in you. How are you
feeling?"

"Terrible. Like I've been sat on by my own dragon." L'keri sipped the
juice and sighed in sheer bliss as the cool liquid soothed his throat.
"Can I see him? My Rhalith?"

Urlene nodded. "Yes. After breakfast one of the journeyman will help
put you in a wheeled chair and take you out to see him. I've been told
he's been eager to see you. The last four days have been hard on him."
She laid the tray over his lap. "But you have to eat. Once you've
gained some strength back, you'll be able to use crutches. You'll be
supervised, but I don't want you to stay on bed the entire time you're
here. "

L'keri's joy at the prospect of seeing his dragon again was mingled with
regret and guilt as he realized that whatever he'd been through in the
last few days, Rhalith must have shared. All that was forgotten for a
moment, though, when he saw what was on the tray in front of him. He
glanced up at Urlene, half-indignant and half pleading. "This isn't
going to make me strong. There's no meat." There wasn't even a single
fried item on the tray.

Her brow arched. "No, there isn't. Your stomach can't handle it yet.
You've been given broth the past few days and not much else. The fruit
will give you some energy and you'll have fish for lunch with steamed
tubers and vegetables. You'll be full after this meal, I guarantee
it." She waved her hand at the tray. "Eat up. It's actually rather
good if you'd give it a chance."

The brownrider poked at the bowl suspiciously with a spoon, then sighed
and poured on a generous helping of sweetener. It was true, his stomach
still felt somewhat fragile. "All right. Just don't tell my wingmates.
They'd laugh their heads off if they saw me eating fruit and...what
looks like something holders feed to their chickens."

Urlene considered him for a moment, then her lips curled upwards. "I
honestly don't think they'd think much about it. I'll tell you what,
we'll make a wager. I'll wager that you'll be feeling more energetic
and far more healthier than you've been in turns by the end of the
month."

"All right, Weyrhealer. You're on." That would be an easy win. He felt
thoroughly drained and feeble, and living on juice and vegetables surely
wouldn't help him get back to his former state. "When I win, I want..."
He considered his options, looked up at her hopefully, then decided not
to push his luck too far. "A large, juicy steak, with fried tubers and a
warm bubbly pie with cream."

"Very well." Hey lips curled upwards with satisfaction. "And when I win,
you'll agree to stay on my prescribed diet for a full turn with no
spirits or alcohol. After that turn, not only will you be healthier and
trimmer, but I guarantee that your stamina and libido will be
increased... not that I think you need more of that."

"No alcohol for a turn?" L'keri nearly choked on his oats. He felt a
sudden misgiving about this wager. A whole Turn of sobriety was an awful
prospect, and how would he explain it to his friends? Still, he couldn't
back out now. She'd think he'd lost his nerve. He offered her his hand
with an roguish smile. "Agreed. I'm going to enjoy that steak. I can
almost taste it."

Before she took his hand, she crossed her arms over her chest. "Wait a
moment, Brownrider. I want you to agree that you'll be completely
honest about the wager. No fibbing about how you feel just to get out
of it and get your steak." Her smile widened. "I'll have Y'gel's
Aughashyth ask your brown if I have to, but I'd really rather not. I'd
rather you just be honest about it. Agreed?"

He placed his hand over his heart, his eyes wide in mock indignation.
"Master Urlene, you cut me to the quick. A dragonrider would never cheat
on a wager. It's quite against our code of honour. I wouldn't be able to
hold up my head around the Weyr if I did that."

There was a voluble snort, "Oh please...I know better. So are you
agreed, brownrider, or will I have to speak to Bronzerider Y'gel to
ensure that you're telling the truth?"

He hesitated, wondering once again if the risk was worth the reward, but
the end of the month was a long way off and the prospect of seeming a
coward in the eyes of the beautiful Weyrhealer was not agreeable. And
besides, he couldn't lose...could he? "Very well. No fibbing about my
health, I give you my word. Though I must say, I'm sorely hurt that you
had to ask."

She arched a brow. "Let's just say that I'd like to make sure that I
get a return on my wager." She offered her hand. "Deal, Brownrider?"

"Deal." He reached out and shook her hand. He was feeling better
already...except that wasn't what he wanted, he told himself hastily. A
hopeful and innocent look crossed his face. "Don't suppose you'd like to
drink to our agreement?"

She poured a cup of juice and handed it to him, arching a brow. "Drink
away. You need to rehydrate your body anyway. " The prim smile that
graced her face was knowing. "Nice try."

"Ah, well." L'keri raised the glass to her, anyway, and took a dutiful
sip. His usual irrepressible grin returned as he watched her expression.
"It was worth the attempt just to see you smile, Weyrhealer. I knew you
could do it."

Urlene's brow lifted even higher and she gave an audible, but delicate
snort. "I'll do my breast to contain my mirth, if only to shut you up.
After you're done with breakfast, I'll send in a journeyman to help you
to your wheeled chair to take you to your brown."

His eyes brightened in real pleasure at the thought of being reunited
with his Rhalith. **I'm coming to you, soon,** he told his dragon, and
was rewarded with such a thrill of joy and impatience that he wanted to
leap out of the bed and rush to the brown's side. Unable to do that, he
applied himself to working his way steadily through the bowl of oats.

"Thank you," he said, between mouthfuls.

"You're welcome."

Last updated on the December 18th 2019

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