Wild Rumors and Good Stories

Writers: Devin, Estelle
Date Posted: 22nd January 2020

Characters: L'keri, K'mai
Description: K'mai visits his injured friend in the infirmary
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 18 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Urlene (not by name), D'ale, Cyradis (not by name)
This happens before L'keri's son Arten goes missing
Late due to Devin's LOA/LIA

L'keri

K'mai

It didn't take long for word of L'keri's injury to reach K'mai. It was
quite a story, and the bluerider heard three different versions of it,
each more outrageous than the last. The only truth K'mai was certain
of was that his friend was in Dolphin Cove's infirmary and would be
there for a while.

So on the next restday, K'mai harnessed his dragon and headed over to
visit his friend. An apprentice guided him to the right cot and K'mai
peeked through the curtain to see if L'keri was awake.

He was, lying back against the pillows and staring listlessly at the
ceiling. L'keri's ribs were sore, his leg itched, he was bored beyond
belief of the infirmary and, although the worst cravings had faded, he
really wanted a drink.

When he heard the curtain move, he looked up and his eyes widened in
delight. "K'mai!" His voice dropped to an urgent whisper. "Please say
you've come to rescue me."

"Usually the infirmary is where you get rescued _to_." K'mai smiled as
he stepped in.

"That's what I thought," L'keri sighed. "I'd imagined there would be a
beautiful healer always by my side, stroking my fevered brow, while
others served mouth-watering plates of food and jugs of cold beer to
the injured heroes."

"Have you _ever_ been injured before?" K'mai laughed.

"A few times, but I hoped it might be different here." The brownrider
pushed himself up to a sitting position, wincing as his bruised body
protested. "The healer is certainly beautiful, but she's the
no-nonsense, definitely-no-flirting type. The food is depressingly
healthy, and I haven't had a drink in days."

"You poor baby." K'mai patted his arm. "But at least you're alive." He
wanted to ask how bad it was, but he held back in case the news was
awful.

"Yes." He gazed wistfully at his leg, now encased in plaster. "They tell
me I'll be here at least a month. I'll miss the Turn's End celebrations
at Dragonsfall. Though even if I could get back in time, I expect I'll
be on night watch for the foreseeable future."

The bluerider arched an eyebrow. "Does that mean there's some truth to
the wild rumors I've been hearing?"

L'keri had the grace to look abashed. "I'm not sure what you've heard,
but I was trying to - uh, relive our old weyrling days." He winced.
"Moral of the story, never try and climb the barracks with a skin of
wine in you."

K'mai laughed and then covered his mouth, remembering he was in the
middle of an infirmary. "You really _did_ fall off the barracks?"

"There was a loose roof tile!" At least, he thought he remembered one.
"My memory of the whole incident is hazy. At least until I woke up in
the infirmary to a visit from D'ale and the Weyrwoman."

"Ouch." K'mai's comment covered both the injury and the scolding
L'keri no doubt got.

"Yes. I got the feeling he's saving the worst yelling for when I'm
recovered." He grimaced. "I'm trying not to think about it, but I doubt
I'll be free for any Wing parties any time soon. Speaking of which...how
are things in the Wing? Is it terribly dull without me?"

"Well _I'm_ still there," K'mai said with a grin. "I would never let
things get too dull. Whenever you're off whatever punishment D'ale
saddles you with, I'll throw you a big welcome back party."

The brownrider sighed in bliss. "Oh, K'mai, you're my true friend. I'll
be thinking about that party when I'm mucking out the weyrling barracks
or cleaning the latrines, or whatever he thinks up. It'll give me hope."

K'mai chuckled. "I'm glad I've given you something to look forward to.
And I'll do my best to come by and cheer you up once in a while."
Since the return of Thread, visiting injured friends had become a
regular part of K'mai's life

"Thank you." L'keri spoke with real sincerity. No matter what else
happened, he'd always been able to rely on his wingmates. He lowered his
voice. "Maybe next time you could sneak me in a little bit of real food?
They're keen on serving green vegetables here, but not a lot else." He
was tempted to request a nip of alcohol as well, but decided it was too
risky. He didn't want poor K'mai to end up cleaning the latrines
alongside him.

"What would you like?"

"Something sweet." L'keri thought wistfully of the desserts that the
skillful cooks of Dragonsfall prepared for hungry riders. Little iced
cakes, pastries with cream fillings, bubbly pies bursting with juice and
dusted with sugar crystals...all firmly off the menu in the Infirmary.

"That I can do." K'mai had been charming the kitchen staff since
before he could talk. "After what you've been through, you certainly
deserve a treat."

L'keri closed his eyes in a look of pure delight. He could almost taste
the sweetness on his tongue already. "Oh, you really _are_ a good
friend. Just be careful. Don't let the Weyrhealer or her minions catch
you." He put a hand on his chest in a gesture of mock self-sacrifice, a
pitiable note in his voice. "If you do get caught, don't hesitate.
Swallow the evidence. Don't worry about me. I can starve here for a
little longer."

K'mai laughed, picturing himself surrounded by healers and bolting
down a bubbly pie. "If the worst happens, at least I'll be able to
provide you with a good story."

"I think I prefer the story to the sweets," L'keri said mischievously.
Stories took his mind off how hungry he was, at least. "Heard any good
ones at Dragonsfall, while I've been away?"

"I've heard quite a bit about you and your unfortunate accident. Would
you like to hear the most outlandish ones?"

"I most certainly would!" If there was one thing better than a good
story, it was a good story that featured him in the starring role.

Last updated on the February 1st 2020

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