One Turn Later

Writers: Estelle, Miriah
Date Posted: 1st May 2022

Characters: L'keri, Urlene
Description: L'keri returns to Dolphin Cove to claim his prize...
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 12 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: Taren

L'keri

Urlene

Rhalith appeared from /between/ into a balmy evening at Dolphin Cove,
the sun just dipping down towards the horizon over the sea and casting a
warm glow over the cliffs. He bugled a greeting to the watchdragon and
began a lazy, circling glide down towards the Weyrbowl. }: I am Rhalith,
and my rider is here for a visit. :{

Once they'd landed, his rider sprang lightly down from his back with a
new-found agility he'd not shown on his last visit. L'keri had made an
effort for this meeting, making sure to choose a clean shirt and his
best dark-blue tunic, and polished his boots. From the bag strapped to
his dragon's side, he took a letter and a bottle of red wine, that he'd
ordered from the Vintners several months before. Having gone without for
so long, he'd had the marks for a good vintage. He wasn't sure he could
remember what it tasted like.

"Hard to believe this day has finally come, isn't it, Rhalith?" He
grinned and patted his dragon's snout. "Wish me luck." Then he turned
and headed for the Infirmary.

Urlene brushed her hands off and wiped them on a towel as she murmured
instructions to the apprentice by her side. She nodded at a response
and waved them on their way before heading back to her office, eyes on
the hides in her hand and not who was coming in. She frowned at the
hides and a movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention.
She looked up and her brows shot up in surprise.

She studied the almost familiar figure who strode in and it took a
moment before she recognized the much slimmer figure with a jaunty
walk that strode into her infirmary. How could she have forgotten him
and why was he here? Her arms crossed over her chest. "L'keri, isn't
it? Hurt again?"

"Not in the slightest. This is a social call." L'keri winked at the
young apprentice as he passed, then raised the bottle of wine. "In fact,
thanks in part to your skill and advice, I'm in exceptional health. I
haven't touched a drop of this...for an entire Turn. As of today." His
grin widened. "I hope you're free this evening, Weyrhealer?"

Urlene blinked in surprise, then her brow furrowed as she quickly
thought about the date and the time. Those fine brows shot up at the
realization; she'd never thought he'd actually follow through, but it
had indeed been a Turn. Her eyes narrowed at the bottle, then met his
again, studying his face. He did look healthier; his face didn't have
that puffy look that many heavy drinkers had, he was slimmer, and if
she could be honest, he looked happier as well. "I do hope you've
brought proof of that."

L'keri clapped a hand to his heart in mock dismay. "Master Urlene, once
again you question my honor as a dragonrider. Well, I suppose it's to be
expected." He reached into his pocket and brought out the letter. "Your
proof. Signed by my Wingsecond and the Weyrhealer, stating that to the
best of their knowledge I haven't drunk alcohol since my return to
Dragonsfall."

"To the best of _their_ knowledge," Urlene pointed out, but took the
letter, her eyes scanning over it. Her lips pursed as she read it,
brows raising, then lowering. "Ah." She handed him back the letter,
eyes flicking over him. "You do look healthier," she admitted finally
, then slowly, her shoulders relaxed from some of their stiffness.
"And how are you feeling?"

"I haven't felt this good in a long time. My energy levels are higher,
my mind is clear, and I've got a great deal more...stamina." He winked.
"I hate to admit it, but you were right."

"I didn't doubt I would be." She sighed then pinched the bridge of her
nose at the suggestive tone. "Except I was wrong about the wager,
apparently." Urlene lifted her head and placed her hands on her hips,
eyeing him. "Considering that I made the wager, I can't back out on my
word."

"I have no doubts about your honor, Weyrhealer, whatever you may think
of mine," L'keri replied. A mischievous grin twitched at the corner of
his mouth as he lifted the wine bottle again. "I brought this specially
for the occasion."

There was a soft snort as she eyed the bottle, then rolled her eyes as
she shook her head. "Very well." She sighed, then shrugged. What was
the worst that could happen? A boring night? She had her own sense of
pride and honor and by Faranth, he'd called her on it. She couldn't
very well openly doubt his word if she were not just as willing to
stick by her own. "Come with me."

Despite his words, L'keri had expected to be told where to shove his
bottle, and his brow rose, but he quickly hid his surprise. "Lead on,
Weyrhealer." As he followed her out, he glanced back over his shoulder
and caught several stares and gaping mouths on the faces of the other
healers on duty, before they all suddenly became very interested in
their duties. He raised a hand in an guileless gesture of farewell and
closed the door behind him.

She also felt the stares, but pointedly ignored them until they came
into the corridor, dimly lit by the half-covered glows. She approached
her former quarters and stopped by the door, not opening it, but
instead turning to face L'keri with an expressionless face. Her hands
settled on her hips. "You realize that I never expected you to follow
through with that."

"You did make that abundantly clear," he replied cheerfully as he met
her gaze, undeterred. "As I recall, you gave it three months before I
was back on the bottle, didn't you?" Even after the passing of a Turn,
her words were still burned into his memory, along with her contempt.

"I did. And you didn't take that well at all." Urlene's face finally
relaxed, along with the tension of her shoulders and hips. A
surprisingly smile, more gentle and empathetic slowly spread on her
face. "But it seems to have worked. I'm very glad you proved me wrong,
L'keri. You are looking so very much better."

"Thank you. I feel better, too. Must have been all of those revoltingly
healthy meals." L'keri pulled a wry face. The warmth of the Weyrhealer's
smile touched his heart, though, and he decided it was time to relent.
"Anyway - about that wager. I know you don't think very much of me, but
I'm not the kind of man who'd hold you to those terms. I'd provoked you,
and you were understandably annoyed, and besides - I'd only ever want to
spend my nights with a woman who enjoys my company." He offered her the
bottle. "This is a gift from a grateful patient, nothing more."

Taking the bottle, Urlene examined it; it was a nice vintage, if she
had to be honest. But his next words made her smile remain and some of
the tension in her shoulders ease further. "Thank you, L'keri. For
the wine and...the rest." She tilted her head, then stepped forward to
give him a very soft kiss on the lips before stepping away. "Perhaps
you should stay on the diet."

A rather silly, but pleased grin spread over the brownrider's face.
"I'll consider it." He had to admit, he enjoyed the increased attention
his improved physique was attracting from greenriders. "From tomorrow.
Tonight, I plan to reward myself with all the bubbly pies I can eat."

Urlene tilted her head back and gave a soft, bubbling laugh. "Very
well. I can't fault you for that." She tilted her head. "Just stay off
of any roofs while you're here, agreed? And no showing off by jumping
off of your dragon, jumping off of cliffs or even dancing on tables.
Do that at Dragonsfall, agreed?"

"Yes, ma'am," L'keri replied solemnly. "And I promise that if I overdo
it on the pies, I'll be sick in Master Taren's Infirmary, not yours."

"That would be appreciated." Urlene inclined her head. "Do try to
behave yourself." She glanced at the long hallway back towards the
infirmary and her lips quirked. "If you go around this way," She
gestured behind her, "and take the first two lefts, you can get back
to the bowl and your brown. Then people can think what they will." She
winked. "I won't deny or confirm anything."

"Then neither will I, and we can leave the outcome up to the fertile
imaginations of the weyrfolk." L'keri bowed and turned to go, then
glanced back over his shoulder with a grin. "Oh, and if you ever decide
you'd like to, ah, study the return to health and fitness of a reformed
brownrider... I'm always available for a thorough physical examination."
He winked. "Just send a firelizard to Dragonsfall."

That brought a soft laugh and another nod. "I'll think on that.
Farewell, L'keri of Brown Rhalith. Stay healthy." Urlene turned away
with another laugh and slipped back into the corridors, still
chuckling.

Last updated on the July 15th 2022

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