Old Friends: Holdless Days (1/4)

Writers: Devin, Duskdog
Date Posted: 13th May 2025

Characters: N'vanik, G'zan
Description: N’vanik and G’zan remember the first time they met.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 26 of Turn 12
Notes: Series follows “Hopeful Beginnings”, comes before “Hot and Sweet”

N'vanik

G'zan

Even in a large crowd, the huge greenrider was easy to spot. "G'zan!"
N'vanik called as he made his way over. "Hey, how have you been?"

G'zan turned at the sound of N'vanik's voice, his face lighting up.
"Hey! My favorite bronzerider! I've been great -- always am! How 'bout
you? Nice clutch, buddy!"

"Thanks!" N'vanik smiled, his pride mingling with Loseth's. "Your
favorite, am I?"

"Well, yeah! And I promise I don't just say that to all the bronze
boys. I've known you the longest!"

"Shards, that's true." N'vanik laughed. "I think you might technically
be my oldest friend. Even if we, uhh . . . weren't exactly friends
back then."

~*~*~*~

Western Barrier Range, 1188

Nilvanik watched them from a distance. They weren't traders, that was
sure. No caravan around. They might be hunters or out gathering . . .
something. But most likely they were holdless like he was. He was wary
of approaching because those men were _big_ and if they wanted to grab
his small bag and keep everything, there wasn't much he could do about
it.

But shards, he was so hungry. The last of his food had run out and he
could smell their cooking. If he didn't walk up and announce himself
soon, his growling stomach was going to give him away.

So he stepped out into the open, slowly, his hands open in front of
him to show he wasn't holding a weapon. "I don't mean any harm, I just
want some food." He hated the almost desperate waver in his voice.
Weak, just like his da said. "I can trade. Or work."

It had been a good day for Garzan's family so far. They'd traveled
fast and far yesterday -- almost certainly out of the reaches of the
men at their last stop, if anyone had even actually noticed yet what
Garzan and his sister had pilfered from their stores. Better to be
safe than sorry, after all. And now they were here, safe... or,
safe-ish, at least, and with what they'd stolen yesterday and hunted
this morning, they would be eating well for a few days, at least.

With their father gone for a few candlemarks, scouting the surrounding
area for any threats (or good marks), Garzan's older brother Garrist
was in charge by default, and he stood, glaring out at the young
stranger who had emerged in front of them.

"Who's with you, first?" Garrist demanded, eyes searching the area
around and behind the stranger, even as Garzan and Zamarya rose and
turned slowly, checking in every other direction for any sign of other
people lurking nearby. Garrist's knife was in his hand only because
he'd been using it to carve off pieces of the cooked wherry he'd been
eating. He didn't raise it, but made sure it was visible to Nilvanik
just the same.

"I'm alone." Which was as good as Nilvanik admitting that he was
completely vulnerable. His eyes flicked around the group, sizing them
up. If they did decide to attack him, his only chance would be to run.

"I don't see anybody," Zamarya said after a moment.

"Me neither," Garzan confirmed. He looked at the kid -- well, nobody
was really a _kid_ out here, exactly, he just looked a little younger
than they were. "C'mon," he said, grasping his brother's arm. "He's
just hungry. We got plenty right now, we can share."

Garrist snorted -- evidently he didn't agree -- but he sheathed his
knife and gestured to Nilvanik to come on over. "Okay. But don't try
anything. I don't even need a knife to deal with you if I have to."

Garzan waved to the newcomer, grinning.

Nilvanik was still wary as he moved closer. "You could probably snap
me in half with your bare hands," he muttered. He was wearing a belt
knife but his hand stayed away from it. "Just want a meal for trade or
work, and then we can go on about our business." Though maybe if they
had more than they needed, he might be able to barter more food for
the road.

"Name's Garzan," the young man in question greeted. "That's my brother
Garrist -- don't worry 'bout him, he just thinks he's Da when Da's not
around."

"Trying to keep _you_ from getting yourself knifed," Garrist snapped,
but took his place by the fire again without another word.

"C'mon," said Garzan, "You can sit over here. I'm sure we can trade
something or whatever, but go on and eat. We'll figure out the details
later!"

Nilvanik cautiously made his way closer to the fire and the smell of
the food grew stronger. His stomach gave a loud rumble. "Uh, I'm
Nilvanik." It was pure paranoia to think his name would mean anything
to them this far away from Jade Harbor Hold. He sat down and set his
small pack next to him, keeping one hand on it.

"Nice to meet you, buddy," Garzan said, reaching into a pack next to
the log he was sitting on and fishing out a wooden bowl. He held the
bowl out for Nilvanik to take if he wanted. "We got some stew there in
the pot, if you want, or some wherry on the skewers. We're a real
fancy kitchen right now. People would be waiting in line if they knew,
so don't tell anybody." He laughed at his own joke.

At that, Nilvanik couldn't hold back anymore. He filled the bowl and
laid a skewer across the rim. He barely sat back down next to his pack
before he started stuffing his face.

Garzan laughed again. "Yeah, I figured you'd be hungry. Help yourself
-- we know what it's like. Believe it or not, we don't usually eat
this good. We just got lucky lately, is all. Next sevenday we'll be
hungry and maybe _you'll_ be the lucky one, wherever you land."

"Maybe so," Nilvanik said between bites. That was one thing he'd
learned fast -- you couldn't count on anything from day to day.

"You got anywhere to sleep tonight?" Garzan asked. "You could probably
bunk up here, if you need to. I mean, if my dad's okay with it when he
gets back. Don't worry, I can convince him... if you need that, I
mean."

Nilvanik paused with his spoon halfway to his mouth. Were they
planning to kill him in his sleep? But on the other hand, nights were
cold here and all he had was a small, worn blanket. Shards he missed
sleeping in a bed. "I uh . . . don't have anywhere to go," he
admitted.

"Well now you do!" Garzan said cheerfully. "You can carve yourself out
a spot by the fire. Stay warm at least tonight. You can even have one
of my blankets." He paused. "Like, to borrow, I mean. Don't take it
forever. I'll get real sad. And cold."

Nilvanik took two more bites as he considered. Finally he asked, "How much?"

"How much?" Garzan repeated, only momentarily confused. Oh, of course
he'd expect to pay. That's just how things were out here -- nothing
was free. Telling him it was would probably just make him too
suspicious to stay. "Oh, uh, I dunno... hang around long enough to
help us pack up in the morning? I mean, we can do it, but an extra
pair of hands means we get done sooner, and the sooner we get done,
the quicker we're on the road. We don't like to stay in one place much
unless we're with a bigger group."

"That's it?" Nilvanik eyed him suspiciously. "For all this? The food,
using the blanket, for . . . protection?" What he meant by that was
not killing him in his sleep.

Garzan paused in his chewing and thought for a moment. "Uh, yeah, I
guess? I don't know, I don't think it's so awful to just help a guy
out. I mean, we got my whole family here, you're probably not gonna
try to kill us all or whatever. But, uh, if it'll make you feel
better, you said you could trade? Whatcha got? Maybe we could trade
something."

Nilvanik shoveled in the last few bites and opened his pack. He
rummaged through what little was there and pulled out a copper
bracelet. "Best I've got." He'd swiped it from a Gather stall a few
months back and traded away the better items already.

"That'll do, sure," Garzan said. "My mom could use something pretty.
Unless... that's not something real special to you, is it? Like the
last thing you've got left of your little sister or something? I don't
wanna be a jerk."

"Oh for Faranth's sake, Garzan, just take the sharding bracelet!"
Garrist called from across the fire.

"Here!" Nilvanik nearly shoved the bracelet at Garzan. "Don't mean
nothin' to me except what it's worth," he muttered.

"Okay, fair trade I guess," Garzan took the bracelet and tucked it
into his beltpouch. "Now you don't have to worry about owing us
anything! Just enjoy your dinner and relax. Not a lot of chance for
that sorta thing out here... like my ma says, 'don't look a gift
runner in the mouth'!" His ever-present smile faded only slightly. "It
ain't always as simple as that, I know. But sometimes it is! Whatever
weight you've got on your shoulders, you can let it go... for a while,
anyways."

Was this an act to get Nilvanik to lower his guard or was this guy
really that friendly? "Thanks." He glanced around at the family and
then reached for a second helping.

Last updated on the May 26th 2025

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Old Friends: Holdless Days (1/4)