Secrets for a Song

Writers: Devin, Yvonne
Date Posted: 8th January 2026

Characters: K'mai, H'run
Description: K'mai tries to embarrass a Harper.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 10, day 19 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Harki, L'keri

K'mai

H'run

Something was definitely wrong. "H'run? Didn't you wear that outfit yesterday?" K'mai asked.

That traitorous heart of his leapt at the sound of K'mai's voice, even as he thrilled that K'mai had _noticed_ him. H'run looked down at his wrinkled black sweater and pants, then back up at K'mai with a studied nonchalance. The table before him held the remains of his dinner, which he hadn't eaten much of. "Did I?"

"Either that or you've got two very similar outfits." K'mai looked him over: the wrinkled outfit, the signs of weariness around his eyes, the barely touched meal. The bluerider sat down next to him and put a hand on his arm. "What's wrong?"

First Harki, now K'mai. H'run reached for his klah so that he could slip free from K'mai's touch. "Nothing's wrong. Aren't I allowed to wear the same thing twice?"

"You? No," K'mai said with a little smile. He felt a little guilty thinking H'run was still beautiful even when he was sad. "Either tell me what's wrong orrrr . . . I'm going to start singing to cheer you up."

H'run made a face. "Sweet Faranth, no. The only person you'll embarrass is yourself, and my wearing the same sweater twice in a row is not worth your humiliation. But I'm touched you care so much. For my wardrobe."

"For you," K'mai said gently. "Now, are you going to tell me, or am I going to sing you that new song I learned from L'keri?"

H'run turned his chair to face him. "Do share this song. I would love to give my professional opinion."

So he wasn't going to talk, then. K'mai took a breath. "Ohhh, never have you ever seen, a sight as fair as Belerine. Her eyes shine like the starry skies, when you are between her thighs . . ."

Heads turned, people whispered, and once K'mai came to the end of the song H'run joined in the smattering of applause across the Dining Cavern. As if a song could embarrass a Harper into giving up his secrets, especially when the cause of his misery was sitting just inches away from him looking perfectly happy. K'mai did not look like a man who was _pining_, much to H'run's dismay. "Not bad, although you may want to work at breathing from your diaphragm rather than your chest."

K'mai poked him. "Such a Harper. Do you feel any better?"

"Much." He picked up his mug of klah and stood, desperate for a quick exit. "I promised Calcifeth an oiling. Thanks ever so much for the song."

"H'run, wait." K'mai stood, too. "If you need to talk, I'm here for you. And if you need to feel sad for a while, I can just . . . be there." He didn't ever want H'run to feel as alone and rejected as he had when he fled to Dolphin Cove.

The offer rang so hollow that H'run had to fight to keep from collapsing into a heap on the floor there and then. That was the whole issue. K'mai wasn't _there_, never had been and never would be. Not for him. But he'd carefully nurtured a small shred of dignity over these past few months which he clung to now like a drowning man. "That's very kind of you. Thank you again for the song. Have a lovely rest of your day."

The urge to hug H'run was nearly overwhelming. Maybe he needed space. But something was definitely wrong, very wrong. "I hope you feel better soon," K'mai said quietly.

H'run nodded and walked back through the Dining Cavern, feeling K'mai's eyes on him the entire way. It was a relief to duck into the nearest hallway and shake off the weight of K'mai's care. H'run let his forced smile drop. He'd been so blind... but there was a lightheartedness to the other bluerider that H'run recognized now that he was looking for it. K'mai was _happy_, and that could only mean one thing.

The suffocating weight of it settled around him like the soft embrace of a freezing lake, and H'run let himself sink beneath the surface.

Last updated on the February 8th 2026

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Secrets for a Song