A Worrying Assignment

Writers: Kaysea, Vix
Date Posted: 28th August 2007

Characters: Benaran, Karemyn
Description: Karemyn once again encounters Benaran when sent to the Hold on assignment.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 5, day 5 of Turn 4

Karemyn cursed as they came in to land at Amber Hills Hold. She had promised
herself she would think of any number of valid excuses why she wouldn't be
back to the main hold, any time soon. But when it came time to give them to
her superior, her mind had gone blank.

**Okay my lovely, time to don a smiley, pleasant face so that Dar doesn't
suffer the wrath of the Lord Holder - or his family.**

Benaren had been striding across the grounds as when he noticed the dragon
circling to land. He shaded his eyes and squinted. Green. And the rider
female. A cold smile touched his mouth as he recognized the woman from his
last encounter. As the dragon touched down, he approached, looking up to the
woman, his voice sarcastic as he addressed her. "Well, well, if it isn't my
favorite greenrider. You just couldn't stay away from me, could you?"

"Now why would I want to do that, Sir?" Karemyn asked, pasting a smile on her
face and reminding herself and Charyoth that tempers had to be controlled.
"I'm just following orders though, as you well know." she threw her leg over
Charyoth's neck ridges and slide carefully down the dragons shoulder to land
lightly on the lifted foreleg.

"You mean that you didn't request an assignment here? I'm disappointed." The
holder's expression belied his words, his eyes regarding her slyly. "So what
brings you here today?"

"We don't request assignments, Sir." she answered, landing lightly at the
dragons shoulder. "I was just told to come here, I wasn't told why." she
glanced at him, not willing to hold his eyes, lest they betray her true
feelings.

"Really? So your job is to come here -- just because you were told to do
so -- and then do whatever you are told while here?"

"Yes, that's about it." she nodded, still not willing to meet his eye.
**Shaffit! Why me?** The thought repeated itself over and over in her head.
"I'm just a lowly wingrider, I do just what I'm told." she muttered, hating
to admit it to this man.

She was fine with her position, loved being lifemate to Charyoth, but this
man - why did he make every question sound like he was sneering at her?

"That could make for an interesting day," he murmured, all the while allowing
his eyes to travel her body. Suddenly, he stopped, his demeanor changing.
"However, _I_ am not the one who requested a dragon today. Were you told to
whom you should report?"

"Oh?" her eyes rounded in surprise, "Not you?" She felt her pulse quicken,
this may not be such a bad day after all. "I was just told to report to the
Hold, though I suppose it could have been your father or the Steward?" she
asked, her brow furrowing slightly.

"Probably one or the other, though it could have been one of my brothers." He
offered a mocking bow. "Sorry to disappoint you."

"Disappoint me? I'm not..." for a moment she thought he was serious, then
realised her error. "Oh, I see. Well, yes - erm, I'd better report to the
Hold proper, then."

"Indeed. Though perhaps soon we'll have opportunity to spend another day
together."

"And why is that?" she asked. She had been about to walk off, but his words
brought her to a halt again, swiftly.

"I have business to conduct around the Hold and might request that you
specifically accompany me." His look and his words told her that he had not
forgotten the last time he had been transported by her. "Perhaps I should
inspect your family's holding."

Her eyebrows raised and she wondered whether she was just being extra
sensitive, or if there was implied threat in his words. "Indeed? And I
should be there why, exactly?" she asked, turning to face him fully.

Benaran was a bit taken aback by her response - though intrigued by her
spirit. "I meant it merely as a courtesy, to see if they need anything."

"Oh... er yes, I suppose I could accompany you. Though my parents may worry
if I'm accompanied to their cot by one of the Blood." she tried to regain her
composure, his words had sent a thrill of warning through her; though now,
she thought, may be she had taken him the wrong way.

He found the play of emotions across her face to be amusing, but held back
his smile. "Why should that worry them?"

"Bad news." she stated baldly, "They would fear there was something wrong.
Would wonder why I was accompanying you, or vice-versa." Karemyn said, her
voice a little strained.

The man shrugged. "None of that is anything that cannot be explained upon
arrival. Your concern over this seems unreasonable."

"My concern for my parents, my family, seems unreasonable?" it may have been
an excuse but the idea that he would think any concern shown for her family -
unreasonable, raised her dislike of him to a whole new level. "I assure you
it isn't. I consider my family very highly and am loathe to upset them in
any way."

"Yes, but have you brought trouble to them before so that they would expect
the worst?"

"Well, no Sir." she shook her head, a puzzled frown on her face. "No, I
never would - not consciously."

His face had taken on a slight smirk. "You must have a guilty conscience.
After all, only those who are doing wrong have anything to really fear - at
least in matters to do with other people."

"The only thing I could possibly be doing wrong, right now, is standing
talking to you - " she paused fro breath, well aware of the way her words
sounded, "- when I should be up at the Hold. That is all I am guilty of."
She gave him a wee smile, and glanced over his shoulder, "If you'll excuse
me, I really should report for duty."

"Suit yourself," he told her, stepping aside so that she could pass him. "But
we _will_ meet again."

"You sound so certain." she stopped and turned to look at him again, "It must
be nice to be so sure of yourself..."

Now he gave her an exasperated look. "It's not a matter of being 'nice' but
that I've been born to have things mostly my way. If I want to see you again,
I will."

"Really?" she arched an eyebrow, "And how do you plan that? Surely," an
unnerving thought occurred to her, and she found herself dreading the answer
to the question she put forth, "you - you wouldn't request me?" She no longer
cared if her face registered her distaste.

He could see that this possibility disturbed her, so he smiled cruelly, once
more looking her up and down. "I might. That depends on my mood at the time."
His face assumed a hard look. "But for now, I'll just think on it and get on
with my work." He nodded his head to her once and turned to stride away, his
smirk returning when he was certain she could not see it.

**Scorch that man!** she fumed as he walked off.

}:But I thought that was one thing we should never do?:{ Charyoth asked,
knowing full well her riders exasperation with the Holder.

**Oh Charry, you know I don't mean it.** she thought, and glanced back at the
green. **You know full well what I meant!** she shook her head, and turned
in the direction of the Hold's Stewards office. "I'd better get a move on,
they'll wonder what's happened to me." she muttered to herself, giving
Benaran once last glance over her shoulder as she stalked away.

Last updated on the September 2nd 2007

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A Worrying Assignment