Urgent Flight

Writers: Kaysea
Date Posted: 28th November 2007

Characters: Causton, K'rei
Description: Causton travels with K'rei to reach Geni during her labour
Location: Elsewhere on Pern, Vintner Hall
Date: month 6, day 18 of Turn 4

Hurrying from Daigoro's office, Causton couldn't move fast enough. How was Geni? The babe? Had it arrived? How were the other children behaving? One thought after another assailed him on his way to his room.

He wasn't totally oblivious to the strange looks he was receiving and allowed himself a small smile of mischief when he considered what people would think as he raced to his rooms to pack. Seeing the Hallmaster rushing about like a headless avian would only give people more cause for thought.

Entering his room, he swiftly packed his overnight carrisac with clean clothes. He hoped he wouldn't be a further inconvenience to the crew of the paddleboat. Shaffit, he should have asked for a longer leave and stayed with Geni and the children for the trip - but things had happened so quickly, he really hadn't had more than a few days notice of his impending promotion, and with Fielton recalled immediately to the Southern Craft Hall, he'd had little chance to ask a favour of the Craft Master.

Geni, he shook his head hoping that everything was alright with her and the babe. He could have left her at the Hold they had been posted to, but she had been as determined as him that they all be together as soon as possible. He pondered now the chance of them all returning to the Hall together? Would the babe be alright to travel /between/? He would have to remember to ask his transporting dragon and rider what the chances were of that happening.

So many things to consider. He could hear a bugling from the watchdragon - his conveyance must have arrived already? The benefit of being a Hallmaster, though he would rarely have need to ask favours of the riders from the Weyr; he was grateful today that his position entitled him to request transport.

Fastening his carrisac, he quickly glanced around the room, he wouldn't be staying here for much longer on his own, he would have to make sure the family quarters were aired out and made ready sooner rather than later - now.

He walked hurriedly to the open field in front of the main building where a blue dragon was alighting. The rider was sliding down the dragons shoulder as Causton approached, aware of many pairs of eyes watching him back through the windows of the Hall.

How many, he wondered, would be hoping that Fielton would return, in his place? He himself, hoped he hadn't made any enemies in the short time he had been here, but resentment was still evident from some quarters and would take a while to overcome - if ever.

"Hallmaster Causton. Allow me to take your 'sac." He leaned forward and took the bundle from the Hallmaster, "K'rei is my name, rider of blue Bonth." he shook hands with Causton, before helping him mount the blue.

"Well met!" Causton replied, heartily shaking the blue riders hand, before stepping on the dragons proffered foreleg. "I must convey my thanks for a speedy appearance." he continued, seating himself high in the neck ridges.

"I was told to get here as fast as yesterday." K'rei replied with a grin, "... and Bonth, here, isn't slow on the uptake." he said, patting the blue's shoulder. "Can I ask the urgency - and the destination?"

"The urgency is - my wife is having our child as we speak. The destination is, oh shards!" he blanched as his mind went blank. "Some little waypoint along the Nettleweed River, shards, I can't remember the name..."

"Nettleweed River? Oh, she's that far away!" K'rei gave a shout of laughter, "I must admit I was wondering why you'd need us to take you to your wife - I didn't realise..."

"Dock?! Nettleweed Dock, that's it!" Causton replied almost talking to himself. "Its the mid way point on her trip downriver." he said, by way of explanation. "She was too heavily pregnant to travel /between/ with me when I was posted." he continued as K'rei gave Bonth to order to lift. "Do you know where it is?" he asked cautiously.

"If it's along the Nettleweed I'll find it." K'rei nodded.
"Co-ordinates can be gleaned from other dragons. But first it might be prudent to travel to one of the settlements I do know. Cants Ridge is along the Nettleweed and I know the Searchdragons fly over frequently, so it shouldn't be hard to find."

~*~

}Tijareth says he can give me the co-ordinates{: Bonth intoned, as they flew low across the skies. There had been no need for them to land at Cants Ridge to find out about Nettleweed Dock, Tijareth and his rider had been about to leave when Bonth appeared overhead.

**Take it from him then, and we'll go.** K'rei wasn't oblivious to the agitation the Master was under. He had been muttering to himself since they had appeared above Cants Ridge. "We'll be there soon Hallmaster."
K'rei passed the message on. "Bonth has the co-ordinates and we'll be there in just a few moments."

}:I have them:{ Bonth barely gave K'rei time to pass the warning on before he blinked /between/.

**A little more notice next time!** K'rei tried to admonish, but was aware he had failed miserably, as they appeared overhead.

Rus appeared to greet the dragon, and Causton with images of a squawling babe being passed to the Hallmaster. "The babies arrived!" he called out over the riders shoulder.

"Congratulations, and we'll have you grounded in a few moments, so you can be with your family." K'rei answered, glancing below them to see heads appearing from doorways and windows below.

A light appeared in a doorway on the upper deck of the paddleboat, and a man appeared on the lower desk, opening the ganagway.

"I think they're waiting for you, Sir." K'rei nodded in the direction of the paddleboat as Bonth landed gently on the ground below them.

"Come and see me at the Hall next sevenday, Rider K'rei, and I'll give you a proper thank you for your efforts this evening." Causton said as he dismounted and reached for his carrisac. With a quick shake of the riders hand, he turned and made his was hastily to the paddleboat, where he thought he could hear the thin wail of a newborn babe on the air.

Last updated on the November 28th 2007

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Urgent Flight