When Strangers Meet

Writers: AL, Avery
Date Posted: 30th May 2008

Characters: Ishek, Briata
Description: Ishek and Briata both go on a walk and run into one another.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 9, day 12 of Turn 4

Briata

Ah, Garnet Valley. It was a marvelous hold. Her father's hold was large as minor holds went, but it still didn't hold a candle to the hold to which it was beholden. She had been there twice before, but every time she found something new, some path unexplored, people she hadn't met. It was wonderful. There was so much potential! Briata followed a path with which she was familiar, then turned down one with which she was not. It twisted and turned and she came around a small cot, curious as to where the path would lead. She lifted her skirts so she could walk faster, the heels of her books thumping against the ground.

Ishek was taking a break from his work. He had worked diligently through lunch, so surely a half-candlemark walk wouldn't be a problem, or so he had convinced himself. It was a nice day to be outside, as well, and he just couldn't resist it.

The sound of someone else was mildly surprising- most were working at this hour, not wandering like he was. What was more surprising was that it was someone he didn't know. She was a pretty woman, but young.
Ishek smiled at her in greeting. "What brings you here, young lady?" he asked politely.

"Oh!" The word escaped as Briata was surprised to see another person wandering around as well. Well, she really shouldn't be surprised. After all, she wasn't the only one in the hold, now was she? She gave the man a small, polite curtsey. "Pardon me sir, I was just exploring the hold."

"Have you been here many times?" Ishek asked her. "I'm afraid I don't know your name." he added apologetically.

"Briata," The girl let the skirt fall back to it place and clasped her hands in front of her. "And I've been here twice before. Each time, I've taken a different path, but this one led me here. I don't believe I know your name, either, I fear, though you seem familiar."

"My name is Ishek." he said, then before she could react- many visitors tended to be surprised that he was the Lord, given that he dressed in the same plain working clothes as most of his Holders- continued. "Your name is very pretty. Are you here for a short visit?"

"Oh! My Lord, I'm sorry, had I known I would have addressed you properly." Briata stiffened for a moment, then relaxed as she realised that he wanted to continue the conversation. "Thank you, you're very kind. I'm visiting here with my father. He's the holder of Onyx Peak and is delivering his tithe."

"No, no, it isn't a problem. I don't insist on absolute formality at every moment." he assured her. It was a relief not to be treated as the Lord, even if for a moment. "Onyx Peak? You have fine runnerbeasts, I believe?" He tried to know what each of the Holds that reported to him produced.

"And ovines." Briata stated proudly. "The finest ovines you'll find on Pern! My father has managed to breed a couple of nice bloodlines that produce quite a bit of wool, but, I'm sure, you already know that. Forgive me for bragging about it."

"I don't mind at all. It's always nice to hear about the Holds under my care. I don't get to visit all of them, so hearing about it from someone else must usually suffice." Ishek told her. "Ovine wool is very useful in the winter. I can see why you're proud."

"Oh, feel free to come visit Onyx peak. I'm sure my father would be glad to have you." Briata offered, smiling once again. "It's a lovely place. The mountains are just gorgeous and we have probably one of the few and best areas of grazing land in Garnet Valley."

"I will endeavor to do so." If Briata's statements about the quality of their livestock were true, then he would have a perfectly justifiable reason that would also would free him from work for a short time. "You enjoy living there very much, I can tell."

"Yes, I do. But I enjoy my visits here too." Briata admitted, "Garnet Valley is a lovely hold, and it's so much bigger. I don't think I'll ever be able to explore all of it, even if I lived here."

"I've been here over a turn, and I'm still finding new locations."

"Well, I didn't expect to find them all in the few times that I've been here, but I must say, it's rather exciting, don't you think?" Briata turned back towards the path she had taken. "You never know where you'll end up, or whose path you'll cross." She turned back and smiled at him. "I certainly never expected to cross paths with you."

"I never expected it either." Ishek replied. "Every time I take a walk, something new happens. I enjoy that there's still the unexpected in a place I call home. I think if it ever stopped occuring, something would be missing."

"Well, I hope you never lose your sense of adventure. Do you have any places you particularly like?"

"Several, most within a short walk. When I first arrived, I spent quite a lot of time exploring the lands. I think it gives one a better perspective of how much land they influence if they actually walk it. It's not possible to walk about the minor holds, but I can walk most of my own direct territory."

"Oh really?" Briata tilted her head upward, gazing at the sky, as if she could look beyond the walls of the hold. Of course, she traversed through the land when she came with her father, but never on foot, and she had never thought to explore outside the hold on her own. "Perhaps I should start exploring the outside as well as the inside."

"I think it's a wonderful idea. Be sure to be careful not to stray too far though, there's still a bit of a feline problem. Has your hold been affected by it?"

"I think we lost one or two ovines a few months ago, but there's been no sightings or any more losses since." Briata shivered at the thought of meeting a wild feline. It was not definitely a creature with which she'd like to come face to face. "Are they so bold to come so close to the hold?"

"There have been attacks very close to minor holds like your own, and one within a few miles of here. They may still get worse, too."

"Oh...oh no." Briata's face drained of colour at the thought of something happening, not only to her but to someone else, especially someone for whom she cared. "That's...that's horrible." Granted the attacks occurred on the edge of the pasture land where the pasture met the trees, but still, people went out there. "Such a thing isn't normal, is it?"

"It hasn't happened before here, from what I've gathered. Zanen is a hunter who's staying here, and he says that it might be because of a hard winter removing all the food and driving felines into more populated areas." Ishek explained.

"I see." Briata couldn't help but shiver at the thought. She didn't mind the felines, as long as they stayed where they were supposed to stay. "I hope no one gets hurt, or lose anymore of their beasts." She managed a small smile. "I'll be sure to stay close to the hold."

"I hope no one else gets hurt either. They're my people." Left unspoken was the idea that he'd be responsible for anything that happened to them.

Briata clasped her hands together and looked away, as if trying to envision the people beyond the confines of the main hold. She evidently decided that the topic needed to change. When she looked back to the Lord Warder, a small smile was creeping over her face, but when she opened her mouth, she didn't get a chance to say anything before she heard someone calling her name. "That would be my father. I should go.
It was very nice finally getting to meet you, though, Lord Ishek."

"It was nice to meet you as well. Next time you're at the Hold, feel free to ask someone to find me." he told her impulsively. "It would be nice to visit you again."

"I'll remember that." Briata graced him with a bright smile before she turned, lifting her skirts and hurrying off to her father's call.

Last updated on the June 1st 2008

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