Not invited (part 1/2)

Writers: Paula, Emma
Date Posted: 11th November 2005

Characters: C'dinin, An'dr, Kustaava, Vallista, Avalliona, Kunnaste
Description: Searchrider arrive to the hold where Kustaava lives
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 9, day 2 of Turn 3

Kustaava was alone in the kitchen, brewing klah and preparing lunch basket to be taken to the men working on the fields.
She was just taking the rolls off the oven when her sister Vallista ushered the little ones inside, her face mask of fear and urgency.
"What's happening?" Kustaava asked, her expression scaring her. She was pretty sure a band of holdless marauders were attacking.

"Dragonriders" Vallista answered and led their younger siblings to the bedroom.

"Riders!" Kustaava's voice was excited.

"You remember what father says about dragons and riders?" Vallista asked from the bedroom door.

"Yeah" Kustaava snorted. She remembered, and didn't believe a one word of it. She had paid more attention to what harpers had said during lessons.

Kustaava stepped outside and shaded her eyes from the sun's glare. Indeed, two dragons were circling the cothold. They looked like they were landing.
Kustaava, or Ava, as preferred to be called, checked the cot's roof. No, no flag there. She wondered what the riders were doing here. The two dragons got lower and lower, and their beauty caught her breath. She rushed back into the kitchen. She went to the cabinet and took out two of their best mugs. She had to look for a while to find a tray. She poured fresh klah to the mugs and added hot rolls to the tray. She brought out the tray just when the riders dismounted. The sight of dragons so close froze her and she stood hovering there, half inside, half outside of the door.

"Here we go An'dr," said C'dinin as he unfastened his straps. "Terebinth is sure there is someone here. Did Pluserth sense anything?"

The younger bluerider shook his head. "No, no he didn't. I'm sorry C'dinin, but I just don't think that he can do this yet."

Kustaava gathered all her courage and took a step forward.
"We-welcome, si-sirs. R-re-refreshments?" she was annoyed by the way her voice quivered and stuttered. She offered the tray. The dragons were so close she could actually smell them!

C'dinin turned on hearing the voice. "Why thank you lass," he said as he dismounted, motioning An'dr to dismount also. "That would be lovely."

Kustaava was dumbfound. She never seen dragons so close, only far up in the sky, flying sweeps over the hold.

"Some fruit juice would be nice," said An'dr after a moment.

"Might I ask if your father is here?" asked C'dinin.

"Fruit juice, right" Kustaava said and looked the klah mugs with certain sinking feeling. At least it made her forget her fear. "He's at the fields..." Kustaava answered and turned to look. She could see her father approaching with her brothers and mother following him. Even this distance she could see he was angry. "He's coming," she added.

C'dinin turned in the direction the girl had looked at. There indeed was a man approaching. "My duty to you Holder."

"What the shards are you doing here? NO ONE INVITED YOU!" Cotholder Kunnaste yelled. His voice made Kustaava flinch. "AND YOU!" he turned to look at his daughter. "How many times I have to forbid you to talk with strangers? Are you stupid or just defying me?" His hand slapped against Kustaava's cheek with a force to make her rock on her feet and split her lip. The tray and its content clattered to the ground.

An'dr blanched at the show of force, never before in his life had he seen anyone do that to a woman. He would have said something, done something, only C'dinin caught his eye. Pluserth wanted to come closer, sensing his rider's distress, but An'dr told him not to.

The more experienced bluerider took charge. "I apologise for disturbing you Holder. I appreciate that you have work to do. However, we ride on search, there are eggs on the sands at River Bluff, and we are seeking candidates. I am C'dinin, rider of blue Terebinth, and this is An'dr, rider of blue Pluserth."

"River Bluff?" Kunnaste repeated. "Don't you have disease there? Don't you come near my herdbeasts, I don't want any of your filthy plagues!"

"I was just being hospitable", Ava whimpered.

"I know your kind of hospitality. Soon you would be rolling around in hay-stack with them" Kunnaste snarled at his daughter.

His words made Ava's heart miss a beat. Did he suspect something? They also made to take a first really good look at the riders. Suddenly rolling around in hay-stack with them didn't sound such a bad idea.
Especially the younger one was real cutie in Ava's mind.

Last updated on the November 12th 2005

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Not invited (part 1/2)