Changing the Subject

Writers: Devin, Chelle
Date Posted: 13th February 2012

Characters: Talryne, Qorri
Description: They talk about the hatching, knitting, and Cyradis.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 13 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Cyradis, Janani, Tavia, Meledei, N'vanik, R'enh, Traelyn

Talryne

Talryne smiled when she saw who was at the door. "Hi Qorri."

After the big fuss with the hatching and all, Qorri was ready to just
relax and settle into her usual routines. She was glad for Meledei, but
her staff was happy it was over too. "Hello there. Haven't seen you in
a bit."

Talryne stepped aside to let her in. "You've been busy with the
Hatching." She hadn't seen one since she lost her dragon, but maybe
someday she'd be ready.

"Aye it was a grand thing and it means another breeding gold for the
Weyr and that so I'm sure the Weyrleaders and everyone else are pleased."
Qorri smiled with pride for Meledei as well, though for completely
different reasons. "Did you get some to eat then?"

She nodded. "Someone brought up a plate for me. N'vanik is really
proud of Meledei. It's adorable." Talryne smiled.

"Aye I think sometimes he sees himself as her big brother in a way.
Of course his Wingsecond's no better, but he doesn't have the depth
with it the way the Weyrleader does." Qorri shook her head, slipping
inside and waiting till the door shut before she pulled a sack from her
dress folds. She waggled it in front of Talryne. "Leftover twisty pastries."

"Ooo ... thank you." She took the sack and headed for the seating
area. Talryne paused to move some embroidery from the the couch.

Qorri plopped down in her usual place. "So what are you up to?" She
looked around the space, trying to spot any changes. There were quite
a few people in the Weyr who didn't know who Talryne was, but Qorri
understood why. It did allow her some freedom, though.

"Embroidery for class." She pointed to the things she'd just moved.
"Not my favorite, but we're supposed to learn a little of everything."

"I can do it, but not as well as most people. I don't get time for much
of those things anymore, though." Stretching, she began to pop her knuckles
in an absentminded way. Her hands got so easily damaged at times.
"How far along are you with your crafting now?"

"The Journeyman says I might make Senior Apprentice soon." She smiled.
She'd worked hard, but her issues had kept her from advancing as
quickly as she'd liked. Lately she'd had more good days, so she'd been
able to make a lot of progress.

"Well that's great! If you ever need someone to experiment on, I'm around."
She looked down at her work attire which could only be described as drab
functional. Qorri frowned and fingered the fabric which was worn and faded.

"I wouldn't want to experiment on you, but I could find a weaver that
would be more than happy to make something for you," Talryne offered.

"Dear, I don't know if I could afford a proper weaver and anyway it'll give
you some experience. Plus if it looks hideous, I can just spill something on
it anyway." She shrugged, not minding a bit. Her work clothes needed to be
serviceable, not glamorous.

"Oh, I meant one of the other apprentices." One who actually _liked_
embroidery. She preferred knitting and tapestry making. "Though if you
want any sweaters or scarves or mittens, I have plenty." Talryne
smiled, teasing. No use for them in tropical Dolphin Cove, except for
trips /between/.

"Scarves of what sort? I could always put my hair up when in the kitchens."
Her eyes opened a bit, considering. Qorri was nothing if not practical when
it came to her working attire.

Talryne smiled a little. "I think it would be hard to tie your hair
with one of mine. They're the thick knitted kind meant for putting
around your neck to keep you warm."

"Ah well nevermind then. Perhaps you should try to find someone going
to Dragonsfall to sell it to. Transfers go out every now and again." She
shrugged, thinking otherwise they'd be wasted surely.

Talryne nodded. "They were _useful_ at Dragonsfall." Now she couldn't
help thinking her work was pointless. At least she spent more of her time
on tapestries now.

"Ryne, how are you at baby blankets? I'm sure Tavia could use all sorts of
knitted things. Little booties, hats, blankets.." The more she thought about
it, the more it seemed like a good idea.

"I haven't done anything that small before, but I can try." She
thought of things she would need: thinner yarns, smaller needles,
reducing the number of stitches per row. "Who's Tavia?"

"One of the greenriders here. Apparently gotten herself involved with one
of the bronzeriders at Dragonsfall. Did you ever know U'kaiah?" Qorri hadn't
met him, though she knew he had been Weyrleader.

Talryne looked down. "He used to be a friend. He ... He's not
anymore." N'vanik had told her what he said. It made her sick that
U'kaiah had used her loss like a weapon to hurt N'vanik. She shivered,
the dark hole opening up, trying to swallow her. **Ysanth, I miss you
so much.**

"Oh well. I've never met him. The baby will be fostered after some time,
but it'll definitely need some things. I've got stuff in storage but every baby
should have some new. I can maybe get you some yarn or something?" Qorri
had access to those sorts of things.

"Maybe it's better if I don't." Every time she worked on it, it would
remind her of U'kaiah and what he said. She could still picture
N'vanik pacing the room as he told her, how angry and upset he'd been,
and how that made _her_ angry and sick. "It wasn't his fault," she
said through a throat gone tight.

"What wasn't?" Qorri didn't know what she was talking about, but when she
turned it was easy to see that Talryne was upset. "Oh dear I've gone and made
you upset. Are you okay? Do you need me to get you something?"

"No, I'll be okay." Talryne controlled herself with an effort. "Things
keep reminding me of ... of her being gone. It's like having traps all
over and I never know when I'm going to fall into one."

"I can't say I understand. I don't think about my husband anymore after all,
though it's not the same thing really. Maybe someday you can remember
with fondness instead of so much grief. But let's change the subject and
talk about something better." Qorri didn't want to dwell on something she
knew bothered Talryne. The girl had enough issues.

She tried to grasp for something, but her mind kept circling back to
that huge emptiness. "I can't think of anything. You try."

**Hatching no. Weyrlings no.** "Have you met the new woman yet, Cyradis?"
That was safe at least. Qorri was still trying to decide what she thought about
her but she seemed like a welcome addition so far.

It wasn't the most interesting topic, but at least it was something
different. "She's the new goldrider, right? No, I haven't. N'vanik
said she seemed kind of serious."

"Yeah. She's a bit older and has kids. I get the idea she's sort of scoping
things out. Even though Janani's Weyrwoman, this one has more experience
so it's quite possible...well it'll be interesting to see how that works." Qorri
herself couldn't wait to see that.

Talryne frowned. "Do you think there might be trouble?" N'vanik
already had enough to deal with.

"I don't know, but if there is I'm staying far out of it. That's
goldrider business
and they can just handle it themselves." She had no desire to stick in her nose
into that sort of thing, though she did like watching from time to time.

"I hope they don't fight."

"Fighting is better than nothing," she said absentmindedly as she remembered
Traelyn. That had been a sign they'd all missed. She just hadn't done anything
at all.

Talryne thought along a different line. "I guess. N'vanik is happy to
have another
goldrider. More eggs means more riders."

"Indeed. I just wonder what he did to get this one to come here. Oh well. Count
our good things and leave it be." She got up and dusted off her
skirts. Qorri probably
needed to get back soon. "You coming for poker?"

"Sure. I'll see you then."

Last updated on the February 18th 2012

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Changing the Subject