Scandal in the Family

Writers: Paula
Date Posted: 23rd September 2014

Characters: G'nir, A'nir, Annah
Description: G'nir's sister asks his help with family issue.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 9, day 6 of Turn 7

G'nir

G'nir had received a message from his sister. She wanted to see him and the message's wording indicated an urgency. That was why he was now directing Nirreth to land on the courtyard of a minor hold. His sister, Annah, was two turns older than he. She had married to a Holder who had a prosperous seahold at the shore of Sea of Azov. As usual, the landing of bronze dragon drew out people to gawk. Nirreth actually enjoyed the attention. G'nir took off his flight gear and leaped down.

"Sister!" He called out when he spotted Annah. She stepped out of the hold's main door.

"G'nir, dear brother. Welcome," she greeted with warm smile.

G'nir strode over and they exchanged cheek kisses, the kind where the lips barely touched skin.

"You wanted to see me?" G'nir asked and studied her. She was as beautiful and regal-bearing as he remembered. There were lines at the corners of the eyes that haven't been there before.

"Yes, I need to talk with you, in private, and perhaps ask you a favour," Annah replied. "Let's go to my office."

G'nir was curious but didn't ask anything, yet. After greeting Annah's husband, they went to her office. Drudge brought refreshments and Annah locked the door. That made G'nir cock an eyebrow.

"What is it? Why the secrecy?"

"It's about my son, Anndil," Annah replied with a sigh after they were seated. "He was caught kissing a stablehand," she sounded outraged and shocked. "Another man! My son was kissing another man!"

"So?" G'nir asked with indifferent tone. He had been living in Weyr for 20 turns now, and things like that didn't shock him. Shards, he's been kissing men too. Although not volunteeringly.

"G'nir! It's a scandal. My son is…" she shuddered, "One of those abominations, unnatural, a pervert. We must keep it a secret, we can't let the word get out."

"He's not an abomination," G'nir said with sharpness that surprised himself too. "Some men just are like that, preferring their own gender," he was surprised to find himself defending them, defending basically every blue- and greenrider. "Had he been kissing some kitchen girl, you wouldn't think anything about it. Do you realize how hypocritical that is? It's alright to sleep around and even produce illegitimate children but Faranth forbid you kissing a fellow man."

Annah looked shocked. "G'nir! What are you saying?"

"I've lived in a Weyr half of my life, dear Ann. I've learned see the world with different eyes. What exactly you want from me?"

"Well, he can't stay here, not after...that incident. You're Weyrleader, take him with you, to Weyr," Annah replied.

"Sounds like the Weyr might be a right place for him. How old is he now?" G'nir answered. Last time he had seen him, Anndil had been a baby.

"Eighteen."

"Old enough to decide for himself. What does he want? Does he want to go to Weyr?"

"Why don't you ask him yourself," Annah suggested. Unlocking her door, she sent guard to fetch Anndil.

"A guard?"

"He's been confined to his room," Annah sounded defensive.

"Under house arrest?" G'nir hadn't realized how narrow minded his sister was.

They kept up a light small talk, catching up with family news until guard escorted Anndil in. At Annah's nod, the guard left and stood on guard outside the office. G'nir studied his nephew. He was handsome looking young man. More darkly-coloured than G'nir and his sister (they were both blond haired and grey-eyed), and more delicately built than G'nir. There was enough family resemblance that it was easy to see he was G'nir's kin.

"Anndil, meet your uncle G'nir, you might not remember him. G'nir, this is my son Anndil."

"Anndil, last time I saw you, you were wearing nappies," G'nir greeted.

"Uncle G'nir. I've heard of you," Anndil's voice was defiant. "You ran away to Impress a bronze dragon." There was bit of admiration in his voice.

"Well, yes, I was Searched but father didn't allow me to go, so I took matters to my own hands," G'nir told him and suppressed a smirk. Did he detect a bit of rebellion from his nephew?

"Take me with you! To the Weyr," the young man blurted out. He threw a guilty glance towards his mother before continuing: "I can't stay here, where I'm not accepted as I am. Please, I have to get away from here. I do anything, anything, even drudge work if I just get away from here." He pleaded, sounding desperate.

G'nir and Annah exchanged a look of agreement. "Well, that's decided," G'nir remarked. "Of course I'll take you with me. That's why I am here. Your mother thought Weyr might be the right place for you," he placed his hand on Anndil's shoulder and gave it encouraging squeeze.

"Thank you, thank you…", he nearly sobbed with gratitude.

"You are my son and I do love you, I want what's best for you," Annah reminded him, her voice soft.

"Go and pack your things," G'nir grinned. The guard took Anndil away.

"Well, now that that's settled, you must stay for dinner, everyone wants to meet you," Annah sounded relieved, like a burden had been lifted from her shoulder.

"Of course I'll stay for dinner. I'm anxious to meet all of your children. How many there was now?"

"Six and there won't be more."

Last updated on the October 19th 2014

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Scandal in the Family