Wonder where the wandering wher went? [Tag: Vanech] {Q: D20}

[Vanech]

"Are you hungry, Rokai? No, my wait time wasn't long. Though unusual." Vanech stood up as Rokai approached the table. With his almost two-meter frame, he like as not towered over the others in the tavern. She's younger than I expected. Now we'll get to the bottom of what happened to Drenai and why we're under quarantine. 

Aloud Vanech said, "I arrived on the island last night, and Vanesk and I had a pleasurable journey on foot to the Hold. We camped in the wilds last night and arrived here this morning, a few hours ago. I've been meaning to ask you - " He began another sentence but she spoke over him to excuse herself so Vanech stopped mid-question. His hand in mid-motion to grasp the back of her chair, Vanech pulled it out as Rokai announced she had to leave. And the meeting became more complicated as soon as Rokai set her bag down. In a breath, she apologize and thrust a small container at Vanech at the same moment she made ready to dash away. His hazel gaze drifted toward the two White Sands dragonriders as a woman, a harper by her blues, approached them.

"- oh, those riders? Yes, of course. I think I heard one of them call your name." It occurred to him at that moment how alone he'd become. No one recognized him here. No, not alone for he had Vanesk of course, and if (when) he got to the Weyr, Vanech assumed he'd see Cl'fey and finally meet his brother's dragon. He realized at that moment just how far from home he'd found himself.

Vanech took the container with one hand and his eyes drifted down toward the unopened note. He heard the shrieks of the gold fire-lizard but ignored her since her owner was on the way. "Oh, Rokai - if it comes in conversation, if they have time - invite them to the table with my regards, please," he added with a slight hand lift that in other times had been the gentle wave of a nobleman bidding a friend or colleague do something. He left being snarky to servant to his brother and father. "If all goes according to plan, I'll be a semi-regular face at the Weyr. I think it behooves me to meet the dragonriders and other residents, right?"

Before Rokai fled the scene, Vanech asked, "What is it? Oh! Here's a note. Go ahead, Rokai. I'll be here." Vanech asserted his agreement again with a smile and turned his attention to her gift, he flipped the note open with a deft motion. His eyes tracked the words as he read the instructions and possible symptoms to memorize for later reference. What have we gotten into this time, Vanesk?

He opened the jar with a careful wrist twist. Since he stood while waiting for Rokai to sit, Vanech continued to stand. She said she meant to deliver something and he saw no point in sitting down only to stand back up in the next moment. He lifted the jar to eye-level and waved the salve's scent toward him with the other. The aroma intrigued him. Familiar with herbs, Vanech began to make a mental guess-list of the ingredients. Not completely oblivious to their conversation words like 'quarantine' and the various names filtered to him. Someone mentioned White Sands Hold and Vanech looked up at that. However, since he was not involved in their double reunion or the delivery, Vanech kept his silence and focused on the contents of the jar.

[Narrator]

G'age
"A pleasure to meet you, Harper Kira. I hope your songs are as pretty as you are." G'age nodded in return and gave An'zell another amiable squeeze before releasing the whiterider. He grinned and with a knowing chuckle, G'age tilted his head toward at Araya to give the two young people a moment to look in each other's eyes. "Shh - Araya, behave - " he tried probably in vain to relax the fire-lizard.

He glanced toward Rokai. Rokai ignored him in favor of the stranger, and he saw her mouth move as she set her bag on the chair. However, between their distance and the musicians, he couldn't hear her. Not being skilled with lip-reading either, the bluerider turned his attention back to the conversation at hand and G'age heard the hurt and stress in the young woman's voice.

"Kira, I have good news for you. The good news is that you found White Sands Hold through its easternmost edge. The Wild'n'Wherry is on the outskirts of the Hold, and the Hold proper is down that road outside" He pointed to his left. "Your assignment's better news even - no, especially - during these dire times. And if you're looking for 'anywhere' then White Sands is the place to come. The best news is that An'zell and I will go back to the Weyr soon. The Weyrleader released us back to active duty only this morning, pending Rokai's arrival and some kind of preventative salve that the Weyrhealer cooked up. We need it to get back into the Weyr." G'age smiled and the creases on his features got deeper. "If you're headed to the Weyr, I'm sure we can secure some for you. Your long journey's just about over."

---

The waitress returned with a tray laden with various objects. She set the tray down not far from G'age and placed in front of him a plate of scrambled eggs and sliced meat. Next, she placed trivets in front of the customers, she placed a clay cup on each. Then she fetched the final item off the tray - a matching clay vessel with a long neck and a spout designed to pour tea. Into each cup, she poured a steaming amber tea. Small herb particles that the interior mesh didn't catch bobbed to the liquid's surface. A tiny spot of pink here, a green triangular particulate there.

"This is a house-made tea made from mint and other herbs. I don't know what all he puts into it. But I can ask if you want." When all three cups had a decent amount of tea she set the vessel on the bar counter between Kira and An'zell about three-quarters of the way closer to Kira. "If you need more water, just give a holler."

[An'zell]

"Oh, you're coming to live at the Weyr?" An'zell replied in genuine surprise, of course, he had no way to know that she'd been assigned to the White Sands until now. "Though we have a Weyrharper already, I wonder if she got sick? I wonder if you're her replacement or if we'll have two harpers? G'age and I haven't been in touch with the Weyr much." Though the thought of asking Speranth to contact someone's dragon occurred to him, An'zell never got around to it.

He watched her eyes and her smile and so saw when it faded and his brows furrowed together with concern for what she didn't say. His hand lifted, but he dropped it into his lap in the next instant. Then G'age squeezed him again and An'zell's ears and cheek reddened at G'age's comment about how pretty Kira was and he squirmed on his stool until he faced the bar counter again, and took the waitress' interruption as a chance to compose himself. He watched as the waitress poured their tea. After that brief pause to breathe, he cleared his throat as he returned his gaze to Kira.

"G'age's right, Kira... you don't have to worry anymore. You're not there anymore. Well, in any case, it is great to see you!" His smile returned. "When Rokai comes over with what she has for us then we'll ask about getting you some too. But if the Weyrleader is expecting you then our friend will have enough for you too. Until she does, you should eat something, maybe? The breakfast is good here. G'age and I come to this tavern every day for breakfast because it was as far out as we're allowed to go - were allowed to go while in quarantine."

[Rokai]

G'age calling her name made Rokai look over towards the trio. A quick wave to acknowledge that she heard him but didn't want to shout. The others in the tavern were still enjoying themselves and the harpers who had been playing before looked like they were about to start up their next set soon. Arraya was being a menice which was odd for her. Rokai gave the mini queen a mental nude to quite down, the gold responded by lower her volume but not stopping her song.

Vanech was as pleasant in person as he was in his letters. It was something she had hoped would continue, most of her interactions with holdfolk had never been the nicest when she was growing up. White Sands hold had treated much better than her original island, Rokai had wondered if it was because she was a candidate now. She was kicking herself for jumping to meeting with Vanesh before she had delivered on her task from the Weyrleader. Luck was with Rokai today as he wasn't annoyed at the disruption to their meeting, in fact he offered an invitation for the others to join at the table. Rokai smile grew wider. "I will! Thank you for being... well being so kind as to offer your table. Sorry again, not used to having to do official like meetings." With a nervous chuckle, Rokai tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

With that she excused herself from the table and made her way over to the trio. The miners at one of the other tables were laughing over Arraya's appearance, commenting on how queens will be queens no matter the size. "There was one that wouldn't get off my pickaxe. Darn thing though it was hers." The older male said into his mug. "Ended up having to trade a shove to get it back!" The table erupted into laughter.

"Arraya! Come here you. I told you to wait with Drago." Rokai held out an arm for the firelizard to land on as she made her way over to the riders. _Not the best first impressions by far._

[Kira]

“I hope you find my voice as pleasing as my appearance,” Kira replied to G’age, her cheeks brightening with color at his compliment.

“Yes, I'm very excited to be living among dragons,” Kira then replied to An’zell. “I don’t know about replacing anyone though. My transfer was approved before the quarantine, though it was put in place before I could leave. As far as I know, I will be joining Harper Sushanna. I hope nothing bad has happened. The Hall didn’t have a lot of information either. Of course, I’ll help out in anyway I can.”

Lost in her sorrow for only a moment, she looked back at An’zell as he seemed to fall silent. When she saw him start to turn away, she feared something she had said or done had offended him. Before she could ask, the waitress appeared. She thanked her and took a cup, taking a sip of the hot liquid. The mint was quite evident, but she couldn’t identify anything else. She wasn’t skilled in the kitchen arts. But it was tasty, and felt good sliding down her dry throat. She gave an appreciative sigh. She looked back at G’age as he spoke, her expression regaining its warmth at his kind words.

“That is good news!” Kira said. “I would be grateful for any help you can give me. If I could get to the Weyr and bypass the Hold, that would be preferable. Especially if I will be needed there.” She looked back at An’zell as he spoke to her as well, her smile growing more genuine as he smiled again. “I hope word was sent ahead to the Weyr! I would hate to drop in unannounced,” she laughed lightly. “That’s a good idea. I haven’t eaten since I left the Hall early this morning. What would suggest?” Her bright blue eyes regarded him warmly. She did enjoy his smile.

[Narrator]

G'age

The Searchrider chuckled as he replied. "I do so far," he said with a wink. Though his expression fell when he heard Kira's words and his tone took a serious bend. "Unfortunately, you may be in the unhappy situation of replacing her, Kira. She was sick when last I asked. No sounds of Lyreth - her green - going between but Sushanna's in no shape to be our harper any longer. To hazard a guess, she's quarantined in her weyr."

Since he'd been keeping an eye on the Candidate, G'age smiled when he saw her leave the table. He nodded toward Rokai as he watched her wend her way through the tables toward them. "Not to worry yer pretty head, Kira. We'll all of us get to the Weyr before nightfall because here comes the lass to do it." Rokai's approach caused G'age to wave his hand. While she didn't want to shout, the bluerider had no such inhibitions. He raised his voice enough for her to hear him from her halfway between the table and the bar position. The rest of the tavern heard him with ease as well though he somehow managed not to overshadow the laughing miners.

"Rokai! Thank you for the assist with Araya! Come on and meet the Weyr's newest addition. This is Kira, a harper transferred fresh from the Hall to regale us with her stories of the outside world and entertain us with her lovely voice. Tell me you have something in your bag for her too."

---

The sudden shout caused the musicians to cast wary glances toward the bar counter and the bartender to look uncomfortable but after multiple sevendays exposed to G'age, the behavior fell into the 'normal' category for him so the holdfolk went back to their various tasks not long afterward.

As Rokai surmised, the musicians began a new set and the lively music seemed to draw in more customers as a group of five holdfolk entered the establishment. One wore the garb of a Weaver and one of a Beastcrafter while the occupation of the other two was not immediately apparent.

[An'zell]

Not one to dwell too long on the sorrows of the day, An'zell smiled again they continued to engage in conversation. When the subject turned toward dragons, An'zell's grin couldn't get any wider. "I'm sure Speranth will be delighted to meet you."


The quieter of the two dragonriders, An'zell allowed G'age to speak and reply to Kira's comments. He sat there and enjoyed the brief exchange. G'age said almost everything that An'zell thought about saying at that moment so he didn't add any new information about their fate in the near future. He nodded in agreement with all that the bluerider said and looked grim when G'age mentioned Sushanna's fate. Lyreth still lives. Speranth reassured him. "Speranth confirmed that Sushanna's still alive so... she's just sick."

Although he cringed when G'age shouted, he spun in his chair a little further to watch Rokai's approach easier. "You'll like Rokai, Kira. She's nice and funny too." After a brief pause to have a sip of the aromatic tea, An'zell twisted his lips from side to side in a thoughtful expression. "I don't have a favorite. They serve great wherry if you're interested in something hearty. The way the cook prepares it in some kind of sauce is delicious. Oh, and there's a seasonal plate of fruits and berries and whatnot that includes some local cheeses. Last time I had it, the owner recommended a specific vintage that even G'age with his fancy vinter palette approved."

He wrinkled his nose. "Though it is a bit early for wine - " and on an impulse, he leaned somewhat closer to Kira as though engaging in a conspiracy with her. His gaze slid surreptitiously toward G'age and he added in a stage whisper and a soft chuckle: " - for some of us."

[Vanech]

(Go ahead and skip Vanech in future rounds until you come to the table.)

---

"Of course," Vanech said with a smile that reached his eyes. It grew a little when she made the subtle, cute gesture to tuck it behind her ear. "Not to worry. I have enough experience in formal matters for both of us. So let's keep it informal. I'm glad to open my table to new friends and allies." Vanech replied in haste to allow the girl to depart.

When Rokai left him alone again, a young green fire-lizard appeared from between and landed on one of the food plates. "What - Lady Luck? Get off!" He waved his hand at her and she jumped sideways only to splatter mashed tuber everywhere, including coating her feet and underbelly with it. Under protest, the fire-lizard held still while Vanech wiped her feet clean. "Go find Lili, see where she's gotten to ok? We don't want her to get lost." The green responded with an amiable chirp and with a hop into the air vanished once more.

Lady Luck's arrival spurred Vanech to clear the table somewhat to make room for the theoretical new arrivals. He stacked the empties and pushed them near one edge. After a quick brush with his hand to sweep away some crumbs, he started condensing the plates more by transferring the leftover food onto as few plates as possible. In the end, he wound up with two almost full plates and one about half full of food.

[Kira]

Kira's expression sobered at the searchrider's words. "I'm sorry, I didn't know," she said softly. "I'm glad she's still with us, and hope she recovers soon. I’ll do my best to make sure everything is up-to-date and organized for when she does.” Her expression brightened as she chose to be optimistic about the greenrider’s recovery, trying to stay away from the dark road thoughts of death seemed to take her to lately.

“As will I,” Kira said to An’zell. The little white dragon was well known around the isles, but she hadn’t had the pleasure of actually meeting him. “And Emerald. She loves meeting her bigger cousins.” At the sound of her name, the small green flit turned toward Hers and chirped curiously. She hopped off the ledge with the other fire lizards and popped between, appearing over Kira’s head. She took her customary place on Kira’s shoulder and gave another curious chirp at An’zell.

“I’m sure I will too,” Kira said as she looked over at the girl approaching them. She was the same girl that had entered the tavern just before she had. “Anyone with a firelizard who likes to sing can’t be all bad.” She listened to An’zell describe some of the food available, and leaned in as he whispered conspiratorially, her smile widening as he spoke. She glanced up at G’age when An’zell mentioned he was a vinter. She met only one other vinter, and this rider was nothing like *him*. She giggled at An’zell’s obvious good natured jab at his fellow rider. “Maybe I’ll try what G’age is having,” she said, spying the plate the waitress had put down next to the bluerider. "Sans any wine that might go with it.”

[Rokai]

Arraya swooped down to land on Rokai's arm. Still cooing her song for another bar before settling on Rokai's shoulder. The gold firelizard fluffed her wings to show off. The little gold is due to rise soon, which meant she wanted the extra attention. Of course, her girl was good, she was her's and Arraya knew lovely songs from listening to the harpers. Stroking Arraya a few more times to make sure she would stay in place, Rokai finally made it across the room.

The new set of music was just loud enough to cover some of the whispers. The girl she had passed in the doorway giggled at whatever An'zell leaned in to tell her. The giggle and glances at G'age told Rokai that whatever they were saying was in jest to the older rider.

"Good morning G'age! Sorry about Arraya, she is being more of a pest than usual." Rokai chuckled. Spying the somewhat flustered An'zell she added with a sly smile. "Morning An'zell, I see you have a new friend." Now that she had a name for the face, Rokai smiled at Kira. "Welcome harper Kira. I do have something in my bag for the three of you."

From the pouch on her belt, she withdrew three containers, each with a note strapped to them with a leather tie. "Here you go. There are some instructions for use. We have to have this at least once before you can enter the weyr." She held one out to each of them. As she handed G'age his salve she added. "I do have a few more in my bag for you to give those you search. This one is specifically for you."

The plates of food tantalized her nose. She had eaten this morning but the food here was so good it could make anyone hungry. "Vanech offers his table if you would like to join us." Rokai half turned towards where she had come from before, gesturing to the fellow who was corraling his green firelizard away from the food.

[G'age]

Mirroring Kira's optimism, G'age nodded, and his smile made the edges of his eyes crinkle. "Mhm. I hope she does too. I'm confident she will. You'll do fine, I'm sure of that too. Or'west wouldn't have approved your transfer if he thought you didn't have what it takes to live at White Sands." He half-turned back to the bar counter when his food arrived, anticipating eating it while it was still hot. I see new faces in your mind. Who is that girl? Kira, the Weyr's new Harper.

"Go ahead and put her food on my tab," the Searchrider said to the waitress when Kira ordered. As Rokai approached their serendipitous convention, G'age scooped his plate up with one hand and spun on the barstool to face Rokai, expecting an answer to his question. Her words made him nod and say, "Ah, that's good. We have five waiting for us to leave today. I haven't told them the good news yet. Filling empty bellies comes first." To her offer of a salve container, he jerked his head toward the bar counter, both hands full of breakfast at the moment.

Will I meet her soon? Haha, yes you will when we head back home. He stabbed a forkful of scrambled eggs and had it halfway to his mouth before Rokai gave them her offer. Or rather the offer from the stranger to join him at the table. He didn't move from his spot. Instead, the bluerider's smile slid away as his gaze settled on "Vanech". "So, who is he, Rokai? Why are you meeting him here? Mind you, I'm not ungrateful for the kind offer. But what baffles me most are those colors. They're from Western..." G'age narrowed his blue eyes as he dug through his memories. "...Kajano? If memory serves." The fork went into his mouth and he chewed the bite which would he hoped give her enough time to answer those two questions before he added more to his statement.

[An'zell]

"Oh yep," An'zell agreed. "Fire-lizards love Speranth. They're forever following us around. I've never considered Impressing one personally. Speranth has always been enough for me. Oh yep, Arraya has quite a repertoire. She likes to sit on Speranth's nose. And - oh, here's Emerald I presume?" At the little green's querulous chirp, An'zell smiled and tilted his chin toward the fire-lizard to return the greeting.

Rokai arrived then. "Hello Rokai, it's nice to see you again." He granted her one of his brilliant smiles as he added with a soft chuckle that included hints of denial in his words. As though she'd accused him of something rather than making a throwaway comment. "Oh, no! Uh, not so much a new friend as being reunited with an old acquaintance. Kira and I knew each other when Speranth and I still rode for Monaco Bay, her hold was on my dolphineering route. And now she's here! What a great coincidence, right? Oh, thank you. What's this the salve I've heard about? Great. We can finally go back to the Weyr."

An'zell accepted the prooffered jar with a murmured thanks and turned it over in his hands. He opened it to smell it experimentally, "eww - smells worse than brewing numbweed." The whiterider shoved the lid back down and put the jar on the counter as he wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Well, if it will prevent me from getting sick..." An'zell opened the note now to read the instructions. "...all over? Maybe it'll smell better afterward..." He looked as though he had something else to add, but G'age asked a couple of serious questions so An'zell fell silent. Not that listening prevented him from talking to Speranth. I think we need to find a big clothespin for you Speranth so I can cover your nose against how awful everyone is going to smell.

[Narrator]

The waitress turned enough from G'age to address Kira, "of course. I'll put the order in, on your bill, yes drago - " the initial response automatic and she almost finished her sentence before she remembered the deal Kira made with the owner earlier. "The harper agreed to trade her services for her food." She replied instead to G'age. Then she added to Kira, "though there will be a few minutes delay while the kitchen cleans up a spill." Still there when Rokai extended Vanech's offer, the woman pressed the tray against her body as she hesitated to wait for the outcome so she knew where to take the harper's food.

[Kira]

“I will do my best to not disappoint the Weyrleader,” Kira replied to G’age with some earnest. She was grateful to have been accepted at White Sands and would do everything in her power not to let anyone down. “Thank you for the offer, but I will honor my agreement with the owner.” She nodded her acknowledgement to the waitress. "Whenever it's ready is fine."

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Kira said to Rokai with a respectful nod. “Thank you for this.” She accepted the container that would allow her into her new home. Though she would have come to the Weyr despite--or maybe even because--of the danger. “I’ve no objections to joining your friend.” She too was curious as to what brought someone from the Western continent so far east, and braving the epidemic.

“Emerald was a gift from my former master,” Kira said to An’zell and scratched her under the chin. "She loves to make new friends." The gregarious green chirped a greeting back and bounced up and down excitedly. Kira giggled again at An’zell seemingly protesting Rokai’s comment at making a new friend. "We share a few things in common," She added by way of some explanation.

She caught a whiff of the medicine when An'zell opened his. "I wouldn't be too sure about that," she said leaning in closer to him again, whispering as G'age spoke to Rokai. "Healers are more function than form. They seem to think their medicines have to smell or taste awful to work!"

[Rokai]

Rokai smiled at G’age to reassure the search rider that she wasn’t about to get scooped up and taken away from the weyr. He knew just how hard she fought to get here; she wasn’t about to leave that easy. “Ah yes Vanech of Kajano hold. A wher handler that had been in contact with Drenai…” Her tone left off a bit at remembering what had happened to their own wher handler. She shook her head and continued with her normal voice. “They had been talking about a wher breeding program and I happen to know where a wild gold is.” Her smile deepens at the thought of knowing where to find something as important as a new gold.

She chuckled at An’zell’s mock denial. She had been doing her best to make friends at the weyr and he was one of the ones she sought out on a more than some of the others. “An old friend from Monaco? Nice.” Casting a mischievous grin to Kira she added. “Now maybe I have help with getting you to not be so shy.” Showing pity on the whiterider, Rokai switched subjects back to the salv. “Ha, well if we made it smell nice people won’t remember to not get sick.”

Araya chortled a tune as she ruffled her wings. There were things to be done but she wanted attention. Checking the table for a moment to make sure she wasn’t keeping Vanech waiting for too long, Rokai stroked the side of the little gold’s body to smooth her. “After I am done here, I still have to see Lord Herron to drop off his supplies.”