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

[G'age]

"Good lass, that's the way to earn a good reputation here," G'age agreed with Kira regarding her bill. He took a bite and chewed as he listened to Rokai's explanation. The Searchrider waited in measured silence for Rokai to reply and his eyes narrowed at the chain of events that had taken place to make the Beastcrafter come here. The mention of Drenai put his craggy features into a thin line. But he couldn't resist taking a jab at An'zell's reluctance to apply the salve, "c'mon now, you're not afraid of a smell are you, whiterider?" His tone sounded serious but the glint in his clear blue eyes told otherwise. G'age laughed as he elbowed his friend, "What would the others think if they found out you're hiding behind your dragon to avoid taking your medicine?" 

He took a moment to set his plate down and take the jar Rokai handed them all. Without bothering to read the attached note, G'age stashed it away into a pocket. He picked up his plate and ate several bites as the others spoke. Rokai's final comment made him turn his attention back to her with a solemn nod, his smile fading somewhat as he spoke again. "Ah, the wild wher," he nodded. "We've heard rumors about her but nothing substantial. Perhaps Lord Heron will have more information about the wild wher when you visit him, Rokai?"

He crossed in front of An'zell to stand next to Kira as he spoke a few words to her. "Our Lord Heron is a worthy ally. White Sands Hold and the Weyr have a good relationship. He tithes well and on time no less. I've heard he encourages hard work in young people as though this had some bearing on being chosen as a Candidate." He chuckled. "Kira, since you've earned the unexpected position of official Weyrharper, you may consider going with Rokai to introduce yourself to Lord Heron. Well, c'mon youngsters, let's go take up Vanech's invitation and greet this well-heeled traveler. He is a long way from home, we should treat him with respect and kindness."

G'age didn't need to know anything else about Vanech to notice the copious number of dishes the stranger ordered. That alone had been enough to pique his interest prior to Rokai's arrival. The decision made, the bluerider didn't wait for the others. He had a feeling they'd follow him, and knew at least Rokai would follow. Plate still in hand, he headed toward the table where Vanech waited for them.

[An'zell]

He'd been fine. There'd been a pause in the conversation and the attention shifted from him so he had a chance to recover from the shock of seeing Kira again. Then, quite suddenly, everyone else seemed to converge on him to tease or sincerely talk to him. It was too much. Between Araya singling him out by flying over his head, the unexpected arrival of his pretty old acquaintance, Rokai coming over too, and now G'age behaving with his usual boldness he couldn't stand it anymore. Absolutely overwhelmed with attention, An'zell fell silent. He smiled at Kira and G'age and even Rokai when they all teased him but his face at this point was the same color as his hair.

"Uh, haha - yeah, bad smelling." He half-heartedly agreed with a small nod. "Oh, no, not hiding behind Speranth. I - I yes, wouldn't want to get sick again," An'zell added in haste as he held the jar closer to himself as though by this action he somehow defended the contents despite his initial misgivings. The older 'rider didn't offend him at all, of course. They'd been friends for too long at this point and their mutual experience of being sick buddies had only served to make them better friends. Between two girls paying attention to him and two fire-lizards and then G'age elbowing An'zell in the ribs, it was all simply too much.

An'zell withdrew on his stool and pulled his arms into his chest as he "turtled" in place. His gaze drifted from Kira to Rokai and then to G'age and then back to Rokai. Not completely shell-shocked in place, An'zell pushed out words to keep the conversation moving forward. But he didn't move from his barstool when G'age headed off toward Vanech's table. But the longer he spoke, the softer his voice became as though he hoped someone else would answer for him. "Ah, yes, well healers know best, I'll just follow - oh, yes, the wild wher you say? Oh, we could ask Speranth. He - he may have some leads... Speranth talks to uh..." The last part of his sentence fell and he all but mumbled it, "...talks to the wild fire-lizards."

[Kira]

Kira laughed lightly at Rokai's healer humor. She was about to say something back when she looked at An'zell and saw how uncomfortable he had become. Her expression softened as she remembered how shy An'zell could be around other people. When they had first met it had been around dolphins, not people. Kira had heard the familiar sounds of the pod and had gone down to see them. She had seen other dolphineers, of course, but An’zell had seemed different to her, like he had a special relationship with the dolphins. Gaining his friendship had meant a lot to her. With a thought, Emerald settled down, only crooning softly.

“Yes, of course,” she said to G’age about going to White Sands Hold after a moment’s hesitation. She really had hoped to be able to bypass the Hold. Not that she didn’t like Lord Herron. It wasn’t him she hoped to avoid. But duty came first, and now as an official representative of the Weyr, she couldn’t let her personal feelings get in the way. “If you don't mind me tagging along. I should probably ‘pay’ for my meal now then,” she said to Rokai and G’age’s now retreating back. “I don’t want to make anyone wait. You can discuss your business, and my meal should be done by the time I’ve done my turn.” She turned back to An’zell.

"Asking Speranth is an excellent idea," she said to him, smiling gently, her ears picking up his barely audible whisper. “Would you mind watching my bag and case while I'm performing?” She bent down to take out her guitar. “I’ll get them when I’ve finished.” She smiled warmly. She hoped this would get An’zell away from everyone and give him a chance to calm down.

[Rokai]

Rokai did her best to smother a smirk at G'age's words, it was fun to be able to joke with others. The last four months of being at White Sands Weyr had been the most enjoyable that she could remember. There may have been numerous fun times from before while she still lived on Quent before the hold fell to ruin. Even with all the chores and running around under orders, she still felt like life here had been far better than at Terrah Cot.

Rokai could see how the conversation was affecting An'zell, lucky for him G'age moved to join her and Vanech at the table, Kira giving him the added excuse of watching her bag. "Yeah any info we get back about the wild wher would help a ton." She nodded to the idea of Kira coming with them to the Lord Holder. "We'll wait for you Kira, to be finished if we happen to finish first." With a wave to An'zell and Kira to dismiss herself, Rokai turned sideways to allow G'age to go first if he wanted. Else she led the way over to the table where her guest and bag resided. Araya was torn about where she wanted to be, with her girl or among the bronze and browns littered about the shelves. At the given moment she was getting head scratches and didn't want to miss out on those.

[G'age]

"Ah, good plan, An'zell," G'age said in passing and gave the whiterider a companionable pat on the shoulder. He did notice the increased reddening of his friend's cheeks, and also knew the best way to give An'zell the space to breathe and compose himself was to leave him be. That - it seemed - was what Rokai and Kira decided too. Already on the way to their Northern guest's table, G'age was only close enough by then to pick up a handful of words and did not participate in the rest of the parting of ways.

Halfway to the table, the Searchrider became aware that he did not have the trail of younger people he expected. Rokai alone followed him. G'age slowed and allowed her to take the lead so she could introduce him. So she led the way on the latter half of their short journey to this Vanech's table. He continued to eat on the way there and in the course of the time, it took them to traverse the distance he had finished his breakfast.

[An'zell]

It was nice to have friends that understood his flaws and had the kindness to give him some space to breathe, and An'zell offered everyone a grateful smile as they began to disperse. As soon as he wasn't the exact center of attention anymore, the youth relaxed visibly and the red drained away from his features. His freckles didn't stand out as much now that his complexion returned to its usual sun-tanned hue. He watched Rokai and G'age head off and considered whether or not to join them. Parked on his stool seemed like the best place for him at the moment, not the center of anything but geographically in the middle of his two groups of friends.

"I'll wait here, and ask - " came the decision and when Kira offered him more of an out, An'zell turned his radiant smile toward her. He shifted forward his barstool to be a few centimeters closer to Kira's bag. "- sure Kira, I'll be glad to watch your other bags." He nodded as he watched the top of her head while she unpacked her guitar, still marveling a bit that they'd met each other again after so long. And he looked forward to having more time to talk with her when they reached the Weyr. "I'm looking forward to hearing you perform again," he said softly to encourage her.

[Kira]

“Thank you An’zell,” Kira replied as she stood back up. "I appreciate it very much." She was glad to see that smile on his face again, the one that seemed to radiate happiness. Her crystal blue eyes matched the bright smile she gave him in return. “I’ll do my best to not disappoint you,” she said, with a smirk and walked up to the performing harpers, who were just finishing another set.

“May I join you?” Kira asked the trio of harpers. “The owner said I could perform to pay for my meal. I’m Kira.” She felt the scrutiny the three journeymen gave her, and could see the doubt in their expressions from her apprentice knots.

“Of course,” one of the journeymen said with a smile. “I’m Larson, this is Erlenn and Bekka.” Bekka gave her a kindly smile while Erlenn seemed annoyed, though whether it was her presence or rank, she wasn’t sure. “Are you meeting your Master here?” he asked as he invited her to sit in an empty chair next to Bekka.

“I was headed for White Sands Hold,” She said as she took the seat and checked the tuning of her guitar, striking a C chord, and adjusting the strings ever so slightly to her liking. “My final destination is the Harper Hall at White Sands Weyr.” Her guitar, while still the work of an apprentice, had a sweet, mellow sound not usually heard from such an instrument.

“What should we play next?” Bekka asked the quartet. Kira glanced over toward An’zell and smiled.

“I have an idea,” Kira said. “May I?” Her fingers were already setting on the opening chords. The three journeymen looked between each other, with only Erlenn showing some disdain.

“Please do,” Larson said with a slightly indulgent smile. “It is your bill you're paying. We’ll back you up.” His and Erlenn’s expression seemed to imply they would be carrying her more than supporting her. Kira just smiled and nodded. She was used to being underestimated by other harpers.

She started strumming the opening chords. The song was one well known within the islands, and popular among the Dolphineers. It told the tale of a young man who finds true love with the help of his dolphin friends. She started to sing, the dulcet tones of her voice filling the tavern. Slowly, the others joined in, adding both instrument and voice to back her up.

[An'zell]

An'zell continued to smile as he leaned forward enough to grasp the handles of Kira's bags and drew them closer. He put them between his leg and the base of the stool. Left alone at the bar, An'zell sighed. He always felt silly after his shyness got the best of him. Now all my friends have gone in separate directions. They are not far. Replied Speranth with the dragon's usual calmness. All you did was state the obvious but somehow it made me feel better. Speranth found his rider's comment amusing. We will wait for them. Mhm.

Initially, he chose to watch Rokai and G'age head toward the Northern, but the murmurs of the harpers as they exchanged greetings distracted him. So when Kira glanced toward him, their eyes met and he returned her smile with a brief upward tilt of his chin. Though he considered wishing her "good luck", he remembered something about not actually saying that to a harper. They considered it bad luck prior to a performance. The hold's harpers looked unimpressed by Kira, but based on what he'd heard in the past, she'd be able to keep up with the journeyman fine.

When the waitress approached him from behind with a plate of the food he'd ordered, his stomach reminded him he hadn't eaten breakfast yet, and he contemplated whether to hold off long enough to watch the performance or eat his breakfast so he could report back to the Weyr as soon as possible. It wasn't a difficult debate. The smell of the food combined with a secondary plaintive whine from his belly decided it for him. Instead of dividing his attention between the two groups of his friends, An'zell decided to finish his breakfast.

He had enough time to turn around on his stool and pick up his tea cup when he heard the song start. I didn't expect her to sing this song! So of course he turned around to face the quartet. He folded his eggs into his bread and turned around to eat the egg sandwich as he watched Kira perform. Memories of the first time he met Sora floated through his mind, she'd been the one who taught him the melody. He didn't learn the words, or that there were words at all until later. The dolphins didn't sing that way. Though he managed to remember to eat, it didn't take much for An'zell to lose himself in the tune and the nostalgia that came with it.

[Vanech]

From his vantage, Vanech watched the group come together, converse and then disperse. One in harper blue went to the other harpers and began a set. Another, the red-haired dragonrider, stayed at the bar counter while Rokai led one the elder dragonrider to him. One of the servers came over to his table and collected the discarded plates. "A bottle of your local vintage, and three cups, please," he said to the server and he pushed some marks toward her. "This should be enough plus the rest of my bill."

"Very good sir," replied the server as she set the last of the plates onto her tray and made her way back into the kitchens.


When the two reached the table, Vanech stood up and extended his hand to the dragonrider. A blue by his knots... Of course he had no idea who anyone was here, and could only make judgements based on clothing. As they no doubt made judgements of him based on his brown attire. "Vanech of bronze Vanesk, Beastcrafter J M and - " he hesitated, then added: " - a long way from home. A pleasure to meet you, sir dragonrider."

[Rokai]

Once they reached the table, Rokai moved towards the chair that held her bag. One hand placed on the back rest as Vanech introduced himself. While she could let G'age do the same for himself, she felt like she should as this was an official engagement.

"Allow me to introduce G'age of blue Vexainth. Searchrider for the weyr. And a good friend of mine." A smile deepen on her lips, adding some humor to the mood could only serve to lighten the topic of why it was her talking to Vanech. "Though I am not sure if he counts all the turns of me pestering him to take me with him to the weyr as being friends."

Araya chortled a tune at Rokai's version of the memory. Every turn since Araya had been with her girl Araya watched their interactions. Before Rokai was of age, she would find G'age when he had come seeking new would-be riders. Asking him to take her with him, but each time his answer had been no. Six turns later, she had managed to save up enough marks for the trip to the weyr and have extra to be able to live at the hold if the weyr wouldn't take her. Now she was a candidate, searched so soon after getting to the island.

[G'age]

A Wher Handler too? Before Rokai decided to introduce him, G'age got as far as: "Good to make - " then she rolled off his name and title as though he ranked a Weyrleader rather than a mere bluerider. Though he ignored her jab at their friendship, he made a mental note to tell her the truth after this conversation with Vanech. His grin widened as he chuckled during her introduction and shook Vanech's hand.

"That's quite an introduction for a mere bluerider," laughed G'age as he took the taller, younger (and better looking) man's hand. As he shook it, he felt the calluses of the man's trade. But there was something else. Something about his mannerisms that made the bluerider wonder...

"Thank you for inviting us to your table." He released Vanech's hand. Since they'd been invited to the table, G'age merely assumed he could sit. It made no sense in his mind to stand. So he pulled forth one of the empty chairs and settled into it. Though he didn't scoot it closer to the table, and left instead some space between himself and the table. 

"The others won't be joining us, as you can see Kira - the Weyr's new harper - decided to play a set. And An'zell's at the bar. He rides Speranth." G'age left Speranth's color out on purpose. Either Vanech could ask or he'd be able to tell by An'zell's shoulder knots or he'd have heard of Speranth. Most had. "It's rare we see a wher handler on Essal. So you must not have been here long, otherwise you'd have drawn some attention with the locals." G'age's eyes flickered toward the table where a few moments hence there'd been a stack of plates. G'age furrowed his brows as he looked toward Vanech again, and met the other man's gaze.

"Though it is a pity that your journey didn't end the way you expected, what with this quarantine and all. But I tell you, something my good friend Rokai here reminded me that there's a situation you might be helpful? You've got a wher and we've a wild one wandering around. Did Rokai... or Drenai... tell you that? It's Rokai's story really. Perhaps you'd be willing to come with us to meet Lord Heron and give an assist with your knowledge?"

[Vanech]

"Please, sit down." He gestured to the open chairs almost simultaneous with G'age taking a seat. "You're welcomed here. The more people I meet, the easier it will be for me to get around. And, my final destination is the Weyr unless my plans change drastically. "I had hoped among other things to visit my brother, Cl'fey, the rider of green hm - Venrayth? - at your White Sands. Now I have the means to go." Vanech uncurled the long fingers of his right hand to gesture at the jar of salve that sat near his glass. A familiar note lay tucked underneath it. 

"Yes, you're right on the mark there, bluerider G'age." Vanech confirmed. "I haven't been here long. Vanesk and I only just arrived this morning and the tavern keeper's been kind enough to search for accomodations for us. I think it is so I'll continue to sample the local cuisine." He laughed softly but his humor fell away when G'age went on to speak about the wild wher.

In a brief moment of consideration, Vanech rubbed his chin. "No, I do not recall her mentioning the wild one. Drenai and I exchanged messages about setting up a wher breeding program that included sharing the wherlings between Western and the Erdan. But a wild wher you say? Fascinating. Hm... now that I've thought about it, I believe Rokai mentioned her briefly in one of our more recent missives." He looked to Rokai to confirm his own memories, but back to G'age as soon as the dragonrider continued.

"Ah yes, you remind me that I do need to speak with the Lord Holder Heron. I - " Vanech's brow furrowed as he withdrew his hand, and in the next heartbeat, he changed the subject with a large smile. "I ordered some wine for us. Though I admit I ordered blind because I asked for 'the best local vintage'." His chuckled.

[Rokai]

When the topic of the wild wher came up and both men looked to her for the story she nodded. "Ah yes the wild gold that was causing a fuss when I first got to the island." It wasn't that long ago, Rokai remembered the small chaos of people trying to find a missing girl and reports of the unknown wher sighting. Having a canine trained for tracking, Rokai had jumped right in to help find the girl.

Before Rokai could launch into the story, Vanech told them his recent order. A laugh escaped her lips as Rokai realize what he had just ordered. "Ha ha well you'll get to tell the vintner what you think of the blend." Said waiter was already making his way back to the table, tray laden with a bottle and glasses. Taking her seat at the table, Rokai had to shift her bag somewhat to better balance the chair. "Maybe I can tell the story after you order gets here?" Stories were always better with something to drink, or at least that was what she heard.

[G'age]

As Vanech spoke his tale and revealed more about his reason for being at White Sands Hold in the first place, G'age made small grunts and nodded in time with a handful of points. He set his empty plate on a portion of the table not in front of anyone. At the phrase 'best local vintage' G'age barked a laugh.

"Then you've probably ordered the wine from my vines." He gestured as though lifting an imaginary wine glass which he timed with Rokai's words. "Practicing vinter, and although I'm arguably the best in the entire archipelago, I'll take 'best on Essal' for now, which is what they serve here." He tapped the table for emphasis.

His smile faded somewhat as his tone waned serious and G'age shook his head at Rokai's suggestion. With his back to the bar, the bluerider didn't see the waiter's return. "No, I think it's better to start now. With the quarantine lifted, I need to go as soon - "

"Excuse me, sirs... miss. The wine."

The waiter spoke from behind G'age and above his shoulder, which caused the bluerider to turn in swift surprise. He scooted sideways to give the waiter better access to the table. "Well, the wait wasn't so long. On second thought, let's have a drink and then hear this story."

Even as he spoke, the waiter set his tray on the table. He set up three glasses in front of the people at the table. Using a small knife and a corkscrew, he opened the bottle and with a careful wrist twist, he poured a small amount into Vanech's glass. While he waited for the customer to take the glass, the waiter put G'age's plate onto his tray.

[Kira]

Kira finished her set and thanked her new harper friends for allowing her to perform with them. She walked back to the bar where An'zell was waiting.

"How did I do?" she asked, smiling brightly. She always felt better after singing. Her troubles just seemed to melt away with the music. It was the one thing that kept her going through all the difficulties life seemed to keep pushing on her. "It's been a while since I sang that song. I hope I didn't disappoint you." She knelt down to put her guitar away in its case and then stood up again, and swung the case on to her back.

"Shall we join the others? I do hope my food is ready. Performing always makes me hungry!"