A Cup Of Klah (Siten 3 - OPEN)

[saidaltam]

Siten was tired. With everything else that was going on, after the meeting the day before and the myriad of other, normal Weyrling duties, she was utterly exhausted. Even Isiloth was letting up on her. That did not, however, mean that she was prepared to have the good sense to let up on herself. She was certain she'd be fine, after a cup of klah.

That was what brought her down to the dining cavern that evening, and that was all, for once, that was on her mind. Fortunately, an obliging drudge was swift to provide her with the requested klah, and, sinking gratefully into a seat beside the hearth, she folded her hands around the warm cup, breathing it in for several long moments before even taking a sip.

A few sips into the klah, however, she was alert, again, and once more, her mind began to roam. There was still a lot to do, yet, and she had to work out just exactly how she was going to get it all done before she timed it back, and how much she was going to be able to accomplish while she was back. Lessons, of course, could not stop, but her ability to familiarize herself with her fellows would be severely handicapped. She was just grateful that she would have some there to interact with, giving her at least a narrow glimpse of her Weyr. It was just as well, too, that R'lyn had things so well in hand governing, or she had no idea how she would manage when she came back. She'd never governed before, and though she was fairly certain she could manage, it was going to be no easy task. She would need all the help she could get.

With these heavy thoughts flicking through her mind, the momentary relaxation melted from her face as her brow drew, once more, into a deep furrow.

[Femisis]

It itches, Mine.[/i] Marth complained as he itched at the ichor coated gashes on his left flank. They were healing rather well, even if they prevented the Bronze from going between for now. In any case, he’d live, even if he insisted that he wouldn’t to anyone who would listen. He was eager to get back in the sky, though, especially with the timing coming up.

“Marth, stop complaining. You’re giving me a headache.” H’dan sighed, rubbing his temples as he finished rubbing the new coat of numbweed on the dragon’s wounds. For all his complaining, Marth healed rather quickly, so he wouldn’t have much more time to complain. Still, he was tired from nursing the big dragon and hadn’t eaten today, so maybe a trip to the lower caverns was in order.

Oh, don’t go, Mine![/i] limping on two good limbs and his crippled one, Marth awkwardly turned around and whined after His, but H’dan was already out the door and on his way to the Weyr below. He loved Marth dearly, but at times like these, the Bronze was no better than a weyrbrat. It would probably be worse if he ever became Weyrleader…

Stopping a drudge as he entered the dining cavern, he quickly ordered a plate of meatrolls and a pitcher of klah before going to find a place to sit. He had chosen on a table in a corner of the room when he spied Siten near the hearth out of the corner of his eye. Well, he might as well sit with her, considering they would both be going on this expedition together. That, and it wouldn’t hurt to get to know her since she was the Weyrwoman after all. “How are you holding up?” He asked wryly as he came over, noticing her tired appearance. No wonder Queens only chose strong willed women for their riders. She looked exhausted, no doubt with her heavy work load. Poor girl…

[saidaltam]

Siten looked up when H'dan spoke, a bit surprised at the other voice. "Oh, I'm fine, thank you," she replied with a small smile as she racked her brain, trying to figure out who he was. She knew she'd seen him, before, and it had been very, very recently, but where...? Her eyes fell on his shoulder knot. Of course. Wingleader. He'd been at the meeting. She remembered, now. "Not just a late night for me, I see. Please, sit. What brings you out, tonight?" she asked taking another sip of klah. Witty repartee was just a little beyond her at the moment, but she did need to get to know her bronze riders, so at least being a little more alert would surely have to help, even if she did have another two turns, yet, to familiarize herself with them. She'd noticed, however, that bronze dragons were in short supply in the Southern Weyr, and it did worry her, a bit.

:We may not have many, but ours are better, or they would not be ours,:[/color] Isiloth pointed out in the back of Siten's mind. The comment brought a smile to the girl's lips, though she said nothing about it.

[Femisis]

H'dan laughed as he took a seat, stretching his back until he heard a sastfying crack. "No, I suppose not, though I didn't think I'd be seeing anyone else up at this hour." He commented. "As much as I hate to say this, but I'm here because of Marth. I love him, but he's been complaining non-stop about those gashes on his flank. He's convinced that he's going to die soon." He rolled his eyes, looking over his shoulder as a drudge placed the pitcher of klah and the meatrolls he'd ordered on a small table beside the Bronzerider. Nodding gratefully, he poured himself a small portion of klah and bit tore into a meatroll, completly famished. He didn't forget his manners, as he usually did when he was alone. He certainly didn't want to look like a slob in public, as few people as there were here.

"In any case, he'll be fine soon. How is Isiloth, by the way? And yourself? It's obvious that all of your duties are taking a toll on you." The Bronzerider commented, though not unkindly. "Oh, take a meatroll if you'd like. I can hardly finish them myself." He added, moving the plate over for her to easily access. "There's more klah, too."

[saidaltam]

Siten smiled dryly. "Isiloth is angry, and, frankly, that, more than anything, is what's taking a toll on me. The schedule's harsh, but I've been through worse. I can deal with that. On the other hand, Isiloth is normally the calm half, and she's much better at it than I am." She took the arrival of the other's food as a sign, however, that it was alright to relax, if only a little bit, and sank down deeper into her chair, taking a long drink of her klah. "The only thing that settles her down, these past few days, has been talk of this ... this venture that R'lyn was discussing earlier. She seems to think it's our best shot. I think she's probably right, though I hate to say it."

She considered this for a long moment, staring at the brown liquid in her cup, then asked suddenly, "What do you make of it?"

[Femisis]

"Me? I think it's a brilliant idea, even if a bit foolhardy." H'dan replied as he took another sip of his klah and ate another meatroll. "Pardon my manners, but I haven't eaten all day and I'm ready to drop." He told her apologetically as he wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. He normally wasn't this sloppy, but his stomach was taking over and his manners had been kicked out of the house and into the street. Still, who could blame him after having spend the entire day nursing his dragon's wounds?

"Shardit..." He muttered as he massaged his temples again. "I'll have to see if there's a Green who would be willing to sit with Marth. Otherwise he's just going to keep whining until I come back, which I'd rather not do right now." He said aloud, more to the air than anything. Suddenly an idea came to him and he looked at Siten. "I know this is a lot to ask, but do you think Isiloth would mind sitting with him?" He asked her. "Maybe she'd knock some sense into that thick head of his."

[saidaltam]

Siten blinked, then furrowed her brow contemplatively. It was, to be sure, an unusual request, but she couldn't see the harm in it. "I'll ask," she replied.

'Isiloth? Would you mind sitting with Marth for a while? I'm trying to speak to His, and he's making it a bit difficult. Seems he's not feeling well.'

:And?:[/color] the dragon replied mildly.

'And... I'd like you to sit with him and keep him company.'

:He is a bronze. Bronzes come to golds, not the other way around,:[/color] Isiloth pointed out.

'He's wounded,' Siten reminded her.

She could very nearly hear Isiloth sighing. :Very well, Mine,:[/color] the gold replied disparagingly.

'Thank you, Isiloth.' Aloud, she said, "She's on her way, now."

Indeed, she was, too, though she was taking her good, sweet time about it. Siten decided not to mention that part. Instead, she diverted back to their earlier topic. "What seems foolhardy about it?" she asked curiously.