|
|
Post by stolenhart on Feb 10, 2009 20:08:58 GMT -6
She caught his form just outside the kitchen door so with bread and tubers in hand she joined him out in the yard. "Watch the fowl", she murmured the warning to him as she passed him, nodding towards a gaggle of geese across the yard. "They will swarm you for food", she tossed a few of her crusts to the side as she passed the geese and true to her word the geese swarmed the crumbs while they passed. "How well do you ride?", she asked heading into the cavern that was Fort's main stables. Horses neighed to her, trying to get her attention, while others merely watched her. "Ferden", Del called out pausing in the middle of the stable.
An older man popped at her side, short herding canine at his heel, "Yes my lady?". "Saddle the new stallion please. I'll see to my own mare". Farran's wedding present was a well-bred stallion from Ista who's paces were extremely smooth and had a decent head on his shoulders. He'd be perfect for walking along the rows of wine-fruit that Benden was well-known for. Del's mare was the same stock though a few turns older and was a bit more feisty in her mindset. They made a good pair. "Yes my lady". Del waited until he walked away then she headed for her mare's stall. The pretty little chestnut whickered to see her mistress and was rewarded with tubers. "Our stable is nothing like Ruatha but we have good stock", she said over her shoulder as she reached for her mare's tack.
|
|
|
|
Post by saidaltam on Feb 10, 2009 20:22:12 GMT -6
Farran smiled. "I've been riding since I was seven turns and breaking and taming my own mounts since I was fourteen," he replied with a wink. "I can handle the most hard-mouthed runners in our stables." He paused, then admitted, "I've always preferred gentler mounts, however. Most hard-mouthed beasts aren't worth the effort."
He kept close to Yedella as they bypassed the birds, canting his head curiously and following her to her mare. "You've a beautiful mount, my dear. What do you call her?" He looked the runner over in detail as he said this, having some moderate eye for runner-flesh.
|
|
|
|
Post by stolenhart on Feb 10, 2009 20:30:40 GMT -6
"I agree", hard mouthed mounts were often not worth the time and effort. They tended to be stupid or mean neither of which Del wanted to deal with when she went out riding. She liked spirit but she didn't want a mean or stupid runner. "You'll like the stallion I think. He's a bit young but he's got a good head and smooth paces", she'd ridden the stallion once or twice, just to see how he rode and she liked him though he was a bit long-legged for her tastes. Still riding him for hours at a time would not be a problem.
"Tam", she answered his question about what she called the mare. "I picked her out and trained her myself about six Turns ago", she explained, buckling the saddle. The mare reached her nose out to study Farran but made no other move. "She had her first foal last spring but my younger sister claimed her", she shook her head a faint smile on her lips. She had wanted the first foal but the mare had been mistakenly bred to the wrong stallion so Del hadn't been too upset about giving the foal up. Next time she would be there when the runner was bred. "There he is", she nodded towards a long-legged bay that was lead up to Tam's stall.
|
|
|
|
Post by saidaltam on Feb 10, 2009 20:39:44 GMT -6
Farran walked over and looked the runner over, a bright smile lighting up his face. "He's gorgeous! Well built, sturdy, well groomed... a bit long in the leg, but that's hardly a hindrance." He ran a hand along the runner's flank, flashing Del a bright, genuine smile. "You've excellent taste in runner flesh, my dear." He then set about inspecting the stallions tack and saddle, checking to be sure they were well fitted and properly cinched. He had neglected that only once. He was not about to do it again, no matter how much he trusted the stable workers.
Once satisfied, he thanked the stablehand and commandeered the runner with another bright smile for Del. "And what is this lad called?" he asked.
|
|
|
|
Post by stolenhart on Feb 10, 2009 20:54:06 GMT -6
She watched him inspect the runner once she was finished with Tam's bridle. The mare was not in the least bit concerned with the stallion though she did give him a cursory sniff as she was lead out of the stall. "I didn't pick him but I am glad you like him", she said, checkin gher stirrups before mounting the mare. She settled herself in the saddle, collecting the reins in her hands with practiced ease. "As for his name he doesn't have one", she gave him a mischievous smile, "he is your wedding gift. Though act surprised when my father gives him to you", she admonished him urging Tam out of the cavern.
"Your lady mother wants to speak to you", a servant said as he appeared at Tam's head. "You didn't see me", she said, turning the mare away from the servant. "Yes my lady", the servant gave her a weak smile and bowed before returning to the kitchen. She set off down a wagon trail at a fast trot in plain view so Farran could follow her.
|
|
|
|
Post by saidaltam on Feb 10, 2009 21:05:33 GMT -6
Farran could have fallen over when she told him that the stunning stallion was to be a wedding gift, but when he did recover, all he could do was smile. The subtle dismissal of the servant only made him smile even more brightly. He wished he could handle his father as well as she did her mother.
Mounting up, Farran rode after her, testing the stallion's gait, and found himself extremely pleased. "He's a wonderful mount!" he observed brightly when he caught up to her, then flashed her a sly, stealthy smile. "You've an adept hand with your mother, my dear. Wherever did you learn to handle her so well?"
|
|
|
|
Post by stolenhart on Feb 10, 2009 21:14:06 GMT -6
She turned her head to watch him approach on the stallion and smiled inwardly. He really was a good-looking runner too bad Tam was so young, or maybe not. Mixing their bloodlines might be a good idea. She wondered what the foal would look like. "Mmm yes he is. I've ridden him a time or two myself. Wanted to make sure I didn't want him for myself", she turned the mare down a path on the left passing a few dairy herdbeasts. Tam snorted in surprise but didn't spook or turn away. Del patted her neck.
"You say that now. When we get back she'll have something to say to me and I won't be able to avoid her. And I am thinking she will bring my father into it but", she shrugged, "It's unavoidable really so I wil try to have as much fun now as I can and worry about her later", she remarked. "Let's go faster. If she is really serious about talking to me I am still too close". That said, she set her heels to Tam's side and urged the mare forward into a gallop, tearing across the flat pasture.
|
|
|
|
Post by saidaltam on Feb 10, 2009 21:53:12 GMT -6
Farran sighed heavily. She was right about that one, and he was rueful that there was little he could do about it. He wanted to be of some help to her. Wasn't that his duty, as her fiance? Only, he wasn't altogether sure it was. Most of the time, he wasn't altogether sure what his duties were at all, save in his training.
Kicking the runner into a gallop, he took off after her, one hand resting on the stallion's neck. He could feel the beast's muscles moving smoothly beneath its skin, and there was a correctness to it. Smiling contentedly, Farran fell into place beside her. Opportunities like this were rare, and he didn't want to squander them.
|
|
|
|
Post by stolenhart on Feb 10, 2009 22:14:06 GMT -6
After awhile Tam slowed herself down snorting a bit. She'd broken a light sweat in her workout but was otherwise in good condition, but then the mare got worked out every day by a hand if not by her owner. "Today is a rather nice summer day", she said hopping off the mare and walking to the pond. Tam snorted and went to the pond to drink, reins trailing behind her as Del squatted by the pond, throwing a rock into the still water. It was a nice summer day, the temperature was warm but not overly hot, the blue sky was cloudy but not rain cloud cloudy and it was barely windy.
Having drunk her fill, the mare moved away to nibble on the grass slowly, despite still being tacked up. "This used to be one of my favorite spots to hide from my family", Del explained, standing up. "Over there is a stone wall", she pointed to a stand of trees, "I used to hide on the other side of it with my pony when my brother came looking for me. Of course he always found me but still", she smiled at the memories of playing hide and seek with her siblings. "What was it like having no siblings?"
|
|
|
|
Post by saidaltam on Feb 11, 2009 22:01:58 GMT -6
Farran slid off the stallion, patting him affectionately, and shrugged. "There were... high expectations for me. Imperfection was not tolerated, because there was no other heir. My birth nearly killed my mother, and the healer advised that she not carry again, so I was the end of it. Nothing was... sufficient. I have led a life under a very tight rein." He paused for a long moment, reflecting on his childhood, then shook his head and flashed Del a bright smile. "Harper Hall has given me the best years of my life, you know."
It was true, too. Out from under his parents' expectations, Farran found himself finally able to do things because he wished to, not because he had to. Admittedly, the frequent reports sent back to them saw to it that he still tended to their wishes and spent much of his time immersing himself in those forms of tutelage which they found most permissible, but he also had time to indulge his preferences, and that was no small delight.
|
|
|
|
Post by stolenhart on Feb 11, 2009 22:24:49 GMT -6
She gave him a curious look she had no way to compare his life to her's. The third eldest in her line her mother had been wise to the game by the time Del was old enough to talk let alone get into trouble. But like any middle child when the next sibling came along the older siblings had to take care of themselves. And for the most part Del and her older sister got along but Del was closer with her brother. "I had a tight rein but for wholly different reasons I am thinking", she returned his smile, she found a more comfortable grassy spot and sat down, leaning back on her hands she relaxed.
"My brother was a trouble-maker and my sister got into what he'd left. By the time I came along mother had heard and seen it all. She kept me on a tight leash to keep me out of trouble. The first time I ever got in trouble was at Harper Hall while I was an apprentice", she and a few other apprentices had made catapults out of a few student instruments and some spare bits of clay from the sand tables. The old Master who had caught them had not been overly happy with them, confining them to rooms for a sevenday and forcing them to write scales. "My brother will like you I think, he's always wanted an older brother to talk to".
|
|
|
|
Post by saidaltam on Feb 11, 2009 22:55:30 GMT -6
"How old is your brother?" Farran asked mildly, sitting down beside her and hooking one leg up to his chest, folding the other around it. It was a very inelegant way of sitting, but just about then, he couldn't have cared less. Anyone who might object, save his bride-to-be, was well away, and Del didn't seem to mind too much when he acted like a human being, so he had every intention of enjoying those opportunities which she leant him to do so.
|
|
|
|
Post by stolenhart on Feb 11, 2009 23:15:10 GMT -6
"Hardel is twenty-seven", she replied, "with his three kids. Then there is Esilly who is twenty-five and has one kid, then me at twenty three", she explained, watching the two runners graze in the field beside them. "Dani is twenty-two, then there is Cloe who is nineteen, and Jarya is seventeen then Turfon is fourteen. That is all of us well except for the various runners, flitts and felines we have collected over the turns". It seemed for the longest time her mother had always been pregnant. Everytime Del had turned around there had been another baby. She fully suspected that if her mother hadn't had complications with Turfon her parents would not have stopped at seven.
"What is your favorite instrument? I don't think I have ever seen you play really", she asked him. Del liked the string instruments though harps were far and away her favorite since they didn't drown out her voice when she sang. Drums were beyond her, she hated the rythmic instrument and the various flutes and pipes did not let her sing.
|
|
|
|
Post by saidaltam on Feb 11, 2009 23:20:45 GMT -6
Farran smiled sheepishly. "Well, I'll never have your lovely voice, so I generally prefer pipes and woodwinds." He paused, then fished inside of a small pouch and pulled out a tiny ceramic whistle, no larger than a child's palm, with four holes on the top of it and two on the bottom. For a moment, he turned it over in his hand, then caught hers, turned it up, and set the small pipe into it, closing her fingers around it. "This was my very first instrument. The first Harper who ever taught me made it for me. My father was furious, had him removed, and tried to take it, but he never could figure out where I was hiding it." He smiled sweetly at her, then leaned back onto the heels of his hands.
|
|
|
|
Post by stolenhart on Feb 11, 2009 23:29:41 GMT -6
"Farran", she tried to say she couldn't keep it but that could be construed as ungrateful. She knew how much a first instrument cost a person emotionally, her first instrument had been in her family for generations, the floor harp still playing as sweetly now as the day it had been brought to the Hold. She put it to her lips and played a few clear notes on it. Tam whickered a reply and wandered over, nosing Del for treats and finding none turned her attention to Farran. "Thank you", she held it in her hand and studied the little flute. She'd made one once but it hadn't played a note at all, still she'd demonstrated she could make a flute.
"We should work on a piece for the wedding. That would surprise my parents to no end", while her parents had always supported her, they didn't have anything better to do with her since she was the second oldest daughter, they often wondered why she would want to be a Harper. Dani had wanted to be a teacher, while Cloe, Jarya and Turfon were dragon crazy. Del was the only one who had wanted to be a true musician. "I confuse them I think".
|
|
|
|
Post by saidaltam on Feb 11, 2009 23:35:38 GMT -6
Farran nodded understandingly. "So long as you sing it, then," he replied with a bright smile that was mostly real and carefully concealed the wistful envy he periodically felt bite him for her skill. It wasn't fair to be jealous of her, but sometimes, it was very difficult not to. She was beautiful, whereas he was passably pleasant. She was talented, whereas he was schooled but unskilled. She was beloved by her parents, befuddled or otherwise, whereas he felt more a tool than a son. It was only his aptitude at assembling swaths of tittering, blushing girls that gave him any real sense of capability at all, and since the engagement had been announced, he had been absolutely unable to indulge in that. Still, it was unquestionably clear that she was trying, and though he did not love her, he did like her, and he did wonder that he could love her, one day, if he could ever properly overcome his envy of her.
|
|
|
|
Post by stolenhart on Feb 11, 2009 23:44:23 GMT -6
"Sing what? A grotesque love ballad? That is what they will expect, something matrimonal and stuffy", she made a face and rolled her eyes. "Surely you have ideas. Maybe we will raid the Hall's library tomorrow, there has to be something there that would work. We can use the words to any melody and replace the instruments and notes with our own making", she frowned, "We need a deep flute to counter my harp", she mused, playing with her braid as she thought through the idea. "I think it would work, but no icky love songs. They make my skin crawl, somethign with artistic merit would be good".
Del had never been a fan of the popular love ballads that her sisters favored. There were only so many ways a person could say I love you in a song. She didn't like the tragic love songs but at least there was variety in them. Maybe they could find one about the riders and their split? Next time she was at Fort's Hall she'd have to steal into the library, there had to be something there she could borrow. "Or the Weyrlingmaster at Northern was a Harper and he travalled in the South, he might now a few songs", she mused, "What do you think?'
|
|
|
|
Post by saidaltam on Feb 12, 2009 1:47:59 GMT -6
Farran nodded contemplatively, pursing his lips. He'd never been fond of mushy love songs, either, though he did believe that a good romantic tune could have a lot of power. After a long moment of quiet consideration, he said, "Maybe we should write our own." It was no small undertaking, but it could advance her journeyman status, and he did understand all the major principles of musical theory, if nothing else. It might be very technical overall, but it was correct, and there was no reason in the world that she wouldn't be able to find a way to give it the life that he couldn't. Of course, he didn't think all of this in so many words, but he wasn't fool enough for the ideas to escape him.
|
|
|
|
Post by stolenhart on Feb 12, 2009 10:18:07 GMT -6
"Write our own?", she asked, turning her head to look at him, studying him for a moment. He was a very technical player, each note correct in essence he just didn't have the skill to put his soul into whatever he was playing. But Del did. Surely between the both of them they could write a song that was fitting. And it would help her out a bit. It wouldn't be a Master piece by no means but at least it would give her somewhere to work from instead of floundering about.
"Let's then. There are still sand tables at the Hall, we could use those to write on. Once we get the notes down we'll be able to add words to it, if we even want words", she added, glancing back to the setting sun. They would have to head home soon or her mother would ask the wherhandlers to come out with their charges to find them. She was loathe to leave though, finding she liked Farran's company more than she had expected.
|
|
|
|
Post by saidaltam on Feb 12, 2009 21:32:53 GMT -6
He smiled. "You don't mind if I refrain from singing, do you? The ceremony will be nicer if you sing, not I." He glanced toward the sun, then sighed. "And it may have to wait until tomorrow. I've another lesson this evening, dictated by my father, in 'proper hold management', because, of course, ten years of that haven't taught me how a hold is properly managed." This last was said with a kiss of distinct bitterness, which he rarely showed. Shaking his head, he sat up straight.
|
|
