Uncomfortable Breakfast
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyrhold
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Elsewhere on Pern
NPC Weyr (NPC)
River Bluff Weyr
Seacraft Hall
Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 3rd May 2019
Characters: Erassa, Corowal
Description: Erassa and Corowal face a morning alone for the first time since their unfortunate kiss...
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 10, day 25 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentions: Jihan
Erassa usually was happy to find that she had the place to herself for
a morning. This morning Coria and Colyn's milk mother had offered
the day before to take the two smallest ones to the creche for some
playtime with other infants their age and the foster mother had
readily agreed. Now as she waved goodbye to the babies, she wished
she could take it back. She had not been counting on the fact that
the Lord Holder would have an extra long night and therefore would be
sleeping in. Soon he would wake. She would have to serve him
breakfast. And they would have to face each other with no children to
hide behind for the first time since the night the moonlight had
gotten the better of them until sense, or more like reality,
prevailed.
Corowal rarely got to sleep late to the morning, so it was luxury he
was enjoying for the fullest. Of course, if he had gotten to bed in
time, he would have woke up to his usual time.
Corowal's hair was still damp from his bath when he entered the room
and found just Erassa there. Of course, the older ones would already
started their classes, but the little ones should have been there.
"Good morning, Erassa. Did you misplace the babies?"
She reached for the steaming kettle and replaced it on the fire with a
skillet. "No, they're at the creche having social time with some of
the other babies of the hold. Eggs and bacon?"
"Of course, you know how I like them," Corowal replied and took a seat.
Just like she knew how he liked his klah in the morning. Erassa set a
mug in front of him before reaching for the bowl of eggs. "Will you
be having dinner with the family tonight?"
"I try to, if the work doesn't interfere," Corowal replied.
"It was not an accusation," she said gently, cracking eggs onto the hot skillet.
"Sorry," Corowal said and rubbed his forehead. "Let me rephrase it: I
try to be there for the children's sake but I can't promise it,
because this job has a nasty habit of springing surprises that take me
away from my family. Faranth know those children don't need more
broken promises." Corowal always felt quilty when he missed something
they had agreed to do or had to cancel something.
She didn't need his explanation. Erassa knew that when it came to the
children, Corowal always put them first whenever possible. She
explained in the same mollifying tone she used with Corofel or Ofewal
when they felt slighted by a question, "I only ask because I am making
meat pies tonight and I wanted to know if I should keep one for you or
have one sent to you in your office. I know you are here when you can
be."
"Ooh, those are good. May even be tempting enough for me to skip a
work," Corowal flashed her a smile.
"Well, I won't tell the children that you might come home, then," she
said, dishing the eggs and bacon onto a plate. "It can be a
surprise."
"It's always better be pleasantly surprised," Corowal agreed.
She set the plate in front of him along with the salt and pepper.
After pouring herself a mug, she refilled his klah. "Are you very
busy today, then?" she asked, slipping into the seat across from him.
It seemed like a safe topic to start with.
Corowal nodded. "I am trying to arrange a trip outside the Hold," he
replied. "Sometimes I wish I had a firelizard, makes sending letters
much faster."
"Surely someone on your staff has one you can use," she said, blowing
across the mug and keeping her eyes focused on the frothy bubbles that
had formed below the rim.
"Yes, they have, it would still be more useful," Corowal replied and
shrugged a bit. It didn't take him long to empty his plate.
"Where are you going?" she asked, standing to clear away his plate.
"Pine Creek most likely. Our master woodcrafter pointed out that our
sawmills haven't been updated in ages."
From what she recalled, Pine Creek was not just a quick day trip from
the Hold. "Will you be gone long?" she asked with an air of
indifferent curiosity as she rinsed his dish.
"Probably few days, I'll let you know when i know for sure. I better
get going, Jihan's waiting for me," Corowal replied. He refilled his
klah mug, taking it with him. Just arranging the trip would probably
take few sevendays.
"All right," she said, taking the pot away to be cleaned but more as
an excuse not to watch him walk out the door as she had the impulse to
do. "I hope we will see you for dinner then."
"Have a nice day and hug the kids for me," Corowal said before
disappearing to his office, his mind already shifting to work at hand.
She gave a grunt of understanding as she wiped the counter where the
pot had sat with a rag. As soon as she heard a click of the latch
catching once again she let out a long sigh. She envied Corowal that
he could so easily go about his day as if nothing had happened between
them. Ever since that kiss, alone with her thoughts was the last
place she wanted to be.
Last updated on the June 15th 2019