Reports for Amber Hills Hold
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
May 4th 2011
"Ach, yer back!" The old auntie cackles and rubs her hands together, then motions for you to come closer. "Have I got some juicy tidbits fer ye me dear!" She cackles again and leans back in her rocking chair, those grey-touched eyes sparkling.
"Ya know tha lady holder? Seems ta me she's been thinkin' o' her father. I saw that look in her eyes. She was r'memberin' a time wit' Benaroy, she was. She always got that same look when she thinks 'bout him. I r'member when she was a lad and would play under her papa's desk, playin' wit' his feet even as he was tryin' ta work. She'd go around, touchin' things and gettin' in tha way, but he was a good father, aye. Gentle wit' her he was e'en iffin he weren't e'er tha most expressive wit' his feelin's. I r'member she called him 'me lord' and he 'milady'. I wonder what he'd think now iffin he saw her. I'm sure he'd be right proud o' her.
"I heard tha Lady talkin' ta Royah and they were sayin' how they missed him. Tha anniversary o' his death be comin' up, a memorial looks like it's goin' ta be in tha works. That'll be nice." She grins, as if she's holding back and she knows it. "There was a lot goin' on...but through it all, tha lady held a private birthday party fer tha Lord. Prob'bly best considerin', but I'm sure I know what they wound up doin' _after_!
"There's this new lass, Lyranel. Been tryin' ta find a place ta be helpful in tha hold. Heard she cooked up a late lunch fer tha Lord Holder but used some bad meat er somethin' and he wound up gettin' sick! Tha lass is a menace in tha kitchen!" She laughs, slapping one knobby hand against a bony knee. "He's all right, though. Tha Headwoman and Lady Holder found 'im. Oh that Headwoman was mad!"
The old woman coughs. "S'pose I'd best update ye 'bout that lass, Kaya. Ya know, tha one who done ran off? Well, they got her back, but ye knew that. 'cept more's happened since! Seems ta me she was taken back and her father made sure she knew what was goin' ta happen ta her, what her duty was. She was ta be married off. I donnae think she like dtha idea fer she went and snuck inta tha Steward's quarters and waited fer him - half naked! Kissed him! Door was open and ev'rythin' and guess who came by? Aye, her father! And tha holders were were goin' ta take her inta their family!"
There's another cackle, but there must be more to the story for the Auntie continues. "O' course, tha Steward's insistin' he didnae touch her, but I know fer a fact they were kissin' up a storm! And she had nothin' on save one o' his shirts! He didnae tell tha Lord that, and I think he b'lieved him. I know tha Lord and his Lady got into a bit of a tiff o'er what ta do. Seems that Wirnan's goin' ta have ta marry the lass b'cause o' all tha politics involved and tha like. Can't lose the s'pport o' Turquoise Valley. I can understand that, aye."
She shakes her head. "Tha Lady took it well - e'en let Kaya borrow a dress, though I heard tha Lady saw some marks on Kaya's back. Seems her father was beatin' her. Mayhap that's why she did what she did wit' tha Steward.
"I heard that night tha Steward and his new wife didnae touch one another. He was drinkin' that's fer sure. And he saw tha marks on her back too. Asked her tha next day when she could barely move! o' course he knew twas her father. Said he'd ne'er hurt her. She said she knew that but tha seemed ta make tha steward mad. Men can change, he said. I wonder iffin he'll change...
"She was better tha next day after restin', but she wasnae well 'nough ta carry a heavy tray full o' dishes. Dropped tha thing. Bet that annoyed tha Steward! Cut her hand and like tha gentleman he is wanted ta help but tha lass is so stubborn she said nae! That two sure are buttin' heads!
"Tha Lord seemed ta have some trepidation 'bout Wirnan cause o' tha way he said somethin' when they said farewell ta her fam'ly. Was right nice o' him ta make sure that Kaya wouldnae be beaten no more. It was after that talk Wirnan went ta make a truce wit' Kaya. I guess it's a start, aye?
I donnae think tha Lady'll be so fergivin', though. She hopes fer tha two ta be happy, but she donnae know iffin Wirnan can fergive Kaya fer what she did. Mebbe he can. That Steward did take Kaya ta meet his family, found out about tha children his sister lost. That hit tha Steward hard. O' course, when he asked Kaya 'bout children, she said no. But is it cause she donnae want any or cause she cannae have any? She wept when it was mentioned. Mayhap. Wirnan apologised tha next day, said she didnae have ta explain, but it was obvious he was heartbroken at tha idea o' nae havin' children, poor dear.
"O' course, nae all's doom and gloom. I have ta admit I got a good laugh! That Lyranel lass, she went and mixed up some dye with sweetsand! Imagine that! Got dye fer tha Steward ta bathe in! Turned him blue. Blue! Blue as a blueberry! Poor lass was appalled. Kaya returned home and tried ta help him get unblue, but methinks she found him quite interestin' wit' er wit'out tha blue. He's a man, she's a woman. Didnae s'rprise me, nae. Wound up slippin' and fallin' in tha tub t'gether though she scrambled out after managing to kick 'im where it hurts. Then he started laughin' and she ran out o' tha room. I think she was embarrassed 'er somethin'. But at least tha Steward got a good laugh out o' it. And me too!"
Written by AL as L1