A Job To Do

Writers: Chelle, Len
Date Posted: 7th November 2014

Characters: L'fael, Syren, Venrys
Description: A distracted Lafael loses, then finds Parale's girls just after a Fall
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 9, day 3 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Parale, Ioven

Now where could they be? Lafael let out the breath he was holding when the signal that meant the Fall was over sounded. At least he'd not have to worry about_that._Not that he ever worried about Threadfall. After two seasons as the drudge for a caravan trader, he held little fear of 'Falls. As long as a stone shelter was around, there was no reason to fear it. Now two mischievous girls, on the other hand...

A rumble of thunder rolled overhead. Sighing mightily, he set out to look for the girls. Hopefully their mother wasn't an abusive type. But that was wishful thinking, in a place like Sunstone..

Venrys wasn't really the type to be where she wasn't. However, she knew her job was to watch out for her little sister. Syren, on the other hand, was under no such compunctions and the smaller girl had decided that Threadfall was a perfect opportunity to leave the group of children to see if she might get a sweet bun or two. With everyone stuck inside the Hold and her parents getting ready to go out with the groundcrews, it wasn't as if she'd be caught missing. Unfortunately, Venrys was hot on her trail, ready to give her a scolding.

Lafael caught sight of Venrys. "Oh, hey, wait up!" He ran up to her side, not all that much taller than the girl even though they were separated by seven turns. Another bolt of lighting flashed across the sky, followed by a boom of thunder. Despite himself, Lafael jumped and hunched his shoulders up.

She turned around and determined the voice, stopping for a moment. Venrys' eyes focused on him, her usual reserved countenance coming into play first. "Can I help you?" Her curiosity won out though she was mindful that Syren had a headstart.

Lafael raised his eyebrows. Was he so forgettable that the girl who he was babysitting only a half a candlemark before had forgotten him already? He fingered the helm of his tattered tunic and bit his lower lip shyly. "I--I as supposed to be watching over you and your sister."

Her eyebrows crinkled and she frowned, a typical Venrys look. Then she made up her mind. "I'm too old to be baby-sat. However, two pairs of eyes are better than one. So you can help me find her."

Lafael's mouth opened, then closed. The look on his face was pure confusion. Hadn't he just been babysitting this very girl? Another, sharper clap of thunder spurred him into action. "This way, I'm sure she went this way." He pointed to the only quiet place in the Hold at the moment, up an empty hallway.

Listening carefully, Venrys began to call her sister's name. "Syren, you better come out now! It's time to get back!" Her eyes scanned the area, looking for any sign that the young girl had come this way like dropped bread.

Lafael fidgeted beside her, worry clearly etched on his face. If they didn't find the girl he was going to get such a beating! That's all that seemed to come his way, these days. Silently he cursed his bad luck to have broken his ankle a turn ago. If that hadn't happened, he never would have found himself trapped here in this harsh place. Not that the Cavern trader he had lived and worked with had been much nicer. But at least the man hadn't beaten him. His anxiety over the lost girl rolled over him like a wave.

Heading down another corridor since she didn't hear anything, Venrys followed the smell of food. There were one of two reasons Syren might have left the group-food or a game. If she was playing hide and seek they were in a world of trouble. Father would not be pleased. "I think.." She bit her bottom lip. "If she isn't here, I don't know." That she might have failed in her duties as an older sister was beyond fathomable and Venrys' chest deflated.

Lafael's stomach grumbled but he knew better than to go get some food. This place was strict like that. Instead, he pressed his fist to his stomach, to fool it into thinking it was full. Glancing about, he caught a flap of a pink skirt. Tugging on Venrys' arm, he said, "Could that be her?" It was hard to tell in the crowd.

Her head swiveled and her eyes tried to focus on what he was pointing at. "Maybe. You have longer legs than me. Go that way behind her and I'll come to the side. That way, she won't get away if it is." Venrys was quietly plotting her revenge for later, but he didn't need to know that. Her little sister would not embarrass her this way and get away with it.

"Okay." Lafael sighed and focused his mind. Now was not the time for his usual daydreamy way. If he didn't want a beating he had to get the girl and get her back before anyone noticed they were missing. Quickly he positioned himself where Venrys had told him to go and nodded at her.

She approached from her angle, figuring that it was Syren when she saw the face turn. The hand moving away from it held a sticky bun. **That ungrateful...** Feeling her face turn red, Venrys hurried, seeing Syren moving forward. And then her little sister spotted her and knew that the jig was up, not without a little bit of trepidation in her face. Wondering if Venrys was going to tell, she sighed and finished the bun.

Lafael closed the girl trap by coming up behind Syren. Another loud clap of thunder snapped overhead just as he laid his hand on her shoulder. And with that came a sheet of rain. Lafael looked at the two girls. "Ah well, at least we're inside."

Syren turned to the person touching her, wondering just what they were going to do now. Obviously he was the oldest, not Venrys, which meant nominally he was in charge for the moment. She lifted hopeful eyes at him, thinking maybe he wouldn't tell if she was good. "Da and Parale are out there in that, though. Yuck. But rain means no live threads so they'll be coming back soon."

"Better wet than threads." Lafael shuddered at the thought of being out during threadfall. It had never happened when he had been a drudge for a caravan trader, but that man had cut it fine a few times, getting them under shelter just in time.

But that was the past, now he had a job to do, even if he was doing it poorly. Patting the young girl on her arm, he said, "Let's get you back before anyone notices you were missing."

Syren brightened since that meant no punishment. She happily followed along, satisfied after her bun adventure. Venrys, on the other hand, followed along quietly. She wondered what Syren would get when she told about her sneaking off. She almost smiled, just for a moment.

Last updated on the November 20th 2014

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A Job To Do