Making An Appearance

Writers: Heather, Suzee
Date Posted: 14th February 2017

Characters: Benani, Zathris
Description: Zathris and Benani take dinner at the tavern.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 10, day 7 of Turn 8

Benani

Zathris

With all that they had been through in the past two Turns, Zathris was
determined to make the most of every day with his wife. Benani had
been the one thought that kept him sane when he was marooned with
Thayde on that far, eastern island.

Tonight he was taking her to the Vintner Tavern for a little date
night while their kids stayed behind. Having three children made alone
time a little harder to come by.

"Are you sure you want to walk?" Zathris asked over his shoulder, as
he stood buttoning his tunic, gazing out the window at the snow
covered ground around Amber Hills.

"Yes," she smiled as she turned toward him. "It reminds me of that
time we did exactly that before the children were born. It's like a
little adventure."

Zathris remembered exactly the occasion she was referring to, and the
memory of it made him smile. He had his lengthy hair pulled back into
a smart looking tail, a dressier look than what he normally wore
around the Hold.

"You look beautiful." He told Benani, extending a hand to her.

"Thank you," she smiled back up at him and took his hand. Her hair was
dressed up on the back of her head and topped with a fashionable hat.
A warm scarf wrapped her neck and she was all ready to step out into
the snow.

Camnae sensed they were leaving and woofed as she trotted toward the door.

"This will be fun," she added.

Zathris snapped his fingers, and Alika sprang to life beside the door,
his dark eyes looking up to his master for further instructions. "The
canines will certainly enjoy getting out."

Benani chucked. "They sure do. So do I," she added as she slipped
through the door into the chill.

They walked quietly for a bit, crunching through the snow with
Zathris's hand to Benani's elbow, gently gripping in case she slipped.

"I had a meeting with Yusanis earlier this week. He was telling me
about some graffiti seen around the Hold. Have you seen it?" he asked.

"No, I haven't seen it but I'd heard about it. Some of my ladies were
discussing it the other day. They were quite shocked by what the
guards had to do to handle..." her voice trailed off and she turned a
slightly shaky smile toward him.

Zathris turned loose of Benani's elbow in favor of wrapping his arm
around her shoulders as they walked. "It will be good for the holds
people to see us out at the tavern tonight, continuing with our life,
the way they should." He refused to allow the events that had plagued
them over the past couple of Turns to dictate the way he lived the
rest of his life.

Benani nodded and blinked her eyes rapidly **I am _not_ going to
cry** She looked up bravely and leaned into him. "Yes, we'll show them
won't we?"

When they arrived at the tavern there were runnerbeasts hitched to
posts outside and further away a few dragons lounged. Zathris liked
that the tavern attracted different kinds of people, it encouraged
good faith between dragonriders and holders.

Alika sniffed the door to the tavern curiously before Zathris opened
the portal and ushered Benani into the warm building.

The first drudge that turned and noticed who the two newcomers were,
came over to Zathris and Benani with wide eyes and a hurried bow, "My
Lord, my Lady, 'llow me ta' show ya to 'er table."

Zathris inclined his head toward the girl, whose big brown eyes and
sooty blonde hair weren't completely unattractive, "We would
appreciate that." Alika trotted along side his master, and settled for
curling beneath the table that they were presented so he could have a
clear view of the other inhabitants in the tavern.

Zathris' hand on her back guiding her was always a comfort to Benani
and she smiled at him. It wasn't hard for her to swallow the memories
and project the Lady everyone expected her to be. She'd practiced it
so long she could now turn it on and off as needed. Though he never
failed to see through her mask. Camne joined Alika under the table on
guard but not obviously so.

Although he refrained from scanning the room, Zathris could feel the
people in the tavern watching him and Benani. It wasn't every day that
the Lord and Lady dined away from the Hold, after all.

".... somethin' ter drink?"

Zathris realized he'd missed the first part of the drudge's question
as he looked up and pinned her with a polite smile, "Yes, we'll have
some of the red wine, and bring us your cook's special tonight."

"Right'way, sir." The young woman bobbed in a sloppy curtsy before
hurrying toward the kitchen toward.

Benani smiled and looked around the big room and at all the welcoming
faces. "You're right you know." She leaned over to kiss her husband's
cheek. "We do need to be more visible."

Zathris covered Benani's hand with his own and gave it a light
squeeze. Probably because of their rank, the food seemed to come out
in no time at all, with steam still floating up from the platters. The
food looked better than Zathris had anticipated with slow cooked meat
slathered in a rich brown gravy, greens and tubers on the side.

"Don't get too full. I expect a dance after this," he winked at Benani.

"I can do that," she nodded back at him. She lifted a forkful of the
beef and gravy and her eyes closed briefly as she chewed. "Mmmm" she
said knowing her expressions would be relayed to the staff.
"Delicious," she said.

Zathris hid a smile behind his fork, knowing full well what his wife
was doing. This was exactly what they needed, a date for them, but a
show for the holders. A message to say that he and Benani were
unified, and that they weren't going anywhere.

Last updated on the March 2nd 2017

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Making An Appearance