A Changed Man

Writers: Estelle
Date Posted: 5th July 2020

Characters: R'fal, Terren
Description: R'fal is reunited with his father
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 4, day 16 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Corowal

R'fal and Marlath emerged from /between/ into the chilly air of hill
country. They were far to the south of Emerald Falls, and in the
distance he could see the rising peaks of the mountains of Black Rock
Hold. Despite his warm riding gear, he shivered, thinking of that night
back at Turn's End, when he'd gone to the mine, and what he'd seen there.

They weren't going so far today, though, and he was here with his
Wingleader's permission. Below him was a middling-sized hold, tucked in
the shelter of a hill where the traders' road crossed a bridge over a
rushing stream. The land around here was forested, with ovines and
caprines grazing on the bare, rocky slopes. As they descended he saw
carts drawn up in a circle in the clear land before the hold.

**Not too close,** he warned Marlath, and the dragon banked his wings
and glided down towards a spot on the other side of the river. As they
flew over, he got a closer look, and saw that each cart was loaded and
covered with tarpaulins against the weather. Blackrock, from the mines.
A little group of men stood huddled in the shelter of a stone-walled barn.

They landed beside the road, on a stony patch of ground bearing the deep
ruts of wagon wheels. R'fal dismounted, took off his riding helmet and
started out towards the bridge, half-running. As he jogged down towards
the hold, he saw the men turning to look at him and felt his breath
catch in his throat. They were armed, each with a sword at his belt and
an outer tunic of tough hide.

**Guards.** He should have expected them, the blackrock was valuable
enough to need their protection. These were different than the ones he'd
seen guarding the mine. Still, he wondered. Did they know? Had those
carts carried prisoners on the outward journey, out to their fate?

One of the men was approaching, raising a hand. "Brownrider. You're here
to collect a convict?"

"He's been released." R'fal felt his throat tighten. "My father."

The guard shrugged, looked him over with mingled disinterest and
contempt. "Not often anyone wants them back." He turned and gestured to
the others, and one of them walked over to the circle of carts and
kicked at a crouching figure.

The man staggered to his feet, and R'fal knew that it was his father,
but greatly changed.

He was wearing a grimy shirt and trousers which hung loose on his thin
frame and did little to keep out the chill wind, and his dark curly hair
was grey and matted with dust. He looked more weary than his son had
ever known. But he was alive.

R'fal hurried down the slope of the bridge and wrapped his arms around
his father. "Da...Da..." He smelt of blackrock dust, and unwashed skin
and fear. R'fal could feel his ribs pressed against his chest, though
his arms and shoulders were harder than before, sinewy with hard labour.
"I'm sorry - I tried..."

Terren eased back, and with a rush of relief, R'fal recognised a trace
of the old charm in his expression. "You've grown, son. You're a
dragonrider."

"Yes." R'fal glanced at the guard. "Let's get you out of here."

They walked back together over the bridge, R'fal supporting his father
as they went.

"I don't know how much you've heard." He hesitated. "We can't go back to
the cothold. Ma is staying with Uncle Evinder and Aunt Falanna, so
that's where we're going. They've said from the start they'd take you in
when it was over."

"I see." Terren's lip twisted for a moment, but then his face cleared.
"Well, that's generous of them."

"Yes. And you know, Lord Corowal agreed to let Kerril take back the land
when he's of age, since I can't, so it will stay in the family. Ma
arranged it all. She'll tell you, when we get back." They walked down
the slope towards the brown dragon. "Here's Marlath. He's fully grown now."

"He looks very well. A fine dragon." A gust of wind rose, and Terren
shivered, wrapping his arms around himself. R'fal hurried to fetch down
his spare riding jacket and wrapped it around his father's shoulders.

"We'll soon be back. It's warmer at Uncle Evinder's," he said, feeling
inadequate. Shells, he'd have brought warm clothes if he'd known. He
offered a hand. "I'll help you up."

"Thanks." Terren took R'fal's offered hand, but waited, feeling the
young man's hesitation.

"Da - before we go back - was it..." He looked back at his father. "Was
it bad?"

He closed his eyes, pain creasing his face. "Yes. It was bad. But it's
over."

"Da, I don't know how to...I didn't forget what you told me, that you
did what you had to for us. For the family. I'm so sorry. But I
couldn't...my duty..."

Terren nodded. "Well. Perhaps it was a lot to ask." He pulled the jacket
around him more tightly. "It doesn't matter now.

R'fal bowed his head, then took hold of the riding straps, showing his
father how to use them to climb. He wondered, as he buckled the straps,
if he should say more. How he'd tried. If his father knew, perhaps he'd
understand.

**Not now,** he thought. Not until he was recovered. His father was safe
now, and that was a weight off his mind, though he didn't know if he'd
ever stop feeling guilty. **Let's go, Marlath.**

The dragon rumbled, sounding anxious to his rider's ears, but he rose to
his feet, crouched and sprang into the air. R'fal breathed deeply,
visualised his uncle's cothold, the shapes of the buildings from the air
that had become so familiar these past months. The warmth of the sun,
the fields of lush grass and the beasts grazing. He let his mind clear
of everything except that image.

"We're going /between/," he called back. "Three breaths, and we'll be
there." His father didn't say anything, but gripped his arm in response.
And then they vanished into the dark.

Last updated on the September 29th 2020

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A Changed Man