What Were You Thinking?

Writers: Clancey, Rylie
Date Posted: 15th April 2006

Characters: Daynar, Otrina
Description: Daynar finds out about Otrina's flit
Location: Smith Hall (NPC)
Date: month 11, day 13 of Turn 3

Otrina froze when she saw Daynar approaching, Baji's comfortable warmth
on her shoulder a reminder that she had forgotten to send the little
bronze to her room. Did she have time now? She didn't think so. Well
she had concealed her possession of the new firelizard for longer than
she would have thought possible, but this was it, one could only avoid a
storm for so long.

Daynar was on his way to a meeting with some of the Senior Journeymen
and very distracted by that, when he saw his daughter in the hall. Well
enough, he hadn't seen her much of late and assumed she'd been keeping
out of trouble. Because of that, he was actually smiling and
intending to say something nice to her when he came near.

But his eyes narrowed as he saw a flit wrapped around his daughter's
neck. His own DAUGHTER! Anger made the kindly feelings disappear so
swiftly it was startling.

There is no name for the color his face turned; his eyes bulged and he
lifted a meaty hand as if to swat either Otrina or the fire lizard.

He took a breath to berate her. "OTRINA that better not be a fire
lizard! You KNOW THE RULES!"

Baji awoke with a questioning chirrup, not yet sensing the volatile
situation which was unfolding. Thinking quickly and trying to stay calm
so as not to set Baji into a frenzy, Otrina unwound the bronze tail from
her neck, sending him loving and reassuring thoughts and then firmly
sent images of her room, her bed, the little pillow on which he loved to
curl up. Though young, the tiny flit sensed her urgency and with one
more curious look at Daynar, he disappeared.

The girl had no time to pause and be impressed with the young bronze's
intelligence and quick obedience. With all the courage that was in her
Otrina, slowly lifted her eyes to meet her father's angry glare. "I do
apologize father," her soft voice a huge contrast to Daynar's, "I quite
forgot he was still with me," she stated, not even addressing the matter
of how she happened to HAVE a firelizard with her.

"Never mind that! Where did you get him? You KNOW fire lizards are not
allowed in this Hall! Why would you think you could have one, idiot
girl? I should have fostered you when I had the chance!" He glowered at
her, arms crossed now across his chest. "What were you thinking,
Otrina?"

"Well, I, ah, that is they can be very useful...once they are
older...and ah, many people..." her young voice faltered. "Please,
father," she begged, "I just wanted a friend."

"You idiot girl!!" He said again, making it seem an echo. "I know I
can't separate you from your blasted flit now, but you have to be
punished for this! Where is this willfulness coming from? Your
association with that young apprentice? Or With that blasted
fosterling?" He paused to frown at her even more fiercely. "My own
daughter flaunting my rules in my face! I cannot believe it."

Though her entreaty had been for his understading not his permission to
keep her little bronze, Otrina knew better than to make the point and
accepted the insult quietly. She quaked internally at the mention of
punishment and was quite certain that she should not point out to Daynar
that her "willfulness" could very well just be that she was growing up.

"This is no one's fault, but my own, father," she answered quietly,
which was a courageous statement for the timid girl. Though, wanting to
explain how very lonely she had been since her mother's death, Otrina
did not think her father would understand. She bit her lip to keep from
tears. He was so frightening when he was angry.

And he was angry. But he also couldn't stand the fear on his daughter's
face. Still growling, he said, "Go to your room and stay there. You're
forbidden to leave the Hall for any reason for an entire month, no
riding, no walking outside. And don't let me catch you associating with
that young apprentice either!"

"I'll be in to talk to you more about this, Otrina. But in the
meantime, don't let me see that flit of your's in the halls.
Understand?"

"Yes, sir," Otrina answered contritely turning to obey. She wondered
which apprentice he was referring to. He must mean Ulte since she
didn't think he even knew about her meeting Nyblek. The girl sighed
heavily, disappointed that her plans to try and meet up with the
handsome Nyblek again would have to be postponed.

He did mean Ulte, but had he known about Nyblek, Otrina wouldn't be the
only young person in trouble this day!

The Hallmaster frowned after her, shaking his head. Where was he going
wrong with her? She had been such a biddable girl before her mother went
and got herself murdered. She was obeying now, it was true, but what
was next?

Heaving a great sigh, the Hallmaster turned and went back in the other
direction. He had to do something about that girl!

Last updated on the May 3rd 2006

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

What Were You Thinking?