The Return Visit (2/2)

Writers: Devin, Estelle
Date Posted: 8th May 2025
Series: Guarding Gil

Characters: Tr'vel, Gilbek, Rhysel, Amigene
Description: Tr'vel and Gilbek share a meal with the cotholders
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 4, day 14 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Corofel (not by name), I'lek

Tr'vel

"This looks wonderful, Amigene." Gil's mouth watered as she handed him
his plate. "The food at the Weyr is abundant and very good, but I've
missed your cooking."

"We made an effort. It's an honor to have a dragonrider at our table,"
Amigene said, smiling at Tr'vel.

"It's an honor to be here," the bluerider said. "You're both very
gracious hosts, and I can tell this food is made with love."

She beamed. "You're both always welcome here, whenever you like, and so
is Eboroth."

"Though he may have to feed himself," Rhysel said, reaching to take his
plate and leaning over it protectively, as if it might be snapped up by
a hungry dragon.

Amigene shook her head. "Help yourself to fingeroots and tubers, and
there's gravy if you want it."

Gil passed the dish she handed him to Rhysel. "So, how has it been here,
since I - ah, left?"

"Oh, life goes on much as usual. Rhysel went over to the hold a few
sevendays ago, as they had traders visiting. He came back with some
scandal sheet..."

"It's a newspaper," he protested. "Craft made. You enjoyed listening to
me read the stories."

"There's nothing wrong with waiting for the harper to visit on his
rounds." Amigene shook her head. "The poor Lord Holder. I'm sure it
can't be true."

"I'm sure it can. Boys will be boys, particularly when they've got a new
title to their name."

"Really, Rhysel. Show some respect." Amigene gave her husband a
thoroughly disapproving look. "What about the Weyr?" she asked, turning
to Tr'vel to change the subject. "Is there any news, besides that awful
attack?"

Tr'vel glanced over at Gil. "Should I bring I'lek by to entertain
them?" He turned back to Amigene and shared some of the tamer gossip
around the Weyr.

Gil nearly choked on a forkful of tuber at the thought of subjecting the
two elderly holders to I'lek. As he watched Amigene's delight as she
soaked up the Weyr gossip, though, he changed his mind. Perhaps it
wasn't such a bad idea...

Soon enough, the plates were empty, and Amigene had gathered up the
scraps for the cothold's feline, who'd been drawn in by the scent of the
roast and was weaving her way around the table legs, looking plaintively
up at each of them in turn. While Gil cleared the table, she went to the
oven, wrapped her hand in a cloth and drew out the tray of bubbly pies.

"Now we'll get to taste Tr'vel's cooking," she said, serving up two into
each bowl. "There's cream if you'd like it."

"If it's any good, it's because I followed your instructions," Tr'vel
said with a smile. He noted the way Gil acted around them, and the way
Amigene and Rhysel treated him. They seemed almost like family.

"This meal is a team effort. Even Rhysel contributed," she replied, with
a fond glance at her husband.

"Those fingerroots were expertly peeled," Gil agreed.

Rhysel poured himself a generous helping of cream, then took a bite,
closing his eyes in bliss. "Delicious." He opened his eyes again and
grinned. "Well done, dragonrider."

Tr'vel chuckled as he added cream to his pie as well. "It's my
pleasure to contribute in some small way to such a lovely meal." He
took a bite and hummed in appreciation. "Oh that _is_ good."

"He's right. These are wonderful." Gil agreed, licking the sweetness
from his lips.

"Well, it's not every day we have a dragonrider and a hero at our
table," Amigene said, her eyes glinting with amusement. "I hope you'll
visit again, whenever you like. I've more recipes I'd like to try, and
it's not healthy for Rhysel to eat the lot."

"I certainly don't mind the idea of being your taste tester," Tr'vel
said. "And one of the advantages of being retired is that I have a
little more time on my hands." And he was sure Gil would like to visit
more often.

"You're retired? A strong, healthy lad like you?"

"Rhysel!" Amigene hissed. "Where are your manners?"

"Tr'vel is retired from the Fighting Wings," Gil explained quickly, to
spare both his friend and the cotholders any embarrassment. "Eboroth was
injured fighting Thread. But they still have important duties at the
Weyr. Sweepriding, transport duty..." He grinned. "Looking after me."

"Not so much of that, anymore." Tr'vel smiled at Gil. Then to the
holders, he said. "With Eb missing an eye, he can't fight Thread. It's
. . . a bit of a mixed blessing. My duties aren't that different from
before Thread returned, except I have to watch everyone else go up to
fight and risk their lives."

"That must be hard, waiting for them to come back. I'd never thought of
what must happen to the injured ones," Amigene said.

Tr'vel nodded. "It was really hard at first. Eboroth still wants to
fight, and I keep having to remind him that he can't. But I've gotten
used to it. It's been close to ten Turns now."

"But you did fight when you were called to." Rhysel clapped a hand to
Tr'vel's shoulder. "My apologies. You've earned your retirement, both of
you."

Tr'vel wasn't sure he'd earned anything except pain and heartache. "No
need to apologize."

"You've certainly earned a second helping of dessert," Amigene said,
smoothing over any awkwardness as she rose to fetch the remaining pies.
"And Rhysel, you can top up the wine."

"All right." The cotholder's brow creased. "How sober do you need to be
to fly back to the Weyr?"

Tr'vel chuckled. "Eboroth knows the way. I have a high tolerance,
though, and if I have any concerns, we can sit and chat for a while
until I'm ready." He wouldn't mind an excuse to spend more time with
these kind folks.

"Be careful." Gil watched, amused, as the cotholder refilled the
glasses. "Rhysel's blackberry wine is deceptive. Stronger than you think."

"Well, you'll need a bit of warmth in your bellies when you're up there
in the skies, eh, dragonrider?"

"True. But also I'm going to savor this delicious wine." Tr'vel took a
slow sip to demonstrate.

Gil raised his glass. "Here's to that. We can lean on each other and
stagger back to Eboroth."

"Have another bubbly pie." Amigene shook her head indulgently and placed
a plate on the table between them. "A full stomach will keep it from
going to your heads."

Tr'vel lifted his glass. "To Amigene and Rhysel, and their generous
hospitality."

Last updated on the May 12th 2025

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