Swindled

Writers: Halyonix, Heather
Date Posted: 18th December 2025

Characters: A'ris, Laithan
Description: A'ris discovers that Hallmaster Laithan _could_ be a thief, who knows?
Location: Healer Hall
Date: month 10, day 13 of Turn 12

A'ris

Laithan scowled at the sky. It was a sunny day but the sun did hardly anything to dismiss the chill. At least it wasn’t snowing. Or Threadfall. But where was that blasted dragonrider? Yes, it was wonderful that they could instantly transport from one end of Pern to another but what good did that serve if they weren’t punctual in the first place?

**You made us late,** A’ris accused Kyllavath as they burst out of /between/ above the Healer Hall. The cracking sound of their arrival echoed across the rolling hills.

}:It’s not my fault you couldn’t find the riding straps,:{ the brown pointed out.

**You were _LAYING ON THEM_!**

}:Why are you shouting? I’m right here,:{ Kyllavath huffed as he spiraled down for a landing near the newly constructed hall.

A’ris hopped down and winced inwardly at the look on the Hallmaster’s face. “My apologies, sir, for the tardiness.”

Laithan was still scowling though the nature of it had shifted slightly as he realized how young the rider was. “The Weyr sends a late weyrling to ferry me. I see how it is,” he grumbled. Shells, the kid wasn’t much older than Laithan’s son! Thinking of that, he asked, “What’s your name?”

The comment on his age made the brownrider blush beneath his bronze skin. “A’ris, sir, and this is Kyllavath.”

Kyllavath had the nerve to trumpet loudly, making A’ris wince as his ears rang from the blast.

“He’s a bit eager to prove himself,” he said apologetically to the Hallmaster.

“I see that,” Laithan replied with a suffering sigh. He huffed. He moved towards the dragon in order to mount. “Let’s get moving then. I don’t have all day.”

“O-Of course, sir,” A’ris immediately snapped into action by helping the Hallmaster into his place on Kyllavath’s neckridge. Mounting next, the young rider checked their straps. “Here we go, sir,” he warned before the brown enthusiastically leapt into the air and took them /between/.

Faranth was Laithan glad to see the sun again three heartbeats later.

He’d heard enough stories of dragonriders being lost /between/ to not trust the lick of sense that any weyrling had, much less this one. But as they were now safe, Laithan pointed towards the landing area outside of the large Hold. Hard to believe that they were in the North but if Laithan looked hard enough, he could tell by the different architecture. “I won’t take long,” he informed A’ris as he slid off the dragon’s back.

“Of course, sir. We’ll wait right here for your return.” A’ris said this while helping the Hallmaster to the ground. When he turned it was to the sight of Hold children running out to see and greet the Kyllavath. “Looks like I’ll have company while you’re gone.”

If the brown dragon had eyebrows, they would have been pitched upwards in delight as he saw the approaching children. }:Oh, admirers, just for me?:{

**Yes, Kyll, just for you.**

“Sharding dragonrider fan clubs,” Laithan muttered as he stepped quickly around the children and into the Hold. He found his contact -- a gnarled old man who had been tending the gardens there for decades -- and began the process of negotiating the sale. “Two marks for five bags, like we agreed,” he reminded the man.

“That was before the summer rains,” the elder answered querulously. “You said you would be here by summer’s end, which was months ago. I’ve been holding on to these for you and could have made a profit by now!”

“Look, it wasn’t my fault that the builders were behind and the farmer that was supposed to come get these decided to quit on me, okay?”

“Not my fault that you couldn’t get your affairs in order, Hallmaster. Three marks.”

“Three? That’s robbery. These are only worth two and a half at most.”

The old man let out an affronted gasp. “Rude! How rude of you! You come here, begging for a sale, and insult my stock? Out! Away!” He made a sharp shooing motion at Laithan, coming dangerously close to actually hitting him.

“Look, old man, I need these seeds and you need to get rid of them. Let’s just figure out a stupid price and I’ll be on my way and you can get back to whatever it is you do,” Laithan answered in a cranky tone. What was it about people who worked with plants being such a headache?!

“Four marks! For emotional damage!”

“Emotiona---what? That’s not even a thing!” It was. Sort of. But that was the realm of mindhealers and Laithan was not that. “Here. Two and a half marks and I’m out.” He tossed down the marks, picked up the bags of seeds, and began leaving.

“Thief! Scammer! Honorless rogue!” the old man yelled, trying to hobble after the quicker-moving Healer. His whiny voice could faintly be heard out in the courtyard.

“Before you ask,” Laithan growled at A’ris as he exited the Hold, “no, I did not steal the seeds. He tried to swindle me, I paid him extra, he’s being an old, greedy fart. Let’s go.”

A’ris’s eyes were as round as saucers. Had the Hallmaster stolen something from that old man? The brittle old guy certainly seemed bent out of shape, physically and emotionally.

“Okay, children, Kyllavath has to go now,” he told the brown’s admirers.

“Noooooo,” the children chorused in disappointment.

“Mister Dragonrider? Why is Old Peregran shouting at you?” One of the children asked with wide eyes.

A’ris laughed nervously. “Oh, he’s just, er, excited. Have a good day children.”

}:Farewell, my lovelies,:{ the words were only heard by A’ris, but Kyllavath’s croon was easy to interpret for the children who backed away and waved sadly.

“Let’s go Master Laithan,” A’ris said as he helped the Hallmaster up to the brown’s neckridge once again.

“Old crank,” Laithan muttered as Peregran’s shouts chased them down as Kyllavath took off. “Don’t ever try to swindle someone, you hear me, rider? When you agree to something, you stick to it. None of that indecisive haggling whershit.”

“Oh, uh, yes, sir,” A’ris replied, thinking this was shaping up to be his most interesting transport duty yet.

Last updated on the December 20th 2025

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Swindled