Skin Deep

Writers: Jane
Date Posted: 23rd November 2006

Characters: Arateyka
Description: Arateyka finds her sister working in the dining cavern.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 13, day 20 of Turn 3

"I didn't know you were doing this now," Arateyka said, stopping with a plate of fish casserole in one hand and a mug of ale in the other. She nodded toward the table closest. "Are you busy?"

"Well, I'm supposed to be working," Lhara said with a grin. "Just let me get rid of these and I'll let the staff know that I'm taking a _quick_ break."

The journeywoman smith made a face at her sister's retreating back.
When had Lhara – spoiled little Lhara – become so conscientious? As the baby of Delhara's family and a very pretty child with her red-gold hair and pale skin, Lhara always managed to find people who wanted to do her work for her. For a moment Arateyka's thoughts hesitated on the brink of the automatic comparison.

"Just like Ykana," she muttered, setting her plate down on the table and taking a long sip of the cold ale. With deliberate movements she placed the mug beside her plate and then sat down. Lhara was the only one like Ykana in looks. It was a fact and it shouldn't make her wince to remember it. The same in looks, both of them taking after Delhara, but very different in personality.

That was an easier thought to deal with. Lhara might have been spoiled but it hadn't made her expect it in the way Ykana had. Where Ykana had been demanding and sly, Lhara was charming and open. Perhaps it got the same results but Lhara was far, far easier to tolerate as a sister.

"Aren't you going to eat that?"

"Mmm? Oh. Yes. I'm starved." Arateyka dug into the casserole as her sister settled into a chair on the opposite side of the table. After a few mouthfuls she paused to repeat her earlier comment. "I didn't know about you working in the dining cavern. When did this start?"

Fourteen-Turn-old Lhara shrugged. "A sevenday or ten days?" She screwed up her face. "Better than cleaning. Meeting people."

Ykana liked working in the dining cavern, too, for the brief time that had been allowed. Eventually somebody had realised Ykana spent less time working than talking to the riders and she had been moved out to the kitchens permanently. Within a month she had decided to Stand.

"And you're going to Stand," Arateyka said, her statement echoing her thoughts.

"Uh-huh. I've been thinking about it for ages. You know, since I was twelve."

"Yeah, that'd be ages all right. You could apprentice, you know. You don't have to Stand just because you don't like the work you've –"

"Oh Ara, no! Me? Apprentice?"

Lhara's laughter was infectious and Arateyka found herself joining in.

"You know I'm not clever enough for that! Can you imagine it? I'd drive the masters crazy. And no, I'm not Standing to get out of work.
I'm not clever but I'm not _that_ silly. I know how hard Teykara works and I know what Thread can do to a dragon and rider." Kind-hearted Lhara reached over to put her hand on her sister's for a moment. "We all know. And I like this job. Or kitchen work. I didn't like cleaning but I was _good_ at it. I _was._"

"Sure you were."

"I _was,_" Lhara insisted, knowing she was being teased. "Of course, I hated having to go back the next day and clean the same place again."
Her face was alight with amusement, reminding her sister again that the likeness to Ykana was no more than skin deep. "They're always telling me in the kitchens that I'm here now because I ran out of different places around the Weyr to clean."

"You could have come by my room – or Teykara's bathing room."

"Clean your own mess. And nobody is cleaning in there until she gets the lighting fixed. Honestly, even glows would help." For a moment Lhara watched her sister eat. "I have to get back. I don't work in the mornings, though. Come in early for breakfast and I'll get up early and answer all your questions then."

"All?" Was she really interrogating her sister? Arateyka nodded, willing to meet with Lhara over breakfast but determined to leave the questions behind. If Lhara wanted to Stand then it was her right to do so. "See you tomorrow."

Last updated on the November 23rd 2006

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Skin Deep