Anger and Pain

Writers: Devin
Date Posted: 28th April 2008

Characters: N'vanik, Cosani
Description: N'vanik finds out just who Cosani is.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 9, day 16 of Turn 4
Notes: Immediately follows "A Personal Mission"

N'vanik

Cosani

"What?" N'vanik stared down at the girl.

"I'm your daughter," she said.

"I don't have a daughter," he insisted. What in Faranth's name was going on here?

She glared. "You can deny me all you want. I'm sure you'd rather just pretend I didn't exist. Don't worry. You're my ticket into the Weyr, that's all."

"_What_ are you sharding _talking_ about? I'm not pretending anything.
I don't have a daughter." Not one he knew about, at least.

"Don't lie!" she snapped. "Ma knew it was you. She said you were the only one. Granda said it, too. N'vanik! The bronzerider from Vista Point!"

}:Is this one your hatchling?:{ Loseth asked.

**Be quiet. I need to sort this out.** The girl had his name and his former Weyr right. What if ... "Who's your mother?"

"Cossida."

**Cossida...** The name brought back memories: slow candlemarks hidden away, the pleasant sound of her laugh, bitter fights. "You're Cossida's daughter?"

"Yes."

He could see the resemblance now. She had Cossida's light brown hair, her blue eyes, a similar shape of face. How long ago had that last fight with Cossida been? Fifteen turns, maybe? The girl looked like she could be the right age. He swallowed. Oh, shards... "She never told me she was pregnant."

The girl's glare faltered. "Would that have made a difference? Would you have married her?"

"No," he said. "But I would have taken her to the Weyr, if she wanted to go." He would have taken at least that much responsibility.

Tears threatened in Cosani's eyes. "How could you not know? How could you _not_?"

"She never said--"

"You ruined my life!" Cosani screamed. "You ruined hers, too! The suitor's family broke off the engagement when they found out. Nobody wanted to marry a dragonrider's _whore_!" She spat the word, tears spilling down her cheeks. She hated herself for crying in front of him, and in front of the people who were turning to look at the commotion.

"I didn't know!" N'vanik yelled back. "If you want to get flamed at someone, get flamed at her! She never sharding _told me_!" His stomach twisted. He felt betrayed. They'd parted on much less that amiable terms, but how could she have kept this from him? His own sharding child, and he never knew.

Cosani couldn't control the tears or the sobs that shook her. She sank down into the sand and her voice was suddenly small and helpless.
"Don't make me leave. Please, let me stay. Please."

N'vanik swallowed and knelt down, water lapping around his thighs. "I won't make you go away, alright? You can stay." All that anger, all that pain. So much like him. "It's okay." He reached out a hand to her.

She batted it away, glaring through her tears. "Don't touch me." She pulled her knees up and huddled in on herself.

Stung, N'vanik stood and backed away. Shards, what was he going to do?

Last updated on the May 1st 2008

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Anger and Pain