Promises

Writers: Francesca
Date Posted: 26th July 2009

Characters: Taraglan, Selet, Rodachan, Leiana
Description: Both Taraglan and Leiana make expensive promises to their sons.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 3, day 15 of Turn 5
Notes: A Northern Dolphin Hall.

"Father?" Selet asked, stepping into the office.

"Yes?" Taraglan looking up from the reports he was reading. He and his sons had established early on in their apprenticeships that he would be referred to as 'Father' only when discussing personal matters. Otherwise, they used the same titles used by all apprentices.

"Are you really going to make us all move if you're offered the position?" the jr. apprentice asked.

"I hope you decide you want to move," his father said with a smile.

"But I don't want to move. All my friends are here. I'll never see them if

I'm all the way in the South!"

It was the same argument the boy had been using for sevendays and Taraglan had had some time to think of a response. "You can use both Peti and Arper to send messages back and forth. And, if you make some friends at the Weyr, you can even come to visit," Taraglan said soothingly. "And, either way, when you walk the tables you will need to leave the Hall anyway."

"But I still have Turns before that. Now, I want to be here."

"How about this," Taraglan said slowly, thinking. "If you come to the South, you can live with the other apprentices. You won't need to live with us."

"If I stay here the same will happen," Selet quickly shot back.

"But you will be with your family. And not far away on another continent." Taraglan's two eldest children were gone, at other crafthalls.

When Rodachan and Selet had chosen the dolphincraft, he had imagined that they at least would remain nearby for Turns to come.

"A firelizard egg," the man said. "For you."

"What?" Selet was stunned.

"If you come to the South, I will somehow get you a firelizard egg. It might take awhile," he cautioned, "but you'll get one. Consider it a small bribe."

Selet's mouth was opened in an 'O' of surprise.

Taraglan immediately regretted the promise, but it was too late to take it back. But, maybe this would be enough of a lure for his young son.

"Can I think about it?"

"Of course. Now, go on. I know you have class soon. Taraglan said with a smile.

"Yes, sir." Selet left the room, a lot on his mind.

~ ~ ~

"Ma?"

"Rodachan!" Leiana put down the book she had been leafing through and gave her tall son a hug. "You never come to the archives."

The senior apprentice sat down heavily in a chair. "Do we really have to move to the South?"

"You don't have to. We can't force you. But, we really want you to come with us." Leiana sat down next to him, putting a hand on his arm. "It will

be a fun adventure for you. You have spent your entire life living in this Hall."

"But I don't want to leave. Who knows when I'll be able to come back?"

"I know this is scary. Change is never easy. But, just imagine. Warm weather, a Weyr right next door, a new pod and new people to get to know."

"But what if it's awful? What if everyone is mean, or if the dolphins don't

like me?"

His mother laughed lightly. "I don't think that's possible. Dolphins like everyone." She then paused, a smile crossing her face as she remembered what Renada had told her about a certain Journeyman dolphineer with a gold firelizard. "What if I could get you a firelizard egg? Then you can send notes back and forth to your friends without relying on me, or your Da. And, you would have an automatic friend. What do you think?"

Rodachan's eyes were wide. He had been begging his parents for a firelizard egg from the time he could talk. "Really?"

"I know of at least one gold firelizard at the Hall" his mother said confidently. "Maybe we can buy an egg when she has her next clutch. As long as you're willing to wait a few months, maybe longer, I promise you'll have a firelizard."

"Wow. Thanks mom!"

"Is that a yes?" Leiana asked hopefully.

"It's a maybe," Rodachan replied, but his eyes were bright.

~ ~ ~

Leiana brushed her hair in front of the mirror while her husband sat in the bed, reading. "I have something to admit," she said guiltily.

Taraglan put the hide he was holding. "Actually, I do too. But, you first."

"Well, I made a promise today, an expensive one."

His eyebrows rose.

She turned to look towards him. "I promised Rodachan a firelizard egg if he moves with us." She sat down on the bed. "I bribed our son."

A laugh burst from her husband's mouth and it took several moments for him to say anything. "So did I!" he managed to say. "I bribed Selet!"

Leiana dissolved into laughter as well. She was generally the more lenient parent, prone to doing whatever she could to please her children. She had expected her husband to be mildly annoyed at her for promising something they had not discussed previously.

"Two firelizard eggs," Taraglan said finally, shaking his head. "That will be difficult to get, and expensive."

Leiana kissed him on the cheek. "Maybe that is the price we need to pay to keep our family together."

Last updated on the July 26th 2009

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Promises