A Life Without Dragons

Writers: AL, Len
Date Posted: 16th December 2010

Characters: Briata, J'nne
Description: Briata meets Jaylene's youngest brother over dinner
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 12, day 21 of Turn 5

Briata

Briata leaned back in her chair, her hands cradling a cup of klah. Her eyes fluttered shut as she listened to the strains of the music that poured forth from the instruments of the harpers. There was always music at the height of dinner and it certainly added something. In fact, meals, especially dinner, without music felt odd. Even at her father's hold, there was at least one person with musical ability who would play for a little while. The tune stopped and Briata opened her eyes to see harpers switching out. They had to eat too, and it was easier to do things in shifts, especially in a place that had so many. Briata sipped slowly at her klah, letting her gaze wander. Familiar faces abounded, but she sat alone, melancholy in spirit.

Jayonne took his seat as the other harper left it vacant. He lifted his mother's violin to his chin, grinning as he thought about poor Jaylene re-fitting all 8 strings, grumbling all the time over the tiny sympathetic ones that ran under the fingerboard. He owed her a few pints for that. With a nod to the hand drummer seated beside him, they opened with a fast reel.

The corners of Briata's lips quirked up just a bit. It was certainly the sort of music that sent toes tapping and drew people to their feet to whirl about. Some were doing just that in a small area that had enough room for a few couples to give in to their temptation. Briata watched them, but she made no attempt to join. She enjoyed the music, but she did not have any particular desire to dance.

Jayonne and his partner ran through a few jigs after that one, and only slowed for one air. He enjoyed the dancers, as any good musician would. Scanning the crowd, he couldn't see J'zen, his brother, and remembered that Jaylene was nursing a small cold. Nor did he see the shocking copper hair of Im're, but one girl did catch his eye, sitting off to one side by herself. He had seen her around but couldn't place her name in his head. When his turn was over, he quickly packed up his violin and walked over to her table.

"May I join you," he asked, smiling.

Briata had listened to the music the entire time, but she had turned her gaze back to her klah and what little was left of her food. She was trying to decide if she was still hungry or if her stomach just hadn't settled down with what she had eaten already when the voice drew her attention away. She blinked up at the young man, one of the harpers who had been playing moments before. When it dawned on her that yes, she was being spoken to her by him she nodded and motioned to a seat opposite of her. "If you like."

"Ah, thank you." He grinned and sat down, placing a pint in front of him. Holding out a hand to her, he added, "I'm Jayonne, by the way."

The hand was taken by Briata's own, her grip warm and firm. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Jayonne." She offered softly. Her eyes strayed to the instrument and her brow furrowed. "Your violin...is...rather different."

"Ah, it's my mother's, and her mother's before her." He smiled, thinking of his lovely mother and her talent on the fiddle. "And before that and before that. We're not really sure how long it's been in the family. Do you play at all?"

Briata shook her head. "No. I've never tried. I can sing all right, carry a tune, but I've never tried an instrument." Her brow furrowed, "Doesn't it have too many strings? I thought violins only had four."

"Oh, the other four just vibrate in sympathy with the top ones. That's what gives it a silvery tone." He patted the violin gently and placed it back in its case. If anything were to ever happen to it, his mother would kill him. Jaylene probably would too.

"I never knew." Briata eyed the violin with a new appreciation. "I suppose I should learn something about music...but my craft has nothing to do with it so I suppose it shall have to wait. Do you play any other instruments?"

"Oh, the usual, gitar and drums. But enough about me, did you say you're in a craft as well?"

"I'm an apprentice weaver." Briata motioned to the knot she sported upon her shoulder. "Not as high a rank as you in it." Though hopefully she wouldn't be too far. She'd been working hard, spending long hours on her work, catching up for the turns she had missed. It wasn't where she had planned to be...but if she didn't do something, she'd go crazy. She'd start thinking about...other things. No, she didn't want to go there. Not right then. "Are you from the Weyr?"

"Aye, my da was a dragonrider, as are all my siblings." A shadow fell over his eyes at that. Unlike his two living siblings, he did think often about his father and his dead brother and what had taken them both. It wasn't in Jaylene and J'zen's nature to dwell, but it was in his. Then again, he had the luxury to mourn, he wasn't a rider. He didn't have to face that same enemy time and time again. Sighing and smiling ruefully at the lovely girl sitting beside him, he said, "it's a mad place, the Weyr, eh? How about you? Are you Weyr-bred or from the Craft at birth?"

Briata shook her head. "No. I was born at my father's hold. Onyx Peak." The young woman looked down into her mug and frowned a little bit, then took a long draw from her drink.

This girl was very familiar but Jayonne couldn't put his finger on it. "You haven't said what your name is yet." He grinned good naturely at her so she wouldn't take his words the wrong way.

"Oh, please forgive me. That was quite rude." A hint of pink touched upon Briata's cheeks. "My name is Briata." She inclined her head to accompany the formal introduction. "I should have said so earlier."

"Ah, don't worry, the violin distracted you. Nice to meet you Briata." He nodded his head formally at her, still grinning. He had heard about her but figured it'd be rude to say anything. That was her place. "I think you may have met a sibling of mine. Jaylene sound familiar?"

"She's your sister?" Briata perked up visibly at the sound of a familiar name. Oh yes, they had met. "Of green Reanth. Yes, I have had the pleasure. I didn't realise you two were related."

"Yes, and J'zen is my brother as well. Have you met him? Or his green?"

"No, I have not met him. What is the name of his green?" Briata queried, curiousity tinging her voice.

"Verlith. She's one of the bigger greens. Not as pretty as Reanth." The last was added in a whisper.

Briata laughed softly. "Yes, I know Verlith. In my eyes, all dragons are beautiful. Perhaps if I had one of my own, I would think she would be the most beautiful of dragons."

Jayonne nodded in silent agreement. "Verlith is pretty...it's just that Reanth is_really_a pretty one. I think Jaylene got lucky there, she got a green that can certainly stand out in a crowd of them."

"I suppose you are perhaps biased as well. But I won't argue the matter." Briata's smile brightened a little, but it didn't reach her eyes. Not quite. None of them had, but they were still sincere enough. "Did you ever try to Stand?"

Jayonne laughed. "Try to Stand? Oh yes, like six years of my life! But no more, it's not worth it all, and I've got my music, I'd hate to give that up like Jaylene had to. She used to be a cracking fiddler, I couldn't hold a candle to her." He shook his head good naturally. "No way miss, it's not the life for me."

"You and I have something in common, then." Briata stated softly, her hands playing over the wood of the table. "I refuse to Stand as well."

Jayonne lifted his glass. "Here's to wanting a life that doesn't involve dragons as the centre of it all!"

Briata smiled and lifted her own, letting it clink lightly against Jayonne's before adding a sincere, "Here, here."

Last updated on the January 22nd 2011

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A Life Without Dragons