Just One Word

Writers: Miriah
Date Posted: 19th September 2012

Characters: J'ackt, Unula
Description: Jenackt travels and finds something he doesn't expect
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 10, day 9 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Yarlna

J'ackt

It had been sevendays and he was beginning to worry. Yarlna hadn't
come to see him and as close as he could get to her home, he'd not
seen her at all. Jenackt sighed quietly, already missing the spunky
young girls presence. Perhaps it was simply that she couldn't come
any longer; it didn't surprise him, but it left him more lonely than
he realized. Her friendship, child though she was, had brightened
his evenings a great deal and now he missed the company.
Despite his father and his faltering relationship, at least he had
had someone to talk to.

Jenackt stared at his fire in his little cave with a scowl, suddenly
hating his existence. He jammed another stick into the fire with
a savage thrust, wincing as sparks leapt and bit into his hand.
Suddenly, he didn't want to stay in his cave for the day. He needed
to be out. He needed to do something...anything. He hungered for
a voice other than his own. Any voice at this point would do,
even a holder's voice.

Rising abruptly, Jenackt banked the fire and gathered up his
small pack and his ever present sword. He had enough pilfered
food. He had enough game. He didn't need more, unless he wanted
it to spoil. Exhaling through his nose, he stuffed some dried meat
and berries into his pack, then strode out of his little nook. The
sun hit him immediately and he paused soaking in the early morning
warmth and fresh air.

Without really paying attention, he started north moving through the woods
with the ease of someone well acquainted to his surroundings. Towards
cotholds, towards people. Just one voice. That's all he wanted. He'd kept
his head low, he'd not been noticed lately. Perhaps it was that quiet and
hope that he had been forgotten about that drove him.

He walked for a couple of candlemarks before the lows of a herdbeast
caught his ear. He paused and unknown to him, relief filtered into his eyes.
Moving a bit quieter now, he walked towards the sound and his ears
strained for anything else. Nothing. He frowned and moved closer, his
feet bringing him to a small clearing that he's not encountered before.

The cothold was extremely small and had the beginnings of a look of
disrepair. He crept closer and not hearing anything, decided to peek into
a window.

"Nothing much to see in there, lad." Jenackt whirled in surprise, his hand going
to his sword immediately, but stopped when he came face to face with a kind, tiny,
elderly woman. She smiled a little, glancing at his half-drawn sword and shook
her head. "Now now, no need of that. I'm about as much harm as my old feline.
And almost as toothless." She tilted her head back to stare at him, taking him in.

Surprised that she wasn't immediately brow-beating him, Jenackt took a step back,
glancing quickly around for any others that might come to try to take him by surprise.
To his further shock, the old lady smiled again. "No need to look so worried, m'boy.
No one else but me and my old tom, and that raggedy old herdbeast behind you. "

Jenackt finally spoke. "You're not afraid of me. You're not chasing me off...."

She snorted. "Pft. I'm old. I couldn't chase you. Besides, I've lived my life and
if you were to chop of my head, well, not much I could do about that, now is there?"

Jenackt's jaw dropped. "I wouldn't do..."

"Oh, I didn't figure you would." Her eyes flicked over him and she put her hands
on her aged hips. "You're that holdless boy, aren't you? The one that's got
everyone in a stir." She chuckled as Jenackt suddenly looked alarmed. "Oh,
no worries, dearie. No one bothers with me much anymore, nor I with them. But
I hear still hear things on occasion when my son comes once a turn to check on
me from the main hold. You've got them all sorts of excited, and you just a young,
cute little thing."

Cute little thing? Jenackt looked disgruntled and his jaw clicked shut as she
chuckled again. He scowled at her and she smiled wider, then brushed past
him with another soft chuckle. Bemused and a little confused at the reception,
he followed her. "You live alone?"

The old lady nodded. "Oh yes. Gets lonely, it does, but as much as my son threatens,
I'll not leave. It's my home." She stopped at her door and turned to look at him.
"Come on in then, and I'll make you a nice cup of klah. You look like you could use it
and I wouldn't mind a guest. " Jenackt stared at the door with trepidation, then
looked behind him, then back. The old lady opened the door and for the first time
in his recent memory, Jenackt entered a home with permission.

Within short order, Jenackt was hustled into a seat, klah was brewing and before
he could say otherwise, a warm cup was pressed into his hands. Still more than
a little bemused by the entire situation, Jenackt just looked at the woman who sat
across the old table. "Oh dearie me, I forgot to introduce myself and you're still
looking a mite confused." Jenackt simply blinked at her. "My names Unula. "
She paused and looked at him with understanding. "And you're just not sure what
to make of me."

"Uhm...no." Jenackt shook his head.

"Well, I can't keep calling you lad, and m'boy, can I?"

Jenackt opened his mouth, about to give the same false name he had before, then
stopped. "Jenackt."

"Well, Jenackt...it's nice to have company." She paused and looked at him before
taking a sip of her own klah. "You're alone aren't you?" Jenackt's eyes widened
and he shifted, unwilling to answer the obvious. Unula shook her grey head
and clucked her tongue. "Shame that. Gets lonely, especially for a young man,
I'm sure." She sipped her klah. "None of my business why, of course and I'll
not trouble you by asking. " She smiled and reached over to pat his hand.

Jenackt finally took a sip of his klah and closed his eyes at the taste. "Thank you."

"No problem at all, Jenackt." She stopped and looked at him for a long moment,
her eyes considering.

He stared back and finally arched his brow. "What?"

"I was just thinking. You should stay for supper."

"I have to be getting back..."

"Back to what?" She arched grey slashing brows at him. "Pssh. I haven't
cooked for a young man in turns. Let an old woman enjoy herself for a little
while."

"But I can't pay..."

Unula shook her finger. "Don't you say a word about marks to me. I don't need
them. Now...if insist on helping, you can go bring in some fire wood for me.
That'll be a help. And I'll fix my famous stew. No arguments..." She didn't let
him finish the words he had opened his mouth to say.

Before he knew it, Jenackt was politely conscripted to bringing in firewood.
She smoothed over his arguments and he couldn't help but smile slightly
at her laughing, motherly demands.

He stayed. He brought in the firewood, he listened while she chopped
tubers and talked. And for just a few candlemarks, he felt almost normal.
So it was with surprise when he finally looked outside and found it getting
dark. It was with even further surprise that he agreed to come back to
visit her again the next day. For that day, he'd not felt so alone.

And he liked that feeling.

Last updated on the November 17th 2012

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Just One Word