Dripping

Writers: Ames, Suzee
Date Posted: 15th March 2014

Characters: Demir, Kobias
Description: On the road to Amber HIlls
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 5, day 4 of Turn 7

Demir

He sat his runner easily as they trudged the trail toward Amber HIlls.
Hold. His mind had turned from the black anger he'd felt at first and
now he was resigned. He was happy his father had chosen him but still
upset with the conditions. Of course when he'd looked around the room
he'd seen the speculation in his sisters eyes and known where her mind
had turned.

She was nothing if not ambitions but he would be remiss in his duties
to his father and Hidden Valley if he, through inaction, allowed her
milquetoast of a husband to become Holder.

Dart swooped in from somewhere and wrapped her tail around his neck as
she chattered her displeasure in his ear.

"I know," he told her. "But I knew you'd find me." he added by way of
apology for leaving her at home. She continued to bombard him with
pictures of looking everywhere for him and her upset at not finding
him. But when she nipped his ear he reached a gloved hand up to sweep
her off his shoulder.

"Enough!"

He pulled a hood up over his wide brimmed hat and that was that. If
she wanted to continue complaining she could do it from where she
couldn't leave any bloody markers.

His runner crunched on over the frozen ground and he looked up at the
lowering skies. It was coming on for a storm and he knew it.
Like every farmer who spent a great deal of time out of doors, he
could feel the changes in weather around him.

"Kobias," he said over his shoulder. "How much more time do you think
we have before it hits?"

Kobias had been enjoying the fresh air and the ride. It had been a few
too many days of being confined to lots of time with his family. It
wasn't something he was used to. He'd grown more accustomed to time on
his own or with his fellow crafters, not the emotions and turmoil of
the affairs of his family. The peace and quiet of the ride was nice.

At Demir's voice, he picked up his speed and checked the skies. "Not
long, I'd say. A candlemark or less. If we're lucky the heaviest could
hold off until we reach Amber Hills."

"Maybe we should pick up the pace just a little. I think we're about
two or three miles out." He rubbed a hand over his face and shifted in
his saddle. The documents he needed to give Zathris were in his
saddle bags and weighed on him like a pile of rocks. But he had made
up his mind to do the job and do it well. Unfortunately that also
meant he had to comply with his father's wishes.

"Sounds like a plan," Kobias replied, giving his own runner a gentle
nudge to speed him up a bit. It had been a rather faster paced
journey. Both of them wanting to reach their destination to deliver
the news and move forward. It hadn't helped that it had been off and
on rainy since they set out. Though the clouds overhead now looked
worse than the others that had just sprinkled drops on them.

Demir pushed his runner from a slow plod to a ground eating lope and
it wasn't long before the skies opened up on them. Were it not for the
oiled riding leathers his brother had made them and their woolen
cloaks, they'd have been soaked through in no time. He turned and
grinned at his brother. "Having fun yet?"

Kobias just chuckled, allowing the rain to wash over him. He was used
to working in various conditions so the rain didn't deter him in the
slightest. He knew Demir was of the same ilk. The two of them had
always had more in common than the other siblings.

"Of course. Who wouldn't enjoy a nice downpour while traveling? Eh?"
He grinned, nudging his own mount forward. With the rain already
starting to pound he knew they couldn't push the runners or else the
animals might slip as some of the water puddled on the trail.

"We'll be nicely soaked through by the time we arrive," Kobias added.

"Always the ray of sunshine," Demir quipped as their pace slowed. They
came over a rise and there below them blurred by the falling rain was
the beautiful Hold of Amber Hills. "Not too bad time," he smiled.
"Shall we?"

"Most definitely," Kobias replied. "I wouldn't mind a roof over my
head and some dry clothes right about now." He looked down at Amber
Hills, eager to get there and dry off. "Come on, Marco," he said to
the runner, giving him a boost. "Let's see who gets there first!" He
called back over his shoulder with a big hearty laugh.

Demir just laughed. "I don't think so," he smiled. He knew Kobias
would win any kind of race as he always had. So they just trotted down
the road at a pace that ate up the last mile. Soon they were under
cover though still dripping.

Last updated on the March 16th 2014

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Dripping