Honor is for Ladies

[kevna]

Asirikai – Lord Holder Candidate

He tried to hide a wince as he twisted to wave at someone who had called out to him. His ribs were sore, and he did wince visibly when he twisted back to head in the direction of the kitchens. Sharding pain. Sharding Pod. He had gotten cocky, riled Podrell up enough that the boy had launched himself hard enough into his ribs, and with that, and the tumble, he was lucky if he hadn’t cracked them. His own adrenalin had been high enough that he had been able to roll himself and Podrell so he was on top, and had sufficiently humbled his nephew by showing him who was stronger. Even the pain in his ribs couldn’t stop the smirk when he thought of that victory. Asirikai had come out looking better than the want-to-be-Lord-Holder. Which would be helpful if it drove him into hiding. More time to get ahead. Not that he needed it. People were getting to know him, his repertoire was growing, and he couldn’t help but take pride in that.

He kept his strides long, even if it pulled at his ribs, as he moved through the lower caverns. It was better to never appear weak. He almost passed through the weyr caverns without spotting her, but he was getting better at spotting her bright golden hair, even if she was tiny. She had enough energy to make up for her small stature, though with her height and attitude, he couldn’t help comparing her to a child still. A pretty child. Maybe that was another reason he enjoyed stirring the waters, because she also seemed so naïve. Or maybe because she had chosen Podrell over him. It did rankle, even if he didn’t necessarily want her. Hunger forgotten, he switched directions, moving toward the bouncing girl who was having what seemed like an avid conversation with one of the traders selling some trinkets of glass or other. He was just within range of hearing her, her bright voice exclaiming over his wares, and he cleared his throat. “Afternoon, greenrider.” A bright smile and sparkling blue eyes turned his way, and he noted the smile waver for a moment before reasserting itself. Curiosity over the flicker of emotion satisfied his reasoning for being here. Siorreya was interesting, he would give his nephew that.

Siorreya – Green Amagetith; Asirikai – Lord Holder Candidate

She had known she wouldn’t have the marks necessary to buy anything, but glass, the way light bounced through and off it, had a way of drawing her in. The trader obviously thought he was going to make a sale, especially when her companions grew bored and moved on to the dining cavern. But interest or not, she just couldn’t afford anything right now, shard it all. It didn’t stop her from appreciating the work, and complimenting it, and asking about the different sands that had been used for each piece. She was so involved she hadn’t noticed anyone approach her, nor did she immediately recognize the voice that greeted her. She turned with her usual welcome and curiosity to find Asirikai before her.

“Oh. Greetings Asirikai.” She tried to hide her ill ease. Asirikai did have a way of deflating every moment... Yesterday Asirikai had visited her to ‘check up on her,’ which had been strange and hard to believe. Their whole conversation he had danced around what had occurred the night before, as if digging for what she could remember. She had done her best to seem confident and knowing, when in fact she could barely remember anything. Yesterday morning, after throwing up a few times, all she could remember was playing that silly drinking game with Yva, Ceela, and Kekoa, a strange feeling of rocking back and forth, as if being cradled, and… A kiss. From what she had gathered from Asirikai, he must have carried her back to her weyr… And… She had kissed him? Or maybe he had kissed her? She felt a little shame wondering if things had gone farther, especially with the enmity between Asirikai and Podrell. She wondered what Podrell would think if she had slept with his uncle… Anger at that line of thought snapped her from any spiral. What did it matter? It didn’t. Who she kissed, and slept with, was her own business. Besides, she had still been wearing the dress and underclothes from the night before, so… It had just been a kiss. Not that it mattered. Because it didn’t.

“It’s wonderful to see you a little less green. I hope you’ve recovered well?” She blinked, registering the question, and grappling with it’s meaning before she was better able to concentrate. Right. She had just finished throwing up when he had arrived. Thank Faranth they had outside access, or it would have been Between to clean up. She nodded and grimaced at the lordling before her for his benefit, playing it up.

“I feel perfectly fine now. Thank you.” He nodded, and for a moment a flash of amusement entered his eyes. If he was laughing at her, she would find a way to make him regret it. A prank would be just dandy. “How’s my nephew recovering? I trust he found your weyr last morning just fine?” Confusion replaced her anger in a blink, and she felt her eyebrows descend.

“Huh?” Her mind flew as she tried to comprehend his words, piecing them this way and that, as if it would make the words make sense. She hated feeling like a deadglow and out of the loop. Asirikai’s face brightened at Sio’s obvious confusion.

“Why he was looking for you as I left yesterday morning. He didn’t check in on you?” There was a mocking hint in his voice she was sure wasn’t for her, yet she bridled just the same. “No one needs to check in one me. I can take care of myself.” She wasn’t trying to defend Podrell, she was just defending herself. And reminding Asirikai that she could care less that he had brought her klah. She hadn't needed him either. He nodded and shrugged, “Didn’t seem like he believed that at all, what when he came swinging at me like a piece of threadfodder.”

Sio sucked in a surprised breath, her teeth clenched. “What?” Her voice felt flat, even to her. Anger, concern, confusion, all coiled in her belly making her suddenly feel sick again. What had driven the frustratingly patient and confident Podrell into something so un-Podrell? “Why on Pern would he do that?” Her voice was sharper, angrier, her hands balled in fists. What she also wanted to know was if he was alright… It didn’t make any sense, none of it.

“To defend your honor dear lady.” As if it were the most obvious reason of all… But that would mean that they had… But they hadn’t. She was almost sure of it. “From what?” She tried to sound flabbergasted and wasn’t quite sure she had pulled it off. “Why, from me. It seems his feelings got the best of what little judgement he has, and I believe he made some false assumptions about the two of us and where I slept that night before last. Jealousy does not become him.” She suddenly had a headache, and the pucker between her eyes was more extreme as she tried to calm Amagetith, who had been pulled into the extreme emotions flaying Sio’s brain.

I’m just confused. And it was true. The anger was mostly gone, and her hands had relaxed. I need to think, can you give me that?

I do not like him if he makes you feel so. She was ferocious in her saying so, and Siorreya couldn’t tell if she meant Podrell or Asirikai.

I’m not sure I like him either. She agreed, mostly just to pacify her, and get her to retreat. Asirikai had confirmed what she had mostly already known. False assumptions. What he hadn’t clarified was why Podrell had launched himself into an attack.

“Podrell doesn’t fight with fists.” He was quite adept with just words. She had arranged her face into a mocking scoff, but even her confidence felt off. She didn’t know her schoolmate as well as she had thought, what with overhearing Podrell contradictions depending on the audience, who knew if anything he had ever told her was true? Asirikai’s eyes narrowed, and anger flashed in his eyes. A tight grin replaced the anger.

“Well, he threw the first punch, I assure you. If you need proof, you need only visit your lover. His face won’t be quite as pretty as you remember it.” His voice was moderate, as if it was taking his control to keep his anger. Her eyes widened as she realized his meaning. “I do hope he’s recovering well.” His words were still stiff, even if there was satisfaction in them. “Always a pleasure, rider.” If his use of her title was supposed to be respectful, he needed to work on that. She watched him nod to her and then turn to leave, leaving behind a floundering greenrider.

Podrell could not have fought… It wasn’t like him. In all the turns she had known him, she had never seen him throw the first punch. Never. And what would it have gained him? Asirikai was under some sun-crazed notion that Podrell had feelings for her, but he had all but dismissed her the night of the feast. He hadn’t wanted her company in the least, and he had been very plain. Not even one dance. She felt the spark of anger renewed. He could care less, and so could she. If he had fought with Asirikai, which she was in extreme doubt, the reason would not have been her. And she didn’t care. She didn’t care what his face looked like, or how he fared. She... Didn’t. So why she was picturing him in pain and mutilated, and feeling concern instead of satisfaction or exasperation, was beyond her. Better to just not think about it.

Deciding she wasn’t in the mood for food, especially after watching Asirikai enter the dining caverns, and in need of a distraction, she turned towards the exit, calling for Amagetith. Maybe she would visit the glass hall and see what projects she could assist with. After finishing calming down her anxious green. Sharding men. Why did they have to make so many problems? And honor? Suddenly a giggle burst out of her, and she shook her head. Honor. What a silly notion that Asirikai could have taken honor from her. Honor was for ladies. Men could be so hidebound.