Post by Esko on Aug 5, 2018 15:48:03 GMT -5
The entire way back to the bay, Kalahan cursed himself for his stupidity.
It just didn't make sense at the time; how could the Weyrleader possibly know the name of a Weyrling girl who rode green? And yet, he knew Karolinna had no shot in Pern of ever Impressing gold; he had wanted to investigate it for himself. When he'd seen her meandering about, with no weyrling knots on? He'd had the brilliant idea of trying to take her back on the spot. Why? Why did he do it? And all it gained him was an exile from Mavros for trying to kidnap a weyrling and separate her from her dragon- a brown, of all things. He had heard whispers of a girl Impressing a brown before, but he'd disregarded it. Was it true after all? And why, oh why, did his charge have to Impress a brown?
As he was led into the port of the smallhold, Kalahan glimpsed at The Bronzer. He would return to her in shame and ruin, and he would have to deliver the news of their break with Mavros. And with their pillaging -luckily they were still ports that they hadn't raided, but that number dwindled fast every day- soon there would be nowhere that would accept them without violence. They were independent, and would have to fight for themselves and only themselves. And, Kalahan swore to himself, he would avoid Weyrs with a passion. It was hard enough for him to ride on Dasiryth's great hide into Mavros, and seeing the horde of small dragons triggered one of those attacks. They were frequent for him soon after the accident until he left his old Weyr and rejoined the Seacraft. He'd thought himself over them, but then the scene played all over again in his head; the flaming green crashing into brown hide, the smell of burning flesh, watching the love of his life between as he fell. Kalahan's boots echoed on the wooden deck as he forced the thought out of his mind. Even today, he sometimes wished that he hadn't been rescued, that he'd smacked onto the ground and broken his neck.
His crew had seen him coming and had assembled to welcome him back. Kalahan had immediately barked the order to set sail, not making eye contact with anyone- especially Quilken. The man had been his most loyal and trustworthy Journeyman, and stuck by his side even if he disagreed with turning to piracy. Apparently, Kalahan had put too much faith in the man; he should've realized how closely Quilken held the dratted girl. He'd helped give Karolinna cover, enough time for her to get it into her head to Stand. Why? Why did he care more about Karolinna than his captain? Kalahan felt the slow lurch of The Bronzer leaving port, but he stayed in his cabin. After some time had passed, Kalahan had exited and called the crew to gather around. He didn't miss a single disheartened or confused face as he explained their break from Mavros, though he didn't tell them why. It was just too humiliating.
When his speech had finished, he dismissed the men and beckoned Quilken forward. The Journeyman complied with swiftness. "Aye, sir?" He quipped, and Kalahan had to admire his ability to hide what he'd done from. A skilled dragon-poker face, but it didn't do squat. Without a word, Kalahan picked him up and hoisted him off the edge of the boat. Quilken dropped into the open ocean. He gasped and yelped, paddling with startled energy. Then, Kalahan picked up a knife and threw it at him. The wet thunk blended in with the splashing of water against the vessel. The yelling promptly stopped.
Some members of the crew looked at Kalahan with startled fear-and-confusion, but a pointed look sent them promptly back to their duties. He returned to his quarters and thought. He thought about his next moves; no matter what happened, Kalahan had to admit that he'd gotten attached to Karolinna. He didn't like the thought of her just disappearing into Weyrlingland and him not knowing if she was alive or dead. And if her brown died but not she, perhaps she could be brought back to The Bronzer to continue work. He would certainly take her back in that case. But he needed someone to let him know of these happenings, and after what Quilken pulled off, he realized he needed someone who had no care for her as a person. That someone also needed an extreme loyalty to the ship so that he would report whatever happened with the girl. And Kalahan knew just who that someone would be.
"Kalzen!" Kalahan barked. He was leery of giving his only heir to this job, but he knew that Kalzen didn't give two flecks about his 'sister'. Or, at least, he wouldn't go behind his father's back to make sure she was safe or whatever. "Get over 'ere."
Taxx (I dunno)
It just didn't make sense at the time; how could the Weyrleader possibly know the name of a Weyrling girl who rode green? And yet, he knew Karolinna had no shot in Pern of ever Impressing gold; he had wanted to investigate it for himself. When he'd seen her meandering about, with no weyrling knots on? He'd had the brilliant idea of trying to take her back on the spot. Why? Why did he do it? And all it gained him was an exile from Mavros for trying to kidnap a weyrling and separate her from her dragon- a brown, of all things. He had heard whispers of a girl Impressing a brown before, but he'd disregarded it. Was it true after all? And why, oh why, did his charge have to Impress a brown?
As he was led into the port of the smallhold, Kalahan glimpsed at The Bronzer. He would return to her in shame and ruin, and he would have to deliver the news of their break with Mavros. And with their pillaging -luckily they were still ports that they hadn't raided, but that number dwindled fast every day- soon there would be nowhere that would accept them without violence. They were independent, and would have to fight for themselves and only themselves. And, Kalahan swore to himself, he would avoid Weyrs with a passion. It was hard enough for him to ride on Dasiryth's great hide into Mavros, and seeing the horde of small dragons triggered one of those attacks. They were frequent for him soon after the accident until he left his old Weyr and rejoined the Seacraft. He'd thought himself over them, but then the scene played all over again in his head; the flaming green crashing into brown hide, the smell of burning flesh, watching the love of his life between as he fell. Kalahan's boots echoed on the wooden deck as he forced the thought out of his mind. Even today, he sometimes wished that he hadn't been rescued, that he'd smacked onto the ground and broken his neck.
His crew had seen him coming and had assembled to welcome him back. Kalahan had immediately barked the order to set sail, not making eye contact with anyone- especially Quilken. The man had been his most loyal and trustworthy Journeyman, and stuck by his side even if he disagreed with turning to piracy. Apparently, Kalahan had put too much faith in the man; he should've realized how closely Quilken held the dratted girl. He'd helped give Karolinna cover, enough time for her to get it into her head to Stand. Why? Why did he care more about Karolinna than his captain? Kalahan felt the slow lurch of The Bronzer leaving port, but he stayed in his cabin. After some time had passed, Kalahan had exited and called the crew to gather around. He didn't miss a single disheartened or confused face as he explained their break from Mavros, though he didn't tell them why. It was just too humiliating.
When his speech had finished, he dismissed the men and beckoned Quilken forward. The Journeyman complied with swiftness. "Aye, sir?" He quipped, and Kalahan had to admire his ability to hide what he'd done from. A skilled dragon-poker face, but it didn't do squat. Without a word, Kalahan picked him up and hoisted him off the edge of the boat. Quilken dropped into the open ocean. He gasped and yelped, paddling with startled energy. Then, Kalahan picked up a knife and threw it at him. The wet thunk blended in with the splashing of water against the vessel. The yelling promptly stopped.
Some members of the crew looked at Kalahan with startled fear-and-confusion, but a pointed look sent them promptly back to their duties. He returned to his quarters and thought. He thought about his next moves; no matter what happened, Kalahan had to admit that he'd gotten attached to Karolinna. He didn't like the thought of her just disappearing into Weyrlingland and him not knowing if she was alive or dead. And if her brown died but not she, perhaps she could be brought back to The Bronzer to continue work. He would certainly take her back in that case. But he needed someone to let him know of these happenings, and after what Quilken pulled off, he realized he needed someone who had no care for her as a person. That someone also needed an extreme loyalty to the ship so that he would report whatever happened with the girl. And Kalahan knew just who that someone would be.
"Kalzen!" Kalahan barked. He was leery of giving his only heir to this job, but he knew that Kalzen didn't give two flecks about his 'sister'. Or, at least, he wouldn't go behind his father's back to make sure she was safe or whatever. "Get over 'ere."
Taxx (I dunno)
