Title: The Debt

Authors: Sam & Mel

Story: All That Glitters: 01 of ?

Series: Islinne Weyr

Characters: Moreece, Honoria, Yonda, -unnamed apprentice-, Aurum, Sharisa, Jadon, Larass, Vilmer, Prosel, S'varas, Chyp, Haukaye, H'ratio, (regina), (Sahdarba), (Corsit), (Lysterr), (Rymmer), (Katt), (Haylee?), (Krityn?), Honourum, -rider guard-

Rating: T: Abuse, Sexual Situation: Nothing graphic or explicit

Summary: Paying a debt to a monster changes Honoria's safe world forever.

Setting: AU 10th pass: Ista Hold, Weaver Hall, and Botany Bay Weyr

Spoiler: Not really, no, unless you are unfamiliar with anything basic in the Dragonriders.

Category: Drama, Romance

Disclaimer: "Dragonriders of Pern (R)" is a registered trademark to Anne McCaffrey 1967(c). All the ensuing titles therein are also trademarks of Anne (and Todd McCaffrey) and The Worlds of Anne McCaffrey, Ltd. "Once Upon a Time" is a registered trademark to ABC and Disney. I am in no way connected with these people, and I do not claim ownership to these characters, lands, or names. I have borrowed them to share a story... and most likely not a story either would have written, had they had the time or no. I am making no money from this, and it is just for my entertainment and that of free entertainment to a select group of friends. Thank You.

Note: I have not yet read any of the Todd McCaffrey books in the series, so this is AU, concentrating on a time almost 1000 years after Anne McCaffrey's 9th Pass ends. If this story contradicts any of Mr. McCaffrey's revelations, please forgive me. None of the characters are based on the canon characters, nor are the canon characters ever mentioned.

Second Note: Islinne Weyr was formerly Southern Weyr. For those who wish to know more about the 10th Pass hinted at in this fan-fiction, please contact me.

Distribution: Please ask first?

Feedback: Please? I love comments.

The Debt

3400.01.15: Ista Hold:

Twisting his gnarled hands, cursed with the joint disease of the aged, Moreece paced slowly, painfully across his workshop. He kept glancing at the door, not wanting his beloved daughter to see his worry, but not sure how he would solve the problem he'd gotten himself into. He stopped by his workbench, scattered with buds and ribbons and half-completed arrangements. Among the detritus of his chosen profession, the Journeyman Florist found what he sought: a tiny scroll of paper which had been delivered by a brown firelizard not an hour earlier.

He re-read the missive and worry began to twist into desperation, choking him into a loud sobbing groan. He covered his mouth, trying not draw attention from his Honoria.

Honoria was in the process of making their dinner, a thick stew, when she heard the choked noise behind her. She spun, letting the spoon drop. "Father, what's wrong?" she asked, rushing to his side, fearing that he had injured himself. But all she saw was a tiny piece of paper and her father struggling not to cry.

"Father, what's happened?" she asked again, anxiety rising in her voice. "What's on that paper?" She snatched it from his hands before he could stop her and took a step away so he couldn't reclaim it. It only took her a moment to read it, and by the end her hands were shaking. "Father, is this correct?"

Moreece winced. "Yes?" His voice sounded distraught. "Uh... yes, we owe them quite a... back bill." He hoped she wouldn't guess, would think he'd just been neglecting payments instead. He had tried not to... but now, it didn't matter. "I... I have to find a way to get the marks. He's not a patient man. He's very... firm on the date..."

The old man wanted to cry, but didn't like upsetting his daughter further.

At a loss for words, Honoria sank down into a chair, still staring at the notice. "How can we possibly get this many marks?" she asked, her voice shaking. "He's insane! We could both work with no sleep until his date and we still couldn't possibly..." She raised her hand to her mouth, fighting down the urge to panic. What would happen if they couldn't make the payment? What would that monster do to her father?

Moreece wrung his gnarled hands once more. "He's a man of business. He'll see that I can't afford... oh... but he won't..." He started his painfully slow pacing again. After a turn around the room, he painfully picked up a quill, hand shaking with the effort... it grew harder every day for him to work. "I'll go to the Hall. I'll... I'll offer to work for him to pay the debt. That's a reasonable arrangement..." He started looking around for the ink pot.

Honoria was on her feet and grabbing the quill from him before he'd even finished speaking. "I am not allowing you to go drudge for that horrible man. You aren't well, father." She tossed the quill aside and went to her knees, holding her father's gnarled hands in her own gently. "You've taken care of me for so long, father," she finished softly. "I'll work off the debt."

"But... but..." he shook his head, letting her gentle hands soothe his tired, old ones. "To have you work for such a man? Oh, Ria... you haven't heard what he's capable of, what he'd do. He'll throw you in the kitchens to scrub pots and haul fires and tend canines. You'll be all worn out." His voice was rising in pitch, his anxiety rising with it. Soon, he was gasping with every breath. "He'll... take... away... your... life... your... youth... he's... he's..."

Honoria shook her head firmly. "And I'll do whatever it takes to pay off the debt as fast as possible and come home to you," she told him. When he began to gasp she extracted her hands long enough to rush to the fire and pour a mug of tea, a special brew given to her to ease his breathing. "Drink this father," she said gently, pressing the mug into his hands. "I'm stronger than you think," she assured him when he had the mug. "Don't argue with me on this. I'll be home before you know I'm gone." She gave him her most bolstering smile. "I promise."

Moreece groaned. "I should go. It's my debt."

"I'll work the debt off faster than you could," she told him, not mentioning that, when taking into account the amount and his health, he may not even live long enough to do so. "Would you rather I be gone a turn or go for much longer apart?"

Mouth working, mind reeling, he tried to come up with an argument. He never liked to see his daughter do heavy work; it was bad enough she'd taken over cooking and cleaning for them since his hands had gnarled with the joint ailment. Finally, his shoulders sagged and his whole body seemed to collapse a bit. His voice sounded defeated. "You are right, Ria, of course you are. I could never work off that debt."

He wanted to cry at the futility. Damn his gambling...

Continued in Chapter Two