Urlyra had been enjoying a cup of klah with Fulmar when Freeth relayed news of the attack. Putting down her mug before she dropped it, she repeated the news to her uncle, who responded with more than his typical phlegmatic response.
"The drover girl? Charrie? Is she alright?" He asked with a concerned look.
"Freeth says yes, they're searching for the attacker now- Charrie?" She tilted her head. "You know her?"
"I offered to foster her." Fulmar explained, causing Urlyra to blanch.
"How old is this girl if you're fostering her?" She demanded.
"Thirteen summers. She's the daugh-" A commotion in the hallway interrupted him as Fulsa and Namul, still in their bedclothes, burst into the room.
"Is she alright?" "Who did this?" They asked at the same time.
"Peace." Fulmar's stern tone silenced both wherhandlers. "the Weyrwoman was just informing me of the sistuation." Namul had the decency to look abashed, but Fulsa merely nodded to Urlyra.
"Cousin," she said curtly. Urlyra nodded, privately bemused to see that the incorrigable youth that was her cousin had grown into a formidable young woman.
"According to the dragons your Charrie is safe and unharmed." Urlyra neglected to add that the dragons also reported that the poor girl had had the scare of her life. "How did you hear of the attack?"
"Telgarsk and Namusk," Fulsa tilted her head in the direction of the courtyard, "woke us out of a sound sleep, demanding we take them to the Weyr." She stared accusingly at Urlyra.
Freeth-
I am already speaking with them. They are unhappy. They like the girl.
Freeth, how is the Weyrlearder? Urlyra asked suddenly, worried that if the watchwhers were upset, so might he be.
He is livid, too many want to kill.
Tell him to count to thirteen. Urlyra stared steadily back at Fulsa
"Freeth is reassuring them right now. Telgarsk likes the girl?"
Fulsa stiffened.
"Don't poach!" She barked, causing Namul and Fulmar to wince.
"Backwing, Flit." Urlyra replied mildly, swallowing her smile at having gotten a rise out of her. "There's no queen egg on the Sands." Fulsa relaxed, crossing her arms and frowning. Really, it was a shame that fighting colors didn't Impress women, Urlyra thought, Fulsa would have made an excellent Wingleader.
He wants to know why thriteen. Freeth reported.
In his current state of mind he needs the three extra seconds.
"Excuse me," Namul spoke up timidly, "do we know who attacked her?"
"Another drover," Urlyra paused,"named Branth." She gave the wherhandlers a glance. "Does that name mean anything to you?" Both Wherhandlers shook their heads, but Fulmar nodded.
"He was a problem at a Gather, two Turns back. Tried to seduce a holder girl," he put a slight emphasis on 'girl', "rumor has it that he likes them young. But, the holder didn't want to pursue charges." He shrugged helplessly.
Wubath says that B'ton thanks you. Freeth added. Urlyra acknowledged the gratitude with a burst of affection.
"You mean her father didn't," Fulsa scowled.
"Her uncle," Fulmar corrected her, "and no, he didn't." Fulmar glanced at Urlyra, who merely raised an eyebrow. "He was afraid he wouldn't be able to make a good match for his niece if word of a trial got out." Fulmar shook his head. "I warned Branth off then, but I'm afraid I didn't recognize him the other day when they arrived." Fulmar sighed. "Old Larst is usually such a good judge of character."
"They had a herd of over 200, he might not have had much of a choice if he included a known trouble maker and a child of thirteen Turns." Urlyra noted.
"Don't knock the thirteen Turn old, she's as sharp as they come!" Fulsa bristled. Urlyra grinned that time, as Namul soothed his mate.
"My apologies, cousin, that was unkind of me." She glanced out the window. "Would you like to come to the Hatching and check up on Charrie yourselves? The dragons still aren't humming."
Fulsa nodded. "Yes, please." Namul also nodded.
Urlyra bade them a temporary farewell as the wherhandlers returned to their rooms to change.
Glancing at her uncle, she asked in a serious tone, "Does Telgarsk liking the girl have anything to do with your offer to foster?"
"That's certainly part of it." Fulmar admitted. "Fulsa says she's never seen Telgarsk this interested in a candidate before." He shrugged and offered to top off her mug.
"Is he as interested in her as he was of young Senli?" She queried. Fulmar let out a dry laugh.
"More. He let her ride him in an excerise. How is young S'nli and Duranth these days?" He asked pointedly. Urlyra flashed him a smile.
"He and his brown are doing quite well, they're training to be Wingseconds to D'ael."
Fulmar nodded. "I would warn you off of being overly interested in the girl in Fulsa's presence. She's convinced Charrie will Impress, and if she has her way, it'll be a bronze wher."
Urlyra raised an eyebrow. "Not a queenwher?" She teased.
"The current queen is only 7 Turns old, niece, and this close to the end of the Pass..." he shrugged again.
"Understood." Urlyra finished her drink. "And thank you, I'll mind my manners around Fulsa." She winked.
"Just make sure Fulsa doesn't Impress while she's there, or you'll never be rid of her." Fulmar deadpanned at her.
Tress very kindly but firmly insisted that the Weyrhealer check Charel for injuries. Charel, too shaken up to object, held tightly to the Headwoman's hand as Zandur, with a gentleness rarely displayed, inspected the bruises on her thighs.
"The good news is that Mirrth interrupted before he managed to rape her," Valtree explained to an agonized Reelon.
"And the bad?" Reelon was nothing if not a realist.
"She's had the fright of her life," Valtree said regretfully, "many assault victims suffer night terrors and panic attacks for the rest of their lives. That's not to say-" she added in a hurry, seeing the panic set in, "that she won't recover in time, you just need to be aware that these things might happen."
"What my colleague is rather inelegantly saying is that young Charrie might act out," Zandur sniffed, joining them. "If she does, don't punish her, but hold her close, and remind her that you love her and are there for her. It's the only healing anyone can offer that will work."
Valtree ignored the slight from long practice.
"She'll be okay?" Reelon begged the Weyrhealer.
"Your girl asked me all sorts of questions about dragonhealing." Zandur noted dryly. "Curiosity is the surest sign of recovery in children." Reelon smiled weakly, privately reassured, and Zandur drew the skin aside so that he might enter.
Charel gave a soft cry and released her hold on Tress, hugging her father wordlessly. For his part Reelon just held her, petting her head, and making soothing noises. Eventually Charel pulled away and asked the one question he dreaded.
"Why?" Her eyes shimmered with unspilled tears.
"I don't know why, pup." He admitted. "I don't know why anyone would want to hurt anyone that way."
"H-he said he wanted to make me feel good. How is hurting me going to make me feel good?" She whispered. Reelon flinched, and took a deep breath, quelling his sudden burst of fury.
"Some people just aren't right in the head, pup." He murmured, helplessly.
Freeth met Urlyra and the wherhandlers on the fireheights. The queenrider had left a note for Minket apologizing for the abrupt departure, and promising to return in time and ferry them to the Hatching. Freeth rumbled irritably, causing both wherhandlers to pause, but Urlyra relieved them of their anxiety by telling them of the earlier meeting with Minket.
"She'll never give up hoping, cousin, not since the two of you have been Searched." Fulsa replied, as Namul bowed to the gold. Freeth dipped her head in response, visibly mollified.
"Don't I know it." Urlyra sighed. "She's even convinced herself that she let me have Freeth, since she was already well appointed."
Both Fulsa and Freeth snorted at the same time. Namul bit his lip to keep from laughing as he climbed onto Freeth's back"
"Well appointed my wherry-hided backside. Lord Kestle only married her for 'her breeding hips'." Fulsa mimiced the old Lord's voice with an eerie precision. Urlyra choked back a laugh of her own as Fulsa seated herself behind Namul.
"Don't let him or the harper ever hear you say that." She grinned up at her and vaulted up into her spot in front of the wherhandlers. Flying straps in place she gave Freeth the signal to go and the pale gold leapt skyward, wings pumping before transfering between.
Got back early!
Please if you see any grammar or spelling errors, let me know.
Glossary comment: I use 'Weyrling' for the human of a dragonpair that hasn't graduated to full fighting strength. I use 'weyrling' for any child living in the Weyr, as that was how I was introduced to it in Dragonquest. I do not like the term 'weyrbrat' mostly because I honestly don't recall seeing it in Anne's earliest works, which (mostly) my guide for language use on Pern.