I seem to have been apologising a lot lately, so apologies for the apologies! Sorry, couldn't resist. Anyway, on to the story!
Pern is not mine, no matter how much I pretend it is.
In the morning, Drianne and B'kennor went over to D'ron's weyr to find out what had happened after they left yesterday. Neither D'ron nor M'kai had come to dinner last night, and they were anxious to find out what had been the result of yesterday's talk.
"Do you think M'kai is back to normal?" Drianne asked B'kennor.
"There's only one way to find out," he said soberly, and quietly knocked on the doorframe.
"Come in," D'ron called, so they parted the fronds that served as his front door and stepped through into his weyr. The window shutters were thrown open, and the early sunlight poured in, making the very air sparkle.
"Good morning!" D'ron said brightly, waving them in. "Have a cup of klah with me."
"That sounds nice," said Drianne appreciatively, sinking onto one of the long low couches that furnished D'ron's front room.
"Very nice," added B'kennor. "I went out on a sweep this morning, and I didn't have time for any before I left."
"Then be my guests, and join me for breakfast!" D'ron laughed, moving into the kitchen and opening the cupboards. "Helida restocked my cupboards for me yesterday, because she's decided that I am capable of taking care of myself. Either that, or she couldn't put up with my complaining any longer," he added thoughtfully, pushing his hair out of his eyes.
They all laughed, and D'ron made up a platter of fruits, fish and breads and a jug of klah. He brought it over to the others and, setting on the central table, invited everyone to help themselves.
"So, have you seen M'kai this morning?" Drianne asked, tearing off a hunk of bread.
D'ron paused with an impromptu fish sandwich halfway to his mouth. "He hasn't been to see you?" he said slowly.
Drianne and B'kennor exchanged looks, and she replied, "No. Why? Should he have?"
"When we spoke last night, I told him to go see you in the morning, to resume his duties as Weyrsinger," D'ron explained, a slight frown creasing his forehead. "Why hasn't he done it?"
"Maybe he's still asleep," B'kennor suggested, reaching for some fruit.
"He's always been an early riser," said D'ron, shaking his head.
"He was very reluctant to do it last night, but I convinced him. Actually," he said suddenly, "I didn't convince him. He just suddenly gave in." He jumped to his feet. "I should have known there was something wrong," he muttered. "M'kai never gives in that easily!"
Drianne and B'kennor also jumped to their feet, worried by his expression. "What's wrong?" Drianne asked urgently.
"I need to find M'kai!" D'ron said, and whirled, heading for the door, pausing only to snatch up his stick. The others hurried after him.
"What's the matter, D'ron? He's probably just still asleep!" B'kennor said, hurrying to catch up with him.
"I'm just worried. It's not like him to promise to do something and then not do it," said D'ron, lengthening his strides as far as he was able. The limp was painfully obvious, B'kennor sadly noted.
They soon reached M'kai's weyr, and to their alarm, Tyrith was not under his shelter. "Maybe he went out for an early morning flight?" B'kennor suggested weakly, but closed his mouth when the other two looked at him.
"M'kai!" D'ron called, limping up the shallow steps to M'kai's home. He burst through the doorway and, after a quick glance round the front room, headed for the back of the house, where M'kai's bedroom and music room were.
"Where can he be?" Drianne asked B'kennor as they hurried through the door together.
"I don't know. Maybe D'ron's found him," he replied, nearly running down the hallway to the back rooms. He had a quick look in M'kai's bedroom, then continued onwards, until he came skidding to a halt in the doorway of M'kai's music room.
There, he found D'ron on his knees, tears leaking down his face as he read a piece of paper he held clenched in his fist. "D'ron?" B'kennor asked tentatively. "What's wrong?"
D'ron turned to face him. "M'kai's gone," he said dully, letting the paper fall.
"'Gone?' Gone where?" B'kennor asked in amazement.
"He says that he's leaving!" exclaimed Drianne. She had crouched and picked up the paper, and was now reading it. "He feels really guilty about the accident, and needs to be alone for a while so he can get his head around it. He apologises for his behaviour for the last month and asks us to explain to Kirsty and tell her he's sorry for everything. But he doesn't say when he'll be back."
"I drove him away by trying to force him out of his guilt before he was ready," choked D'ron, scrubbing at his tear-soaked cheeks.
"It wasn't your fault, D'ron!" said Drianne compassionately. "You didn't know he would react like this!"
"I should have! He's my brother!" D'ron cried.
"He is also old enough to take care of himself," B'kennor said, squatting and putting a hand on his shoulder. "He'll be all right, D'ron. We all know that. You just need to accept it."
D'ron just buried his face in B'kennor's shoulder and cried.
x
"Drianne?" Kirsty called, knocking on the door to Drianne and B'kennor's weyr. "Are you in?"
"Yes, Kirsty, I'm here," Drianne called. "Come in."
"Aredath said that Camanth said that you wanted to see me," Kirsty explained, seating herself opposite Drianne. "So I came straight here."
"I hope I didn't interrupt anything," Drianne said apologetically.
"I was just swimming with the dolphins," she said, pushing her still-wet hair off her face. "And you'll never guess what they told me!"
"What did they tell you?" Drianne asked, eager to avoid telling her about M'kai.
"Booj told me that I'm going to have a baby! I haven't told M'kai yet, but I'm so excited that I had to tell someone!" Kirsty exclaimed, her eyes alight with excitement.
"A baby?" Drianne repeated, her voice suddenly hollow.
"Yes!" Kirsty said happily, clapping her hands together. "What's the matter? You don't sound very happy for me," she added plaintively.
"Oh, I am, Kirsty. It's just… well…" Drianne said awkwardly.
Kirsty waited for her to speak, but Drianne couldn't find the words, so eventually she just thrust the letter M'kai had left at her and motioned that she read it. Puzzled, Kirsty did, and her eyes widened with each line. Finally, she looked up at Drianne.
"He left without saying goodbye," she said simply. "Why would he do that?" Then she put her face into her hands and cried as her world came crashing down around her.
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