Areth's death defying dive levelled out into a slow, graceful glide. She tipped her wings, seemingly without any need for instruction from D'rell, and circled, then spiralled lazily down until she was close enough to the ground to land without too much effort. Eventually she back winged to land deftly and lightly in a large flat area in front of a large tunnel entrance at one side of the volcano bowl.
The sheer exhilaration of the flight left Tristan a little dazed. Areth had executed the move with accuracy and skill and as little muscle movement as possible and he found himself congratulating her for her efficiency. She thanked him humbly.
D'rell dismounted first and held out his hands as he had two nights before, to help Tristan down. The taller man stiffly hooked his right leg back over Areth's neck ridge, getting a stark reminder why B'son had told him to rest. Even that simple movement seemed to take such an effort and despite wanting to explore more of his surroundings he had a feeling he would regret the exercise later. He slid down the dragon's extended foreleg to land awkwardly in front of D'rell who smiled mischievously,
"As easy as falling off a cliff." He said, his tongue in his cheek, his dimples showing. Tristan, still a little wild eyed, managed a derisive chuckle,
"In case you hadn't noticed, we just did fall off a cliff, D'rell." He said out loud. D'rell laughed and smacked him playfully on the shoulder,
"Come one let's get some breakfast, it's just through here." He led the way into the entrance to the lower caverns and Tristan followed, glancing back at Areth as he did,
~I go to sun myself on the heights. She explained to both men, ~My friends are there.
~Ok, love, see you later D'rell gave her a jaunty salute and she launched herself back into the air with powerful flaps of her wings sending sand and gravel flying and causing both D'rell and Tristan to shield their eyes.
"She's such a show off." D'rell said, curling his nose and smiling affectionately after her,
"Handy for a lift though." Tristan mused and was rewarded with a glare that turned into a grin as D'rell realised he was teasing,
"Let's go and eat." He said shaking his head as he laughed.
D'rell lead Tristan through the entrance tunnel, down some steps and out into what was possibly the largest natural cave the traveller had ever seen. Its low, gently arching ceiling spread out as far as the eye could see. The floor of the cave seemed to be set out in sections and at the far end he could see great stoves and an open plan, enormous kitchen area bustling with life and activity. Just in front of this were tables and chairs some of which were occupied. Tristan found himself wondering how the cave was actually lit since, from what he had seen of D'rell's home anyway, there did not seem to be any source of power for lighting. Just another mystery to solve on this strange but amazing planet.
The place was buzzing with activity and noise and Tristan was suddenly very glad of his psych stone. It had been a long time since he had been in the company of so many people. He usually avoided crowded places when he ever got the opportunity to be planet side and he felt a little self conscious and vulnerable,
~You'll be fine,
He looked to his side to see that D'rell had stopped beside him and laid his hand on his arm in reassurance. The man's deep blue eyes were full of concern and reassurance and Tristan was struck by how lovely they were. He quickly suppressed the thought before it could go any where near entering D'rell's head. No, it wouldn't do to have any sort of thought like that. Tristan took a deep breath and smiled, nervously,
"Thanks." He said simply, breaking the gaze D'rell had locked him into, "Where do we have to go?"
"Over here." D'rell indicated, showing him towards the dining tables.
He directed them to an empty table, tucked in a corner, but no sooner had they got there than they were joined by several very enthusiastic young men and women. They couldn't have been much older than their late teens and all accosted D'rell enthusiastically, firing questions at him in quick succession without giving him a chance to answer,
"D'rell," One dark haired girl pouted, "We thought you were still at Landing."
"No you didn't, liar." A tall lad told her with a snort, "That was just an excuse to come over," he leaned close to D'rell and cupped his cheek tenderly before kissing him lightly on the other cheek.
Tristan watched the exchange with interest, no one else in their party seemed to think the greeting was in any way out of the ordinary, and D'rell's cheeks flushed slightly as he gazed at the young man with some affection,
"We knew you were back, D'rell," the young man continued, "and we heard about your visitor." He turned to face Tristan, "You must be Tristan." He said, smiling, "I'm G'dral. My dragon, green Dalleth has told me all about you." By his demeanour and manner he seemed a little more mature than the chattering teenagers.
Tristan felt the man's calm acceptance and his curiosity and that of the others. They were eager to meet him and had a great many questions for him. They were also very eager to make him feel welcome, especially G'dral, since his dragon had added her voice to the chorus of draconic reassurance that had overwhelmed Tristan the day before.
Tristan sensed all this from everyone surrounding them, despite having his psych stone to white out the "noise". He felt suddenly dizzy and light headed, besieged by so many minds thinking directly at him. He had never experienced anything like it. These people's minds were so open to telepathy he was unprepared for the sheer volume of their thoughts. His psych stone could not hope to mask it all. The positive thoughts were also a new experience, since wherever he had been in the past his abilities had been met with suspicion, fear and hatred. Here they were lauded and he was completely overwhelmed by it all.
He wavered slightly and G'dral instinctively stretched out his hand to steady him. It wasn't his hand that caught Tristan though, it was D'rell's,
"Ok, everyone," D'rell moved in front of Tristan and between him and G'dral, "We've just come down for breakfast; we don't have time for chit chat. You, you, you and you." D'rell pointed at all of the younger men and women, "Get to your duty stations for this afternoon." They all groaned but left saying they would see him later and calling cheery good byes to Tristan and seemingly unaware that they had been so instrumental in causing him almost to pass out,
"Tristan sit, you're greyer than a used Glow." D'rell urged him, his body still between him and G'dral who seemed desperate to help and unhappy that he may have caused any of the upset,
~Dalleth, will you please tell G'dral that I'm fine, he didn't do anything wrong? Tristan called out to the man's dragon as he sat, hoping he had done right, since he did not know the protocols. G'dral seemed so concerned though and Tristan was feeling too weak to speak out loud and too wary to speak to the man's mind directly.
G'dral sat heavily, his own face paling,
"Shards." He exclaimed giving Tristan a wide eyed stare.
D'rell sat down beside Tristan and laid his hand on the man's shoulder,
~Are you alright? He asked, shocking Tristan at the ease with which he could now speak to him this way, ~Do you want me to call for B'son?
It took Tristan a few moments to register what D'rell had asked and then he shook his head vigorously. If B'son came then he would be disapproving of Tristan's presence in the main Weyr anyway, after ordering him to rest. The man seemed disapproving of him full stop. He felt better now that he was sitting and his brain was beginning to adjust to this very openly telepathic atmosphere. Besides he wanted some breakfast, especially now that he could smell the delicious aroma of freshly baked bread. If B'son came he was certain to send Tristan back to D'rell's weyr, or worse, somewhere else entirely in order to make him rest,
"I-I'll be fine, D'rell, really." He assured the concerned rider who appeared to have got the just of what Tristan had been thinking, although not all, or at least Tristan hoped he hadn't heard it all since B'son was the man's friend. He turned his attention on the shocked and pale G'dral, "I'm sorry." He grimaced. G'dral tipped his head to one side, frowning, then his face broke out into a wide smile as he shook his head,
"Don't be." He assured, "Although, I should warn you that there are some who would think it very bad manners for you to speak directly to their Dragon without first asking permission." Tristan grimaced again and nodded,
"Right, thanks, I'll erm, bare that in mind." He sat back in his chair with a sigh, colour returning to his cheeks. D'rell's hand was still on his arm which rested on the table, he wondered if the dark haired rider was even aware that it was. He regarded G'dral with his bright green eyes, "You know I could have spoke directly to you, but when I tried that with people yesterday I got a very mixed response." G'dral chuckled,
"I wouldn't mind, although I'd appreciate a warning if that's what you are going to do, I've only ever heard Dalleth's voice, and occasionally Areth." He eyed D'rell who turned away with a blush causing Tristan to wonder what the relationship was between the two young men,
"What would you like for breakfast, Tristan?" D'rell asked him, speaking out loud and effectively changing the subject. He stood, still not meeting G'dral's eye or his,
"I can smell bread bein' baked." Tristan said with a twinkle in his eye causing D'rell to smile and chuckle, "Any chance of some bread rolls?"
"Of course," D'rell told him, "But you need something else to go with them." Tristan doubted it, since he was certain he could quite happily survive on nothing but bread if it tasted as good as it had the last two days but he nodded,
"Why don't you surprise me?" the traveller suggested, "What we had yesterday was good."
"What would you normally have?" G'dral asked, curious,
"I'd have whatever was processed by the ship's replicator that day and what was deigned to be nutritious and filling. It was usually grey and tasted the same as the stuff we had the day before and the day before that," he sounded as depressed as anyone could ever sound talking about a terrible food experience,
"And the day before that?" G'dral asked, and Tristan smiled,
"Oh the day before that it was green."
"Green!" G'dral grimaced, "Shard's forbid I would ever eat anything green, I would have starved that day." D'rell laughed,
"You would starve every day, G'dral, I can't imagine you eating anything grey either." G'dral clicked his tongue and pinched the flesh below D'rell's ribs. The dark haired rider yelped,
"And you eat anything when you actually remember to eat, but not enough of it to fill a tunnel snake's stomach, let alone your own." He commented. D'rell blushed, and looked away again. Tristan saw G'dral's sigh, not of frustration but of sadness and he felt G'dral's concern and protectiveness towards D'rell. The same protectiveness he had felt in B'son and to a lesser extent, the others he had met the day before. Why was everyone so protective of this man?
D'rell was about to go and get some breakfast but G'dral stood first,
"You stay with Tristan, D'rell." G'dral told him, "I'll get you both something." D'rell protested but G'dral won by running off before D'rell could argue effectively. To Tristan who had been raised and had lived in a very formal and professional atmosphere G'dral's behaviour seemed a little childish if effective. D'rell simply seemed to find it funny as he tried to hide a smirk at his friend's antics,
"You and G'dral are good friends?" Tristan asked, although he didn't really need to ask, since he had sensed as much and perhaps more, at least from G'dral. D'rell blushed again,
"Yes." He said simply, "Just good friends."
"He wants to be more?" Tristan asked, kicking himself for his forthright question. He was a trained counsellor and sometimes that training just took over.
D'rell shot him an angry glare before turning away. 'None of your bloody business' was definitely what Tristan was sensing from the man now and he had suddenly and abruptly shut Tristan out. An action that took him so by surprise he gasped although D'rell did not seem to notice what he had done.
G'dral returned at that moment, inadvertently avoiding any awkwardness between D'rell and Tristan. He placed a tray of fresh bread and fruit and other delicacies, along with two mugs of Klah, down on the table. D'rell noted the number of mugs,
"Aren't you joining us, G'dral?" D'rell asked in surprise. G'dral shook his head sadly,
"I can't I'm afraid, I've already eaten." G'dral told them regretfully, "I've drawn the early watch straw, I'm going on ahead to Benden Hold to make sure everything is ready for Threadfall." He stood and D'rell made a disappointed noise. Tristan simply stared at him in horror,
"Th-thread, today?" he asked looking in alarm from G'dral to D'rell. D'rell laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder,
"Not for another five hours, Tristan." He said soothingly and so matter-of-factly that Tristan found it difficult to correlate the stories he had heard with the absolute calmness with which these two young men were facing the greatest threat to their very existence.
G'dral took his leave of them, giving D'rell a lingering look as he left. Tristan watched as once more D'rell's face flushed slightly, but he did not look away. He watched G'dral walk across the cave floor with a sad look on his face. Tristan sensed he had wanted to say much more than a curt farewell, and wondered if it was his presence that prevented it,
"You c'n go after him if you want, D'rell, I'll be okay, if you need to say more to him in private." Again D'rell glared at him. Had he read the signs wrong? He was still recovering from Cryo after all. D'rell's glare lasted only a second and his expression returned to calm, reassurance,
"G'dral and I are just very good friends, Tristan." He explained, "Although I can see why you might think there was more between us. He has a partner, a male one. I also had a male partner for four turns. We are both green riders. These things make us close, nothing else." Tristan nodded, frowning slightly at the open way in which D'rell told him of his sexual orientation. That, above everything else here, made it a very different place from anywhere he had ever been,
"Does that make you feel uncomfortable?" D'rell asked, and Tristan could not tell if this annoyed D'rell or saddened him,
"Not uncomfortable as such." He said, still frowning slightly, "You jus' surprised me that's all. Where I come from it just isn't talked about so openly. I guess it's different here."
D'rell nodded,
"But only here in the Weyr. Elsewhere on Pern it's still frowned upon. It's accepted here because of the way we live, with our dragons."
"Areth and Dalleth are female." Tristan mused,
"Yes, they are, and when they rise to mate it will be with a male dragon. Sometimes it is one Dragon consistently, sometimes it is a different one each time."
"I guess nature doesn't change no matter where you are in the Universe." Tristan smirked,
"No." D'rell smiled shyly and it was his turn to look uncomfortable, "Sebell warned me that I should broach this subject with you as soon as possible, but I hadn't expected to have to do it so soon." He took a bite of bread and a sip of Klah before continuing, "When any female dragon rises to mate, the males chase her. All other females must be taken away because it is the only time that dragons would fight each other." Tristan whistled at the very thought of those immense creatures fighting, "A rider becomes caught up in the mating flight too. Their minds are linked so deeply that they become one with their dragon. When the male catches and mates with her, the two riders also come together." Tristan raised his eyebrows as he realised what D'rell was saying, "A great many green riders prefer that coupling, rather than male/female."
"You included." Tristan stated rather than asked, since he already knew the answer. D'rell nodded,
"Does that make you feel awkward being in my weyr?" he asked a little sadly and Tristan shook his head vigorously,
"No." he shook his head, "Not awkward at all, it's just that where I come from it wasn't talked about openly, ever, D'rell, that's what makes me uncomfortable, not knowing that it goes on, just talking about it and not worrying you're gonna get taken down some alley and beaten to a pulp about it."
"Shards." D'rell exclaimed. He didn't really know how to respond to that so they both ate in relative silence. Tristan could not help commenting on the food though and D'rell seemed to enjoy his fresh take on the stuff that he almost took for granted. Tristan saw it all very differently and it was refreshing somehow.
They didn't eat breakfast uninterrupted, since their inconspicuous little table suddenly became the centre of the Weyr. Despite D'rell choosing a table that was tucked away from the main thoroughfare of the massive cavern everyone seemed to make a detour to stop by and introduce themselves and Tristan barely got two mouthfuls between each visitor. This had been D'rell's plan all along, to show Tristan the acceptance he had found here, but he couldn't help thinking it would have been nicer to have an uninterrupted conversation with this strange man. The more Tristan opened up to him the more intriguing he became.
Every time someone new approached their table Tristan seemed to have a mouthful of food which he had to swallow quickly. D'rell tried not to find it amusing but he couldn't help smirking at Tristan's eagerness to eat but also to meet everyone. Tristan seemed to find it amusing too. With each visitor the mirth grew in D'rell's eyes and spilled over into Tristan's. The ridiculous of the situation was quickly threatening to reduce both men to fits of giggles.
Many of the people D'rell introduced Tristan forgot almost immediately. Not that he wasn't interested, just that there were simply too many to remember. With each introduction Tristan would get a short synopsis of what D'rell really thought about them. D'rell seemed outwardly so shy and unassuming but some of his inner remarks could be very acidic. This also threatened to reduce Tristan to fits of boyish giggles, something that he could not remember happening for a long time.
Two men joined them not long after they had finished their meal, and while they were still drinking their second mug of Klah. The first man, Tristan recognised as B'son and he greeted him warily since it was he that had ordered he stay in D'rell's weyr to rest. The second, a very tall, dark haired, dark eyed man with an open, fatherly expression was K'dan, B'son's partner,
"I ride Jenth, a blue." K'dan said as he sat. He was one of the few Tristan had met that did not automatically reach out his hand to greet the new comer. B'son had obviously drilled him. As soon as K'dan sat a flash of green appeared between them and began scolding and preening and chittering. K'dan sighed and lifted Roxi from the table,
"It's a good job there was no food lying about you little green menace." K'dan hissed, affectionately though,
"K, don't call her that, she has feelings," B'son pouted, taking a seat opposite Tristan and shoulder to shoulder with his tall partner,
"Yeah?" K'dan smirked, nudging B'son gently, "Pity she doesn't have manners too." He retorted as he deposited the now furious little firelizard onto B'son's shoulder.
She immediately left her perch and landed on Tristan's shoulder, much to his delight and B'son's consternation. B'son visibly prickled at Roxi's apparent betrayal. D'rell and K'dan exchanged amused glances,
"How is our visitor then?" B'son asked, trying to sound light and friendly but only managing to sound as if he was speaking through clenched teeth, "Did you sleep well last night?" Tristan nodded, smiling, "I must admit that I didn't expect to see you down here quite so soon."
B'son's tone said quite clearly that he had not wanted Tristan to be down here so soon,
"I offered him a ride on Areth." D'rell explained, "And he hasn't walked far I promise, have you Tristan?"
"No sir." Tristan shook his head. Both D'rell and K'dan snorted, quickly covering their laughter with coughing fits that looked equally as suspicious. B'son didn't seem to notice however and practically preened himself just as his firelizard was doing on Tristan's shoulder,
~Dang it D'rell, I thought you were gonna keep me right and not let me make a fool o' myself. He thought angrily to D'rell. The dark haired rider was not phased by Tristan's outburst one bit,
~I'm sorry, but his reaction to you calling him sir is just too precious, keep doing it and you'll be in his good books before you know it.
~Why am I even in his bad books? Tristan asked, surprised, but not really because he had sensed B'son's mistrust when they had first met,
~B'son can be very protective, especially of me. Tristan was very confused now,
~Why especially of you?
~It's a long story. D'rell glanced at him and Tristan saw that sad look in his eyes again. He cursed himself for putting it there with his damned questions,
"So," K'dan began decisively, "We are having a celebration after threadfall." He explained, oblivious to the silent conversation between Tristan and D'rell,
"A celebration of what?" D'rell asked with a laugh, since the two older riders never really needed an excuse to party,
"A tithing train came in yesterday and there's Benden Wine just waiting to be set free into our stomachs." B'son explained. He looked D'rell up and down candidly, "I might even let you have a sniff of some, D'rell."
D'rell snorted, "I'll have a glass or two, that's all, you know me."
"Oh, yes, only too well." B'son told him knowingly and D'rell blushed,
"Will you join us, Tristan?" K'dan asked, ignoring B'son's sharp intake of breath through his teeth. Tristan regarded both older men with wide eyes as he absently scratched at Roxi's eye ridges,
"I would love to, just as long as you don't think it would be too much for me." Tristan addressed B'son, trying not to sound too sarcastic.
B'son, it appeared did not catch the sarcasm, but Tristan could see that D'rell and K'dan had caught it and he caught them exchange more amused glances,
"I suppose it wouldn't be too much for you if you promised to just sit." B'son said, examining his fingernails and looking just a little too self important,
"I'm sure we can find someone to wait on you, Tristan." D'rell said, a twinkle in his eye, ~Maybe B'son would do it, should I ask him?
~Don't you dare! Tristan gave a strangled gasp then realised that D'rell was teasing him and gave a small, shy chuckle. That man was getting the hang of this private form of communication far too quickly; although Tristan should hardly have been surprised,
"So!" K'dan exclaimed loudly, rubbing his hands together and startling all at the table, "Ready for Thread everyone?" he asked,
D'rell and B'son nodded. Tristan shook his head, his eyes wide,
"I don't suppose there's any way I c'n be prepared for something like that until I actually experience it first hand." Tristan told them all, a little in awe of these three men who would, in a few short hours, be defending their planet,
"You don't have to worry." B'son clapped him on the shoulder, "You'll be safe in D'rell's weyr whilst we all risk our lives." Although the blond rider's tone was light the contact allowed Tristan to feel the distrust and the sarcasm filling B'son's head.
Tristan shrugged away from the contact, trying to make it look nonchalant, but D'rell, at least, had seen his discomfort,
"Everyone has a job to do in the Weyr right?" Tristan asked D'rell who nodded,
"Don't worry, no one will expect you to do anything you can't manage." He assured him,
"No one will expect you to do anything except hide away in D'rell's weyr until it's all over." B'son added and there was sarcasm in his voice now, not just in his thoughts.
Tristan felt angry that B'son seemed to be going out of his way to make him feel uncomfortable and useless. D'rell had told him the man was overly protective of him. Whatever the reason for this it did not excuse B'son being so outwardly derisive and dismissive. Tristan was surely no threat to the friendship that D'rell and B'son shared. He felt the need to prove B'son wrong and make himself useful, even if he couldn't exactly do much because of his Cryo weakened body,
"I'm sure if I stayed down here I could find something to do that would be of help." He said glancing at D'rell and K'dan for support and getting it as they nodded their heads in agreement,
"Nothing for you to do old boy." B'son said in a vain attempt at lightness, "You wouldn't want to get in the way of the healers once the injuries start coming in."
Tristan saw the angry exchange of glances between D'rell and B'son and saw the blond rider flinch slightly as K'dan appeared to be kicking him under the table. B'son glared at his partner then turned back to Tristan with a look of self satisfied smugness,
"As your healer, I advise that you stay in D'rell's weyr then there's no chance of you hurting yourself and pulling healers away from vital work. When Thread is falling all citizens of Pern not directly involved with fighting it hide away in their holds and weyrs, there's no shame in it, it's simply what has to be done."
"I've had more than my fair share of reasons to hide." Tristan said, unable to hide his irritation now, "and this time I refuse, especially when there most definitely is something I can do to help." He felt, rather than saw D'rell's shock at his words,
"There's nothing you could possibly do to help in this case, Tristan." B'son scoffed, "You don't know anything about Thread, or dragons or Pern. There are no skills that you can learn travelling through space that could be of any use to…" he was cut off by Tristan, playing his trump card,
"Would it help if I told you I was a trained medic?" he asked. D'rell and K'dan choked into their drinks as Tristan produced the one skill that B'son, as a healer himself, could not ignore. B'son simply looked pale,
"A trained medic, you say?" K'dan asked, regarding his partner with an amused twinkle in his dark eyes. B'son's light blue eyes sizzled and seethed, "Well now that would be a useful skill, B'son, wouldn't it?"
B'son stood, pushing his chair back so hard it fell backwards and clattered to the floor,
"Yes it would." He said through gritted teeth, not meeting Tristan's eye as he righted the chair, "D'rell, why don't you introduce him to Marna and have her tell him what he can do, she might have somewhere he can fit in." With that he spun around and stormed off. Roxi gave Tristan's neck an affectionate nuzzle then flew off to join her companion.
Once he was well out of ear shot K'dan, who seemed, at first impression to be quiet and introvert next to his flamboyant partner, began to laugh, great snorts and gasps of mirth that D'rell mirrored with his own laughter, tears dripping down his face. Tristan felt his mouth twitch at the corner as he was infected with their glee,
"What did I say that was so funny?" he asked. D'rell clapped him on the shoulder,
"Don't worry, we're not laughing at you but what you've just done." He said and Tristan seemed startled,
"What did I do?" he asked,
"Oh you only happen to have the one skill that B'son can't deny or put down. What happened just now was priceless, just priceless." K'dan snorted with laughter again then stood, laying his hand on Tristan's shoulder. He felt calm acceptance and warm friendship from the man as he smiled down at him, "I'd better go and see if I can't get him into a better frame of mind before threadfall starts. I pity the injured riders he has to treat if he's in a bad mood." He walked off, taking his leave of D'rell with the same clasp of his shoulder and soft, almost sad smile.
Tristan thought the exchange a little odd, since they would be off fighting thread yet neither of them said good bye or good luck or even stay safe. He looked at D'rell to find the rider studying his face,
"You're wondering why we didn't say good bye?" he asked and Tristan was surprised that D'rell had understood so much of his thoughts despite him trying to keep them private. He nodded,
"Will you see him before thread starts?" he asked and D'rell shook his head,
"We're not in the same wing, I won't see him until after." There was a slight hitch to his voice and Tristan decided not to push it. Perhaps it was just the way here. Perhaps it was too painful to say good bye if there was a possibility that they would not see each other again, "Come on." D'rell said, standing, "I'll take you over to Marna, she can tell you what you can do."
Tristan stood too, feeling a little sluggish and stiff but feeling definitely better than he had, especially after the meal he had just eaten. He didn't think he'd ever eat again and it was only breakfast time,
~Dragon's eat only once every three or four days. Areth informed him conversationally, ~Perhaps you are like us in that way too.
~Perhaps, although I doubt it, you're unique, sweetheart. Tristan told her, glancing at D'rell for any signs that it was not polite to be so familiar with another's dragon. D'rell did not seem to mind, or even to have heard the exchange,
~He is closed to me right now, he does this sometimes when it gets too hard for him to remember. Areth explained cryptically,
~Remember what?
~He remembers many things. He has lost a lot in his life, before we impressed and after.
Now Areth sounded sad and Tristan decided that the subject would have to be changed, although he was curious, very curious about this young man and his enigmatic dragon.
He had followed D'rell across the floor of the cavern to where a group of young people were gathered in what looked like a briefing of some sort. He was reminded that, although he was half way across the other side of the universe on a strange planet with strange customs and language shift some things did not change,
"Healers." D'rell had told him, by way of explanation.
The gathered group were all dressed in similar clothing, practical tunics and slacks with utility belts at their wastes, sporting a knife and pockets of equipment that Tristan assumed was first aid supplies.
As they'd walked they'd been passed by children running backwards and forwards on errands, some very young,
"Everyone is involved on a thread day." D'rell told him as he smiled at one young boy who had almost collided with them then stepped back with an apology that had died on his lips when he'd seen who he had almost collided with.
Both men had grinned at each other as the boy had run off, shouting to his friends that he'd just run into the "Starman".
"N'ton's nickname seems to be sticking." D'rell commented with a slight smirk as they drew closer to the group of healers. Tristan felt his face heat as he smiled back,
"I seem to have built up a reputation despite only being here two days." Tristan added, pleased that D'rell's mood seemed to have lifted,
"Are you surprised after what happened?" D'rell asked, and when Tristan gave him a quizzical look he explained, "When you were upset by Sebell's reaction I think every dragon in the Weyr came to your defence." Tristan gasped,
"I didn't know." He said, shocked that he'd made such an impact in such a short time. He hoped it didn't have a negative effect,
"Areth can be very vocal when she feels there is a cause to defend. She is very good at rallying the other dragons. She can be very opinionated, for a dragon, so I'm told." D'rell's expressive face gave a slight grimace which made Tristan think that perhaps his dragon's opinions had been a cause for embarrassment, "I'm not embarrassed, by no means." D'rell told him, shocking him that he had heard his innermost musings, "I'm proud of her, really, just sometimes I like to blend in with the background and Areth isn't always happy with that."
Tristan chuckled, thinking that this man was as much an enigma as his dragon was,
"Hello, D'rell," A tall, motherly looking woman with serious grey eyes approached them. D'rell greeted her with a hug, smiling warmly,
"This is Marna, Tristan." He introduced the woman who gave Tristan a candid, scrutinising look. Tristan almost squirmed beneath the scrutiny. There was no need for any telepathy here, he already could see that this woman stood for no nonsense and suffered no fools,
"Tristan, welcome to Benden and to Pern apparently," she smiled, without extending her hand, "I've heard a lot about you, mostly hearsay and rumours, though Lessa did fill in some of the blanks." she looked him up and down with an approving nod which made the man blush, "Yes, the clothes do fit you well, you're lucky to be roughly the same size and build as D'rell here. A little taller perhaps." She mused, "Yes, we'll have to find some longer trousers." She walked around him, "And perhaps a jacket that fits you better across the shoulders, this one is slightly too big."
Tristan had been thinking it was just right, and felt very comfortable. He gasped as Marna took the back of the collar of the jacket and looked at the inside lining. He heard her give a gasp and he turned to see her giving D'rell a soft, sad look that the dark haired rider was trying to avoid,
"This was D'sar's?" she whispered, and Tristan got the impression he wasn't supposed to hear. D'rell nodded curtly, looking away but Tristan did not miss the flash of pain in his eyes. Suddenly the jacket didn't feel all that comfortable,
"We'll get another one fitted just for you." Marna told Tristan who was only half listening as he watched D'rell step a little away from them, kicking at a stone a few feet away and pointedly not looking in his direction,
"It's okay, he can have that one, it's not as if D'sar needs it any more, and it's just sitting around, cluttering the place." He turned with a deep sigh, "I have to go to get ready for Thread." He told Tristan, all trace of pain, or hurt or sadness gone from his face, in its place there was a kind of blank neutral expression that Tristan found went deeper than just his outward appearance since he couldn't even read the man's emotions. He doubted he would be able to even with his psych stone turned off completely. D'rell seemed to have erected a wall, an impenetrable wall, "Marna will look after you." He said, softly by way of a farewell and then he was gone, half way across the enormous cavern before Tristan could even take a breath to say good bye.
He was startled by a light touch on his shoulder and he turned. Marna's emotions were not hidden and he even saw a tear in her eye as she watched D'rell's progress across the cavern to the exit and the bowl. The man disappeared from sight and Tristan sighed,
~You look after him, Areth, you hear me? He called to the green dragon,
~Always. She replied and then her touch was gone as she too had other things to concentrate on than strange visitors from another world.
A/N Hi as promised another chapter. Hope it isn't too long and boring. It is building up to Thread seen through Tristan's eyes and gives more info, or perhaps creates more questions about D'rell and Tristan's troubled pasts.
Enjoy,
DS