Pleasant Company

Writers: Anika, Paula
Date Posted: 29th April 2015

Characters: Keayd, Geirlene
Description: Keayd and Geirlene enjoy the wine tasting
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 12, day 23 of Turn 7
Notes: Zathris (indirectly), Benani, Rethisa, Chupsin, Gautrek,
Saibra (indirectly), G'nir (indirectly)

After the Lord Holder's welcome to his guests, Geirlene turned to
Keayd. "Isn't this simply marvelous?" she asked, her green eyes
sparkling with youthful enthusiasm. This was her first time attending
such an event and there were so many important people here.

"It's," Key agreed. "I just wish my brandies get good critique," he
continued, peering towards the tables were people seemed flock, all at
once. "I think we better wait until the crowd gets spread around
before getting our share."

"That's fine. I enjoy watching the people. It's so wonderful that
Lady Benani was able to make an appearance and I can't believe the
Weyrleader and Weyrwoman are here. So many distinguished people to
sample your brandies. I'm sure everyone will love them!"

"I do hope you're right. And it was indeed delight to see Lady Benani
here," Keayd replied. He was aware he was being too serious with her.
He was also feeling shy around her.

Geirlene was vivacious enough for both of them, however. "Lady
Rethisa was certainly lovely. The blue of her gown matched her eyes
and her hair was braided so prettily," she said a hand going to her
own golden locks wondering if she should experiment with braiding
them. "The Journeyman Healer that was standing close seemed to know
you. Was he a friend?"

"Chupsin? Yes, he's a friend of mine," Key replied. "Have you made any
friends while you're been at the hall?" he asked. The intial rush to
the tables seemed to be over and he started to guide towards it.

"Just a few. Yourself, an apprentice or two from the Hall, and one
girl my age, she's a daughter to one of the masters. I'm on good
terms with kitchen and housekeeping staff at the Hall as well. I've
met several people, but it takes time to get to know them. I don't
really know anyone from the Hold yet, though," she answered walking
with him to tables.

"I've never been very good at making friends myself," Key confessed,
"I tend to except the worst from people. You should meet my little
sister, now, there's someone who makes friends easily."

"Oh, I'd love to meet her! Does she live close by?" Geirlene tended
to make friends easily as well, and quite the opposite of Key was apt
to naively think the best of everyone.

"Yes, at the hold. She works at the Tavern. If we're lucky, she's here
now, part of the staff," Key replied, looking around him.

"Oh, it's wonderful that you have family close by. Do you have other
family here?" She asked while eyeing the wines on the table in front
of them and the small hide placards to the side giving the
descriptions as she tried to determine which to try first.

"Yes, my brother has a cothold near Rocky Shores hold. My father and
his wife live at the hold, as well as my younger siblings," Key replied.
"Here, try this, you might like it," he picked up a glass of white wine for her.

"Mmm. This is very nice," she said with an appreciative smile. "It's
just a little sweet, but not too much. How many siblings do you
have?"

"Many. My father's current one is his third wife now," Keayd replied.

"Oh," Geirlene's eyes widened. His third wife? So Key's own mother
must have passed away then, she felt a pang of sorrow for him. She
knew the pain of such a loss. Not wanting to bring up any unpleasant
memories for the vintner she shifted the conversation just slightly.
"Your father's had three and Uncle Gautrek's never married. I really
wish he could find a loving wife. He deserves as much."

"Yes, your uncle deserves a good wife," Keayd agreed, while thinking
that his father didn't deserve one he had. He picked himself a glass
of red. He sniffed it before taking a small sip and swirled in his
mouth. "Strong, oaky taste. Good with red meats and baked tubers. This
requires heavy food to go with it."

"You sound just like Uncle Gautrek," she smiled. "It is amazing how
much vintners can know about a wine just from smelling it or the
smallest taste. How many turns have you been at the Hall?"

"It's a craft-skill," Key grinned. "I've been at the Hall since I was
old enough to apprentice, that's 13 Turns now," he replied to her
question.

Geirlene caught herself just before telling him that he had a very
nice smile, taking a small sip of her wine instead. "And how did you
come to apprentice as a vintner? Did you know that's what you wanted
even as a little boy?

"No, I didn't know what I wanted until we moved to Amethyst Cliff hold
and I met my uncle who was a vintner," Keayd told her.

"Oh, is your uncle at the Hall?" she asked in surprise.

"Alas, He's no longer. He died at the earthquake," Key's voice was
filled with sorrow.

"Oh, I'm very sorry," she said with sympathy. Loss of loved ones was
sadly something she knew quite a bit about. "My uncle told be that
many good people were lost in the earthquake."

"Yes, it was horrible event and difficult time for all of us," Keayd
said soberly. He picked up two small pies and offered her the second
one.

"Thank you," she smiled up at him, finding that she enjoyed his
company quite a bit and hoping he found her more than tolerable.
"These look yummy and I'm always on the lookout for new pastries that
I can try to bake."

"Well, then, you should ask for the recipes," Key bit to his one. He
wince a bit when the hot filling dripped to his chin. He wiped it off
with a sheepish grin. "They hot, so be careful."

With a girlish giggle, Geirlene delicately bit into hers as well,
trying having to set her wine down to catch her own dribble with her
handkerchief. It was every bit as delicious as she had anticipated
and she decided she would indeed see if she could get the recipe as
the tasty pie was slightly different than those she made. Making a
mental comparison, she tried to detect the differences. Finishing up
her pie, she wiped her mouth daintily and picked up her wine. Her
eyes widened in surprise, "My, that does completely change the taste
of the wine," she commented.

"It does, doesn't it?" Key smiled. "You should try it with different
flavours. Here, try it with something sweet," he offered her a
hazelnut cookie.

Accepting the cookie, she took a nibble and tried the wine. "Oooh,
that really cuts the sweet of the wine some, makes it taste
more...flowery I guess you'd say."

"Very good, I'll make you a professional yet," Key chuckled. He was
enjoying her company enourmously.

A warm laugh bubbled forth and Geirlene's eyes shone with merriment.
She only hoped this was a very, very long day but regardless she knew
it was going to be one she wanted to remember.

Last updated on the May 8th 2015

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Pleasant Company