Lies Hurt

Writers: Heather, Mirren
Date Posted: 29th November 2015

Characters: Torianna, Hadrid, Solont
Description: Hadrid takes up for his sister, Torianna
Location: Citrus Bay Hold
Date: month 3, day 11 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Raghad, Runnfreya

Torianna blinked, squinting against the glare of the afternoon sun. The scent of sea air and fish wafted on the light breeze; the smells of her childhood.

"Hey wool-head!" Solont called out from several feet away. "I'll give you a mark if you spread 'em for me!"

Torianna flushed and tried to ignore the boy.

"Half a mark for a feel?" he called again persistently.

Hadrid turned and called over his shoulder, "Shut up, Solont!" He sighed a little and readjusted his grip on his fishing pole. "Don't listen to him, Torianna, everyone knows he has rocks for brains." Even though he was younger than Torianna, Hadrid had always taken on the role of being the protective brother.

"Sallia says his brains are in his pants." She glanced back to see him grab his groin and shake it at her. Another boy joined him and they both started laughing.

"That's giving him too much credit." Hadrid replied, frowning as he glanced over his shoulder again.

Torianna giggled, then grew serious again. "You'd think he was Weyrbred, the way he talks." He had no class at all.

"You ready to go inside? The fish aren't biting at all." he complained as he tossed the pole down on the deck.

"Yes, I -"

She was interrupted by the other boy, who had approached, Solont beside him.

"I know who your mother is," he said. "She was the hold whore. No one knows who your father is, she bedded half the hold."

Tears sprang to Torianna's eyes. "That little-" Her small hands curled into angry fists and she started to stand.

Hadrid had sprung to his feet, and he grabbed Solont by the front of his tunic, "You take that back!"

"It's just the truth." Solont said and spat in his face.

Hadrid saw red, and before he thought better about what his father or mother would say, he drove his fist into Solont's face. No one talked about his family that way, especially when it involved his sisters.

"Haddy!" Torianna winced at the crunch she assumed was the breaking of Solont's nose.

"You little feck," the boy swore, blood gushing down his face.

"That's what you deserve! Don't you ever talk about my family! Get out of here" He shoved Solont hard with both his hands.

"You'll pay for this," Solont spat. "Both of you." He glared before staggering away, the hem of his shirt up to his face.

Hadrid watched him go, still fuming as he locked his hands onto his hips. "Well, how mad do you think Dad will be when he finds out?" He glanced sideways at Torianna.

"That depends," she replied. "Maybe he _was_ telling the truth.

"Oh come on, Tori, that's not the first time someone's had something to say about one of our mothers. Mine was a drudge and everyone knows it. Solont can't even write his name, I doubt he knows anything true about your mother." It wasn't the first time Hadrid had busted some kid's lip because of what they had to say about his parentage.

"Ma is not a drudge anymore," she replied. "But mine could have been - anything." Maybe she was trying to be more than she was.

"That's my point. Ma was a drudge and now she's the lady of a Minor Hold. It doesn't matter who your mother was." Hadrid rubbed his reddened knuckles as they walked back up to the Hold.

"It does if she was a -" Torianna sucked in a breath. "Are you all right?Do you need a healer?"

Hadrid cradled his hand a little, "No, it's fine, just sore. Solont's face was like punching a fecking rock."

"You could have ignored him," she pointed out. "If I'd broken his nose he probably wouldn't have told anyone." She half- wished she had.

"I hope he does tell people, maybe it'll make them think twice before talking to you like that."

"Maybe what he said was true." Her voice was small as she spoke. "Maybe he's just brave enough to tell me to my face."

Hadrid turned and grabbed his sister by the shoulders, "Stop saying that! Solont doesn't have a brave bone in his body. Why would you trust or believe an idiot like that? He's just trying to upset you and you're letting it work!"

"Yes, but…" she replied, looking miserable.

"Why does it matter who birthed you? You have a mother and a father, Raghad and Runnfreya. You've got a brother and a sister. Isn't that enough?" He asked, not understanding.

"No. Yes." She shook her head. "I don't know. Unless I do know some day then people like him are going to say things like that."

"Why does it matter what they say? You're going to marry some nice holder like Da and no one is going to care who your real parents are." Hadrid sighed and shook his head. "Come on, I think I need some ice for my knuckles."

She exhaled loudly. "Of course, I'm sorry. Is his face as hard as it looks?"

Hadrid glanced sideways at her, "Like a stone wall."

Last updated on the November 30th 2015

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Lies Hurt