Easing the Body and the Heart

Writers: Avery, Suzee
Date Posted: 31st July 2017
Series: The Ruin of River Bluff Weyr

Characters: K'ran, Jayzine
Description: The Weyrleader and Headwoman have a quiet discussion.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 12, day 20 of Turn 8

K'ran

Jayzine

The room he was in had originally been a workroom, K'ran thought. When
the caverns staff had descended on this building to repurpose it,
they'd cleared out items and dragged around furniture. This room had
kept an oversized desk that could serve as a conference table and was
furnished with a good number of chairs. It had a side nook that a cot
had been dragged to and a curtain hung to give it some privacy.

He was sitting at the desk when a knock at the door occurred. "Come
in," he called.

"I scrounged you up some food," Jayzine said as she came into the
room. Looking quickly at the items she'd have to send over a pillow if
she could find one. "You haven't eaten yet, have you?" It wasn't quite
an accusation.

She slid the tray onto the table and sat wearily. Tucking hair behind
her ears she reached out to pour them each a cup of tea.

K'ran smiled at the Headwoman as she came in. It was good to see a
friendly face, especially one with a tray and not with a stack of
reports. "I had slices of plain bread after the Healers treated me,
but that's it," he said.

"How are you doing?"

"Have some of the soup. They did quite well with what they had."
hunters and gatherers had gone out to grab what they could. "I'm
tired," she said without a smile as two hands brought the cup to her
lips. "Mind if I sit here for a couple minutes?

"Not at all, you're welcome to join me," he said automatically. The
soup smelled good as he maneuvered the tray a little closer and used
the arm that didn't hurt to lift some to his mouth. "I'm glad your
family is safe. That must have taken a load off your mind."

"It did," she nodded. "But so many others don't have that luxury." Her
eyes showed her sadness. "How's the arm, and hows Rogueth?"

"Well, the Healers say we will live," K'ran said with a sigh. "The arm
was dislocated and they put it back, but no break. They thought I
might have had a concussion but I can still think fine."

The thought of his bronze's condition made him frown. "The rocks hit
him worse, since there's more of him. Hind leg's definitely bruised,
maybe broken, and there's small tears in the wingsail."

She nodded and a slight smile touched her eyes. "I'm very glad you're
going to live." She said. "I've been working on a roster of lower
caverns workers for you. And we have some supplies heading in."

"I'll tell him you're concerned, he'll appreciate it," K'ran said.

"Where are the supplies coming from?" he asked out of curiosity.

"Looks like Sunstone had a tithe ship already loaded and in the lee of
that Wall Island? So they're sending it on. Should be here in the
next couple of days. But with the docks ruined they'll likely have to
ferry the goods in on small boats.

"That's going to be interesting. Especially if we have to worry about
how to store them." Thinking about it for too long was going to give
him a headache.

"We'll figure it out." she said and leaned forward. "How are you really
doing?"

Rationally, K'ran knew that he shouldn't be honest with her. He was
the Weyrleader - he had to be strong for the rest of the Weyr.
Especially now that they didn't have a Weyrwoman to comfort them. The
Weyrleader was the brain and the planner, while the Weyrwoman was the
heart and the comfort. With what had happened to Lenala, it was his
job to be both for everyone. Even when he was heartsick over what had
happened himself. Even when he was tired, and hurt.

But he _was_ tired and hurt, and Jayzine's tone was full of
compassion, and he had a moment of weakess.

"There's Fall in another day, and while we have a plan for that, I don't
know what we're going to do if we have to stay out here a few more
days. I know the other Weyrs have sent help, but it still feels like
too much to handle," he confessed.

She got up from her chair and walked around behind him. "I think you
need a neck rub to get rid of some of that tension." She rested her
hands lightly on either shoulder. "I used to do this for my husband
when he was stressed." **when I didn't hate him.**

He sighed as her hands were cool against her shoulders. "I'd
appreciate it. Sorry about the bruises, though," he said.

She began to knead his shoulders. Her hands were strong from kneading
bread and she could feel every little lump caused by the stress of his
work. She avoided the bruises as much as possible while her thumbs
worked back and forth next to his spine. "You're going to figure
something out," she said as she worked. "I know you will."

He breathed out. The Headwoman had magical hands, he decided. "That
feels far better than being pounded with rocks."

"I would hope so," she chuckled. Her fingers worked up his neck and
finally to his temples.

K'ran sighed in relief as her hands found a tight spot there and his
shoulders slumped as he settled deeper into the chair. "Are you sure
you never took lessons from Healers?"

"I'll never tell," she smiled and when she'd finished patted his
shoulders and walked back around to the other side of his desk.
"When's the conclave?"

"Huh?" he asked, not very eloquently.

She waived her hand in the direction to the group of survivors huddled
on top of the bluff. "It's pretty obvious we can't stay here. I'm sure
you have some sort of plan worked out. Do you want to talk about it?"

"As soon as the masons finalize a report, we'll take it to a conclave.
I _want_ them to say we can stay here, but..." K'ran sighed. "If they
say it's unsalvageable, we'll have to leave."

"Well," she said seriously. "What will come will come and staying up
worrying isn't going to accomplish anything." She knew men on the
whole weren't given to fatalism yet as a woman her life had been
directed first by a father and then by a husband who had never earned
her respect. She'd never controlled her own life until she'd come to
the Weyr. Now this one was gone and she had no idea what she was going
to do with herself or her family. But right now right here she knew
what to do. "You need to go to sleep."

Jayzine was right, and he knew it. The Weyrleader sighed.

"I'll settle in like a good boy, I promise," he told her. "Do you have
somewhere set up for you to stay?"

"We have a small tent over by the cooking fires," she smiled. It
wasn't really big enough for the three of them. Nor was it secure, but
it was better than some who were lucky to have bed rolls.

"That's good. Hopefully we'll be better set up soon," he said. "I'll
see you in the morning?"

"Yes," she said. "We'll be using up some of the perishable supplies as
quickly as we can. So bring your appetite." She slapped her knees and
rose. "Good night," she said and walked back to their little camp to
make sure her orders were being carried out and much of tomorrow's
cooking was being done tonight while it was still cool.

Last updated on the August 23rd 2017

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Easing the Body and the Heart