Tracing Paternity, part 2

Writers: Paula
Date Posted: 23rd November 2021

Characters: A'be, Dessa, G'nir, Corowal
Description: A’be finally founds out who his father is.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr, Dragonsfall Weyr, Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 13, day 1 of Turn 10
Notes: Referst to posts: Lost Relatives and Strange missive,

G'nir

Part 2/2

***

A'be was holding his breath. Except for greetings, he hadn´'t spoken, trusting Dessa to know how to deal with high ranking bronzerides and navigate the shoals of high society better than he did.

“Well, young man, don't you have anything to say?” G'nir addressed A'be, a challenge in his tone.

A'be stiffened. Somehow he knew his answer was going to be important, would affect what happened next. “Please?” A'be said. He tended to be the gruff, silent, sulky type. He took breath. “I need to know who he is, _who I am_. I grew up fatherless, a bastard and drudge's son. I already found out I have host of cousins, second cousins and uncles in the Weyr, but they're from my mother's side. My father's side is still a blank slate. “ The bronzerider was Weyrlingmaster, A'be remember, they liked to teach, to see weyrling grow up to their full potential. “How can I grow as a person, to become the dragonrider I'm supposed to be if I'm lacking half of me? I’m missing half of the base of the person I am.“ He swallowed nervously. “It's like sailing with half the sails missing.”

G'nir was thinking. The bluerider did have a point. To be a full person, you needed to know where your roots where. Maybe it was the sailing reference that decided it, it did remind him of his cousin. He got up and went to drawer where he kept his personal correspondence. It took him a while to find that letter.

“This may explain a thing or two,” he gave the letter to A'be.

A'be read the letter and if he hadn't been sitting already, he would had fallen down. Tuned to his emotions, both his dragon and firelizard reacted. Curie landed to his lap, chirping and crooning.

}: What’s wrong? Why are you feeling like that? :{ Uljath asked with alarm.

**It's nothing, just emotional shock, it will be pass,** Uljath replied. “That's…lot to take in,” he managed to say and he handed the letter to Dessa.

To Dessa, it was just the confirmation for what she had already figured out. Once she had read the letter, she gave it back to G’ir. “Are you alright, A'be?” she asked with gentle concern.

A'be just made a wordless groan.

“Welcome to the family, lad,” G'nir said with surprising gentleness and put the letter back where he had taken it. Then he went to side cabinet and poured a drink. He handed it to A'be, who drank it in one go.

The burn of strong alcohol seem to jolt him out of his shock. “I'm a sharding half-Blood,” he muttered.

“Like me and my mother,” Dessa said and patted his hand comfortingly. “You're not only one.”

“I presume you want to meet him? I'm afraid I can't help you with that. Aillor and I never were close and he only contacts me when needs something from me, which happens once in two decades,” G'nir said. “I have no idea where he is currently.”

“That's the second stop for,” Dessa replied.

**

After A’be had recovered from his shock, they went off again. This time to Emerald Falls Hold of all places. A'be had expected Beryl Plains Hold, since that's where his father came from. But he also trusted Dessa, she knew what she was doing.

They landed in front of the main building. As a blue, Uljath didn't attract that much attention from Hold-folk as Santhiath's presence would had. A'be watched with amusement Dessa to turn on “haughty goldrider and Lady of Blood” -performance and demand an audience with the Lord Holder.

“Should I start to act like that?” A'be wondered when they waited outside the Lord Holder's office.

“Not necessary, unless you want to. You're still you. Just because you _now know_, it doesn't change who _you_ are. You're still the same person, just with more knowledge,” Dessa replied.

An assistant steward came out of the office and gestured them inside.

“Cousin Dessa, it's always a pleasure to see you,” Corowal greeted her warmly. “What brings you here today? Everything well at the Weyr?”

“Weyr is same as always, this is personal matter, not Weyr-business,” Dessa replied and introcuded A'be.

A'be noticed that the Lord Holder did give him a long, studious look.

Once again the got seated. Lord Corowal’' office was bigger and much more opulent than the Weyrlingmaster's rather utilitarian office had been. Once again Dessa told the story and brief summary of her search to trace A'be's father. Halfway thru, Corowal started to chuckle.

“I thought you might be the best person to track him down so A'be can finally meet his father,” Dessa finished off.

“Yes, Aillor is old friend of mine,” Corowal agreed. “We keep regular contact. I have to say, A'be, you do have your father's nose.”

“I have?” A'be touched his nose. It was a rather prominent one.

“And if I didn't know, Ailda would know where her father is sailing,” Corowal continued. “Knowing Aillor, I have to admit I'm not surprised. He probably has few other brats scattered around Pern's ports.”

“I have siblings?” A'be asked. He had always been the only child.

“Yes, four that I know of, those from his marriage,” Corowal replied. “A word of advice from someone who has had a surprise child pop into his office unexpected. Send a letter first, set up a meeting. Aillor can be very nasty person if you get to the wrong side of him.”

That didn't sound very promising, A'be swallowed.

“But based on Dessa's story, he knows about you and has been keeping an eye on you,” Corowal said. “Why else send G'nir to watch your Hatching if he didn't care about you.”

A'be hadn't thought about that aspect, yet anyway. He felt it was going to take a while to really progress all this. “Why doesn't he want me to know him?”

“Probably other way around, he doesn't want rest of his Blood to know about _you_. Nastiness is family trait in Beryl Plains' Blood. Lord Rahlor doesn't hesitate to get rid of inconvenient bastards that he feels are threat his children,” Corowal was just guessing, but knowing Aillor's family, he was probably right.

“As a dragonrider, you're safe,” Dessa assured him. “You can't inherit.”

“I prefer being bluerider A'be anyway, instead of Lord,” A'be muttered.

“As Aillor prefers to be Captain Aillor,” Corowal grinned. “Now, let’s summon lady Ailda. I think you want to meet your half-sister, while we set up a meeting with Aillor.”

Last updated on the February 10th 2022

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Tracing Paternity, part 2