Where Nobody Knows Your Name

Writers: Halyonix
Date Posted: 30th January 2025
Series: Bronze and Blue Entwined

Characters: Nirian, I'serin
Description: I'serin gets K'mai a gift at the cost of something
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 4, day 14 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned K'mai

I'serin

I'serin tucked his Weyrleader knots into his pocket as he strode towards the entrance to the tavern. With just a few days to K'mai's birthingday, the Weyrleader had carved out a quick hour to retrieve what he hoped would be a welcomed gift.

The tavern was empty, aside from the barmaid that he had encountered last time. Nirian tilted her head to the side as he walked in, a polishing cloth in one hand, a glass in another, and a flash of recognition in her smile. "Well, I was hoping you'd come back," she said. "What am I pouring you today?"

I'serin held up a hand, declining the offer. "I am here to purchase a gift of your wares, if they are for sale," he explained.

Nirian struck a pose, her hand on one of her curvy hips, her lips twisting into a sultry smile. "And what sort of wares are you looking for?"

"The red vintage, turn Three pressing." Shells and shards, he hoped she had not been considering some innuendo with his query.

Her smile turned knowing. "I bet I can guess who that's for," she said. "Wait here." She disappeared into the back for a few minutes and then returned with a few bottles. "Not too many of them left. I picked those berries for it too."

"I do recall that," I'serin said absently as he picked up one of the bottles for inspection.

Nirian struck another teasing pose, her familiar one of resting her upper body on the bar so that the triangle of her arms created a lovely frame for her cleavage. As expected, again, the dragonrider wasn't interested. She wondered if he rode a green dragon. Some of them were into boys rather than girls so her wiles never caught their eye. "And here I thought you had forgotten me," she teased.

His hazel eyes met her gaze with a sharpness that immediately changed Nirian's mind. She grinned broadly as he said, "You are quite memorable." Never mind that he didn't say it in a flirty tone like some men did. Nirian opened her mouth to flirt a little bit more but he cut her off with, "How much for three bottles?"

She made a face of deep thought and then quoted him a price. He immediately paid without question. Before he could gather up the bottles and depart, she said, "And you owe me one more thing."

Her grin deepened wickedly.

I'serin would have rather faced Threadfall than whatever she was hiding behind that grin.

While she had the dragonrider frozen in surprise, Nirian gathered two glasses and went to a small keg on the side of bar to pour from. "A drink and a story," she explained. "The vintners are testing a small batch brew, which you can help me get feedback on, and you can tell me a story, because I'm bored."

The Weyrleader of Dragonsfall Weyr debated how he felt about being considered someone's entertainment for long enough to cause Nirian to say, "Please. It's just one drink, a sip really. And it doesn't have to be some big story. It could be something like how you Impressed your dragon. Or how you met K'mai."

He felt as though there was a trap waiting to be sprung in that question but without a truly polite way of excusing himself, I'serin took a seat and allowed her to pass over the drink. Though he was deeply proud of Aluneth, a dragon's name was unique. Speaking about that miraculous moment would give him away. In this scenario, speaking about K'mai was the safer subject.

That was quite the odd thought.

I'serin took an appraising sniff of the brew -- a light beer with sour fruit hints -- before taking a small sip to coat his tongue, then another to enjoy the full effect. "It...will go well chilled in the summer," he determined. "It would sell well at a Gather."

Nirian beamed. "They'll love to hear that." She took a big swig from hers and grimaced. "Not a fan of sour but to each their own. Okay, story time."

I'serin thought for a moment. Carefully, he said, "K'mai and I were friends growing up at the Weyr. River Bluff Weyr, to be exact. He Impressed before me. We transferred to Dragonsfall after River Bluff...fell."

He thought that she would complain about how scant on details his story was but Nirian took on a thoughtful pose, letting a long silence stretch between them and their sips of beer, before finally saying, "So you two have been through a lot together, sounds like. Surprised he hasn't brought you here before. Being friends from childhood and all that."

I'serin opened his mouth to answer, then changed his mind on what he was going to say. "Sometimes even childhood friends drift apart."

"Seems like you two are coming back together though," she said with a friendly wink that still somehow managed to chill I'serin's blood. "That's good. He needs good friends. You don't seem like the type to be a jerk and ditch him at first sign of trouble. Good." She tossed back the rest of her drink with a grimace. "Ugh, I can't wait for them to roll out the next batch. I hear it's going to be a red wine fermented in klah bark casks or something like that. Should be nice and perfect for chilly nights when you want to curl up with a book."

She was becoming more interesting by the moment but I'serin reserved revealing that. "I did not realize that K'mai had such a staunch defender here at the tavern. I shall remember that." He lifted his glass in small toast. "And what you have said." He finished the glass and passed it back to her. He stood, straightened his tunic, and began gathering his bottles. "I thank you for the drink. And...the insight."

"Anytime," she answered merrily. Her head tilted to the side. "You know, you still haven't told me your name." There was a pause between them, as sharp hazel eyes met dark brown ones with no ground given. Nirian let out a delighted laugh. "And I'm guessing you won't. Fine. I'll just call you Lord No Name then."

Slightly amused, the left side of I'serin's mouth quirked in a smile. Nirian spotted his expression and laughed again. "Alright, off with you then, Lord No Name. Tell K'mai I said hello, okay?"

I'serin bowed respectfully. "I shall," he promised.

Last updated on the February 11th 2025

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Where Nobody Knows Your Name