Stowaway (5/6): An Unlikely Criminal

Writers: Beth, Estelle
Date Posted: 10th September 2005

Characters: Ryndel, Reilina
Description: Ryndel discovers Reilina stowing away on the boat bound for Dolphin Cove Weyr
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 7, day 28 of Turn 3

The men watched with some embarrassment as a young girl, who looked to be barely in her teens if that, emerged. Ryndel had to hide a smile.

"So this is your criminal?"

"She's a stowaway," the captain growled, glaring at the girl. "How do you intend to pay for your passage, and the food you've eaten, eh? By rights, I ought to throw you overboard."

"I'll pay for her passage," Ryndel said quickly. He might not want the boat to be delayed, but not at the cost of a child being tossed unceremoniously into the river! So this was one of the runaways that Emerald Falls was infamous for. No doubt Lord Enrizial would be extremely displeased when she turned up missing... "Have you been hiding here all this time, since we left Emerald Falls?"

Reili looked away from the captain, as he threatened her, keeping her chin up, so as to appear unfazed. She could not help but look in surprise, however, at this man, a master she saw by his knots, who seemed to care what happened to her. Stammering, she answered him. "I--you--yes, I've been here.
You would do that? I could work for you--or someone. Pay it off, I mean."

"If you travel as part of the Harper Hall, the Hall will bear the cost."
Ryndel was not certain of what the new Hallmaster would think of that, but the opportunity to truly annoy the Lord of Emerald Falls was too tempting to pass up. "But we can worry about that later. You look half-starved - would you like something to eat, you and your firelizard?"

Trying to keep from sounding whiny or overeager, she said, "Yes, I am quite hungry." Reili was impressed by the kindness she was being shown. She almost wanted to hug him, but she was sure it would be completely improper.

Ryndel thought of calling for an apprentice - they were all over the riverboat and never far away from a potential source of gossip - but he knew that the cook would under no circumstances give extra food to anyone save the Hallsecond himself. They went to the galley together, where he argued with the cook until the man produced bread and cheese and some cold meatrolls for the firelizard, which was all he was prepared to part with until a proper mealtime.

If he'd been shut up in the hold for days, he thought he'd want fresh air more than anything, so he led her out onto the deck and glared at the hovering apprentices until they backed off and at least made a pretence of not listening.

"I'm Ryndel," he said as she and her pet devoured the food. "May I ask your name?"

Reili knew that a master craftsman was deserving of great respect. Realizing she'd forgotten her manners in her hunger, she swallowed as quickly as she could so she could speak. "My name is Reilina," she said with a small curtsy, "sir, Master Ryndel--sir."

Realising her dilemma, Ryndel let the girl eat enough to take the edge off her hunger before he asked any more questions. "Well, Reilina - I assume you're here without the knowledge of your family?" It would be a strange set of parents who let their young daughter travel alone, let alone shut her up in the hold of a riverboat!

Reili flushed and looked at the floor. She wasn't sure what to say to him.
She could give her excuses or her justification, but she didn't know that he'd want to hear it. Instead, she simply said, "Yes, Master Ryndel."

"Can you tell me why?" Ryndel asked gently. As much as he wanted to get some small revenge against Lord Enrizial for the burning of the Harper Hall, the girl's parents had to be worried about her...though he'd no idea how she was to be sent back to Emerald Falls in safety.

"I--my brother." Teide was the first reason in her mind, and she couldn't help but mention him. "He's a dolphineer at Dolphin Cove. He told me that they'll teach girls healing there and that's what I want to do. No one understands, and they were just going to keep me to be married off someday.
I'm tired of feeling so...restrained. I can't tell anyone what I'm really thinking or my father will punish me." She pointed down at her firelizard and continued, "L.T.'s the only friend I have."

"But he's a good friend. He defended you well - the captain's men are witness to that. L.T. - is that his name?"

"Yes. I name him after my brother. The T. is for Teide." Reili wondered that she hadn't been tossed overboard already. She hoped this man, who seemed so wonderful so far, would take pity on her and keep her on until they reached the Weyr.

"Hmm." Ryndel eyed the girl and her firelizard as if in deep thought, though in fact he'd already decided on what was to be done with her. "Well, Reilina, I'm afraid I can't turn back the boat and return you to Emerald Falls. We've travelled too far, and cannot afford the delay. Nor can I in good conscience simply leave you at the next hold, to find your own way back. It seems to me that the best course is for you to travel with us to Dolphin Cove Weyr, where you can join your brother and decide what to do from there."

Holding back a sigh of relief, Reili thanked him. Now that she knew she had a place on the boat, she hoped to find out what that place might be. Not wanting to push her luck, she stayed quiet, thinking he was likely to tell her what she was to do. She hoped it wouldn't be awful though that would be only fair considering her stowaway status.

"I'm afraid we're all very cramped on this boat," Ryndel said, sounding a little abashed as if the lack of proper quarters was his fault. "You'll have to share a cabin with some of the other young girls - my wife will know more about that. If you'll come with me, I'll introduce you to her."

Reili followed, still quiet. This seemed to be turning out very well, and she hoped that the rest of the journey would continue to do so. She looked up to L.T., who had flitted up above her now that he could stretch his wings a bit. Feeling hopeful and content, she smiled.

Last updated on the September 11th 2005

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Stowaway (5/6): An Unlikely Criminal