Promise me!

Writers: Paula
Date Posted: 14th March 2011

Characters: X'ian, Kaitien
Description: Xorian makes a promise before leaving for the Weyr.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 1, day 3 of Turn 6

"Do you have to go?" she asked miserably, tears in her pretty blue eyes.

"I have to, I've been Searched and I have certain duty to the Weyr,"
Xorian said, looking her with soft look in his eyes and stopping his
packing.

It had been less than a candlemark since the Searchrider had come to the
small hold near Topaz Sea hold. The dragon had picked up Xorian, a young
journeyman healer barely out of his apprenticeship. Xorian had to admit
his feelings were confused. He loved his craft and he loved this young
woman. They had gotten engaged only few sevendays ago. Yet he felt he
couldn't refuse the Search. If he Impressed, so be it. He had dreamed of
dragons, like almost every lad on Pern. So part of him was quite excited
too.

"What about me? And your craft?" Kaitien said, her lips trembling.

"Aw, love," Xorian reached to cup her face and planted a kiss to her lips.
"We are still promised to each other. Wait for me. I'll come back to you,
one way or the other. If I don't Impress, I come back and marry you. If I
do Impress, I come back later on my dragon and sweep you away with me to
the Weyr," he promised. That made her smile.

"Me, going to Weyr? My dad would be furious," she almost giggled at the
thought. The seach dragon had ignored _her_ even when she had made sure
that the dragon saw her.

"As for my craft, I can continue my studies there. Actually, there are
more opportunities for me to specialize in surgery in a Weyr than in
here." Truth to be told, there was only few patients in a small hold like
this, mostly just common ailments like colds or occasional accident or
fire-head. The thought of treating Thread scorings did fulfil a certain
professional ambition.

"I want to go with you," she sighed.

"Dear Kait, I would love to take you with me. But without dragon of my
own, we could never persuade your father to let you go," Xorian said. He
gave her few more kisses before continuing packing his things.

"Well, don't forget, when you're the dashing bronzerider, you come pick me
up and make me your weyrmate," Kaitien said, wiggling a warning finger at
him. "Or I marry Falland."

Xorian made a choking noise. "He's a rude, smelly fishcrafter."

Kaitien smiled. "You two just hate each other." Falland was actually very
handsome for a smelly fishcrafer and Kaitien had been seeing him before
Xorian arrived. Even if Falland was more handsome, Xorian was a better
catch. He was distantly related to a Blood, with safe, indoor craft and
promising future. She didn't have to wait and worry if he would come back
from the sea.

"Thank Faranth, he wasn't Searched!" Of course , being a fisherman,
Falland had been out at the sea when the Search dragon came.

"Promise me," she asked, becoming serious again.

"Yes, love. I promise. I come back to you," Xorian said with equal
seriousness. And he intended to honour that promise.

Last updated on the March 20th 2011

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Promise me!