Post by SPY on Jan 30, 2010 18:39:38 GMT -5
M'rim was sitting by himself in the barracks, repairing a rip in his flying jacket. To all appearance he seemed to be relaxed and thoughtful. In reality he was tense and alert, waiting for notice from his dragon. A few days ago he had received a letter from the council. They provided instructions for which victim he was to kill first. Their choice was perfect, a murder that would let Allride know that no one was safe--not innocent weyrlings, not strong bronzeriders. For himself, M'rim would be pleased to do away with this too arrogant senior weyrling. besides, this one's bronze was one of the fastest and too likely to catch a Queen and carry on the bad genes.
He is walking across the weyrbowl now, Laingth informed him suddenly. M'rim smiled. It was the only emotion that registered on his face as he put aside his mending and went out into the weyrbowl.
M'rim strode up beside the bronze weyrling, putting on an uncharacteristic friendly grin. "Hello. Pep'so, isn't it? Where are you headed?"
Pep'so didn't think anything of a younger weyrling trying to talk to him. Who wouldn't want to get to know him. "The kitchen, for a snack and a glass of wine."
"I had the same intention," M'rim said cheerfully. "Would you mind if I joined you?"
Pep'so shook his head. "Of course not." They walked to the kitchen together. Inside it was warm and cozy, the fire burning brightly, and no one else was inside. Perfect. They poured wine, and sat beside each other at the table. M'rim asked Pep'so questions about himself, allowing the bronze weyrling to babble on. He did like to talk about himself.
Suddenly M'rim put his hand on Pep'so's knee under the table. "Pep'so, the real reason I wanted to come with you tonight was because there's something I've been wanting to tell you..."
Pep'so's face flushed red with embarrassment. A male greenrider telling him something like that? It could only mean one thing. He started to lean back in disgust, but M'rim grabbed him firmly behind the neck and pulled him in, kissing him fiercely on the lips.
"Ugh!" Pep'so pushed M'rim, almost knocking the other weyrling off his chair. M'rim pretended to be abashed, looking at the floor.
"I'm sorry. It must have been the wine."
"Hmph. Just don't tell anyone else." Looking at the wine, Pep'so picked up his glass and swallowed the rest, as if getting drunk could erase his disgust. M'rim looked on dispassionately as a few seconds passed and Pep'so began to look ill.
"What did you do to the wine?" Pep'so demanded, standing up unsteadily. He went to hit M'rim, but he was dizzy and ended up knocking his glass off the table instead. It shattered on the floor, which was just as well for M'rim. He looked on as the bronze weyrling doubled over, gasping, and began to writhe in pain as he held his stomach.
M'rim knelt by Pep'so, a twisted grin lighting his features as he bent down to whisper in the boy's ear. "Needlethorn. And if it makes you feel any better, I never did like men." Straightening, he finished his own wine and then strode outside, ignoring Pep'so's pleas and threats behind him.
He looked up as a young bronze dragon leaped into the air and disappeared forever. Moments later, the keening began. Hidden by the keening was his own dragon's delighted purr. This was only the beginning.
He is walking across the weyrbowl now, Laingth informed him suddenly. M'rim smiled. It was the only emotion that registered on his face as he put aside his mending and went out into the weyrbowl.
M'rim strode up beside the bronze weyrling, putting on an uncharacteristic friendly grin. "Hello. Pep'so, isn't it? Where are you headed?"
Pep'so didn't think anything of a younger weyrling trying to talk to him. Who wouldn't want to get to know him. "The kitchen, for a snack and a glass of wine."
"I had the same intention," M'rim said cheerfully. "Would you mind if I joined you?"
Pep'so shook his head. "Of course not." They walked to the kitchen together. Inside it was warm and cozy, the fire burning brightly, and no one else was inside. Perfect. They poured wine, and sat beside each other at the table. M'rim asked Pep'so questions about himself, allowing the bronze weyrling to babble on. He did like to talk about himself.
Suddenly M'rim put his hand on Pep'so's knee under the table. "Pep'so, the real reason I wanted to come with you tonight was because there's something I've been wanting to tell you..."
Pep'so's face flushed red with embarrassment. A male greenrider telling him something like that? It could only mean one thing. He started to lean back in disgust, but M'rim grabbed him firmly behind the neck and pulled him in, kissing him fiercely on the lips.
"Ugh!" Pep'so pushed M'rim, almost knocking the other weyrling off his chair. M'rim pretended to be abashed, looking at the floor.
"I'm sorry. It must have been the wine."
"Hmph. Just don't tell anyone else." Looking at the wine, Pep'so picked up his glass and swallowed the rest, as if getting drunk could erase his disgust. M'rim looked on dispassionately as a few seconds passed and Pep'so began to look ill.
"What did you do to the wine?" Pep'so demanded, standing up unsteadily. He went to hit M'rim, but he was dizzy and ended up knocking his glass off the table instead. It shattered on the floor, which was just as well for M'rim. He looked on as the bronze weyrling doubled over, gasping, and began to writhe in pain as he held his stomach.
M'rim knelt by Pep'so, a twisted grin lighting his features as he bent down to whisper in the boy's ear. "Needlethorn. And if it makes you feel any better, I never did like men." Straightening, he finished his own wine and then strode outside, ignoring Pep'so's pleas and threats behind him.
He looked up as a young bronze dragon leaped into the air and disappeared forever. Moments later, the keening began. Hidden by the keening was his own dragon's delighted purr. This was only the beginning.
