The World of Pern(tm) copyright (c) 1967 by Anne McCaffrey.
The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.
An online session, recorded by permission of the author for the benefit
of members unable to attend.
=======================================================================

June 12, 1998.  PernMUSH.  Kathall's POV.
--
Your location's current time: 19:25 on day 26, month 3, Turn 23, of
the Tenth Pass. It is a spring evening.
Cast:  Kathall, Kassima.

Kathall goes to Telgar Weyr with an unusual request of a friend.
=======================================================================
Records Room(#403RJs$)
Sounds echo off the cool stone walls of the records room, and bounce
hollowly off the uncarpeted floor. Though perfectly neat and dust
free, this room seems to maintain an aura of unease, though that may
be the weight of the ancient records that are contained within, and
the heavy decisions that have been formed here. A large, stained wood
table with seats stretched along one side stands on a raised area to
the north, up a single step from the rest of the room. The east and
west walls are covered, ceiling to floor, with book shelves and scroll
shelves containing records dating back nearly to the First
Interval. The most stunning feature is the broad sheet of clear
muscovite that stretches across the ceiling like a giant
skylight. Through the skylight, a blanket of grey clouds cover the
skies to the horizon.
An exit leads out into the bowl.
Contents:
Kyril
Kassima
Telgar NPC List
Turn Day Register
Weyr Coverage Map
Council Table
--

Kathall ventures tentatively into the room. "Hello...?"

Kassima sits at one of the tables, consulting a hide and making
notes. Judging by what she's muttering to herself, though, the hide
isn't a Wing report.... "Dulath, seven known wins; Solarith, three;
Spineth, two...." At the hail, she starts and turns to see who's
there. "Oh, Kathall! G'deve! Duties t'your Hold, Craft, and their
respective administrators... what brings you up here tonight?"

"You," Kathall answers firmly, although some frisson or other trembles
under the facade. She comes further in, her hands linked before her,
and pauses on the table's other side. "Could I ... talk to you,
Kassima? If I'm not interrupting?"

Kassima nudges aside her reports, and gestures to another chair at the
table. "You're nay interrupting aught. 'Twas just going over m'flight
records, so as t'have a better idea of who t'bet on when Daelyth
rises... have a seat?" One dark eyebrow arches inquiringly. "And do
tell me what 'tis I can do for you?"

Kathall takes a chair quietly, then belatedly returns, "My regards to
Telgar and its leaders, of course. I'm here on my own behalf, though;
no formalities." She hedges, though, stalling. "How is Nimiriel
adjusting to her new home? I didn't know her well at Igen, but she
didn't seem unhappy there."

Lumped on Kathall's shoulder, Ciro slops across his perch, now that
they're not moving, and he slits his gem eyes on the green rider.

Kassima lifts one shoulder in a shrug. "I haven't spoken with her that
much, m'self, save in passing... but aside from the trials and
tribulations of proddiness, she doesn't seem ill at ease here." After
this statement, she waits expectantly, surely aware that Kathall
wouldn't have come all this way to ask *that.*

Kathall smiles nervously and looks down into her lap. "There's no real
way to say it except bluntly, really, so I will." And she looks up,
her brown eyes earnestly, solemnly round. "I want to have a child, and
I'm hoping you can help me find a rider to sire it."

The only reason there's no *clang* as Kassi's jaw drops is that it
isn't close enough to the table to hit it... not *quite*. She clears
her throat and chokes out, "You... you what? Run that by me again;
methinks I may have misheard you."

Kathall's voice trembles only a little. "I want to have a child, and I
need to find a father. A rider. You're a rider, and you know male
riders, and -- and you're my friend." Her chin lifts. "I sent a
message to Faerysa at Igen, too, just in case we find no one here."

Kassima sits back in her chair, still looking rather... well,
startled. "I didn't know you had a thing for children," she observes
almost dazedly. Blinking once or twice, she manages to regain some
semblance of composure. "Actually, the request isn't that
unreasonable--it's just never been asked of *me* before." Who would
picture Kassima the Practically Celibate as the studbroker for Telgar
Weyr? "Um. A male rider. I do know one or two who'd be happy t'provide
anyone with that... um... service, but I don't know if'n they'd be the
sorts you're after. Besides male and rider, d'you have aught else in
particular you're looking for?"

"My eldest brother and his wife just had their fourth child," Kathall
explains, leaning forward, "and I'm the last daughter to be married. I
don't want to get married, but I do want children. Children I can
raise myself, so I need a father who will stand as stud, but no
more. And that means, I think, a rider. Preferably one who won't
bother us again after -- after the act. As for what I want ... I don't
know."

Kassima chews on her lip, thinking. "Rider would be ideal, aye," she
agrees almost absently. "They're used t'such things... offhand, I'd
suggest L'cher--blue Leerth's rider in m'Wing--but while he's always
willing t'sire child after child after child, Faranth knows, he proves
that siring does nay a father make. However, if'n 'twere you, I'd want
someone less dashing and more... well... intelligent." Taking a deep
breath, she starts to ponder. "There's V'dan, mayhaps, or one of
M'kla's brood; F'hlan's certes capable, but you're nay a greenrider,
so that's likely out. There's always R'val, but... I wouldn't
recommend R'val. There aren't any real qualities that you particularly
would like t'have a chance of seeing passed on t'your offspring?"
Kassima has to ask, though, "But, Kathall... I'm honored that you'd
come t'me and all, and consider me that good a friend, but you know
I'm nay the best to advise in relationships of any kind--however
brief. Why me?" She sounds honestly curious, and perhaps a bit
flustered, but not like she's complaining about being your advisor on
one night stands.

Kathall lowers her head. "You and Faerysa were the only ones I could
think of," she admits. "I don't know many riders, you know, and
certainly few I'd trust. And -- and you're so comfortable and
confident in Weyr matters, that I thought you'd be good to ask. I'm
sorry if it puts you in a bad position, I really am."

Ciro stirs on her shoulder, wings rattling; he spins his eyes a little
yellow, a little green, and dead at Kassima.

Kassima shakes her head slowly. "Nay, it doesn't really... most of the
men I know *are* weyrmated, but I've learned of a few who would
probably be amiable through the Weyr gossip line. I think the first
place t'start is M'kla. She has a bronzerider son who has three
children so far," she recites, as though this were indeed a matter of
pedigrees and stud records, "and I don't *think* he has any permanent
attachments yet. If'n all else fails, there's always Lach, but I'd
save that for a last resort if'n 'twere you."

Kathall studies the table's edge, unmindful of her protective bronze
companion while she ponders deeply. Then she sighs. "Well, to be
honest, I'm thinking more about me than about the child. You see
... I've never been with a man before. I've been
kissed. Once. Briefly. By A'lex, who's with Channie now, of course."
She frowns as if to obscure her red-rimmed eyes in the skin folds and
shadows. "I want it to be something I can remember well, if that makes
sense."

Kassima sighs quietly. "You'll remember," she promises. "You do
realize, though, that I'm in nay position to evaluate
the... um... pleasure-related abilities of any non-weyrmated man
currently in the Weyr? I can try t'find out from other riders," and
here she turns a faint red, perhaps at the very *thought* of going
around asking how so-and-so is in bed, "but I can't make any personal
guarantees, as 'twere."

Kathall clings to Kassima's gaze with her own. "I'd appreciate it,
Kassi, I would. Someone gentle, understanding--" now she's blushing,
but stubbornly continues "--bathes regularly, that sort of thing. And
I'd have to meet his dragon, of course."

Kassima promises, her dark green eyes for once serious, "I'll
try. That's all I can promise, but 'twill do m'best. There's always
V'dan, too... he's nay really half bad as people go, just a bit--well,
V'dannish. I can get a list of names together for you, and bring them
t'Benden if'n 'twould suit?"

Kathall ducks her head again. "Thank you." Softly, very softly. She
clears her throat. "I haven't told anyone else, so if you could be
discreet..."

Kassima tilts her head a bit to one side. "Well... I'll probably need
t'explain the situation when asking about for possible candidates, but
I can certes keep the name of who 'twould be for anonymous, if'n you'd
rather. If'n I *don't* explain 'tis for someone else," she adds dryly,
"people are going t'think *I'm* wanting another babe, and that would
be a full mess."

Kathall blushes again, from different mortification. "I don't want
that to happen, no, not when you're doing me a favor. Just -- explain
it as best you can. I can visit or you can come to me, and I'll
eventually decide. It has to be just right, though." Hesitation. "Were
any of your children like that? Planned?"

Kassima nods--in understanding, perhaps, of that last statement. "I'd
imagine 'twould, aye." To the questions, she shakes her head
definitively. "Neither one, nay--Kaylira was a flight-child, from when
Nicoth caught Lysseth, and Kharisma... well, the Water and a large
quantity of wine were both involved. Methinks you can take
m'meaning. I don't know if'n I'll ever have another. 'Tis
possible--but only from flights, most likely." Sighing, she notes
ruefully, "'Tis a shame Jh'rin's weyrmated now. If'n he'd been
willing, he might've made a good choice--but, nay, he's too fond of
his children for that, come t'be thinking on it."

Kathall nods slowly. "I suppose some weyrmatings are as tight as hold
marriages, aren't they?"

"Until or unless they break off, aye," Kassi agrees... almost
wistfully? Nah. "And flights naywithstanding. I know several men and
women who are as loyal to their weyrmates as m'married relatives are
to one another." Turning her head slightly, she arcs both eyebrows at
something beyond sight. "Lysseth says a large number of males seem
t'have gathered in the Bowl... huh, 'tis about time. With Daelyth
glowing that brightly, I'd be amazed if'n 'twere *nay* the case."
Kassima nibbles her lip thoughtfully. "Actually, you could likely snag
a man after a goldflight who'd be willing t'agree to aught if'n you'd
just go t'bed with him. That might nay be the experience you're
looking for, though."

Kathall flinches and scrapes her chair back. "I'd best get going,
then. A flight encounter is not what I have in mind." Her dignity
pulls her spine straight. "For a non-rider like me, it'd be nothing
better than rape."

Kassima nods a bit. "Can't say I'd know... all of m'flight encounters
have been in Lysseth's." Which implies, of course, that rape is pretty
much an impossible concept. "But, aye, it might be better t'catch a
ride out soon. With a bluerider, by preference. Or one of the
greenriders whose ladies are close t'rising anyway, and need t'get out
of here."

Kathall nods quickly. "Thank you. Again. Our watchrider can take me
back, so that's no worry."

Kassima nods, standing herself. "I'd best take stock of the field, and
get out the drinks, if'n Daelyth's as close as I think she is... and
you had really best hurry. M'duties t'you and yours. I'll see you
again soon, with that list."

Kathall dashes a smile and then hurries out.

[Log ends.]