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 23, 1998.  PernMUSH.  Kathall's POV.
--
Your location's current time: 2:06 on day 16, month 5, Turn 23, of the
Tenth Pass. It is a spring night.
Cast:  Kathall, Kassima, Channie, Halam (cameo).

Kathall visits Telgar to get Kassima's list of possible studs for the
baby, and gets exactly (if not only) what she asks for.
=======================================================================
Telgar Weyr's Living Cavern(#750RJM$)
This huge cavern is sufficently roomy to hold a large portion of the
Weyr's population without feeling cramped. There's always a bustle of
activity here. Fragrant dishes are constantly in prepartion for
mealtimes: currently for the late meal. Drudges are always present,
either cleaning under Pierron's watchful eye, or helping fetch and
carry. A myriad of glowbaskets and many ever-lit hearths make the
cavern warm and inviting despite its size. The scents of cooking
meats, baking breads and pastries, and the pungent aroma of spices
hang mouthwateringly in the air. It is little wonder that those
seeking to relax nearly always find their way here to do it. The
tables are decorated with a multitude of bright spring flowers.
A short tunnel jaunts northward out to the bowl and the merry sounds
of cooking, chores, and laughter echo from the kitchen at the
southeast end of the cavern near the easterly passage to the rest of
the lower caverns. Within the lower caverns is an entrance to the
infirmary weyr to care for injured dragons and riders.
Contents:
Kassima(#11005PJMOceqs$)
Channie
Pierron
--

Kathall scuttles in from the bowl, loosening her riding jacket as she
comes.

Halam walks here from the Inner Cavern.

Kassima eyes Nie with what can only be faint suspicion--probably
because of that eyelash-fluttering. "If'n you say so, Nie... though,
if'n 'twas meant t'be, methinks you'd have gotten together somehow
anyways." At the arrival of the aformentioned woman, Kassi blinks, and
then grins broadly. "Kathall! 'Twere just speaking about you... duties
t'Benden, her Lord, and her Lady, and to the Bakercraft and her
Masters!"

Halam walks into the cavern looks around and waves as he heads over to
the hearth, pours himself a cup of klah and gathers a plate of
meatrolls before heading to his usual corner seat.

"And all of ours to all of yours, Kassia," Kathall replies with the
ease of long (if bemused) practice for the exhaustive
greeting. "--Channie. I came to check on ... a list." Yes, a list.

Channie stops her effort at being so sweet-faced and look up, starting
slightly at seeing Kathall. "oh." She smiles though and waves,
"'Reaches duty to Bakercraft."

\G'lar has arrived

Channie offers a wave to Halam as well.

G'lar look around the cavern and spies Halam. "If your commin with me
you'd better move it. I don't have all night.

Kassima nods at once. Cryptic though the comment is, she seems to
understand it. "Aye... a list. I've the list for you indeed. Which way
would you rather have it? Verbally, or in writing?"

Kathall edges out of the incoming rider's way, moving closer to the
other two women. "Whichever," she murmurs to Kassima, after a quick,
small smile for Channie. Color flares in her cheeks, and she looks
down at her hands, folded over her skirts. "I do trust your
discretion...." She trails off significantly.

Halam shovels in a meatroll and nods to G'lar. I'm c...min' he mumbles
through amouth full of rolls. He quickly stands and follows G'lar out
to the bowl but not before returning Channie's wave with a mumbled
Hello and gotta go.
Halam walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

Channie looks between Kathall and Kassima, chewing at one side of her
lower lip in thought. "Goodness, what sort of list is this? Couldn't
be bakecraft secrets. Unless Kassi is hiding skill from the rest of
us." She perks up, "Do you know bakecraft secrets?"

Kathall fumbles her way into a seat. "I don't think so, no," she
answers blankly; the brown on her shoulder cheeps, his eyes whirling
with the faint pink and orange of her flush. "I'm only a journeyman,
though, even if I /am/ the ranking baker at Benden now."

"'Twas a cook once," Kassi replies vaguely. "In that case, Kathall,
mayhaps written would be best... if'n 'twill have a seat, I can have
it prepared for you in a twinkling."

Channie's eyebrows arch up at the two answers and hmmms softly.

Kathall murmurs a thank-you for Kassima and then sneaks a low,
speculative look at Channie.

Channie tsks and pulls the now cold sunfish stew towards her and
nibbles at it, "so, how are you doing these days Kathall. Looks like
you've got a bit of sun lately."

Kassima pulls a charcoal stick--nub, really--and a worn piece of hide
from her belt pouch, bending over it to begin to script a list of what
look, from a distance, to be short words or phrases. "If'n you like,"
she murmurs under your breath, "I could give you more information
about... what's on the list. Either here or in a more discreet place,
whichever you would prefer."

You say "Well, spring, you know, Channie." She pushes back a stray
wisp of hair and peers at Kassima. "Well. Does she -- Channie -- well
... know? It isn't very secret anymore, really, so you could tell me
here. I guess."

Aiyanna walks here from the Inner Cavern.
Aiyanna nods quietly as she passes by.
Aiyanna walks off towards the kitchen.
From the kitchen, Aiyanna pushes her way past scurrying kitchen girls
and into the storeroom passageway.

Channie motions towards the bowl, "I could just take myself off
home. I don't want to intrude or anything if this is oh-so-secret."

Kassima looks over towards the brownrider, and nods. "She does, though
nay your name--as promised. In that case, I can certainly just tell
you here." She finishes the list, and passes it over to her
friend. "I've listed 'em in order of the amount of recommendation I'd
give 'em. Oh, Nie, 'tis nay so... 'tis simply that request 'twas
speaking of a'fore, d'you recall?"

Kathall accepts the list quietly, eyes down. "It isn't secret,
Channie. Just personal. I'm sorry if I offended you."

Channie's mouth falls open and she just blinks at Kassi. "Wha---oh."
She goes a little pale and then blushes before frowning like a dark
little storm cloud. "Oh, I see."

Kathall, who was already flushed, can't flush anymore, so she just
hides her face in reading the list. Yup.

Channie mutters to Kassima, "... asked A'lex... that..."

Well, perhaps a little more flush, when that name hits Kathall's ears.

[A'lex was her first infatuation, before he weyrmated with Channie.]

Channie sputters a little and nearly spills the cold soup as she
pushes it away from herself again. She looks at Kathall, eyes
narrowing a little.

Kassima rolls her eyes at her friend. She mutters to Channie,
"... asked,... he... anyone... If'n... aright,... *nay*... name,... did..."
She shakes her head slightly, sighs, and begins to explain, "Jal's at
the top of the list because I know him well enough t'be certain he's a
good man--and proven capable; he has three children and two
grandchildren. C'row and E'rian have nay children as yet, but one's
m'wingman and the other's m'cousin...."

Kathall puts the list down, places her hands on either side, and looks
back at Channie -- all exaggerated, careful motions, with her dignity
strong beneath them. "...Thanks, Kassima. Do you know if any are
around to be spoken with now?"

Channie gives herself a little shake at Kassi's words and manages to
look a little sheepish. "oh...I guess that's true." But she does shoot
Kathall a guarded look, "I thought it might have been something else."

Kathall says quietly, "I'm not a poacher."

Channie rolls her eyes slightly, "it isn't exactly poaching when
you're just after someone to father a child for you. Tell me he didn't
cross your mind when you were plotting this."

"Jal's nay, I know... C'row's riding watch, V'dan's indubitably cooing
over his new daughter, and M'larr and Kylarr are a'course nay
here. They're M'kla's sons, y'know--M'larr's a Benden bronzer, but
I've nay had a chance t'ask either he or his brother in person. That
recommendation comes through M'kla. I can tell you that they're both
capable, though, since each does have children." Leaning back in her
seat, Kassi steeples her fingers beneath her chin. "I could probably
call Eyr down. Mmm... someone did recommend A'wyn of Igen, by the
by. I thought I'd ask you what you thought of asking him ere I did so,
since I assume you know him."

"I wasn't plotting," Kathall protests then smiles weakly. "'Planning'
sounds better, anyway, and I considered and rejected him,
Channie. Don't worry on that score." She turns back to Kassima, more
settled. "He's not interested. He likes Faerysa, who recommended
K'tel."

Channie stands up, kicking back her chair sharply. She glares from
Kathall to Kassi wordlessly and then stomps out, curls flying.

Kathall half-starts from her chair, her little brown bating and
shrilling. She puts a hand on him, calming, but stays up, staring
after the brown rider. "But -- I said I rejected him--"

Channie walks down the short tunnel and out into the bowl.

"Perhaps," Kassima sighs, watching after her friend, "she objects
t'the thought of anyone rejecting her weyrmate, even if'n she'd
probably rather you didn't accept... K'tel? K'tel's weyrmated, isn't
he?"

Kathall sighs and resettles. "He is," she says definitively. And
warily. "To Aellya, Faerysa's mother, which is why I think she
suggested him. Rysa's ... odd that way." She shakes her
head. "Anyway. Whom would you suggest out of them all?"

Kassima quirks up an eyebrow. "Hrm," she murmurs. "'Tis something I'd
not considered... well, i'truth, J'lyn would likely be the one I'd
rank the highest. He's a good, capable man, intelligent, nay too
lecherous... he'll likely be willing t'speak with you, a'course. After
that... E'rian, methinks, and then C'row. I know them better than I do
most of the others, save for those who I would only recommend as last
resorts."

Kathall lowers her head. "Could I leave a message for J'lyn?"

"By all means," Kassi replies, tilting her head slightly. "I can give
it t'him at once. Need you charcoal and hide?"

Kathall shakes her head. "Just tell him I'd like to speak with him,
please. At his earlier convenience. --It's so /odd,/ Kassi," and her
eyes have gone dark. "I'm trying to treat it as a business
transaction, like tithes, but..."

Kassima smiles slightly. "A bit of an odd transaction, though... and
'tis *certes* nay the same as tithes. I have t'say that I admire your
determination. I did nay truly want children until I found m'self
expecting Kaylira... but if'n I had, I know nay whether I could have
found the courage to take your route." She shrugs helplessly. "I take
it that you won't mind m'giving him your name, all things considered?"

Kathall smiles a little again. "I suppose it'd be helpful, hmm? Could
you tell me more about him, maybe? So I'd at least recognize him?"

Kassima acknowledges with droll humor, "Aye, it just might. I'll tell
you all you wish t'know--well, all that you wish t'know and that I
*do* know, a'course. He's a tall man--very tall, one of the tallest
I've ever seen. He's... oh, rather young-looking for his age. I think
he's forty or so now. His hair is short and dark; his eyes are
green. He rides green Lorieth. She's as big as Lysseth, or nearly--nay
so long, but nay so rope-thin either--and a rather pretty sort of jade
shade."

"Forty?" Kathall heard that. She tries to move on. "Is she nice?"

Kassima inclines her head slightly. "Forty. You'd nay know it t'look
at him, though. Nice? Oh, assuredly! Every man I've listed for you,
with the possible exception of L'cher--depending, you understand, on
your definition of nice--is a good man as men go. He has a good sense
of humor, and he's pleasant enough t'be around. A sharding fine
Wingsecond, too--but you didn't hear that from me."

Kathall clears her throat. "Is /she/ nice. The dragon. Lorieth."

Kassima flushes faintly at her error. "Ach, m'pardon, Kathall... it's
been a long day, and methinks 'twas running a bit too much by
reflex. Lorieth is... hrm. She's nicer than *Lyss,* certes." A
reproachful snort can be heard from the direction of the Bowl. "Hush,
lump! I meant t'strangers, and you know it. She's nay the sort who'll
whuffle and cuddle folk at once, I wouldn't think, but she's nay prone
t'irritability save for when she's proddy either. Mind, Jal could
certes tell you more than I can."

"Thank you," Kathall repeats, quiet again. "Should I come to find him,
or is it easier for him to come to Benden? I know about wingsecond
duties, and he might worsen the gossip at the Hold...."

"Only Jal could say which is most convenient for him personally,
but... if'n 'twere you, I'd come to the Weyr if'n I could," Kassima
says after a long moment's thought. "Rumors can be pernicious
things. And this way, if'n you decided you'd want t'speak with another
rider... well, he'd be right here unless 'twas M'larr or Kylarr."

Kathall nods. "You're right. Benden's already overcrowded with
rumors." Her face pinches with some swift, sad emotion, but she
doesn't elaborate, only stands, the list folded into one hand. "I'll
be going back, then. I owe you, Kassima."

"Hard things t'deal with sometimes, rumors," Kassi murmurs under her
breath, more to herself than Kathall. "Duties t'you, your Hold, and
your Craft, Kathall--and you don't really owe me aught. Just consider
this a repayment for the marvelous kiwi bread you brought me a'fore,
hmmm?"

Kathall smiles genuinely. "Of course. Good night to you and Lysseth."

[Bedtime.  Log ends.]