| Caer Stewardess Nactara |
| Nactara rushed about the kitchen as Planor and Eriten ground the meal for cornbread. One of the younger kitchen brats swiped a roll from the tray Nactara had just set out to cool. She scolded him and rushed him out of the kitchen as Vecra rushed past her with a rack of skirr ribs that she had been preparing. Nactara shrieked as Jiaka almost dropped one of the main dishes, but Eriten rushed over before it could leave her hand and helped her lift it onto a nearby table. Nactara sighed as she turned back to the ovens. She removed two caldrons of stew from the open fires as she watched to make sure the ovens didn't overheat as Eriten spun around her carrying a hot tray of long root radishes. |
| "Nactara!" Casero bellowed as he rush into the kitchen, nearly tripping over one of the kitchen brats as he stole a roll. "Casero, I would appreciate it if you didn't bellow around my kitchen staff. Jiaka nearly dropped her tray again," Nactara sighed as she placed the tray she was working on down and turning to face the Caerlord. "Now, what is it?" "Nothing really," Casero sighed. "It's just that I'd like for you to go to Lantir-setia Island and try to bond..." "Wait a minute, Casero," Nactara exclaimed. "I don't want a dragon." "That wasn't what I was going to say," Casero laughed. "I was going to say 'a frala-maraz'." "What in the whole of Alskyr is a frala-maraz?" Nactara laughed as she took a roast out of the oven. Casero sighed, "There a kind of wolf but with wings." "Sounds interesting," Nactara sighed, not really interested at all. "And why, praytell, do I need to bond one?" "Well, the Stewardess of Caer Talor Cliff..." "So that's it, huh Casero?" Nactara laughed. "The green eyed monster got ahold of you and since you don't have time to take care of one, you're going to force this on me." "Tara, it isn't like that at all," Casero sighed. "They're helpful and smart and..." "All right, Casero," Nactara sighed. "I'll see what I can do, but I'm not making any promises." *** Nactara was a bit stunned when she demounted V'lok's Xeirth, and she entered the Valley. It was so beautiful. She couldn't believe she had been so apathtic towards the whole idea. One of the wolves greeted her at the entrance and called a younger one to lead her to Brandor Hall. "Milord?" the youngster inquiref, it would seem, to a stone that rested in the center of a large open area. "I have brought a visitor. Kaie-Fadjur instructed me to." "Thank you," a rather pleasant voice said just before a young male leaped to the stands. "I am King Alynn," he said as he sat down to inspect Nactara. "I trust my guards accept you and that you have met my standards. Meaning that you won’t harm us. As wild creatures we live in fear of humans like our distance ancestors do. But, times are changing I think, as Emger often reminds me...But, you came to me for another reason?" His grin, even in the shadow cast on his features, is knowing. "My Caerlord, Casero, has sent me here," Nactara sighed. "He says that your kind are very smart and helpful." "I see," Alynn sighed. "I shall take you to the Ziel-er-baaer, or the Place of Bonding as some have come to call it." Nactara nodded and followed Alynn down into a large cavern. There were several pups and a few adults there. Nactara looked about her about talked to each of the wolves. One stood out to her. Her name was Jedayi, and she'd just recently decided to try and bond. |
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| "Well, Nactara, you seem like an upright woman," Jedayi sighed. "Besides, you're the only one who's talked to me for more than a minute. Most head straight for the pups." "I don't have time to train a little ankle biter," Nactara sighed. "It's better for me to have someone who can help me with my job." "What do you do?" Jedayi asked. "I'm Caer Stewardess at Wild River," Nactara sighed. "I'll have to be getting back soon. My staff needs supervision since we're working on the Hatching Feast." Jedayi barked happily, "Well, you get on back." Nactara's heart fell. She thought this bond would work. |
| "I'll follow you there," Jedayi barked, placing her forepaw on Nactara's hip. *** Nactara leaped off Xeirth's back just as Jedayi appeared in the landing meadow. She looked pretty tired. Nactara helped Jedayi into the Caer's kitchen. Jiaka, Planor, Eriten, and Vecra stared at them in awe. "Well, kids," Nactara sighed "This is Jedayi. She now has as much authority as I do. If she tells you to do something, it's just like me telling you to do something." "Yes, ma'am," The staff echoed as they went back to their work. "Well, Jedayi," Nactara beamed. "Welcome to your new home." "Thank you, Nactara," Jedayi sighed, "but I've really got to rest. That jump took a lot of of me." "Of course, love," Nactara sighed, pointing to a door near the back of the kitchen. "My room is just back there. You can take a rest there." "Thank you, Nactara," Jedayi sighed, moving slowly toward her bond's room. "I love you." "Love you, too, Jedayi," Nactara sighed as she went back to preparing the food for the Hatching Feast. Continue... |
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