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Jralli
She would sigh and think about Domic marrying her sister and her brow would furrow even deeper. Then her eyes would widen as she thought of Bodril, still unbelieving that he had asked for her hand in marriage. She had never thought of him that way. Of course, he was quite good looking, and he was undoubtedly her best friend in the whole world, but still, marriage? She couldn’t believe he had felt that way and never let on. But then again, there had been signs.... Here she always stopped herself with a shake of her head and would go off to find the Headwoman. Gerlana was always happy to see her on such occasions because as Jralli was so accustomed to taking care of things back at Gerlik Hold she found it quite pleasing to help the Headwoman out in any way she could. Today was no different and after having her usual moody period she went to find Gerlana. She found the woman in the kitchens, giving orders to the cooks. “Gerlana,” Jralli said, forcing a smile to replace her troubled look, “do you need any help with anything?” “Jralli,” said the woman, turning around and smiling. “No, go have some fun for once, I hear the other candidates are all going swimming in the weyrlake this afternoon since classes were cancelled.” “Are you sure there’s nothing I can do to help?” said Jralli with a frown, she didn’t know the other Candidates very well, and as a few of them were quite beautiful and knew it she tried to stay away from them. “I’m quite sure, now scoot!” said Gerlana, waving her away as she bustled out of the kitchens. Jralli frowned and headed up to the Weyrbowl. She found the other candidates preparing to go swimming and laughed as she saw one of the girls push one of the young men into the water. He came up spluttering and immediately reached up and grabbed her ankle, pulling her in beside him. Jralli decided against joining them, but did find a warm rock nearby where she could sit and watch, and laugh at their antics. The sun was warm on her back and she managed to forget her troubles as she slipped into a daze, just barely seeing what the other candidates were up to. She hadn’t any idea how long she’d been sitting there when a shadow came up behind her and blocked the sun from her back. She sat up straight and turned her head to see a young man standing behind her. He smiled, and she couldn’t help but smile shyly back. “Don’t want to get pulled in, huh?” he said, sitting down on the ground beside her rock. She shook her head and he nodded. “Me either, they certainly act as if they’ve never seen a day’s heart ache, don’t they?” “They do,” she agreed, turning her gaze back to the other candidates for a moment. “I’m Kirfon,” he said, a sad smile on his lips. “I’m Jralli,” she said in reply and he nodded. “Yeah, I know. You were the first candidate signed up!” Jralli just tilted her head and regarded him with an odd look. “Where are you from, Kirfon?” “Nearby,” was all he said and she watched him until he blushed and stammered, “my father’s hold isn’t far from Falas Hold. I, well, I’m sure you don’t want to hear my stupid story.” “It’d be nice to hear someone else’s story,” Jralli said honestly, hoping his story would keep her mind from hers. Kirfon nodded and launched into a long story about this beautiful young woman named Arinza. He told her how the two of them had parted and her heart ached for his loss, but she smiled as he told her of his plan to regain her affection. Jralli chuckled softly at the end, thinking Kirfon would be a very good friend for her. He was already in love and so she didn’t have to worry about falling for him, or him falling for her. When he was done speaking he looked at her expectantly and she blushed as she told him her story. He laughed at how ridiculous her mother and sister were and sympathized with her when she related the part about Domic wanting to marry Kilija. “That’s what I like about Arinza,” he said when she was done, “she’s beautiful, but not in a conventional sense. I’m sure next to your sister she’d seem down right plain, but I like that. I know if I can convince her to be mine I won’t have to worry about someone else wanting to steal her away.” “I wouldn’t tell her that!” exclaimed Jralli with a laugh and Kirfon grinned. “Don’t think it’ll go over well, do you?” “Definitely not. The last thing a plain girl wants to hear is that you like her because no one will try to steal her!” “Hadn’t thought of it like that,” Kirfon said, laughing. “Good thing I told you that, I’ll have to come up with a new speech for when I next see her.” “Good idea,” said Jralli, still laughing. The two of them sat there for quite a while longer just chatting and laughing. When they finally had to part to go do their evening chores before dinner they agreed to meet everyday between chores and lessons. Jralli promised to help Kirfon work on his “speech” and was very pleased to have made a friend. She realized that in cutting herself off from the other candidates she’d only been prolonging her misery. She went to bed that night with a smile on her face, resolving to make more friends among the candidates and to try to relax more. She’d become much too uptight and for the first time since coming to Falas Weyr she was actually looking forward to the next day, not only because it got her one day closer to the hatching, but because tomorrow had so much possibility! Continue... |