Author: Sam

Story: A Weyrharper's Repertoire: 11 of 14

Series: Islinne Weyr

Note: C’rus has a surprising re-encounter with an old friend. Based on The Sequel by Harry Chapin.

...She's in her strict, cold cothold,
Where she acts as if she belongs.
And me, I have my dragon of bronze
Sitting on my desk all day long...

The patrol I was flying finished early
Had the rest of the afternoon free
Flew on down towards Igen Hold lands
There was someone there I had to see

I thought I should show off my wing group
Or maybe just bring a friend
Finally I decided to just go myself
After all, I was alone in the end

Ten turns past I'd failed Impression
And the dragon I had was made of stone
Now I'm soaring on my companion
Going about a league from Igen Hold

Still cold and strict was the cothold
And an old man wouldn't let me in the door
He frowned and snorted when I talked to him
Said "She left and won't come back no more."

As I turned to mount my dragon
He called out to me from his place
"I know just where she's living now,
But I doubt you'd know her face."

We flew on up to the main Hold
To a small cot off the long track
The place was full of colors
And children's songs issued from the back

When she opened the door it was like breathing
An old familiar scent from the past
She laughed and placed a hand on my arm
My old friend had returned at last

"C’rus, I didn't see you coming.
Did you come for the gather this time?"
I shook my head and took her hand
"I came for you, Rae; do you mind?...
...I hope you really don't mind."

She said "I've seen you on patrol with your brown."
"It's not always great," I replied.
She shook her head, and with a smile, she laughed
"I somehow expected you'd lie."

"I thought you were training as a Harper."
"I never made it past the door."
I asked was it her songs I heard that day
She said "I don't write songs anymore...
...I just don't write anymore."

We talked about her children
About how they made her smile
We talked about where the turns had ended up
And where we were all the while

We couldn't find enough time to talk about
All the many things we wanted to say
We talked until we ran out of words
And they started getting in the way

I wanted her to visit Ista Weyr
She said "I can't, my children need me."
I asked, "Rae, Why do we keep on saying goodbye?"
She said "C’rus, some things have to be."

I won't think about what happened next
Or tell which one of us cried
I won't talk about the decisions we made
If I let myself think, I'd cry

And that night as I sat and ate
I thought about all we'd shared
And how she's soaring all by herself
And how I perform in the air

It's the second chapter in our story
And a song about all life could be
Thinking about whatever you dream
And remembering just what you've seen...
...It's the tale of someone's dream.