"It's about time," a red-headed man declared as he strolled in from the kitchen with a meatroll in hand. "I've been waiting for at least two candlemarks!"
"Hanachul," Shinyoran exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to return the clothes I borrowed last time," the other man replied as he studied his perfectly manicured nails.
"You mean the ones you stole out of my closet," Shinyoran corrected with a roll of his eyes.
"Let's not mince words," Hanachul said waving the correction aside.
"You know," Shinyoran began as he made his way up the set of stairs that led toward his room with the other man in tow, "if you're going to return someone's clothes, it helps if you're not wearing them."
"Nonsense," Hanachul replied with a scoff. "It's the only way I was going to remember to bring them back at all."
"Which really means that you're tired of wearing them and want to borrow something else," Shinyoran replied with another eyeroll as he opened the door to his room.
"I'm so glad that we understand each other so well," Hanachul declared with a grin. "That's why we're best friends."
"Since when," Shinyoran asked incredulously. "The last time you were here I believe you declared us to be arch enemies before you stole my clothes."
"Oh, you can't pay attention to anything I say," Hanachul responded off-handedly as he rifled through Shinyoran's closet.
"Believe me. I try not to," Shinyoran muttered to himself as he frowned. He didn't have time to deal with Hanachul or his antics today.
"Hmm...I think I'll borrow this one. Now turn around so I can change. I wouldn't want you to be blinded by my beauty," Hanachul commanded as he tossed his hair dramatically. "I wouldn't want to ruin our friendship after all."
"Please, ruin it," Shinyoran muttered to himself as he turned around. He couldn't believe Hanachul had actually said such a thing, and yet, this was Hanachul. He should expect anything from him, and why in the world did he put up with such a weird individual? One word. Rank. His parents had drilled into him the importance of order and rank on Pern, and the fact of the matter was that Hanachul outranked him. Plus, both his parents and Hanachul's had specifically asked him to look after the older but less grounded man.
"Okay, you can turn around now," Hanachul stated once he was finished changing. "See, doesn't this look much better on me than it ever did on you? Hmm...it's a little big in the shoulders though. I might have to have it tailored," he said more to himself than to Shinyoran.
Shinyoran did his best not to twitch. Borrowing his clothes was one thing, but now they were going to be tailored to someone else? He took several deep breaths before speaking. "Is there any particular reason why you enjoy borrowing my clothes? Wouldn't it be better if you just had some made that actually fit you," he tried to reason with the other man.
"Don't be ridiculous," Hanachul scoffed with a wave of his hand. "It takes way too long to wait for anything to be made. Plus, there's all the poking and prodding and measuring. It's all such a waste of time. It's much better to just borrow some instead, and you're the one friend that I have that's closest to my size. Actually, that would be Jeranmo now that I think about it, but I doubt he'd actually let me borrow anything. Plus, his clothes aren't as nice as yours."
Shinyoran shook his head with a sigh. There was no helping it. He supposed he could always get new clothes made if he needed to. "Well, if that's all you needed, then I hope you'll allow me to show you out as I am extremely busy today," Shinyoran commented with as even a voice as he could manage. Hopefully, he could now be rid of the nuisance that was Hanachul.
"Yes, that was all I needed," Hanachul replied after thinking for a moment. "You don't have to see me out though since you're so busy," he continued as he headed for the door. "I'll see you soon," he finished with a wink and a pat to Shinyoran's cheek. "Thanks for the clothes," he called back as he went down the stairs.
Shinyoran shut the door behind his strange so-called friend. If he saw Hanachul in the next five turns it would be too soon. Well, at least he would be away for the next few days, and it wasn't like Hanachul was going to be at Sedona any time soon. It wasn't exactly close by after all. So, at least he would get a break from the crazy antics for a bit and have some peace.
A bronze firelizard appeared from between near the window. He cocked his head as he landed on the windowsill and looked around before giving one questioning chirp.
"Traitor," Shinyoran shot at the bronze as he sat on his bed and laid back for a moment. "You don't have to worry. He's gone, Vork. I know you don't like him, but the least you could have done was warned me that he was here."
The little bronze flit chirped before winging its way over to Shinyoran's bed and making himself quite comfortable. He sent one brief image to Shinyoran of a glimpse of red hair before snuggling into the bedding.
Shinyoran snorted. "So, you caught one glimpse of him and vanished. I see. Well, I guess I can't really blame you. He's quite a lot to deal with, but really, you could have stuck around and helped me out. If nothing else, you could have provided me with some excuse to get him to leave sooner."
The bronze didn't answer as he was already fast asleep on the bed, and Shinyoran was on his way to join him when he heard a voice call from downstairs. "Shinyoran, are you home?"
Shinyoran jumped off of his bed dislodging a very angry Vork. "Sorry," he apologized quickly to the bronze firelizard before quickly making his way down the stairs. "Yes, I'm home, father," he called as he took the stairs at a quick pace.
"Oh, there you are," Shinyoran's father stated as he spotted his son. "Has Hanachul already left?"
"Yes, thank goodness," Shinyoran replied without thinking. "I mean," he tried to correct himself, but it was already too late.
"Shinyoran," his father said with a stern tone. "I know you are not necessarily fond of Hanachul, but his family outranks ours. Therefore, you will speak of him with the respect that his place garners. I certainly hope you treated him appropriately before he left."
"I did my best, father. I assure you," Shinyoran answered truthfully. "He is not an easy person to deal with, however," he finished. There was no point in mentioning the whole clothing fiasco. He knew that it would not make any difference where his father was concerned.
"I realize that, Shinyoran, which is why his parents asked you to look after him. It is a great complement to what a stable and trustworthy young man you've become. Besides, you may yet be a great influence on Hanachul. I don't think he spends much time with other people his age, so try to remember that when he may be irritating you," his father responded as he led the way into the kitchen. "Have you eaten?"
"No, I haven't had the chance to yet," Shinyoran said as he realized just how hungry he was. He quickly made himself comfortable at the family table across from his father. "How are the wedding preparations going? Is there anything that I can do to help before I leave? Did all the invitations get sent out already," he asked as he began to fix himself a plate of food from the leftover lunch fare that had been left for him.
"Calm down, son," his father stated as he picked up a cold meatroll for himself as well. "Preparations are going just fine, and unless you feel like picking flowers with your mother, there's not much you can do right now but stay out of her way. The invitations went out as well, so there's no need to worry about that. I may be aging, but I'm still quite healthy and able and the Lord Holder."
"Yes, father. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to suggest that you weren't able. It's just that I've been doing so many of the daily tasks. I'm just concerned about what will happen when I'm gone for this Hatching, espeically with Shiyara's wedding coming up," Shinyoran explained between bites of his lunch.
"You worry too much," his father told him with a mild laugh. "We managed just fine the last time you were gone if you remember. So, I'm sure we'll be okay. I don't mean to say," he added as he saw his son's face fall, "that you aren't needed here. You are, but it's also important to form connections with weyrs. They're the centerstone of our society, so we will simply have to get by once you leave tomorrow."
Shinyoran nodded grateful that his father had made the distinction. He had started to feel a bit worthless there for a moment. "Speaking of the weyr, father," he began as he finished his lunch, "I'm sure I told you what happened at the last Hatching."
"You mean about the other four harpers with you becoming candidates and Impressing," his father clarified though he was sure that was what Shinyoran was referring to.
"Yes, don't you think it was kind of strange that I wasn't asked to stand as well," Shinyoran asked with pursed lips. This was something that had been bothering him since the whole thing had happened.
"No, I don't really," his father answered as he cocked his head to the side. "Lord Holders' children are seldom Searched, especially those that are supposed to inherit their parent's position. The weyrs understand how important we are in the order of things and that having a legitimate heir to a hold can keep political issues to a minimum. So, I'm not really that surprised that they overlooked you. That doesn't mean that you don't have potential though. Is that your problem? You think that you're somehow not good enough like your fellow harpers were?"
Shinyoran nodded with a sigh. "I guess you could say that. I just felt really left out, like I hadn't made the cut somehow. I mean even Kenthera managed to be Searched, and she was an apprentice. Not only that, but she managed to Impress the queen!"
"Well, there's no explaining a dragon's choice, son," his father declared with a smile. "I guess the little queen saw something in Kenthera that she liked. Now, let me ask you a question, Shinyoran. Do you want to be Searched?"
"No, of course not," the younger man replied immediately, but when his father gave him a piercing look he continued. "That is...I'm content with my life here, and I know I'm needed. So, I don't want to cause any problems, but the thought of at least standing for a clutch seems very exciting."
"There's nothing wrong with such thoughts," Shinyoran's father said with a soft smile for his youngest child. "I think most people at some point dream of riding a dragon and fighting Thread, and there is no greater responsibility on Pern. Even the lowliest of the green riders still outrank us by a dragonlength. So, if that's something you want to do, keep your mind open while you visit the weyr this time. Maybe if you do that then you will be asked to stand this time."
"But what will happen if I actually do Impress," Shinyoran questioned. This was almost too good to be true. Perhaps his fear of Impressing had kept him from being Searched last time. Perhaps that's all it was.
His father gave a hearty laugh. "You don't think you're the only one we taught how to run a hold, do you? If you Impress, your sister and her current fiance will take over. It's as simple as that," he finished with a shrug before standing. "Now if you'll excuse me, his family should be arriving at any moment," he said before heading for the door.
"I'll come with you," Shinyoran declared as he stood up quickly to follow his father out of the hold.
His father shook the offer aside. "No, I'll go by myself. You should rest. You still have to pack for your trip tomorrow, and you have a lot to think about I believe," he finished before leaving the hold.
Shinyoran turned to go back up to his room. His father was right. He did still need to pack, and there was a lot to think about right now. The real possibility of Impressing had never really occurred to him until recently. Now that that path seemed like it might be open, he had a lot to think about indeed.
