Making a Visit [Jenth]

[Sparrow]

Was evening when a wherhandler would be awake? Well, aside from night. Chan didn't want to go out at night. Semi-late evening, like it was right now, was pushing it. She wasn't sure what she thought of having a nocturnal Lord Holder.

Everyone felt that way. Would he keep up his wherhandler habits? Had he already dropped them for his new duties? Where was Itunas keeping his wher? Chan didn't know any of this. She was curious about the answers.

She also felt bad. Bad for Itunas. Very few holders wanted him here. While the added protection of whers living within the Hold was appreciated, Danac had never housed whers. All Chan knew about them was that they were nocturnal draconics, and dangerous. That was all most people here knew about them.

So it must be hard for Itunas. Along with a new burden- a massive burden- of work, he had the job of educating everyone about whers and how things would work in the Hold now.

Chan wanted a headstart. The main advantage of Itunas as the Lord Holder was that she didn't feel like she was stepping too out of place bringing him a little... housewarming gift, and starting a chat with him. She brought a basket full of breads and pastries, as well as a couple well-wrapped critters that her son had caught and smoked, hoping that he would get to feed them to a wher.

Chan figured it was safest she delivered it, and made it clear to the owner that a treat was being brought, rather than just stuffing them down the throat of an animal that might take off her boy's arm in hopes of getting a little more.

She needed to make sure Akin would be safe, even if he went out looking for whers. Chan stopped outside the building she had been told was where Itunas ought to be, knocked, and waited.

[Jenth]

Many changes had been made in the few sevendays Itunas had been here as Lordholder. The feeling itself had been surreal, and overall he thought he had done a fair good job in not looking like some no body scape goat they had slapped a title on. He had been well aware of much digression, it was to be expected for such a position of power and wealth. The dragonriders themselves had vouched in his favor, many crafts agreeing but many submitted since no better candidate was brought forwards.

It had been a tiring beginning, while he had never been completely nocturnal it had been hard not to drag his feet after being roused at dawn after a few candlemarks worth of sleep. Slowly his routine was settling, and Itusk was not so troublesome to need content supervision. Few had seen much of the bronze, though the other handlers who had accompanied him had been asked to accustom their partners with the guards and any who wished to quell their curiosity. None were forced, knowing many feared them even if they were cousins of the much honored dragons.

With a heavy sigh he pushed the last hide aside, this job would be easier if it hadn't been for those looking to buy his favor or throw complaints about every little thing on his desk. They were succeeding in tiring his patience though and he was finding it harder to humor them. The sun was setting and soon it would be safe to let the whers out of their lairs, he had not expected a guest but he wasn't surprised either. One thing Itunas had been quick to establish was that he could be approached by anyone, regardless of rank. However he was not so careless as to disregard some pre-questioning, he was not so comfortable in his position enough to disregard possible enemies. Or worse, be the new target of the 'violet assassins'.

Rising as she had been allowed in he drew a smile to his face, trying to flash a little bit of charm to hide some of his tired features. "Now what can I do for you M'lady?"

[Sparrow]

Chan hesitated. He looked tired. That really was no surprise, but she suddenly started to wonder. How many people a day just popped in on him like this? At first she had thought it unlikely that anyone would, but now that she was actually here, doing it, she realized she likely wasn't the only one who thought it wasn't too intimidating a prospect and brainlessly interrupted the work of a very busy man.

Ah, well, couldn't be helped now. Here she was. "Good evening, sir," she said quickly, curtseying a little, awkwardly, due to the delivery that took up one arm. "I'm sorry to interrupt you, I really am, but I've got baked goods here and, you know, they don't wait.

"I don't know that there's really much you can help me with, but, well, my son, he's quite excited about whers living here now. To the extent that he thinks he needs to prepare treats for them, and caught some sort of critter and cooked it and was hoping to find a wher tonight to feed it to but I was worried that would be dangerous so I took them... but he still wanted them delivered, so I figured I could do it... but I didn't want to bring a random ball of mystery meat and just say, 'Oh, forget you, this is for your wher', so I put together some goodies for you too. If you'd like them, my lord."

She proffered the basket, feeling much less graceful than she had originally planned to be. Words usually came easily to her, but... well, she didn't usually make much use of words in front of ranking people, particularly not a person such as a Lord Holder. Perhaps it was making her just a tad nervous, which naturally led to her rushing things and feeling awkward and unprepared. Words were coming to her tongue a little too easily now, and making her look silly.

But here she was, not yet at a point where she could back out. The situation couldn't be helped.

[Jenth]

"Oh don't worry yourself about interrupting, it was welcomed I can assure you." Itunas insisted, rising to his feet to step away from the deck and the hides he could use a break from. No one would really expect much of him till morning so there was plenty of time to tie loose ends.

His eyes brightened a little at the gift she was presenting him, not many felt the need to but then again she was maybe slightly under the rank of his usual company not to mention female. "You're most certainly correct, and I have yet to refuse an offer of them." Taking the basket from her he explored the contents before picking out one and taking a bite. He knew with the strange hours he kept that he worried the kitchen staff with a lower appetite then they expected. He really didn't mean to, but he really didn't want to keep them up making meals just for him alone. Again, it was something he wanted to adjust to meet his new role.

"You made these yourself? Many compliments are in order, they are quite good." The air around Itunas had relaxed a little, he didn't need to make himself seem all important in his present company.

"I'm glad your son has taken to the whers so well, not everyone has, and I can assure you they re safe enough. Once they get to know someone there will be little concern as long as they are treated with respect and have no reason to turn against someone. Much like any guard canine." There were a lot more qualities to whers, but this mother was looking for reassurance on the safety of her kin. It was a perfectly normal concern.

"And since I need a much desired break, I'll be more then happy to show you my own wher. He's just waking up and will want to stretch and eat."

[Sparrow]

Oh, Chan knew all about taking advantage of interruptions. She couldn't do it often considering food generally worked on a tight schedule, but... well, she knew all about it. That pile of hides certainly was something Chan could definitely understand wanting to let sit for a bit. She relaxed a bit as Itunas took the basket.

She smiled at his compliment. They had better taste good, they were her living. She wasn’t about to say that to a Lord Holder though. “Thank you.”

Chan was quiet as Itunas spoke about whers, comparing what he said to things she had heard, wondering just how solid both sides opinions were. Surely a wherhandler would be a bit biased, but he would also be a lot more knowledgeable than most of the people Chan spoke to, who all had no experience with whers at all. But ‘once they get to know someone’ and ‘having no reason to turn against someone,’ things like that still made her anxious. Just how long did it take whers to get used to other people? Just what would give them a reason to turn against someone?

“Well, I don’t know that my son has ‘taken to’ them, he’s never seen one in his life. He’s just excited about something new. And it leaves me a little worried that he’s going to go sneaking out, trying to find them now. Little boys, you know,” she laughed a little. Itunas ought to know; she imagined he had been one once. “You don’t think he could get into trouble doing that? Will the whers always have their handlers with them?”

And- meeting an actual wher would probably be a good idea. For all of her general dislike of them, Chan had never actually seen any draconics past fire-lizards, which were hardly an example for the rest. Actually meeting a wher, while it took the risk of solidifying them, would probably be the best thing to quell her fears. “Er, yes, alright. I’ll take a look at him.” Now she was beginning to regret not bringing Akkin with her.

[Jenth]

Itunas chuckled lightly, as if remembering some of the mischief he got into as a lad. "Yes, boys will be boys. How old is he, if you dont mind me asking?" The question was half out of pleasantry and half gauging what sort of trouble he might be able to stir up if he every found himself face to face with a wher. Most people's first reaction was fear, Whers were not as visually appealing as dragons and could think for themselves. "As long as he doesn't try to throw rocks or poke them with sticks I can't see any whers having the need to protect themselves. Or their handlers."

"Most of the whers are quite young, fathered by my own bronze. They haven't been around so many people before so the Handlers are under strict order to accompany their whers everywhere outside their lairs at all times until they have been accustomed to Hold living." the Lordholder promised her, organizing things as he prepared to leave. They were adapting well, and even after he had made the decision to lift the restraints he expected to hear many complaints for quiet some time.

Holding the door for her as they left, itunas escorted Chan around to the side of the Hold to a stable entrance. Well, it had once been before some modifications had been made. The floor had been dug out into the soil below almost like a cellar to allow more space, the windows walled up and most importantly the doors had been reinforced and given locks. It would not look good for someone to walk in during the middle of the day thinking it was a stable...

"Remember, a wher can read thoughts similarly to how dragons and firelizards can. Itusk is a bronze, he is big so try to remain calm but you wont be in any danger for a second." He instructed her to stay as he went inside to retrieve his wher. All the whers were housed within but they may be a bit overbearing on the woman he had sworn to show just one. As Itunas reappeared to rejoin Chan, the green glow of the wher's eyes would have given him away long before he stepped out into the dim lighting in the small courtyard. He stood taller then any runnerbeast, twice as long and with a much stronger build, to many he could look like a monster from stories to frighten little children.

Itusk butted his handler affectionately before circling around a few times and flexing his stubby wings. "I'm sorry if you were expecting something of a miniature dragon. Many people call them 'ugly' but they are nearly a breed apart. Im afraid your son may be disappointed with what he finds." Itunas explained as Itusk finally began rumbling deep from his chest, eying them searchingly.

Wait! "He smells your gift, want to feed it to him? Just hold it out, but watch your fingers."

[Sparrow]

"He's ten. And I think I can trust him to not throw rocks at them." If he was going to go to the trouble of trying to feed one, clearly he wasn't looking to stir up trouble, unless he was hoping to get a couple whers to fight over it. Chan doubted that was what he had in mind though. Akkin got into his fair share of trouble, but he didn't necessarily go looking for it.

Chan nodded. "Do you think being young will help them adapt?" It seemed that way for most things, human and creature alike. But young animals could be more dangerous too; less experienced, more flighty.

Thinking about this as they reached the once-stable made Chan eye the locks and reinforcements with dismay. Whers slept during the day and would be with their handlers at night. The alterations were likely to keep it dark inside, and to keep people out. But it still made her just a bit uneasy.

The idea of a wher reading her thoughts didn't help either, but Chan took a deep breath, working to calm herself. Now was not the time to look scared, and if he was going to be reading her mind, she had better not think about being so either, even though she was pretty sure that she was. Out they came, and once Itusk had stepped away from Itunas, Chan edged toward him, grinning a bit to hide her dismay. The wher was a lot bigger than she had expected.

"Akkin is not expecting dragons," Chan said with a nervous laugh. "I don't think he would be disappointed." Whers were big and strong and new, and Chan had never known her son to be repulsed by something that was ugly.

Chan shrank back at the mention of her feeding Itusk. "I don't know if I'm up for that, my lord." Looking at a wher was one thing, but putting her hands in the vicinity of his mouth was another entirely.

[Jenth]

Itusk waited for a few, long moments before he started to shift his weight impatiently when it was clear that she wouldn't give him the food that she had brought for him. He didn't turn on Chan but rather at Itunas, snorting angrily knowing if he tried 'speaking' to the woman she probably would not listen. She was frightened of him, he knew that but the bronze was coming to terms that nearly everyone who met him was. They should, but it wouldn't get him what he wanted unless by force.

"May I?" Itunas asked, taking the crispy critter and offering it from his own hand. Normally he wold have thrown it, making a game of it but Chan needed to see it was safe. Itusk eyed it for a moment, sniffed and with a slight tilt of his head snapped it up. Content that he now had what he wanted he settled down on the cobblestones, letting out a bark to be answered by a chirp from the depths of the stables.

"Good evening to you too, Itusk." A female giggled from around the bend. A young woman just reaching maturity walked into the courtyard, her light brunette hair tied up and dressed in a simple turquoise dress. She smiled and waved to the human pair as she disappeared into the stable and returned with a much smaller, blue wher that pranced behind her.

"Ah Lianly! Norther fields tonight isn't it?" Itunas asked.

"Yes, and my turn to watch Itusk. When is your son coming to the Hold?"

"Hopefully in the next month, finalising a foster mother here for him."

"Well I better get a pair of whers fed." Itusk surgged to his feet and leaped to the girls side, Liansk shying back a few paces. Lianly showed no fear, only laughed and scratched the bronzes eye ridge before leading the whers away.

"I'm still nervous the dragons will take her away. Its in her blood." Itunas admitted to Chan.

[Sparrow]

May he? Itunas feeding the wher himself was precisely what Chan wanted him to do. She was more than willing to hand the critter over. When Itusk snapped it from his keeper's hand, however, she jumped. Chan had expected him to toss it away for the wher to fetch. Not that she thought that the wher would bite his own handler's hand off, but... well, maybe she did. Itusk was certainly capable.

Chan jumped again when Itusk barked, clearly not the slightest bit trusting of him, despite Itunas' attempts to soothe her. The appearance of a second handler and, soon, a second wher, didn't exactly calm her much. She had to keep reminding herself that these beasts were not going to hurt her... not with their handlers there, at least.

It was a rather nerve-wracking wait while the second handler- Lianly, apparently- talked to Itunas, but worth it, since she left with both whers. Chan felt much more at ease once they had walked away.

"You really think the dragons would take her?" Chan couldn't help but doubt that dragonriders would be very interested in a wherhandler. Besides, she didn't put a lot of faith in the idea of dragonriding being in someone's blood. If that was the case, surely more than her brother would have been taken as a Candidate. What a relief that that hadn't happened.

A subject had come up while Itunas was talking with Lianly that Chan was more curious about anyway. She looked up at Itunas and asked tentatively, "You have a son?"

[Jenth]

"Well she's managed to raise one of the calmest wher's I've ever seen, Lianly handles a wher very well for someone her age. And not just her own, Itusk doesn't mind listening to her either but as long as she has her blue I don't think she would ever agree to go." It wasn't all about being in the blood, but the more the girl grew and matured the more he worried. Maybe he was thinking too far into it all, it would all work out.

Itunas gave Chan a puzzled look, "You didn't know? I dont think I would be here if i didn't." So it seemed not a lot of information was released to the people on their new Lord Holder, or maybe it was shadowed by the fact he was unmarried.

"My son's name is Archian, mothered by the goldhandler Sabre. She didn't want to raise him so she fostered him and disappeared shortly after. He's 3 Turns old, still a little too young for me to take care of myself with all these new responcibilities. All anyone seems to care about is that he's my heir, even if I have no wife yet."

[Sparrow]

"I don't think being good with whers makes dragonriders want you." There was no connection there. They were different animals that, as far as Chan had heard, didn't get along. And if that wasn't a good enough difference, then one might remember that whers were nocturnal, didn't fly, and didn't talk, dragons were diurnal, flew, and had a lot to say from the moment they hatched.

That was about all Chan knew about either, but they sounded plenty different to her. The dragonriders weren't going to Search a wherhandler.

Chan shrugged, thinking. Maybe she had known. Yes... she probably had. But mostly all she remembered was that he wasn't married, and so she didn't really expect him to have any family. Not any legitimate family anyway. She knew the lifestyles of these people. A son by some other wherhandler didn't quite count to her as an heir. A man needed a wife.

It was all kind of a funny train of thought, considering she was a single mother herself, but she hadn't started that way. Her husband hadn't abandoned her, he had died. Chan wasn't about to voice her question of Itunas's son counting to him though. The father of a child ought to see him very differently from some random woman. "I guess I've heard about it," she replied noncommittally. "Who's caring for him?"