05.Oct.19, 06:32 AM
R'dal didn't push F'drel to speak or urge him on any time he paused. He could tell this was hard for his friend and F'drel had never really been big on talking to begin with when it was just idle chit chat or a random conversation. He rarely gave out any personal information and now he was talking about things that made R'dal's eyes water again and he bit his lip to keep from saying anything. In Katila they were usually expected to help out or stay out of the way, which was helping in its own way. But they had never been ordered to start cooking or cleaning when they were eight! Was that a normal thing for Holders? F'drel had specifically said he was a drudge at that time and R'dal admittedly had never paid much attention to social statuses and treated everyone as equal--except Weyrleaders and Weyrwomen since they ran everything!--but he supposed being born into that life meant starting early as well.
Still, as much as that bothered him, R'dal soon found out that wasn't to be the worst part, even if it did show some of why F'drel didn't trust Lords. He probably wouldn't either if he had only ever known them to barely feed him and except him to work endlessly while he enjoyed the benefits of it all! R'dal scowled, knowing that it wouldn't be seen from the way they were curled up and nodded in satisfaction when the evil Lord died. He didn't get to enjoy that moment for long as F'drel's mother soon died after that and R'dal snuggled in a bit closer when it became obvious F'drel was getting emotional at that memory. His own mom was still alive and he hated thinking about the fact that one day she wouldn't be and he was already older than when F'drel lost his mom.
R'dal was starting to regret his question--and not because he was losing feeling in his hand from an ever tightening hold. F'drel had already been through so much and he was only thirteen! He wanted to believe the new Lord's brother was going to be a good guy but that squeezing hand as F'drel talked about him led R'dal to believe it wasn't going to get any better. When the explanation faded away and the shaking started again, R'dal used his free hand to gently rub the bit of back that he could reach from how they sat, trying to soothe F'drel.
"He's why you didn't trust even me at first, isn't he? Too good to be true." F'drel had never come right out and said anything but R'dal had noticed early on that sometimes his friend seemed be waiting for something bad to happen, like he couldn't quite believe the weird bluerider just wanted to be friends. It sometimes bothered him but never enough to make him stop trying to befriend the man that was genuinely interesting and seemed to be in need of a companion.
R'dal wasn't sure how the story would end but F'drel's comment at the Gather swam around his head. Lords used the naive and a heartbroken boy that lost his mom and had pushed his family away sounded like a perfect target. But other than his question, R'dal didn't do or say anything else to rush F'drel into talking. He'd sit there silently holding his friend all day if he had to if that helped more than talking.
Still, as much as that bothered him, R'dal soon found out that wasn't to be the worst part, even if it did show some of why F'drel didn't trust Lords. He probably wouldn't either if he had only ever known them to barely feed him and except him to work endlessly while he enjoyed the benefits of it all! R'dal scowled, knowing that it wouldn't be seen from the way they were curled up and nodded in satisfaction when the evil Lord died. He didn't get to enjoy that moment for long as F'drel's mother soon died after that and R'dal snuggled in a bit closer when it became obvious F'drel was getting emotional at that memory. His own mom was still alive and he hated thinking about the fact that one day she wouldn't be and he was already older than when F'drel lost his mom.
R'dal was starting to regret his question--and not because he was losing feeling in his hand from an ever tightening hold. F'drel had already been through so much and he was only thirteen! He wanted to believe the new Lord's brother was going to be a good guy but that squeezing hand as F'drel talked about him led R'dal to believe it wasn't going to get any better. When the explanation faded away and the shaking started again, R'dal used his free hand to gently rub the bit of back that he could reach from how they sat, trying to soothe F'drel.
"He's why you didn't trust even me at first, isn't he? Too good to be true." F'drel had never come right out and said anything but R'dal had noticed early on that sometimes his friend seemed be waiting for something bad to happen, like he couldn't quite believe the weird bluerider just wanted to be friends. It sometimes bothered him but never enough to make him stop trying to befriend the man that was genuinely interesting and seemed to be in need of a companion.
R'dal wasn't sure how the story would end but F'drel's comment at the Gather swam around his head. Lords used the naive and a heartbroken boy that lost his mom and had pushed his family away sounded like a perfect target. But other than his question, R'dal didn't do or say anything else to rush F'drel into talking. He'd sit there silently holding his friend all day if he had to if that helped more than talking.