Desperate Times [Indivara]

Rhaedalyn didn’t know what to do.

B’jin had held an embarrassing class on sexual relations and almost made it abundantly clear that virgins would never be allowed on the Sands so long as he was Weyrlingmaster. From the laughter and bragging that followed, she decided nearly all of her classmates were experienced. No doubt she was actually the only virgin still left in their group. She had been so embarrassed that a look around the class wasn’t an option as she stared at her hands folded neatly in her lap. It had to be obvious what her status was given the reaction she’d given with the blush but also how she behaved on a regular basis. Sleeping around just wasn’t something that appealed to her.

After the class she had asked B’jin for the list of suitable men that would help her but it took several hours before she could read the names. Crying into her pillow had been far more important, as was silently seething at B’jin. How could he do this to her! When the names were read, Rhaedalyn didn’t like the options and tried to make her own list while poking at her dinner that night. It was obviously the perfect opening to approach Z’ia but could she really do that? He might see her as a simple whore only out for sex instead of a sweet woman that wanted her first time to be special and with her mate. Most of the meal was spent agonizing over that debate until R’nya walked by. He could work, couldn’t he?

R’nya was a perfect example of a bronzerider and his quietness had to mean he was sensitive and shy like she was! But she couldn’t approach him that night. Time had to be given to come up with the best way to word everything and find a chance to speak with him. Unfortunately when that time came, it had been a disaster on every level that ended in pure rejection. It had been devastating and embarrassing and all Rhaedalyn wanted to do was find a little hole to hide in. No way was this method of approaching people going to work!

Several days later an idea struck her when Indivara was spotted tidying up a room in the Crafting Hall. Rhaedalyn had been on her way in to work on mending some more clothes for some of the riders that didn’t know how to thread a needle since it made her feel useful and gave her something to focus on. But Indivara’s simple presence changed every goal for that day. They had never really talked all that much since they had such different interests and views on so many things but that was what Rhaedalyn needed right then and sucked up all her courage to try another approach on a topic that most people didn’t see the issue with but was rather sensitive to her.

“Hi, Indivara. Um, do you have a few minutes to talk? I… I think I need your help with something.” Without waiting for confirmation, Rhaedalyn stepped inside the room and shut the door behind her, hoping no one would overhear them. A hopeful expression was then given to the younger woman. Indivara wouldn’t turn her down, right? She had to help, she had to!

There were a lot of things that Indivara never expected to happen in the general day to day aspects of her life. For the most part, no one would have contested Indivara when she expressed surprise at an event that took place, which probably shouldn’t have involved her. Generally, they were things that also took other people by surprise, too, and Indivara could generally get a good laugh out of the reactions of others when she told them. That, after all, was the main reason she enjoyed those odd occurrences that were bound to pop up occasionally. After all, if she couldn’t laugh at someone else’s expense, it wasn’t really worth the effort to undergo the event, was it?

Shit Head chittered disagreeably, but Indivara ignored the little firelizard as she went about her task, keen to be done with it and free to enjoy the evening as she so desired. Shit Head very rarely agreed with the thoughts and emotions that often rolled through Indivara, the firelizard being a real stickler for keeping up appearances and all that bullshit. That’s what she should have called her, Bullshit! Shit Head huffed irritably and tightened her tail around Indivara’s neck, making the girl laugh lightly even as Blood Sucker reached over and bat Shit Head over the head with a paw. The two firelizards took to the air, squabbling loudly and Indivara rolled her eyes, as used to the display as she was the two firelizards getting along. Bloody things.

Hearing her name called, but not really recognising the voice, Indivara turned and blinked owlishly up at Rhaedalyn, shaking her head slightly and peering up at her with a suspicious frown. The girl wanted her help? Her expression changed to one of a calculating manner, the girl’s devious mind trying to figure out what track Rhaedalyn was trotting along with that damned enthusiasm of hers, that she’d want Indivara’s help. Figuring she’d find out sooner if she stopped eyeing the girl off (she was one of those teary girly girls, Indivara was sure of it, though her grape vine knowledge was severely out of date) and instead a cheerful smirk pulled the corner of her lips up.

“Is that so?” She prompted, leaning back against the wall and crossing her arms over her chest as Rhaedalyn came inside the room and closed the door. Eyebrows arched a little in interest, but Indivara’s mischievous smirk didn’t twitch. The pansy princess was up to something, she was sure, and who better to assist than Indivara?

This was a foolish idea and she was already regretting it. Indivara was going to tease her endlessly, of that there was no doubt. She was already on the verge of doing so by the way she worded that question of hers. But, she had to get someone to help her if she ever wanted to Stand again. Rhaedalyn considered Indivara for a long moment, visibly nervous as she nibbled on her lower lip. It was a shame that V’zire, as sweet as the man was, was also timid and would die at the mere mentioning of virginity and trying to find someone to claim that of his friend’s. So she was left with a classmate that was known for chasing after the losers of flights. She was the perfect person to let her in on the secrets of doing such a thing since no one seemed interested while in a sober frame of mind.

“I,” it was the only option but why was it still so hard to discuss? Was it simply because Indivara wasn’t a close friend? First kisses, crushes, and the man you wanted to bed were all things you gossiped about with best friends, not a girl that was brash, often had her own motives, and was several years younger – but Indivara was more experienced and that was what Rhaedalyn needed. “I’m interested in… what’s the term? Being a flight moth?” Rhaedalyn wrinkled her nose. That was such a disgusting term! Why couldn’t they be referred to as something far more cute or desirable? Oh, right. She wasn’t desirable and that was why she was seeking advice on trapping a poor bluerider that didn’t know any better.

“Will you tell me how to do it? Please?” A desperate and no doubt extremely pathetic look was given to Indivara as Rhaedalyn took a few hopeful bouncing steps forward. She didn’t dare get too close to the girl since she was unsure of the personal boundaries and upsetting the person that held needed advice wasn’t going to do a whole lot of good!

Indivara watched the play of emotions on the other woman’s face with amusement. Sensing the impending doom, Blood Sucker gave Shit Head what could only qualify as flipping the bird, and landed primly on Indivara’s shoulder, his dark blue tail twining around her neck. Indivara’s crossed arms shifted slightly to account for the little firelizard’s weight and she centred more weight on the left side. The nervousness Rhaedalyn displayed caused Indivara some curiosity, far more than she was otherwise apparent and she shifted her weight again, leaning to the right as Rhaedalyn finally began to speak.

A slight frown was given in the start, before blue e yes opened dramatically wide when Rhaedalyn finally spat out what it was she was after. Indivara’s shock was echoed in the concerned creel Bloody let loose as he pressed against her cheek. Above their heads, Shit gave a squeak and vanished between, relocating to Jada, and sulking on the young goldrider. Indivara ignored her firelizards, besides lifting a hand to gently pet the blue still glued to her. “You want to flightmoth?” An incredulous eyebrow arched and Indivara shook her head, strands of hair coming loose from the braid Kerrin had done earlier that day.

“… No.” Indivara replied, her voice quietly low and very serious as she frowned up at Rhaedalyn. Not even five feet tall and barely fifteen when she had first been swept up by a bronzerider, Indivara had had no say in the events that unfolded. It had been a far cry from the romantic situations girls whispered about behind their hands and she knew just from looking at her that Rhaedalyn would be crying in terror before the man had even finished his heavy handed stripping. “No.” she repeated.

“Why-?” Indivara’s question fell off into silence as she recalled why Rhaedalyn would want to seek out an opportunity to flightmoth. “He didn’t mean flight mothing! Are you stupid?!” Indivara’s crossed arms exploded outward as she glared up at Rhaedalyn. “The whole idea is to avoid being a virgin during flight lust, not jump right in. Fuck, Rhaedalyn.” Indivara threw her hands up, exasperated. Blood Sucker gave an affirmative chirp, but Indi shushed him with a light tap to the nose.  Huffing, Indivara brushed stray strands of hair off her face.

“No. You are not doing that.” She eyed the girl up and down, lips twisting to one side thoughtfully as she considered her taller companion. She might be able to find someone to do the honours, though. Indivara’s gaze rose to meet Rhaedalyn’s eyes thoughtfully. She knew more of the dragonriders than the skittish young woman was bound to know, and she could manage to speak around them which she would lay marks on being something Rhaedalyn struggled with.

“Perhaps I can help you find someone outside of dragonlust. You’re pretty enough that they won’t need the extra boost at any rate.” A teasing smile was given the other girl, but there were shadows behind Indivara’s amused gaze that suggested there was more to the comment.

Her lower lip trembled when Indivara told her no. Why didn’t anyone want to help her? She had been kidnapped to Stand, hadn’t she? Why were so many of the people that had willingly gone South or been born in the South so against her being there and against the idea of helping her? Rhaedalyn covered her mouth to keep from sobbing aloud as her vision started to get blurry with tears pooling as Indivara yelled at her for being an idiot. Yes, she supposed she was stupid after all. Rhaedalyn always thought she was smart and clever but maybe that only extended to tailoring and nothing else in life. Both dragons and men didn’t have a use for her.

Rhaedalyn took slow shaking steps backwards until her back hit a wall and stopped her escape. She could bolt for the door and forget she ever asked Indivara for any sort of help. She was so stupid! However, Indivara spoke again at the right time and it kept the trembling girl from running away. It was sweet of her to offer to still help and normally the comment about being pretty would have made Rhaedalyn give a shy smile but this time it only served to be the reason to send the tears sliding down her cheeks. “No one wants me,” she mumbled softly, voice too weak and will too shattered to give much conviction behind the statement before sliding down the wall to sit on the floor.

Hands quickly wiped away the fallen tears a moment after knees hit the floor. This wasn’t a time to sulk and wallow in self-pity! Indivara had still offered to help and she was bound to know someone that would pity her enough to help her get back on the Sands. Once the tears were dabbed dry, Rhaedalyn glanced up at the younger woman, hope sparkling as brightly as her previous tears had. “You’ll really help me find someone to… to take… to have my virginity?” It was such a strange conversation to have! She had been raised to believe she would be shipped off to a man that would help her family’s position but Rhaedalyn had held onto the childish belief that she’d still fall madly in love with the man and be glad to enter his marriage bed as an unspoiled woman waiting only for him. Her parents had held off on marrying her until she proved useless in various aspects of life and then she had been Stolen and asked to live a new life.

Some habits were hard to shake and her dream of finding the perfect man that would cherish her and love her as much as she loved him was one of those things. It was obvious now that she couldn’t go to her man unspoiled if she wanted to be considered useful to the community and have a chance at having her own dragon but Rhaedalyn could adapt. If her man – Z’ia if her instincts were correct – appreciated what she was willing to do for Katila, surely he would be okay with someone doing the favour of introducing her to the ways of weyr life and what it was like to be a dragonrider.

Oh, she didn’t even know what she was thinking anymore! A sniffle was given but the tears were done falling. Still, Rhaedalyn didn’t get back to her feet. It was better to remain sitting since she wasn’t sure what Indivara had in store as suggestions. All Rhaedalyn wanted was someone handsome that would be kind to her as he did the deed. Did Indivara know anyone like that?

Oh, for fuck sake… The silly little bitch was crying. Indivara groaned, one small hand rising to pinch the bridge of her nose as she waited for Rhaedalyn to start wailing and bemoaning the horrors of her lie and all that junk. The soft words surprised Indivara, who had been expecting hysterics, and the girl lowered her hand to frown down at the slumped form of the fuzzy haired candidate (how did she put up with that much hair?! – Indivara ignored her own long strands; at least they were smooth and did as she wanted!). A huffy sigh was released.

“That’s probably because you cry like a baby whenever someone frowns at you.” Her words were harsh, but the tone was disdainful and irritated, the girl scowling down at Rhaedalyn as if daring her to burst into tears and prove Indivara’s point. Indivara was right, she knew she was. Indivara was always right, and the times she wasn’t, it wasn’t worth being right about those things anyway. “You’re pretty.” Indivara stated it as a fact, eyes cold and calculating as she examined Rhaedalyn in a clinical manner.

“Bit skinny,” which was the pot calling the kettle black, though Indivara’s tiny body was made up of wiry muscles that were required for surviving in her chosen male company. “Boobs, hips and a girly face.”  A small pause, then, “Too much hair, maybe. Did you ever think of cutting it a bit? A guy would get lost in it!” Indivara wasn’t trying to be mean; it came naturally. But she’d also heard the guys bitching about some line or another. Nice long hair verses too fucking much hair. Indivara was pretty sure Rhaedalyn had too much of the stuff. Indivara’s own hair fell well past her waist, but she had ever been a hypocrite. Besides, they weren’t analysing her ability to get a lay, they were analysing Rhaedalyn’s!

“Yeah, yeah, fine. I can do that.” Indivara frowned again, and then scowled harshly. “Just quit with the fucking tears, woman. No one wants to fuck a waterworks!” Crossing her arms over her chest, Indivara paced absently, fingers of one hand stroking Blood as she did so; her expression a thoughtful frown. There were plenty of men in the Weyr that would be happy to remove a girl’s virginity; many of them put bets on the table about who would score with whom. It was more a question of finding someone that would work for Rhaedalyn.

Well, the girl was obviously a girly girl, and coming from a Hold, probably had all kinds of stupid ideals. They were really something else, those Holder girls! But, it would probably make things a little easier. Maybe? Turning back to Rhaedalyn, Indivara tilted her head thoughtfully, and peered down at the other girl seriously. “Let’s start with what you like.” That was simple enough, right? Even flustered Holder girls had to know what they found dreamy, right? Trying to be a little less threatening, Indivara collapsed on the ground in front of Rhaedalyn to sit cross legged, and waited.

“My… hair?” Rhaedalyn reached up with one hand and grabbed onto a strand of the curly mess. How could Indivara say such a thing? Her hair was so very much a part of who she was. People always complimented her on the curls and how she managed to maintain it so well even in a jungle though that had a lot to do with the hats she had adopted for a lot of her outdoor time in the summer. A good hat and a ribbon to tie back the curls made it a lot cooler. Still, was that really a main issue for why men kept turning her down? She knew she had a lot of hair but Rhaedalyn never thought of it as too much. As Indivara silently paced, Rhaedalyn continued to toy with her dear curls and watch the younger girl.

It seemed Indivara was having a hard time coming up with someone after all if the amount of pacing was an indicator. Just as Rhaedalyn was about to give up hope again or tell the girl not to worry, she suddenly had Indivara sitting with her and asking for her preference. She stared at the other woman as if she had lost her mind for a moment. Was she still allowed to have a preference in such a situation? It was becoming dire now with the hatching getting closer and her virginity still intact but she appreciated the thought and softly smiled before looking down at hands folded in her lap. “Well… handsome and kind are extremely important. A gentle touch and sweet words.” She sighed, thinking briefly of someone treating her like the most precious jewel he’d ever held. If only she could be so lucky!

Should she mention names and see what Indivara thought? It might be wise or it might open her up to severe mocking if she named someone that wasn’t inclined to bed women or was someone Indivara knew wouldn’t be a good match. I’shan fell into one of those categories which still made her sad. He likely would have been a good partner. R’nya obviously would have been as well but he had already turned her down. R’nd was a possibility but he was so tied to B’jin and he helped teach classes sometimes so would that be awkward?

If only V’zire liked women! Maybe she could get him drunk and try with him then? Rhaedalyn was ashamed of herself for even thinking that and quickly turned her focus back to Indivara and waited for her suggestions.

Oh sweet Faranth, why had she even bothered to ask?! Indivara stared at Rhaedalyn as the girl gushed quietly to herself about what she was hoping for. The girl’s hand rose as fingers once more pinched the bridge of her nose. She was going to have a killer headache before she was done here, she could just feel it. Why had she agreed to this? Indivara lowered her hand slowly, almost painfully as she opened her eyes and stared at the flushing girl before her. This was ridiculous!

“Okay.” Well, what could she do? She could get someone ‘handsome’ if the girl decided to tell her what it was she found attractive, so that was a place to start! “What is ‘handsome’? What do you like?” The girl had to know what she liked, right? Eyes or nose or hair or arse… well, she’d be unlikely to admit to that one, judging by the wide eyed expression that had barely left the girl’s face. Indivara bit down on the desire to smirk, and instead tried to smile reassuringly. It probably came out a little more troublesome than she’d have liked, all things considered.

“Then I can weed out the ones that won’t do.” Fuck, the girl was looking to get her heart crushed. Indivara petted Blood Sucker gently as the blue firelizard crooned his agreement. Sweet words? What was this? Some fanciful Harper tale… actually, Indivara decided she didn’t want to know. She’d heard the stories the girls exchanged in private, and holder bred girls were the worse. Talking like True Love was just around the corner – or they were matter of fact talking about arranged marriages and children. The women bloody wherries! “Then you can tell me which of those left you like, and we’ll go from there.”

She could totally do this; pity Rhaedalyn had no idea how lucky she was Indivara was in a good mood. It could have been so much fun to crush the girl.

Could she really afford to be so picky? She had to get this matter taken care of or B’jin would ban her from the Sands and hate her forever. That would be horrible! Both things! She wanted to Stand, she really did, and B’jin was rather nice, especially when he had a glow about him and a bounce to his step whether R’nd was with him or not. Some of her classmates whispered R’nd was the reason for that blissful state but she didn’t want to think about that! Her mind liked to wander and R’nd was rather good for fantasy material even if he wasn’t Z’ia. Oh, Z’ia… why couldn’t she simply try approaching him and risk him thinking her desperate or a whore?

“Hair. I like men with nice hair,” she whispered, thinking both of Z’ia’s beautiful curls that bounced with each energetic step and even R’nd’s pretty blonde hair that looked so soft and made girls jealous. “But, I don’t mind, really. Anyone you can think of that would help me would be wonderful, Indivara.” She didn’t know if she was being too picky as it was or if she should really impose on the dear girl that didn’t need to help her. In fact, Rhaedalyn was still a bit surprised that Indivara actually was helping her. Maybe there was a catch? Maybe she really should put an ad on the bulletin board or scream out the invitation during dinner. Someone was bound to help her and if they weren’t as kind or as handsome as she dreamed of, would it matter in the end when the requirement was fulfilled?

Besides… she was old. She was twenty-three and still unmarried. Perhaps that was the problem! Everyone looked at her and saw an undesirable woman that wasn’t wanted back in the North and wasn’t even good enough to be grabbed by a rider drunk on flight lust. It all started to make more sense to her now. “I like pretty hair and a beautiful charming smile and arms that would hold me tight to him but …truly, anyone will do.”

“Not really,” Indivara countered, frowning slightly and not sure if she was amused by Rhaedalyn’s desire to be an easy pleaser, or irritated. The girl was trying so hard not to be any trouble she was making Indivara’s head hurt. The girl undoubtedly had some serious issues with her romantic fantasies, but there wasn’t much Indivara could do about that. “If you find the guy attractive it’ll make his job so much easier.” It really was a pity Indivara was being nice. There were some guys she would have loved to torture by throwing a crying virgin at them.

“Nice hair and smiles.” Indivara mused; ugh, the girl was pathetic. Half the Weyr population had ‘nice hair’ and ‘charming smiles’. They were a bunch of buffed up play boys who spent way too much time with their pants on the floor, and charming the next partner over the shoulder of the current. The girl was lining herself up for some serious heartbreak. Well, that wasn’t Indivara’s current task; if she wanted to break her heart on unobtainable playboys that was her issue. Indivara was just going to help her get into the game.

“Well,” there were plenty of charmers within the Weyr, of course. It was more a matter of weeding out the ones that wouldn’t make Rhaedalyn too miserable with their lack of continued interest or gossiping. Some of them had a little class, at least. As a result, Indivara didn’t even bother considering most of her friends; the boys were great fun, but they were massive gossip whores and she was pretty sure they shied away from the virgin type like Rhaedalyn. Clingy and tearful – the girl reeked of it.

“Let’s see, half the decent ones won’t go near a girl, so that cuts off a heap. Some of the older Weyrlings have good things said about them. Yuhannam – he has a blue from Nirinath’s last clutch – he’s really sweet, and seems to prefer women. Valerian has a good reputation building, but I don’t know if he’ll sleep with girls. Some of the greenriders might be okay, but they tend to be a bit feisty. I don’t think either of the twins would be to your liking.” Indivara paused considering, petting Blood Sucker lightly as the flirelizard curled around her neck and went to sleep.

“R’nd is a really popular choice for candidates. Did you try talking to him? He’s not fazed by gender and I’ve only heard good things about him.” The girl arched her eyebrows at Rhaedalyn and waited patiently for the girl to process what she’d said.

Oh, she knew that well! V’zire was a prime example of a wonderful man that would be perfect to be with if he liked women. It was a shock to her senses and beliefs upon arriving at Katila and seeing so many men together but over time she had accepted it and now envied a lot of the couples. Still, she did wish some of those men liked women as well. It would make her predicament much easier to fix!

Rhaedalyn frowned at the mentioning of Yuhannam but soon placed the young man in question. He was rather nice though very shy and quiet. In fact, she was pretty sure Mevrit had told her to try her luck with him in the past. She hadn’t, of course, but maybe he could be approached now? Then again, given his personality, he might not want to do a one night stand with her. Then again… again… he was a bluerider now and they were known for being far more liberal and open to anything. She’d have to think further on that but she nodded her understanding and mentally started a list of potential hook-ups.

Valerian making the suggestions made her frown. She really only knew him from B’jin dragging him to classes and the one time he sang at a gathering. He had a lovely voice but Rhaedalyn wasn’t sure if he had a nice smile since he didn’t seem to know how to do it. Maybe he kept them for the person he liked? That would be sweet and a wonderful quality in a man! To have his heart and smiles all to herself would be pretty special in her mind. But like Indivara, she wasn’t sure if he liked women or if he would be open to someone approaching him for sex. She heard the rumours that his dragon chased everything and left Valerian in bed with everyone else so would he want to hop into bed with a woman outside of flight lust?

At the mentioning of R’nd, Rhaedalyn squeaked in surprise and turned a bright shade of red. Of course she had thought about him! How could anyone not think about him? He was handsome and extremely kind and even when he flirted with her turns ago shortly after her arrival, she was slightly enamoured but turned him down. He seemed a bit shocked, confused, and even a bit upset that someone didn’t want him and it made her feel like a horrible person! Whether he remembered that treatment now, after so many people throwing themselves at him and the rotation of his bed partners, she had no idea but still she couldn’t truly ask. R’nd was mated to B’jin! They were probably the cutest couple she had ever laid eyes upon so he likely wouldn’t want to take up another lover and B’jin might not appreciate it either. Then again, it was sort of a class assignment and R’nd assisted in some of the classes so it’d be like asking him to help complete the task. B’jin would understand! Maybe.

“I… could try approaching them,” Rhaedalyn whispered, not willing to name one man over the other as appealing to her. They would likely all fit the role of virginity-snatcher and she was certain she could find a way to be attracted enough to them to try and enjoy it as well. Everything about it bothered Rhaedalyn but it was something that had to be done and in the end, it would be regarded as normal given her new home. Back in the Holds, she would be seen as a proper woman waiting for marriage but in a weyr she would be seen as odd for holding out for so long. If she could accept men in bed together then she could accept sleeping with a man before becoming his wife.

Taking Indivara’s hand between hers, Rhaedalyn smiled at the younger woman. “Thank you, Indivara. You helped me when you could have laughed and walked away. I appreciate it.” She was still afraid but she supposed that was natural since she was trying to find someone to be with her for her first experience in something. She only had some stories to go off of, nothing of her own, and Rhaedalyn was worried about what it would feel like and how she would be viewed during and after sex. She was tough though! Usually. Well, sometimes.

“You’re welcome,” Indivara said mildly, clearly bemused by the strange girl she’d just spent time assisting. Whether or not Rhaedalyn took any of the things Indivara had said and applied them concerned the teen very little, the girl brushing a hand lightly over the blue firelizard curled around her neck as she eyed the hand Rhaedalyn had just grabbed sceptically. Okay then… Indivara’s dry gaze lifted to meet Rhaedalyn, but there was nothing particularly threatening in it, simply a bemusement and a rather clear indication that if Rhaedalyn hadn’t been the clearly disturbed and oddly bizarre young woman she was, Indivara probably would have hit her for touching her.

Retracting her hand cautiously from Rhaedalyn’s, Indivara wiped it on her pants, not making a huge fuss about it, but hardly being subtle either. “Good luck,” Indivara’s expression and the low drawl of her words, which almost ended in a questioning lilt, clearly indicated that what hope Indivara had had for Rhaedalyn had vanished into between with the other girl’s words and her hand holding spontaneity. Picking her tiny self up and off the floor, Indivara brushed her hands over her rear and then against the front of her thighs as she continued to eye Rhaedalyn for a moment.

“See you later.” Still frowning in a bemused manner, Indivara backed up a step away from Rhaedalyn before shaking her head and spinning around, going back to her task without seeming to pay the episode any further thought. Contrary to that, however, Indivara was currently running over it in her mind, one hand lifted for small fingers to pet at Blood while the girl considered (with great amusement) the effect an embellished story would have on the twins… Especially when she made it quite clear she’d sent the silly woman to just about everyone but either boy in question.

Indivara gave a wicked giggle. Oh, that night was going to be far too much fun!