13.Mar.13, 09:16 PM
It was flattering that Oahvakeen thought Isscer had all the answers, but Isscer met his friend's eye with a sad quirk of his mouth, voice pitched low to prevent them from being overheard. "I considered it, once. There was a man I knew who tried--he wanted me to go as well, but I was afraid." He may have been a Junior Journeyman, but here that hardly mattered--he was the lowest of the low, with nothing but the shreds of his former life to cling to. It didn't help that the threat of lashings was always looming overhead, and that with men like S'kef as Acting Weyrleader, the lashings would certainly be more severe. "I was afraid, and I regret it with every Turn that passes."
If he had been braver, perhaps Isscer would have been free; in a part of him, he clung to the idea that an escape was possible. It had to be--there had to be a way home, somehow. He shook his head, the familiar despair settling in, the laugh that tore its way out of his mouth ugly and vaguely panicked. "You don't think I've wondered that myself? It's been nearly six Turns--I'd have thought they'd have gotten rid of me by now."
Isscer shrugged, a wearied lift of his shoulders, mouth working into a frown. "I've had a child. They can't fault me for that, at least." Falling quiet, hands clenching around the end of his rake, he stared at Oahvakeen, trying to work out what he was implying with all the questions. There was something there that was going unsaid, something that needed to be brought into the light...
Eyes widening, Isscer hissed, "You're thinking of going, aren't you?" He wasn't surprised, not really--if anything he was afraid for Oahvakeen, of what would happen if anyone knew. "You can't go alone! They'll find you for sure--with two people, at least if things got dicey there's the option to split up..." Isscer trailed off, glancing away, seemingly coming to realize what he was suggesting without actually saying. "Might could get further that way, one of the pair." He caught Oahvakeen's eye, a curious expression on his face--part dawning realization, and the other resignedly weary. "A diversion would help, though. Draw their attention away, you know?"
If he had been braver, perhaps Isscer would have been free; in a part of him, he clung to the idea that an escape was possible. It had to be--there had to be a way home, somehow. He shook his head, the familiar despair settling in, the laugh that tore its way out of his mouth ugly and vaguely panicked. "You don't think I've wondered that myself? It's been nearly six Turns--I'd have thought they'd have gotten rid of me by now."
Isscer shrugged, a wearied lift of his shoulders, mouth working into a frown. "I've had a child. They can't fault me for that, at least." Falling quiet, hands clenching around the end of his rake, he stared at Oahvakeen, trying to work out what he was implying with all the questions. There was something there that was going unsaid, something that needed to be brought into the light...
Eyes widening, Isscer hissed, "You're thinking of going, aren't you?" He wasn't surprised, not really--if anything he was afraid for Oahvakeen, of what would happen if anyone knew. "You can't go alone! They'll find you for sure--with two people, at least if things got dicey there's the option to split up..." Isscer trailed off, glancing away, seemingly coming to realize what he was suggesting without actually saying. "Might could get further that way, one of the pair." He caught Oahvakeen's eye, a curious expression on his face--part dawning realization, and the other resignedly weary. "A diversion would help, though. Draw their attention away, you know?"