25.Mar.13, 03:00 AM
S'kef took a moment to look between the two troublemakers, appraising eyes filled with skepticism and disdain now that they were away from the main assembly. There was no reason to honey his words or watch his body language here, with only the offenders and a non-problematic bronzerider to deal with. R'nya's presence was quite welcome just the same; S'kef liked the insurance. It meant he didn't have anything to worry about if B'run decided to start something funny, not that S'kef was inclined to worry anyhow. He liked to have all his bases covered, however.
B'run was a stout man, but the pair of them had never come into conflict before. Even when S'kef was Weyrsecond, B'run seemed to have made a point out of avoiding him. The bronzerider didn't have any record of trouble, but he didn't have any record of accomplishment either. He wa another one of those stay-out-of-the-spotlight types. It was nice to finally know where the scoundrel stood.
Ravana was another matter. She was weak, and while S'kef had initially wondered if he'd underestimated her, now he was certain he had not. She'd withdrawn in the time it took to walk from the party to the edge of the square, and she seemed to be almost relying on R'nya's 'comforting' touch. Go figure. She was obviously terrified, though S'kef would at least concede that she wasn't wailing. That was more than he'd come to expect from some pitiful greenriding woman.
"I'm sorry you don't like the new terms, but I'm afraid they are non-negotiable," he said to both of them, gaze falling particularly heavy on B'run. "...And public challenges are entirely uncalled for." He reached for his whip, which he'd taken to carrying with him at all times once more. He reached out with his free hand and motioned for Ravana to approach him. She was the weaker of the two....better that the strong one watch her be punished first. Were it the other way, she would perhaps gain some strength from the bronzerider. He couldn't have any of that, now could he?
B'run was a stout man, but the pair of them had never come into conflict before. Even when S'kef was Weyrsecond, B'run seemed to have made a point out of avoiding him. The bronzerider didn't have any record of trouble, but he didn't have any record of accomplishment either. He wa another one of those stay-out-of-the-spotlight types. It was nice to finally know where the scoundrel stood.
Ravana was another matter. She was weak, and while S'kef had initially wondered if he'd underestimated her, now he was certain he had not. She'd withdrawn in the time it took to walk from the party to the edge of the square, and she seemed to be almost relying on R'nya's 'comforting' touch. Go figure. She was obviously terrified, though S'kef would at least concede that she wasn't wailing. That was more than he'd come to expect from some pitiful greenriding woman.
"I'm sorry you don't like the new terms, but I'm afraid they are non-negotiable," he said to both of them, gaze falling particularly heavy on B'run. "...And public challenges are entirely uncalled for." He reached for his whip, which he'd taken to carrying with him at all times once more. He reached out with his free hand and motioned for Ravana to approach him. She was the weaker of the two....better that the strong one watch her be punished first. Were it the other way, she would perhaps gain some strength from the bronzerider. He couldn't have any of that, now could he?