Nalkor is Searched

High Reaches Weyr - Mountain Slope
A branching of the road to High Reaches leads into the mountains, ending at a steep slope that lies beneath several feet of snow through the Reaches winters. The snow and ice cling to the mountain's face precariously, mounds of white that look as though they might lose their hold at any moment. The trees here are bent and twisted by the wind, where they have managed to cling to the rock. Above, the mountain's peak is white even at mid-summer. Past the road on down the slope, the footing looks treacherous and the grade is far to high for any but a very brave hiker to attempt. The road continues to meander on to the small holds many hours' travel beyond, while a broader though rocky road curls around the mountain and disappears into the wilderness.

The twisting winding road trails off into the distance, curving around a sharp bend North where it will eventually lead toward the smaller Holds in the 'Reachian region. Regardless, the trails in the area have become sloppy with the melting snow of the summer months, despite the great white caps on the high peaks. Farther down in a spread of a valley, now lush with green sprouts of grass and speckled with the odd wild flower, a trail of smoke curls itself high, distinguished by the constant shifting of a herd arranged by herd-canines. The fire is small but large enough to keep two pots heated, the outer pot being klah while the one right in the wood pile brews a strong hearty stew, needed for the chilly mountain slopes were shadows keep the sun at bay.


Nalkor looks to have just arrived, squating down beside the flames with his gloves pulled off and stuffed under an arm - while the woman, Keziah, is keeping the stew mixed with tending stirs of a wooden spoon. The two appear to be in casual conversation, looks shared between the flock and themselves - speaking of many things, though mostly just the simple idealistic mentality of being out in the wild spread of the land, away from the bustle of a Weyr or Hold center.

Keziah grins as she gets up to get up a couple of bowls "Candia was out here too checking thinks out as well, she was able to get a better look at the snow, course some of it's been set off already so it should be a bit before it piles up enough again to be trouble." she states as she dishes up the stew. "Which is nice, I've seen the stuff come down, it's like water and then solidifies. Lost a couple of does into that one." she sighs a bit and looks out towards the goats and the attentive but relaxing canines. "Yup, taught them with a bit of help of course." she states with a smile "But those two I've had since they were pups. They were kept out with the goats and such, they hardly go inside unless it's with the herd."

Hunching his shoulders together, Nalkor can't help but appreciate the warmth of the fire, despite his hike which pretty well got his blood pumping. It was the sweat cooling on his back that alerted him to need the warmth of a good fire, and good stew in his belly. "Candia?" The man questions, "Mhrm. I'm sad to say I haven't run across her yet. She's of the wild sort to? Enjoying the sprawling mountain slopes instead of the crazy flurry of activity?" He peers around at the make shift camp she's got, deciding on a rather large rock that would fit his rump. Feet crunch under the stone as he goes to collect it, having to put some effort into moving it close enough to the fire to make a good seat there. Popping down on it, he nods his head about the avalanches, "These parts can get rough. It's why I came to have a look, to see if the trail is still dangerous. I do mean to ship out to those Holds shortly. A man's got to keep his income coming in after all, even if he likes the rugged mountains." A look of respect is earned there after for the conversation of the canines, "You really have a thing for them. That's great. Not many people can do that."

Lorena is chattering. Yes. Chattering. "Stupid cold places!" She mutters rather lamely as Loyauth lands on the spongey ground beside Adinaeth. Rumble. "Oh shush! You're a dragon. Plus you've more meat on your bones." Pause. "Relatively speaking!" She mutters and swats the dragon lightly. The brown follows Adinaeth along the trail towards a herd of goats, peering curiously at them. "No I expect they don't. L'alie? Maybe we should leave them here?" She eyes the goats and dismounts, the other brownrider following suit. "Er… Hello there!" Lorena calls as they head over. Loyauth meanwhile -stares- at the goats.

It isn't precisely fair to call Adinaeth a brown in his current state. Someone has died the small brown a wonderfully bright shade of pink that glows over the normally blonde tones of his hide. His rider seems unfazed by the bizarre color of her mount, and glances at Lorena, "Probably best. We'll feed the lumps when we get back." She pats the neck muscle next to her knee and now her head swivels towards the two young people on the slope, and she lifts her hand to hail them cheerfully. "Xanadu's duties to High Reaches!"

Keziah shrugs a bit "It's a matter of learning and applying it. Kalinds a good teacher and the canines are of good breeding. It's in their blood to guard and protect." she states "Anyone is capable of training canines providing they take the time to train themselves as well." a pause "Even the goats can be trained as well. I've a pair of wethers that have been trained to pull a cart. The kids love it." she adds and then she's silent again as the dogs start staring again, their ears pointed forward. The sounds of voices can be heard on the cold air, even if it's not quite understandable. The goats on the other hand are acting more nervous and start heading further down the valley. Keziah picks up the crossbow again, her stew now forgotten. Then she notices that there are a couple of dragons as well and she lowers the crossbow "Shards, but it's busy out here of late." she mutters and then smiles "Greetings!" she calls out. Blinks and then looks a little closer at the pair "Xanadu?" she asks and then she grins "Hey, I know you!" she exclaims as she recognizes L'alie and Adinaeth.

Nalkor heard something. The echos were faint, the wind was not really in their direction entirely - but he thought he heard it. So, he crans his head over his shoulder, frowning when he notices a pair of dragons landing. Immediately he assumes out loud, "I wonder if they're here to tell us the pass is blocked? They'd give us a ride back, I'm sure, if it was…" Creases of skin fold together as he watches the pair of dragon riders come down the muddy path toward them. "Do you know them?" He says as an aside to Keziah, hoping that maybe the girl had visitors often, to steal the rise of anxiety of what it meant for them to be out here. So much for his seat. The man stands from the fire, shuffling his feet to meet the on coming couple, shouting to them when they're not too far off, "Afternoon." … A pause, "Xanadu?" The same time as Keziah, though he adds, "Little far out, aren't you?"

Lorena blinks as the girl -knows- L'alie? Weird. She looks from L'alie to her and back again. Then beyond at the- ooh! He's cute. Lorena suddenly falls a step behind L'alie, peering practically around the older brown-pink-rider curiously. As Nalkor makes a near obvious comment she just nods, mutely. This gets Loyauth's attention, no longer staring at the goats he strains to see what's making his talkative darling so quiet. Cute? Like… the image of a baby runner comes to mind. No Loyauth. Hm… Oh! Oh you mean… Yes. Hroom.

L'alie gives Lorena a sideways glance, a bit of a smile tucking itself into the corner of her mouth. Young things, I see. As she slides down from Adinaeth's neck, she lands lightly, her knees absorbing the shock of the fall. A big grin splits the Weyrsecond's face, "Keziah!" mind like a steel trap, this one. "How are you, dear?" Arms outstretch towards the young woman to embrace her once she comes nearer.

Keziah gives a nod to Nalkor "Well one of them." she states as she casts a glance towards the goats who've found a bit of higher ground to watch the proceedings under the watchful gaze of the canines. As L'alie calls out her name she bursts into a wide grin as she moves towards the brownrider as well. She gives the older woman a strong hug "It's great to see you again L'alie. I'm doing well. Kalind says I've been doing really well on my studies and now I spend more time out here with the goats than under his watchful eye." She's proud of herself to be sure. "Wbat brings you two out this way?" she asks and then couvers her mouth and goes oh. "Forgive me my lack of manners. This is Nalkor, one of our vintners. Nalkor, this it L'alie and that brown one there, that looks pinkish. That's Adinaeth." she smiles at Lorena then "Would you two like some stew?"

Nalkor considers Keziah, "It's your fire, your camp, your stew. Invite them if you will—" he notes as a lowered aside toward his Reachian counterpart, feeling his attention reverting back to the dragon riders - of which the one certainly catches his attention. It must be from the way she hides behind her rider friend that catches his eyes - oh definitely. Pitching his foot up on the rock he had just used as a seat, he smirks nevertheless at the pair, "Far as you may be, duties to you both. You'd find a better meal and warm hearths up at the Weyr proper, though please make yourselves comfortable here." A look cast to Kezi then thrown back at the rider pair, considering the dragons and in turn the goats that seem ill at ease. Flopping an arm over his up lifted leg as he bends over it, his mouth pulls into a smile-borderline-sneer, eyes on Lorena as L'alie evades her a moment to hug Keziah. At his introduction, he lamely lifts a hand, nodding to each in turn, though gives a pause for Lorena to fill in the gap of her own acquaintance, lacking her own intro.

Lorena follows along behind, smiling at Keziah in return. She follows the woman's introduction of Nalkor, turning pink, and bobs her head to him then looks quickly away as he seems to be watching her. Ooh look! Goats! Lorey, don't be silly. "I'll be what I want." she mumbles under her breath. Loooong awkward pause. Lory darlin? "Oh! Um… sorry… Lorena, Brown Loyauth's." Is that… red on her face? Somehow this 'stupid cold place' got a lot warmer.

L'alie looks down her nose at Nalkor and smiles, "Kind of you to offer, journeyman Nalkor.." She says in an overly sweet way. She turns a bit green at the mention of food and shakes her head, "Oh no, really.. I would probably just throw it up. This baby has me so ill. The healer said it was normal to be sick even this late in the pregnancy, but…" she shrugs and clears her throat, "It is cold though." A boot is scuffed. Lorena is just given a look and a small shake of the head. And perhaps a gentle kick if no one is looking.

Keziah watches Lorena curiously and then looks at Nalkor and then back to Lorena and then just shakes her head a bit. Well, guess someone's gotta like him, right? "It's a pleasure to meet you Lorena." a glance is given to the brown "And you as well Loyauth." she gives a bow when she says that as well. Another glance towards the goats. "So, what brings you two out here? You're not checking snow levels and possible avalanche spots as well are you?" she asks and then ohs a little at L'alie and blinks "Pregnant?" she asks as her eyes go wide. "Congratulations! Should be you umm betweening and all?" she asks curiously "When? How long? Who?" she tosses out the questions in a patter of excitement "It's wonderful!" She grins at Nalkor "Isn't it great? She's gonna have a baby. Lots of people seem pregnant of late. Course, the Weyrwoman is as well, she's really showing, shouldn't be much longer now." A pause, oh yeah. The cold." She hrms a little as she glances at the tent. Too small for four people, just barely big enough for one and all. "Umm, I can build up the fire some."

Eyebrows make a pop to highlight the curiosity in his expression for this Lorena when he finally hears her name. The man can't help but to take some enjoyment out of her unease - considering her face is turning pink and red with embarrassment instead of anger. Slowly though, Nalkor disengages his eyes from her, so that she doesn't run away, putting his foot down on the ground proper once more. Maybe he hears her, maybe he doesn't, he just doesn't make an issue of anything else than her name. "Good to meet you Lorena,.." a long pause, eyes try to catch her face before he flickers his gaze off toward L'alie, "And you rider L'alie." He fans his hand down toward the discards of trees and rocks, "Find a seat if you like. You've a choice of wood or stone," a wink flashed then as he points out the options, frowning in afterthought of not having a more comfortable seat for an expectant mother. "Aye, it's good news," said at least, side glancing at Keziah, "I'll gather wood if you like. I might have to climb back up the ridge to find some dry tinder though." The wood around them is mostly wet.

Lorena is back to looking at Nalkor again. She can't help herself! But with a little kick from L'alie she's paying much better attention suddenly. Naval discipline through and through. She seems to shake herself. What's wrong with her? Ugh. "Pleasure to meet you too." Lorena manages back, finding her voice. Loyauth shifts about and rumbles for Lorena to translate. "And Loyauth seconds that." She smiles a bit as Keziah fusses over the pregnant L'alie, her eyes trying really hard not to drift back to Nalkor. But now he's invited them to sit. She sure as shells isn't going first. L'alie? Pleeease?

L'alie pinkens in the cheeks just a little, "Ah, the healer just cleared me today, actually.. I got six months left..It's R'sul's." She smiles fondly as she speaks his name and skirts around, "Oh, it's okay. I don't want to put you out, you know?" Tongue flicks over her lips. Nalkor is given an assessing look. "Weyrsecond, actually." Oops, not a good sign. Adinaeth chuffs around, eyeing the goats again with more speculation. "If it won't put you out much, Keziah, why don't we head for the caverns? Your poor caprines look witless with Adie and Loyauth eyeballing them, I'd just as soon get them off to the Bowl."

Keziah hmms a moment as she looks back at the goats, and then gives another piercing whistle, though it sounds distinctly different from her earlier one. The canines start off after the herd and driving them back up towards the road. "Yeah, it would likely be best to get you in out of the cold. Wouldn't do for you to get sick and all." she states and then gives a softer whistle and a bright blue firelizard comes barreling out of the tent. She pulls a pad and pencil out of one of her pockets and writes a note and then tears off the sheet and slips it into the case that's on the blues leg. "Sharita, go to Sharita." she tells him as she holds him a moment and then lets him leap off and disappear between "Okay, that should do it. She'll make sure they're penned for the night and it's not all that far back just down the road a bit and just outside the Weyr." she murmurs. "A good thing I wasn't out here with sheep, they'd likely have run themselves off a cliff in fright."

Nalkor nods at L'alie, "No offense meant," he cues in when she gives him an eyeball, though he makes no correction upon his lacking a rank. A simple shrug meets her comment of being put out, "It wouldn't be too much trouble." The offer of a seat goes disregarded apparently when the women decide to remain standing, even suggesting Keziah should flock her caprines to a cavern and out of the dragon's gaze. Smartly - Nalkor keeps his mouth shut, resting his rump back on his 'boulder' make shift seat, warming his hands again as he juts them forward.

Lorena bites back a snicker at the mention of these creatures' fluffy counterparts. "Mm… we had a heard of them once on deck…" She finds herself saying. "My brother…" Eye-dart at L'alie and back to Keziah. "…vowed to never do it again. We near lost one overboard when we moved them up to clean their pen. Couple of us had to go over after it." And there's her attempt at conversation. She ruffles a hand through her hair awkwardly. "Um… we're going inside then?" Eye-dart now to Nalkor who's sat back down. And then she speaks to him. "Would you… erm… like to join us?" Good girl Lorey.

L'alie smiles at Keziah, and glances at Nalkor, eyes going back to her old charge again. "So, did you know Keziah stood for the last clutch I was Weyrlingmaster for, Lorena? Before Tay took over." A pout converges on her face, "Which, was, of course, before Myra and R'in." She sighs, "Cursed job, that."

Keziah shudders a little as she listens to Lorena "They're so dumb sometimes, easily panicked and will follow the leader wherever, even to their deaths. Best to stick a goat with them and all. They're smarter, won't run themselves off a cliff and thus the herd is usually safer." she notes. She glances back at L'alie "Wow, certainy has been some changes and all." she hrms a little and then glances at Nalkor. "You should come too, don't think I've showed you the eggs I've sitting and warming there."

Nal listens quietly to Lorena, even flashing an eye toward her as he rubs his hands near the fire, slowly prompting a finger at Keziah and toward the Klah pot, "Mind if I have some?" Before she even answers, he shifts enough to reach for the camp mugs set aside already, pouring himself a hot steaming cup. Rude though he's not, or doesn't intend to be, he hefts the klah pot, "Anyone else?" In which case, if he doesn't get any answers he settles back - and if he does, he'll pour and hand them out as needed. Otherwise, he goes directly to sipping on the warming drink. He looks curiously toward Lorena when she invites him to go inside? "Um. If it doesn't displease you, I'd rather remain here for now." After all the effort it took him to hike out this way, "I've still got further down the trail to hike before striking my camp." He taps his sack of supplies where he left it some time ago near the fire. Further he explains: "I'm scouting the trail before I get my crew together. We've some beverages to sell and I'm sure there are Holders out there willing to pay for good Benden and Tillek." A pause, "But you three go on ahead." Even to Keziah's mention of eggs he gives a stubborn response, bent on doing his duty, for his only way of income is by trade and sell, wheel and deal, "They'll be there tomorrow, won't they? I'll be back before dusk then."

Lorena looks to L'alie curiously, and then to Keziah. "A goat? Hm. We had one on deck… should put it with them I guess." He's looking at her again! How does she know this? Because Loyauth is watching the young man intently too now. "Er…" Gee… awkward knowing things like that. "…really? I forgot you were Weyrlingmaster, L'alie." A glance to Nalkor and then an actual curious look and without even realizing what she's saying it spills out. "Loyuath wants you to come." Blink. He does? The dragon rumbles as if to enforce this, probably not helping the little fuzzy things feel any better about life. "Er… please?"

L'alie nods her head, and glances between her brownrider and Keziah. "Why don't I walk with you, Kez? I'll meet you when you're ready to leave, okay Lorena?" Perhaps it is some internal cue from Adinaeth, or just female intuition.. or maybe just that L'alie has watched over the young woman since she came to the Weyr to live with her ex-weyrmate and knows her, but she's going to let the girl alone with her fascinating new thing. Setting feet to trail, she begins heading towards the Weyr, perhaps even if nobody comes or not. Adinaeth is more patient by far, waiting and watching Keziah.. or her caprines, more specifically.

Keziah watches Lorena thoughtfully and then can't help but grin at Nalkor "You have fun there." she states as she heads up the slope. She glances at L'alie "Is is okay for you to be walking over this terrain?" she asks as she peers at the expectant mother "I wouldn't want you to have troubles." A pause "But then you are in shape, so perhaps it's okay, I mean it shouldn't over-exhert you and all." a thoughtful look as she eyes Adinaeth a moment and then glances back towards the goats. Well.. they are meat as opposed to dairy, but still. "I'll see you then when you're back." she calls back to Nalkor. "If you'd be so kind as to bank the fire when you do head off?"

For the most part Nalkor is looking down the hill toward the next steep pass and its challenging incline as it heads between the closing valley. The man considers how much sun since he lifts his head, a contemplative expression grasping his facial features. It was to be evening soon. Except he's put off track by the abrupt proclamation of the dragon rider Lorena. Odd. Twisting back to regard Lorena and then in turn her mount, he can feel himself frown. "It's really inconvenient, too be honest — no disrespect of course…" he starts, brows twitching, "with the trade being as competitive as it is… the sooner I check trail, the sooner I can be moving out." Business man at heart - sue him? A glance at Keziah, "Until then," he flicks a hand, "I'll be having some of this stew, if you don't mind." To the rest of the camp duties, he waves a hand in a lazy flop, peering toward Lorena, "If you're cold, come sit by the fire…" another invitation as he sets the stew and klah pot aside in favour of adding more kindling to the fire. So he decides to be a bump on a 'stone'…

Lorena finds herself standing there alone with the young man, shivering a little. Not alone. Loyauth reminds her with whisps of whiskey breath and trail dust, a warmth like desert sun on her thoughts. The strange meekness that's taken her is lifted like a veil. Wordlessly she moves fowards and selects a stone to sit on, pulling up her legs to sit crosslegged on it with surprising balance for how oddly shaped the boulder is. There's a long silence as both she and her gleaming eyed dragon watch him. "Do you… like to live this way?" She inquires, "In the cold?" Her eyes flicker to the fire and back to him.

L'alie tilts her head back, laughing full-throatedly. "Really, honey, it's just a baby, I'm not an invalid. You're worse than Rus. He thinks he's going to break me if he breaths on me the wrong way." She grimaces, "Really, going to have to break him of that delusion. We're not even sharing a bed, if you know what I mean." She winks at Keziah, and continues on down the trail without concern. It's not /that/ bad.

At first, the Vintner doesn't think the woman will remain, seeing on how her friend is alreadly departing and climbing the trail toward the Weyr. So when she sits as he spoons out some stew in healthy proportions into a bowl, hie does appear surprised but jovial at the same time. The fire catches onto the kindling, the brightness growing as he adds another pre-cut log before settling back with his stew and klah - waste not want not. Several spoons later, as he listens to Lorena, he finds himself considering her question. Balancing the stew on his knee, he turns to look at her as she balances oddly on the stone she picked, "I wouldn't put it like that," he sips his klah and then explains, "I choose to live as I want to live, so in this case, my choice includes the cold and the snow—" as evidence of the environment around them. "What is around me makes me warm," he goes on, "I suppose you could say I've a passion for journeying." A long pause as he debates adding further detail, until he does, "I'm driven to do what makes me happy and at the moment, this-" his arm swung to incorporate the landscape, "-this wilderness makes me happy. It may seem strange to you, but you'll never see Pern the way it was meant to be seen unless you walk it." He finds himself chuckling, "That was my long version. Short version. Yes. I like it, or else why would I be doing it?"

Lorena finds the corner of her mouth twitching. The half-smile must be genetic? She's silent a while with this hint of a smile, looking down to the flames. They raise after a moment as she looks around at the surrounding landscape curiously. "It's not strange to me… but… I've never seen places like this." She admits. "I mean… well, I've never been this north before… or south, in my case I suppose. Hear it gets cold down there too. It is lovely. Just… cold." Clearly cold is an issue as she shivers a bit on her rock, but doesn't teeter at all. "I guess the sea gets cold sometimes. But I've my oilskins and such…" Pause. "That's what you've got I guess… Maybe it's not so different." One could argue wet cold is worse too.

"Never?" Nalkor has a frown again on his face, "That right there is why I go. I don't want to get old and never see anything but one place. I admit, I've gone from Benden to here, so I can't be that bad off. I admit to liking Keroon and Bitra. They brought me the most business." No wonder, Keroon is like race central and Bitra, well.. no explanation needed. He eats a little more of the stew, looking around at the lumbering mountains pressing their shadows down on them. "Do you want to borrow my jacket?" He sets his mug and bowl aside, ready to shrug off his jacket to keep the rider warm since it's apparent to him he made her remain. He's already got an arm out before she has time to respond.

Lorena frowns a bit aswell. "I've seen more than one place, Journeyman." But perhaps her conclusion was far too easily jumped to. She takes a breath and shakes her head. "That won't-" Rumble. Sigh. "Thank you…" She conceeds, placing down a foot to lean forward and take the jacket when it's proffered. "You said you've see Benden… here… Keroon… What about the ocean?" She inquires. After all, that's her jurisdiction. "I've only never been in a place like this because, well, there's never any need for my craft or job to do so."

"The ocean?" Nalkor looks over yonder, toward the West, "Well, that's about the general direction I'm heading in. It took me a good four Turns to make it across the land after all," it wasn't all sugar and honey his journey. Nalkor nods as he passes off his coat, making sure to stock the fire a little bit more before returning to eat his meal. "A life span is almost too short to see everything," he finally concludes, regarding her carefully, "Sounds like you've got some time invested in the sea."

Lorena nods, putting the jacket on tho… it's a bit big. Oh well, not like she's not used to that with T'eo's hand-me-downs when she was little. Hm… smells like boy… but not like brine or fish. More like… smoke. "Mm… yes. If I weren't bound down with weyrlings I'd be probably journeyman by now… in Sea Craft…" Naturally. She watches him a while again as he does her, oddly not looking away this time. Behind her Loyauth has creeped forward a sufficient distance and draws attention to himself with a rumble. Lorena seems to shake out of it, looking a little flustered. "Ah… um…" Deep breath… in… and out. She looks back at her brown who croons. "How would you feel about… I dunno… visiting Xanadu?"

The jacket has a nice fur lining to it, soft to the flesh but oddly, a little warm which might freak some people out since Nalkor's body heat is still trapped within it. The man doesn't seem to mind the brisk chill of the mountain side even without his jacket - grown used to cold nights on a dark wet road made him a hardy fellow by nature. "You could do it, if you wanted—" is all he says in regards to her speaking of her craft and her current rank. He covers a yawn with the back of his hand, soon replacing the hand with his mug of hot Klah. He regards her out of the corner of his eye, noting she's still taking keen interest in him. Yet, his attention is fleeting upon her as a rumble causes him to twist himself about, frowning at the attention getter. Dragons. Another burbling sucking sound from him as he slurps up on the mug's rim, drinking as slowly as he can since it's still rather hot. Little later does he find himself gulping it down, "Is this a private invitation?" so said because of the looks she's given all this while.

Lorena doesn't mean that as a forward remark, which she realizes it must sound like at his reply. Red isn't too bad a color on her as he might be finding out when she blushes scarlet. "Oh… Oh shards, no… I mean, sorry… Not like that… not that, I mean… you're-" Hot breezes reach out to calm her thoughts as she nearly falls off the boulder in distress. "No no… Loyauth… It's Loyauth." That sounds wrong to. But perservere she does. "Loyauth thinks you might benefit from standing at our clutch at Xanadu." Pause. "And well, dragons know best I suppose?" She watches him, looking just mortified by her earlier statement. "You of course don't have to leave right away… you'd have pleanty of time to get things settled with your craft and such. I mean… we could-" Scratch that. "Someone could come get you…. when you're ready." Can I die Loyauth? Don't talk so, Lory dahlin'.

Indeed, it sounded like that to an unsuspecting man, one who has been watching her coy glances for the better part of her arrival here. It couldn't be helped that he thought it was of a private nature, her request. Who knows, maybe he just had a nice face? Hah. When she begins to fumble to deny what he had thought she meant, well, he pulls on an expression of concern… He probably just insulted her. His expression grows anxious when she eventually spits it out, the reason why she asked of him going to Xanadu. His eyes flash up toward the dragon. "Benefit…" weight seems to drop on him as he looks down toward the stew he was eating, "that's a mighty heavy request…" he considers Lorena again, "I would have to get things settled." He agrees on that point, rubbing the side of his head, blue eyes turned on her, "I'll go if I can give you a kiss." Why not make things interesting and ease that blush of hers - or make it worse, "On the cheek.." he amends.

Lorena is silently glad her dragon is there or she might… hide? She looks everywhere but at Nalkor for a while before she really can't maintain any sense of decency by it. And so by it, she watches him again, almost fearful. Loyauth rumbles again in the background, aware of his odd sense of attitude towards him. Don'hurt mah girl boyo, or Ah'll eat ya, whether Ah Search'ya or not! "Loyauth!" Lorena snaps at the dragon though poor Nalkor probably doesn't know why. Still steadily she watches his decision making before she again is dissolved into a deeper shade of red. "Um…" And to the on the cheek… "Okay?" She says a bit shyly, again the fear and meekness returning.

Nalkor fashions on a smile as he sets his things aside once more, walking over toward her. He doesn't mind her attempts to escape because well she chose to be here - right? Her sharp tone with her dragon is noted, the brown spared a glance before he looks down at Lorena. Shy? Fearful? Certainly not with a brown behind her and the will of a Weyr supporting that dragon and his lifemate. Fearful of men? Maybe she hasn't found a good one yet? No matter, all thoughts aside, he leans down, one hand with curled fingers setting under her chin. He makes her look at him. The space closes. His breath warm against her cheek as he leans his face close to her own. There barely a moment, does he stop, letting that warmth tickle against her ear and her upper neck. An instant later the tingle of his lips press against her cheek, until he accepts with a whisper, "Show me Xanadu, Lorena." Quietly he pulls his face away from her own…

Lorena comes out of such close contact with a shiver, but definately not from cold. She's lost as to what to say, frightened, but in that pleased sort of way. People call it butterflies, but for Lor? More like standing on the topmist with over forty feet between you and a broken neck, and knowing you can fly. Okay… so she's more poetic than you thought? Loyauth raises his head curiously as if trying to peer at what they're doing. Nosey! "I…" Lorena starts, searching his face with ambery eyes. "I… had better go." She makes to stand, looking at him in a strange mixture of flight and desire. "Oh… You're jacket." She quickly removes it but slowly hands it back. Again… a long look. "I'll… have Loyauth… contact you." She murmurs. Hesitate. Hesitate… Rumble. And with that she's a hurried walk back down the path, one glance back… and Loyauth follows. He pauses too, looking at the boy and the hot suns of the desert with the breath of sage reach in upon his mind. « Benefit… Mayhaps more'n you. » And the mind leaves as he trots after his Lorey who disappears. Somewhere that way there's a small "EEE" that can be heard. But she's otherwise long gone.

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