Fort Hold

[Cherished Strawberries]

This is Fort Hold. The current Lord Holder is Lord Alarrin (see NPC thread). The Hold looks to Fort Weyr, but welcomes all others as well. There is a multitude of fire lizards flitting about and a bronze watchwher named Forsk guards the entrance at night. The Harper and Healer Halls are located nearby.  

[ST4RCASM]

Before long the grace rider and her dragon had approached the Hold. It had been a tiring trip, at least for Akira who still wasn't used to the whole thing. The two had flown over to the opening and landed with a light thud on the ground. Akira slid off Talth's back and onto the ground patting her on the shoulder for a job well done. Both seemed pleased to have made it safely to the Hold.  

[Cherished Strawberries]

((Whee! Rp in NPC!))

Lord Alarrin of Fort Hold was sitting in his study, going over the various reports he had to read through, when he saw the flash of gold swoop down to land in the courtyard. Leaning more towards the window, he watched as the rider dismounted, unconsciously wondering which Weyr they were from. Only Ista, Southern, and the newly founded (although it had been in operation for nearly three Turns) Ierne Weyrs could give a rider the tan that was evident on this rider's skin...what he could see of it, that is. Exiting the study, Alarrin quickly sought one of his Stewards and asked the man to ready one of the smaller reception halls, being sure to set out a bottle of the special Benden white wine from the chilled storage rooms.

"Welcome to Fort Hold," he called in greeting as he stepped into the large courtyard where the queen had landed. "I am Lord Alarrin. Come, come. I've a room we can talk more comfortably in. Just this way, Lady...?"

He let the question dangle as he began leading the rider towards the Hold and the reception hall, allowing her to take her time in providing her name. He saw from her shoulder knots that he had been right: she was from Ierne. He smiled amiably as he led the way.  

[ST4RCASM]

"Akira" she completed walking with the hold owner slowly. She looked around wearily, taking in as many details as she could before they passed. She would wait until they reached his study before beginning the conversation which was to commence, until then she figured she would comment on the hold and his respective kindness.  

[Cherished Strawberries]

"Lady Akira," Alarrin repeated, as though cementing that detail in his memory. "This way, rider, just past here. Not far now, I assure you."

Alarrin suppressed a slight frown of worry as noticed how slowly Akira was walking. He hadn't thought a short trip between would tire a rider so much. Perhaps being a dragonrider was more exhausting than he had previously thought. He shortened his stride a bit for her to catch up, plastering a broad smile on his face. Then they had come to the open doorway, and Lord Alarrin motioned the queenrider inside, where he waved her to take a seat in on of the comfortable, soft leather chairs that were arranged beside a merry fire with a small table nearby. Alarrin poured two glasses of wine, one of which he pressed into the rider's hand, beforelowering himself into the other chair.

"Now, then," he said slowly after a brief sip, his earlier joviality replaced now with a serious tightness around his mouth. "What brings you here, Lady, if I may be so bold?"  

[ST4RCASM]

Akira sat down in one of the chairs and sipped the wine graciously as to not offend the host. She pressed the glass in between her hands as she rested the glass on her knee. "Thank you sir." She began before getting into the more serious topic. "As you should know, there has been rumor that one of our dragon riders has been poisoned. I have come to investigate the matter personally as to see that this is treated as soon as possible," Akira took a sip of her wine and relaxed a little. "This, I believe, should be no trouble to you."  

[Cherished Strawberries]

"Poisoned?" Alarrin exclamed in surprise. "How? No, 'who' is the more important question. One of my Hold, since you've come here?"

Alarrin cursed silently. What was the world coming to when dragonriders were being poisoned? Thread was due to start falling in the next 10 or 20 Turns, or so he had been told; no one knew for sure anymore. But for a queen rider to make the trip to Fort Hold pretty much guaranteed that the culprit either looked to his Hold or was on his lands. His face tightened in anger towards whoever was mad enough to endanger a dragonrider's life.

"Have you a name, perhaps?" Alarrin asked. "Something to tell my guards before I send them to look?"  

[ST4RCASM]

Akira sat their calmly, sipping her wine in silence. Alarrin seemed to be very aggregated about the poison which Akira knew, was something of the underlining of importance. "A man by the name of Felsan. It seems that he ended up handing over a drink laced with poison. If he is here, then the matter should be settled quickly, correct?"  

[Cherished Strawberries]

"I wish that were so," Alarrin replied, thinking quickly. Felsan was not a name he was familiar with, but there were many such names in a Hold as large as Fort. "However, the surrounding lands are as likely a hiding place as the Hold proper; in short, he could quite literally be anywhere. If--when we find him, would you rather Fort dealt with him, or would the Weyr prefer to undertake such a task?"

Even as he asked the question, he began scribbling on a piece of parchment, forming the words of the orders carefully so there would be no uncertainty.