You walk down a few steps into the courtyard.

Harsha walks with a graceful step towards the beach.

Liesana skips down the steps, missing two at a time, working up a pretty decent sweat, since she's wearing a heavy cloak, and carrying a pair of overstuffed satchels under each arm. Which is about the only thing that prevents her from running up and giving Kryz a /huge/ hug. "Kryz!!! Great Faranth, it's been /ages/!!"

Lu-nar

Kryz drops the bag that he's carry so he /can/ give Lies a hug. The harperboy dashes across the courtyard and wraps his arms around the Journeywoman's small waist. "Lies!!" he screams before giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Way too long," he says taking a half step back and pulling the hat from his head leavign his untamed locks to fall free.

Liesana grins, and likewise drops her bags so she can hug back. Good thing she's not fond of packing breakables. "Indeed... And we'll have to find a way to remedy the situation, no?" A twinkle. "I think a good long spell at Keroon will do it, no? Or at least make a start... So, whose getting us there today?" she inquires, eyeing the dragon that's borne him here.

Kryz turns back to the large beast the brought him and then back to Lies. "Let's just get this over with...," he mutters. "The sooner we take off the sooner I'm back on solid ground."

Liesana twinkles. "You know, I bet if we get you flying often enough, you'll get used to it... Like firelizards, right?" Although that was more of a choice between two evils. But time to load up the bags. Giving the dragonman a smile, she hands up her satchels, murmering a "Careful! That one's heavy!"

Kryz picks up his dropped bag on the way back to the dragon where he came from. He pauses to help Lies up onto it's back before climbing on himself with a bit of help from the rider. (who's name is unknown)

Liesana slides off the dragon almost before the beast's landed, nodding at his rider to toss the bags down to her. Excited to be home? Just a little... "C'mon Kryz... Aunt Rilna should be somewhere around here!" Scanning the area turns up no sign of the woman. "Either that, or she's in the stable..." Most likely.

Kryz glances around a bit nervously. He's heard short but to the point descriptions to what Lies's Aunt's like. He follows behind her quietly as he looks around wide eyed. Definatly a different surrounding then he's used to. He takes another second to scan the scenery before takign off after Liesana to the stables.

You enter into the stables...what did you just step in?

The smell of runners fills this huge room. The shock of the smell, stops you for just a second.

Kryz comes into the stables in search of a runner.

Rilna is standing in the aisleway, picking out the hooves of a rather evil-tempered old gelding. Therefore the first glimpse the newly-arrived harpers get of her is her butt poking in the air while she murmurs soothingly to the beast.

Kryz quickly pulls the hat back over his oddly colored hair trying to hide every last piece and failing. A first impression should always be a good one. He remains silent as he follows Lies in and scans the woman in frount of them.

Liesana, quite at home with her aunt's attention to work before play, seems not dismayed at all to see her busy at work. Sidling over to the gelding, she lays a hand on his hindquarters, and bends over to chat with her aunt through the beast's back legs. Gee, now Kryz gets to stare at /two/ backsides. Unless he feels like coming over and chatting himself. "Figured you'd be busy in here, aunt of mine! Brought Kryz along with me as promised."

Kryz doesn't move, just stands there staring... until Lies steps in the way that is. He watches as she bends over and turns a bright shade of red before glacing at the ground. No need getting caught staring at Lies like that with her aunt around.

Rilna chuckles happily. "Liesana! Good to see you, girl! And good to see you still know how to approach a beast... wouldn't want to hear you've been slacking off at the Harpers. And Kryz? Let's have a look at him." Meanwhile, she's been picking out the remaining hooves, and, straightening, puts the runner away in his stall before turning to eye Kryz like she'd look at a runner for sale. Apparently he passes inspection. Although /what/ does the dear girl see in that /hair/?!? "Journeyman Kryz? I'm Rilna. Liesana's told me so much about you," Pause. "and your work, that I thought I might have a look at your talents myself. Come, I'll show you to my room, and you can leave your bags, and then we can head to the Post for something adult and refreshing, eh?"

Liesana rolls her eyes at her aunt, then leans over to give her a quick hug, and a peck on the cheek. About the maximum amount of public affection Rilna will tolerate. "You're incorrigible, you know that? But we'll be right behind you."

Rilna walks briskly to the Beasthold.

Kryz looks up at Rilna with a nervous smile. Why's he so nervous? It's not like Lies and him are a 'couple' but still he has a slight fear of doing something wrong. He nods slightly as Rilna offers for thme ot follow. He stays quiet, not knowing what to say, and leave Lies do the talking for now.

You go to the Beasthold.

Rilna bustles in through the doorway, removing a lounging green firelizard from one chair, and an old bridle from the other, before beckoning to the two young people to have a seat. "There now, sit yourselves down... You must be exhausted. And I know flitting about a-dragonback always leaves a body chilled, so you two sit a while, and we'll have some klah and catch up, eh?" She then significantly bustles off to some side alcove, leaving the two Harpers alone while she eavesdrops.

Kryz glances around nervously still, as he watches Rilna leave. He lets out a slight sigh then whispers, "I'm sorry. I suppose I should /talk/, huh?"

Liesana arches an eyebrow as Rilna bustles away. She's seen this trick before. Many times. Many many times. Then she shoots Kryz a reassuring grin. "Don't worry, she's always like this. But she's really an old softy underneath all the bustling. Even if she /is/ an inveterate meddler!" The last said full-voice for the benefit of her listening aunt.

Rilna returns, bearing a kettle full of klah bark and water, which she sets on the hearth with a look of innocence. "Oh come now, dear girl... surely it can't be meddling to want to make sure that my favourite niece is happy? Why, you're almost like a daughter to me." Pulling up a settee, she perches, birdlike despite her years, and focuses on Kryz. "So. Journeyman Kryz." she pronounces, rolling the name off her tongue. "Tell me about yourself." Command given, she settles back to listen.

"Um...," oh, no! Shuttering is bad. "Well... I live up at High Reaches now. Well...it's not permanent..but....um... what do you want me to tell you?" Kryz says turning a bit red. "I'm not very good at talking about myself."

Liesana eyes Kryz sympathetically, then leans over to poke her aunt playfully on the shoulder. "Good Faranth, aunt, you're scaring the poor guy. He's not a stablehand, you know..." Definitely not a stablehand. "Better get him un-nervous, or he might still be shaking when you ask him to paint you." A playful head-shake. "Bad idea to scare your portraitist."

Rilna chuckles, and stands from her settee to poke at the boiling klah. "Ah, Lies-girl, I've missed you. Hardly a body here that'll talk back to me." Except for her boss. And it's generally a bad idea to make one's boss talk back to you, so she takes it easy there, "And don't worry lad, my bark is far worse than my bite, as Liesana will assure you. So." A more modulated tone. "Why don't you tell me about... What your apprentice days were like?"

Kryz grimaces but quickly hides the face. "Um....busy?" yes, they were busy and that's the only good thing he can probably say about it other then 'I got into a lot of mischief with your niece and made myself sick daily', which he happily leaves out."

Liesana steps in to Kryz's rescue. See, she knows that Rilna is no ordinary aunt. She's a Lies-relative, and appreciates the value of a good prank. She winks at Kryz, and launches into a humerous overview of their appy-hood. "Oh, we were busy. We were unholy terrors. Remember all those letters you got? I wasn't exaggerating in the /least/."

Kryz shoots a glance at Lies that bascally says 'what are you doing?' before he shoots a quick nervous smile at Rilna.

Rilna chuckles loudly, and leans over to clap Kryz on the shoulder! "Ha-HA!!! So you were the one that Liesana kept sneaking off adventuring with! Heh! Don't look like you have it in you, but I guess you'll do, at that." A pleased nod. "Aye, you'll do. And were you the one that always had girls chasing after him, too?" See, Kryz is in Rilna's good books now, as someone with a spark of life to him. Be happy.

Kryz turns a bright shade of red. "Not always!" he blurts out. "and it's not like I asked them to....," Ok....he was nervous, for a reason. This looks like it's going to get very embarassing...as if it already hasn't. He quickly glances to the ground realizing his slight outburst and grows silent once again.

Liesana eyes Kryz with a smile, and sits back in her chair with her arms crossed and a pleased look reading 'See? I told you so' And then she gets up to pour out the klah, which is piping in the kettle. She hands a mug to each of the others, and then sits down to nurse her own. "Don't worry, Kryz. This is what Aunt Rilna does when she likes people... takes a little getting used to, I know, but you're in good hands now. Do whatever you like, and you'll still have her on your side. Right, Aunt?" Hint hint. Ease back and be nice to my friend/boyfriend/whatever.

Rilna takes the hint, and settles down, lowering her voice by several dozen decibels, and nursing her klah, nodding intelligently as if Kryz were the most eloquent speaker on Pern. "Hmm, interesting. So, we've briefly covered your apprentice days, why don't you tell me a little about Art... that's something I've never had much time to study out." Art is a nice, safe, topic, right Liesana?

Kryz takes the klah and takes a seat next to Lies.... but no too close. "Well what about it? I heard you wanted some portraits done. That's why I'm here, right?" he asks with a slight smile as he beigns to calm a bit.

Liesana sits, smiles, and drinks her klah, keeping her spot, and not edging towards Kryz. Don't want to feed Rilna's already fertile imagination, do we? Presiding over the group in benevolent silence seems like a good option right now, since Kryz is handling her aunt quite nicely now. Or is her aunt handling /him/? Who knows. Faranth, but this klah is good.

Rilna waves her left hand in gestures as she talks, right wrapped firmly around her mug. "Well, I know you do portraits, and I know you do good ones. I want to know /why/? What do you like about doing them... Want to know a little bit about the painter, before I become the painted." she jokes - quietly.

Kryz goes to run a hand through his hair and stops as he hits the hat. Oops, forgot that was there... He lowers his hand again as he continues to stutter, "Well, I always wanted to be an artist. I just... I had a talent for it and I enjoyed it. I dunno. Makes me happy, as stupid and sappy as that may sound. Why make a living outta anything other then what you love?" he grows quiet again shooting a glance at Liesana then back to his klah.

Rilna nods at that, and politely ignores the business with the hat. "Sage thinking, that. Most young whelps your age haven't a clue about how things like that work. Although," she muses. "You'd have to be sharper than most to keep up with my niece here." A pointed look at Liesana. Plainly she's not going to find much better than this... hurry up and grab him! Ah, match-making, where would we be without it? Finishing her own mug of klah, the stablemistress is restless again. "Well! What say we go to the Hitching Post now... show you a little more of the Hold." To Rilna, there are really only four rooms to Keroon: The stables, the tavern, the baths, and here.

Kryz looks at Lies and mouths 'The hitching post?' then turns to Rilna. "Um... yeah, seeing more of the hold would be nice."

Liesana chuckles, and explains to Kryz. "The Hitching Post is the equivalent of the Flying Mug... but with a decidedly runner-ish flavour. And I haven't seen it in it's latest form, which is supposedly pretty impressive." She stands, and knocks back the last of her klah. "So shall we? I'll see if I can remember the way."

Looking a bit more relieved after that explaination, Kryz stands and follows the ladies to the "hitching post."

You walk through the doorway.

Kryz is led in by Liesana.

Rilna walks briskly in from the Dining Hall.

Liesana eyes the room happily, taking in the improvements with approval. "Nice... Not the old place I knew, but... nice." Especially that rack of liquor. "So who's in charge here now?" she inquires, settling at a table.

Rilna ponders. "Well, Arora was in charge for a while, but it's reverted back to your cousin Saebra, I think."

Kryz walks in glancing around and follows the two who know where they're going. Aunt so and so....cousin so and so.... he's so lost right now he just keeps quiet and follows mindlessly.

Liesana chuckles at Kryz, and beckons over a drudge. "Two glasses of Benden white and..." Eyeing Rilna. "Peach brandy, unless I miss my guess." A grin at Kryz. "The Benden's the same here as everywhere."

Rilna snorts. "Benden's Benden is better then the Benden you'll find elsewhere... But I see your point. Don't worry lad, you'll settle in just fine in a couple of days."

Kryz shifts in his chair a bit. He glances around, then reaches up finally pulling the hat from his head and running a quick hand through the brightly colored hair to tame it. "So...," he starts, his eyes shifting from one to the other. "when am I going to get the full tour?" he asks trying to create /safe/ conversation.

Liesana grins, and takes the tray of drinks from the curious server, shoo-ing him off with a wave. "Oh, I think we can arrange that tommorrow or so... If you're busy, Aunt Rilna, I think I can manage to avoid getting lost." She knows perfectly well that any tour of Rilna's devising will focus on the most romantic spots of Keroon's geography.

Rilna shakes her head. This one's too wise to her ploys. "And you /had/ to pick the day when I'm giving the runners the Turn's End review, didn't you." she comments, mock-petulantly. "But I suppose you kids can take care of yourselves for a /few/ hours at least." And then she'll be back to following them, like a farmcrafter watching young chickens.

Kryz nods, "I think Lies knows her way around... at least she acts like she does. And I'm sure I can keep her outta trouble for a little while," he jokes with a slight grin. "I'd just like to see the area before I get started on any real business," he explains to the two.

Rilna nods. "A sensible idea. Might as well see what else is at Keroon besides me. And if you want to take a longer tour, I'll be happy to loan you a couple of the stables' runnerbeasts for a day trip." This with the air of conferring a great favour. She naturally assumes the Kryz knows how to ride. "I'll even let you take Backdraft out, Liesana. Assuming you've kept up your skills."

Liesana chuckles, and decides to keep Kryz's horsemanship (runnermanship?) skills to herself. "Of course I have! Have you ever known me to be far from where the beasts are? And I think I may take a picnic lunch out... Is Sola still chef around here?" Yet another cousin.

Kryz makes a face at the mention of runners, but Lies quickly distracts any attention with him by the topic change. Back to people he doesn't know. This is going to be very confusing til he can get a handle on who's who....

Ah but it's all part of the fun of remniscing. Confusing outsiders is the /real/ game. Rilna shakes her head, and sips at her peach brandy. "No... Sola moved herself, and the rest of her entourage, off to Seacliffs some months back. So you're probably closer to her than I. Although since you're a blood relative of her, I'm surprised you didn't know yourself." Young people these days... never keeping track of their extended families. Harrumph. "But Raetar is still around, works for me in the Stables now. Good lad, when you can find him."

Liesana takes pity on Kryz's confusion, and explains the family ties. "Sola is my cousin through my mother. Her father is my uncle. Saebra is another cousin on my mother's side, and Raetar is her younger brother." She takes a sip of her wine and a deep breath, then continues the litany. "Rilna is my aunt through my father, and My Uncle Lian is off in Telgar, has no use for Harpers, and several fat, ugly cousins of mine. And as you know already, Oli and Kierna are my second cousins." Whew!

Rilna listens to the recitation, and comments mildly that "You forgot T'rell, and his branch of the family." Then she returns to sipping at her brandy.

Kryz looks totally lost... which is in fact what he is. "Oh..... um... ok. Am I going to be tested on that?" he asks sounding as though he really meant that.

Liesana chuckles, and shakes her head. Normally she'd give him a friendly hug around the shoulders but... Rilna's watching. "Of course not. But at some point you /may/ meet these people, so at least learn the names, and that they're somehow related to me." A teasing grin. "I told you this was my /home/. Bet I'd probably be just as lost if you took me back to your people."

Kryz shrugs slightly. "Well.... you know Anjula," he says with a slight smile. "There's not many more to know." He takes a sip of his Benten then adds, "but I'll try and keep them all straight... though I'm aweful with names."

Rilna shakes her head. "You young things... leave the interconnection of relatives to us older ones. We've got the time to think of it." Not quite true, in her case, but it sounds good. "You just worry about not getting lost on your excusion tomorrow. And don't forget to show him the waterfall. Were it summer, I'd tell you to take him swimming."

Liesana hides a mental rolling of eyes. Oh yes, she certainly knows Anjula. Whether or not the two women will ever be good friends, she'll not drive drive a wedge between Anjula and Kryz. Like that's possible. A visible rolling of eyes at Rilna's suggestion. "What? Lover's Look isn't as good as it used to be?"

Kryz turns a bit pink as he quickly hides his face by taking another sip of wine. No...not back on the topic of 'romance'. Anything but that...... Especially since he and Lies never /really/ sorted out their feelings.

Rilna can take a hint if it's made blindingly obvious. Between Liesana's out-of-character shortness, and the lovely rose tones of Kryz, she can see that her plan is suceeding. It'll be all /her/ doing if they actually ever end up together, see. Therefore she delicately backs off. Or something. "Oh, you kids! Can't an old lady have her fun?"

Liesana ignores Rilna in favour of Kryz. "My best friend, will you make me a solemn promise?" she intones portentiously. "If I /ever/ descend to the level of a match-maker, would you please have me killed?" A saucy look at Rilna. Mwahhhh!

Kryz mumbles, "Gladly," from behind the cup, not wanting to draw any more attention then that to himself.

Rilna shakes her head. "Well, I've got to go see that the runners have been tucked in for the night." She drains the last of her brandy, and stands, heading for the door. "You two kids behave yourselves, and I think you know the way back to my apartments. If they get too crowded, I'm sure you could see if the Hold Harper has any room to spare." But then she wouldn't get to keep an eye on them...

Kryz sets his glass down. "It was a pleasure meeting you," he calls out, trying to be polite but at the same time wondering if staying in her room's really a good idea. He too is thinking about being watched, just not taking it the same way as Rilna is.

Liesana waves a hand, then hops up from her chair to give her aunt another peck on the cheek. "G'night, aunt of mine. Don't let the stablehands get too lazy" A standing joke, apparently.

Rilna walks briskly to the Dining Hall.

Liesana eyes Kryz with barely-suppressed merriment. "So, what do you think of my aunt?" Loaded question, that. She picks up her wineglass, and rolls the stem through her fingers.

Kryz ponders before talking, "She's......nice. Bold...... blunt.... to the point... Lies, I don't think I can last a full day here," he says all very calmly before glancing back up at her. "She was trying her hardest to embarass me... and it was working."

Liesana blinks. "Aunt Rilna trying to embarass you?" A headshake. "Well, if it's any comfort, she wasn't doing it on purpose. It's just her way. Raised a Herder, lived with Traders... kind of leaves a few areas where tact is lacking" A chuckle. "Guess we're too used to living at Harper, eh? And as for lasting a full day, you'll do just fine... She'll ease off once she remembers that I'm as stubborn as she, and resent any attempts to meddle in my personal affairs. /Your/ personal life won't be of interest to her."

Kryz lets out a sigh, "well it sure seemed like it was...," he mutters not adding anything along the lines about what might be 'their' personal life. "So, anyway... where am I staying? That trip really drained me."

Liesana chuckles. "I thought /you/ had arranged it?" she inquires. "Oh, I don't know. Rilna's got alcoves coming off her place, and she's always got spare cots." Thinking back to her room at the Hall, she chuckles again. "Something I learned from her. So I suppose you could stay there a night until we can find guest quarters for you. Unless you're uncomfortable being under her watchful eye, and then we can stick you in one of the spare stalls... quite a lot of fun, that, actually." Although there's one big difference between Kryz and Lies. She /likes/ runnerbeasts.

Kryz finishes his wine and says, "No, I don't mind staying there." Not like there's anything to watch with this boy when it comes to making moves. "but I do forget the way back," he adds.

No not really. And that's one of the nice things about him. A smile from Liesana. "Well, if you're happy, I'm happy. And unlike Lionel, I think I can trust you. So if you're done, I'll lead the way back. Want to make an early start on our tour tomorrow if we hope to dodge the dear lady. I /will/ show you Lover's Look, but only because it's on the way to the river."

Kryz smiles slightly once again turning a tad pink. "Where ever," he says and quickly stands.

You step through a doorway into Rilna's Residence. Don't forget to wipe your feet!

Kryz comes in from the hallway.

Liesana eyes the room, amber gaze finally coming to rest on the alcove with the twin, kiddie-sized beds. A quiet harrumph, so as not to disturb the sleeping Rilna. "You know... those beds seemed a lot /longer/ when I was a kid..." Ah well, here is where petite comes in handy. One hopes.

Kryz lets out a slight chuckle as he looks over the beds. "Wow.... I'm going to have a fun night," he whispers. "Wish I were a bit shorter at times like these."

Liesana chuckles, and pulls her satchels up onto one of the little cots, rummaging through it, and pulling out a nightgown. "There's a curtained-off area over there that's useful for changing, she comments, heading off to the little toilette area with nightgown and hairbrush in hand. "G'night, Kryz."

"Night," Kryz says before digging through his own bag as she leaves.

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