Old Friends [Dance/Kaya]

[Kaya]

She smelled tea. Her senses might not be what they used to, but Kaya very distinctly smelled tea. But that wasn't all. It smelled wonderful. The old Rider in her nineties walked very slowly into the weyr, walking aid and all. She had some kick left in her, but just a little. Her mind had cleared as her body failed her. She knew she was old, but she still had Nai. And the knowledge that her children were grown and had children and grandchildren, and she had gotten to know a great many of them. This age belonged to a different breed, but they were her Pernese folk all the same.

Her firelizards had the decency not to rush ahead. They had waited and with Kaya near the table the little fair of three took wing and glided to meet Nai's two.

"Hello old friend," Kaya called into the weyr, taking stock of the table and Nai who sat there. Things done in a regulated way, but just a bit frayed on the edges. Like those papers. Like the dinner, cooked well and well presented but just a little off center. Like her friend, who had earned retirement and never felt comfortable in it. "Looks good," she said, reaching for one of the cups, taking a tentative sip, and putting it back down with a little shake. She thanked Faranth that it didn't spill all over the-

Her eyes were pulled to the papers again. She had seen Kayleth's name written enough times to know what they were. Zaurth's name would be next to it, and name after name of good Rider, some living, some long gone, on that list. The dull ache that was left of her grief for her weyrmate throbbed and the old, silver haired woman moved to take a seat. Once seated, grounded, she found her feeble smile again. She and T'ren had had a long life together, full of ups and downs,...but mostly ups. They had two wonderful children, and grandchildren, and great grandchilren even. And moreover, she should be happy and take pride in having helped make the world safe for them. Not perfect, but better. It was their inheritance. And as for her, well, at times she heard her weyrmate in the strange time between waking and sleeping. And she had a private hope that soon, when it was right, they would be together again and fly lazily around the places they loved.

"What are you up to?" she asked, indicating the papers with her head, considering their private dinner. Not that she much liked eating in the dining hall any more. Too crowded, noisy.

[Kaya]

"No legacy, tut," Kaya murmured as Nai spoke. She strongly disagreed with her friend in that regard. Her name was in the songs now just as hers. But the real fame, she saw in the faces of the weyrbrats. They loved the stories, of heroes and villains, struggle and triumph, the victories seized by an inch, not a mile. And Nai was in those stories, or some of them. She'd seen too many small fingers point curiously at her to think otherwise.

"You're too old for regrets, friend." Little replies to Nai's statements, trailing after. Kind of like the war times no doubt her friend was thinking of. For as well as she believed she lead her Weyr, she was no battle sharp mind. "I spent a good portion of time raising my kids and I still wish I'd had more for them." Kaya sipped her tea and watched Nai. She picked at the food, which was very good, but there was no way on Pern she could finish the generous helping Nai had served.

Did I ever tell you,

She lifted her head from the food and set her utensils down. Another letter? The memory, the packet of papers on her desk that had suddenly appeared, Turns and Turns ago. In the midst of the post war days, things still tense, trying to settle. Reports and roguewings and a sad bit of longing for the past that Nai had physically gone to visit. But love? As more than a friend.

In reflex, a roaring laugh burst from the old woman. "ME?" she exclaimed, the laughter rolling out into the air, with a strength that surprised her. The thought occurred to her too late that perhaps it was rude to laugh. It had simply struck her funny bone, and while she tried to control her laughter it took her a moment to get down to an intermittent chuckle. "I didn't know I was that attractive," the elder Kaya continued to tease, images of her younger self manifesting in her thoughts. "Ah, but I suppose I should be flattered. And not laugh." She couldn't help laughing at the end of that sentence. "You've trusted me with a lot over the Turns. I wouldn't want that to change. You're the best friend I got that lives here with me. And I do prefer eating with company. My family's well and good. Tyra's finally lost her itchy foot, I think, she's been at Fort Weyr for a long time now. And then K'ryn, you know he fell in love with that woman from High Reaches. Could never have seen the boy moving up there otherwise. His girls are fine, and their kids are grown, got myself a great grand baby now and another one on the way." Kaya chuckled. "If you're feeling you missed out on the madness that is children I could take you to visit them. You don't get cold anywhere."