Journeywoman Annalysa of

Ista Weyr

 

26th day of Spring, Nineteenth Turn of the Tenth Pass, BakerCraft Hall

Part One

Kaetetrini clutches at her cloak, she is obviously muchly overdressed for such a warm climate. But she shivers a bit, and her cheeks are a bright red, as her dark blue eyes roam around, without her head moving, "Journeywoman Annalysa?" she asks in a very soft voice, her mouth a tight line, and her breath coming much faster than it should.

Annalysa stands in the cool spring air and watches as the head cook dismounts and enters the weyr properly. She smiles and nods to the Blue that conveyed her here and turns a stately smile to Trini, a amused glint in her eyes. Rumor has it.. This cook isn't exactly right in the head, but very good at cooking.. and, that is just probably why they keep her around. Her hands are buried against her hips as she waits, a small blue flit digging its nuzzle against her cheek at the fear of a new person. Annly just laughs at the little blue and takes a step forward. "Welcome to Ista Weyr.. I do hope your trip was uneventful." She extends her hand, waiting for Trini's acknowledgement.

Kaetetrini takes the hand as if it's a life preserver and she's drowning the ocean, "It was, it was," she nods, her curls bouncing against her face. "Thankee very much fer havin' me," she goes on, her voice high-pitched and quick, her cheeks still very flushed.

Annalysa peers at Trini carefully and grasps her hand firmly, trying to test her condition right now. Her lips curl around her words as she forms them in her mouth, the glint in those expressive emerald orbs turning into a look of concern and compassion. "Are you well? did ::Between: take too much out of you?" She tugs gently on the woman's hand as she leads the two of them through the weyr's bowls and back to where its warmer for the poor girl.

Kaetetrini fails to answer, oh look at all the dragons, and look at all the riders....they're everywhere. She thought Keroon would give her some respite for it, but it doesn't seem to have helped any. She nods, not stupid enough to take the kind excuse put forth her way, and allows herself to be lead by the Head Cook holding her hand.

Annalysa skips happily to the Southeastern Bowl.

You go to the Southeastern Bowl.

Southeastern Bowl

This area of the bowl is the highest point of the bowl floor; from here, it slopes down and to the northwest, spilling out to the plateau below the wide gap in the Weyr rim to the west. Various tunnels here lead into the Weyr's inner caverns; the living caverns, hatching grounds, and main Weyr tunnel all branch off from here. To the west lie the stables where the Weyr's runners are housed. There is also a stone stairway that leads up to the Weyrleader's weyrs.
It is a spring late night.
Brown Morath, brown Malagath, green Zoryanth, and brown Pilloeth are here.
You see Morath's Firestone Sack here.

Annalysa is here.

Obvious exits: Hatching Cavern Central Bowl Weyr Tunnel Living Caverns

Annalysa nods to the girl and continues to lead towards the warm light escaping from the entrance to the living caverns of the Weyr. They are many dragons stationed outside the entrance, all sleeping happily in the spring air. she pulls Trini through the bowl and talks quietly as they go. "Most here call me Annly.. I doubt they would even be able to tell you who Journeywoman Annalysa is. You.. am I to assume are Kaetetrini? Head Cook of Keroon? I do think I\rquote ve seen you around a couple times."

Kaetetrini shakes her head, "Nay," she replies, her voice very high and very quiet, "Head Cook a'Tillek," she corrects. "I've ne'er been t'th'weyr, but I was posted a'Paradise fer two turn...." her voice trails off as she literally slides up the Annly so there's only a marks width between them. Oh! Dragons! Dragons everywhere! And they're larger than runners! And meaner looking! And /riders/ and Trini knows very well what riders do when they are flying Thread.

Annalysa skips happily to the Living Caverns.

You go into the living cavern.

Living Cavern
The smooth, rounded walls of the vast living cavern sweep upward from an oval base, two dragonlengths long and one wide, large enough to seat every member of the Weyr at mealtimes. The soft blackness of the lava which forms these caverns swallows glowlight, so shelves for glowbaskets abound, dotting the walls every three or four paces and casting gentle greenish light up toward the sparkles of gold volcanic glass embedded in the ceiling. Ancient lustrous tables run along the long axis of the cavern, and at the far end is the raised dais and high table, where the Weyrleaders and their honored guests eat during formal occasions. Behind the high table, the Weyr's symbol is chiseled into the stone: a smoking mountain in black, on an orange shield, trimmed in gold.
Perched near the food are nine firelizards.

Annalysa is here.

Obvious exits: Northeast Caverns Kitchens Bowl Southern Caverns

Annalysa yanks her heartily as they enter the glow filled room. She stops, turns and with wide green eyes, lets out a laugh. Her baby blue flitter peers at her and leaps off her shoulder and scuttles back to the kitchens, drawing his arrogant brother with him. "You!" She laughs. "You\rquote re afraid of Dragons?" She smiles and slaps her thigh, the clothing around the thin girl shifting a bit as grows life like for a few seconds, dancing with its wearer's glee. "Don't .. they would hurt a crawler.. Anyway. How about we get what you came for, so you can return to Tillek .. and alleviate your worries."

Kaetetrini lets go of Annly at her laughing, moving her heavy cloak to her back, to reveal the rucksack hanging from the small woman's back. Her cheeks turn the color of redfruits, /never/ being the brunt of such talk back home, she has no idea how to deal with it, much less with being laughed at. "Aye," she says with a hard swallow, though whether it's to the comment on dragons or on returning home, it's difficult to tell. And it isn't the dragons she worried about so much as the people who ride them......She takes in a deep breath to fight back tears of fear and embarrassment, and straightens her shoulders, ready to follow Annly, without her hand in hers, to the kitchens.

And.. just as quick as it takes the tears to well up in Trini\rquote s eyes, Annly's mood changes. It always does. "Hush" She speaks soothingly as she places a arm about the girl.. that seems just about her age. "I.. I didn't mean to offend you. I just get so used to dealing with some pretty harsh characters.... that's no excuse." She sighs, and her own shoulder sag as she looks defeated. "Please.. forgive my rudeness." Annly can probably sense that there is something a but hurt about her fears.. but doesn't delve into it, after being so insensitive before. She simply exerts a little push upon Trini's shoulders and guides her to the kitchens... so she can start doing something with her hands... and perhaps forget exactly how far Annly stuck her foot in her mouth.
Annalysa skips happily to the Kitchens.

You go to the Kitchen.

Kitchen
The kitchens, smaller than the living cavern, also feature rounded igneous walls, inset with gold specks of volcanic glass, although the gold seems far less deliberate here, more patchy and irregular. This seems like a natural lava tube, leading into the living cavern and dead-ending after a sharp turn to one side. Broad, scarred tables fill this area along with chopping blocks, dented copper pots, and a row of huge sinks, dug by ingenious method into the rock itself, draining to some unknown point and fed by clear cool water, perhaps from the same source as the artificial waterfall outside.
Gliding about are Cozano and Etera.
You see Annly's Away from it All, klah, Dead Tunnelsnake, Redfruit, and Meatrolls here.

Annalysa is here.

Obvious exits: Living Caverns

Kaetetrini allows herself to be lead in, and if she hasn't been laughed at before, probably wouldn't be looking at the floor, but since she is, sees a---what is that? She takes in a slow breath before letting out a shriek, sounding like a gale in the wind of shipsail, oh /why/ on Pern did she come here!!!!

Cozano peers as the new human enters his human's domain and squawks loudly.. hoping that Trini can see exactly how beautiful he is..

Huge Tunnelsnake walks in from the Living Cavern.

Huge Tunnelsnake
Fangs dripping with venom, this 'snake is larger than many, its hide darkened with age. Faint diamond patterns adorn the tough hide, the survivor of many years of hunting. Muscles ripple 'neath said hide, powerful enough to take down a strong man.
The Huge Tunnelsnake looks to be at nearly full strength.

Huge Tunnelsnake hisses in anger at those taking away its food supply.

Baraki feints towards the tunnelsnake and is rewarded by a menacing hiss.

Annalysa backs against the wall.. scrabbling to find whatever kitchen knife she can.. swallowing hard as she tries to face the thing down. "Kaetetrini.. get away from that thing..."

If one could climb walls, Trini would be doing it now. She backs up into Annly's arm, still screaming like a hungry baby. What a /horrible/ place this is, what a horrible place--dragons, and dragonriders, and rude cooks and tunnelsnakes, what kind of kitchen is this! Trini doesn't move, but stops screaming and starts crying, brining one hand to her face, as the tears start to fall....

Huge Tunnelsnake, startled by the shrieks, coils up slightly, tensing its long body.

C'ran wriggles on his way, shake it groove thang, shake it groove thang, yeah yeah in from the Living Cavern.

Annalysa clenches her jaw tightly as she holds Trini at bay.. not close enough to hinder Annly's movements. but far enough to be away from the tunnelsnake. She holds the knife up.. and just hopes upon the great egg that someone will come.. before she has to make a visit to the infirmary.

Huge Tunnelsnake recoils from the entrance, huddling in a corner, fangs clearly visible, venom and all.

C'ran strides into the kitchen with a look about "Hello? I know I'm a bit late but the stewpot is usually filled? Everything..." he pauses, taking in the scene, at least part of it "Yes well I know I can find my own stew then, no need to pull a knife."

Kaetetrini is shaking like a leaf in the wind, wailing like the wind in the leaves and oh by Faranth it's a /dragonrider/!!!!!! She stops her crying and stares at C'ran like he's made of onyx or some other such gem, her heart in her mouth having stopped.

Baraki shrieks at the 'rider, who is somewhat familiar. Swooping towards the 'snake, he shrieks once more.

Annalysa narrows her eyes at C'ran and releases her jaw as she replies, her voice gruff and annoyed. "There is a very.. very. LARGE tunnelsnake in the corner... I'm not pulling a knife on you" Her eyes immediately flicker to Trini. "What.. you stopped screaming? Thank Faranth for small miracles."

C'ran peers around the corner, blinks for a moment "hmmm, yes that is a tunnel snake, good to know that you aren't pulling a knife on me. Does that mean that I can ask for stew? I'll get rid of that thing for you if it involves dinner?" riders... always thinking with their stomachs.

Huge Tunnelsnake snaps at the flashing steel in Annly's hand, darting forward and back like lightning.

Kaetetrini's mouth drops behind her hand as she continues staring at the rider, her dark blue eyes wide with...what it is? Difficult to tell. Rosy cheeks glow from her pale face, tear streaked and wet. She is still in Keroon, she must be. She's having a nightmare because she's homesick and anxious. Yes. And this is all just a bad dream, because this couldn't happen to her in reality.

Annalysa lifts her eyes to settle upon C'ran evenly.. not entirely happy with the girl hanging on her.. and the rider's humor. "C'ran.. get me outta this..and you can ask for anything." She shouts in dismay as the tunnelsnake strikes at her. She slams back hard against the wall in her attempt to avoid the beast and nearly loses her grip on the knife. She is now visibly shaken and pale white.

Huge Tunnelsnake hisses with fury, toeclaws tapping the ground.

C'ran scratches his chin thoughtfully "Hmmm, do you have a large stick or something lying about? A pole? Preferably a long one? Easiest way, if I remember my weyrling days correctly, is to bash it?" he smiles, raising an eyebrow and waiting for an answer to his request, the very picture on nonchalance.

Huge Tunnelsnake darts towards the man, toeclaws clicking and jaws wide.

Kaetetrini seems to snap out of her reverie, bash it, that's it, you bash them! She drops her rucksack, grabs a--rolling pin, and advances on the tunnelsnake in a rush, letting out another scream as she whops it on the head, her heavy cloak flying behind her with the thrust.

Annalysa spies the tunnelsnake look away and throws the knife at the beast as fast as she can.. with out aiming too hard.

C'ran jumps back agilely enough, though perhaps too close a call for comfort. Leathers have other uses as well though. His eyes widen in surprise as lips slide into a grin at the same time "Well then, you've stolen my thunder. How am I too look heroic if you go and save the day? Still... all in all that was a wonderful job." okay, so perhaps the knife clattered a bit to close to him, but no need to acknowledge that.

Huge Tunnelsnake twists into a hurt knot. Knives being thrown, rolling pins... it's getting too much for it. It turns tail and retreats into a hole in the wall, barely squeezing through.

Kaetetrini drops her rolling pin, this place is full of crazy people, throwing knives, tunnelsnakes in the kitchen. Her hands come up to her chest, and she starts screaming in full again, her whole body shaking in great heaves, as she takes in grand breaths to let out a shrieks that would raise the dead from sea.

Annalysa cringes as Kaetetrini begins shrieking again and looks to C'ran. Her hands are shaking and her face is pale as she places a smile back on her face and wipes her hands on her skirt..." And.. " She swallows hard. "You.. you wanted stew?" she manages to get the words out as she kneels down to try and comfort Trini.. some how out of breath.

C'ran mms and raises an eyebrow "Well yes I did, but it seems your friend needs a bit of help." he sinks into a kneeling position next to the woman, putting an arm around her shoulder "Now then... you've done a wonderful job and its gone, really there's no need to keep on so."

Kaetetrini stops her screaming as she feels someone touching her and crumples into C'ran's shoulder, her body still shaking from sobs of fear. She has to report this to Martin, this /can't/ be acceptable behavior. /How/ did a blooming tunnelsnake get in a kitchen in the first place---and a dragonrider is in here--wait....what happened to the dragonrider...oh /dear/!

Annalysa shakes her head and talks quietly to C'ran. "well.. She was initially not very happy to be here, because she is afraid of dragons... but I just think the tunnelsnake was too much for her. I don't know what to do? How.. in Faranth's name did that thing get in here?" She sighs.. and looks exhausted as she shakes Trini's shoulders. "Come on girl.. get a hold of yourself. Nothing is going to hurt you."

C'ran shrugs a bit "My guess would be it got in through the same whole it left... Even the weyrlings can't get them all you know?"

"But.. you'd think they'd be able to spot the big ones?" She stands.. and walks over to one of the sinks.. and scoops up a large bucket of water, then walls back over to Trini's side.. and waits for C'ran to back away from her.

Nothing is going to hurt her?! Trini has a great urge to cry out, I want to go home! but manages to restrain herself, and quiets her cries some, but remains buried in the shoulder that so conveniently showed up by her face. It smells of leather and some sort of spice that she can't recognize, she'll have to ask about that. But, she finally gets a hold of herself (and needs to take a clear breath, as leather is not all conducive to breathing), and leans forward, gazing at the dragonrider again, oh my, oh my, he's like, right /next/ to her!

C'ran rolls his eyes at the girl "Now now, that won't be necessary." he waves the bucket away "You'll be alright then won't you? Its completely gone." he is, so far, unaware of any problems there might be with his presence.

Annalysa nods to C'ran and walks to the sink again.. draining the bucket and setting it on the floor. she wipes her hands on her apron, then wipes her face with her hands before turning back to look at the two of them. she swallows hard.. and moves about the kitchen, grabbing three goblets.. and a skin of spiced wine. She sets the objects on the table heavily and sighs.. waiting for some one to say something.

Kaetetrini glances over to where the tunnel snake had been, and then turns her dark blue eyes back to C'ran, without a word of agreement or protest. He's not dressed in anything, he's painted black, she's convinced. And this is /nothing/ like the stories her mother filled her head with.

Tamisha walks slowly peering round corners in from the Living Cavern.

Trista pads in from the Living Cavern.

Tamisha wanders on in after carefully peering round then raises an eyebrow as she sees all of the people and stops by the door.

C'ran smiles kindly "there now, you're looking at me like I've grown another head. I haven't have I?" He attempts to peer at his shoulder with pretend concern.

Annalysa shakes her head.. and sighs.. breaking the silence. "I.. I suppose we could put her in my bed." She point to the cot set up over by the fireplace hearth and nods to herself.. that sounds like a very good idea.. a good one indeed. "And then.. " She perks her ears up when she hears C'ran talking to Trini and sighs.. "and then I can get your stew." she looks up quickly at
Tamisha and studies her.. her face still stricken and pale.

C'ran shakes his head with a grin "Oh don't worry about the stew, I really can fetch it myself."

The look of shock seems to fade from Trini's face, as her gaze following past his shoulder, as she expects to see another head there. Then, suddenly, her cheeks flush the color of redfruits, "Aye," she replies in a quiet voice, and then shakes her head, "I mean, nay...." oh look, now she can't talk right either!

Trista wanders in behind Tamisha, quirking an eyebrow as this right behind her that Trista stops, peering in.

Tamisha studies Annalysa as she studies her then glances back towards Trista, "people have gotten odder here then before," she whispers though it's prolly loud enough to be heard by the others in the room not just her look alike.

Annalysa shrugs slightly and shakes her head again. "Well. I\rquote ve got nothing else to do. When Kaetetrini comes to.. I'll help her find her recipe so she can be on her way." She purses her lips and looks at the two at the door, her voice gaining some strength. "can I help you girls?"

Trista quirks eyebrow again and nodding slightly towards her sister before
smiling into the room. Let Tami do the talking... yup.. she was here first.

Tamisha shrugs slightly, "I'm Tamisha and this is my sister Trista I'm being held captive by my sister Nae the oppressor and Tris is keeping me company but we got hungry an we're told I\rquote m allowed down here." She tilts her head to one side a scowl on her face the whole time, "we were jis looking for some better food then what's out there in the living cavern."

Trista covers a giggle and pokes her sister lightly, leaning forwards to whisper in her ear. "Nae's not an oppressor." she scolds, though eyes dance at sister's coined terms. Otherwise she agrees wholly with her sister's explanation of why the two of them arrived, and shows it with a nod.

C'ran blinks at the mention of his mates name, but ignores it for the moment "No worries lass, you've had a bit of a shock, it'll all turn out right. Now then... up we go?" and a hand is offered

Kaetetrini is sheltered back home, she's not used to being insulted to her face, she's not used to being laughed at, she's not used to tunnelsnakes in the kitchens, she's not used to being spoken to so brusquely, and she isn't used to dragonriders wearing nothing up black paint on their bodies kneeling on the floor with her, she's a right to be out of it...and all of this so soon after a flight :between:, it is no wonder if her heart doesn't burst right here and now. In fact she would rather it, but, to her disappointment, it doesn't seem to have intention of doing so. Getting a bit of her wits back, she drops her gaze from C'ran's not unappealing face, and sits on her bottom on the floor, her hands coming to her throat to undo the clasp on her heavy cloak, trying to keep tears of fear and embarrassment from streaming again. So she just listens to the words around her, but obeys when given a command, and folds her legs under her, taking the proffered hand, and hoists herself up, being utterly rude, and leaving her cloak on the floor.

Annalysa eyes the two girls coolly.. her face is expressionless as she feels insulted. "and.. what's wrong with the food in the living caverns?" she turns and smiles at C'ran. "did you hear? Dear Nae's oppressing again. good for her." she turns away.. and walks over to one of her large vat style pots that's simmering with stew.. and stirs it.. dipping her finger in the mixture and tasting it.

Tamisha shrugs slightly, "food out there\rquote s cooled down some least what's supposed to be hot and some of it's got meat in it. Sides I remember back when I was staying here with Kara that the best food can always be found in the kitchen it's freshest and hasn't been quite so picked over by the riders," she makes a slight face, "sides some of them like G'rwin don't eat all that nicely."

C'ran chuckles "I've never in my life known Nae to be oppressive, and I live with her" part of the time at least. "Now then, Feeling any better? Anything I can get you?" the last is directed again towards the rather quiet woman.

Kaetetrini spares C'ran only a quickly glance before shaking her curly head, "Nay," she mutters in almost a whisper, half listening to the other conversations going on in the kitchen. She'll wait up in the morning, and this will all have been a bad dream...

Tamisha glances over at C'ran, "oh then i'm sure Tris an I\rquote ll see you lots Nae said I can't go till I come to my senses an she said that could be forever." She shrugs then adds, "an that must make you C'ran then my nieces father."

Trista nods at that as well before adding. "And I'm not leaving until she does either." Standing by her sister, right or wrong it seems. "Besides." she adds. "the food that was supposed to be cold is warm." Just to add about the warm food being cold.

Annalysa smiles at C'ran and walks back over to her cot, then looks up at Trini. "You sleep here.. I\rquote ll just tie my hammock up .. and well all be taken care of.. ok? Its too late at night to start anything now.." she starts digging in one of her bags in the corner for the hammock. Finally finding, the weary cook places the ends on the hooks she fashioned into the stone a while before her candi-hood..and beat some of the flour from her hammock.

C'ran grins and nods once "Aye, Cianae is one of mine."

Oh my, people living together and they aren't even handfasted! This is too much for the young Head Cook of Tillek, and she nods slowly, walking over to Annly, leaving her cloak and rucksack in the middle of the floor, and plopping down on Annly's cot. Yes, the morning will come and this will be a nightmare, and she'll be in Keroon with Gyllene.

27th Day of Spring, the Nineteen Turn of the Tenth Pass

Part 2

Annalysa walks in to the kitchens, still arranging her damp hair out of her face. She looks around to see that the staff has left for the night.. and all that remain are Kaetetrini and.. that one girl from last night. She smiles a bit and walks over to the cot and hammock in the corner, by the hearth and rumages through her rucksack before hearing Trini and turning to look at what she is presenting her. Her eyebrows raise and a soft smile pulls at the corners of her lips as she sees the pie. she looks up at Trini gratefully and again smiles. Now, after her long bath, she seems calmer, like she was when she woke this morning, a bit more in control of her world. She sets down her bag and starts into motion again. Smoothly she reaches for a few clean plates from the drying racks and grabs two goblets and a flaskof wine before coming to sit beside the girl and her pie. Her eyes twinkle as she takes it all in and looks up at trini with a smile. "Well.. it looks splendid. How about we have a bit of Benden Red with it?"

Tamisha blinks as she glances at the others sitting on a stool at the far side away from the others. Silently she munches on her goo certainly not bout to offer to leave, never did before after all when she lived at the weyr and came into the kitchen, why start now?

Kaetetrini opens her mouth to say something, but then stops for a moment before smiling, "Aye," she nods, "Benden Red." Not about to insult her and tell her the stuff tastes like water to her, being bred on Tillek's fine vintage. She take the knife she just set aside, and cuts into the golden crust, and expertly lifting the piece and setting on a plate. Pushing it toward Annly, she cuts herself a slice, and then places her hands in her lap, awaiting, as manners would dictate, for Annly to eat first.

Annalysa smiles at her and pours the wine while trini slices. She smiles and drinks about half her cup before setting it down, and eyeing Trini as she takes her first mouthful. She smiles as the tastes explode on her tongue, and eventually after much chewing, she swallows. "Its delicious." She laughs a tiny bit as she notes Trini's manners, wondering when the last time was that manners were used around her.

Tamisha continues to spoon more goo into her mess quite happily munching away on it her full attention on it... Well mostly anyhow.

Kaetetrini's face breaks into a childish smile, "Y'think so?" she asks in a breath, her own hands coming up, not for the pie, but for the goblet. She holds it at her chest, in a nervous manner, her dark blue eyes regarding Annly hard for her true reaction. Does she /really/ like it?

Annalysa notes the smile and feels a bit more relaxed. She takes another bite, this one a little smaller than the first, but savored a bit more loudly. She smiles at her and nods gestering perhaps a bit too flippantly to her portion of pie. "Yes.. its good.. do have some." she leans back in her chair, having eaten on the way out to the baths.. and not entirely hungry. She insteads nurses the goblet of wine, sneaking a little bit of pie between every other sip, unable to resist good food put before her.

Cozano glides to the Living Caverns.

Quietly the young red head continues to munch away on more of the oatmeal and fruit cheesy cookie dough. Tamisha's silent, ignoring or simply pretending to ignore the others.

Kaetetrini /cannot/ see flippancy, in any of it's forms, and takes her motions and 'mmm' as a compliment, downing her entire glass of wine in only a few gulps, never having been a sipper. Putting the empty goblet down and taking a fork, she daintily takes a bite of the pie, she /knows/ it'll be good, Trini doesn't cook bad food. "Wherry pie is m'favorite," she explains to Annly, and then glaces sidelongly at Tamisha, "Y'sure y'dinnae want any?"

Annalysa smiles again, and stretches her legs a bit and looks Trini over. She clears her throat and fingers the design of her goblet as she begins to speak. "I'm sorry about last night. It must have been a nightmare for you. I ask your forgiveness on.. behalf myself and the weyr. If there's anything i can do to make it up to you?" her voice trails off as she looks trini dead in the eye and waits for her to fill in her blank, and voice the one thing that can be done to rectify things... sure that there was an remedy.

Tamisha shakes her head quickly, "no way this's much better," she reply's words muffled as her mouth is well rather full of goo an gee doesn't that look so nice? It's sea food? "Don't eat wherry anyhows, t'is disgusting," she adds then goes back to her munching.

Etera glides to the Living Caverns.

Kaetetrini is quick to forgive, and had probalby already done so, long with out an apology. "Y'c'n show me yer recipe," she says, her voice high and soft, as if she talks too loud she'll break something. She blatantly ignores Tamisha's comment, as she usually does all insults, not knowing how to take them or retort to them. Her eyes meet Annly's with no wavering, smiling and showing that she honestly forgives with no rememdy needed.

Annalysa looks at her and smiles.. "Oh? er.. "she crinkles her brow as she looks her over. "Which recipe?" She looks at trini sincerely as she sips from her goblet again, vaguely remembering something from yesterday about a recipe.

Tamisha raises an eyebrow curiously as she listens to the two older bakers not saying anythin no siree no tammy. Instead she eats more goo quite happily crucnch munch chomp.

Etera blinks in from ::between::!

"Whate'er recipe y'd like fer me t'ave in m'Cookbook," is the simple answer, the Tillek Head Cook isn't too picky. "Journeywoman Nadesda gave m'-a Rib recipe, an' Journeywoman Genevieve gave m'-a recipe fer klah toast, an' Journeywoman Gyllene gave m'-a porcine dish." She smiles proudly at having gathered so much informatino on her own with no Merlenn, or Vandra or Van or Ankarlen or anyone else having followed or given it to her.

Annalysa thinks about it for a moment and scratches her knee. Her emerald eyes glaze over as she ponders exactly what she wants to go down in the hides for.. but isn't picky herself. "well.. I could share with the world exactly how to prepare tunnelsnake.. or, just hmm.. what is klah toast like?" She changes the subject as she tries to think a bit more.

Kaetetrini raises her eyebrows, "Tunnelsnake?" she oos with a smile, her accent causing her to drawl out the u, "I like tunnelsnake," and with that horrible thing last night, it must be a common dish here. "Klah toast is like a dessert," she adds, remembering her question, "w'sweetenin' on top, an' butter."
Raised eyebrow drops as young baker leans forward to listen in better. Goo is of course continued to be consumed though Tamisha eats it slower more interested in listening in then the needs of her stomach at the momment at least if not for long.

Cozano blinks in from ::between::!

Annalysa shrugs. "Well.. no one but me and the kidlings eat it. People still can't stand to think that something so ugly could be edible.. but.. what can i say. i was humoring a little girl and it tasted pretty good.\rdblquote


Kaetetrini raises her eyebrows, "Tunnelsnake?" she reiterates, "We dinnae cook tunnelsnakes at home, what d'they taste like? D'y'eat'em often?" Her interest peequed, courage to speak comes with it.

Annalysa smiles a bit, looking a little devilish. "Well, as any good rider trained to hate and kill tunnelsnakes, they try to refuse to eat them. So, half the time, i just throw it in the stew. The other half the time i make a feast for the kidlings that bring them to me. THey are stringy, but if you get them young enough, and small enough, they can be tender, then its just a matter of tenderizing them to the point where they are soft and as fluffy as meat can be, then you glaze it with some herbs and throw it on the spit with the other meats. What they taste like is interesting. there is always the tiniest bit of their venom in their muscles so it makes your mouth tingle. Its not quite porcine.. but its not wherry-like either. All i can say is that its unique.\rdblquote

Kaetetrini smiles shyly, "Is tha' what we're gonna make?" she asks in a very quiet voice, that sounds very weyr-like to her. Tunnelsnake.

Annalysa smiles and stands, stretching a bit. "why not.. its a great revenge on the -usually- small beasts.

Annalysa smiles and stands, stretching a bit. "why not.. its a great revenge on the -usually- small beasts." she walks over to the storage room where little Mhairie dropped off her morning kill. she pulls the glaze-eyed dead tunnelsnake out and with a gratifying thump, places it on the center of the table. She grabs a meat cleaver and smiles at Trini. "shall we?"

Kaetetrini stands up, a broad smile on her face, "O'course," she gives a little bow, and gestures toward the table.

:::DISCLAIMER::: Annly notes.. that, by her small knowledge, there is no talk of the tunnelsnakes inner physiology. if there is.. anything to differ from my made up reality, i'll gladly disown this recipe and never speak of it again..

Annalysa takes a deep breath as she begins an instructional butchery, slipping a sharp knife from a tray in the chopping block. "I tried one day, to make a meal out of Mhairie's kill, but much to our dismay, we had to spend the next few days in the infirmary. So, the next day i was curious to see what exactly i did wrong. I carefully sliced ths skin off instead cutting the head off like i'm used to. " She digs the knife in at the base of the 'snakes skull and dragged a very careful line down the spine, careful not to dig to deep into the skin. Then with careful fingers, she rolls back some of the skin and fat near its back. "I suppose its a defense of some sort, but if you lacerate the 'snakes back at all, you're subjected to its poisen. thats why they recommend thumping the things on the head instead. Here..." she reveals the thin line on either side of its backbones that resembel thin tubes filled with a greensih liquid. Up near the skull, are sacs, where the vemon is stored before entering its mouth and eventually, its kill... "is the venom. if you cut these lines in anyway, all the meat is tainted. sort of a final revenge, don't you think?" She speaks slowly and carefully as she cuts around then and lifts them out and immediately into a disposal.

Kaetetrini watches intently, nodding at Annly's words. For someone as meek as Trini, all this taking apart of an animal seems to have little effect on her. She runs a finger, without touching, from the base of the spine, down it's back, along the venom arteries. "Are these two th'only carrier o'venom?" she asks, looking up.

Annalysa nods.. then pause and shrugs. "well. the other ones are too small to see and care about. NOw," She takes up the butcher knife and cracks it down through the skull, watch trini when she finishes and smiles. "we can butcher as usual." she slowly takes the beast apart and piles the meat on a plate and leaves the bones in a corner for her flits to gnaw on while she cooks.

Kaetetrini winces at the whack on the head, she usually gets her meat already whacked in two, that's Goldean's job, his specialty is butchering after all. "Y'just take th'meat off o'it, like y'were makin' wherry pie?" She watches intently as Annly does it, blinking only ever so often, as if she'll miss something. What a strange dish...and she's not too sure about not removing any other venom arteries....if there are any. Can't be good for you to be posoined, no matter the amount.

Annalysa blinks at the large steak size muscles she carved off, and smiles. "I suppose so, but i do that because of my habit. if anyone, especially, a weyrleader or weyrwoman came in here, and saw a tunnelsnake still recognizable because of its bones on the spit, even if i was the only one to eat it, i'm sure they'd oust me before i could explain. so, my dear, i cut the steaks off and set them aside for grilling, or to be skewred and roasted on the spit, near a large wherry carcass so no one can tell the differnce." When she is finished explaining, she looks down to put the last small peice in her bowl for stew. She then takes the knives over to the skin where a drudge accepts them readily and begin to scour them with cleansing sands. She smiles and takes a deep smell of the meat, then looks off into space as she thinks about spices.

Kaetetrini watches her, still intently, the farther from Tillek she is, the stranger the recipies seem to have gotten. She isn't too sure about spitting a tunnelsnake either, she doubts the residents of her home Hold would any more open to the idea of eating it. "Does th'taste or th'tingle," she pauses, "bleed onto th'other meats that it's cookin' by?"

Annalysa shakes her head as she absentmindedly walks over to the cabinets to withdrawal the satchels of herbs she deems worthy, but pauses and glances at her. "Not enough to notice. here.. you smell the meat. I know it may seem odd, but just smell it, and tell me what dish you think of.. ok? "

Kaetetrini gives Annly a look, before bending over and doing as she's told. She takes a deep breath, and then stands there thinking for a bit. "It smells like, fish..." she starts..."an'herdbeast at th'same time...."

Annalysa smiles and shakes her head. "I know that.. but, what you need to do, is tell me what dish it reminds you of. each Tunnelsnake has a little different smell, which is a bit stronger when its cooked. the way to tell exctly what you are going to baste it in, is to smell it, then match it to a dish you've liked before, and prepare the spices accordingly."

Kaetetrini's eyes light up, this is exactly how she likes to cook, using her talents and not a memorized cookbook. "I think it reminds me o'hot breaded fish," she says quickly, without hesitation. "Like th'kind y'make toward th'end o'winter, t'get rid o'all the salted fish afore it goes bad."

Annalysa nods and smiles, pulling out a large bag of salt and turning back to her. "Ok.. what is your favorite herb in your hot breaded fishrolls? HM? think about it.. and we'll use that and salt to make our tunnelsnake. oK?"

Kaetetrini nods, and thinks, a playful, childish smile on her lips. "I like thyme," because her father grows it especially for her, "I like peppers, and I like...." she tries to come up with a third, "sage."

Annalysa pulls out the thyme and smiles lugging the salt behind her as she walks back over to the meats. She grabs a meat tendorizer from the shelf and bottle of cooking wine before standing before the meat with a grin. "We have to tendorize the meat to be sure its palatable and then, we marinate it. so, reach under the table, there a counter .. you can feel it, and find a bowl large enough to hold about two of these steaks and well go from there."

Kaetetrini nods, and reaches under the table, pulling out the counter, and the looking around the kitchen for a bowl. Finding one, she grabs it, and looks at Annly, may be they maraniade meat differently than she does. "How d'y'normally marinade yer meat?" she asks, reaching over and placing some of the sage in the bowl.

Annalysa peers at her as she questions her marinading process. "perhaps i use the term marinade too loosely. Again, i'll emphasize that tunnelsnake is tough and stringy, so, anything you can do to make it a little more tender is useful. now stay with me.. ok?" She lays the meat out on the counter and rolls the spike roller across the surface a few times to make sure that the surface is sufficantly bruise and cut by the small teeth on the roller before lightly sprinkling the meat with salt, then rubs the thyme leaves between her palms, then the mixture onto the meat. She looks to trini for a more at ease look as she flips the meat to continue. "How would you marinade this?"

"I'd soak it in oil," Trini replies gently, duely reprimanded. "O'ernight, prolly." A simple and honest reply.

Annalysa points at her with sticky fingers. "thats what i tried when i was learning. Unfortunately, it needs to be eaten only a few hours after its been butchered, else that miniscule amount of venom will turn sour.. and then .. i wouldn't feed it to a watchwher." she smiles and tenderizes the second side in much the same way she did the first side. She points to the meat and gesters to the ingrediants.. "Why don't you do that one. ok?"

Debbie sneaks in from the Living Cavern.

Debbie smiles looking into the kitchens, "Hiya" she greets softly to the two.

Annalysa smiles at debbie and waves, her hands semi-cakes with salt and thyme. SHe laughs a bit at the condition of her hands and speaks. "And how are you today?"

Debbie smiles stepping into the kitchen and skipping over to Annly, "I'm good, how're you?"

Kaetetrini reaches gingerly for the other steak, and takes the tenderizer where Annly left it, rolling it over..she prefers the beating kind herself. She potmarks it so it's almost identical to Annly's stake, and then takes a bunch of thyme on her hands and begins to rub down the meat, waiting for shocks of pain or numbness to set in. Her ears pay attention to the conversation beside her, but her eyes stay obienently on the steak.

Annalysa peers at her as looks braced. "Oh.. it won't affect you skin as much as the salt will... " She takes the meat and throws the steaks in the bowl and pours wine over them, making sure that the surfaces have been covered evenly and that the wine come up high enough to cover the bottom steak. Swishing them, about she starts to speak again. "see? I was using the term a bit loosely. its a quick dive into the bowl with a nice strong wine, or, well, whatever wine you prefere.. then we'll cook them when we're sure that they've asorbed enough flavor." She watches the thyme leaves swim in the wine, a wistful thought towards home. "Mother called everything "maranading.." so.. i learned from the best i guess... at misnaming things."

Debbie walks towards the women, "What are you two makin'?" the small girl asks.

Kaetetrini chuckles, "Mother's are the best at teaching things." A strange thing to say, but, no one said Trini wasn't strange. She glances at the girl, not sure if she should answer, and turns her steak over to minister to the other side, staving off her questions until Debbie's is answered.

Annalysa shrugs at the kidling and smiles. "Oh.. we're cooking one of Mhairie's latest kills.. you want some when we're done?"

Debbie frowns, "You're cooking tunnelsnakes?" she asks uncertain.

Annalysa peers at Debbie, a michievious smile on her face. "Oh? has Mhairie started killing other beast now too?"

Debbie frowns again, "What does she kill?"

Annalysa rinses off her hands and wander over to Debbie, cookie in hand. "Mhairie kills tunnelsnakes and leaves then here. I cook them. Now did you come in here for a cookie, or a bubblie pie?"

Debbie shakes her head, "I'm just lookin' around." she replies, looking past her at what they're cooking, "D'you mind if I'm in here?"

Annalysa shakes her head and laughs. "YOu are always welcome in here.. ok?"

Debbie nods, "Okay."

Kaetetrini smiles down at the girl and tries to keep from chuckling, as she dips her prepared tunnelsnake peice into the wine. "Benden?" she asks, in a very quiet voice, so as not to interrupt the flow of conversation between the Ista Weyr Head Cook and the young girl, guessing from the smell that is what the wine is.


Annalysa nods and smiles... "Eh.. what else? Everyone here has this strange fasination with it!.. might as well cook with it, eh? they like me for it." She pulls her steak out of the mixture and, with a plate under it, carries it over to the hearths and skewers it and ads it to the spit system she has set up.

Kaetetrini follows Annly's lead, taking her own steak out of the wine mixture and carrying it over to the hearth, she'd make Tillek Red , but she keeps that to herself. "On this one?" she asks, pointing to a free spit.

Debbie watches the two ladies and sits down next to the wall, trying to be out of the way

Annalysa nods and smiles.. watching the skewer process with a smile. "It'll take about a half hour.. then we can taste it.. and you can be rid of my strange little weyr." SHe laughs at the last part, sure with all the strangel things that happened to Trini probably left a bad taste in her mouth. She sighs, and walks over to the sink to scour her hands and to grab some cleansing sands for the table. She scrubs the table clean, drops the tenderizer in the sink, and leaves the wine mixture by the hearth for a mid baking baste.

Kaetetrini blushes at Annly's comment, the weyr has indeed left a bad taste in her mouth, and she desperately misses Tillek, her Auntie Vandra, her beautiful Alevander, and even her mother, Merlenn. That's a feat. She goes over to the sink, and begins to wash dishes slowly, trying not to make any noise, "It only takes about 1/2 an hour?" she reiterates, but they are small peices of meat, the whole tunnelsnake might take longer than that.

Annalysa shrugs as she stares at the fires, and ponders stoking them up to the regular heat she cooks it at. "or maybe a while longer. "

Kaetetrini looks back at the hearth, wiping a sweatdrenched curl from her forehead to behind her ear. "A 1/2 an hour?" she asks, "That's quick." But then, it's just steaks of meat, if it was the whole thing, it might take longer...but then she can't see a tunnelsnake on a spit all that appatizing.

Annalysa peers at the fires, and decides she stoke them up hotter, but shrugs, its late, and she's really not in a hurry. "well.. we'll just seen when their done. you cook them to how ever you want them to be done. Rare.. healthily in about a half hour, anything beyond that is to tastes.

Kaetetrini raises her head in a nod,"Like herdbeast?" she asks, taking a seat, and blinking hard. She wants to taste it.

Annalysa stands.. brushes off her skirt and stretches. She takes a knife from the countertop and a large platter over to the spits. she pokes the tunnelsnake with the knife and smiles, seeing the pink has edged away from the outer edges and now lightly graces the core. she cuts downward on the meat, stripping it from the metal rod through it and catches in on the platter. she cuts the second one free and wanders back to the table with it, catching a few steak knives and forks for them to eat with. "and.. what would you like to drink?"

Kaetetrini smiles, "Wine, please," is the quick reply, as Trini gets ready to dig in.

Annalysa leaves the plates behind as she grabs an old flask of something she assumes is red, grabs two goblets and wanders back to the table. She pours the wine, then with a flurish, she cuts a hunk of the meat off the steak. she eats it quickly, having noted Trini's polite demeanor before, and by eating immeadiately, she'd let Trini eat as well. She smiles, quite enjoying the chewy texture, and the spiced salt and thyme flavor of the interesting meat.

Kaetetrini looks down at the meat, and smooths out her skirt, before taking the knife and cutting herself a slice. She takes a sip of wine, Oh! She forgot it was Benden and not Tillek! and then cuts into the snake. She puts in her mouth almost gingerly and begins to chew.....

A smile beams on the Tillek Head Cook's face, "This is good," she murples, putting her hand to her mouth, to be a bit more polite. "This is really, really good!" She swallows and bites her bottom lip, "It feels like when you drimk something with just a bit of fellis in it."

Annalysa nods and smiles.. "Yes.. with out the bitter taste! Well.. i'm glad you like it. YOu're all set now.. aren't you?"

Kaetetrini nods, blushing intensely, was her desire to leave that apparent? "Aye," she says softly, "I suppose that I am...."

Annalysa smiles and nods. "Well, if you want, I can arrange a team of runners and a wagon. that way you can get where you are going.. slower, allbeit, but...." SHe trails off.. really not wanting to harp upon a poor girls fears. She did enough of that yesterday. "But.. likely, you'll have to wait till morning."

Kaetetrini smiles, "I'll walk," she says with a smile, "but it's late.....is it alright if I leave in the morning?" She doesn't want to put out Annly anymore than she has to.

Annalysa brightens up as she thinks out loud. "I know! you can ferry. There is a dock here.. and a dock down at Ista Hold. If... if that's where you are going next. taht would probably be the quickest. And yes.. you can stay here. I would not have you go down to that noisy room they call residents hall. Shards, it was quieter sleeping in a room of rowdy candidates than in there! Anyway.. " she blushes as she trails off. "YOu should get up and go before breakfast.. less people and dragons to encounter then."

Kaetetrini smiles, "No, I can walk," she replies, after swallowing another mouthful of tunnelsnake. "I'm going to Gar next, to see Master Asyln, and then to Grinstead, to see my fostersister, Master Toren, and /then/ to Ista. Then to Paradise." Oh, it seems like a /long/ travel.....

Annalysa peers at her from over her goblet.. "we do have runners.." She notes meekly.. and sighs. She stands, pretends to stretch, and pretends to yawn, heading back over to her hammock. "Oh my.. i've got to get some sleep. I've got to get up so early tomorrow..." She walks over to teh stew pot, throws in the bits of tunnelsnake she cleaned off the bones and boiled and throws then into the stew.. and then.. resigns to the comfy hammock. "It was nice meeting you.."

Kaetetrini isn't about the tell the woman she's afraid of runners too, and watches her as she heads to her hammock, "It was nice to meet y'too, Journeylady Annalysa," she says quietly, going over to the sink, and starting to wash the dishes.

 

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