Foreshadowing is for children [M'onk/Qu'an]

[nozomi]

Outside of the thick wooden door to the now-two-Warden's office, a green firelizard went 'SCREEEEEEEE' because that is what they did, wasn't it? Natai could not tell you one way or the other, and she shushed the creature hurriedly.

"Don't you dare pop inside, you naughty firelizard." The soft voice hissed. The Overseer's granddaughter and assistant hesitated outside of the office, fretting this way and that. They had been searching for the new warden, any one of them, for the better part of an hour as it was known at least one of them liked to be seen by the prisoners and guards alike. M'onk said finally to just ask someone who knew, or a guard, and they were pointed at the office.

Blatent, really, and a place he should have looked first to begin with. M'onk sent Natai ahead. Decked out in a purple tunic and skirt, bob mussed about her head and a firelizard clinging to her hair, Natai looked...

less then official.

But she wrung her hands together, hesitated one last time, and rapped her tiny knuckles on that too big wooden door.

"Warden?" She called, a little squeaky. "Ah - one of the Wardens? Any Warden?"

[tuathade]

Something was going "SCREEEEEEE" outside of Qu'an's door. It was extremely distracting.

It was his turn to hold down the fort - inasmuch as the Warden's office could be called a fort - while L'rin was out. Not his favorite activity, but it was a necessity nonetheless. The previous Warden's files had to be sorted through, and in many cases committed to memory. V'tya had four turns to get to know the inmates; Qu'an had only just arrived.

In fact, just how well the previous Warden had known the inmates was explicitly clear in these files, which were full of little handwritten notes. Most were highly informative. Some were even entertaining. All were useful. It seemed as though nearly all of the worst criminals had left in the prison break; this was understandable, as they had the least likelihood of ever being released, and thus nothing to lose. It meant that the remaining prisoners were not much of a danger... But it also meant that the outlaws (who potentially had dragons) were the most amoral and dangerous of the weyr's population.

The "SCREEEEEE" was followed up with a rap on the door and a timorous voice calling for him. He glanced up, briefly considering, then walked over to the door and opened it. As suspected, it was the Overseer's granddaughter. Wonderful. Qu'an wasn't good with young people. Especially not shy, easily intimidated young people. The bronzerider had never had children, and most of the time the people he dealt with he was supposed to strike fear into. He wasn't really sure how to be reassuring.

"Yes? How can I help you?" he asked Natai in his usual flat baritone. If Natai was here, then it probably meant that M'onk needed him for something. Naturally, any concern of the Overseer's was also Qu'an's concern.

[nozomi]

Oh goodness. Natai was raised around riders, all sizes and colors of dragons. Her grandfather founded the Watch. All in all, while quiet and gentle, Natai knew how to handle those in authority, even the large male sorts. She did not want to drag them to bed, did not fear they would strike her, for no other reason then fear of M'onk's wrath. But this man, presence and imposing without a smile or even a real inflection to his voice, he somehow made her stumble.

Natai stared for a moment, and even Rumple slid down the back of her neck to peer up at Qu'an. The firelizard preened her owners hair, straightening the fluffed hairs as Natai fretted.

"Goldrider Leshta and the bluerider left before giving you prudent information, Grandfather says." She blinked up, twisting her fingers together. Anxious thought she happened to be, Natai worried more about what the information was, not so much for the huge man in front of her. "He had to speak with a guard, but he is on the way here. I was sent ahead to make sure that it would just be him and the wardens. Warden."

Her nose wrinkled.

"It's confusing, I'm sorry. But he's on his way." The finger-knotting stopped. Rumple chirruped, nodding in agreement to something she didn't understand at all. She looked the bronzerider up and down, then, in a small voice, Natai continued on. "You are partnered with ... Kzerzath? Grandfather has spoken of you two before. About when he was in the Watch, actively. He didn't look displeased when they sent your name."

Oh, Natai, you chatty Cathy - even if you do snap your jaw shut when the tap of M'onk's cane on stone sounded. She wanted to be nice.

[tuathade]

Noisy little thing, isn't she? The thought drifted idly into the back of his mind.

Hush. She is M'onk's granddaughter. We should be respectful for that, if nothing else.

So the previous goldrider had left without telling him what he needed to know. Surprise, surprise. This seemed to match up well with everything else that Qu'an had heard of Leshta. But what was so vital, so sensitive that M'onk would come to tell him in person and ensure they were alone? He shifted aside, just enough that Natai would be able to see past him and into the office, empty of all other occupants. "It is the Overseer's prerogative, naturally, to schedule me as he pleases. But my afternoon is free."

Truly, he hadn't been planning to do anything except read files until L'rin returned. He tensed momentarily when Natai brought up Kzerzath's name, and noted that her grandfather had recalled him... Qu'an's record, while excellent, was - one of zealous service. Some people, for reasons that Qu'an could not fathom, would consider excessive enthusiasm in the pursuit of justice and safety to be a mark against him. Fortunately, M'onk did not seem to be one of those types.

He looked up at the tap of the cane, and executed a small, polite bow to the founder of the Watch. Credit where credit was due. "Overseer," he greeted. "I am at your service."

[nozomi]

Men like Qu'an always made Natai remember why she disliked bronzeriders. Her grandfather had been a happy man when in the presence of his children and grandchildren, but she'd heard about how he'd been large and powerful at one time, a presence to shrink back in. She'd never met that M'onk, knew only her grandfather, but imagined that he must have been something like bronzerider Qu'an when it came to people he felt less then fond of. She took a step back, and clasped her hands behind her back.

M'onk saved her, with a pat to her back and a wide smile. "Natai, there are some things I need you to look at in your quarters. We'll only be a bit." A pause, and he shooed her away gently. "You're going to make me nervous with your hesitation. Scoot."

She looked from her grandfather to Qu'an for another quick moment before Natai turned and scurried off. M'onk watched her leave, leaning heavily on his cane. Then Qu'an received his attention, the smile, and a slight bow in return.

"I'd give you more respect, Bronzerider, but I'm afraid the back isn't what it used to be. The last ten years decided to do away with my good looks and charm." M'onk sighed. He looked over the tall man, and his eyes squinted with the smile. "We have a few rather important things to discuss, Warden. It's unfortunate the previous Goldrider left the way she did, with the bluerider. Shall we?"

He nodded towards the room and once inside, once with the door closed, M'onk cleared his throat. "May I be out of line to assume you've been able to go through a few of Warden V'tya's papers? Quite an odd man, but he kept good documentation, I believe." Then, a heartbeat of a pause, "Have you seen the new colors properly, Warden Qu'an?"