Dragon's Future--Chapter 14 b

They pulled up to the yard and Davyd disembarked.  Carryl waited a second too long, for Davyd swung around to her side and offered her a hand down.  She wondered what her father would think of that.  Would it make her look weak?  It was too late to do anything without looking rude.  She took Davyd's hand and as gracefully as a lady she descended from the wagon.  Davyd stared up at her with surprise.

The door opened to the abode and a man stuck his head out, "Davyd is that you?" he demanded.

"Sure it is, Casey, and you know it, too.  You're just jealous 'cause I got myself a pretty young lady, but you have no need to be jealous.  If anything, you have all the
right in the world to be proud."

Carryl steeled her face and looked up at her father.  The man seemed to have shriveled in the last few years.  He was only a husk of who he had been.  She wondered what had happened to make him thus.  Her mind of its own accord wandered through herbs that could help him gain back his strength.  

"Whatch ya mean?" Casey called confused.  "Whada I have ta be proud of?"

"Casey, man, don't ya even recognize your own kin?" Davyd said, motioning for Carryl to come closer.  

She moved closer.  She was determined that this man would not see her cringe.  She held her head high and heard Wyn's voice saying, "Make your family proud, little one, your whole family, this man and the ones back here waiting for you to come home."  A smile played along Carryl's lips making her face younger and brighter.

"Carryl baby?" her father whispered. "Is it you?  Did you come back home?"

Carryl nodded unable to speak.  She could never remember her father using those soft tones with her before.

"Why, baby?  Why did you leave and not come back?"

Something broke in Carryl's heart.  She ran the next few steps to her father and engulfed him in a hug.  Tears streamed down both of their faces.

"I am home now, Daddy," she answered.  "Davyd convinced me you wanted to see me.  I didn't believe him, but Daddy, he was right."

"'Course I wanted ta see my baby girl.  Why wouldn't I?"

Carryl stepped back and surveyed her father.  "It doesn't matter right now," she settled on saying.  "I don't have long to stay, but we need to talk.  If you want, I can fix us some tea, and we can share that before we have to go back to the village."

His face fell, "Ya can't stay?  A cup a tea would be good.  Go 'head an' make some."

They walked into the abode.  It was similar to the dragon rider's abodes with one open large room for dinning, cooking, and living areas.  A door was open leading to the bedroom.  At the back a ladder led up to the loft where Carryl had spent many sleepless nights.  What had changed her father so?  She set the water to boil and found some cups.  One look told her they needed washing.  She fetched some water from another room that led to the back porch.  She added it to the pot.  She found a cloth to use for cleaning and started cleaning up the cooking area.  While the two men talked she busily worked.  It was good to do something for her father of her own accord.  When the water was warm, she washed the dishes that had piled up and washed off the table too.  She found some tea in her supplies and sprinkled the leaves into the mugs.  She found chamomile and added that also.  She had found some stale bread and decided to create a toast with some sweet jam.  She found the jam, knowing her father would never be without it.  She placed it all on the table and called to the men.

"Father, Davyd, tea is ready."

As they sat down, Davyd commented, "Casey, you have one awfully nice daughter."

Casey looked around amazed, "Is this my table?"

"Yes, Father, it is," Carryl said as she placed his mug in front of him.  "Enjoy."

She sat down with the two men.  Casey looked up at her and stared.

"Davyd tells me that ya've become quite a healer."

Carryl nodded.  "I never thought I would get to work with dragons though."

Casey glanced at Davyd, "Ya didn't say nottin' about dragons ta me.  Watcha mean?"

Carryl told her father of meeting up with Ruskya and being offered a chance with the dragons.  She also told of the attack and how hurt both Ruskya and Wyn were and how she had helped to bring them both back to health.  She also shared how the rider had died.  Her father stared at her amazed.  

"My girl did all that?  I do have somethin' to be proud of, Davyd.  I have a healer fer a daughter."

"That you do," Davyd agreed.  "The problem is though, that rider and dragon that attacked, I saw it.  They started over my fields and passed south.  I could see them for over a two spans as they fought in the sky.  It was horrid.  I hated to think what that dragon fire would do to my crops or my abode if it touched it.

"I went to Woolpren to warn them, and that's when I met up with your daughter, a rider, and the herbalist Meredyth.  They just waltzed right in and confirmed what I saw.  Then the herbalist suggested that everyone come to Woolpren to be safe.  All the farmers can bring their stock in and make a large corral out a those box canyons.  I know I'm going to head over to my farm and collect Nataly and our things and head back.  Do you want to come with me?"

"Now Davyd," Casey began, "ya know I don't take to meetin' up with all those folks."

"Father, please.  Listen to us.  I can't guarantee that the dragon and his rider would come through here, but if he does, I couldn't live knowing that you were left here.  I saw what that rider did to Ruskya, and I saw what his dragon did to Wyn and her rider.  I don't want that to happen to you.  Please come with us."

"You are goin' daughter?  You are gonna be in the village?"

Carryl sighed, "For a while.  I can't say how long I will be there, but I will be there for a while and will definitely be coming back at frequent intervals to check on you and the others."

"If you are gonna be there, then I guess I could come."

Carryl stood up and gave her father a hug, "Thank you, Father.  Let's get your things together."

Casey got up and slowly started to gather his things.

"Davyd, why don't you head home and swing back around for us.  That will give Father more time to gather what he needs and to say good-bye to the place for a while."

Davyd nodded and said good-bye.  Carryl went ahead and helped her father gather what would make a couple of weeks away comfortable for him.  Then she went ahead and cleaned up the tea.

"When did ya grow up?" Casey asked.  "Ya never used ta help around here."

Carryl sighed.  "I guess when I had to clean up my own place.  I realized it was easier to clean up small messes than to let it pile up.  It also was more rewarding."

"Thank ya," Casey said quietly.

"For what?"

"For comin' back and for cleanin' up aroun' here."

"You're welcome, Father."

They sat quietly until Davyd returned.  The ride back to Woolpren was uneventful.  Upon arrival, they found several other farmers had returned.  Animals lowed as they were corralled.  The village seemed to be in an uproar trying to gather together before the winter sun set.

Carryl sighed.  She had told Glendyn she would be back before dark with Kyn, and that she would have given him a healer lesson.  She was supposed to also have learned from Kyn.  There was no way that was going to happen.  She decided to try to communicate with Glendyn through Wyn.

"Wyn, can you get a message to one of the other riders for me?  Tell them what has happened and ask if I should try to come back tonight or wait until morning."

In the meanwhile, she needed to get her father settled with Davyd and Nataly.  She found Kyn.

"Kyn, how are things going here?" she asked.

"Hectic.  There have been at least ten farmers and their families who have come back to the village.  I have been helping get everyone into an abode."

"Where would you suggest that I set up my father and Davyd and his daughter?"

"There is room over the mercantile.  Why don't you bring them in and introduce them to my father.  Mother will help them get settled."

"Okay."

She was able to get them settled before hearing from Wyn.  The decision was for them to stay the night, but to keep communicating through Wyn.