Rhiannon - Child of Twilight
Chapter 11 - Page 1
The New Court

Most of the time Mali and Dori wore their homespun clothing of undyed hue with a touch of wode green woven into their belts or shawls of a tartan pattern that indicated their Healer function. It made sense, for their daily routine did not allow the maintaince of better, or really, finer, clothes; and their usual dress was fairly stained from its daily service. Sometimes their clothes could become near tatters before the decision was made to be rid of them, having been washed and scrubbed to an unusable threadbare state. Yet, on this day, they wore the best they had, the Healer robes reserved for especial functions at Court or for Healer rituals of import. For today they would go down to the area of wood where the Retinue of Rhiannon stayed, where an area had been created that those present of the Bardic Council might hold its first Court with Rhiannon and Taliesin.

Dori looked in a piece of polished metal, trying to straighten the curls of her dark, brown hair about the beautifully bright tartan pattern of her shawl. Her robes were as white and lightly woven as could be done as it was still high Summer and the day seemed it would prove itself fairly warm. Mali watched her young apprentice fuss with some humor, though her own heart fretted some itself. "You will be fine, young one. We will walk up to Rhiannon and Taliesin when told we may. A Healer's greeting when you're presented will be fine. Besides, Maerdynn is our friend, Second of the Bardic Council or no. He'll always be our friend."

A young puppy toddled in, one of the favorite Shepard dogs having given birth to some pups of late, and Dori happy to receive one as a gift. It was a pretty little boy with a coat of mostly dark, brown fur who already showed great attachment to its new human. "Oh, Bali, there you are. Where have you been, naughty boy?" Dori scolded playfully.

Dori began to reach down to impulsively play with the pup when Mali interrupted, "Now, Dori. You fuss about your locks and dress, then think you're going to play with your pup and mess everything up."

Shaking her head, Mali went to the door. "Saeth. Would you come in here and get this puppy, please. Feed him and play with him, would you?"

A household servant that often helped the Healers came in from a second room where she had been mending some of their clothes. She grinned a little when she saw the puppy playfully pulling a bit of Dori's robes. "You are a naughty little boy!" She laughed and picked him up before he could do any real damage. "Come now. Let's see what Saeth can find for you."

Leaving with the gregarious little animal squiggling in the servant's arms, Dori watched them go with a look that told Mali that her apprentice longed to play with her little friend. Mali sighed and shook her head once more. "I do try to realize how young you still are." Coming up to Dori and straightening the robes and a strand or two of the young woman's hair, Mali looked in Dori's eyes with seriousness. "Now after the presentation to the Bardic Court we will repair to meet with the Healers of Rhiannon's Retinue. We've all met before, but this will be another formal presentation to their Leader. Afterwards I will ask you to return to the Greathouse. There are tasks that need seeing to. Actually, I would like you to look in on the Lord and Lady's son Darren, if you would. That ankle he twisted a couple days back ought be looked at and the herbal pack changed again. I know Lady Creirwy would prefer we did not involve ourselves, but Lord Sean knows better. Don't let Creirwy try to intimidate you if she's there. Anyway, I'll be back soon enough, so don't fret overmuch, in any case. I'd just like to see that done, if at all possible."

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