Mint and Honey

[heartofcourage]

Yasmine reached up to touch his cheek, knowing that there was a lot on his mind. He was doing his best to keep it all together and that was very admirable.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll see you around," Alex gave her a smile, though it was a bit half-hearted with everything on his mind.

 

[heartofcourage]

“At dinner. I insist.” Yasmine said softly, not willing to let him bury himself in his work at the sake of her relationship. “I’ll meet you at Ria’s at 7 sharp.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll be there," Alex promised with a nod, kissing her one last time before heading off to his work.

 

[heartofcourage]

Yasmine sighed as she watched him go. She knew Alex would hide a lot from her but she hoped that he didn’t retreat completely. She had nothing else to do but to continue about her business and hope he didn’t get too far away.

She went and worked with the drakes, both her own and those that needed a good working, before she retreated to Ria's home to see what was going on with Troy. When she approached the home, she could hear little Silas giggling with wild abandon. The shy drake had come to life around the young boy and he was showing off as Silas tried to introduce his father to Troy.

"See, Da? He's harmless. I have him tamed." Silas insisted, looking over towards David with an imploring glance. "Can I please keep him?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"He's Grandma's drake, Silas. And a few days doesn't make a tame beast, horse or drake," David warned gently. "He's making good progress, but you have to be careful."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He wouldn't hurt anyone, Da. Grandma said that I can take him out for rides whenever I like." Silas insisted, his stubborn Ghis nature rearing its ugly head.

"He might not hurt you, but he certainly might hurt someone else." Yasmine said as she sat aside her things and took a stand beside David. "Would you be able to control him if he spooked and decided to run wild?"

"He wouldn't." Silas insisted, nearly stamping his foot in the dust.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Even good beasts hurt people on accident, Silas. And until he's properly trained, we can't call it an accident. You can ride with him, but not near town, and you need a saddle and harness and safety belt. He isn't saddle trained yet, so no riding just yet."

 

[heartofcourage]

“But Da...” Silas whined, instantly ducking his head when David gave him that stern look that told him to watch what he was going to say next. “I’m going to tell grandma.”

The little boy scurried away, running past them both until he had disappeared into the house in search of Ria. Yasmine chuckled as Troy watched everything with a curious tilt of his head, the drake confused that his playmate was suddenly gone.

“Better your stubborn child than mine, David.” Yasmine commented with a chuckle.

 

[KieranSoares]

"He's the worst of the lot," he sighed. "Danny's always been agreeable, even Bridget is less stubborn. But he and Annie are on par."

 

[heartofcourage]

"My sister is the middle child out of my family and she is as stubborn as the day is long." Yasmine commented, glancing towards Troy and tempting him closer with a carrot she had pulled out of her bag. "But that's what makes him unique. You wouldn't know what to do without him expressing himself like that every single day."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I suppose," David murmured, watching as Troy crept closer and then looking up as Ria emerged with Silas at her side. She looked perfectly serene but the way David winced at a look from her told everyone he was in trouble.

"David." Ria said simply.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"First of all... You're not wrong," Ria said with a glance to Silas. "Silas. Your father knows what he's talking about. Troy is untrained, unsocialized, and untested. However." She gave David a stern look. "That doesn't mean you just say 'no.' Troy needs people to train and socialize with, and you cannot just count Silas out just because he's a child. Adult or child, both make mistakes and get into accidents. The most qualified person here is Yasmine, and I'm sure she can back me up when I say drakes are still very new territory. And who better to learn and experiment in that territory than someone young and enthusiastic? With supervision, obviously. Even adults need partners to look after them in case things go wrong, until Troy himself can become that partner. You do not simply say 'no.' You say 'instead' and come up with something fair. So with or without you, we're going to start saddle training."

David remained quiet, knowing that any 'buts' or 'what abouts' would just get him in trouble. Ria turned to look at Silas once more.

"And you, Silas. I know you think Troy is harmless, too soft to cause damage. But that isn't true. He's a large creature, and drakes aren't completely domesticated yet. Accidents happen, and wild blood, stubbornness, anger, and fear can still come out even in trained, domestic animals. You have to be careful. He's a predator, and a beast whose kind has been chosen for war and speed by humans. When your father warns you, take it to heart. He and your mother have worked with war and riding beasts for years, ones who can't even stand up against drakes. So we aren't going to take Troy near people for a while and especially not near other drakes except those Yasmine chooses. And we aren't going to ride outside Grandpa's land until Troy and we are used to saddles and tack, and certainly not at high speeds yet. But we will work our way there and you'll be an important part of it. Is all of that clear?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Yes, ma'am." Silas said softly, knowing that he hadn't really won anything, but he hadn't lost anything either.

Yasmine grinned as Troy finally took a bite of the offered carrot as the little boy looked up at his father with a stubborn little look on his face. He looked so much like Annie when she was being particularly headstrong. Soon, however, Silas stepped from Ria's side and wrapped his arms around his father's leg, hugging him tightly.

 

[KieranSoares]

David let out a sigh and smoothed back Silas' hair, laying a hand on his shoulder. Looking to Ria, David muttered, "Why are you never on my side?"

"Because Brogan is on your side and I never agree with him if I can help it," Ria smirked. "And I get to help raise this one, so I'm terribly biased."

 

[heartofcourage]

Yasmine tried her best to appear out of the way as Ria and David spoke to one another. When Troy nudged her for another carrot, she happily obliged, petting his maw after he took the treat from her hand.

“Grandma says I can stay here as long as I want.” Silas said softly, looking up at his father with his bright blue eyes.

Silas had struggled since Bridget had come along. Since he had been the baby for so long, accepting another child in the house had been a steep learning curve for the five year old. David and Annie did their best to give him attention, but it seemed to be Ria and Gerald that could do it the best.

 

[KieranSoares]

David looked down at the boy with a slightly pained expression, though it seemed he had realized something. "Silas..." He knelt down. "You can stay here anytime and for as long as you like. You just make sure you help with chores and you mind your grandma and grandpa."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Can Danny come too?” Silas asked, missing his older brother who was always ready for adventure.

 

[KieranSoares]

"That's up to him." David kissed his forehead. "He's as involved with the horses as you are with Troy. But I'm sure he wouldn't mind visiting."

 

[heartofcourage]

Silas thought about that for a long moment, considering not seeing his mother and his brother for a while. A few nights was okay, but longer might not be.

“Maybe Grandma and I can come by tonight. I need to feed my horse.” Silas answered as diplomatically as possible, not wanting his Da to know that he really did miss home. “And see Mama.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"You go where you need to be, son," David told him simply. He'd known for some time that Silas was a lover of family, but he was also a rover and he relied on himself where he could even at such a young age.

 

[heartofcourage]

Silas nodded at that, knowing that his father was letting him figure things out on his own. He did love his little sister, but he was still trying to figure out his own place in the family with her around.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Then that's settled," Ria said softly. "Our Silas can be a nomad all he likes. Maybe you can pick up a few pointers from Durban while you're at it." She leaned down to kiss the boy's forehead before turning back toward Yasmine. Ria gave her a look of thanks for being patient and not minding the family issues.

 

[heartofcourage]

Yasmine simply gave her a nod and smiled. She knew that every family had their moment and every family had their issues. Little Silas might end up being the least of their worries, but he was certainly as head strong as any of them.

 

[KieranSoares]

Taking Troy's head in her hands, Ria sighed and kissed his forehead. "You, my friend, have it easy." Troy happily accepted the attention without a care in the world.

"I'm going to head home. I'll see you two tonight?" David asked.

"We'll be by, maybe Gerald too if I can pull him away." Ria paused to kiss David's cheek before sending him off.

 

[heartofcourage]

Silas watched his Da go as he leaned into Ria’s side. After a few moments, he looked up at her with a serious look on his face.

“Do you think they miss me when I’m gone?” Silas asked her in all seriousness.