The Star?s End Spaceport in RhyDin was in a seedy, rundown area clinging to the open space where shuttles landed and took off. The Port at Terrace was clean, white and thanks to large windows and skylights, filled with the warm golden glow of sunlight. The Port was nestled into a valley a short distance from the main city, Deala. It kept the noise of shuttles relatively isolated. Outside of the Port facilities, very few of the trees had been cut down ? the road wound its way around them instead. The leaves of the trees were a pale gray-green, and the sky was a startling deep blue. Combined with the white-paved road and the fresh clean air, it was an idyllic setting and a complete change from the cramped confines of the ship they had traveled on.
Their bags collected from the cargo's conveyers, the newly wedded couple wove their way through the throng of passengers moving in a multitude of directions. The speaker system crackled as departures and arrivals were announced in rounded, professional tones. As Sianna entered the revolving door to the street outside, a frantic family of six slammed into the other portion. They were clearly late and sprinting to make their shuttle. A low slung Gaelic curse slipped out as she was unceremoniously rushed to the sidewalk, barely managing to keep a hold of her bags.
Johnny followed Sianna through the revolving doors with the rest of their belongings and scooped up the larger of her bags without asking, to sling it over his shoulder. He smiled at her cheerfully and leaned over. ?I don? think I wan? ta know wha? ya jus? said.? But their delay by the entrance meant that a large man and a larger woman ran into Johnny from behind. The man glared at the newlyweds while the woman lingered a bit too long in moving away from the tall, blonde man. Johnny hastily moved to the left, out of the path of travel, and grinned as Sianna caught up. ?Ferge? how hasty people can be sometimes. If?n m?frien? set up everythin? like I asked, there should be a glider here for us any minute.?
"Does it really matter what I said?" Sianna volunteered nothing, while exchanging a rather pointed look at the portly woman so brazenly staring at her husband. The hasty scurrying in the wake of the rotund man was proof that some things were universal and required no language. Moving herself out of the danger zone, she stood beside him. "Will ye tell me what a glider is, or is that tae be a surprise as well?" Grinning teasingly, she took the smaller of his two bags so that he did not bear their weight in one hand with hers over his shoulder.
Surrendering the smaller bag, he answered while bright emerald eyes searched the road and then turned toward the lot far to one side where vehicles parked. ?Glider?s a? well, a glider. Anti-grav, don? need wheels or anythin?. Handy, an? pretty quick, an??.? Johnny?s voice trailed off, and then he closed his eyes. ?Lor? an? Skies. Looks like he din? come ou? or sen? someone ? jus? left th? thing.? He heaved a sigh and then grinned down at Sianna. ?Be? ya can guess which one?s ours.? Tilting his chin in the direction of the lot, one particular glider stood out from the others. Not for shape or condition ? more due to the white flowers and hot pink streamers fluttering from every possible point on the little vehicle.
She had been on the cusp of asking him to describe how a transport could work without runners or wheels, but following his motion, blue eyes widened in surprise, a nervous chuckle escaping in spurts. "Oh, ye mean 'tis no' that green one over there? And no' the blue one either, aye?" Resting on the ground, the glider looked inconspicuous enough, regardless of it's decorations. About to release a sigh of relief, it nearly lodged in her throat as several gliders zipped passed them on their way to Deala. "They dinna have tae go sae fast, do they, Johnny?" The space travel while manageable, had not left her stomach in a very resolute condition.
?Nah, no? tha? fas? if?n ya don? wan?em ta. Bu? they?re faster?n a horse any day. We?ll take it easy, m?love, an? I think ya?ll like th? ride.? Johnny bent to give her a reassuring kiss and then settled the bags he was carrying a bit more comfortably. Leading the way across to the lot, he got a better look at the decorations on the glider. In addition to the flowers and streamers were little bits of paper fastened everywhere with writing on them. As they neared, a complete stranger walking past saw the decorations, paused to read some of the notes, and then wrote something beneath another name. Johnny smiled as the man walked off whistling.
As long as I dinna have tae drive, I'll enjoy it verra much, I assure ye." Sianna's reaction to the autographing was one of complete amazement. The past few days had been a whirl of firsts and new beginnings, but this was threatening to take the cake. "Do ye think he was leaving his name on th' list tae have his glider done up tae a similar fashion, mo iomhuinn?"
Johnny laughed as he slung their bags into the cargo compartment of the glider. ?Don? worry, I wouldn? ask ya ta drive one?a these th? firs? time ya saw one. Now, t?morrow?? He trailed off and nodded his head toward the scraps of paper. ?As fer th? writin? ? have a look. One?a th? nicer thin?s abou? people here, I always though?. They?re happy ta see people happy, usually.? Slipping his arm around Sianna?s waist, he kissed the top of her head while she began to read some of the notes.
"Are ye sure ye feel up tae trying me at such a task, hmm? Ye dinna like the way I ride Ruadh from time tae time, aye?" She winked at him coyly. It wasn't the fact that she pushed their horse beyond his limits, but rather the way in which she used him to bob in and around congested traffic in Rhydin. Tilting her head back, she placed a kiss to his cheek before plucking a piece of paper from the glider's side. May you find all that you desire from the universe in the circle of each other's arms.
Johnny picked up another of the notes and read it aloud. ?Health, happiness, an? many fat babies.? He grinned at that and then leaned to find the strips of ribbon that the papers were attached to. ?Don? wan? ta lose these. As fer th? drivin? ? ya migh? have a poin?. All righ?, climb on? in an? I?ll pile these on yer lap. Ya can read?em ta me while we?re headin? inta town.?
The smaller bags stowed behind their seats, Sianna did as she was bid, settling herself comfortably in the passenger seat. "Do ye plan tae drive slow or expect me tae read quickly tae complete all of these before we reach town?" Holding out her hands for the first batch from the nose of the glider, she made quick work of smoothing out the pieces and scraps in a neat pile, detaching them from the ribbon.
Gathering the last of the ribbons and adding them to the pile Sianna already possessed, Johnny considered the question. ?Some?a both. I?m goin? ta drive slow, bu? I still don? think yer goin? ta finish?em all by th? time we make it ta th? hotel. Ain? tha? long a ride.? Swinging up and into the driver seat, Johnny turned on the glider. Its smooth hum made him smile, and he looked over at Sianna to see how she was reacting when the glider actually lifted on its anti-grav cushion almost a foot off the ground. ?Ya righ? there??
The sensation was mild after the thrust and lift of the shuttles, and she nodded, taking a moment to gather herself. "Aye, I'm fine. Just dinna keep reminding me that we're floating ower th' ground, aye? Seems rather queer tae think of it, ye ken." Winding a now empty ribbon around her fingers, she sat it to the side in a formed pocket and began removing the notes from another bundle. The next she read made her giggle right out loud. "A married man who's very wise is early to bed and slow to rise."
Laughter in the cab of the glider masked the hum of the motors. Johnny eased them onto the road towards Deala, keeping a sedate pace compared to the zipping speed of the other vehicles on the road. ?I don? guess I?m tha? wise, then. Wha? else ya go? there, m?love?? He spared a glance from the road to look over at her giggles, and green eyes danced with laughter as a faint blush stole up her cheeks. ?Or do I wan? ta know??
Nimble fingers quickly folded the paper and lodged it deep into her pocket. "I'm no' tae tell ye what it says. 'Tis a wee bit of instruction from a mother of fourteen." Her face still colored, she lifted the next submission before letting her gaze soak in the environment whirring past them. The lush foliage and expansive skies were a refreshing change from the cloistered din of Rhydin city. "Shall I read ye a few more or would ye like tae save them for later when we get where ye plan for us tae stay?"
?Hol? onta ?em fer now. Abou? ta come up over th? valley edge, an? ya?ll be able ta see Deala.? Johnny smiled as he remembered the view. Within a very few minutes, it was laid out just as he remembered. The city had been built with the same local white stone that the road was paved with. Buildings seemed to shine in the sunlight like jewels nestled into the gray-green landscape. A river cut through the city in shades of violet and blue, with more of the white stone crossing it in three bridges. It had always been one of his favorite views, and one that he had often wished Juliane could see in person to paint it.
Tall rustling pines seemed to sing in the breeze as Johnny guided the glider along into the heart of the city, the "streets" separated by wide medians dotted with blooming lilac trees and populated by smatterings of people going about their everyday lives. Hands were raised and smiles given as the decorations were noted, several rowdy bits of advice being shouted out in time for their ears to catch on the sentiments.
Johnny laughed again as some of the more graphic advice sounded. This was a world with very little shame in it, and he?d always liked the easy good nature that seemed the way of things here. ?So wha?re ya thinkin? of th? place so far?? Turning north, he steered the glider into a round-about in front of a long, low building that managed to radiate a refined elegance. A uniformed valet stepped forward and began removing their bags from the cargo compartment while Johnny swung out and circled the vehicle to help out Sianna. She had gathered all the notes and bundled them into her handbag, so they were able to enter the hotel unencumbered and smiling happily.
Their bags collected from the cargo's conveyers, the newly wedded couple wove their way through the throng of passengers moving in a multitude of directions. The speaker system crackled as departures and arrivals were announced in rounded, professional tones. As Sianna entered the revolving door to the street outside, a frantic family of six slammed into the other portion. They were clearly late and sprinting to make their shuttle. A low slung Gaelic curse slipped out as she was unceremoniously rushed to the sidewalk, barely managing to keep a hold of her bags.
Johnny followed Sianna through the revolving doors with the rest of their belongings and scooped up the larger of her bags without asking, to sling it over his shoulder. He smiled at her cheerfully and leaned over. ?I don? think I wan? ta know wha? ya jus? said.? But their delay by the entrance meant that a large man and a larger woman ran into Johnny from behind. The man glared at the newlyweds while the woman lingered a bit too long in moving away from the tall, blonde man. Johnny hastily moved to the left, out of the path of travel, and grinned as Sianna caught up. ?Ferge? how hasty people can be sometimes. If?n m?frien? set up everythin? like I asked, there should be a glider here for us any minute.?
"Does it really matter what I said?" Sianna volunteered nothing, while exchanging a rather pointed look at the portly woman so brazenly staring at her husband. The hasty scurrying in the wake of the rotund man was proof that some things were universal and required no language. Moving herself out of the danger zone, she stood beside him. "Will ye tell me what a glider is, or is that tae be a surprise as well?" Grinning teasingly, she took the smaller of his two bags so that he did not bear their weight in one hand with hers over his shoulder.
Surrendering the smaller bag, he answered while bright emerald eyes searched the road and then turned toward the lot far to one side where vehicles parked. ?Glider?s a? well, a glider. Anti-grav, don? need wheels or anythin?. Handy, an? pretty quick, an??.? Johnny?s voice trailed off, and then he closed his eyes. ?Lor? an? Skies. Looks like he din? come ou? or sen? someone ? jus? left th? thing.? He heaved a sigh and then grinned down at Sianna. ?Be? ya can guess which one?s ours.? Tilting his chin in the direction of the lot, one particular glider stood out from the others. Not for shape or condition ? more due to the white flowers and hot pink streamers fluttering from every possible point on the little vehicle.
She had been on the cusp of asking him to describe how a transport could work without runners or wheels, but following his motion, blue eyes widened in surprise, a nervous chuckle escaping in spurts. "Oh, ye mean 'tis no' that green one over there? And no' the blue one either, aye?" Resting on the ground, the glider looked inconspicuous enough, regardless of it's decorations. About to release a sigh of relief, it nearly lodged in her throat as several gliders zipped passed them on their way to Deala. "They dinna have tae go sae fast, do they, Johnny?" The space travel while manageable, had not left her stomach in a very resolute condition.
?Nah, no? tha? fas? if?n ya don? wan?em ta. Bu? they?re faster?n a horse any day. We?ll take it easy, m?love, an? I think ya?ll like th? ride.? Johnny bent to give her a reassuring kiss and then settled the bags he was carrying a bit more comfortably. Leading the way across to the lot, he got a better look at the decorations on the glider. In addition to the flowers and streamers were little bits of paper fastened everywhere with writing on them. As they neared, a complete stranger walking past saw the decorations, paused to read some of the notes, and then wrote something beneath another name. Johnny smiled as the man walked off whistling.
As long as I dinna have tae drive, I'll enjoy it verra much, I assure ye." Sianna's reaction to the autographing was one of complete amazement. The past few days had been a whirl of firsts and new beginnings, but this was threatening to take the cake. "Do ye think he was leaving his name on th' list tae have his glider done up tae a similar fashion, mo iomhuinn?"
Johnny laughed as he slung their bags into the cargo compartment of the glider. ?Don? worry, I wouldn? ask ya ta drive one?a these th? firs? time ya saw one. Now, t?morrow?? He trailed off and nodded his head toward the scraps of paper. ?As fer th? writin? ? have a look. One?a th? nicer thin?s abou? people here, I always though?. They?re happy ta see people happy, usually.? Slipping his arm around Sianna?s waist, he kissed the top of her head while she began to read some of the notes.
"Are ye sure ye feel up tae trying me at such a task, hmm? Ye dinna like the way I ride Ruadh from time tae time, aye?" She winked at him coyly. It wasn't the fact that she pushed their horse beyond his limits, but rather the way in which she used him to bob in and around congested traffic in Rhydin. Tilting her head back, she placed a kiss to his cheek before plucking a piece of paper from the glider's side. May you find all that you desire from the universe in the circle of each other's arms.
Johnny picked up another of the notes and read it aloud. ?Health, happiness, an? many fat babies.? He grinned at that and then leaned to find the strips of ribbon that the papers were attached to. ?Don? wan? ta lose these. As fer th? drivin? ? ya migh? have a poin?. All righ?, climb on? in an? I?ll pile these on yer lap. Ya can read?em ta me while we?re headin? inta town.?
The smaller bags stowed behind their seats, Sianna did as she was bid, settling herself comfortably in the passenger seat. "Do ye plan tae drive slow or expect me tae read quickly tae complete all of these before we reach town?" Holding out her hands for the first batch from the nose of the glider, she made quick work of smoothing out the pieces and scraps in a neat pile, detaching them from the ribbon.
Gathering the last of the ribbons and adding them to the pile Sianna already possessed, Johnny considered the question. ?Some?a both. I?m goin? ta drive slow, bu? I still don? think yer goin? ta finish?em all by th? time we make it ta th? hotel. Ain? tha? long a ride.? Swinging up and into the driver seat, Johnny turned on the glider. Its smooth hum made him smile, and he looked over at Sianna to see how she was reacting when the glider actually lifted on its anti-grav cushion almost a foot off the ground. ?Ya righ? there??
The sensation was mild after the thrust and lift of the shuttles, and she nodded, taking a moment to gather herself. "Aye, I'm fine. Just dinna keep reminding me that we're floating ower th' ground, aye? Seems rather queer tae think of it, ye ken." Winding a now empty ribbon around her fingers, she sat it to the side in a formed pocket and began removing the notes from another bundle. The next she read made her giggle right out loud. "A married man who's very wise is early to bed and slow to rise."
Laughter in the cab of the glider masked the hum of the motors. Johnny eased them onto the road towards Deala, keeping a sedate pace compared to the zipping speed of the other vehicles on the road. ?I don? guess I?m tha? wise, then. Wha? else ya go? there, m?love?? He spared a glance from the road to look over at her giggles, and green eyes danced with laughter as a faint blush stole up her cheeks. ?Or do I wan? ta know??
Nimble fingers quickly folded the paper and lodged it deep into her pocket. "I'm no' tae tell ye what it says. 'Tis a wee bit of instruction from a mother of fourteen." Her face still colored, she lifted the next submission before letting her gaze soak in the environment whirring past them. The lush foliage and expansive skies were a refreshing change from the cloistered din of Rhydin city. "Shall I read ye a few more or would ye like tae save them for later when we get where ye plan for us tae stay?"
?Hol? onta ?em fer now. Abou? ta come up over th? valley edge, an? ya?ll be able ta see Deala.? Johnny smiled as he remembered the view. Within a very few minutes, it was laid out just as he remembered. The city had been built with the same local white stone that the road was paved with. Buildings seemed to shine in the sunlight like jewels nestled into the gray-green landscape. A river cut through the city in shades of violet and blue, with more of the white stone crossing it in three bridges. It had always been one of his favorite views, and one that he had often wished Juliane could see in person to paint it.
Tall rustling pines seemed to sing in the breeze as Johnny guided the glider along into the heart of the city, the "streets" separated by wide medians dotted with blooming lilac trees and populated by smatterings of people going about their everyday lives. Hands were raised and smiles given as the decorations were noted, several rowdy bits of advice being shouted out in time for their ears to catch on the sentiments.
Johnny laughed again as some of the more graphic advice sounded. This was a world with very little shame in it, and he?d always liked the easy good nature that seemed the way of things here. ?So wha?re ya thinkin? of th? place so far?? Turning north, he steered the glider into a round-about in front of a long, low building that managed to radiate a refined elegance. A uniformed valet stepped forward and began removing their bags from the cargo compartment while Johnny swung out and circled the vehicle to help out Sianna. She had gathered all the notes and bundled them into her handbag, so they were able to enter the hotel unencumbered and smiling happily.