Myths & Legends

Ah.  A Fort born-and-bred.  Well, he could use that.  Make use of that.  He shrugged slightly at her question and mock-shivered.  "Not me.  I'm Southern Boll bred.  All this cold just seeps into my bones.  Give me sun and warmth any day!"  He sipped his tea, amused at how easily the girl was flustered.   "My father sent me up to Fort to 'civilize' me, but it seems things haven't gone quite as planned on that front."

He gave his omnipresent guards a sharp look.  Really they were more an annoyance than anything, but he didn't want to take chances.  Fortunately, Trouble chose that moment to poke his head out from the collar of Mecuto's coat, notice the snacks, and make a dive for them.  Well, attempt to make a dive.  The little blue firelizard got his tail tangled in Mecuto's collar and only managed to really flop down his chest with a frustrated trill.  Mecuto laughed and gathered the little blue up in his arms and picked up one of the smaller pastries to feed him.   "I seem to have named this boy rather well" he said, with obvious fondness.  "He's been nothing but Trouble.  Then again, I suppose that fits, with all that's been happening at the Hold"

Half the fun of message running was dasing around as fast as possible, just to watch his guards try to keep up.  Not that they were unfit or anything, but he did his best to keep them panting.  If nothing else, it was an escape from the frustration and boredom of not being able to do much else.  The main problem however, with message running was the actual message part.  Because really, people took way way too long fussing about replies and such. 

Which was why he was waiting outside Master Nipcy's office, waiting for the man to compose a response to the latest stupid demand from Mikhen.   Not that Mecuto opened the message he delivered.  Much as his curiosity gnawed at him, he had a very good relationship with living, and wished to continue doing so.  And to do something like read a message  Mikhen didn't want him to read would most certainly endanger that wonderful relationship with living.  So he hadn't, though he had little doubt it was something officious and stupid, demanding the Hall's backing or some such.  He sighed and leaned his head back against the wall, steadfastly ignoring his guards.  So bored.

Who could blame him then, for essentially snapping to attention then when someone else came in?  And especially a young woman?  Younger than his personal tastes, but a distraction if nothing else.
"I think the Master's working on a message at the moment" he said, getting to his feet and giving the young girl with Harper knots a bow.  "I'm sure he'll be done in a moment though.  In the mean time, may I have the pleasure of making your acquaintance?"

There was brief moment of apprehension as Mikhen looked ready to brush him off, but then he stopped, and Mecuto repressed a smile.  First step of fast talking anyone - keep them listening.  He shrugged at the obvious question.  "Not really.  Probably thinks I'm more trouble than I'm worth in all honestly.  But he'd at least make some sorta official protest and such.  Nothing you can't handle I'm sure, but really, why bother when the solution's simple?"  Now he did let himself smile, and gave Mikhen another bow.  "Pretty much.  Granted, I'm not much good at all the fighting and heavy lifting and brute stuff, but I'm smart, and frankly, it's boring as between in here."  He paused, running a hand through his hair, weighing options.   "And pardon me for sayin' so, but I'd not be so quick to dismiss the holders' opinions.  Ruatha's near destruction wasn't just mismanagement.  Holders don't like their Lord, they don't work as hard.  'N with Thread and all and the dragons back, they could throw in with the Weyr direct, 'stead of you.  Seems best to cover all bases."

Mecuto had been remarkable well-behaved through the initial attack on the Hold, letting himself get shuffled down into cells with the rest of the prisoners with nary a fuss.   And he'd been remarkably quiet as well, tucking himself into a corner and generally stay out of everyone's way.  But that didn't mean his mind wasn't working furiously.  If nothing else, he had to get out of here - back down to Southern Boll, or heck, anywhere not currently being run by a crazy guy with too much ambition.  Honestly, why someone would want to be a Lord was beyond him.  All those people expecting you to do things?  And you had to marry and have children and just generally be tied down far more that he had any desire for.  But then again, this whole debacle kinda proved that Mikhen was crazy, so there was that. 

Normally politics wasn't his sort of game, but if it was down between crazy Mikhen, and stick-up-his-rear Haighe, he'd really rather Haighe.  But Mikhen had the power at the moment so something had to be done to appease.    Because above all, Mecuto cared about the safety of his own skin first.  First step was getting out of this sharding cell.  He stood and ambled over to lean against the cell bars.  Trouble warbled a question, nudging his pudgy blue head under Mecuto's chin a few times until he reached up and scratched the little firelizard's eyeridges.  Not for the first time, he wished there'd been more time to train the little beast before this whole mess.  Then they could have just stolen the keys and been done with it.  But there hadn't, so it was time for plan B.

"Oi, guard-sir!" he called, as one of the guards came within decent hearing distance.  "Need t'talk to Mikhen!  Less he wants Southern Boll on his ass."

"Hasn't yet" he said with a grin and a shrug, amused at his cousin's apparent lack of investment in the issue.  And really, he wasn't worried.  He'd have to do a lot worse to really be in danger of getting made Holdless, especially with Thread falling again.  He trotted after his cousin up to the Great Hall, and quickly flopped into the indicated chair to await the food and drink.

He leaned back in his chair, cocking his head to the side slightly at the mention of Haighe's fiancee.  "You'll have to introduce her to me" he said  "If only so I don't try to charm her in to bed myself"

"Well, y'all can feel free to try," he said with a laugh.  "But life's too short to have a stick up your rump the whole time.   Not my fault no one else seems to realize that."

He shrugged and sauntered towards the Hold proper.  He had been promised food after all.

"And why shouldn't it?  You are being gifted with my wonderful presence" Mecuto spread his arms wide, his normal cocky grin in full force. 

He was perfectly happy to hand over the runner's reins to his cousin, and busied himself unloading his saddlebags.  He swung them over his shoulder as he walked around his cousin, sizing Haigue up in almost the same way Haigue was sizing up the runner.  Easily distracted by runners then?  Good to know. 

"You make it sound like you don't want me here," he said, with mock wounded pride in his tone.  "Stuck with me indeed.  Father says I should do very well at Fort."  Which was not, precicely what his father had said at all, but who really cared about that right now?