Work With What You've Got [Talera]

[Zen]

A'zael :: Bronze Fath

With the Wing lists and the injury report from the latest Fall spread out in front of him, A'zael made a last few notes as to the conditions of those who had been unlucky enough to gain more serious scoring and sat back, overall decently satisfied that the Fall had gone well... despite the fiasco with Karredy and Zalmaranth. He tossed his pen down, perhaps a bit harder than he'd meant, and tried not to think about the Weyrwoman's stupidity and how much worse things could have gone because of it. As it was S'fin had gotten hurt trying to cover their idiocy. He hadn't even been able to talk to her, could barely look at her without wanting to shake her and ask her what shell was wrong with her. Maybe he should. Maybe it would shake some sense loose from somewhere.

With a displeased noise sounding in the back of his throat, he pushed his chair back and rose to stretch a moment, taking a walk out of his office and over to where Fath lay on his stone couch. The bronze's head rose as he approached, his tail thumping on the stone like a canine's. He reached up to scratch at the dragon's eye ridges and Fath rumbled pleasure. After a few moments listening to Fath's happy babbling, he patted the bronze's nose, finding it hard to stay angry under the assault of his dragon's adoration.

Hey Fath, ask Aerroth if Talera is free to talk. My weyr or hers, doesn't matter to me.

Tilting his head slightly, Fath relayed the request to the gold, Hellohello prettyshinyAerroth! A'zaelmine wantstotalktoyours insomeone'sweyr.

A'zael snorted back a laugh, Mine or hers, Fath, not someone's.

Mine? Mineissomeone's. Hersissomeone's.

A'zael couldn't argue with that. He shouldn't have given an option.

Hiko

[Hiko]

Of course, Fath. She will meet him in your weyr. The gold seemed pleased by the conversation.
Talera blinked up from her inventory checklist, eyes tired from scanning for any essentials that might be lacking. She stretched in her seat, popping her neck during the motion. It wasn't difficult, but the registers had consumed most of her day. And to think, that she'd only been going over supplies for their wing – Talera didn't envy the Headwoman.

Does A'zael have need of me? She asked, amused at the contented feeling emanating from the queen dragon. Fath's use of “prettyshiny” never seemed to grow old for Aerroth, and Talera had the mind that the gold thought it was truly a compliment just for her.
He is not terribly bright, Aerroth commented, but he is sweet.
Perhaps she did understand, then.
Fath's rider wants to speak with you. Regarding what, I do not know. Pin your hair back. You'll need to look presentable for the Weyrleader.
I look fine.
You look like you've been stewing over documents all morning.
And that is fine. Let Fath know that I'll be there shortly.

She will meet with your rider as soon as she has cleaned up.
–

The gold had won out, that time. After taking a brush to the tangles of half-tied hair and setting it in a bun, Talera washed her face with a wet rag and felt Turns better for the effort. She had to admit, Aerroth could be a wellspring of good ideas.
Always a pleasure to help you better yourself, my love.
Of course.

Refreshed, Talera made her way to the Weyrleader's quarters and sucked in a breath. What could he have wanted? Did it have to do with her less-than-vague threats to Karredy? Hmm, no, Aerroth would have said if Zalmaranth was involved. She knocked lightly at the entrance.
“Sir? You requested me?”

Zen

[Zen]

A'zael :: Bronze Fath

She'scominghere. Cleaningfirst.

A'zael raised an eyebrow at the bronze as he summarized Aerroth's response, not entirely certain if what he said was exactly what he'd been told, but he supposed it didn't ultimately matter just what Talera was doing first. The fact that she was coming to his weyr was enough. “Mm, thanks Fath.”

IsAerrothcomingtoo?

“You didn't invite her,” A'zael pointed out, amused, and waved his hand toward the ledge, “Why don't you see if she wants to sun with you?” The sun was shining today, even if the temperature didn't particularly reflect it. But dragons seemed to enjoy the sun in any season.

Yesyes! Fath rose from his stone couch, making his way toward the ledge in preparation to meet the gold to find a good sunning spot, Wanttosunwithme? Evenmoreprettyshinyinthesun.

I really think you need some new lines, Fath.

Glancing back at his rider, Fath tilted his head, Lines?

A'zael waved his hand, turning back to his office, Nevermind. He cleaned off his desk while he waited for Talera to arrive, hoping this fishing for sympathy would actually work out. He couldn't help worrying about being able to cover both Danovelith's and Sularenth's clutches, no matter that it was several months off until they even rose. And that was another worry.

He ran his hand through his hair and blew out his breath as he headed toward the door upon hearing the knock, trying to shake those feelings for now, reminding himself of S'fin's constant caution of how dwelling on 'what ifs' was bad for his health.

He held the door open for her and laughed lightly, “A'zael is fine. Thanks for coming. Sorry about the lack of details, Fath isn't the best messenger so I usually try to keep things simple.” He led her to his office and offered her a seat before settling himself into one as well. “Ah, you're not in trouble or anything,” he added after a moment, realizing that being called to the see the Weyrleader with no real information on why just might lead someone to believe such a thing, “I actually have a favor to ask.”

He tapped a finger on the table in front of him for a moment, still inwardly flinching at the thought of bring up the Betweens at the hatching. “The rest of the Weyrs heard about the hatching at the Turn's End Conclave, specifically about the three we lost.” He cleared his throat a bit, not really wanting to dwell on it, “Apparently, most of the other Weyrwomen seemed quite sympathetic about it. I... B'rax and I... figured we might be able to use that sympathy to prevent so many losses in our next clutch.”

He looked over at her, “Since it was your gold's loss... it seemed like it made sense to ask you to speak with at least one of them. So, if it is something you're open to, I'd like for you to visit Igen and speak with their Weyrwoman Hallon. See how deep the sympathy goes, and if they're willing to help us, either by offering candidates or allowing us to Search their protectorate without fear of repercussion. I know we already do to some small extent... but now they have proof of just how desperate we are for candidates. I want them to know, at least, we don't poach out of spite. If nothing else comes of the visit but mitigating some of Igen's ire with the effort of reaching out, then we'll take what we can get.” He forced himself to stop talking, at last, and allow the goldrider to process the information.

Hiko

[Hiko]

Aerroth had been more than happy to sun with the overly-enthused bronze. The tug of emotion Talera felt at her mind was similar to how one might view a toddler or excited canine. Well, she thought, too amused not to chuckle as she entered A'zael's weyr, it seemed Aerroth was finally learning to look past base compliments.
He is not Zevranth, the gold remarked, forcing the amusement out of Talera's mood.

She cleared her throat, taking a seat across from the man. A favor, was it? Almost immediately, the queen rider began stacking up his goals against her own. It was true Aerroth had been morose at the loss of the three hatchlings, but dragon memories faded quickly enough; when Aleni claimed the newest gold, Aerroth had forgotten all about the children she'd just lost.
Talera had not.

The memory was still hot and fresh in her mind, and she'd been chomping at the bits to figure out how best to avoid such tragedies for Danovelith and Sularenth, with both young queens likely to rise in the near future. Talera took in a deep breath as her Weyrleader continued on, and nodded as she listened to his words.
“No, this is – this is good,” she said, humorless smile on her face. “I was Istan first, and we'd always had a good relationship with Igen. It shouldn't be hard to play up the sympathy at all – after all, I'd come here to aid a Weyr with an inexperienced Weyrwoman, and received heartbreak for the effort.”
She bared her teeth. “It won't be difficult at all to remind them that it could have easily been one of their juniors afflicted with tragedy.”

She wondered aloud, scratching at her chin in thought. “And, of course, if we could but be allowed to view what Igen Hold has to offer – it's no secret Hallon would love to watch her brother squirm, though if that's on a spike or on courtesy is anyone's guess. No, I think she could be brought around to allowing us a period of time to Search her brother's lands.” She paused. “W'dorin's Weyrleader these days, is he not? That'll work to our advantage, too. If Hallon can be moved, W'dorin can be pushed over.”

Talera nodded again, as if to herself, and after a moment of quiet, she met A'zael's gaze.
“I can do this. But I have a request in return. Give me the wing. You and I both know Karredy doesn't grasp the weight of the role. I went to her after the Fall, and it wasn't just Zalmaranth that broke formation. Karredy said she was in control. That's dangerous for any wingleader, but the Weyrwoman?” A shudder ran over her frame. “She shouldn't be leading fighting dragons, not until she's matured more.”

Zen

[Zen]

A'zael

A'zael was glad, as Talera spoke, to find that at least she seemed to have a decent handle on how to approach this. She had a better plan than he did, that was for sure. She had insights into Igen's weyrleaders he had no idea about. He hadn't paid attention to the other Weyrs' leadership because it just hadn't seemed to matter, with how removed Mavros was. But if he wanted to change their position on Pern, it did matter, and he'd been holding Mavros back with his refusal to get involved. Karredy at least had her fluctuating health to blame, but he had no such excuse for himself.

When she mentioned Igen's Weyrleader, he nodded in confirmation, recalling what bits of information Lord Reageren had passed on to him about the man since he'd risen his new position, not that long after A'zael had attained Weyrleadership himself. W'dorin wasn't much older than he was, and Reageren had said that he seemed to take his cues from his Weyrwoman, so that tied in with Talera's comment.

He wasn't expecting her to ask for a return favor, however. Give me the wing. He stared at her in surprise for a heartbeat, but as she continued he was only reminded of his own conflict over their Weyrwoman. Talera had spoken to her after the Fall. He was glad someone had. He still had to have a discussion with her himself, but he needed to be able to approach her without screaming at her, and right now he just didn't think he could do it. If she'd been any other rider, he wouldn't have hesitated. Maybe he shouldn't with her either. If she were any other rider, she'd be on firestone duty with the weyrlings until further notice, until he thought he could trust her in the Wings again. If any other wingleader had pulled that stunt, they would not have been a wingleader any longer, that's for sure. When it came to Threadfall, A'zael was not keen on offering reckless idiots a second chance to endanger the Wings and the Weyr.

He rubbed at his temples, taking a deep breath for calm. Trying to think clearly about her just wasn't working yet, everything colored by a haze of fury he was trying not to give in to. She shouldn't be leading fighting dragons, not until she's matured more. She was only, what, one or two turns younger than he was? Maybe her near death experience had addled her brain. He hadn't known her well before she'd fallen ill, so he couldn't say if she'd had more sense then or not.

Returning his attention to Talera, he leaned toward her slightly, a growl edging into his tone despite his best efforts, “Believe me, I'd love to grant you leadership of the Queen's Wing, but I want to make sure I have the support of my Wingleaders if I'm stripping the Weyrwoman of that position.” B'rax, he thought, would agree. X'ar was another question, but maybe this would be bad enough even X'ar would leave behind 'tradition' for once. If B'rax agreed, he was sure the two of them could bring X'ar around to it. Or, perhaps it would be best to just let B'rax talk to the older man alone, considering the sour note X'ar left his position as Weyrsecond on. He had yet to discuss the incident with B'rax, trying to get a better handle on his emotions surrounding it before he approached it, and that was taking some serious wrangling. “Tell me about your conversation with her. Did she think her actions were at all justifiable? She and I are going to need to talk, and I want to know what to expect.” And depending on what Talera told him, it might be wise for B'rax and X'ar to hear the story as well.

Hiko

[Hiko]

Talera had expected A’zael to want details on the conversation between the gold riders - it was only natural for him to want as much information as possible before coming to a decision. Quietly, she regarded the man; in the time she’d been at the Weyr, he had changed, and she thought it for the better. No one lived without faults or regrets, and for her own thought, it mattered more to her how one overcame those imperfections. He might have started out barely more than a weyrling, but he was growing into someone she could respect - and more to the point, someone the Weyr as a whole could stand behind. She offered the bronze rider a frown.

Karredy was another matter altogether. Squirreled away for what seemed like forever, with most not seeing hide nor hair of the girl, it was clear to Talera that the stresses of leadership were not something someone as apparently frail as that child could manage.
“When I went to speak with her about it, she acted as if she had been expecting a scolding. I’d told her that she needed to keep Zalmaranth under control if we were to succeed as a wing, and she replied that she “had control of Zalmaranth, just not Threadfall.” When she left formation from between, she forgot everything else but C’mor. She, not Zalmaranth, chose to break flight pattern and interrupt the wing. When I tried to warn her about what could have happened with Zalmaranth suddenly in the air stream of another wing without advanced notice, she reminded me that her sister was a dragonrider, and that the ballads reminded her that Thread was not a game.”
Talera sighed and leaned on her thighs. “And then Zalmaranth informed me I was not needed.”

Whether the gold’s opinion mattered or not to the events that had unfolded, Talera was uncertain. However, he’d asked for the whole of it, and she recited to the best of her memory. The queen rider felt her heart pounding in her chest and realized the irritations of that day still nagged at her.
“Zalmaranth being unpredictable is one thing, Weyrleader. But our Weyrwoman endangered too much for a short Fall, to play heroics. They were scored for the effort. I understand that we are not so barren in golds as when I first arrived, but surely the risk of losing a Weyrqueen - even one as temperamental as Zalmaranth - should be avoided if at all possible.”


Zen

[Zen]

A'zael

Making a displeased sound in the back of his throat, A’zael sat back in his chair as Talera ended her summary of events. There was nothing to be done about Zalmaranth’s stubborn opinions on anything. The gold didn’t seem to care at all just what anyone thought of her or her rider. And if Zalmaranth would not allow for open discussion with the Weyrwoman without butting in, that didn’t entirely bode well for future political discourse either. He’d previously been of a mind to try and allow Karredy to handle such matters, as he had no desire to enter into the political arena at all if he could help it, but if this was what happened when her own wingsecond confronted her, how much worse could a meeting go with someone from outside the Weyr?

“I… I appreciate that you took it upon yourself to speak with her,” he began, “I’ve not been… in an acceptable state of mind over the event to confront her over it yet.” He ran his hand over his face. He and Karredy had had very little to do with each other outside of appearances at feasts and the occasional getting together to sign off on something that required both of them. As such, they’d certainly never butted heads over anything. Certainly nothing this serious had ever come up. For the first time he was at odds with his Weyrwoman and that seemed to him to be a precarious place to be, especially considering his reputation and the recent alienation of some of the bronze and brown riders in the Weyr over his appointing a greenrider as wingsecond.

Outside help for Mavros was minimal at the moment and if they could not rely on each other then A’zael could see things going wrong very quickly. Without united leadership, sides would be chosen, and he knew without a doubt if Karredy fought him on it K’rin and K’ton would be right behind her for they both had no love for him, along with a number of brownriders, and if X’ar took her side then….

“I agree with you on all points, Talera, and I will do my best to make this happen, but there are those in the Weyr who I’m sure would be glad to support Karredy only to spite me. I can’t risk dividing the Weyr over their Weyrwoman and their Weyrleader. I have to make sure both my wingleaders will support me in this before I can promise you anything. X’ar and B’rax hold considerable sway in the Weyr, and if they’re both behind me, then the few who might try to cause trouble over this just might not get very far. I have concerns over getting X’ar’s support, and if he doesn’t support this, it just might embolden more dissent. If it’s presented to him correctly, I think he could agree, but I can’t guarantee it. If he doesn’t….”

He spread his hands in a gesture of surrender, “I’ll have to rethink my course of action. Mavros can’t afford to be divided anymore than it can afford another incident like that during Fall.” He considered the woman for a moment, a frown tugging at his lips, “That being said… is your cooperation in this venture to Igen contingent on the transfer of leadership of the Queen’s Wing to you?” They could certainly send someone else if Talera refused, but B’rax had suggested her for good reason and A’zael was sure she was the best choice.

Hiko

[Hiko]

Talera was quiet as her Weyrleader mulled over the report, her expression unreadable. There was every possibility that the bronze rider would simply file away the information and tell her no, that Karredy deserved the respect of her position, and that Talera should bow to any decisions the leading pair made.
But she doubted it.

She nodded sympathetically at A’zael’s initial response, knowing of his losses through the snippets overheard in the dining hall. She hadn’t approved, of course, of his actions at the feast, but it had seemed even in that time, the man had realized a need for change, and by the next feast, there had been far less commotion. This was the prime difference between the leading pair, she thought; A’zael owned his mistakes and worked to better himself, and Karredy let Zalmaranth guard her from rebuff. It meant a strong Weyrleader, but an altogether weak Weyrwoman. Unfortunately, the golden position of the two was lifelong, unless she could be coerced into abdicating. For A’zael’s part, he was likely doing what he could before the day Fath did not catch the girl’s queen.

So, when he spoke again, she was not terribly unsurprised by the result. While she might be able to see the growth in the man, others had not - and more to the point, others were still sympathetic to Karredy’s venture in death and revival. It wasn’t something Talera had asked on a whim, however, and not something she took lightly.

She let out a breath and rubbed at her temples.
“It is, Weyrleader. But I do not require it before I go, merely that you give me your word that you will work toward it. I’m no child, I understand what I ask is not easily given. You need someone that can procure sympathy now, not potentially months down the road. I’ll send word to Hallon today, and should she be willing to meet, I’ll be at Igen on first notice. Take the time you need to bring about the dissidents.” Talera paused, shifting uncomfortably, as if her next words were fighting with her to stay in. “But if Threadfall occurs before then, the rest of the golds must be able to ground Zalmaranth if need be.”

Zen

[Zen]

A'zael

Breathing a sigh of relief that Talera did not expect her request answered before fulfilling her part of the agreement, A'zael was also glad of her understanding. “You have my word, Talera,” he assured her, considering for a moment. He did not want Karredy in the air during the next Fall, regardless if she was completely stripped of leadership of the Queen's Wing or not. He currently trusted their newly graduated riders more than he trusted her when it came to Fall. He still couldn't quite wrap his mind around what the shell had ever possessed her to act as she had. Her claim to Talera that she had apparently 'forgotten' everything else by C'mor caught him briefly.

Many riders had been doing their best to look out for the newly graduated in their first real Fall. It was the first big addition to the Wings in turns, it was understandable that some would want to protect that, because losing any one of them in their first Fall would be horrible for morale. Perhaps that was why Karredy had gotten so caught up 'saving' C'mor and his blue, but it didn't excuse the recklessness at all. The fact that she'd endangered herself, Zalmaranth, and his entire Wing to do it far outweighed anything else. What if she got caught up in protecting one of the new riders next Fall too, and things didn't turn out so well?

“At the very least, I won't have her flying next Fall,” he told her resolutely, “Very likely, the next several. I'm not just going to let her return to Fall like nothing happened and let her think that was in any way appropriate behavior that she should repeat. She can stay behind and help the dragonhealers; we'll still have three golds available for aerial rescues... if they're actually needed.” He gave a thought to how that conversation might go over, “So of course, if she doesn't want to listen, I'll need you and the other goldriders to ground Zalmaranth. And you have temporary leadership of the Queen's Wing, just as soon as I speak with Karredy, until I can make sure X'ar is on board with it being more permanent.”

He frowned at this whole mess. Having to be in opposition to his Weyrwoman was not something he'd ever thought he'd have to do. She might be the final word about the Weyr, but when it came to Fall, that was his jursidiction. The safety of the Wings came first, and not being able to trust that Karredy wouldn't perform some other stunt in future was a threat to everyone he was sworn to protect. He faced Thread, he could certainly stand up to his Weyrwoman. Rubbing one hand over his forehead, he glanced over at Talera, “If we've reached an agreement and you don't have anything else to add, you're free to go. And good luck with Hallon. I'll let you know as soon as anything has been decided, one way or another.”

Hiko