Post by Zen on Nov 30, 2022 9:15:24 GMT -5
About a week after Dancing With The Wind
Talera had asked for a rather urgent meeting. A’zael had headed to B’rax’s weyr with Srunae, where he, B’rax, Melana, and Srunae would find out just what she wished to discuss. What she had to say left everyone momentarily speechless. Disaster had struck Igen Weyr. A terrible Threadfall had taken out a tragic amount of their dragon pairs, including one of their goldriders in the middle of a rescue attempt. Igen was left with three golds, one who had left her clutching days behind turns ago, one still in training, and the Weyrwoman’s, who was now currently the only breeding gold they could claim for nearly the next two turns. Weyrwoman Hallon had sent word to Talera of the news, and A’zael could hear the unspoken question. Are you going to help us, Mavros? Benden and Igen had been decent allies since he and Talera had reached out to them after Aerroth’s unfortunate hatching with three betweens. While they hadn’t sent relief riders like Benden, they had allowed open Searching in their territory, and even the occasional candidate from their own ranks, a couple transfer riders where they could be spared. Igen was a small Weyr, but they’d been doing what they could to offer Mavros some assistance, and so far it had been almost entirely one sided. The only thing Mavros had so far done in return was to make sure they allowed any candidates they Searched from Igen’s territory to choose whether they wished to go to Mavros or to Igen. They just didn’t have much else they could offer.
B’rax had asked if she expected Mavros to send transfer riders. They couldn’t afford that. Talera agreed, and offered another solution. It was probably the least and the most they could sacrifice to assist their ally in their time of need. It was no small thing, though it was only one dragonpair. Talera offered to transfer to Igen, to solidify their alliance, and to show the other Weyrs that they were ready to be included. Hallon had apparently requested a transfer gold from another Weyr, any Weyr willing, but they were dithering about it and she seemed concerned for how long they might draw out making the decision. A’zael would have much rather let some other Weyr make that sacrifice. How many dragons were they giving up in the long run if they let one of their golds go now? But B’rax seemed to think it might be a necessary sacrifice. They had to offer Igen some sort of assistance or their alliance might very well break down. And they needed to act quickly about it too, and show the other Weyrs that Mavros did not hesitate to help their allies, despite their own hardships.
No one seemed particularly happy about it, but everyone did agree it seemed to be the best course of action. Resigned, A’zael hoped Talera might have better luck at Igen. She’d come so close to claiming the Senior position at Mavros, twice, and it hadn’t worked out for her either time. He rather thought she deserved it. She would make a good Weyrwoman and had been a tremendous ally to him as Karredy’s mind had continued to slip away from her. He’d be sad to see her go, but it might be better for her in the long run. Mavros had Sularenth and Danovelith, soon enough Riyobith, and maybe… maybe Steleneth. That was a bit up in the air at the moment, but with Aerroth leaving it might be suddenly a lot more likely. All of them were young with turns of clutching ahead of them. Igen did need Aerroth more than Mavros did, and perhaps Talera needed Igen too.
With all in agreement, Talera left to send word back to Hallon of their decision, and to pack her things. Srunae went with her, offering to help, and Melana left to fetch Talera’s records and draft up a transfer order. A’zael ran his hand through his hair, glancing over at B’rax, “I still think it should be some other Weyr’s problem. It’s too much… too much to ask us right now. Surely Hallon knows that?”
B’rax shook his head, “Alliances go both ways, A’zael. We have nothing else to give, and in the long run, it may be for the best. Hallon will not soon forget this, and she’s sure to be Weyrwoman of Igen for a good long while… Faranth willing something like this doesn’t happen again.”
It made sense, but he didn’t have to like it. Then again no one really liked it. It was just… necessary. He folded his arms over his chest moodily, “It better be worth it. We could really use Aerroth’s clutches.”
“We could really use allies, as well,” B’rax pointed out, “And we are not like to keep this one if we do nothing.”
“I know, I know…,” he waved his hand, sighing again, “It just seems a steep price to pay, to me.”
“We have three young, breeding golds. We will get by. Perhaps one of them will clutch us a fourth soon,” B’rax replied with a muted sort of optimism.
A’zael raised a brow at him, “And we have Steleneth.”
B’rax grimaced briefly at that, “I don’t know if that’s a wise move. We don’t know what could come of her.”
“Dragons, I’d say,” A’zael replied with a touch of exasperation, “Dragons we need.”
B’rax shook his head, “Now isn’t the time, A’zael. I’ll discuss the matter with Melana when Steleneth is older. She only just hatched, it’s hardly relevant.”
A’zael thought it was very relevant considering they were giving away a gold, but he didn’t press it for now. He wasn’t the Weyrleader anymore and it wasn’t his decision… it was, as B’rax had said, his and Melana’s.
The older man stepped toward the door of his office, “I’m going to see if Melana is ready for my signature on the transfer papers yet.”
A’zael didn’t respond, following him out of the weyr that used to be his. Tomorrow, Talera would be gone, one more gold lost to Mavros. It didn’t sit well with him. Part of him was glad it wasn’t really his decision anymore, and part of him wished it was so that he could stop it. He had such mixed feelings, he wasn’t even sure what decision he might have come to in the end, and if he and Melana hadn’t agreed? There was some relief that he didn’t have to worry about the possible conflict, but in the end, he hated feeling helpless more.
