Post by Zen on Feb 10, 2015 22:22:20 GMT -5
A'zael
There was so much work to do, all the time. Karredy had long since recovered from her… death… not death… whatever it had been. With Karredy whole and healthy, the Council A’zael had kept around to help him when he first became Weyrleader and his Weyrwoman’s health had waned had advised him that the two of them should take things into their own hands; that he should stop relying on them so heavily. It had been the last thing he had wanted, even though he had known they were right. It wasn’t like they were withdrawing all help and advice, they just… weren’t going to take on his or Karredy’s duties anymore. He’d never asked for this, for Weyrleadership. He supposed he could step down, despite the dragons choosing, but that would just create turmoil over who would lead that Mavros really didn’t need right now, or ever. So he was stuck, all because Fath was helpless to deny his nature as a Bronze.
With all the work to be done, A’zael rarely left his quarters, his ‘office’ as it was, except for drills and Threadfall. A kitchenworker or drudge usually brought him his food so he could pick it over while working, but today he decided to take his meal to the dining hall. He was sorely lacking in company these days and planned to find some, at least for one meal’s time. He headed to the dining hall, leaving Fath sunning himself on his ledge. When he arrived he remembered another reason why he never came to eat there anymore. The polite nods and ‘sirs’ and formality, how everyone seemed to hold him at arm’s length with cold politeness, afraid to step out of line and be punished for insubordination or some other nonsense. Fardles, he was just eating lunch, not commanding a wing in the midst of Threadfall.
He sighed, resigned to just getting his food and going back to his weyr. And what was for lunch? Three guesses, first two don’t count. Fish. Of course. Some sort of stew today, fish and various vegetables thrown in. At least there was some fresh bread and some sort of berry jam to go with it. He picked himself up a cup of steaming klah and turned to head back to his weyr when his gaze fell upon a somewhat familiar face. He hadn’t really had a chance to spend any time with her at all since she had Impressed, what with his Weyrleader duties and her weyrling lessons, of which she had extra because she had Impressed Gold. He made his way over, holding his tray of food in one hand and cup of klah in the other, “Srunae? You don’t… mind if I sit here, do you?” His signature smile which had been long absent pulled at his lips, “I could use a little company.”
Srunae seemed to be a rather intelligent, capable woman, if a bit nervous in the spotlight from what he remembered of her at the gemglider hatching. He wondered how that was going for her, being a goldrider. He had a moment to feel relief that he wasn’t female and had never had a chance to Impress a Gold. One could get by on a Bronze without too much nonsense (unless you were sharding Weyrleader), but goldriders…. Golds were so rare, all of their riders were looked at with such reverence it seemed. There was really no escaping it. Well, he’d treat her like a normal person if she would do the same for him, which he was rather counting on and looking forward to. Srunae had yet to treat him as most did, even if that had been a few months ago. He hoped she still felt she could be casual around him. She was a goldrider after all, another turn or two and a Zalmaranth flight and she could outrank him. There was no reason she needed to fear some sort of insubordination punishment. Not that he’d punish anyone for that anyway, unless it put someone in danger during a fall. Stop, stop thinking about Weyrleader things for half a candlemark….