Post by Hiko on Sept 2, 2018 12:44:38 GMT -5
I am Aerroth, of Mavros! Aerroth, queen to Talera!
The gold called down to the surprised blue on watch duty, and waited for the pair’s reply that they might land. She felt impatient, to Talera’s mind, though whether that was for being on a pity mission for the Weyrhold, or for feeling that such a lowly creature as a blue should know of her without the announcement, the Second was uncertain.
He says we may land, and that I may have one of their beasts if I so choose.
You ate yesterday, glutton.
Yes, but he does not know that. And one never knows when I’ll enjoy something more than fish and stringy heifer. They seem well-fed, here.
Then go, but I won’t hear of your bellyaching when we need to leave.
As soon as the woman dismounted, Aerroth was aloft once more and heading to the feeding pens. A young scrap of a boy greeted her in the Bowl.
“Weyrwoman Hallon asked me to take you to her quarters. She welcomes you to Igen and hopes that you enjoy your stay. Will you be with us overnight, my lady?”
“Potentially, if our good lady Hallon does not mind. I do not wish to intrude more than I already have, ah…?”
“Petron, ma’am.” The boy scratched as his cheek. “Are you really from Mavros?”
“I am,” Talera grinned at the lad as he led her toward the Weyrleaders’ complex.
“Do girls really fly bronzes, there? And boys on golds? My ma said a boy Impressed a gold there, not long ago.”
“What’s the interest, Petron? Plan on flying a gold, one day?” Whether or not the rumors that plagued Mavros had leaked did not matter; it was better by far to play a ruse.
The boy ducked his head, grinning. “I’d prefer a green, my lady.”
“Less to wash, that’s for certain,” Hallon offered from her doorway. Petron squeaked in surprise, and both Weyrwomen chuckled.
“Please excuse me, Petron. It was lovely getting to know you.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The boy offered a slight bow, then hesitated. “Weyrwoman, would you like me to bring klah?”
“Please, lad. I’m certain our good Talera here is parched. Please come in, my lady.”
--
“It is such a shame, to hear of those poor hatchlings,” Hallon offered with sincere regret in her tone as she poured both queen riders fresh mugs of klah. The scent was so much stronger than what Mavros had, and Talera was loathe to leave it. She’d almost forgotten what a proper steeping smelled like, and impatiently waited for it to cool enough to taste.
“Weyrwoman, let me express my gratitude; I know it is not an easy position I’ve put you in, asking for council, or for aid.”
“Council and aid? My, my, Talera. You put so much faith in me.”
“Igen has always been known to be kind to its friends.”
“Are we friends, Mavros?” Hallon sat, crossing her legs. She stepped her fingers over her chest, leaning back in the seat. “I wonder, then, why your Weyrwoman has not been in communication with us, instead.”
“Weyrwoman Karredy is, unfortunately, ill more days than not,” Talera replied evenly, despite her flaring irritation. The Weyrs were autonomous, of course, but any good Weyrwoman stayed on amicable terms with their peers! “And, it was my own shame and Aerroth’s that caused our visit, not hers.”
“Of course,” Hallon replied, sipping at her mug. The older woman’s expression was unreadable. Talera reminded herself to remain as unflappable as possible. “I know this must be a difficult situation for you, having left Ista only for heartbreak. Stay tonight, and we will see you off in the morning.”
“It has been an uneasy road,” Talera admitted, easing back into her own seat. “But I couldn’t possibly impose further on your hospitality.”
“I insist, my lady. I’m no fool; I could be sitting across from one of my own former Seconds, right now, but instead we are here.”
Talera nodded, swallowing. “As you well know, it is heartbreaking to lose any dragon, but to lose multiple hatchlings, who’d only just taken their first breaths…” She shook her head and allowed her eyes to water. Hallon reached out and touched at her hand.
“Oh, child. It happens, now and then. Do not blame yourself.”
“I don’t!” Talera responded, clutching at the older woman’s hands. “I blame our lack of candidates! Oh, Hallon, what are we going to do? We have two young golds that could rise any time, now, and how could I ever want that for them, at their first clutches?”
“Now, now,” Hallon replied, taking her hands back gently, “I’m certain there’s something we could do.”
“But what? We have so few opportunities for Search, and so few of the Weyrs wish to disturb autonomous traditions-”
“Calm yourself, Talera,” Hallon soothed, “Igen is here. As you said before, we are kind to our friends.”
Talera carefully constructed her features; it would do Mavros no good to spoil the game early. “But, how? I can hardly ask to take your candidates from you.”
“Hardly,” Hallon laughed. “But my dear brother does seem to have an excess of youth within his Hold. I will write him. He cannot say no, after all - Searching is Searching, regardless of where the candidates may go.”
Talera paused, clasping her hands around her mug. Momentarily, she truly was surprised. Was Hallon implying that Mavros would be given Search rights in Igen Hold? She bit down the urge to bubble laughter. “But, my lady-”
“I will not hear of it, my girl,” Hallon gave a dismissive wave. “For me, it is simply a matter of bludgeoning my brother the same way I have for Turns. For you, it might mean saving hatchlings. Igen is in no need of candidates for now, and when you see Mavros thrive,you can surely remember our friendship.”
Talera was not naive to Hallon’s implication. “I do not work alone toward the success of my Weyrhold, Weyrwoman,” she offered loyally.
“Mm, no, and I’m certain that Weyrleader of yours is doing his part, too. But Talera, dear, keep this in mind: A frail Weyrwoman means a frail Weyr.” The message was clear; if Igen was to continue the support, either Karredy would need to keep communication channels up and make her own calls to Hallon, or her replacement would. Talera was uncertain how that made her feel. Hallon was an experienced Weyrwoman with a strong hold on her Lords. Her Weyrleader was quick to placate, to boot. How long was the good will of Igen going to last, if Mavros did not better present itself? And more to the point, if Karredy was unwilling or unable to present herself, or if Zalmaranth’s own approaches caused friction, what would they do, then? Abdication was certainly heard of, but such an idea was too extreme, even for Talera. Karredy was young and impulsive, not useless; she had to mature, had to be willing to mature, if it meant a steady supply of Impressionable youths for the clutches.
“I understand, Weyrwoman, and thank you, for everything..”
The gold called down to the surprised blue on watch duty, and waited for the pair’s reply that they might land. She felt impatient, to Talera’s mind, though whether that was for being on a pity mission for the Weyrhold, or for feeling that such a lowly creature as a blue should know of her without the announcement, the Second was uncertain.
He says we may land, and that I may have one of their beasts if I so choose.
You ate yesterday, glutton.
Yes, but he does not know that. And one never knows when I’ll enjoy something more than fish and stringy heifer. They seem well-fed, here.
Then go, but I won’t hear of your bellyaching when we need to leave.
As soon as the woman dismounted, Aerroth was aloft once more and heading to the feeding pens. A young scrap of a boy greeted her in the Bowl.
“Weyrwoman Hallon asked me to take you to her quarters. She welcomes you to Igen and hopes that you enjoy your stay. Will you be with us overnight, my lady?”
“Potentially, if our good lady Hallon does not mind. I do not wish to intrude more than I already have, ah…?”
“Petron, ma’am.” The boy scratched as his cheek. “Are you really from Mavros?”
“I am,” Talera grinned at the lad as he led her toward the Weyrleaders’ complex.
“Do girls really fly bronzes, there? And boys on golds? My ma said a boy Impressed a gold there, not long ago.”
“What’s the interest, Petron? Plan on flying a gold, one day?” Whether or not the rumors that plagued Mavros had leaked did not matter; it was better by far to play a ruse.
The boy ducked his head, grinning. “I’d prefer a green, my lady.”
“Less to wash, that’s for certain,” Hallon offered from her doorway. Petron squeaked in surprise, and both Weyrwomen chuckled.
“Please excuse me, Petron. It was lovely getting to know you.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The boy offered a slight bow, then hesitated. “Weyrwoman, would you like me to bring klah?”
“Please, lad. I’m certain our good Talera here is parched. Please come in, my lady.”
--
“It is such a shame, to hear of those poor hatchlings,” Hallon offered with sincere regret in her tone as she poured both queen riders fresh mugs of klah. The scent was so much stronger than what Mavros had, and Talera was loathe to leave it. She’d almost forgotten what a proper steeping smelled like, and impatiently waited for it to cool enough to taste.
“Weyrwoman, let me express my gratitude; I know it is not an easy position I’ve put you in, asking for council, or for aid.”
“Council and aid? My, my, Talera. You put so much faith in me.”
“Igen has always been known to be kind to its friends.”
“Are we friends, Mavros?” Hallon sat, crossing her legs. She stepped her fingers over her chest, leaning back in the seat. “I wonder, then, why your Weyrwoman has not been in communication with us, instead.”
“Weyrwoman Karredy is, unfortunately, ill more days than not,” Talera replied evenly, despite her flaring irritation. The Weyrs were autonomous, of course, but any good Weyrwoman stayed on amicable terms with their peers! “And, it was my own shame and Aerroth’s that caused our visit, not hers.”
“Of course,” Hallon replied, sipping at her mug. The older woman’s expression was unreadable. Talera reminded herself to remain as unflappable as possible. “I know this must be a difficult situation for you, having left Ista only for heartbreak. Stay tonight, and we will see you off in the morning.”
“It has been an uneasy road,” Talera admitted, easing back into her own seat. “But I couldn’t possibly impose further on your hospitality.”
“I insist, my lady. I’m no fool; I could be sitting across from one of my own former Seconds, right now, but instead we are here.”
Talera nodded, swallowing. “As you well know, it is heartbreaking to lose any dragon, but to lose multiple hatchlings, who’d only just taken their first breaths…” She shook her head and allowed her eyes to water. Hallon reached out and touched at her hand.
“Oh, child. It happens, now and then. Do not blame yourself.”
“I don’t!” Talera responded, clutching at the older woman’s hands. “I blame our lack of candidates! Oh, Hallon, what are we going to do? We have two young golds that could rise any time, now, and how could I ever want that for them, at their first clutches?”
“Now, now,” Hallon replied, taking her hands back gently, “I’m certain there’s something we could do.”
“But what? We have so few opportunities for Search, and so few of the Weyrs wish to disturb autonomous traditions-”
“Calm yourself, Talera,” Hallon soothed, “Igen is here. As you said before, we are kind to our friends.”
Talera carefully constructed her features; it would do Mavros no good to spoil the game early. “But, how? I can hardly ask to take your candidates from you.”
“Hardly,” Hallon laughed. “But my dear brother does seem to have an excess of youth within his Hold. I will write him. He cannot say no, after all - Searching is Searching, regardless of where the candidates may go.”
Talera paused, clasping her hands around her mug. Momentarily, she truly was surprised. Was Hallon implying that Mavros would be given Search rights in Igen Hold? She bit down the urge to bubble laughter. “But, my lady-”
“I will not hear of it, my girl,” Hallon gave a dismissive wave. “For me, it is simply a matter of bludgeoning my brother the same way I have for Turns. For you, it might mean saving hatchlings. Igen is in no need of candidates for now, and when you see Mavros thrive,you can surely remember our friendship.”
Talera was not naive to Hallon’s implication. “I do not work alone toward the success of my Weyrhold, Weyrwoman,” she offered loyally.
“Mm, no, and I’m certain that Weyrleader of yours is doing his part, too. But Talera, dear, keep this in mind: A frail Weyrwoman means a frail Weyr.” The message was clear; if Igen was to continue the support, either Karredy would need to keep communication channels up and make her own calls to Hallon, or her replacement would. Talera was uncertain how that made her feel. Hallon was an experienced Weyrwoman with a strong hold on her Lords. Her Weyrleader was quick to placate, to boot. How long was the good will of Igen going to last, if Mavros did not better present itself? And more to the point, if Karredy was unwilling or unable to present herself, or if Zalmaranth’s own approaches caused friction, what would they do, then? Abdication was certainly heard of, but such an idea was too extreme, even for Talera. Karredy was young and impulsive, not useless; she had to mature, had to be willing to mature, if it meant a steady supply of Impressionable youths for the clutches.
“I understand, Weyrwoman, and thank you, for everything..”