Post by Zen on Feb 21, 2021 4:17:53 GMT -5
Turn 2761, Late 6th Month
10th Pass, 6th Turn
10th Pass, 6th Turn
A'zael, Piara
He was hardly away from the new bride and groom when someone took his arm and he looked over to see the familiar face of Benden’s Weyrwoman. He grinned, “Piara! How lovely to see you.”
She offered him one of her glorious smiles in return, “And you, A’zael. I believe you and I have quite a bit to speak of, Weyrleader.”
His grin faltered a bit at that, “Do we?”
She giggled, deceptively innocent, “I’ve heard some very interesting gossip.”
“Well, you’ll have to fill me in, because I’ve no inkling what you’re referring to,” he told her with mild confusion. What were people saying now?
“Tell me, have my gifted candidates been well utilized?” she glanced up at him curiously.
“I would say so. We didn’t lose a single hatchling from our recent clutches,” A’zael replied easily, unsure where this conversation was going.
“Hm… and here I thought your young queens were only just due for rising. How is it their clutches have hatched already, A’zael?” Her gaze narrowed slightly, half playful, and half daring him to lie.
It took him a moment. “Ah….” Well, he’d walked right into that, hadn’t he? He’d forgotten that the news would have gotten back to Benden already, by way of Vitra’s father. But with all the help Piara had been thus far, she deserved the truth of the matter. “What is it you’ve heard, Piara? I’ll tell you nothing but the truth.”
“Will you?” from her tone she seemed doubtful, “I heard that a handful of riders, staff, and candidates took up a dangerous secret mission the likes of which ballads are written about. Have I heard exaggeration or misunderstood in some way?”
A’zael sucked in a breath, “I don’t think you have, though I’m uncertain if it’s really something a ballad could be written about. From what I’ve been told it was more of a tedious affair than anything.”
“A’zael… you do know timing it is dangerous, don’t you? There’s a reason it’s the stuff of legends,” Piara searched his face for any sign of him taking it too lightly.
“Ah, and you’d know all too well, wouldn’t you, being Benden’s Weyrwoman?” he grinned, then placed his hand over hers on his arm, “I was very keenly aware of the dangers, I assure you. Everyone that went agreed to the risks. No one was forced. We needed it, Piara. The quick boost in dragon numbers. I don’t think we could have waited for Danovelith’s and Sularenth’s clutches to grow… naturally.”
“What do you mean, you couldn’t have waited?”
He sighed, “We are barely hanging on as it is. Currently, all it would take is one bad Fall and I… I don’t know what we would do. We have but three Wings, Piara. It isn’t enough. The sooner we can form another Wing, the less chance one bad Fall will completely ruin us. It’ll still be a couple months yet, and there’s still a chance something could happen between now and then, but… I feel much more hopeful we can make it through now. That we’ll actually start growing rather than just… getting by.”
She frowned, “I didn’t realize it was so bad. A’zael, you should have said so. We could assist you further, you know.”
“You could, but would you? Would your Weyrleader?” he looked down at her, skeptical, “Mavros is used to being on its own, and you all made it rather clear that we were to fend for ourselves.”
She bit her lip lightly at that, looking away, “I suppose I don’t know what H’dor would do. I couldn’t make him send you aid, though I would certainly try. We have plenty of riders. We could spare a Wing to help you.”
A’zael laughed, soft and cold, “Sorry, I just can’t imagine having so many riders that I could afford to send any to help another Weyr, let alone an entire Wing.”
Piara frowned again, quiet and thoughtful for a moment, until she sighed, “You need to visit us again, A’zael. H’dor isn’t terribly pleased you haven’t yet. He agreed to allow your Searching until your twin golds rose and they have, and yet you send no word and don’t come to renegotiate.”
A’zael winced, “Is he here today?”
Piara shook her head, “I don’t think he wanted to risk confrontation with you here.”
Shells. Well, he never claimed to be good at this politicking thing. “Thank you, Piara. I’ll come to discuss everything at his earliest convenience, if you’ll let him know for me? I didn’t mean to offend him, I’m just…,” he laughed, at his own expense, “Bad at this.”
She chuckled, good natured, “Well I never thought you meant to offend, but H’dor is of a mind that you used me, and Benden. But it isn’t as if the rest of Pern has given you much chance to practice your politics so what more can be expected?”
“Uh… thanks?” he eyed her, amused, and she laughed and patted his arm reassuringly.
“Now then, enough politics for today, it can wait until you come to Benden and H’dor can be part of it. I insist on a dance with you,” she smiled brightly and took his hand, tugging him toward the source of the music. He let her lead, happy to leave the serious matters behind for now and just have some fun. But it seemed another visit to Benden was in order.