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Post by Memorie on Jan 9, 2007 11:14:19 GMT -5
"Ah, yes. You must be the slacker she was griping about the other day." Tujal laughed. "I can certainly see how she'd be irritated with you. You do tend to be a little...abrasive." She winked at him. "But no, I understand not liking to be the work horse others are. People like you and I just weren't made that way."
The reached the end of the corridor and began the slow descent down the carved-in stairs of Ponaa Weyr. It had seemed as though he hadn't wanted to talk about his Holder family, so she didn't bring it up. Well enough that she knew he was holdbred, and that he knew she was Ruathan. It was something she was rather proud of, as she was actually full-blooded Ruathan. Her mother, though she'd been shipped off to Igen Hold Proper at a young age, was actually a distant cousin of Tujal's paternal grandfather. She generally refrained from telling Weyrfolk this, as they all had something about cousins of any type marrying, but Tujal figured they just didn't understand. They had the choice of partners to mate with, whereas most marriages from holds were pre-arranged, and marriages that decided the fate of the future leadership of a Hold were always arranged. The idea behind pre-arranged marriages was that the parents, being full adults and therefore infinitely more wise than their pre-teen or teenage children, knew how to further Hold relations better than their children. It was generally an imperfect system, but it worked, and hardly anyone ever rebelled against it.
F'dan had said he was born to lead, and his eyes (which were a wonderful sort of hazel) took on a glazed appearance as he reminisced. Tujal wasn't a stupid girl; she could piece this puzzle together. The Weyr had rode on in Search, found him at his boyhood home, and took him. She could relate to that story; though she would never had led the hold (too many older brothers, and she was a female, besides), she had been forcibly taken from the place she loved. She fell silent as to allow him his thoughts.
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Post by hrsegrl on Jan 9, 2007 11:26:17 GMT -5
"I suppose. She does seem to expect a lot of me.." He didn't understand why she was so concerned with him slacking when he wasn't the only one. Perhaps people just figured since he was Hold born he knew more about what responsibility was for rankers. Well as far as he was concerned she just didn't understand.
F'dan nodded to Tujal's words. No one could really understand being the heir to a Hold one day and a candidate the next. It wasn't an easy transition and when he had finally gotten to the point where he stopped acting like everyone's superior he impressed a Bronze and again he had to transition.
At least he knew now what was expected of him. There were times when he didn't like working but mostly he didn't mind dragonriding as a way of life. Roderith was a fine Bronze and he could be a fine Bronzerider but he didn't know how to change who he was into what he wanted to be.
"I don't suppose you know that much about it. Lady Lyrai doesn't seem the type to go into detail about these things. You see, I'm still trying to sort things out." He had been a full fledged rider for six turns now he ought to have figured it all out already but as much as he played the man, he was still very much a lost and confused Hold boy with a Bronze dragon.
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Post by LyricalBlue on Jan 9, 2007 13:59:32 GMT -5
Thank Faranth she'd gotten her swim in before dinner, there was always a horde there after dinner and as much as she loved the Weyr, being pressed in by dozens of... arduous riders really wasn't in her taste. Lyrai smoothed her long, dark hair back; it was still soaking wet from her swim and likely not to dry for candlemarks. Though in the warm of the evening she could really complain. As she strode down the hall she sighed, luckily most everyone was at dinner. Not that a woman walking about in a thin-damp shift was anything new in the Weyr, but still it wouldn't do for tongues to wag. Especially if N'mos caught wind of it. That man.... she ground her teeth together. The next time Zhariath rose things would be diffrent she promised herself. The man was a half compentant Weyrleader, but Ly was far more than fed up with his antics.
Comming down the stairs, she stopped dead in her tracks and her jaw nearly dropped. Of all the people to run into... F'dan.... and Tujal, arm in arm? The Weyrwoman raised an eyebrow in curiosity. This must be a new development, for she'd heard naught of it. Her brown eyes flicked from one and back to the other. So much for not getting caught in a damp shift... Lyrai sighed inwardly. "Tujal.... F'dan... good evening."
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Post by Memorie on Jan 9, 2007 14:10:21 GMT -5
"No, I don't know much about it at all, actually," she said. "Lyrai only mentioned it in passing, really, and I never inquired further. I have this thing about gossip, where I hate it. So I try to keep my nose out of other people's business." It was one of her better attributes. "But, if you don't mind my asking, what are you still trying to work out?" She was a bit confused. She knew, of course, that Roderith came from a clutch six years ago or more, so he and F'dan had been together that long. What didn't he understand about Weyrlife? Even Tujal, the brattiest and most stuck-up of Hold girls, had adjusted quickly. Perhaps some people just weren't able to adjust all that well.
"Tujal...F'dan...good evening." Suddenly, the Weyrwoman stood in front of them in a small shift. She was wet, and moreover, she looked interested. This wasn't good. Time for damage control.[i/]
"Weyrwoman! I've been looking for you." She dropped her arm, but kept her spot. Tujal did not want to encroach upon Lyrai when she was wearing such little clothing. She hoped F'dan would keep his mouth shut, but she knew better than to hold her breath. "I need to talk to you really bad. It's about Amenth."
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Post by hrsegrl on Jan 9, 2007 21:32:31 GMT -5
"Oh I just have not found my niche when it comes to dragonriding. I'm not good at anything in particular." He hated to use the line average but that was what it was. He was educated more so than most but that didn't mean a thing as a Bronzerider. F'dan could lead but there were no positons open with all the transfers. Nothing really sparked his interest. He was pretty much stuck where he was on the whole concept.
Seeing Lyrai as scantilly clad as he had been he smiled, "Weyrwoman Lyrai. It is a pleasure to see you. I was escorting our young Goldrider to find you." His smile said everything he did not. The fact that he wasn't leaving probably wasn't helping matters.
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Post by LyricalBlue on Jan 9, 2007 22:24:29 GMT -5
The Weyrwoman's brow arched higher and she looked severly speculative. Her dark eyes flicked between them as she sized up the moment. Of course, of all people to run into, it would be these two... He has not flown her. Thank you love, I'm not sure how you know, but its good to be informed. My bronzes tell me everything. Yes my love, they do, don't they.
Lyrai smiled and nodded her head to the both of them, recovering her manners with Zhariath's comment. She raised an eyebrow once again as Tujal commented. "About Amenth? What is wrong with her Tujal?" She adujsted her shift, half mindfull of F'dan just behind the Weyrling Gold. That was an audience that wouldn't do for promotion... or would it. The Weyrwoman pondered that thought as she nodded to F'dan. She really should keep all her options open, he had to have Impressed Bronze for a reason. And at this point Ly decided that any man would be better than N'mos.
"How kind of you to go out of your way for our young Weyrwoman." Tujal wasn't quite a Weyrwoman yet, but she wasn't far from it and Lyrai hadn't gotten to where she was without having a few tricks up her sleeve. "I do hope she hasn't bothered you overmuch." She turned and smiled back at Tujal as if sharing a private little secret.
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Post by Memorie on Jan 9, 2007 23:12:57 GMT -5
Tujal heard the senior queen and blushed light pink. Is that what this looks like? she wondered. Aloud, she said, "Of course I haven't been bothering him. We've been chatting like old friends." Okay, so it was a half-truth, but still. Tujal had seen the way Lyrai had looked at F'dan. She'd heard of how worthless the Weyrleader was, but had no idea it was this bad. She would go for F'dan? I can see how he minght be charming, or something, but wow. Lyrai can do better. This'll be interesting to discuss with I'slen. Her heart panged at the thought of him. Ah, joy.
"Anyway, Weyrwoman, it's kind of...well, everyone's going to know soon anyway, with her showing so much. But Amenth's only a few days off from Mating Flight. As best as I can tell, two sevendays at most. I need your advice, Lyrai."
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Post by hrsegrl on Jan 9, 2007 23:24:04 GMT -5
He nearly laughed. "Lady Tujal was having a bad day. She was nothing but honest with me and no trouble." F'dan wouldn't let on that she had started off by yelling at him. Though he seemed to be having that affect on women lately. He thought about leaving but this conversation was just about to get good.
"Really? That is early for such a thing to happen." However not unheard of and if she had recently become sexually involved with her Bronze paramour it wouldn't suprise him if it affected her dragon. As much as he liked seeing the women chatting like this he did think he had better bow out soon. Otherwise he might be seen as a slacker again.
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Post by LyricalBlue on Jan 10, 2007 14:32:13 GMT -5
The Weyrwoman blinked and let that settle in a moment, well indeed. It was early but not unusually so. Zhariath and Shariath hadn't been that early, but then they hadn't been clutching during threadfall. Well then, she nodded approvingly. "You were right to tell me Tujal, Rue and I will have to move the twins out when she does rise." She'd read the stories, and saw the notes that other Weyrwoman had written. Even if it had luckily never happened in their time the warning was clear. If one Queen was rising, riders must keep all the others away. This would be imperative because of Tujal's inexperience.
But the bronzes are mine. Zhariath's voice was a half growl and almost petulant. Lyrai chuckled under her breath and reached out to soothe the Queen. You must share my love. You have no problem sharing with Sharieth. Zhariath snorted and reached out to touch Tujal's mind as well as her rider's. You may have one bronze. The dark Queen declared imperiously and as she thought, magnanimously. Lyrai stifled a giggle, then quickly explained to F'dan.
"Zhariath has decided that she will allow Amenth one bronze." She smiled wryly and shook her head, her opinion of her Queen's claim on all the bronzes quite clear. Not that Ly would ever say as much aloud, but sometimes Zhariath was really something. Of course I am, I am Queen you know. Love, you couldn't ever be anything else/. All she got was an approved snort for a response.
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Post by Memorie on Jan 10, 2007 14:53:55 GMT -5
Tujal was instantly alarmed. "If you and Ruet leave, who's going to help me through my Flight?" She shuddered. "Surely not a bunch of pawing, groping bronzeriders!" She'd forgotten F'dan was standing there. And it's not like I'slen will be any help with this.[i/] "You can't be serious, Lyrai."
You may have one bronze, Zharieth told her. Tujal rolled her eyes. The selfishness of the great beasts never ceased to amaze her.
"Generous today, are we?" She laughed. "Amenth, Zharieth says--"
I heard. Zharieth, I will have as many bronzes as see fit to fly after me. And you'll be gone from the Weyr, so you'll have no control. This is the way things are. No humoring the Senior Queen for Amenth.
Tujal was horrified. "Weyrwoman...I'm sorry. She's been full of nothing but sass and vinegar ever since this whole bit started." She sighed. "It's rather like living a bad dream." She didn't share with Lyrai her anti-Mating Flight sentiment. "The point is," she continued, reminded of her "plight," "we've gotta talk. I--" Tujal glanced sharply at F'dan. "Well, you know."
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Post by hrsegrl on Jan 10, 2007 18:46:48 GMT -5
"Zhariath should have any Bronze she wishes, even if that means all but Amenth's and Sharieth's mates." That was his answer. He agreed that as the Senior Queen it was her right. He didn't think Sharieth would mind so much, seeing as she was very quiet. As for Amenth, well the young Gold would learn her place in time.
"Trust me, from what I've learned, it would be far better for Amenth not to have the other Queens here. If Sharieth is still on her Clutch, she will not be any trouble. At least, thats what I got from the records." He realized he was talking about female stuff, with females and it was making him very nervous. Perhaps he should go do something... like train. Something less feminine.
"I do apologize for staying so long. This is obviously a conversation best had without me." F'dan bowed to the Weyrwoman first then to Tujal. He began to walk away though not too quickly lest they think he didn't enjoy their company.
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Post by LyricalBlue on Jan 13, 2007 22:08:59 GMT -5
Out on her ledge a low growl rose in Zhariath's throat. The dusky queen stood on her ledge and mantled her wings, letting them catch the setting light and making her look much larger than she really was. She reached out to Amenth and Lyrai shuddered and went pale at her Queen's tone. You will have what I give you or you will not abide in my Weyr.
Lyrai focused on Tujal, her eyes hard. "You will have to control her. Now. When she rises it will be many times worse. I will not have Zhariath upset." Out on her ledge, the Queen's eyes were whirling red and the previously sleeping Fierzath stirred next to her. Zhariath's wings buzzed and her tone was icily angry. Daughter or no, she brooked no rebellion in her Weyr. The Weyrwoman waved a hand impatiently at F'dan. "You may stay or go as you wish."
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Post by Memorie on Jan 26, 2007 19:02:42 GMT -5
Tujal, on the other hand, completely ignored F'dan's exit. He was nice enough, but she didn't want him to see her ashamed. "Weyrwoman," she said softly. "I'm sorry." She looked away, and down at her feet. Thanks a sharding ton, Amenth.
Amenth, for her part, stayed completely silent. What had come over her, to talk to the senior queen of the Weyr in that manner? She went deeper into her weyr and hunkered down, making the shrinking space into a lair.
"Yes, Weyrwoman. I plan to control her better in the future." Tujal was thoroughly shamed now.
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