The Night Guard

[Memorie]

Tujal strode out on the bright sun that shone down on the Weyrbowl. Perhaps that was what made her angriest about the situation: the eggs had been stolen in broad daylight. Tujal's neck hairs stood on end just thinking about it. The Weyr would have its revenge and it would be sweet.

She glanced up to see Amenth's brightly whirling eyes. They are all on their way, the gold told her rider. Amenth was looking shinier and brighter everyday, and no doubt, she would fly at any time. Tujal would be d**ned if this disaster set Amenth off.

She stopped in the middle of the bowl and waited for her Night Guard to come to her.

[FireThorne]

T'ryus was spitting mad, his fists clenched tightly as he strode out from the weyrhall. He had been singing when the call first spread through Ponaa like fire, a disbelief accosting him when his green relayed the nightmare. Eggs missing? Impossible. Yet, Lyreth's voice was low and trembling, and there was no mistaking the blind panic that laced her mind. The harper's hands shook with fury, his famous temper flaring to the surface with remarkable swiftness and intensity. Who would dare? The first name that came to mind was the dear Holder Rakken, a man he would have liked to introduce his dragon to--then watch her rip him apart like a wherry. The poisoning was bad, but this? This was enough to leave him in an unchecked Fall and hope the largest clump of Thread found him first. The man grinned ferally. It wasn't nearly painful enough.

Pausing once in the bright sun, the greenrider shielded his eyes and looked toward the hatching sands, not surprised to find a large crowd gathered there. However, the weyrharper did not think approaching the distraught Sharieth was exactly the brightest of notions at the moment, or her new mate, for that matter. Mine, goldrider Tujal says she wants you to meet her in the bowl near the hatching sands. Lyreth suddenly interjected, sounding a bit calmer than she had moments before. Perhaps it was the firm voice of the girl. Tell her I'm coming. T'ryus said quickly, though he was puzzled as to why she wanted to see him, of all people. Weren't bronzers supposed to be the queen's favorites? Reaching into the back of his boot, the harper pulled out his quickal flask and took a quick swig, stowing it away before jogging towards the goldrider. A shot of liquor to clear his mind, as usual.

Mine comes, goldrider. Lyreth said, speaking directly to Tujal. It was not something the green would have normally done, but the girl had contacted her first. These were indeed dire times.

T'ryus quite easily found Amenth's among the others milling about, and he slowed his pace to a quick lope, coming before her and bowing respectfully. "Goldrider, you sent for me?" He asked, his honeyed tongue so reminiscent of master harpers. The greenrider could certainly turn on the charm when he wished, but this was not the time for flirtations. This was a day for honor, but swiftness. The eggs were their first priority, but vengeance was not far behind in the weyrharper's mind. His blood boiled, and his anger seethed within him. T'ryus could have decked someone. His black eyes wandered to the hatching cavern, and his expression darkened to fury when he saw the empty spot that once held Sharieth's precious gold egg. If harm came to those dragonets....what did the Weyrleader's plan to do then?

[Memorie]

"Aye, I did, T'ryus. The Weyrwoman has asked me to gather a Night Watch of sorts. She said to gather people I 'trust implicitly' and get them guarding the eggs at night." She smiled ruefully. "Sad, really, that it's required."

Amenth rumbled and cave over to her. The gold was very close to being full-grown, however, like her mother, she was only the size of an average to bit-larger bronze. But that was okay with Tujal; too much bigger and cleaning her hide would be a hassle. I would never be a hassle to you.

True. But it certainly would require help, and you know that's one of the jobs I like to do alone.

Of course. Amenth settled back on her haunches, giving Tujal a seat upon her forearms if she wanted it. Tujal took it. It would probably be a few minutes until her guard arrived.

[FireThorne]

The harper clenched his fists as they awaited the others she had called upon, his black eyes wandering once more to the hatching sands. T’ryus was indeed honored to have them entrusted to his care. He might not have been the strongest of riders, but he was broad-shouldered and mean as they came. The greenrider would do all in his power not to betray the woman’s trust.

The culprits should be killed. Lyreth said simply, a venom in her mindvoice that so well echoed the cold fury in her rider’s dark eyes. The man smiled ferally, but it was devoid of anything but hate.

Slowly, love. He agreed.

Turning his attention to the goldrider, T’ryus looked about the bowl quickly. He could see no other riders approaching them. The Weyrharper decided they had a few moments, so he allowed his gaze to wonder over the queen before him. Amenth was of impressive size, and he had rarely been this close to a gold. He wondered how the dragon was dealing with this outrage. “Amenth looks a brave sight, goldrider. She is growing into a lovely queen.” He said to Tujal, watching her.

[Crimson]

R'dir got the message from his Lornath, who was practically bristling with intensity. R'dir himself had never been the best tracker, but he could be quite a scrapper. And his quick mind witlessly surmised what the young goldrider had called him for. Deep down inside, he was a bit surprised, and more than honored, but his rough exterior showed no emotion. He quickly left his weyr, where he had been hiding out from the veritable mob gathering around the Cavern opening.

T'ryus was already there with his green Lyreth. Humorous, really, that the dragon's name reflected the rider's previous trade. R'dir spared himself the grin that accompanied such a thought, and hustled to get where he was called. Jogging, he found himself standing near T'ryus and in front of Tujal shortly. "You called, Goldrider Tujal?"

[Memorie]

The culprits should be killed, a voice said. Tujal could only surmise that it was T'ryus's Lyreth. The green seemed particularly vicious, an odd trait in a dragon, even at this time. Tujal was surprised.

"T'ryus, I'm not sure how you replied to your green, but don't go taking it upon yourself to punish anyone, do you understand me?" Amenth warbled an agreement. "I'm more than sure K'leren and Ruet will get to the bottom of this horrible situation."

Still, he had complimented Amenth, and there was no faster way to get into her good graces. "She is looking particularly fine, isn't she?" Tujal smiled one of the rare smiles saved for a specific bronzer and for her dragon. "Thank you. I've worked hard to keep that fast-growing hide oiled and un-chafed." Amenth preened upon hearing these words. She trilled at the man before her, eyes whirling a light blue color intermingled against the red.

R'dir arrived. The man was as solemn as ever, a rock in the swift waters. Tujal looked at his stolid calmness and took hope that they would recover the eggs. "Aye, R'dir, I did. Give your Lornath my regards for sending you so quickly. So far, you and T'ryus here are the only ones who apparently hurdled to my side." She was not pleased with how long the others were taking. "Lyrai has instructed me to put together a group of men to guard the eggs. You are one of the few I trust to do so correctly."

[Dragon Heart]

Cerenoth's message woke A'rik up from a nap. It was so sudden that it took a moment to sink in. A'rik was suddenly furrious. How could eggs go missing! A'rik quickly got into his riding gear, and mounted Cerenoth, forgetting the flight straps. Cerenpth flew to the bowl, Affected not only by his own rage, but his riders as well. Cerenoth let out a challenging bugal just as they were over the bowl. Cerenoth circled, and landed near the small croud. A'rik walked over to Tujal. "You called?" A'rik asked.

[FireThorne]

T’ryus bowed with a flourish to the goldrider before him, a sincere expression upon his face. “My dear lady, I assure I would never do such a thing. I am quite aware our Weyrleaders will take the best course of action in the interest of Ponaa.” Naturally, the man was a harper through and through, and his tongue was sharp and honeyed. However, even though his words were pretty and sugared, the greenrider very genuinely meant every word. He had faith in their leaders. Turning a fond gaze upon his green high on her ledge, the Weyrharper shrugged before pinning his black eyes back on Tujal. “My Lyreth has always been such; all spit and fire. And no sense.”

Hey! The green snapped, her tail thumping the ground in irritation. Her rider only chuckled in reply. He knew the dragon was a fiery one, but she held a good heart.

The Weyrharper grinned when the weyrling smiled, honored to receive such a rare expression. “You can quite easily tell how hard you have worked, my dear goldrider. She is a beautiful queen and a credit to the weyr.” T’ryus replied, his grin widening when the dragon began to preen before them. She even trilled her pleasure, and the greenrider was surprised. “Quite a lovely dragon.” He repeated, watching her with awe.

It was then R’dir arrived, brisk and solid as usual, and he nodded a greeting to the man. They were not exactly on terms, for they had never truly spoken, but right now he hoped the other man was a rock. Of course, of all people in the weyr, Tujal would certainly know best. Then A'rik appeared. The greenrider knew him, through H'seo. He did not want to talk over the queenrider, however, so he merely inclined his head to the man.

[Memorie]

Tujal smiled at the man and his green. They made a good pair, and he was an excellent weyrharper. It was one of the reasons she had chosen him for the Night Guard. "That's fine, then. You just make sure you're keeping your nose clean and out of trouble." She smiled at his compliment to her and her dragon. "Thank you, T'ryus. Flattery will get you everywhere," she said, winking. He was one of the few riders in the weyr she felt comfortable around enough to play.

A'rik and S'risan finally appeared, and Tujal outlined their plan. "Basically, what we need to do is make sure there are always two riders and their dragons standing watch over the eggs. We do not want a repeat of what happened here today. You all can battle it out amongst yourselves who gets what shift, and I do not want any of you taking more than about six or seven candlemarks consecutively. You still need to be getting rest, and I'll see to it that your wingleaders cut you a little slack." She nodded. "Any questions?" There were none. "Good. Dismissed, riders."

((Closed))