Uncomfortable

Writers: Devin, Suzee
Date Posted: 17th May 2016

Characters: Talryne, Cyradis
Description: An unlikely conversation.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 12 of Turn 8

Talryne

Cyradis

Cyradis stood near the star stones looking over the weyr and out to
sea as dawn pinked the sky. It wasn't often that she simply took a
moment alone away from her daily routine and just quietly contemplate.

A cup of hot klah gradually grew tepid in her hands as she sipped and
watched her latest group of Weyrlings in the sands of the bowl below.
They were leading their new lifemates to the feeding tables and she
watched with a small smile. Voices of their Weyrling staff and others
in bowl rose up, most of it unintelligible. Babble of the beginning of
the day floated up but that didn't stop her from hearing a quiet step
behind her.

"I don't mean to intrude, Weyrwoman," Talryne said.

Cyradis turned with a smile of welcome. "Oh, you're not. I was just
watching the new weyrlings."

"Your son and K'deren's daughter. You must be very proud." Talryne
watched the small forms below. She'd woken early and hadn't been able
to fall back to sleep. Rather than disturb N'vanik, she'd crept out
and climbed up to the star stones to enjoy the sunrise. She hadn't
expected to find Cyradis here.

"Mmm," she nodded. "My mother would have said yesterday was a 'large
day.'" Cyradis gave a big sigh, "she would have been very proud of
them."

"My mother missed my Impression, too. She was sick. And then she died
when I was a weyrling." Talryne regretted saying anything. It brought
up the two greatest losses of her life and the darkness inside her
rose up.

Cyradis nodded sadly, "Mine died in the earthquake at Amethyst Cliff.
They were Vintners. It was awful," she said softly. "To lose so much
family in a single moment." She stood up straight and gazed back down
at the bowl "So, it's good to take joy where you can find it."

Shadow, her little brown flit popped into the air in front of her and
scolded her so she laughed and held out her arm for him to land.
"You're right stinker," she said. He always seemed to know when she
was sad or unhappy and was ready to take her to task for it.

Talryne nodded, trying to push that darkness back down. She searched
for a distraction, her gaze finding the weyrlings again. "One of the
weavers Impressed. We're... friendly." She hesitated to call the girl
a friend, but only because she wasn't sure.

Cyradis absently scratched a tiny eyeridge "That's great," she nodded
approvingly. "Poor weyrlings are thrown in the deep end and some of
them are completely unprepared." She didn't think that either of hers
were in that boat but possibly the weaver would need all the friends
she could get. "I'm sure she'd appreciate any advice you can give."

"I'll try." It would be a sharp reminder of what she'd lost, but then
again so was every day living in a Weyr.

Maybe it was a tiny thing but Cyradis recognized a slight change in
the former greenriders attitude. Anything that brought her a little
more out of the shell of armor she'd cloaked herself with, was good in
her opinion.

Cyradis shaded her eyes as Rukbat came up over the horizon and the sky
burned with it's morning glory piercing their position with shafts of
light. "It's going to be a beautiful day," she smiled.

"I hope so." Talryne watched the sunrise for a moment. She wondered if
she'd been quiet for too long, if she should say something to break
the silence. But what? "I don't mind if you sleep with N'vanik." She
winced. **No, that's not awkward at all. Dimglow.**

Cyradis bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. It wasn't
that she'd been in the situation before but she'd known it could
happen. So she turned slowly. "Thank you Talryne," she said softly.
"He's a good Weyrleader." She didn't have illusions of romance with
the tall Weyrleader and she figured this young woman knew that better
than anyone. "I will do my best to make sure he remains in the
position. We're good friends I think," she added. "Though I never
thought that would happen, not the way we started." She shook her head
with a wry smile.

The corner of Talryne's mouth turned up slightly. "Yes, I got to
listen to his rants when you first became Weyrwoman."

"I'm sure you did," she nodded. "K'deren got to hear enough of mine. I
wasn't fun for either of us but I think we're a good team now and that
has taken a lot of work. On both our parts."

"He's glad to have you. I hear good things now instead of rants." And
a happier N'vanik meant her own life was easier.

"So you understand why I will do what is necessary to keep him in the
job then?" Knowing how important this particular woman was to her
Weyrleader had always led Cyradis to truly care how she felt about the
things that she personally did to effect the leadership in the Weyr.

"Yes. And N'vanik's always had... other women. For various reasons."
Talryne neither expected nor asked him to restrict himself.

Cyradis didn't answer that other that with a nod. In her experience it
was a rare bronzrider that actually ever settled down with a single
partner. Whether they lived together or not. Even when she'd been with
her first Weyrmate she'd known he had a wandering eye but he always
came home to her until... he didn't.

"If you are ever uncomfortable with me on that score Talryne, please
let me know." Cyradis was sincere on that point.

"I will, thank you." Talryne found herself liking the Weyrwoman. She'd
spoken to her a few times when N'vanik coaxed her down to a Hatching
Feast, but she hadn't exchanged more than pleasantries and a bit of
small talk with Cyradis before.

"Good," Cyradis smiled and nodded. Then she shook her head as one
little dragonet began choking and the weyrling called out to the staff
who came running to help. "Oh my, there's always one," she smiled.
"They just need to eat so fast." The turn in their conversation may
have appeared a smooth transition but that was really only her long
practice at redirection coming into play. That little bit of give and
take had been both slightly uncomfortable and a long time coming. But
she was glad they'd finally broached the subject.

To her mind she could appreciate the quiet strength in Talryne that
would have steadied N'vanik's volatile temper over the turns. She
couldn't imagine she would have handled the loss of her lifemate
nearly as well. So she was grateful for her understanding.

"It must be hard, being on the weyrlingstaff. Taking care of all those
young pairs." Talryne appreciated the change in subject.

"I know I couldn't do what they do," Cyradis shook her head.

"Weyrwoman," a voice asked from the doorway.

Cyradis turned, "Yes?"

"We have a runner from Topaz Seahold who wishes to speak with you
right away," the young woman seemed a bit agitated.

The weyrwoman turned to Talryne, "Sorry, I have to go. But this was
good." She smiled and nodded. No matter how uncomfortable it might
have been for either of them at least that much was the truth. It had
been good... for both of them.

She turned back and motioned for the drudge to lead the way.

Last updated on the May 27th 2016

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Uncomfortable