A Different Weyrwoman

Writers: Avery, Heather
Date Posted: 10th July 2017

Characters: Saibra, A'kades
Description: The Weyrwoman meets one of the bronzerider transfers.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 4 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: K'reyel, R'enh, Kaibren, Jadirel, Lenala, Jadirah

Saibra

Saibra found that she didn't eat in the Dining Cavern as often as she
once had, most evenings she ended up eating a meal at her desk, or
having a meeting with K'reyel, and sometimes R'enh would come by.
Tonight she strode into the Dining Cavern and stood in line with other
riders to grab some things off of the service table. She'd made a goal
for herself, to meet personally every River Bluff rider that had been
sent to Dragonsfall, especially those that had never been at the
wintry Weyr.

Tonight she had a person in mind, but she had to find him.... Saibra
turned, blue eyes scanning those seated until she caught sight of one
of the Weyr's newest bronzeriders. She'd heard a few things about him,
but wanted to befriend him herself. It was good for a Weyrwoman to
know the bronzeriders at her Weyr, because you never knew who your
next Weyrleader might be.

"A'kades?" She came up to him. "Mind if I sit?"

He was curious to see what this goldrider was like, having only met
her at formal functions.

"Not at all. How are you, Weyrwoman?" He asked.

"Tired, but fine otherwise. How are you settling in to Dragonsfall?"
she asked, taking the seat beside him. A'kades was a good looking man,
Saibra could appreciate that.

"It's different to get used to. new flight patterns and I'll have to
get used to snow again," he said. "I was Tannercraft bred before
Searching, so flying over Opal Cove will be nice."

"The snow as the hardest thing for me to get used to," she admitted.
"I grew up at Far Island, and then spent some time at Dolphin Cove, so
snow and a chill almost _all_ the time was difficult for me. I was a
little spoiled by the beaches at Dolphin Cove." She winked teasingly,
although it was completely the truth.

"I will miss the warmth at River Bluff," he said. "My son is excited for snow."

"How old is your son?" Saibra asked, looking up and catching one of
her wingrider's eyes and giving them a nod as they passed.

"Almost out of Harper classes. He wants to be a Candidate." He
grimaced slightly. "I'm convincing him to pick up a Craft as a backup
plan."

"My son Kaibren is ten, and he's dead set on being a Candidate once
he's old enough. I managed to talk my daughter into joining a craft
first," Saibra sighed, "but I'm still working on Kai. He's certain
he'll Impress his first go round."

"I think Jadirel is thinking the same thing. Could you encourage
Kaibren to follow you into a craft? My trick is going to be "Pick
something that will be useful when you Impress.""

"I'm a dragonhealer, so it was easy to influence my daughter to also
pick that up, because it's something you can really see through as a
dragonrider. Kaibren hasn't shown any interest in dragonhealing so
far, but I could at least get him to join the harpers or _something_."
Saibra raised her shoulders, "What can you do but watch them grow up
and make their own decisions?"

"Tannercraft has been surprisingly relevant for me. Teaching weyrlings
to not ruin straps."

Saibra was right. "We worry forever."

The Weyrwoman pushed some greens around on her plate before looking up
and asking, "You were close with Lenala, weren't you?"

There was a truth he knew in his heart: that he loved Lenala very
much, that he had planned to ask her to weyrmate at Turnover because
he was sentimental and it's when they'd first begun to see each other
seriously, that he'd been so excited for the child that they had not
had the chance to have, that if Lenala had asked him to jump, he would
have leapt without asking. He had close friends who knew the truth of
their closeness and he had acquaintances who understood. But how to
put that complexity into words to someone else?

"I was going to ask her to weyrmate at Turnover, because I love her," he said.

Saibra's face was sympathetic, "I'm sorry. I understand, I lost my
weyrmate some Turns ago." It made her wonder why Lenala had not taken
control over her gold, the way they had to during mating flights, and
commanded her from the Hatching Caverns to save her own life, to save
the life of her unborn child, to save A'kades the heartache.

**Would I have been able to get Chioneth away from her eggs?** She wondered.

}:It is my duty to protect you, you come first, we are one.:{ Chioneth
told her rider.

"It never truly fades, does it?" he asked.

"Never." Saibra shook her head, "I still dream about my weyrmate from
time to time, and see him often in the actions of my children."

"It must be lovely to have that reminder," he said.

"It is. All I can tell you is that it never goes away, but it does get
better." It took time, lots of time.

"My children are from a friend who wanted them. She transferred here
as well actually," he said.

"What's her name?" Friends having children together but not a romantic
relationship didn't come as surprise to Saibra, there were many loose,
casual relationships around the Weyr.

"Jadirah, a Master Healer."

Saibra filed that name away, it was always nice to have a female
Master Healer around, because sometimes Saibra found the old men to be
bothersome and stuck in their old ways.

}:I would like my oiling now.:{ Chioneth interjected, with a tone and
emotional force that was not to be trifled with at all. The senior
Queen was swelling with the eggs she was growing, and her expanding
hide was needing oiling more than ever.

"It was lovely meeting you A'kades, I look forward to working with
you. If you need anything at Dragonsfall, don't hesitate to let me
know."

"It was good to meet you as well, Weyrwoman Saibra. I look forward to
serving under your leadership," he said.

Saibra was different from other Weyrwoman he had known, though K'reyel
was a familiar element. He wondered what it would be like working with
them both, and what opportunities might lie in his future here.

Last updated on the July 21st 2017

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A Different Weyrwoman