Arrogant Presumption

Writers: Heather, Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 30th March 2019

Characters: R'nar, D'hol, Cyradis, N'lon, Halendra
Description: D'hol and Cyradis intervene when a visit from R'nar's father turns sour.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 1 of Turn 9

D'hol

Cyradis

When: md10 d10
Where: DCW
Mentioned; N'vanik
********

N'lon watched as R'nar's bronze land after his drill, his lips set in
a slight frown as he studied the pair. His eyes narrowed on the rest
of the wing as he drummed his fingers across his biceps. Halendra, his
weyrmate and Weyrwoman, stood nearby, a slight pout on her mouth as
she surveyed the Weyr around her with a critical and slightly jealous
eye. The visiting pair had already attracted quite a bit of attention,
but after brief expected formalities with N'vanik, they'd continued
with their intended visit.

When Iorath had mentioned that his father's bronze was in the Weyr,
R'nar had been stunned. He hadn't seen his father since the last he'd
visited Far Island, and R'nar liked it that way. What he didn't like
was his father showing up announced. As soon as the drill was over and
they'd landed, R'nar ripped his helmet and goggles off, and then
tucked them and his gloves inside the helmet.

"Father," R'nar said as a greeting as he approached N'lon, and then he
nodded his head to Halendra, "Weyrwoman."

Halendra returned the greeting with a cool nod, her eyes turning to
study Iorath with interest, then flicking back to the other bronzes in
the wing he occupied. Many were already turning their attention to her
Yedrith, and one, she recognized. She glanced at N'lon, hid her smirk,
and refocused on the young man in front of her, eyes sliding over him.

"R'nar. We've come to see how you were doing. I expected you to be in
the Weyrleader's wing, not the second-high. Iorath looks strong and
capable enough." His lips thinned. "I assumed that as my son, you
would be. And what's with this ridiculous formation? It leaves gaps."

R'nar tried to ignore the look in Halendra's eyes. Surely that was
just her own sordid interests, right? They wouldn't have brought her
gold if her gold was near rising... would they? At one point in his
life R'nar would have thought his father wiser than that, but now, he
wasn't so sure. He could remember idolizing N'lon, wanting to be just
like him, but the longer R'nar had been at Dolphin Cove, the more that
desire had started to fade.

"All of the Wings are important. Surely as a Weyrleader you know
that?" R'nar's voice was a little snappy, a tone he'd never taken with
his father before.

"He should." The cool voice spoke from behind N'lon and D'hol walked
to stand by R'nar, his gaze steady. "N'lon." He inclined his head, but
the gesture carried very little respect. "Halendra." He turned his
gaze back to N'lon. "And he should also know that the winds shift
differently in the South during Threadfall, which require shifting in
wing positions."

Halendra's narrowed just for a moment, shifting her gaze from R'nar to
D'hol with much more interest. Her pout disappeared, turning into a
sultry smile.

"D'hol. Still just a wingleader I see. Well, it seems like Panitath
still has better judgement than her rider."

"She has perfectly sound judgment. Just like her rider," Cyradis
contralto said from a few steps away. She hadn't head much of the
conversation but she knew enough of the participants to guess where it
was going so she stepped to the side of her son. A small smile played
on her lips as she looked at Halendra. "What you already have is
never good enough," her eyes flicked to N'lon and her smile grew a
tiny fraction.

The tension could have been cut with a knife, R'nar thought as he
stood between his parents, although he was glad that his mother had
showed up. She always maintained a cool head in these situations.

"Yes, still a wingleader, And enough of one to know that Cyradis' son
is making a fine rider, one I'm proud of. R'nar learns very well with
_proper_ instruction and encouragement, which was all he really
needed." D'hol's gave was calm, but there was a glint in his eye as he
heard Cyradis approach.

The suggestion of N'lon's lack of ability combined with Cyradis'
comment was enough to spur him to viciousness. N'lon gave an open
sneer, but his arm wrapped around his Weyrwoman, his hand stroking
over her hip. "Well, perhaps if he wants to learn how to lap vomited
seconds like a mangy canine, he'll do quite well with you."

D'hol's rejoinder was just as quick and as cutting. "You're one to
talk, isn't that right, Halendra?" The woman flushed, glancing quickly
up at N'lon before staring furiously at D'hol, who's smile only
widened. "Oh, she didn't tell?" He tsked with his tongue. "You know
that little twist with her hips she likes to do? I taught her that. As
a senior weyrling. And...if I recall, I seem to remember a nickname
she used to call you." He pretended to think, then gave a mocking
smile. "Oh yes...'Twig' I believe it was. Then again...it could just
be that she was just not satisfied with what you had to offer because
she's been with every bronzerider in every single Weyr she's lived
at."

Cyradis growled low in her throat before she replied with measured
words. "Have a care N'lon," she said quietly and put a hand on D'hol's
arm. "You're not leader here." An angry bellow pealed from the heights
where Panitath reigned supreme. Several bronze voices echoed her
challenge.

His Brath's warning, accompanied by the bellows, visibly set N'lon
back as he stared at Cyradis in open surprise. His response died on
his lips as his mouth parted and his gaze flicked to R'nar then back
to D'hol.

Halendra grabbed his arm with a hiss. "Stop it, N'lon. She's right."
The Weyrwoman glowered at Cyradis, her eyes falling to the hand on
D'hol's arm. Her gaze swung up to Cyradis', calculation flickering
within before she lifted her chin and stalked to her Yedrith.

Sputtering, his eyes flicked from Cyradis to his son, then back again
before finally settling on R'nar. "I'll speak to N'vanik. I expect you
to request a transfer back home to get real instruction if you are not
in a different wing within a sevenday."

She let go of D'hol and tucked her chin slightly piercing N'lon with
eyes dark as night. "_My_ son may serve whichever Weyr he chooses. He
is an adult and a fine Wingrider, not chattel to be ordered around."
She shook her head and watched Halendra turn away.

"I don't want a transfer. If you can't handle the fact that your son
isn't in the Weyrleader's Wing then don't consider me your son any
more. Make it a lot easier on everyone." R'nar said hotly, glaring at
his father, unable to believe that had caused such a scene. Over
R'nar's shoulder Iorath's eyes whirled, his body tense from Panitath's
earlier command.

"You will always be _my_ son, R'nar. Every skill you have, is because
of me and you'd do best to remember that." N'lon gave a curt, grudging
bow to Cyradis. "And not anyone else."

}: Easy, Iorath. :{ Yumath's quiet voice was a rumble. }: Your rider
is a good one. He is respected. :{

D'hol laid a hand on R'nar's arm, speaking softly for the young man's
ears. "Not true, lad." He turned back to N'lon, his eyes cold. "You
only wish that were true, N'lon. There's a reason he Impressed here
and away from you. He's more of his mother in him and he's better for
it."

N'lon snarled and stalked to Brath, yanking up on the straps to climb
upon the visibly worried bronze. "She may be Weyrwoman here, but you
will regret speaking to a real Weyrleader like that. You'll be
scraping dung off my boots within a month."

"Don't hold your breath," Cyradis muttered.

R'nar's hands clenched and unclenched as he watched his father climb
up onto his dragon. On one hand, he hated to part on bad terms with
his father, what if Thread took one of them before they saw one
another again? And yet, on the other hand, he felt that he had to make
a stand, to prove to N'lon that he couldn't continue to bully him,
that he was his own man now who could make his decisions.

N'lon, face red with embarrassment and anger, ordered Brath into the
air, flinging dirt and pebbles in scatters about the area. He was
shortly followed by the larger gold, but as Halendra turned to look
back at them, she smirked at Cyradis.

"People accuse _me_ of arrogance." D'hol snorted and watched the pair
leave. He looked at Cyradis for a long moment, a quick lift of his
lips barely seen before he turned to R'nar. "Your father doesn't know
the half of you, lad. You're a fine rider and one I am proud to have
in my wing."

"Thank you, Wingleader," R'nar murmured to D'hol, truly appreciative
that the bronzerider, someone to whom R'nar looked up to, found him
worthy. If only his father could do the same.

Last updated on the April 4th 2019

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Arrogant Presumption