The Nice Type

Writers: Estelle, Yvonne
Date Posted: 23rd October 2021

Characters: M'gan, Alina
Description: M'gan asks Alina to look after a new wingmate
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 12, day 9 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: D'hol, K'deren, Cyradis, Dessa, N'vanik, J'ackt

Alina

M'gan looked up from the transfer papers and across his desk at the
newly arrived greenrider. A pair of green eyes met his, with a hint of a
challenge in that direct gaze. She was tall, with sharp, elegant
features, and her sleek dark hair was cut short to fit under a riding cap.

Her record shouldn't have given him any cause for concern; six Turns in
the Wings at Windswept Islands Weyr with only minor injuries, more
favorable comments about her performance in Fall than most. More
punishment duties too, though, and a hint of a need for a fresh start.
Sometimes you could read between the lines.

He had been asking for riders with experience to fill out his Wing,
though, so he couldn't complain when he got one. No-one was perfect, and
it wasn't as though he hadn't done a night watch or two in his young days.

"So, you have your schedule for the next sevenday. We're drilling
tomorrow at ten, and then a wing meeting after noon meal." His eyes
unfocused for a moment as Isarth spoke with him. "Ah, good. I've asked
one of the other greenriders in Cyclone to show you around the Weyr and
help you settle in. She'll be here any moment."

Almost as if on cue there was a knock at the door. Alina stepped in a
moment later with a bright smile. "Sir."

"Alina, thank you for coming. This is Iskara, rider of Hylith. She's a
new transfer and will be joining us in Cyclone Wing." M'gan glanced at
the other young woman. The corner of her lip curled just a fraction, but
she nodded politely enough in greeting. "I'd like you to be on hand to
help her out over the next few days. Give her the tour, introduce her to
some of the wingriders, answer questions, that sort of thing. Would that
be all right with you?"

"Of course." Alina turned to Iskara. Short hair, piercing green eyes,
and the bearing of someone who was a dragonrider through and through.
"Welcome to Dolphin Cove Weyr, Iskara."

"Thank you." Iskara's gaze met hers, appraisingly.

"Then that'll be all, ladies. I'll see you both tomorrow at drills,"
M'gan said. "We'll run over some familiar formations to get you settled
in, so don't worry - "

"I can handle it," the greenrider replied swiftly. "I learn fast. Thank
you, sir." She saluted, then followed Alina out of the office.

"So, what made you decide to transfer here?" Alina asked as they headed
down the hallway away from M'gan's office.

Iskara gave her a sharp look, considering before she answered. "I
didn't. My Wingleader thought it would be good for me to have a change."
She shrugged. "He was a stuffy old wherry hen, anyway, I won't miss him.
What's M'gan like?"

"He's nice. Fair, and much more approachable than our last Wingleader,"
Alina said, although her curiosity had been piqued by Iskara revealing
that her Wingleader had transfered her out. There had to be a juicy
story there.

"Hmm." Iskara didn't sound particularly enthused. "Seemed a bit bluff
and hearty to me. Thread doesn't care how nice you are and it certainly
isn't fair. But maybe he's different, leading the wing." She tilted her
head to one side. "Who was your _last_ Wingleader?"

"D'hol. He's Weyrleader at Barrier Lake Weyr now," Alina said. The
politics of it all was somewhat boring, to be honest. "I'm sure the
Headwoman has assigned you a weyr by now, but is there anything else
you'd like to see? Or did you have any other questions about the Wing?"

She considered for a moment. Weyrs weren't that complicated, usually,
and she'd seen the dining hall, the feeding pens and the Star Stones -
what else did you need? "I could probably work it out for myself, but I
haven't seen the Hatching Sands. And as to questions, who else should I
know about in the Wing? Who's the Wingsecond?"

"K'deren's Wingsecond. He's all right as well, at least I've never had
any issues with him. We don't have a Wingthird at the moment." Alina
took the next left, heading toward the Hatching Caverns. "You'll meet
the rest of the Wing in drills. Otherwise... there's Cyradis and Dessa,
although they're fairly obvious to spot, being goldriders. N'vanik is
Weyrleader and he can be a bit fierce, but he'll listen if it's
something truly important. My weyrmate gets along with him, and that's
saying something."

For the first time, the new greenrider seemed to take an interest in
what she'd said. "Oh? Who's your weyrmate? Must be important if he
deigns to get along with the Weyrleader."

Alina shrugged. "He's a bronzerider in the Weyrleader's Wing. His name
is J'ackt."

"Really?" One delicate eyebrow lifted a fraction. "_You're_ with a
bronzerider?"

The other greenrider paused. Maybe Iskara hadn't meant to sound like she
did... "I am. _You're_ not weyrmated, are you?" she asked innocently.

"Certainly not. I'd be bored to death, settling down like a holder,"
Iskara replied, sounding almost affronted at the idea. "Oh, but I'm
sorry! I didn't mean to suggest that you couldn't attract one. It's only
that it sounds like a lot of stress and bother to me, being with a
bronzerider. Constantly fending off other women, and knowing they've
always got half an eye on the golds, if they've any ambition about them.
Of course, some don't mind that, but you don't really seem the type."

"Really? What type do I seem?" Alina's voice sounded a little too sweet.
Iskara was clearly a type herself.

Iskara gave her a long look, as if considering one response, then
another, before she settled on an answer. "You seem..." Her lips curved
in amused disdain. "Nice."

"Mmm." Alina paused in her steps and gave Iskara a once-over. "How
terribly kind of you. I do think you'll fit in so _well_ in our Wing."

The greenrider turned back to look over her shoulder, with a not-quite
concealed roll of her eyes. "Why, thank you. I'm sure we'll be one big
happy family of wingmates in no time."

"Mmm. I'm sure." She decided there and then that she'd drop Iskara off
at the Hatching Sands to find her own way back-- or not. "So now that
you've heard all about me, tell me about you. You seem so _interesting_."

"Do I?" Iskara fell into step beside her. "I'm charmed that you're
interested in me. So often, people only want to know about a new
wingrider's life so they can spread gossip about them. But I'm sure
you're not that shallow."

Alina smiled briefly. "It is important to know a little about who you're
flying with. But if you want to play at being mysterious, I shan't stop
you."

She shrugged. "I'm from Windswept Islands. My family moved there from
Dragonsfall when it opened. Impressed my Hylith there. Got a new
Wingleader recently, and he...thought I needed a change, and your
Wingleader needed experienced riders, so here I am."

Alina smiled to herself. Her wingmates would be delighted to hear that
little boast. "I'm sure that you'll pick up Wing formations quickly and
be flying Thread with us in no time. Ah-- here we are. The Hatching
Caverns."

They came to a halt as they emerged into the vast space and looked out
over the sands, currently empty of queen or clutch. Iskara's gaze
softened for a moment, as if she was talking to her green. Then she
shook her head, her attention returning to Alina. "I heard you had some
trouble recently at your Hatching."

Alina's expression hardened as she looked out over the Sands. "We did."

"Holders." Iskara's tone was heavy with contempt. "So stupid they forget
those dragonets will be protecting their lands from Thread in a few
months."

Alina frowned. "It's not that simple. Even if you wish it was. But I'm
sure you'll be able to figure that out for yourself someday."

"Oh, were you a Holder? Of course, I didn't mean _you_." She shrugged,
not sounding the least apologetic. "Just those ones who like to poison
hatchlings and attack riders, and those who support them. I'd have them
dropped /between/, myself."

"They were taken care of." Alina's voice was clipped. "Anyway. Unless
there's anything else you'd particularly like to see, I should be going."

"I think I've seen all there is to see. You've been _so_ helpful,"
Iskara replied, with minimal sincerity. "I really can't wait to meet the
rest of the Wing."

"I'm sure they'll _love_ you." Alina bared her teeth in an artificial
smile. "I simply can't _wait_ to cross paths again."

"Likewise. But that's Weyr life, isn't it?" Iskara turned to leave, then
looked at Alina over her shoulder. "You just can't help running into
each other." Then she set off back towards the entrance without a
backward glance.

Impulsively Alina stuck her tongue out at the retreating greenrider's
back. It was childish and churlish but made her feel better. What an
awful woman. **I can't wait to tell the others about her.**

Last updated on the February 6th 2022

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The Nice Type