Goldrider's Luck

Writers: Estelle, Heather
Date Posted: 22nd June 2024

Characters: Ashela, Zathris
Description: Ashela meets Zathris "by chance" at a Gather
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 12, day 21 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: H'run

Ashela

Zathris

Ashela pulled off her riding helmet and shook out her glossy
golden-brown hair, running her fingers through it to smooth down a few
errant strands. Around her, in the field set aside for dragons visiting
the Gather, she and Aglayath were attracting attention from a couple of
browns - but to her immense irritation, not one bronze, and she
suspected she knew why.

**Chioneth is not here.** The bronzes were staying close to the senior
queen - and so were their riders, knowing that her flight would decide
the next Weyrleader. Who would want to risk missing that for a Gather?
It was enough to make Ashela want to scream.

Instead, she surveyed the faint outline of her reflection in Aglayath's
faceted eyes as she scratched the gold's eye ridges. She'd taken H'run's
advice and wore her crimson Hatching gown, matched with a smart leather
riding jacket and boots, a striking reminder of her status as a fighting
dragonrider tempered by a fashionable cut and an alluring figure...if
she did say so herself. To the Red Star with the bronzeriders! They
would miss out. She had other conquests in mind.

In particular, she'd received a very useful bit of information from one
of the riders on transport duty, about a passenger they were scheduled
to collect from Amber Hills.

She left a discontented Aglayath behind - the gold would rather have
been sunning herself on the Weyr cliffs than waiting in a Holder's field
- and strolled around the Gather market for a while. The awestruck looks
she got from the holders and the deferential attitudes of the
stallholders lightened her mood, and soon she turned her steps towards
the dancing square outside the main Hold, where a few harpers were
beginning to tune their instruments.

"Lady Goldrider," a familiar voice greeted Ashela. The Lord of Amber
Hills was inclining his head respectfully to the Weyrwoman's Second.
"Are you enjoying the gather?" he asked. Zathris was in attendance
because a runner he owned and sponsored was competing in the races.

"Lord Zathris!" Ashela turned to the man she'd been hoping to meet and
favored him with a bright smile. "Very much. It's good to get away from
the Weyr for a little while and see some of the Holds close up, rather
than only flying over them or making formal visits. And you - are you
here with your family?"

"No, not today, unfortunately," Zathris replied pleasantly. "I'm here
watching my runner in today's race."

"Oh?" Her manner was all polite interest, but Ashela was secretly
delighted that he had come alone. "I wish you good luck, then. Which is
your runner?"

"Her name is Starfire. Would you like to meet her?" he asked,
extending his arm to Ashela in invitation.

"Oh yes, I'd enjoy that, if it won't distract you from your preparations
for the race." Ashela linked her arm with his and they set off towards
the runner pens. "Has she raced here before?"

"Yes, she did the circuit last year. This is her second year racing."
Zathris led the Dragonsfall goldrider down to the stables where the
runners were receiving their pre-race muscle rubs. "How is she, Deblin?"

"She's ready, sir. Warmed up beautifully this morning," the jockey said
with a smile.

"Lady Ashela," he said while taking Starfire's bridle and pulling her
nuzzle closer. "This is Starfire. Starfire, meet Ashela." He rubbed her
velvety muzzle before the mare flared her nostrils in the stranger's
direction, wanting to sniff her.

"She's beautiful," Ashela said, holding out her hand. In the back of her
mind, she sensed Aglayath snorting, but she ignored the gold's disdain.
**Don't be jealous. Of course I would never choose to ride her over
you.** "You'll do Amber Hills proud, won't you, Starfire?"

Starfire brushed her soft nose over Ashela's palm, clearly in the search
for some kind of treat.

Zathris reached into the treat bucket and withdrew a sweetcube. "Here,"
he placed it in the palm of Ashela's hand.

The mare happily whisked the cube off of Ashela's palm with nothing more
than a brush of her lips.

"Oh! That tickles." Ashela laughed in surprise, looking at her now-empty
palm. "She has a sweet tooth. I hope I haven't ruined her appetite
before the race."

"It's no problem, she always gets a little treat before a race, it
makes her look forward to it," the jockey assured them.

"We'll get out of your way and let you two get back to your prep work.
Lady Ashela, can I escort you to the stands for the face?" Zathris
offered his arm.

"Thank you. And the very best of luck to you both," she said, giving
Deblin her warmest smile as she took Zathris' arm. "I'll be cheering for
Starfire all the way to the finish line."

As they walked over to the stands together, she felt a curious sense of
anticipation. Ashela had feigned an interest in men's activities plenty
of times in her life, but whether it was the growing excitement of the
gathering crowds, or the simple pleasure of the bright sunlight, a
beautiful gown and a handsome man on her arm, she found herself more
invested in the outcome than she'd expected.

"What do you think of her competition?" she asked. "Who should we be
looking out for?"

Zathris led Ashela to the seats he had reserved as an owner. "Well,
there," he gestured to a white mare being walked to the line, "is Ivory
Grace. She's new to the circuit, from Skyvale. There's been heaving
betting on her. People like betting on beginner's luck."

"I expect they do." Ashela took her seat, aware that they were getting a
few curious looks from the gathering crowd, and she basked in the
attention like a dragon on a sunny ledge. "They also say goldriders are
lucky, so perhaps that'll cancel it out."

A trumpet blast announced the start of the race, sending the runners
bolting from the startline. As others had predicted, Ivory Grace got
off to a fast start, leading easily down the backstretch of the race
track as the galloping herd made their first pass. Starfire's nose,
however, was being tickled by the waving tail of Ivory Grace as they
made the turn for the second lap around the track.

"Here we go," Zathris said excitedly into Ashela's ear as the crowd
roared around them. As the group of runners came down the backstretch
for the final time, Starfire began making her move, eating up the
distance with long strides until she and the young Ivory Grace were
neck-and-neck.

Two runnerlengths from the finish line, Starfire put on a final burst
of speed that propelled her forward and over the finish line first.

"She did it!" Zathris whooped.

Ashela had been leaning forward as the runners approached the finish,
and as they passed with the mare in the lead she leapt up from her seat
with a delighted cry. "Yes! She won! Starfire, you beauty!"

She turned to Zathris, a little breathless from the cheering, her cheeks
flushed and eyes shining. "Oh, that was so exciting! Congratulations!"

"Thank you," Zathris said genuinely. "It looks like you were a good luck
charm after all."

"As much as I'd love to take the credit, I'm quite sure it was all down
to your hard work, and that of your jockey and trainers," Ashela
replied. "This calls for a celebration! Let me order some drinks for all
of you - a few bottles of wine?"

Zathris looked at his men, who all cheered loudly in agreement. "Only if
you're going to enjoy the drinks with us, Lady Goldrider."

"I'd be honored to drink to your champion." Ashela sent a drudge to
fetch the wine, and when they arrived she poured it out, bestowing a
glass on each man with her most charming manner. Finally, she raised her
own. "To Starfire!"

"To Starfire!"

Last updated on the June 24th 2024

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Goldrider's Luck