Fair Winds (1/3)
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Estelle, Iluva
Date Posted: 6th August 2024
Characters: Ashela, Th'reyos
Description: Ashela and Th’reyos negotiate more than just the tithe
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 12, day 21 of Turn 11
Ashela stood in front of the long mirror in her weyr, surveying her
appearance with a critical eye. Her plan for the afternoon was to visit
a prosperous seahold called Fair Winds, to discuss the tithe with the
Holder. Although he wasn't a Lord, he and his family were well connected
and she thought it worth making a good impression - while not forgetting
her rank and position as a representative of the Weyr. She'd chosen her
smartest riding leathers and polished boots, with a sea-green blouse
made from smooth, fine fabric and matching earrings for a feminine
touch. It was a shame her hair would get tousled by the wind, she
thought as she picked up her riding helmet, but that was an inevitable
consequence of dragonflight.
}: The brown and his rider are waiting. :{ Aglayath sounded mildly
bored, as usual.
**Good.** She'd requested an escort - not that she was worried about
unrest among the holders, for who would dare challenge her and her
Aglayath - but it would add prestige in the holders' eyes. Besides, if
they did return with goods, it would look far better for the brown to
carry them than for her lovely Aglayath to demean herself by acting as
transport. It was only a pity she hadn't been assigned a young
bronzerider...
She walked out of the weyr and came to stand beside Aglayath at the edge
of the upper cliff level. **Tell them to fly up here and I'll brief them
on the visit.**
Zarkarth had refused to depart from their weyr until his rider finally
agreed to a sleeker set of leathers, ones not yet worn into the shape
of a man twice his size. He’d even shaved… sort of. Th’reyos didn’t
know where or who Fair Winds was, but he didn’t get this cleaned up
for just anyone. Even this, just tidy enough to pass L’val’s
inspection, was questionable" an inch or two too formal and certain
people clammed up and only said what they thought you wanted to hear.
The aim was to comfortably straddle the line between authority and
camaraderie" you never knew who you might encounter outside a Weyr.
Or in one, for that matter.
Swooping up, up, up, to land on the gold's ledge, Zarkarth neatly
furled his wings and remained poised and ready as he rumbled a polite
greeting to the queen. }:It is a pleasure to see you, Aglayath. I look
forward to flying today.:{
In his short time here at Dragonsfall, Th'reyos had heard of a variety
of attributes " some of the expectedly kind, some (amusingly) not "
possessed by the Weyrwoman’s Second. Her style, her elegance, her
unparalleled ability to cut a man with nothing but a few words or
razor sharp look, and, as he thumped down onto Aglayath’s ledge, two
of those immediately rang correct.
“Good afternoon, ma'am.” He said with an easy smile. “Lovely day
today. Lovely day to escort you and your queen to the sea, as well as
anything else you require. Just say the word, we got your back.
Th'reyos,” his hand, clutching a paper bag, touched his chest, then
rested on his brown’s foreleg. “Zarkarth. At your services. What's on
your roster?”
A faint, irritated line appeared on Ashela's brow as she studied the
brownrider who'd just arrived on her ledge. She might almost have
believed L'val had sent his most disreputable-looking wingrider just to
annoy her, if there hadn't been several other even worse candidates for
that title in Cyan Wing. Really - the trials she had to put up with!
"We're visiting Fair Winds Seahold, where I'm to meet with the Holder. I
suppose you weren't told it was a formal visit? Well, it's too late to
smarten yourself up now." Her gaze caught on what he was carrying and,
though she wasn't sure she'd like the answer, she had to ask. "What's in
the bag?"
“Ouch.” It was more grin than grimace as he looked down at himself in
appraisal.
}:I told you.:{
Zarkarth rumbled in amusement and Th’reyos’ hand slipped from his
turncoat of a dragon. She hadn't outright refused him as her escort,
so there was some satisfaction in that despite fiddling with a
fastening on his jacket wearing a look of ‘that better?’ when he
attended to not one, but two.
With a roll of his shoulders, he scoffed, “Honestly, I’m flattered you
think there's even a _slight_ chance anyone sees me next to you.” A
glance down to the bag. “Oh, this is for you.” He gently tossed it to
her. “Don't worry - It’s not tunnelsnakes. Just food. Wasn’t sure if
you had time, or would have time, to eat. Anyway, if you’re hungry or
get hungry.”
Ashela caught the bag. Despite herself, she was intrigued. None of the
bronzeriders had ever thought to bring her food because she might be
hungry. Of course, there'd been the odd private picnic in an isolated
bay or beside a mountain lake, or elegantly wrapped box of sweets, but
that had always been part of the game, and most likely prepared for them
by someone from the Lower Caverns.
"Thank you. Perhaps later, once our errand is done," she replied
graciously. "For now, we'd better be on our way. Zarkarth can take the
image from Aglayath. While we're at Fair Winds, follow my lead. The
holder may offer you refreshment in their kitchens while we talk, or you
may stay by my side. If so, you should remain quiet and respectful, and
don't interrupt the conversation. Is that clear?"
Th’reyos already knew to be on his best behaviour once they were in
the hold" not shake next to anyone important, or get muddied paws on
the furniture, or bark at passers by in the kitchen. Keep alert, keep
guard and await her call.
“Clear as the Azov Sea, boss.” He nodded. The risk of embarrassing her
or the Weyr, or compromising any aspect of the visit was not lost on
him, not something he took lightly, though he could appreciate why she
felt the need to emphasize expectations all the same. It didn’t get
much clearer than that. Stepping up Zarkarth’s foreleg, he assured
her, “Whatever you need, wherever you want me, I got your back. And if
anyone insinuates that we're late just tell ‘em I was doing my hair.”
Ashela's lips curved in the merest hint of a smile. "They wouldn't dare.
A queen's rider is always precisely on time. Still, it would be uncivil
to keep them waiting. Let's be on our way."
She pulled on her helmet, mounted up and secured the paper bag Th'reyos
had given her in a leather satchel attached to the riding straps. Once
they were ready, Aglayath rose from her crouch and leapt from the cliff,
her wingbeats lifting them until they caught one of the air currents
above the Weyr. She closed her eyes briefly, visualizing their
destination. **Tell the brown we go.**
Last updated on the August 29th 2024