Reassignment
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: Sia
Date Posted: 31st May 2025
Characters: Aydhan, Q'vettan
Description: Aydhan comes with Q'vettan with a quandary
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 6, day 22 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Thiseta, V'maran
"We need to talk, Weyrleader," Aydhan said as she stepped into Q'vettan's office. The space felt unfamiliar now with D’hol gone, all his things cleared out and Q'vettan's not yet moved in.
"That doesn’t sound like congratulations are in order," Q'vettan said mildly.
"We need to talk about _him_. V’maran," she clarified after a moment, as if they both knew.
"I assumed," Q'vettan replied, voice even.
He hadn’t, not exactly. He’d expected something about her weyrmate, since he'd spent a better part of a couple afternoons antagonizing him, but she didn't come in with the tone of someone wanting to defend their partner. Just the worn-thin kind of patience from a different kind of irritation.
From the drawer, he pulled a flask and two glasses. He poured with easy precision and slid one glass her way. No ceremony. Just habit.
“I was going to wait,” Aydhan said, taking the glass but not drinking. “Let the new Weyrleader deal with it. Let V’maran settle, or at least give him a chance to. But he’s not. He’s not settling. And Thiseta has enough on her plate without managing him, too.”
Q'vettan gave a slight nod, thoughtful. He’d wondered whether there was tension between the goldriders, given the awkward timing of Imbeth’s flight-- but if there was, Aydhan didn’t show it. It was refreshing to see should-be rivals supporting each other.
“He’s not showing any improvement at all, is he?”
“No,” Aydhan said flatly. “His arthritis is manageable-- or should be manageable-- but he won’t follow Healer advice, and I'm sure that's not helping his surly mood. He's not making any friends in the Wing, and he's not doing well enough to get promoted back up into higher altitudes. I'm worried that he's barreling towards an incident."
Q'vettan exhaled through his nose. “He’s grieving.”
“I know he’s grieving.” Her voice was sharp, and then softer, worn around the edges. “But this isn’t just grief. This is stubbornness. Control. And pride. The kind that won't let him admit he's hurting. If he makes a mistake in the Queen's Wing, it won’t just be his fall.”
Q'vettan gave a small hum, considering.
}: Chased the Thread but did not last, :{ Tzenketh hummed.
“He’s flown a long time,” Q'vettan said finally. “Used to be a wingthird at River Bluff.”
“I know his record,” Aydhan said. “I’ve read his file. This isn’t about competence. It’s about safety. It’s about morale. I’ve had to smooth over five separate complaints in two months.”
“He’s not ready to retire.”
She straightened, jaw tight. “This isn’t about whether he’s ready.”
He looked at her then, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes.
“No,” he said. “I suppose it’s not.”
A silence stretched between them, not hostile, but taut.
“I know he matters to you,” she said quietly.
Q'vettan didn’t flinch. “He’s a capable rider.”
She gave him a flat look. He didn’t acknowledge it.
“You’ve already started reshuffling the wings,” she continued. “If there’s ever a time to shift him out gracefully, it’s now. Give him another role. Something with structure, but not responsibility he can’t carry.”
“I’ll pull him from the Queen's Wing.”
That gave her pause. “You’ll what?”
“That’s what you want, isn’t it?” he asked, voice still mild. “You just said it. He needs intervention. If gentle conversation won’t work, I find a Weyrleader’s knot has its uses.”
Aydhan narrowed her eyes. “Where are you putting him? You remember how hard it was to get him to accept Queen’s Wing.”
}: Glass shattering against the wall. :{
Tzenketh’s memory surfaced, an image sharp with frustration.
Q'vettan’s mouth twitched. “Somewhere we can keep an eye on him. Somewhere he won’t be tempted to prove himself until he breaks.”
“Q'vettan-”
“You said it yourself. Thiseta has too much to deal with. I’ll handle it.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“No,” he admitted. “It’s not.”
Aydhan rose slowly, the quiet scrape of her chair loud in the room. Her gaze lingered on him, something unreadable behind her eyes.
“You’re not doing him any favors by keeping him close.”
“Maybe not,” Q'vettan said. “But pushing him away while he’s still falling won’t help either.”
Last updated on the June 8th 2025