Silken Words

Writers: AL, Halyonix
Date Posted: 10th June 2025

Characters: Y'dran, Meledei
Description: Y'dran meets DCW's youngest goldrider
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 1 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: N'vanik

Notes:

~*~

Meledei slid into a seat in the dining hall, her eyes turning toward the Harpers who had just arrived. In a few minutes, they would begin their set for the evening, likely play for an hour or so, then switch out with another trio or quartet. Throughout the evening, music would play, adding to the pleasant atmosphere. She always enjoyed listening to music, though she never considered herself particularly musical. She could carry a tune well enough, but the Harpers had far more talent and skill than she ever hoped to have.

Within earshot was another rider who had also secured his spot for the evening. But while Meledei was there for casual entertainment, he was there for numerous other reasons, some of which would be revealed as the night went on. Still, he noticed her and shot her a roguish grin. “Ready for the evening’s performance?”

Her eyes turned toward the person who owned the voice that she knew was directed at her. As she studied him, her eyebrows arched upward, unable to place his face or his name. Either he was someone she had never met before, which was unlikely since he wore the knots of a bronzerider, so she assumed he was either visiting or had transferred since her departure. “I am. How about you?”

His eyes twinkled with merry anticipation. “Always do. With any luck, they’ll let me perform a piece or two.” He made a dismissive gesture with his hand quickly. “Spoken word. Not singing. Not that I can’t sing, but I prefer a different format to Harper arts.” He scooted his chair closer to hers. “I’m Y’dran, Seriaeth’s rider,” he introduced himself smoothly.

“I see.” Meledei had no problem with spoken word. Such things were often included in entertainment - poems, recitations, moments were the dramatic did not include music, but vocal inflection. She appreciated all of them. “I’m Meledei, Elleth’s rider. A pleasure to meet you.” At that, she offered her hand for a shake.

There was a knowing twinkle to his eyes as she said her dragon’s name. What bronzerider didn’t know the names of the gold dragons in their Weyr? She was young enough to be his daughter, but when a gold rose, a difference in age didn’t matter. Not that Y’dran only thought about mating flights. He left that sort of care to Seriaeth. “A pleasure to meet you,” he said as he took her hand and gave it a courtly kiss. “I’m recently transferred in from Vista Point,” he explained. “Lovely views you have here. Perhaps you can tell me more about the area.”

“I can if you like.” Meledei offered helpfully. Her eyes watched him as he kissed her hand, wondering what his angle was. Well, really, did she have to ask? He was a man, and even more so, he was a bronzerider. Of course, he wanted to coddle up to her. “You said recently transferred. How long ago is ‘recently’?”

“Two sevendays or so,” he said with the air of someone who honestly didn’t pay much attention to the passing of time. “I hear there’s a Dolphin Hall nearby, but I’m certain that can’t be the only tourist attraction.”

“You haven’t been to the Dolphin Hall yet?” Usually, Meledei found that people wanted to visit there right away, and she couldn’t blame them. The dolphins were awfully fun. “There’s plenty to see. Lots of dragons congregate by the lake, and we have beautiful beaches. The runners here are used to dragons, so you can take them for rides, as long as you know how to handle them. It’s quite different from riding a dragon.”

“And offend Seriaeth by riding a runner?” Y’dran replied with a dramatic press of his hand against his chest. “He’d never speak to me again! Can you imagine waking up to a roommate in your head that can block the door to your weyr?” His tone was painting a comical image if nothing else.

“Yes, I can,” Meledei replied as she accepted a mug from a passing drudge and nodded her thanks to the young woman. Lifting the liquid to her lips, the sweetness of redfruit greeted her tongue and slid pleasantly down her throat. “But my lifemate would find no offense. It’s a shame. Riding a runner isn’t the same as riding a dragon; it’s an entirely different experience, but I find it enjoyable.” Not as enjoyable as being with Elleth, but her dragon showed no concern.

Setting the mug down on the table with a clap, Meledei levelled her gaze at the man. Obviously unmoved by his dramatic motions, she nonetheless continued the conversation. “So Y’dran, what brought you to Dolphin Cove? Why did you transfer?”

“Change of scenery,” he answered simply as he looked back at the harpers. “N’vanik and I were friends long ago, it’s good to see him again here. I could not imagine being Weyrleader myself but he seems to be taking it well. Me, I’m happy to just be myself. Far less responsibilities.” He paused and looked back at her. “And you? From here or elsewhere?”

A single eyebrow arched upward at the answer to his question. Although a change of scenery was nice, she found that a rather odd reason to change one’s entire living situation. As he continued, Meledei felt she had a better insight into the man. “Thayan Peak. Of course, when it was destroyed, everyone came here. How did you meet N’vanik?”

“Ah, Thayan Peak. Between it and River Bluff, we are a generation traumatized, bereft of our moorings, adrift in our lives,” he waxed poetic. He let it hang for a dramatic moment before, like someone snapping their fingers, his posture changed. “He was at Vista Point at…some point in the past.” He made a waving motion with his hand. “The Turns start to blur together at some point. But he was always causing trouble. Good to see him taking charge, though. Here’s hoping he’s learned not to punch as many Wingleaders.”

Meledei didn’t really react to the man’s attempt at poetry, but that last little tidbit about N’vanik caught her attention. Her dark, jade eyes twinkled in amusement and interest, and she turned in her chair away from the harpers and more toward the dragonrider. “It sounds like you have some stories to share.”

His grin became roguish, conniving. “Shells, do I,” he hummed. He held that teasing expression for a dramatic moment, and then it was gone. “But you. I’d rather hear stories from you. Thayan Peak to here? Any stops along the way? What’s your favorite thing about being here?”

“No stops, and it’s my refuge, so I love it,” Meledei answered without any fanfare or details. Instead, she leaned forward, elbow upon the edge of the table, chin resting in her hand. “I want to hear stories about all the trouble N’vanik got into. I’m not sure I believe you.”

“Well,” Y’dran answered as he shifted his pose into something more relaxed. “Not that _I_ was privy to this event, but as soon as N’vanik and Loseth learned how to /between/ properly, he was off like a flit to have fun.” Y’dran wiggled his fingers like they were flying away. “It took the senior Weyrwoman at the time to keep him grounded. He listened to no one.”

“Really?” Leaning her elbow against the table, Meledei rested her chin upon the palm of her hand, her fingers curling to lightly rest against her cheek. “What sort of ‘fun’ did he have?” Some of it, Meledei could imagine. Dragonriders were open and relaxed about sex, but she wanted to know about the other kinds of shenanigans.

“Oh, visiting friends. Courting lovers. The usual,” Y’dran lied, having no idea of the details. He went on to embellish the tale. “I think there was a bonfire party at a beach somewhere that did not involve a lot of clothing but definitely had a copious amount of alcohol.”

“Honestly, that sounds about right. I’m sure you have enjoyed your share of such things.” Meledei smiled, then turned her attention back to the harpers. A young boy got up, evidently a promising apprentice. She’d heard that his voice was one of the most beautiful in recent years, and wondered if it would turn out to be true. “That’s not really my sort of thing, though.”

“The quieter sort, are you?” Y’dran asked politely. “A good book with a fine glass of wine to accompany it?”

“I’m not sure I call myself quiet, but I’m not wild either.” Meledei shrugged. She enjoyed adventure, going places, seeing new things, but that’s not what he meant. “But yes, I do enjoy a good book, a glass of wine, and maybe some harper tales.”

There was a distinct rhythmic tap from the harpers on stage. One of them looked pointedly at Y’dran, who began rising. “That’s my cue to introduce tonight’s entertainment,” he explained to Meledei with a roguish grin. “If you are ever in the mood for Harper tales, do let me know,” he said, adding in a sweeping bow.

“Nice meeting you.” Meledei bobbed her head in a pleasant manner and watched as the man made his way up to the stage. Leaning back, she chuckled softly to herself, prepared for a pleasant evening of music and stories in the wake of a man who would likely find a lover to court before the night was out. It just wouldn’t be her.

Last updated on the June 13th 2025

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Silken Words