The Extortionist

Writers: Halyonix, Shawna
Date Posted: 29th September 2025

Characters: D'boran, Br'elt
Description: D'boran forgets about a date with Br'elt
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr, Printer Hall
Date: month 6, day 14 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Zariah, D'brul

Br'elt

Notes:
~*~

"You forgot me!" Br'elt cried with mock injury as he walked into the Infirmary.

D'boran looked up from his notes in surprise, then glanced over at a calendar on the wall. "Wait, did we have an appointment?" It wasn't on the work schedule.

"We did," the brownrider answed jovially. He planted his hands flat on the desk, leaning close to D'boran. "The bookstore? Sondrith and Werreth planned it."

"Oh, I didn't realize they were serious. Sondrith never likes visiting the halls. The candidates all assume she's a search dragon and get excited. I uh, can take a lunch hour now, I suppose," D'boran said after another brief check of his calendar.

"Always so busy. I think Sondrith connived this just to get you away again. She's pretty adamant about that from what Werreth tells me. He says that they're going to sun away from the Hall so that they aren't bothered," Br'elt explained as they left the Infirmary.

"Dragons aren't always as sturdy as they think they are, they get into mishaps," D'boran sounded a little defensive. Of course it was Sondrith behind this, the pushy busybody. Handsome brownriders had better things to do than spend time with ink and ichor-stained greenriders. "You really should tell Werreth to tell her no. He shouldn't be letting a green bully him, or you about, no matter how charming she thinks she is."

"And if it isn't just Werreth conniving?" Br'elt asked with a flirtatious twinkle in his eyes.

"Oh, of course it's not. I know how Sondrith can be," D'boran said cluelessly, "she treats me like a pet that needs walkies sometimes, but a brown should be able to tell a conniving green no."

"You put way too much faith in Werreth," Br'elt replied. Honestly, it was equally as much his fault since he wanted to see D'boran and Werreth wanted to see Sondrith. Both dragons were waiting for their riders in the Bowl, one of them practically prancing in anticipation. "Up we go. Werreth knows where to go so just have Sondrith follow."

The green didn't technically need to follow Werreth. She didn't like visiting the halls with all their over eager apprentices with grabby hands, but she did know where they all were, even the relatively new Printer Hall. Still, she waited for the brown to leave first before springing to the air, coming out a few seconds after the other pair. D'boran was quick to hop down, feeling the green's eagerness to escape before any children saw her. "What kind of books are you looking for?" He asked curiously as he fell in step next to Br'elt.

}: I'll protect you, :{ Werreth said to Sondrith. }: Do you want to go flying around while our riders look at those books things? :{

"Adventures, I think," Br'elt answered. "Maybe a romance book for C'lest. His birthingday is coming up and he likes that sappy stuff. What about you? What kind of books do you like to read?"

}: Yes, please. Some other dragon has taught those apprentices it's all right to crowd around.:{

"Oh, adventures? My brother would probably like those. You know, if D'brul read anything," D'boran said with the disparaging tone of a little brother. "I've heard there's a new edition of a medical botany book out. Apparently the new printers can mass produce more detailed drawings of the plants. What a wonderful use of the new technology," the greenrider practically radiated nerdy enthusiasm.

"They can do detailed drawings now?" Br'elt asked. Anything to get D'boran talking. Outside of the Weyr and his work, Br'elt was eager to see more of the greenrider's personality on display.

"Well if they can't, they're running a scam by offering a new edition. I should have brought my copy," D'boran turned, almost as if he were going to return and get it, but Sondrith was already gone, fearful of the grabby hands of eager apprentices.

"Nothing wrong with extra books," the brownrider remarked, even though he didn't have anything like that. "You know, a copy to lend out to friends. A copy to keep for yourself. That sort of thing. Hey, did you hear about those book dragons?"

"Unless it's just a second copy of the ony I already have," D'boran countered. His nose wrinkled at the mention of the book dragons, "Ugh. Zariah. Did you know she said I had to buy the books if I wanted to write notes in them? I was just trying to share some of my insights and corrections with future readers! And she wouldn't stop recommending fiction! You'd think she was writing the weyr romances the way she recommended them. I've cancelled my subscription."

**Shells, there went that idea,** Br'elt thought. "So no Weyr romances, got it. What about poetry? Or mystery?"

"Not really productive reading material," D'boran said, "But what are you looking for? Something not on the subscription, or do you also find Zariah tedious?"

Br'elt looked a little bashful. "I...actually have never met her. I've heard about her though. I think she has an assistant too. A little bluerider weyrling. I uh...honestly, I was really only interested in it for you." He chuckled. "I was thinking of gifting you a subscription. Seemed right up your alley."

"Oh. Uh. Well you shouldn't do that. They won't let me write in the books," D'boran looked around awkwardly, as if someone might leap out to scold him, "And really, what's the point if you can't record your thoughts in the book? So you're not a big reader, I take it? If you aren't renting books from the extortionist?" His level of annoyance at the book delivering greenrider was probably disproportionate to any of her actual actions.

The greenrider's tone surprised Br'elt a bit. **Remind me never to get on his bad side,** he remarked to Werreth with an uncertain mental chuckle.

}: Luckily, Sondrith has no bad sides, :{ Werreth remarked, looking over the lovely green.

"Not really," Br'elt said to D'boran. "I prefer experiences, honestly. Getting out. Doing things. But I know you like reading so I thought this would kind of hit two wherries with the same stone. You get books, I get the experience of doing something with you." He shot D'boran a grin, hoping to defuse some of the tense air.

D'boran had the grace to look sheepish and dial back his irritation. "Oh, well it's more that I like studying and working on things than reading. It's about the information, not the activity," D'boran clarified. "But I am eager to see if the new botany book has better pictures. I like collecting the supplies myself and it's easier when you can better see what they look like."

That hit on a thought. "Maybe I could go with you on a collection run sometime?" Br'elt offered. Did he sound too eager? He probably sounded too eager. Werreth was rubbing off on him for sure.

"Oh, that's a thought. Do you like hiking? There's some nice spots near Dragonsfall that get some interesting herbs in the early spring," D'boran visibly perked up at the thought. ".. and flowers, I guess."

The brownrider brightened visibly. "I love hiking. Just about anything outdoors really. I hear there's some nice waterfalls that far south too." Maybe he could get D'boran away for a day, let their dragons sun or hunt, and he could woo the greenrider a little more.

"That would be interesting to see. And maybe my new book will be useful if it does have clearer pictures. I could show you some of the common useful herbs and plants," D'boran offered.

"Sounds like we have our next date planned," Br'elt suggested with a beaming grin. And hopefully, D'boran wouldn't forget about it so easily this time.

"Oh, I don't know that that's, I mean it's hardly... I," D'boran coughed, "Yes. We do. But now let's go see about these books."

Last updated on the October 12th 2025

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

The Extortionist