All Together Now... (1/2)
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: Devin, Estelle
Date Posted: 13th October 2025
Characters: L'keri, R'gal
Description: L'keri is confronted by a resentful bronzerider at the lake
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 15 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Galgaith
After that disaster of a flight, he'd known it would be bad, but _fifteen_? R'gal hadn't heard of a clutch that small since before the Pass. That foolish girl carried most of the blame for ignoring every piece of advice she'd been given about mating flights and letting her gold Rise without even blooding. He'd never even heard of such a thing!
Why, Ornagreth had barely had a chance to stretch his wings before the whole thing was over! And then to top it all off, Galgaith had been caught by a _brown_. Not even a sensible Wingsecond, either, but Rhalith, who belonged to that lazy fool L'keri.
R'gal was still fuming about it when Ornagreth demanded a bath. The bronzerider stopped short when he saw who else was at the lake. Him! R'gal marched up to L'keri with a dark scowl. "I'm surprised you're willing to show your face after that shameful clutch."
L'keri looked up, blinked, and then favored the bronzerider with a broad, insolent smile. "But my face is so pretty, R'gal," he drawled. "The ladies would be heartbroken if I hid it away."
No shame at all! "The _Weyr_ is heartbroken that you've robbed them of a proper clutch. We needed those dragons," R'gal said. "First the Weyrleader loses half a Wing, now this."
"It can't be that bad," L'keri said easily. He sensed that other riders at the lake were drawing closer to listen, and he pitched his voice subtly higher, to carry to an audience. "Fifteen eggs is better than none, after all, and I'm sure they'll all be a credit to the Wings. Which...remind me how many Ornagreth has sired so far?" He put down his scrubbing brush and pretended to count on his fingers, his brow creased in thought. "Oh, yes, that's right. Zero."
Utter fury coursed through R'gal. Ornagreth's eyes turned orange, a low growl rumbling in his chest. "I--that--" The bronzerider was so angry that for a moment he couldn't speak, couldn't think. "This isn't about me, this is about the good of the Weyr. Of dragonkind!"
"I must say I'm flattered that you think Rhalith and I are a threat to all dragonkind." L'keri had to raise his voice over the ominous rumbling, but he didn't appear intimidated, returning the bronzerider's glare with one of his most irritating smirks. "I've been called names before, as my Wingleader can attest, but that's a first."
"Rhalith couldn't even hold her!" R'gal clenched his fists. "What if they hadn't been over the sea?"
"But they were. It goes to show the wisdom and foresight of our ancestors in building Weyrs so close to the water," L'keri said, with an air of solemn piety that wouldn't have disgraced a Weyrlingmaster. "Look, R'gal, there's no harm done. Galgaith is safe, she has a clutch, and I'm sure next time she'll respect our most venerable traditions and let a bronze win." He grinned. "It'd be getting a little embarrassing for you, otherwise."
Ornagreth gave another growl as R'gal grit his teeth. "No harm! You call such a pathetic clutch no harm!" And the brownrider had absolutely no shame about it. R'gal searched for something, anything, that would rile L'keri. "And now the likes of _you_ are going to represent Dragonsfall at the Hatching. A drunken good for nothing who can barely manage his duties between parties. I heard your own son was so embarrassed by you he fled the Weyr." R'gal looked him over with contempt. "I can see why."
For just a fraction of a moment, the brownrider's hands tightened into fists and his easygoing manner slipped. "Your information is out of date. I don't drink any more, and my son just graduated from weyrling training. He and his brown are a credit to the Weyr." Though his voice stayed even, behind him in the water Rhalith rose and shook his wings, his eyes glowing an ominous fiery shade of orange-red and his throat vibrating with a low, dangerous rumble.
Ah, struck a nerve there. A hint of satisfaction crossed R'gal's face. "I'm sure A'ten is doing well despite his parentage. Perhaps his time away allowed him to distance himself from your bad influence. I certainly hope you don't embarrass yourself at the Hatching the way you did some Turns ago. Dolphin Cove, I think? Something about you falling off a roof? How did you manage that?"
"I really can't recall." L'keri took a firm grip on his temper, but there was a sharp edge to his voice and his dragon showed no sign of calming down. "But I'm sure I was having more fun than you've ever had in your life, you tedious old wherry."
"Blackout drunk." R'gal tsked. "What an example you set for your son."
He'd started to turn his back on the bronzerider and return to Rhalith, but at those last words L'keri froze, then turned slowly and took a pace forward, up close in the other man's face. "Look, R'gal, you can insult me all you want if it makes you feel better about losing Galgaith's flight. I've taken it from finer men than you. But leave my son out of this. He's got nothing to do with it."
R'gal barely controlled a smirk. "Of course. I know better than to blame a child for his father's failings."
"Good. Now why don't you go and cry over your loss somewhere else," L'keri said through gritted teeth, his voice tight. He gestured across the water. "Like the other side of the lake."
"Don't presume you can tell me what to do, brownrider."
"I'm not. I'm making a suggestion that you'd be wise to follow. Bronzerider," L'keri added, after just enough of a pause to be an insulting afterthought.
"Oh? And what do you think you're going to do if I refuse?" R'gal asked with an arched eyebrow, anger threatening to boil over. The nerve of L'keri!
"Then I'll have to..." L'keri paused, considering, then that slow, impudent smirk returned and his clenched fists relaxed. "I'll have to enjoy Rhalith's victory. Loudly." He leaned closer and pursed his lips, almost as if he was about to kiss the bronzerider, and then he began to whistle one of his Wing's favorite fighting songs. Turning on his heel, he sauntered back towards his waiting dragon, picking up the brush and sweetsand as he went. For his part, Rhalith settled back down into the water, but not without a rude snort in Ornagreth's direction.
Last updated on the October 19th 2025