Dive On In
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: Halyonix
Date Posted: 20th November 2025
Characters: Br'elt, D'ltero
Description: Br'elt and Daltero catch up before their morning swim
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 12, day 28 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Tymborikath (not by name)
"Good morning, rider Br'elt," Daltero said with pleasant politeness as he joined the other man on the dock. He had two cups of hot tea in his hands and he passed one of them to the brownrider, who took it with a grin.
"You can drop the 'rider' bit, remember?" Br'elt reminded him as he sipped. Klah was too heavy a drink to start the day when they were about to hit the water for exercise, but the water was still chilly enough at the beginning to need something warm in their limbs.
Daltero shrugged his shoulders apologetically. He tapped the side of his head as he smiled. "Fish brain forgets things," he said.
That brought a chuckle from the brownrider. He had a feeling otherwise about the Candidate. Daltero didn't strike him as daft but he was goofy. He used humor to deflect. Chances were he'd still call Br'elt 'rider' every morning until he Impressed. Well, if he Impressed. Daltero was getting up there in eligible age yet he didn't seem worried about it.
"How's lessons going?" Br'elt asked as he began to strip off his shirt in preparation for a swim. At least once a sevenday, ever since Br'elt had come to the Weyr, they met for a morning swim. It had started as coincidental timing. They'd just shown up at the same time on the docks. But over the Turns it had evolved into a thing. They met, caught up on the sevenday, swam out to the lighthouse, and then back. Pleasant start to the morning.
"Same old, same old. Usual stuff. New batch of Candidates so they're all learning the ropes. I think only one of them peed their pants during the Threadfall lesson this time," Daltero answered with that same broad grin. "Maybe I'll tell that one the tale of the Thread that lives under their bed."
Br'elt laughed. "That's mean! No torturing the newcomers."
Daltero's grin grew. "But they're so young! It's hard not to give them a tough time." But the tone he used said that he wouldn't terrorize them anymore. Learning about the Weyr was a big enough hurdle. "There's like, eighty of them anyway. I can't imagine all of the headaches the Weyrlingmasters are going through, trying to keep track of them all. I think another round got dropped off yesterday."
"With forty eggs on the Sands, we want to make sure the hatchlings have a lot of options," Br'elt reminded him.
"For sure!" Daltero agreed as he began stretching his lanky limbs. "I might have to start stuffing rags in my ears though in order to sleep at night. Some of them snore like screaming wherries."
Br'elt cringed at the thought. "I don't miss being in the Barracks, that's for sure. Getting your own place is such a blessing."
"Oh, I bet," Daltero agreed. "I haven't minded it overall. Better than the Hold, for sure, even with the noise."
"Speaking of, if you don't Impress, are you going back?"
Daltero shrugged his shoulders again. "Haven't decided that yet. I don't think so. But I'm Farmercraft. Not a lot of use for that here at the Weyr where not a lot is grown. And I don't think 'boy toy' is acceptable craft title, though I'm pretty sure there are some Candidates who are trying to figure out who the Hallmaster of that would be." Again, that goofy grin to offset any judgement that might have been inferred from his words.
Br'elt reached over to give Daltero a friendly clap on the shoulder. "You seem like you'll figure it out. Werreth says you have a good head on your shoulders. He likes your stories. Maybe you should go into Harper instead."
"Have you heard my singing? It's worse than the screaming wherries!"
"Okay, maybe not." Both men laughed at the idea of Daltero trying to serenade the Weyr with an awful voice for a moment before Br'elt said, "Lighthouse and back. Then breakfast?"
"You're on, rider," Daltero answered with a jovial wink as he dove into the water.
Last updated on the November 29th 2025