Let the Goldrider Do the Talking

Writers: Estelle, Heather
Date Posted: 5th February 2026

Characters: L'keri, Eyvia
Description: L'keri catches up with Eyvia after Galgaith's flight
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 13 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: A'ten, Sybana, Saibra

L'keri

Eyvia

Wandering the Weyr's caverns without a destination in mind, L'keri found his feet leading him to the infirmary without thinking about it. Though it had been almost a Turn since his formal sessions had come to an end, he had dropped by now and again, the last time in the final months of A'ten's weyrlinghood when their training had taken a serious turn, with /between/ and flaming and Blooding on the horizon. Then, at least, he'd understood his own mixed feelings about his son's new life as a dragonrider. But now? The past sevendays had been such a whirlwind that he wasn't sure what to feel.

"My favorite patient returns," a raspy, familiar voice said. A pair of hooded blue eyes calmly regarded L'keri. Eyvia was propped against the front desk of the infimary, arms crossed over her chest. Today her ashy-brown hair was loose, uncharacteristic for the mindhealer. She also wasn't in her typical healer garb, but was still in her flight leathers and riding jacket.

"What can I say? I'm drawn back to the company of _my_ favorite healer, like a vtol to a flame. Or a dragon to a rising queen." L'keri came over to lean on the desk next to her, resting on his elbow. "You're looking ready for action."

"Just finished, actually," Eyvia confirmed. "Drills." She caught on his metaphor about the rising queen. "Speaking of queens, I hear congratulations are in order. Rhalith caught the young Galgaith."

"Yes! I'm so proud of him. Though not as proud as he is of himself," L'keri added, his fondness for his dragon evident in his voice. "It's funny, he hasn't chased a gold more than a handful of times before and never even got close, but perhaps he was inspired by Zarkarth's success and fancied his chances... It was unexpected, anyway." He rubbed the back of his neck. "It's been quite the interesting few sevendays."

"You want to sit somewhere comfortable and tell me about it?" she asked, not just as his former mindhealer, but as a friend.

The brownrider's smile was swift and grateful. "I'd like that. It's been... There's some things I can't really talk about, even to my wingmates."

Eyvia led the way to her office with its two comfortable chairs. "Wingmates can't always understand the things you experience," she said, closing the door behind L'keri.

"Yes, and this time it isn't just my feelings that matter." L'keri sank into the chair, some of the tension in his shoulders easing. He'd not quite understood how much effort he'd been putting into keeping up a show of confidence until the pressure was lifted. "There's Sybana to think about. Poor kid, it was her dragon's first rising, and it can't have been all she dreamed of."

"Tell me about the flight," Eyvia said. "I was out of the Weyr when it took place, so all I have to go on are other people's accounts."

"It was - well, short, for a gold's flight. She tired more quickly than expected." L'keri didn't speculate as to why, since he imagined most of the Weyr was aware by now. "That gave Rhalith as good a chance as the bronzes, maybe better, since he was agile enough to slip through the pack and catch her. But she was still quite low in the sky, so he didn't have time to slow their fall enough before they landed in the sea..." He winced.

Eyvia's wince mirrored L'keri's. "Yikes," she said honestly, since this wasn't a formal session. "I recall that Sybana is holdbred as well, Shadowvale, I think? So how was the afterflight?"

"It wasn't so bad, in the circumstances. The weyrlingmasters must be good at preparing the holdbred ones by now, and I think she was more anxious about her dragon than - well, finding herself in bed with me. She thought she'd failed her, and the Weyr. But we all make mistakes, don't we?" He looked up, real concern in his brown eyes. Strange to think that he was being more serious now than he ever had in one of their healer-prescribed meetings. "I feel I need to protect her, as best I can. There's bound to be talk."

"Is that a new feeling for you? Feeling protective of someone else?" This side of L'keri was new to her. He lacked his normal swagger and humor.

"I suppose it is. It's not been so long since I was having enough trouble taking care of myself, let alone other people." L'keri grimaced. "I certainly did a lousy job with A'ten. I wanted to protect him, still do, but somehow it always ends up going wrong."

"Children tend to be the most complicated relationship for all parents," Eyvia commented. "We want to protect and they want to pull away and be independent. It's a constant push and pull."

"I'm afraid I might have been doing some of the pushing. I never cared about my reputation before - except with the greenriders," he added, with a flash of his usual irreverent charm. "I don't think I properly understood until recently how much it bothers A'ten. He's ashamed of me and all this, with the clutch, it hasn't helped."

The greenrider tilted her head, eyes narrowing a smidge. "He isn't proud that you and Rhalith won? Even though in Dragonsfall's history only a handful of browns have caught a gold?"

L'keri hesitated, torn between loyalty to his son and to his dragon. "Some people would say that's a good thing. The size of the clutch and all. I don't think A'ten believes that, he's always loved Rhalith, but he finds the talk hard to bear, and...well, I suppose Sybana being in his class hasn't helped."

"I can see how that would embarrass a teenager," Eyvia conceded. "But things like that happen with mating flights. He may have to adjust to it if Rhalith and Galgaith turn out to be like Loseth and Panitath. Some golds choose the same partner repeatedly."

"Shells, I hadn't even thought of that. I mean, I _think_ it was an accident." What if she was right? Rhalith was certainly very fond of Galgaith, lavishing attention and compliments on her and her clutch. Might that win her favor? He managed a weak grin. "If that happens, the bronzeriders will have me transferred to stand watches in the furthest High Reaches. Which I suppose is one solution to my problem."

Evyia's nose wrinkled. "High Reaches is even colder than Dragonsfall. I shall hope for your sake, then, that Rhalith only wins Galgaith every once in a while."

"I wouldn't mind that. Though better make it a good while. This clutch sire business is harder than it looks," he said, with mock weariness. "I'm dreading having to be polite to all the high-ranking visitors at the Hatching. What if I say something I shouldn't and cause a diplomatic incident? I'd hate to let Sybana down."

"Pretend whatever you're saying is being said to Saibra's face. If she would raise an eyebrow at it, _don't_ say it. You can do it," Eyvia encouraged.

He pictured the satirical arch of the Weyrwoman's brow, and groaned. "She would raise an eyebrow at almost every word that comes out of my mouth. Maybe I'd better let Sybana do the talking."

The greenrider laughed. "That might be the best plan."

Last updated on the February 8th 2026

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Let the Goldrider Do the Talking