Carefully Selected
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: Corrin, Estelle, Heather
Date Posted: 19th February 2026
Characters: Rathandra, Sybana, L'keri
Description: Sybana and L'keri congratulate Rathandra on her Impression
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 12, day 14 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: N'dhavi, M'sar
When, back in candidacy, Sybana had first entertained the idea of Her hatchings, she had imagined they would be grand celebrations, and indeed, the kitchens hadn’t skimped-- but she had also assumed that she would easily hold her head high, that it would be a clutch to be proud of, and a class to admire. As it was, guests were murmuring about the number of eggs and the number of _holdless_.
She did her best to pretend she couldn’t hear, that she didn’t care, that it didn’t _matter_. Putting on a brave face she greeted the lords and masters, her own family who had come for the event. She even applauded with the rest of the hall when the first of the weyrlings arrived to join the festivities, but the hardest steps were yet to come.
It was simple enough to congratulate the handful of hold and weyrbred candidates, and she was truly happy for Yvase (if a bit worried about her size and age), but inevitably she had to speak to at least _some_ of the holdless Impressees. It would be too conspicuous not to and the last thing she wanted was another thing for people to pick apart.
So finally, with L’keri for support, she sought some of them out. Naldhavi and Mesarian were out of the question. Instead, she found the girl--woman--who had Impressed from the Stands. “Congratulations, greenrider,” she smiled her best smile. “I must say, you and yours gave us quite a surprise today.”
Rathandra's harper-manners came back in a flourish as she curtsied to the gold and brown riders. "Thank you, ma'am." It felt a little odd, calling someone ma'am who was probably the same age as her, or perhaps younger, but the rank knots dictated the decorum. "Morivath gave _me_ quite a surprise, as well." Her smile belied her nerves as she put a hand to the top of Morivath's head, who was stretched as tall as she could go beside her rider, preening.
"I can imagine. You don't often see an Impression from the Stands. It takes a very determined dragonet, with a strong character." L'keri had none of the goldrider's inhibitions about meeting this weyrling, and his warm, open demeanor was enlivened by a hint of appreciation for the attractive new greenrider. Before he could get himself into too much trouble, though, he turned his gaze to the hatchling. "She's a lovely one, too. What a striking color!"
Something about the brownrider's demeanor put Rathandra at ease. "She is a very _dark_ shade of green. Do dragon hides lighten as they age or should I expect her to have this coloring even once she's grown?"
"If anything, their color gets deeper and more vibrant. Of course, they do glow when...well, never mind that now," L'keri corrected himself hastily, sensing that this wasn't the moment to bring up mating flights. "Their hide can fade a little in older age, but I'd imagine she'll always be darker than her clutchmates, and all the more beautiful for it."
Sybana shot the brownrider A Look at the mention of glowing hides, but he diverted quickly enough that she let it pass, smoothing her expression back to something composed and suitable as she returned her attention to Rathandra. "I understand you are one of the flood refugees." Holdless. Holdless! "Were you one of the number that planned to leave this spring? Surprise though she was, I do hope Morivath was a happy one."
A blush painted the green Weyrling's cheeks. "Ah, yes, actually, my husband and I were planning to leave right after the Hatching. We stayed because we had never seen one before and it was the last thing I wanted to do before we got on the road again." She glanced down at Morivath and then quickly back to the goldrider, "Oh! But that doesn't, that doesn't make Morivath a bad surprise." She was talking fast, too fast. "But she _was_ a surprise." Was it hot? She felt hot. **Great going, Rath. Offend the sire and dam of the clutch.**
"When you've been to as many Hatchings as I have, you'll see that dragonets like to do the unexpected," L'keri said easily. "And they don't always respect our carefully laid plans for the future. But their choices usually turn out well." It was a slight risk saying that, since he could tell Sybana wasn't happy with the number of holdless who'd Impressed, but he did want to make the new weyrlings feel at ease. He smiled. "I hope you don't mind making your home here at Dragonsfall for the time being."
"I love it here at Dragonsfall," Rathandra said honestly. She knew it wasn't the same for her husband, but she loved everything about the Weyr dug into the triple cliffs. The snow, the people, the books kept in pristine condition by the harpers. The hot water and electricity. It was much better than life on the road.
This really wasn't what Sybana had expected. By word and accent, the woman seemed well-spoken. Her curtsey had been flawless. Surely that wasn't passed down from holdless to holdless. She couldn't have been long out of society. What had her crime been, or was it her husband's? Sybana would have to investigate. Later. For now she judged she had adequately executed her duty and there was little more she could politely ask and less that she cared to say. So she smiled. "I am glad to hear that." The lie came easily, it wouldn't do to cause a scene now. "Well, we won't keep you. Please, enjoy the party."
"Yes, enjoy the evening - your first as a dragonrider!" As they turned to go, L'keri gave the new weyrling a mischievous wink...where Sybana couldn't see.
Last updated on the February 21st 2026