Like You Believe In (2/2)
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: Estelle, Corrin
Date Posted: 15th March 2026
Characters: V'karel, K'valdran
Description: V’karel and K’valdran meet again and discuss important matters.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 12 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: I’serin
“Valk!“ Throwing open the door to his ledge, K’valdran stepped out and pulled his old enemy--his old friend--into a hearty embrace. They had seen each other only a few days ago, when Kor had offered him the Weyrsecond knots-- but that did nothing to dull his enthusiasm. This was a special moment-- the end of a long road, the summit of a high mountain: “Welcome home.”
"It's good to be back, Kor." Grinning, V'karel slapped his new Weyrleader on the back. He already seemed reinvigorated, his voice lighter, as if the mountain air of his old home had blown away all the cares and frustrations of those last Turns at Fort.
He turned and looked down from the heights of the Weyrleader's ledge at the Weyr below them. Directly beneath were the caverns leading to the Hatching Grounds, where they'd gone in as candidates and come out as dragonriders. All around them, the cliffs were studded with weyrs, and the gleaming hides of dragons, bathing in a brief interval of bright sunlight - and below, the practice grounds where they'd spent so much time drilling for a fight against an enemy whose very existence he'd doubted - but his classmate never had.
"Who'd have thought it," he said softly, almost to himself. Then he smiled. "Nice view."
“You'll be happy to hear your view will be much the same. Remember, the Weyrsecond’s suite is right over there.“ K’valdran gestured toward the ledge on the left, connected to the Weyrleader's by a small footbridge.
“As for who'd have thought it… If you mean us working together--” he chuckled, a sly ghost of a grin on his lips. “Not me. Not back then. I'd probably have socked anyone who suggested I make you my ‘second. And now I’ve done it twice. …Shows what I knew, eh?”
"Believe me," V'karel said wryly, "I'd _definitely_ have socked anyone who told me I'd be working for you one day. So that makes two of us."
K'valdran chuckled, but the humor gently faded as he turned out to take in the view as V’karel had. “But if you mean Karcalanth making the catch-- you know I did. I thought it, I wanted it, and now it's here.” He fell quiet for a weighty beat, his brow furrowed with thought.
“It is a strange time for the Weyr,’ he said at last. “I hardly need to tell you. I'm sure your family has been filling your ears, same as mine... Things have changed since we were transferred North. Dragonsfall gave and gave of herself at the dawn of the Pass. She sent riders, queens, whole wings of experience to seed new Weyrs and strengthen old. It was the right thing to do…”
He glanced down at the bowl below them, at the people going about their daily tasks. “But it had a cost here.
“Dragonsfall was gutted to serve the world. I checked the records. It’s been seven Turns since a son of the Weyrhold was ‘Leader. Seven Turns of outsiders promoting outsiders, leaving our own kin wondering when and if they'll have a voice in their own home.
“This was never meant to be a patchwork Weyr like those we put together beyond the sea.” They had been from all weyrs up there, out of necessity. “This is an ancient place. Arguably the oldest remaining dragonhome in continuous existence, manned by families that have been here for generations, descendants of the last riders. They deserve a voice. Especially now, with holdless in our caverns and soon to be in our wings. People are wary, and rightly so.”
"So I've heard. My mother gives me an earful about the holdless every time I visit, and more," V'karel admitted. Though he'd been distracted lately by trying to hold his own Wing together, he'd been aware that his old home'd had more than its share of ill luck. A Wing torn apart by a miscalculation in Fall, holdless folk camping out in the Bowl, a bronzerider slipping to his death. Then a disaster of a junior gold flight and a meager clutch, half impressing to holdless youths with no connection to dragons or weyrlife. How much it was down to leadership he couldn't say, but - seven Turns. That was sobering.
He glanced at K'valdran. "It sounds as though change is coming to this particular ancient place. What can I do to help?”
K’valdran turned back to him, the quiet reflection gone from his face and replaced by a familiar verve. “First, I want a full accounting of our strength,” he said. “Every wing, every wingleader. You will take point. I know you’ve the mind for juggling such matters and the tact. It is a large undertaking and must be done quickly.”
“As you’ve no doubt heard, Dragonsfall has been suffering heavy losses of late. I’ve my suspicions that the cause was I’serin himself, but we must be sure it’s not a deeper issue within our ranks. So look at everything. Drilling. Morale. Leadership in the air and on the ground. If a wingleader does their duty well, they’ll have my support. If they don’t…” He spread his hands in an eloquent shrug. “Then they’ll step aside for another, more deserving man. Ones overlooked by my predecessors-- and we shall kill two wherries with one stone.”
"I understand," V'karel said, already thinking it through. That was a large task indeed, and a challenge for someone who'd been away in the North since before the Pass began. He'd need to get to know the riders from River Bluff and the newer transfers quickly, catch up with old wingmates he'd lost touch with, observe their practice drills and read up on their performance in Fall.
Even so, he could see why he'd be a smart choice for the job. He'd Impressed and trained at Dragonsfall, so wasn't a complete outsider, but he'd bring a fresh perspective, free of wing allegiance or grudges. It was the kind of work he liked doing and was good at: talking with riders, who might not speak so openly to the Weyrleader himself, gaining their trust, listening to what they said and didn't say.
Most of all, it was important, and required trust. Decisions that could mark the course of K'valdran's leadership would depend on what he concluded. "I'll get started on that straight away."
“Good. And Valk--” K’valdran stepped forward, clasping his friend warmly by the shoulder. “Thanks for coming. I know it wasn’t an easy call to leave Fort, but there’s no one I’d rather have at my side.”
"Thank you, Kor. It wasn't easy, but it was time to come home." Even after so many Turns away, V'karel felt the familiarity of the landscape deep in his bones, the clear quality of the light and the crisp chill of the mountain air even in the warmest months, and he knew he'd made the right decision.
A memory stirred, and the corner of his mouth lifted into a grin. "Now, let's go burn some man-eating sky worms, eh?"
K’valdran laughed. “Of course.”
Last updated on the April 1st 2026