The Bluff

Writers: Devin, Halyonix, Yvonne
Date Posted: 15th April 2026

Characters: H'run, Harki, K'mai, N'tal, J'var
Description: Conversation over a card game takes a turn that K'mai wasn't expecting.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 20 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: N'vanik, Z'kim, L'val, G'zan, I'serin, K'valdran

H'run

K'mai

Dinner was over and the dining cavern was half-filled with dragonriders chatting, playing cards and digesting that evening's offerings of stew, soup, fresh bread, cheese and pickles. H'run had forced himself to stay, even though he'd rather be alone in his own weyr. Rather, _Calcifeth_ had forced him to stay, bullying his rider into company.

So H'run sat and picked at the cuffs of his black tunic, a half-empty mug of tea at his elbow, when the table's talk inevitably turned to exactly what he _didn't_ want to talk about: the Hatching at Dolphin Cove.

"You'd think N'vanik would have slept with a man _way_ before this," Harki said. "If he was going to do it, why wait?"

K'mai frowned at his cards, wondering if he should say something. It wasn't like he was supposed to keep it secret, though. "Wellll . . . it's complicated."

Harki snorted. "First time I've ever heard a bluerider say sex was complicated."

"I bet he's been hiding his sausage all throughout Dolphin Cove," J'var picked up a card and waggled his eyebrows. "You open a closet? Bam! Sausage. The wardrobe? Also sausage."

K'mai laughed. "It's the bronzerider making sex complicated. He _has_ been sleeping with Z'kim for months, though."

"If they'd just set their delicate sensibilities aside, they'd have _so_ much fun. They really don't know what they're missing!" N'tal said, tossing in his bet.

"You did say that you'd managed to worm your way into a certain bronzerider's bed over at Barrier Lake, so apparently not all of them are too ashamed to have a man on their arm." A wicked thought occurred to H'run. It was so very hard not to look at K'mai. "Which other bronzeriders do you think have secret lovers, and who do you think it might be?"

K'mai's eyes widened, his heart racing with panic. He managed, just barely, not to blurt out something awkward. It felt like the entire table was staring at him, waiting expectantly. "L'val," he said finally, voice slightly cracking. "And . . . G'zan."

"I'd do G'zan," Harki muttered. "He's got _stamina_."

"Those two?" H'run put his head in his hands and rested his elbows on the table, the very picture of innocence. "It never would have crossed my mind. Tell me why!"

"Because it would be funny?" K'mai said, recovering a little. "All the protesting L'val does about not getting involved with his riders, but then he's sneaking around with G'zan. Also, the two of them together would be sharding hot."

H'run waved his hand like he was shooing away a v'tol. "Boring. They barely look at each other outside of Wing meetings. This has to be based on something real otherwise its no fun..."

"Wait. K'mai spends a lot of time with I'serin," J'var said slowly. His smile became sly. "Got anything you want to share?"

}:K'mai? What is wrong?:{

Cold fear filled his stomach even as heat crept up his face. Shards, shards! He had to say _something_. "He . . . I . . ." Eyes boring into him, waiting. Eager for him to break open and spill I'serin's deepest secret all over. **I have to protect him.** K'mai finally managed a laugh. "Faranth, I've been flirting with him for _ages_. Since we were weyrbrats. If he had any interest in me he would've said something by now."

"He's such a stick in the mud," N'tal remarked as he looked over his cards. "He was always going to Cya--Alpine parties before he became Weyrleader but he would just _sit_ there. Like he was afraid of being touched or something. I see why he's single. He's as boring as L'val."

There was a wicked gleam in H'run's eye as he rearranged his cards. "Perhaps that's the perfect pairing, then. I'serin and L'val. Who do you think would be on top, K'mai?"

Faranth help him, K'mai pictured it. His cheeks were burning now. If he didn't say anything it would be suspicious, because of course he'd want to talk about two hot bronzeriders in bed together. But what could he possibly say that didn't reveal too much? It took far too long for him to come up with something. "Are you trying to distract me from the game by having me imagine my hot Wingleader and my extremely hot friend having sweaty, hot sex?"

It was definitely distracting.

"Are you blushing?" H'run asked innocently.

Harki's head snapped up, then she laughed. "K'mai, you're _blushing_! I don't think I've ever seen you blush before!"

"Hmm. Maybe it's not L'val who is I'serin's secret lover..." H'run trailed off, leaving his words dangling like a hook.

K'mai couldn't breathe. H'run had guessed, or worse, _knew_.

}:What is happening?:{ On the Heights, Sebeth rose, his wings half-spread.

**I have to protect him.** I'serin trusted him, and K'mai had to live up to that trust. "No!" he said a little too loudly. "I have a bit of a crush." That was an incredible understatement of how he felt, but a complete denial seemed like too obvious a lie. Everyone here had seen him flirt with I'serin, sometimes outrageously. "But he's . . ." Well, 'a bronzerider' wasn't going to work anymore, with N'vanik being so public and K'mai bragging about being the meat in a gold-and-bronze sandwich. "He doesn't want me that way."

"You're the colour of a beet!" Harki set down her cards so she could focus her full attention on K'mai. "That's not a 'bit' of a crush."

H'run's smile grew sly. "Have you made a pass at him? Do tell us how it went."

A laugh escaped K'mai. "Only about a thousand times since we were weyrbrats."

"So? Tell us how it went!" Harki's eyes were gleaming.

K'mai had a terrible feeling he wasn't going to get out of this. He stared at his cards while he considered if deflection and distraction was going to make this worse. "I'serin's a pretty private person. I don't know if I should say anything." How close to the truth could he dare to admit without breaking I'serin's trust? How much would he have to lie?

"When has that _ever_ stopped you before," H'run scoffed.

That stung. K'mai knew how to keep confidence when people asked for it, but . . . they did kind of specifically have to ask. "Fine." That came out angrier than he intended. K'mai took a steadying breath. "He was very kind about turning me down. We had a very honest conversation, and the important thing is that we're still friends."

"Yeah, that's totally believable by the color of your face," N'tal poked with a grin. He tossed down his cards, folding. "Whatever. Keep your secrets, K'mai. I'm sure we'll find out soon enough through the rumor mill."

Harki waggled her eyebrows at K'mai. "_Ooooor_ we could start a rumor! I'm very believable, aren't I?"

"No rumors! Please," K'mai said. This was all going so wrong. "He's had more than enough attention being Weyrleader. Please just let him go back to a quieter life."

"Fat chance of that, being Weyrleader," N'tal pointed out.

"Not anymore. Just . . . leave him alone. Please," K'mai said. "You can pick on K'valdran now instead."

N'tal blew out a raspberry breath. "He's not nearly as fun." He stretched his limbs and stood. "Alright, I'm done here. You have fun losing marks."

"Nah, I'm done too." Harki threw down her cards as well. "Night!"

"I'll walk with you," H'run rose when the greenrider did. He smiled at K'mai, feeling a bit like the feline that had stolen the cream. "We can come up with a good rumor or two about I'serin on the way. Good night, K'mai! Sweet dreams."

K'mai groaned and laid his head on the table.

Last updated on the May 1st 2026

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The Bluff