The Magic Number

Writers: Emma, Yvonne
Date Posted: 23rd September 2006

Characters: Tsaera, K'sedel
Description: Tabanirth Clutches, and River Bluff Weyr has 32 eggs on the Sands
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 13, day 13 of Turn 3
Notes: Calling all Candidates! We've got 32 eggs that need a match! Think you're up for the challenge?

K'sedel

The heat from the Sands rose up through the stands. Tsaera's skin
felt uncomfortably damp, and the insides of her elbows and behind her
knees itched. But she ignored it, her attention fully on the gold
dragon carefully laying eggs on the Sands below her. Tabanirth was
curled protectively around the eleven already laid, while Nikornath
hovered watchfully nearby. She and K'sedel were the only people in
the echoing cavern. "I love having eggs on the Sands."

"It's a wonderful feeling to look on them, isn't it," said the
Weyrleader thoughtfully. "New lives, new dragonriders and all that."

"There's a lot of potential down there." Tsaera was quiet for a
moment, studying the glistening eggs. Mottled, lightly dusted with
sand, and terrifyingly fragile... "It almost makes me look forward to
spending my free time locked up in here."

"You think she'll keep you here again?" asked K'sedel. In his time
he'd seen many a gold dragon act differently. Some want their riders
there all the time, others would let them come and go almost at will.
Some wanted admirers for their eggs besides their rider, others were
reluctant to let so much as the rider of the dragon sired them see
the eggs.

The Weyrwoman smiled. "Come now, K'sedel. This happens every time
Tabanirth clutches; I get to spend the first sevenday or so boiling
my hide off in here, until she relaxes enough to let me go and do
other things. Thank the Egg that she isn't one of those queens who
won't let their rider leave, ever." A sevenday was quite enough -
River Bluff Weyr was hot enough in the summer without having to spend
the majority of her time locked up on the Sands. Tabanirth was
possessive and jealous, but she wasn't needy.

"At least you won't miss the turnover festivities then, I think the
Harpers might be planning something."

"I hope not!" This Turn's End promised to be a good one... she could
think of a couple of men she wouldn't mind spending the evening with.
"I ought to talk to Lenala about that. I bet she'd be good at
organizing an event."

"It might be a chance to show her that we have confidence in her
again."

"Mmmm." Well, it was a thought, and one that bore a little more
thinking over. "Hopefully with the beast's disease waning we'll have
an easier time recruiting candidates."

"I hope so," he replied. "Good job my granddaughter isn't quite of
age yet, else she'd be begging me and her father for permission to be
out there."

Tsaera smiled and wrapped her hands around her knees. "Felarin will
be standing again. I'm not sure if I want him to Impress at all... if
he doesn't, it'll certainly improve my relationship with Everlyin.
She still hasn't forgiven me for luring her son away."

"My children all stayed at a Weyr, so no problems there. But I think
I can see her point, I mean he is her only child, isn't he?"

"And he's also old enough to make his own decisions." Whether or not
Everlyin or herself approved was another matter, and really, none of
their business.

"How many eggs is that now?" K'sedel said, even as he was counting.
There had been eleven when he had arrived, it looked like nearly
double that now. "I make it a good twenty one at least."

"Twenty two is on the way," Tsaera said, watching Tabanirth's abdomen
ripple. "It'll be a good Clutching- it was a good flight!" She
reached out and gave K'sedel's knee a squeeze, then left her hand
there. "Tabanirth knows what she's doing."

"So does Nikornath, and I think she must know it." There wasn't an
ounce of conceit in that statement, he knew how lucky he was.
Tabarnith rarely chose the same bronze twice, let alone a third time.

The Weyrwoman grinned. "Apparently he tells her just that quite
often."

"Maybe that's his secret."

Tsaera raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps. But don't count the Eggs before
they're laid!"

"How many do you reckon there'll be this time?" asked the Weyrleader.

"I don't know." She lapsed into silence, chewing her lip absently as
she watched her golden dragon on the Sands. "After the last Clutch...
well. I'm hoping for over thirty. Over thirty-five would be best."

"It would indeed," he said hopefully. "The more the better, a good
clutch from a good flight."

"Mmmm." As Tsaera watched, Tabanirth added another speckled egg to
the Sands. By the time the Weyrwoman and her Weyrleader left the
queen to brood over her Clutch, there were thirty-two of them.

Last updated on the October 1st 2006

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The Magic Number