The Invitation

Writers: Bree, Yvonne
Date Posted: 12th March 2007

Characters: Tsaera, Shalai
Description: Tsaera comes to talk to Shalai and invites her to come and live at the Weyr.
Location: River Bluff Weyr, Smith Hall (NPC)
Date: month 2, day 12 of Turn 4

Shalai smoothed her hands over her skirt as she waited nervously for the healers to finish talking to River Bluff's Weyrwoman. She'd been told that Tsaera would be arriving this afternoon to chat with her, and her nerves had been stretched too thin ever since. The faint hope that the bronzerider had held out to her could be shattered in a few moments if the woman on the other side of the room decided that she really was nothing more than a crazy woman who heard voices.

When the summons came, Shalai was led into the infirmary where a stocky woman with hair as grey as thunderclouds held out her hand in greeting and gave her a friendly smile. The corners of her eyes wrinkled up when she did so. "You must be Shalai. I'm Weyrwoman Tsaera, from River Bluff Weyr. How do you do?"

The hand that clasped Shalai's was strong and warm and very, very real. Relieved, Shalai returned the smile shyly. "I'm... I'm well.
Thank you."

"I've heard a lot about you, Shalai. I hear that you met one of my bronzeriders the other day, and his dragon."

"Yes, Lady Tsaera." The manners drilled into her so many turns ago were slow to resurface. How _was_ she supposed to address a Weyrwoman? Would Tsaera be upset with her if she didn't show the correct amount of respect? **Why didn't they give me more warning? If she doesn't approve of me, I'll have to stay here...**

"Would you like to meet mine?"

Shalai hesitated. "You mean... really meet her? And--and get to see her?"

"Absolutely. Her name is Tabanirth, and Dwarkanath- the other dragon you've spoken with- has told her all about you. She's quite eager to see the woman who speaks with dragons."

"I would be honored to meet her, my lady." Reassuring herself that she was really there would certainly help, too.

"Excellent." Tsaera glanced briefly at the attendant healer before leading the way out the door, down the hall, and into the summer sunshine. In the courtyard an enormous gold dragon, her hide brassy with sunlight and age, reclined regally on the warmed stones. Her wings were folded and her eyes half-lidded as she watched the little group approach.

}:You are Shalai?:{ Shalai took a few tentative steps forward, growing bolder when no one stopped her. She came to a stop a pace or two away from the large queen, holding a hand out just short of the huge neck. **May I touch you?**

Tabanirth was quiet for a moment, then bowed her head in acquiescence. }:You may.:{ Her fingers trembled a little as she laid them gently against the queen's hide. **You're real...** She hardly dared believe it. A faint smile tugged at her lips as she placed her other hand on Tabanirth's neck. "You're real," she whispered outloud. }:Of course I am real. I would not speak to you, otherwise,:{ the gold dragon said, perfectly secure in draconic logic. She exhaled and Shalai's loose hair blew out behind her. }:What will you do, Tsaera?:{
**She belongs at the Weyr, if she speaks to dragons.** The Weyrwoman's expression was blandly pleasant as she watched the woman run her hands along Tabanirth's hide. **Whether she is truely crazy, as the healers think, or misdiagnosed, as M'galec's thinks, can be sorted out later. I don't want to leave her here. What do you think?**

}:I think that there is more to her than it would first seem,:{ Tabanirth said quietly. Tsaera, long used to her dragon's mannerisms, sensed that there was more she wished to say - but that she wanted to say it away from ears that heard too much. }:Well, Shalai? Do you wish to come to my Weyr?:{ "Oh, yes. Please. More than anything." And if she knew the voices were real... well, it might still be overwhelming at first, but she could learn to deal with it. She could learn to deal with anything if it meant escaping from here.

"Things are very different at the Weyr as opposed to a Hold," Tsaera said, coming up behind Shalai and putting a hand on Tabanirth's neck.
"People are loud, and inquisitive. Men hold hands and sometimes kiss other men. There are women who are Crafters - some of them are even Healers. Did you know that I'm a Master Crafter, too?"

Shalai's eyes suddenly sparked with excitement. "Could I--I mean, am I too old to try to learn about a craft?"

Tsaera couldn't quite keep the smile from her face. Shalai had to be what, thirty? Thirty-five? "I think that you are perhaps a little old to apprentice. But some crafters don't mind taking on assistants to help them with the easier tasks, if the assistants are eager to learn." Perhaps they could find some place in the Infirmary for her that was out of the way and would make her feel useful. Or the gardens, with the Farm Crafters. "We'll see. First, though, you need to move to the Weyr. Then we'll need to get you settled in."

"Thank you, Lady Tsaera." Shalai turned and smiled at the large golden queen. "Thank you, Tabanirth."

"Don't thank me yet," Tsaera said. She gave Tabanirth a final pat before turning to Shalai. "Wait until you see your new home, first."

Last updated on the March 13th 2007

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The Invitation