The Same Complaint

Writers: AmajoS, Yvonne
Date Posted: 6th September 2007

Characters: Tsaera, Eththek
Description: Tsaera is paid a visit by an upset Holder with a Searched daughter
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 5, day 20 of Turn 4

Elethek followed the drudge deeper into the Weyr, hopefully in the direction of the Weyrwoman. He'd been told that she was who he needed to talk to about the disgraceful actions of the so-called 'Searchriders' who'd visited his Hold and made off with one of his daughters.

After a series of similar-seeming halls, the drudge finally gestured to a half-open door. "This is her office, sir, and the most likely place she'd be at this time of day."

"Hmph," Elethek replied, passing the man and entering the office with only a quick knock on the door to announce his presence to the Weyrwoman within.

An iron-haired woman sat behind a massive desk with a pen in one hand and a wrinkle between her brows as she read the hide before her. She glanced up when the holder entered, then paused to make a mark on her hide before setting both aside. "You look like a man with something on your mind."

Suddenly flustered by the forthright greeting, Elethek hesitated a moment before speaking. But only a moment. "I have a great deal on my mind Weyrwoman. One thing in particular, I'm hoping you can settle for me. I was told you were the one to speak to."

"If I can, I will, Holder...?" He had that 'Holder' look about him:
conservative, out of place, and somewhat out of place.

"Elethek, Holder of the Three Winds Small Hold which is beholden to Jade Harbour Hold," the Small Holder supplied proudly and formally.
His Small Hold might not be the largest in Jade Harbour, but it was one of the most prosperous. "And I hope you can do something about your own riders, Madam Weyrwoman."

"Three Winds Small Hold - it's a beautiful Holding from the air.
What's the problem that you've been having with my riders?" Tsaera had seen the Search records and thought she already knew the answer, although she hoped that Elethek was smarter than that.

Mollified slightly by the compliment to his Hold, Elethek explained in a much calmer tone than he might have otherwise, "Your riders arrived, claiming they were on Search and took two girls from my hold, Weyrwoman. One of them, my own daughter!"

"Yes. Lenala's Vilarth Clutched recently and we have forty-seven eggs on the Sands, so my riders are out on Search. Your daughter is Eletha?"

"She is," the Small Holder confirmed. "And I do understand there are eggs on the Sands, but your Searchrider didn't even stop to consider whether she -wanted- to accompany him." And he was certain she hadn't. What well-brought-up girl would want to fly off into the sort of shiftless life a Weyr offered when they had already been matched up with a proper man to marry?

"Neither my daughter or the other girl were given the option of saying no," he added heatedly. Never mind that he hadn't even been there when the Searchrider had arrived. He knew the girls of his Small Hold. They were good girls and not the sort to go cavorting off with dragonriders.

"Searchriders are not kidnappers, Holder Elethek. If a girl is unwilling to go, we will not take her. Nor, if she decides that she wishes to return to her Hold, will we keep her here. However, with a golden egg on the Sands, I find it hard to believe that a girl from a small Holding would turn down the chance to Impress... nor would I imagine that you would want to deny your daughter such an opportunity?"

Though he initially bristled at her implication that he was overreacting, her last words derailed the angry reply he'd been gearing up for. Instead he replied in a slightly more moderate tone, "It's not a guarantee, though is it, Weyrwoman? My daughter could easily Impress a green dragon instead, and then where would she be?"

"She'd be keeping your Holding safe from Thread, that's where she'd be." Tsaera frowned. "There is nothing wrong with Impressing a green dragon, Holder. The majority of my Weyr is made up of greenriders, and contrary to popular belief, they're not all morally depraved dimglows. I'm sure that your daughter has been well brought up and can distinguish between right and wrong. You yourself seem like an upright man, so why do you have so little confidence in her ability to guide herself?"

"No disrespect intended, Weyrwoman." Elethek replied tightly. It was obvious the woman was biased and he'd receive no help from this quarter. "Perhaps I've taken enough of your time. I'm sure you've plenty to do."

Tabanirth gave the Weyrwoman a silent prompt to be more courteous.
Tsaera suppressed a sigh; her dragon was far more patient than she was. Every time there were eggs on the Sands she had to repeat this same conversation. "Your daughter will be well taken care of, Holder Elethek, and will be an honored and respected member of my Weyr should she Impress, no matter what the colour of her dragon's hide may be. And if she does not Impress... she's free to return to you, if that is her wish, or free to stay here, if that is her wish as well. If I could give you a guarantee of some sort, I would, but unfortunately no one can predict a dragon. All I can do is extend a personal invitation to you to attend the Hatching."

Despite his ire, Elethek was tempted. He'd never actually attended a Hatching before. "Thank you, Weyrwoman. I'll take you up on that offer," he sketched a short bow. If his daughter didn't Impress, he'd be able to see that she returned home this way at any rate.

Tsaera managed to maintain her smile until he left. She picked up her pen and tried to refocus on the hide before her. At least at the Hatching Feast, after his daughter Impressed green or didn't Impress at all, she'd be able to avoid him. Even that was the same.

Last updated on the September 8th 2007

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The Same Complaint