Tabanirth Rises (part 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: Emma, Yvonne
Date Posted: 12th March 2008
Characters: Tsaera, K'reyel
Description: River Bluff Weyr has a new Weyrleader
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 8, day 19 of Turn 4
Tsaera sighed, stretched, then lay still, content to let the passions of the Flight ebb and leave her sated and languid. The furs on the bed tickled the bare skin of her sides and the late afternoon light that was let in by small, glazed windows set high beneath the eaves was as golden as Tabanirth's hide. She hadn't thought the queen would rise today since it was so rainy, but the afternoon had broken humid and hotter than it ought to have been. The air in the cot was thick with moisture and a held bouquet of sex and sweat and, very faintly, the sea.
After a while she rolled over to face her new Weyrleader, whose dark blond head had lost its pillow and lay flat against the mattress. "K'reyel? Are you awake?" There was more of a purr in her voice than usual, but Tsaera couldn't quite banish it. Not yet.
"Unh..." The bronzerider made a sleepy sound as he rolled over and tried to piece things together in his memories. A flight, Erdenth chasing and then--
"Mai?"
"Sorry, she's not here." Tsaera leaned in close enough so that her breath stirred his hair. "Erdenth flew Tabanirth. You're Weyrleader, K'reyel."
The one word that did get through was 'Weyrleader'. "No, that's my father's position, I'm his 'second," he said looking around him, this had to be a nightmare, one he'd wake up from sooner rather than later. "This is a dream, I'm going to wake up and find out that Nikornath flew Tabanirth again any moment."
The Weyrwoman sighed and returned to her side of the bed, feeling somewhat stung. No matter how many times it happened, she'd thought by now that she'd learnt that not everyone wanted the position... and all it entailed. "No, Erdenth flew Tabanirth."
And then, on hearing it again realization did set in. The sleepy contentment radiating from his dragon, tinged with pride at having a golden mate. "This is real, isn't it. It's really happened. But, what about my father?"
"What about him?"
"He should be here, I. I'm not ready to be Weyrleader!" The tone of K'reyel's voice rose as he spoke. "He's got the experience, I haven't."
"Tabanirth chose Erdenth for a reason," Tsaera said calmly. "He had to learn just as you did. And you're not alone in this, K'reyel. I've run this Weyr for decades and I'm quite used to training Weyrleaders, what with Tabanirth's tendencies. K'sedel won't leave the Weyr, and neither has U'das, and both of them can guide you if you need it. This is your chance."
"You're sure we can do this?" It sounded, well not right to his ears even as he said it, like he needed reassurance as a small child did. "I, I guess I'll need to speak to my father, and U'das as soon as possible, see how we can organize this with the least disruption."
"No one will expect anything of you until tomorrow, but have your Wingsecond... I guess that would be K'sedel, now. Have K'sedel arrange a Wingmeeting first thing tomorrow morning, and keep the candlemark over lunch free. I'll call a meeting of the Wingleaders for then." His expression softened her a little, and Tsaera took pity on him. "You know how to lead Rapids Wing already, K'reyel, just as the other Wingleaders know how to lead theirs. It'll be a smooth transition, I promise, unless you want to make sweeping changes to how the Wings meet Thread... and I don't recommend that."
"No, that wouldn't work." He thought for a moment, "I should really go and see Mai, the baby, I don't want this to shock her too much, she's not having an easy pregnancy."
It was irrational to feel disappointment because he was leaving, but Tsaera felt disappointed none the less. "I'm sure that she already knows. But go and see her, and say hello to her for me."
"I will," he said as he began to look for his clothes. This would have to work, and if it didn't, well, Tabanirth would choose another next time. But that was months away from now, and there was time for everything and anything to happen.
Last updated on the March 12th 2008