No Opportunity Wasted

Writers: Eimi, Yvonne
Date Posted: 19th March 2008

Characters: Zebrekhan, Tsaera
Description: Zeb comes knocking after Tabanirth's flight and K'reyel's departure
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 8, day 16 of Turn 4

Zeb held up two large bottles of the Vintner Hall's finest when the goldrider opened the door. "I'm told this is the Hallsecond's own recipe. It would be a shame to drink alone."

Tsaera tugged him inside and shut the door behind him. She was freshly scrubbed and her grey hair clung in wet curls to her cheeks, which were still a little flushed. "I sharding well hope that's beer, Zeb. You know I don't drink red wine."

"I do know," the geologist nodded, turning the label so she could inspect it herself. "The Hallsecond was a brewer."

"Daigoro is a good man," Tsaera said, relieved. She stepped aside so that Zeb could enter. "Come in. I could use it. The rest of the day after a Flight is always a write-off since I'm too antsy to do anything _but_ drink. You know who won the Flight?"

He certainly did, and there was good reason for her to feel antsy. The whole Weyr felt on edge. "Rumors fly faster than dragon wings. Where's your bottle opener?"

"The top drawer of the cabinate over there." The Weyrwoman sat heavily on a couch and put her feet up, content to watch the Master Crafter tend to the beer rather than playing hostess. The after effects of the Flight still coursed through her veins and she found the ripple of his shoulders beneath his shirt intreaguing. "What have you heard?"

"That there is a change in leadership, and that it's not wholly unexpected. Apparently your gold has a reputation for being fickle with her affections." The fact that she had chosen to be flown by the lifemate of the now former Weyrleader's own son had raised more than one eyebrow. It rang like the start of a great harper tragedy in some way. "Are we drinking from the bottle or shall I find some glasses for us?"

"The bottle's fine, but don't tell Daigoro." Tsaera sighed and held out her hand. "Tabanirth's always been unpredictable, and she certainly has been settling more of late, but I can't say I'm overly surprised that the Weyr's got a new Weyrleader. What are they saying about K'reyel?"

"Well, of course there's the inevitable whispers about the fact that he has unseated his own father. I think that's the point people are fixating on more then his qualifications." It certainly did add an interesting twist to the situation. He handed her one bottle and kept the other for himself.

Tsaera snorted. "Good. K'sedel's younger than the last few Weyrleaders have been, but he's a good man and has a good head on his shoulders. I don't think he'll try to make waves, which means that he'll make a good Weyrleader."

"I would hope he would be his own man, though." He did, afterall, need to earn everyone's respect.

"Of course he is. K'reyel will do well as Weyrleader," Tsaera said confidently, then took a long pull at the beer bottle. She eyed Zeb through the dark glass and wondered what he'd do if she straddled him where he sat and took his face between her hands and... no. Flight-lust was clouding her judgement. **Which is perhaps why he is here...** She wondered if she'd think less of him if he was, but knew that she wouldn't.

"Will you miss K'sedel then?" Zeb asked curiously, catching a drip of beer on his finger as it tumbled down the neck of the bottle.

"Yes and no. No more than I miss U'das. He was a good Weyrleader, but Weyrleaders... they don't stick around. K'sedel did his job well, though, and I'll miss him until K'sedel is trained and able to manage his duties, but in the end... K'sedel's still here."

"Are you looking forward to training yourself a new Weyrleader then?"
His eyes held a spark of humor at the thought.

Tsaera sighed. "Not particularly. Changes in leadership are always a little... tense, just until we can negotiate our boundaries and he gets comfortable with his new knots. But I like K'reyel. He'll do."

"You assume I was reffering to his _leadership_ skills?" Zeb asked, one eyebrow raised in amusement.

A small laugh escaped the Weyrwoman before she could rein herself in.
"K'reyel's weyrmated, Zeb, and Mai's having a difficult pregnancy. The last thing either of them needs is an old broad like me messing up their routines!"

The geologist gave her his best cocky bronzerider grin. "But old broads make the most delightful messes..."

He was flirting; Tsaera smiled and set down her beer. "Watch your tongue around your Weyrwoman," she said archly. "That's hardly the way to speak to a woman whose dragon rose and who lost her bedmate."

He followed suit and plunked his bottle next to hers. "On the contrary, I think its the best way to talk to a woman who has lost her bedmate."

"You think _talking_ is what I want?" Tsaera glared at him - she'd been a dragonrider for too long to beat around the bush now. "My gold just flew, Zeb. Either you say something smart enough to keep me entertained, or we do something else entirely."

Zeb grinned and leaned tantalizingly closer, his hand coming to rest on her thigh. "But Tsaera, I haven't even gotten you drunk yet! You're ruining my whole plan..."

"Then chug your sharding beer and get it over with," Tsaera took his his hand in her own and tucked it behind her neck, even as her other hand settled somewhat... lower on his anatomy. "Unless you're being a tease.
I can't stand a tease."

"I was trying for irresistible and charming, but whatever works for you." He pulled her into a fierce, breath stealing kiss. Zeb was more than willing to remind her that even crafters knew a thing or two about passion.

It took a moment for Tsaera to realign her thoughts, but when she was able to, she rose and held out her hands. Zeb might not have been a dragonrider and she normally avoided the people who hung around the riders of mating dragons in the hopes of an amorous encounter, but she'd known Zeb for a while and whatever he did, he wouldn't betray her trust. When Zeb slipped his hands into hers, Tsaera led him to her bedroom, and together they lay amid the furs and forgot the Weyr for a while.

Last updated on the March 19th 2008

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No Opportunity Wasted