Once it seemed that everyone had more or less settled, Eirlyn rose to her feet and tapped a little silver spoon against her goblet. Once relative silence had fallen she set the spoon back down and swept the hall with her eyes, her gaze coming to rest for a time upon each new rider and dragon.
"Welcome weyrlings. Welcome dragons," she began, her voice carrying clearly throughout the great hall. "You join the ranks of the dragonrider at a... trying time," though she hesitated for a split second there her voice did not falter, "but I trust that each one of you is up to the challenges ahead. The way may be rough, and the winds treacherous, but each of you now knows that you never face adversity alone." She paused again then, perhaps for thought or perhaps for effect, but in either case she soon continued; "As some of you may already know, at the council in Southern Weyr we elected to investigate these attacks and murders, to discover if, and how, they are connected. We will find those responsible. We will bring them to justice. I trust that all of you will keep your eyes and ears open, but in the immediate days to come you must look to your new partner and your bond first and foremost. Take care, young dragonriders, and my congratulations to you all once again."
Raising her glass signaled the end of the Weyrwoman's speech, and was followed by applause from all around the hall. Dipping her head slightly to her people the gold rider took a sip of her drink in toast to the new lives and bonds before resuming her seat and bending her head to continue her conversation with the headwoman, who sat at her left hand.