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"Exactly what I mean. Though I suspect that they will still be paid less than wings one through three." Cai grabbed a trencher and took a liberal helping of a flaky white fish coated in herbs and butter. Beside that soon rested a bed of dark greens with a fine coating of a vinegary dressing and multicolored river grains and mushrooms.

"I think you'd do better in third two than I would. I could see you in second wing though. Chasing down bandits and heroically rescuing fair damsels in distress."

~............~

"I had forgotten. It's been some time since my last formal function after all."

Page made an appreciative noise when Yeva admitted to carving the shell himself. "Self taught or did you have an apprenticeship?" He chuckled. "Really how could he expect to get away with a claim like that. The piece is better than some I've seen, and you've done a good job with what was made available certainly but it certainly not top quality." He didn't mean to put down the work in the least. It wasn't Yevalee's fault that the stone wasn't as high of quality as he'd been told. As was, he'd probably increased it's worth by a few marks with the work he'd put into it and that was commendable.

Page rather liked the carving too.

~................~

Graceful wasn't exactly Ja'line's style so the dance suited her just fine. If she happened to bump a few others dancers with an ill-flung arm or a wild twist of her skirts well that wasn't her problem. She was drunk and having fun. Breathless between spins she tapped his chest. "So my dashing young rogue! What do they call you?"

Bereck actually laughed a little at that, not just a deliberate chuckle but an actual mini-explosion of mirth. "That's an interesting way to put it, but it's true. Ah well, everything's free tonight eh?" Well at no additional cost at any rate, half of his theoretical wage never passed through his hands and went instead into things like this. Bereck sharding well intended to get his monies worth, though not to the point of being sick. He was far too old to go around being sick on things because of his own foolishness. "And you'll have more marks to spend soon," the healer added after a moment as he recalled that particular campaign issue. He wasn't quite sure how O'ail was going to accomplish that, but he had a sneaking suspicion that male riders might not like it very much. You couldn't just pull thousands of marks out of thin air after all.


Re'ka beamed and led her partner out into the whirl of dancers. "I'd be happy to!" She completely failed to notice M'ere seething.

Everyone seemed so happy. They had reason to be. Several reasons in fact. The clutch had come out healthy. All the hatchlings had impressed. There had been no ill effects caused by a blue being the sire of the clutch. The fact their were more bronze than brown was a little odd, but not unheard of. Besides, that was hardly something to get upset about. The newest additions to the Weyr were strong and healthy and, apart from that little incident with the girl who impressed the brown, nobody had gotten hurt. As far as Nersha was concerned the hatching was a great success and everyone should engage in the merriment. Hopefully the residents of High Reaches would put down the politics for this one evening.

Standing off to the side of the dance floor, Nersha sipped at her wine, a small smile crossing her features. She missed these moments. Maybe it was all in her mind, but High Reaches seemed so much more serious than her home had been. Perhaps she had never seen it before, or maybe this time just had it harder. Even though these weren't the faces she had grown up with it was nice to see them smiling and happy.

All in all she was happy to just quietly observe from the sidelines. Naturally she'd dressed up for the occasion. Luckily hatchings gave a lot of time to consider your outfit, gather the necessary parts and put it together. Her attire was not nearly as grand as it once had been, but even as a junior goldrider in High Reaches she still had enough for it not to be sniffed at and to make herself a decent outfit. She'd opted for blue, of course, with a pale kirtle and darker, button-up surcoat. The material was plain, but she made do. Around her waist was a gold sash, embroidered with a simple, thin, blue design. Nersha was not the best at embroidery, but she could manage a simple pattern. Hairwise a simple plait would do. She had to admit, one thing she liked was not having to spend quiet as much time on her hair.

"I've just as much reason to be here as anyone." The nod wasn't returned, but then she'd answered him, that was acknowledgement enough. Glancing out across the dance floor yet again, Nersha took a small sip of her wine. A polite thank you was offered for the compliment, although she didn't actually turn her full attention back to Ra'fe when she said it.

His offer though had her gaze sliding back, a single eyebrow arching as she looked at the bronzerider. "I don't think that's a good idea, do you?" There were a lot of reasons she didn't think that was a good idea. Of course it didn't matter if she didn't have reasons, she wasn't going to either way. It'd been months since she'd last spoken to Ra'fe and after all she was more than content to watch.

"Ah, well, I'm afraid thought provoking isn't on my agenda for the evening." If Ra'fe was expecting some kind of apology then he was really wasting his time. Nersha had accepted it, moved on, and had no real desire to revisit the situation. She had more important things going on than patching up with someone who left it to a chance encounter months later.

"Oh, Banneth is welcome to chase who he chooses. She's never tried to stop him." There was only one dragon Sereth had ever forbidden from chasing other dragons and Banneth was not him. In all honesty Nersha doubted that Sereth would ever find another one like him and maybe that was part of the problem. Nersha wasn't the only one to lose someone important to her that day. "What Sereth objected to was him coming back to her after he'd lost- and actively shunned her in favour of Evmeth. Expecting her to believe anything he said." Ra'fe could make it about chasing as much as he wanted, but it really wasn't. Under any other circumstances had Banneth chased Evmeth the worst case scenerio would have been that Sereth was a little grumpy with him for a day or two.

"If that's your justification for it. Even though Sereth hadn't commented on the choice at all and so his attempts to flatter her don't make much sense from that perspective." Taking the last sip of her wine Nersha placed it down on a table near her, looking at the glass for a moment as she held it in place.

"Look. I don't know why you felt the need to talk to me, but if it was just to preach at me about rights then I suggest you save your breath. Your choices have been made and you will continue to make your own choices." If really all he was going to say was that Sereth wasn't allowed to be upset because Banneth could chase whoever he wanted then she had heard that and did not need to again. The dragon had chosen to ignore Sereth and to her that was shunning her and really Sereth came before anything for Nersha. Including the feelings of others. The two might not agree, but Nersha was always on her side against the outside world, unflinchingly, just as Sereth was on hers.

"Now as... riveting, as this conversation has been, I'm afraid it is just not what I'm looking for in this celebration." Turning from the bronze rider Nersha began to walk away, raising her hand in farewell. "Good luck in your search for a dance partner," she called back.

Cai pursed their lips together for a moment then smiled. "Tell them to keep their dirty mouths to themselves. They don't need to go kissing everyone who does them a favor. Anyways, your lips are invitation only."

~............~

"Yes. Of Course." Page tipepd his head graciously and followed Yeva back inside the Hall.

"For being untrained you have a good eye. Have you ever thought of selling your work?" It wouldn't fetch the price of a Harper trained artists pieces but to the less affluent buyers, name and training wouldn't matter as much so long as the piece was pretty. They could tell whatever stories they wanted about it, show it off, and pay a price that was more likely to be within their budget. There was a market for it he was sure.

~................~

"You're a candidate?!" Ja'line asked in disbelief. "Why ever for?" He was old, probably near the same age she was and if he'd already made a career of hunting tunnelsnakes why would he give all of that up to be a candidate when it was likely he'd age out before he even got to the point of Standing?