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 Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 4:00 pm
The Weyrwoman of Ista Weyr was troubled. This was not unusual these days; with the overcrowding, and the periodic innundations of fresh blood stirred plenty of mire up for Helirra to handle. D'tai was often busy with the Wings and other military issues, and thus she was left to the traditional role of handling everything else that happened in the Weyr. What troubled Helirra most of all was not the uselessness and untrustworthiness of the men in her life, but how far behind she herself had fallen in tackling the day-to-day issues of the Weyr she led. Those beneath her had learned to keep all but the most pressing issues away from her ears, to help her stay better focused in these overwhelmingly busy and stressful times, right on the eve of a Pass. Thus, the Headwoman had put it off for a bit, but now had seen fit to finally inform her of the transgressions of a particular candidate.
Helirra pursed her lips, lifting her eyes from the wherhide she was browsing, placing her writing utensil aside, and disengaged her mind from the worry of how they'd manage to feed all of the hungry mouths in the overcrowded Weyr, must less house and clothe all of them. The Holders were still being stingy with the tithes, since Thread had yet to make an appearance... but oh, they'd see. For now, she had another domestic issue that must be seen to.
"Vasanth," the Weyrwoman called her Queen softly, touching her lifemate's mind. "Would you summon S'kagi for me? I have a great deal to ask him about this candidate," she pressed her lips together even tighter, until they were only a thin line. She sensed the beast's equanimity as she turned her mind to Coriath-- Vasanth, too, was tried by the heavy burden upon Helirra's shoulders, though both persevered through strength of resolve. Vasanth had Impressed no weak fool, and was certainly none herself.
Coriath, the Weyrwoman requests the presence of your rider, Vasanth informed the bronze primly. She knew that Helirra held no warmth or fondness for S'kagi. The Weyrwoman knew how he had obtained that scar, after all. But he was a bronzerider, and a keen one at that. He often seemed to know what was going on, and she would have him enlighten her about whatever this candidate had done, and how it had been handled. If it was truly as bad as what the Headwoman had said, the punishment would be no mere slap on the wrist.
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 4:21 pm
S'kagi will come at once. Coriath answered with certainly, and deep respect, just as quickly making sure to relay the message to his Rider, who almost dropped his habitual cup of Klah at the message.
Vasanth says the Weyrwoman requests you. I told her you would come right away. Because of the source of the orders, the bronze had made an very reasonable... and intelligent prediction of his Rider's behavior as S'kagi abandoned his cup, apologetically, to someone with an array of dishes that needed cleaned anyway.
Coriath had more faith in his rider than Helirra, or perhaps Vasanth did, but such was the nature of the beast. He had chosen to bond with him after all, in spite of the ... 'indiscretions' of youth. Ironically perhaps why S'kagi held others to such sharp standard now.
Right away. S'kagi confirmed, making his way as quickly as possible through the crowded weyr.
She didn't approve of him, but he did have a great deal of respect for the older Weyr-woman, who he felt could have, and arguably should have, handled him far more severely, and might have if he had not been bonded to Coriath. Her potentially unobtainable approval had, as a result, been a significant factor in his life. She didn't say what?
He hoped he hadn't done something. Had Raena come back? Faranth help him he hoped not, she might try and accuse him of causing her mauling in the last hatching.
She did not. Only that she requested your presence. Coriath added, somewhat apologetically, though he didn't offer to trouble the older Gold. She would have told him if she felt he needed to know more.
Thank you, Coriath. S'kagi couldn't quite keep the sigh, or the nerves out of his thoughts, as he finally resorted toward being a little less polite and a little more 'official' to encourage people out of his path, until he could make his way out and up the stairs to Helirra's wey, hoping also that she did not find the wait excessive.
It was almost all he could do not to, in nervous habit, start chewing on his scarred lip, but if she were really angry, he doubted Helirra would need any extra ammunition to remind her about his scars, or to remind HIM about them.
He hesitated briefly before entering, trying to look less as though he were worried than he was, before stepping to the entrance to be seen.
"Weyrwoman?" He asked a bit quietly.
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 4:37 pm
Vasanth passed on Coriath's assurance to her rider, and Helirra nodded curtly, settling back in her chair to wait. She heard his steps as he climbed the last of the stairs, felt Vasanth's sudden, short-lived interest as he reached the ledge and entered her line of sight, though she did not move nor acknowledge him any more than that. Helirra thus knew the very moment he reached the door to her office, and frowned at his shyness, though to be perfectly honest, S'kagi could have approached her in any way and have been found equally unacceptable. The Weyrwoman was not in a pleasant mood.
"Come in, S'kagi, you've kept me waiting long enough," she pronounced, an edge to her voice, eyes falling on the scar that marred his face, rigid in her chair. Helirra was not really angry at him, though she made it no secret that he did not altogether impress her. The stress made her patience brittle, and for the moment S'kagi seemed a decent punching bag. "I have need of some information out of you."
Still, she dangled him, not yet telling him what exactly she wanted from him. Helirra let him squirm a moment more, without offering him a seat or a proper greeting. Then she relaxed slightly, her fingers spreading out on the desk before her.
"Tell me what you know about a candidate touching Cheoth's eggs before they were ready," the Weyrwoman requested, her tone hardened, though certainly not against S'kagi, her ire focused now towards the foolish prit that the rumors spoke about.
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 4:52 pm
S'kagi flinched at the reprimand, but didn't speak to it. Excuses as to the heavy crowding wouldn't do him any good, and might make the situation worse, though he did slightly turn his head, as though to try and keep the scarred side of his face out of view, though only faintly, as he approached, stopping at what he felt to be a respectful distance.
"Her name is Kyllae, Weyrwoman." He answered. "She's from a sea hold I think. I can find out more if need be." He paused only briefly to wait and see if any interest registered on her face, but continued. "I understand that she somehow found her way onto the sands, rumor says by the crack in the walls, but she's not a tiny thing and if she did, it would have been difficult. Apparently she somehow came to the conclusion that the Touching was more of a suggestion, and that she might bolster her chances better by handling the eggs sooner. Junior Weyrwoman Favan spoke to her on the mater. She was..." He paused, this time trying to keep his jaw from setting. the Weyrwoman wanted information, not his opinions. "... Allowed to remain in the Weyr, but not to be on the sands during the hatching of Cheoth's clutch."
He couldn't quite keep the smolder out of his voice, the edges of it crept in, but it was a mostly smothered by force of will. "I haven't spoken with the girl, personally."
He admitted. Hoping she wouldn't ask why, because he would be forced to admit that he did not think he would be able to face her without striking her, and to strike an young thing, even a young... monster... like this candidate... how was that any better than his father? "That is all I know of her current status."
Curious question. Had something happened to the girl? He assumed Helirra and Favan had spoken about the girl, and had come to the conclusion for... one reason or another. It wasn't his place to question, but he was having trouble swallowing the questions now. And having trouble not finding an excuse to try and hide his scars from the Weyrwomans intense gaze, which made him feel very young and very stupid again.
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 5:02 pm
Helirra listened to him quietly, without interjecting, though she nodded faintly at each point, her eyes sparking slightly with anger as he went on, almost bubbling over into the rest of her wizened face when he mentioned that Favan had allowed the girl to remain in the Weyr, with no punishment harsher than preventing her from Standing. She couldn't even be disapproving of S'kagi's obvious distaste for the girl, as her worst fears about the situation were confirmed, and she closed her eyes briefly.
Drawing in a tired breath, Helirra sat back in her chair, her eyes drifting open after a long moment.
"How like Favan to handle the issue on her own," Helirra murmured more to herself than for S'kagi's benefit. The Junior Weyrwoman was still young and hotheaded, and Helirra did not trust her one bit. Particularly not where D'tai was concerned. But she rarely trusted any woman in the Weyr where D'tai was concerned.
"How do you know this? Did the girl speak of this herself and it was spread further, or did someone say that they saw her do it?" Helirra pressed. She would, of course, be questioning the girl herself, for it was a serious allegation. And one that Helirra hoped fervently was untrue, for the sake of the unborn dragonets.
Vasanth stirred from her half-sleep, agitated by Helirra's disquiet. Coriath was very lucky he had not come, as the Queen's eyes flickered red in the shadow of the weyr. Helirra calmed herself, if only for Vasanth's benefit, and set her jaw, her mind already jumped to the punishments suitable for every extenuating circumstance.
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 5:18 pm
"It...has become quite a point of gossip among the candidates, Weyrwoman." He admitted, stiffening with an edge of nerves as he caught the red glint of dragon eyes, and the matching fervor in Helirra's. "Apparently, she boasted about it to another candidate. It spread very rapidly from there. Z'nal mentioned being very surprised that they haven't chosen to act on their own, especially when the touching was canceled."
He glanced sidelong toward the flicker of eyes again, not quite sure what to do next.
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 7:08 am
The Weyrwoman paused for a long moment, her blood turned to ice in her veins. She had certainly heard no boasting, nor much joy at all in these few days following what had been a distressing Hatching. One dragonet between, another egg dead... and Cheoth absolutely furious. For all that the rest of the clutch seemed physically if not temperamentally hale, the death of a dragon always had the dragons' eyes tinged with a gray pallor for as long as their fragile memories of the event lasted. Helirra seemed to be a woman of ice, but even she felt the splinter of grief digging at her, though she knew to keep it to herself while the rest of the Weyr grieved openly. She must be the rock.
Helirra had to try very hard not to let the rage that had now come upon her suffuse her face, attempting as hard as she could to stay neutral. It could be a brazen lie, and she had to keep that in mind and give the girl a fair shot, though the pieces were falling into place all too well for her mind to save a doubt. She dared not pass judgment yet, and drew breath.
"Vasanth," she addressed her Queen again, the barest hint of a snarl to her voice. "Please call in D'tai and Favan. And S'kagi," Helirra flicked her eyes back to him.
"Please bring the.... girl here. I think it's time to find out what really happened."
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 7:56 am
"Weyrwoman." S'kagi bowed his head in acknowledgment, though he didn't waste much more time before moving to follow her command. His mind was racing, but he didn't share his objections with Helirra. She had enough on her mind already, it was clear, without him protesting having to go near Kyllae.
You are still angry Coriath noted as he made his way back down the steps as quickly as possible.
Aren't you? She's the reason two dragons are dead. He had no doubts to that, personally. His faith was unshakable, since all other hatchings had gone so well, and Cheoth herself was in fine shape, as had been the dragon who flew her. We can't change it now. But I'm not happy.
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