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 Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:26 pm
The air was crisp that morning, but not cold enough that M'dor would be forced to spend all his time indoors. He had convinced Ichoth to accompany him to the lake so he could do his composition work outside. A little sun never hurt anybody, not to mention she was due for a swim. What better way to enjoy the day than with a swim and some sun? Then, when they went back to their weyr, he would give her a nice oil and she could relax there. Ichoth had reluctantly agreed, but insisted that they would choose a spot with the least number of bathing dragons. The very idea of having that many dragons around her all at once, seeking conversation was overwhelming.
Thus, the Weyrsinger and his green ended up on the west side of Faseth's lake. M'dor has spread his hides out on the rock around him, securing them with little coloured paperweights. Composition was not his strong point, and it took a lot of time and effort to get enough down on hides to send to the Hall. Even the Weyrsinger had obligations, despite his rank.
Are you working on the same song as last night? Ichoth asked from the water. The green had practically submerged herself in the water, leaving only the top of her head and back visible. She was counting on the fact that nobody would be looking for her.
M'dor made a small noise of affirmation. "I am not sure the Master will like the way these notes flow... " Flattening the hide, he began the piece on his gitar, eyebrows knit in concentration.
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:26 pm
He would hear her coming before he saw her, a distinctive sweet soprano floating about in a very quick version of one of the more difficult training songs. It may have been impressive- o's and a's were perfectly rounded, and there was good breath support even while she moved. Except for the fact that weyrsinger M'dor may have been aware that this particular soprano was supposed to be digging trenches about right now.
The voice stopped suddenly, as the owner apparently heard his gitar, and there was a small ause. It took a few moments before curiously blue eyes set in a pale, round face peeked about from the other side of the rock. "H-Hello Weyrsinger." she said shyly, giving a smile. Her eyes brightened with curiosity at the sight of the hides, and she took a seat quickly, trying not to be too nosy, yet obviously almost anxious to ask what they said. It was a tribute to Ichoth's hiding abilities- or to the pull that music had over the young Jadamirei- that Ichoth went unnoticed by the child.
She had a basket that looked to be almost filled with bubbly pies, and she offered him one silently, careful not to hold it over one of the hides, as though she feared the pie would drip through cloth and weaving to somehow land on the resilient hide. She'd bartered for the pies freshly baked a bit before the sun rose, and fled out to spend her day keeping in practice with her music. She simply didn't have the time anymore to devote to her music as she once had, and she missed it. Her mind was full of mending, and trenching, and eating, and falling into her bunk to dream about golds and greens circling and circling and circling...
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Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 10:20 am
The Weyrsinger was used to working in the dining hall, and had acquired a gift for tuning out all noise around him while he was working. Thus, he didn't hear Jadamirei approaching, intent on the hide in front of him and the music he was composing. Ichoth, however, was much more attuned to the world around her, and lifted her head ever so slightly when she heard music that did not come from Hers. It was very nice, and reminded her of some of the memories that Hers had of the Hall where he'd come from. Perhaps this one was also from the Hall.
Mine, there is someone singing. You should be polite and listen.
M'dor stopped playing and looked up as Jadamirei stopped, blinking twice in surprise when he realized she was there. Apparently he had been a little too focused on his music. Quietly thanking Ichoth for her comment, he tipped his hat in greeting to the young Harper apprentice. "Good morning, Jadamirei. Ichoth, say good morning as well." There were a few bubbles from the water where the little green tried to croon her own greeting, having forgotten she was practically submerged. M'dor gave a soft chuckle, before accepting the bubbly pie with a 'thank you.'
"My apologies for the mess. Composition seems to encourage Harpers to spread their things around. But what brings you out here?"
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Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:52 am
The young woman blinked in surprise at the sound of bubbles. "Good morning to you as well, Ichoth. I didn't mean to neglect your greeting." She selected one of the larger bubbly pies left after M'dor had chosen his, and held it out shyly to the green. "Would you like one as well?" And then she glanced back at M'dor, flushing. "I mean, if you don't mind. I know it's not much more than a nibble, but..."
She shook her head fiercely as he apologized for the mess. "Oh no worries! I completely understand. Composition was never my strong suit, but I can read music well enough. I have to." She still held the bubbly pie out for Ichoth, looking torn between her desire to be closer to one of the dragons and her desire to ask to look over the music. It was likely clear on her face that she wanted to ask, as her face was as expressive as a book to most. She knew it well, as she'd been told to keep it under control multiple times.
"Music brings me out, weyrsinger." she said finally, with a wry smile. "It's been so long since I've had time to devote to my Harper studies, I came out here to test myself. I've been memorizing the names of dragons and riders in the Weyr, though I have no faces to place with them; I've been singing my practice songs; I was playing my flute-" she pointed at the object being used as a tie for her thick hair- "And bemoaning the fact I left my harp in the barracks. I've even been trying to recall my history." she looked pleased with herself either way, round face shining. It wasn't a completely wasted day, even if she was shirking her duties. It was the first time she'd done so since coming here, and she had vowed to work twice as hard for the next sevenday to make up for it.
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Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:02 pm
Ichoth blinked her faceted eyes at the pie, and slowly raised her head out of the water to get a better look at it. Was it... for her? She looked from her rider to Jadamirei, not sure if she was supposed to take the pie or simply look at it. Humans were strange sometimes, and she did not want to eat something that she was not meant to eat.
"She's just a little shy, don't mind her. Go on, Ichoth, you can have one," M'dor encouraged the green, who finally took the pie as daintily as she could from the young Harper. As one would expect, it was gone in less than a heartbeat, but the dragon gave a soft, pleased rumble. Tell her it was a very good pie. It is a pity they do not make big ones so I could taste it properly, but they are good human food. Having decided that Jadamirei maybe wasn't so scary, she didn't drop her head back down into the water. Instead, she rested it on the bank not too far from where the two were sitting, watching them with thinly veiled interest.
The Weyrsinger finished up his bubbly pie and licked the crumbs off his fingers. "Ichoth says that the pie was very good, and I am inclined to agree with her." He was also pleased that someone else found composition as unpleasant as he did. There were few things that M'dor could say he honestly disliked, but composition was one of them. Why reinvent the Teaching Ballads when they clearly worked so well? But that was complaining meant for him and his dragon. He had more important things to do, like listen. "You certainly have been putting in the effort to practice. Do you intend to return to the Hall if you do not Impress?" It was always good to have multiple options. Not everyone could Impress, and though sometimes he missed the Hall, he wouldn't have traded Ichoth to go back.
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Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:35 pm
Jadamirei couldn't stop her soft giggle as the dragon daintily picked up the tiny pie. It looked silly, but that wasn't Ichoth's fault. "It looks so tiny next to her." her voice was awed as she spoke to M'dor. "You're a beautiful dragon, Ichoth."
Turning her attention back to the weyrharper, she gave him a smile. "I have a few more of them; enough to last until dinner, I'd say. I have a friend in the kitchens who provided them to me. I didn't get anything but bubbly pies though, and now my stomach is yearning for some meat rolls." She seemed to visibly relax after Ichoth laid down and the rider started a conversation. "As for returning to the Hall, yes; if I'm not... I suppose the word would be lucky... enough to Impress, then that is what I want to do. I was close to my Journeyman's knots, you see." A shame she hadn't gotten them before she came, but things happened. "I don't want to fall behind while I am here. I've few talents outside of Harper duties." she gave a weak smile.
She stared at her hands a few moments. No, she'd ask that question later. For now, "May I take a look at what you are working on?"
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Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 7:13 pm
Ichoth's eyes whirled at the compliment, and she had to resist the urge to hide her face under one wing. She was beautiful! This girl was so nice! The green offered Jadamirei a shy croon in what she hoped sounded like a thank you, quite pleased that she had been complimented.
You're certainly getting your fair share of compliments these days, aren't you lovely? Perhaps being out isn't as bad as you thought, M'dor teased privately, amused by his dragon's bashfulness. She had been like this even as a hatchling, hiding behind the eggs until she caught sight of him. Even then, she hadn't left the circle until he'd gone over to get her and escort her back. A silly little creature, but a sweet one nonetheless. Turning his attention back to Jadamirei, he gave a soft chuckle when she mentioned meat rolls. "Aren't we all? I don't know about you, but I'm getting a little tired of wherry soup." Wherry meat was just about all they were willing to ship up to Telgar it seemed. A pity, really. He had just started liking it too.
"Aaah, well if you were that close then I'd expect you'd want to go back. Still, who would pass up the chance at being a dragonrider even for Journeywoman knots?" He grinned, laughing quietly at his own joke. "Being a talented Harper is still a talent. We can only hope the Searchriders aren't taking all the talent out of the Hall." That would be a right shame, though he doubted it would ever happen. Not everyone was willing to give up their Craft just for a shot at a dragon.
He was reminded of his work when Jadamirei asked to see it, and he gave a small shrug. "If you'd like to. It's nothing exceptional. I've been asked to compose a couple of new melodies to help teach the Weyrbrats about their duties. Nothing compared to the classics I'm afraid." Even so, M'dor turned the hide around so that Jadamirei could see it.
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Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:50 pm
Her stomach gave a low rumble, clearly stating what it thought of eating something other than wherry and bubbly pies. "I.... suppose it isn't that bad though." she said lamely. "At least it's something in our bellies at the end of a long day. As for my knots... it was a hard decision. I chose to come because... one never knows when luck is going to strike. As long as I keep strong what I have known, I'll always be a Harper, knots or not. You only have a few chances to be a dragonrider. And you can help so many more people that way. Maybe I am romanticizing it, but the ability to fight Thread, and save lives and livelihoods... You can teach someone to do Harper duties, but a dragon chooses Theirs." she looked at him as though waiting for him to correct her. "Whether I am a Harper, or a Dragonrider, or both if I am lucky, I can serve people. Help them. And that's what I want to do with my life."
She was sixteen turns, and clearly knew what she wanted, though not how she would go about it. "And I can assure you, most of the talent remains safely in the Halls." her lips curved, eyes brightening. "I was one of the better Singers though." she laughed blithely, unabashed to speak it as she felt it truth. She reached out as M'dor turned the hide around, deep blue eyes looking it over once before she started to hum the notes, thoughtful.
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Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 12:28 pm
Indeed, they were very lucky to have any food. One Hold supporting two Weyrs was definitely putting a strain on their relationship. Even with the horrors of Threadfall, M'dor knew many of the riders were wishing Thread would come faster, if only to prove to the Holders that dragonriders still had some use. The tithes were in the back of everyone's minds, especially the Headwoman's, wondering if the Lord Holder would one day decide to give only to High Reaches and leave Telgar to starve. It was certainly not a pleasant thought.
Her words about dragonriders were a welcome topic change, and M'dor listened with his head cocked slightly to one side. She certainly had a very noble purpose in life, that was for certain. "I think you will be admirable as Harper or dragonrider, or perhaps even both. I wish you the best of luck when one of our queens Rises." What a day that would be. The Weyrsinger was not sure if he wanted it to happen sooner so the tension in the Weyr would dissipate or later so that he had a better idea of who would be Weyrleader. It was practically unanimous that everyone wanted D'rak out, but who to put in? It would be a breathtaking flight, that much was for certain.
The Weyrsinger laughed when she said that most of the talent remained at the Halls, though quietly pleased that she seemed to know her own strengths. "It is my hope that those who are talented Harpers will continue on, and those who are perhaps in between may come try their hand at something else. It is certainly interesting to see so many Harper apprentices about." M'dor quieted when she hummed the notes, listening. It sounded alright, but he was not sure it would be well received. Unusual music rarely was.
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Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 7:48 pm
When she finished humming, she looked thoughtful for a few minutes, pondering the piece. "What's it like when the Queens rise?" she asked finally. "I've heard little about it, but there is so much anticipation. It's going to be the next flight that determines the new senior weyrwoman, correct?" she was still pondering the piece, tasting it in her mind as she looked over the hide with thoughtful eyes. "Is it true about the dragons emotions during a Flight affecting people other than their own riders?" she looked up at him curiously, almost concerned. "But then there will be a Hatching. And then dragonets and weyrlings getting into mischief." She looked delighted at the prospect.
Her fingers were tapping out the beat to his music the whole time she spoke, the song never drifting from her mind. She used a finger to tap the hide absently when she was done, in several places as though noting something to mention to him later. Her mind, however, was awhirl.
A Hatching. Shards, what if she didn't Impress? What if she was Mauled?
This measure didn't feel right. Maybe that note should be up a half step? She hummed the measure quickly, tapping the hide again.
What if she Impressed? What if she Impressed a blue? (That thought sobered her for a moment before her face corrected itself.) And what if there was a Gold? She'd heard the eggs were huge.
Another measure feeling off, maybe... She chewed her lip absently, mind awhirl with thoughts much like these. Music and Dragons, Dragons and Music.
And in the back of her mind, the chores she was supposed to be doing. "Pretty Ichoth, would you like another bubbly pie?" she glanced into the basket- there were four more, and some time until dinner. "And weyrharper? You?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 2:04 pm
M'dor hummed thoughtfully at her question, tapping a finger against the hide on his lap. "It's… well, I suppose it's exciting. To a Harper, it's one of the most magnificent and terrifying displays of power one could ever hope to see. You see, most of the time, golds are like that," he pointed at his dragon, who currently looked about as dangerous as a fly. "But when they're ready to mate their hide shines bright and they blood their kills. It's quite a sight to see! They look like they could turn around and bite your head off if you got too close to them."
They would do no suck thing! Ichoth sputtered, lifting her head up and trying to look indignant. The Queens would not hurt anyone, even before they Rise.
I was just kidding, relax. His eyes moved briefly to the green dragon when he spoke to her, however once she was settled the Weyrsinger's gaze returned to Jadamirei. "But yes, that is correct. Whichever gold Rises first will make her rider the newest Weyrwoman. It will certainly be a sight to see!" M'dor refrained from mentioning the dangers of having two golds so close in age, not wanting to worry the girl. He, like the rest of the Weyr, simply had to trust that one would Rise before the other. "As for emotions, it's hard to say. The dragons seem to get excited when a queen Rises, and that in turn filters through to the riders. Since she's a green I don't really get too much out of it. Had I been chosen by a bronze, it is doubtful I would be able to remain calm." Thank Faranth for small mercies.
He fell silent again as Jadamirei continued with his piece, listening to her hum with his head slightly tilted to one side. Ah, that measure had been bothering him. She seemed to dislike it too. For a moment he closed his eyes, simply listening to someone else hum what he'd been working on.
"I'm afraid Ichoth has to be a little mindful of her gut, but I may have to take you up on that offer. It is a rare treat." M'dor flashed her a grin before he tapped one of the measures on the hide. "Hum this one again. It still sounds off to me."
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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 2:16 pm
Bite a head off? Jada felt her eyes drift over towards Ichoth. That was a powerful mouth on a green, and the size of a gold. She blanched. "Well, as long as the Queens don't decide to actually bite off a head, I'll be fine. All the same I think I won't be hanging out outside. Just in case I resemble a wherry, you know." even to her own ears, her joke fell flat.
Ah well, she hadn't been in training to be a jester.
She passed him a bubbly pie, eyes on the measure he was tapping on. She hummed the measure obediently, then tapped the one before and hummed it, following it with the measure he'd said felt off, and the measure after. "You're right." she looked a bit surprised. She hadn't caught it the first time through.
Well, that was a little deflation to her musical ego. She appreciated it. Blue eyes looked over the hide again. "Who do you think will rise, Weyrsinger?" she asked, curious. She bit into a bubbly pie of her own then, being careful not to drop any crumbs.
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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 2:37 pm
You are scaring here, Mine.
Am not. Besides, a little fear never hurt anyone. It might save her from being mauled at the Hatching if we get another Terrible Trio member.
Ichoth gave a sort of delicate sniff before resting her head against the edge of the hot spring pool. When the humming began again she closed her eyes, seemingly enjoying the sound.
"I think you were worried a little bit more about this one, which is weird too. One of them either has to go or has to be changed… " M'dor muttered under his breath as he fished in his pockets for something to write with. "I'm not sure if I should just raise this one, or slow this one down just a half beat to keep it in line with the rest." Alas for musical maladies. It was hard being a Harper sometimes.
He blinked at her question, before his grin turned a little sly. "Well, I can't say I'm a betting man, but from what I hear most of the marks are on Kaveth. She's older, not by much, but enough that she might go up first. But, Iva's got her mind set on this position, which could mean that hers will Rise just to please her. I'm more interested to see which bronze is the lucky fellow. As far as I know, neither gold has even shown a preference."
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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 2:46 pm
Not a betting man her foot. That grin was as sly as any Apprentice she'd seen with a behind-the-scenes bet. She gave him a slightly suspicious look before turning her attention back to the notes. "I've heard a little bit about the Wingleaders. I'm guessing no one has any money on the Weyrleader remaining in his position?" she glanced at M'dor from under her lashes.
She did another little mental run-through of the music, processing his mutters as best she could. Something about raising and slowing? She checked over the tempos, thoughtful. Well, it was his composition. He was the one hearing the music, she'd just hum it for him. He was digging through his pockets for something to write with; too bad she didn't have anything!
She stretched her arms, hearing her tired back pop as she moved, wincing at the small pain that came with it. Dung-tossing had been her chore of the day yesterday, and she was still agonizingly sore from the unusual strain.
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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 4:40 pm
"Not to speak ill of the Weyrleader, of course, but I doubt he'll manage it again. Hondonith won't have the same luck with a younger queen as he did with the older one. A young, agile one or a slightly older, more experienced one is what I would say. It'll all depend on the style of the gold who's Rising." Thank Faranth he didn't have to be a part of it. He and Ichoth could just sit nicely together in the sidelines and watch the politics.
As the Weyrsinger fished a piece of charcoal out of his pocket he continued, "I hear some people want D'rak to stay where he is. Status quo, and all." For better or for worse, Telgar was not exactly the most revolutionary of Weyrs. In that way D'rak had served them well; he had made no changes and hadn't tried to convince the Weyr that he had a plan for them. Instead, he'd just let things go their course.
Charcoal in hand, M'dor made a few marks on the hide, tongue between his teeth as he scribbled. Thankfully, nobody but him would have to read this later, so he didn't bother printing neatly. "Maybe if I make it for flute and not gitar…"
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