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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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 Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 4:53 pm
B'shir's back ached from hours spent stooped over working in the fields. He understood that everyone had to haul their own weight at Ghenza, being that it was such a small community, relatively speaking, but he was unused to this sort of labor. His body had developed different muscle groups, and none of his life up until now had prepared him to be a farm worker. His entire life had been oriented toward becoming a dragonrider, and after he'd Impressed he'd just worked harder at the same things as before. He was coming to the conclusion that maybe a bit of cross-crafting wouldn't have hurt him as much as his back hurt at this moment.
On the other hand, the thought of asking A'ram to teach him to weave was just laughable. A'ram would have given him a withering look and probably hit him for being an idiot. Weaving was no longer the family craft. Though if they'd been in Ghenza instead, it might have been. Much about this new Weyr made more sense to B'shir because of his upbringing than he'd expected. He liked the idea of pulling his own weight, and he didn't really mind working in the fields - at least it wasn't busywork like so many of the chores at High Reaches seemed to have been. No, the real problem when he got right down to it was Sakneth.
Sakneth hated Ghenza for more reasons than he could count. He couldn't even put them in any sort of order. He just hated the place, and refused to believe B'shir when he said it had its advantages and was actually not such a bad place. It was a horrible place. No one appreciated him, Sakneth. They made fun of him for being small. They said he would be lucky to catch a green here, let along a gold. No one respected him. No one respected his rider. He hated them all, and hoped they caught plague and died, as he was telling B'shir while they relaxed after a day's work.
"Sakneth," B'shir sighed. "Go find someone else to complain to. Please. I hurt all over and I'm tired. Look. There's Sharath. Find out how she's been doing."
The bronze glowered at his bondmate, who clearly didn't understand the depth of his suffering, and walked toward his gold clutchmate. He stopped a bit away and gave something very like a cough to attract her attention before speaking to her.
Hello. My rider doesn't want to talk to me, but for whatever reason he thinks you might. How do you like it here? If she said she liked it he planned to walk away and sit on B'shir.
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 5:14 pm
Sharath had been a foul mood from very nearly the first day of their arrival. That that presumptuous gold had dared insult her mother and lorded it over the Weyr that was not hers had not won the strange queen any brownie points. Add that to the sheer size of her and Sharath keenly felt her lack of size - to the degree that she deliberately stood taller and prouder whenever the larger queen was around (even as she snarled insults to Amelia all the while).
Add to that, the jokes and fascination she seemed to garner - who'd seen such a small gold before, after all! - Sharath was about ready to start knocking some heads around. She was a gold, shardit!
Despite the dragon's dislike of her sudden demotion to nothing more then glorified workhorse, Amelia did actually mind the hard labour. Being a Journeyman meant she knew enough of her craft to be useful with the excavation teams even if she found herself winded after a day's work. These people were strong, hardy... respectable. And the community feel made her yearn for such a thing at home.
She did, however, take issue with Sojayeth's attitude... and tried her best to moderate Sharath's temper. In time she felt they would settle but on the other hand, she couldn't blame her gold's desire to one-up the larger gold. All she saw was competition and Sharath didn't like competition, didn't like being small (Amelia understood that now), and didn't like being treated like an outcast or a lesser by being made to sleep in the fields like a common wherry.
So when Sakneth approached, the gold straightened, wings half mantled and neck arched proudly as her eyes whirled a peculiar mix of orange and blue. I do not. They have no sense of Weyr, no sense of hierarchy... and that gold... the big one, her attitude makes me want to tear wherries limb from limb. She spat without any hesitation, Have you seen the way she parades about? All high and mighty. There's nothing to be mighty about, she sleeps in a field like a wherry. There is nothing to be proud of in that, all they do is use her as a workhorse. Hmph.
Settling her wings, Sharath tossed her head and looked out over the fields, having chosen one of the further corners to distance herself from the rest of this most annoying population. I will be so much greater then that, Sakneth.
Amelia had glanced up when her gold suddenly starting going off again as she'd thought she'd calmed the latest outburst of anger. When she saw that Sakneth was approaching, she chuckled and shook her head. That was okay - the two could b***h all they like. It was good to work out steam and if nothing else, Sakneth would have a sympathetic ear to lend. If you want to be greater, Sharath, you've got to work at it, remember? Stir up your comrades, show them what High Reaches is like. We're no foppish posers. Our weyr weathered the plague's first rounds... you come from a line of survivors. Don't let them upset you.
Sharath snorted at that but nodded her head as she curled her arm possessively around her rider. That's what she planned on doing. She was not to be trifled with.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 5:49 pm
B'shir felt the oddest combination of fury and glee emanating from Sakneth, and actually went to the effort of listening in on his dragon's conversation for a few phrases before he figured out that Sakneth had found someone of a similar mind in Sharath. Good for him. B'shir supposed the social thing to do would be to find Amelia and socialize with her, but that would involve moving, and his back was threatening to jump up and throttle him (somehow) if he even thought about it. He stayed where he was.
For his part, Sakneth was actually taken aback at the vehemence of Sharath's reply to his question. He vaguely remembered that they disagreed over many things, but in this he found himself in perfect agreement. That was satisfying. Not so much that it was Sharath who agreed with him, as that there was someone who agreed with him. Even B'shir opposed him in this, though that was nothing new. He and B'shir often disagreed. When he felt B'shir take an interest, he let his bondmate hear Sharath's very valid complaints.
See? I am not the only dragon who feels this place is a punishment, he pointed out to B'shir, who didn't respond.
Yess, Sakneth seethed to Sharath, a hint of a hiss even working its way into his mental voice. I have seen her, and I have not forgotten the way she behaved toward our mother. That was unforgivable.
His claws dug into the dirt as the remembered the scene. He continued to recall it daily - hourly, even - so that he would not forget it. He did not want to forget it. He did not want to become complacent in this hateful place simply because he could no longer remember why he hated it. If he could bite that hateful gold, he would. Hard.
When Sharath declared that she would be greater, Sakneth's response was fierce and immediate, completely without forethought or guile: You already are. Being freakishly huge does not make her any sort of special. As you say, she sleeps in the dirt like a beast.
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 6:28 pm
She nodded at his comment, sure and confident in the gesture, They work, and for what? There is no progress here... endless training? That is not the future I desire. The gold tossed her head irritably, And they whisper... degrade us with their comments. Ignorant fools! She snarled then, lashing her tail.
And there is no one to ask for help from. The riders avoid Mine, ignore mine! And you, do they respect you? A bronze? I think not. Instead they look down on us... golds and bronzes and the rest! Greens may be large but our kin are agile, I could fly circles around that behemoth and her ugly rider. She might be small but she still possessed all the endurance of a gold, and more agility as compared to Sojayeth and that made her smirk. They were better, every one of them.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 6:49 pm
Sakneth bared his teeth an expression that bore no resemblance to a grin and was not meant to, although his next words were said with some humor.
Actually, that's the part my human likes best about this place. The constant work and training. But then, why shouldn't he like it? He hasn't a speck of creativity in his body. The repetition of a daily chore suits him. For just a moment Sakneth forgot how he and B'shir tried to cover for each other's difficulties in front of the others to present a more impressive, united front. And he didn't care.
I don't think we'll be here forever. At least, I hope we won't. B'shir doesn't seem to care much that he's treated like a common laborer and made to work in the fields, but I care a great deal. I did not choose him because I saw his great potential as a field hand. I chose him because I knew he was the best male on the sands. He did take more care now as he addressed Sharath now, remembering not to slight her human as he recovered from his betrayal of B'shir's major flaw.
I certainly wouldn't have chosen any of these human drones, Sakneth said spitefully. If that great, clumsy queen rises while I am here, I shan't even pursue her.
That last was partly a declaration of solidarity with those from High Reaches, but there was another calculating part of Sakneth's mind that was aware he probably couldn't catch her unless he managed to out-maneuver her, and with Ghenzan bronzes flying against him he'd probably be given no chance. His pride would not enjoy that kind of bruising. Particularly not in his first Flight. Somehow he would wait, and resist the urge to give chase. He would even ask B'shir to help keep him grounded, if it came to that. B'shir was annoyingly good at stopping him from doing things he wanted to do.
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 7:13 pm
Mine does not mind it either. Sharath sighed, a great exhalation as she glanced away, at the other forms of dragons working or flying drills. They pass her around like a toy... I do not like this place. There is no laughter.
The gold agreed with Sakneth. She didn't choose Hers because Amelia was a work addict. She chose Amelia for so much more, she was the best and only the best would compliment Sharath. It was as simple as that.
The gold snorted, At least they do not make jokes about only achieving a short Flight or being fated for Browns. Here... her she was determined to show them all she was better at everything. That she was not some unfortunately small gold to be pitied. I am surprised that gold manages to get off the ground never mind Rise.
The venom as she spoke was unmistakable and the enthusiasm she had as she bashed the Weyr's Senior queen was surprising, though she was not all apologetic about her opinions. She would not be ordered about by such a haughty and infuriating dragon.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 8:21 pm
Sakneth wasn't really sure what to say on the subject of laughter. B'shir didn't laugh much. He was in good humor some of the time, but he didn't laugh. Perhaps it was because his laughter, like his facial expressions, didn't sound natural. Even Sakneth could sense that. He often wondered how any humans came to like B'shir. He, Sakneth, knew when B'shir was pleased or angry because he could feel it, but humans weren't so talented. It was strange, but he'd given up trying to puzzle humans out. They were sad, pathetic, flightless creatures.
If I heard them saying such things... Sakneth trailed off. The tips of his teeth were showing once more. That really illustrated his point better than any threat he could make. Particularly since he knew he would not be allowed to follow through on it. B'shir would prevent him.
Nevertheless, I do not think they will be able to keep up this superior act for very long. Not once we've settled in completely and shown them that we are every bit as good, and nowhere near as foolish. Or as freakish for all that these dragons claimed not to value rank, they certainly enjoyed lording their superior size and memory over his clutchmates.
The tip of his tail twitched in irritation and he asked because it had just occurred to him, What if she does manage to get off the ground while we're here? What would happen if Roheth, say, were to catch her?
He did not use himself as an example because he had just said he would not even pursue her, but also because he knew that shining Roheth was such a paragon that if anyone was going to catch a Ghenzan queen, it would probably be him. Sakneth hated him with a deep, abiding hate rooted in jealousy.
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 8:43 pm
She rumbled her appreciation of his support. Sakneth knew his place, at least, even if the Ghenzan dragons didn't comprehend the important of the golds. None of them would exist if it weren't for a queen. Hmph.
Sharath glanced around at that affirmation and shrugged her shoulders, It is only a matter of time. We are not inferior. Those of Ghenza will come to realize this, plain and simple. Otherwise their ignorance is resoundingly solid. Either way, I hope home is cleared of the plague soon... I cannot stand this place.
The young queen blinked at that and tilted her head to the side. If Roheth caught the Senior? It would prove she is not so high and mighty and he would prove the strength of our Weyr. Why?
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 1:02 pm
Sakneth settled, but did not move any closer to his golden clutchmate. Past encounters had been sufficiently distant that he could no longer recall them in detail, but he did remember that most had not gone well, and that usually he and Sharath found little to agree on. That being the case, he thought it might behoove him to keep his distance. A respectful one.
Since our people didn't have the plague anyway, what's to say they were going to get it? Sakneth grumbled. B'shir can't remember a time he's been sick, ever, and we aren't able to get it, though the thought of protecting us was appropriate, I suppose. Why couldn't they send us to that other Weyr?
Inter-Weyr politics were a bit beyond Sakneth, who was fine with being a big fish in a little pond, and perfectly all right avoiding the larger pond of diplomacy. His form of diplomacy probably wouldn't have gone over very well, anyway, according to B'shir. B'shir, on the other hand, was too diplomatic Sakneth thought, and people probably wouldn't trust him because they would never know what he was really thinking. B'shir, surprisingly, had agreed.
Sharath's answer to his question wasn't quite what he had expected. Perhaps this is why dragons weren't encouraged to plan and think ahead. Maybe they weren't good at it.
But, what about the eggs? Would they insist on keeping them here? We took a lot of people who weren't riders when we came here. Do you think they're here just to avoid the plague? He was confusing himself, but before he tried to articulate it, it had made sense.
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Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 7:52 pm
They are paranoid. Sharath asserted evenly, entirely serious. They see plague lurking in every shadow. Telgar? Telgar would not have worked either... they look down on female riders. I wouldn't be able to stand that either... They should have either let us stay, or given me my own Weyr to manage while home recovered.
Sharath seemed uninterested in going to a place where she would be even further from becoming senior then she already was. She wanted to make progress, to gain rank... not lose it. She was no follower! A Weyr was destined to be hers, if not now then in the future. Always. Ambition more then interest in politics drove the gold, it was Amelia who tempered that passion and helped to direct it to productive ends... politics was a human thing anyway.
She shrugged, They would probably give them to us. Insult the eggs... call them too little or unfit. She snarled at the thought, Or they would keep them as a slight against us. I would not put it past that Senior to be like that. Tch.
The gold lifted her head to scan the area, noting the other people who had arrived from High Reaches... most of them Candidates and other riders. They probably don't want to get ill. Or they were supposed to attend to us... but the Ghenza people stole them to their fields and workshops. She frowned, not sure why, really, anyone who was not a rider would come here.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 6:29 am
Paranoid. That was a new term. He knew what it meant because B'shir did, but it wasn't something that often crossed his rider's mind. Among the many things B'shir was not fell paranoid. The young man hardly worried at all, except when it came to the possibility that he would fail somehow to live up to all that was expected of him. That thought made him more unhappy than worried or fretful though.
Surely Telgar does not expect their gold dragons to choose men? Sakneth asked, not quite understanding what Sharath meant about looking down on female riders. Himself, he didn't care one way or the other about human females, unless they interested B'shir, and his human was always very careful not to express too much interest in anyone.
But you're right. This was not the best place to send us. He wasn't sure about giving Sharath her own Weyr.
His tail lashed irritably when Sharath speculated that the eggs would be looked down upon or kept. It was more or less what he had guessed might happen with them, but having it confirmed did nothing for his mood. He did not mention another possibility which had occurred to him. What if they deemed the eggs unfit and the dragons within them unfit, and rather than bring such creatures into the world decided to simply take them between? Were they cruel or stupid enough for that? Sakneth thought they might be.
If it is the first, I am unimpressed by their cowardice. There are people with dragons who stayed at the Weyr, who are far more important and taking their chances. If it is the second, I would hardly be surprised. He shook his head in disgust.
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Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 7:13 pm
Of course not. Sharath snapped, making it clear she thought such a thing was ridiculous. They think their male riders are superior to female riders. And yet their Weyr is lead by a woman, not a man. A gold, not a bronze. Hmph. And that was as much as she was going to say on that.
Dragons cannot fall sick with the plague, she reminded him, tossing her head, But I agree. It is cowardly to flee, as they are not as important as riders or dragons. I could not stay, We were sent here to safeguard the Weyr. I am important. It seemed obvious to her the reason why she had been sent away, even if she disliked their temporary home, but the others... she wasn't so sure as to why they were sent as well. Perhaps she would ask Amelia about that later.
Why do you ask about eggs, Sakneth? Are you seeking to gain my favour? The question was blunt but hid a sharp edge as she probed him with it. What was he after? Her? Or the power she held? It was something she was ever cautious and worried about... and she would not be used because of her colour. She was better then that.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 2:02 pm
Sakneth failed to see anything wrong with the idea that male riders were superior to female riders. Why shouldn't that be the case? Male dragons were superior to their female counterparts. Wisely, he didn't make these observations to Sharath, but he was certainly thinking them.
I know dragons aren't susceptible to the plague, he replied. He disliked the implication that he might not know this obvious fact. But our riders might be. They are more important than those people who haven't Impressed dragons.
Had Sakneth been human, he might have raised his eyebrows at Sharath's explanation for why they had been sent away. As if he didn't know that, too? Did she think she was the only dragon with a brain in Ghenza? In the back of his mind he felt B'shir's resignation to his dragon's extremely misogynistic attitude. As long as Sakneth didn't speak his mind, B'shir would stay out of the affair, he knew, and so he kept his thoughts to himself.
Actually, I wasn't. I was simply curious. He was now making an effort not to be offended. First she began by saying that she felt belittled by the Ghenzans, and then she went on to belittle one of the few people who would side with her. Sakneth was unimpressed, and couldn't help thinking that she shouldn't strain herself with thought at all, since she clearly wasn't very good at it.
Did you know they have my human working in the fields? he asked, refocusing his ire to its proper recipient. The fact that he knows more about being a dragonrider than any other weyrling means nothing to them.
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Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 2:55 pm
Sharath had nodded at his statement. Riders were of more importance then the unImpressed... but those who had Impressed had a duty to the Weyr. It was frustrating to think about so she dismissed it. They were responsible for their own actions, she couldn't do anything to the riders - had no interest really - and telling the dragons to leave would probably just make things worse.
I see. Would it bother you, then, if I were to favour Roheth when I Rise? She quirked a brow, amusement colouring her mental speech, What if another caught me? For Sharath, Flight was about her duty to the Weyr and that duty was best done if the one she favoured most caught her - and only if that particular male caught her. It was something she'd thought about once the Telgar clutch had been announced. Only the worthy would catch her and the worthy were her chosen - simple as that.
And Mine is sent from field to mine and back again... even though the rocks run in her veins. She is suited to far more then basic labour. All of Ours are. She rumbled with irritation, shaking her head.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 6:02 am
Eavesdropping because he was too tired to exert the effort to go indoors or make his way over to Amelia, though he knew the latter was rude, B'shir was pleased with his dragon. He was careful to keep his feeling vague, and not think about what, specifically, Sakneth had done to make him happy, because the bronze would only take offense, but he was pleased to see Sakneth making his own decision to be polite and not argue with Sharath, even when he disagreed with her.
Sharath's question startled Sakneth, but he didn't panic. After all, he was good with women. He knew that. Everyone knew that. Even when women asked ridiculous and off-topic questions like that one. He knew he couldn't think about it too long, and honestly didn't feel that putting too much thought into an answer improved it any. He had a gift with words, and simply saying whatever came to mind, as long as it wasn't insulting, should get him through any scenario. Even uncomfortable ones like this, where it would be only too easy to give insult.
Bother? Not for any personal reason. He paused, and in this space his mental tone became playful. But if someone else did catch you, it would be to the detriment of the Weyr. Everyone knows I'm the best.
B'shir could barely conceal his shock at this new way of presenting himself Sakneth had acquired. Because he could feel that Sakneth believed himself to be correct, but he'd actually made a joke of it, rather than turn it into an insult against Roheth, which B'shir personally knew Sakneth would have loved to have done. For a moment B'shir was extremely pleased with his dragon, even though he didn't think this would go over very well anyway. Sharath was more intelligent than Sakneth gave her credit for being.
Anyway, Sakneth continued with a philosophical shrug, I suppose you have enough sense not to choose anyone who's too much your inferior.
His irritation returned at the thought of their riders' mistreatment. It didn't matter how many times B'shir assured him he really didn't mind, and actually appreciated the opportunity to give back in the short term. Sakneth found it insulting.
Why would they send her to the fields? he wondered. If she is trained as a miner, shouldn't she be doing that?
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