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It was almost night, moments of the downtime that was so precious to Jadamirei. She'd never worked as hard in her life as she had since coming to Ghenza; she'd thought Candidate work was hard in Telgar, but she'd never realized just how lazy she'd been! Now, with every day full of caring for Geminith's wants and needs or working the kitchens or fields, she was learning what 'work' was.

One thing (well, several things that were lumped under one category) had bothered her. Oh, certainly Ghenza had something resembling Weyrling lessons, but it all was stuffed in around work, work and more work; not only that but the lessons were minimal at best. Jadamirei had relied on what she'd learned before she came here as a survival tool. But what if she was doing something wrong? What if Gemi was missing something in her care, or if Jada wasn't doing something right with her? The dragonet had assured her she'd tell if something was wrong, but it wasn't very reassuring.

The High Reaches weyrlings and their dragons would probably be leaving soon, taking their new weyrlings with them- but what would happen to Jadamirei and Geminith? Geminith might not be what they had wanted from their golden egg, having chosen from the Outside, and she might only be another one of the 'clutch'; on the flip side, she was a breeding female, or would be in two to three turns. Jada herself wasn't from High Reaches in the first place, like most people assumes she was. Would Telgar take her back? Would they want her back? If she was allowed to leave (or sent away from) Ghenza, would High reaches take her in? Or would she be shipped off to another strange place?

Then came the question of: what were the expectations of a dragonrider in Ghenza, should the two of them be expected to remain? From observation she'd seen that they seemed to spend a lot of time doing drills, each time with a goldrider there; their presence was like a whip, keeping the wing in line- not that it was even necessary. Even the younger dragons and riders were like well oiled machines, devoted to their work.

Geminith had felt her chosen's concern, and been pondering a solution with her still-childlike brain. She wasn't very old, but even she had noticed some of the difference in both the way her brothers and sisters (and their riders) were being treated, and in knowledge level. That was why she was paying particular attention that night, wandering a bit away from Jadamirei as was her 'game.' Never would her partner expect something as devious as her Geminith had planned!

As Amelia and Sharath spoke, the dragonet spoke privately to the two of them. It's me! the dragonet told them (forgetting they might not recall who 'me' was) and a large golden shape pelted from the shadows and dashed into the closest cover there was. I am playing Hide and Seek with Jadamirei. I do this often. She will be coming for me soon. Sharath, may I use you as a hidey place?

I don't need to hide in a bush! You are a hundred times bigger than I am, and that will do just as well. Geminith sounded pleased and wiggled carefully closer to the golden dragon, crawling across the ground on her belly. I mustn't get too dirty though, she reminded herself- still sharing with the others. It isn't ladylike. Thank you Sharath. Thank you Amelia.

GemGem Plan: Part One. Success.

That looked like a very hard shove. It was Gemi's opinion- not as private as it could have been. It was a response to Amelia's spoken question. But not too hard for someone as strong as Sharath!

Genuine hero-worship? Was that what was forming?

"Gemi!" it was the first call, and it was distant. The dragonet had wandered away from her future Rider to find this pair. Geminith had never wandered off this far on her own! She was quite proud of herself. "Gemi!" the next call was closer, and the little gold rubbed her hide-soft nose over the older gold to hide an impish rumble of amusement.

GemGem Plan: Part Two. A work in progress.

If Jadamirei sees you, don't tell her I am here! The soft voice was anxious. She mustn't think I am listening!

Geminith was speaking to Amelia and Sharath equally, hiding none of her comments from either; was it rude? manners were something important, so when she spoke next she was careful to speak to Sharath only. You got to wrestle with your... Amelia? That was her name, right? She'd heard of the other goldrider from Outside, and even met them before, but Gemi wasn't very good with names. Draconic names she would recall, but the names of Riders slipped her sometimes. She'd work on it, she decided. You didn't have to worry about hurting her? What about your claws? Mine get awful sharp sometimes.

And then the bigger gold's wing was coming toward her, buffeting her on the head and she gave out a sharp yelp of surprise. Sharath! That wasn't nice. The surprise had left her broadcasting again. I wasn't wiping my nose on you, I was rubbing. There is a difference. But in the end, her capitulation was easy enough (anything for cover!) and next time she had to rub her nose, it was on her own golden forepaw.

Her yelp, however, had given her partner a direction to go in. "Gemi, you've wandered off too far this time." Jada called, ignoring the looks from some of the Ghenzan workers. They were probably getting used to it by now, so why they kept up their staring was a mystery. A few moments more walking gave her a clear view of the older gold, and she decided to stop by and say hello. She'd met Amelia and Sharath once before and saw them more often than that; she just didn't say much to them.

"Hello Amelia, Queen Sharath." it was her reply to the friendly wave that Amelia offered, along with a smile and a wave of her own. "How have you been?" That was a good start to a conversation, she thought.

Geminith was almost vibrating from behind (in?) her hiding place.

Geminith thought about trying to hurt her girl. Her Jadamirei, who she had chosen for the reason that to her, there was no one who more deserved to be her partner. No one else to stand at her side, work at her side. She didn't like the thought of hurting her life-mate, even on accident, and her small wings flared instinctively, defensively. No! the thought was a startled burst. No one is allowed to hurt my Jadamirei! Most especially not herself.

The dark-haired girl was peering around, trying to see the familiar golden hide of her partner. "Getting along... well enough." she said finally, attention going back to the senior rider. "No one pays too much attention to me except to snap directions my way. I'm left alone well enough, and they give me what I need to care for Gemi." If grudgingly, she thought wryly. "Much like some of the others who Impressed from 'outside.'" But Geminith was a little different from the others, wasn't she? She and Jada would be a more complicated issue when the time came. Gemi would go where Jadamirei went. Would Ghenza kick her out? Would Telgar take her back? Would High Reaches accept someone so duplicitous? On the other hand, the outside Weyrs seemed to place a higher value on golds than Ghenza, which seemed to treat all dragons all the same.

And Jada being the Outsider that she was, it wasn't just her socializing that was suffering.

"Goldriders are supposed to do something, aren't they?" the words spilled from her lips, and she looked anxious. "I mean, they obviously have something to do other than... I don't know, muck the fields. I was learning that they had responsibilities, but... Everything I know about this role that Gemi and I might be taking, someday, is what I watch and see. There is no one to talk me to tell me if I am doing a good job, really, or if I am hurting her, or neglecting her and letting her wander too much. I suppose they'd let me know if I was mucking it up badly."

You would never muck it up. Geminith's voice was firm, and she trembled against Sharath's body.

The look on Jada's face turned wry as Geminith's assurances stroked against her mind. "And my wherry of a partner keeps running away from me." At least she knew Gemi was near. That was good. She could feel her in her mind, but that hardly made it easier to tell where the gold was. "Hide and Seek seems to be her favorite game. Someday I'll turn the tables on her."

No she won't. Geminith confided to Sharath. I always keep an eye on her. I have nothing better to do!

"I'm just worrying, Amelia. I'm sorry. You have more important things to worry about than me and my problems."

"I'm sorry for venting at you, Amelia." Jada gave the other woman a wry smile. "I just feel... I don't know, to be honest." she glanced up at the gold dragon as her rider pointed her out and smiled. "Sharath is beautiful. And there certainly is plenty of her to do!" If Geminith was anything like Sojayeth and the other Ghanzan dragons in size... ugh. "I suppose part of it is that all I really know about a goldrider's duties- Junior or Senior- is from the old songs, and stories that they told in HarperHall from Passes past. I dreamed of being a goldrider as a little girl,. and a Harper as I got older. Then when I was chosen as a Candidate, I always figured I'd end up a greenrider at best, maybe a bluerider through some odd quirk of dragon thinking. I'd be a wingrider, and obey orders, and that would be that. And now there is Gemi, and the way I'd thought before isn't going to work anymore."

Geminith looked up at Sharath, thoughtful. Born to lead, just because of her hide color. What a novel idea.

The young rider was watching Amelia make gestures to the other side of her dragon. What was she doing? Jadamirei walked around, trying to see on the other side of Sharath, and caught a glimpse of gold huddles close to the other dragon's back.

You sneaky little thing!

Ah! Geminith gave a startled bellow, whirling around and tumbling herself over. Jada, that's mean!

"You ran off and hid, and listened to me spill my guts to poor Miss Amelia here." she chided the dragonet, who looked quite pleased with herself.

You won't talk to me. You think I can't understand. And of course I can't, if you won't talk to me about your worries. Geminith nosed her. So I found you someone you can talk to, and Sharath can teach me about this leadership thing she says I was born to do. You will, right? her head rose and she almost beamed at the other gold.

Jada tugged Geminith around until the two of them were facing the older rider and her dragon, Jada's formerly soft hands- now blistered and scraped- scratching over the ridges on the gold dragonet's eyes, brushing away dirt and branches lodged near the still-delicate wings. "So you want to learn to be a leader?" she asked wryly.

Sharath says I was born to be a leader. And you wonder what we should do, don't you? So why shouldn't I learn something new? Maybe I'll like it.

Gemi gave a rumble of pleasure, followed by a rumble of her stomach. It took you too long to find me, Jada. her words, still broadcasted to everyone, were thick with devotion. She bumped the girl in the hip with her nose, eyes whirling contentment. It was good that her partner was a little more relaxed now, and the knot of worry had slipped her mind. Now I am too hungry to learn. You should become better and seeking, and quickly.

"I don't think you can learn anything tonight anyway. The only thing you're getting is a bath. As for my seeking skills, soon you'll be big enough that I could see you from anywhere."

I'm hungry! the dragonet protested again, dropping the playing stand of thought. That rumble wasn't from my throat! Sharath, when do you think you'll be able to spend time with me again? I can visit you while Jada is working. I'm sneaky, and could sneak away.

"Or you could tell me where you are going next time." the suggestion was mild.