Testing the Waters

Writers: Chelle, Heather
Date Posted: 17th January 2016

Characters: Saibra, Rhosyn, R'gelen
Description: Rhosyn asks Saibra for a favor.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 4, day 5 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: G'nir, Saidrene, Kaibren, K'yne

Saibra

Sitting on the edge of the divan, Rhosyn drank some of the hot klah,
silently thanking Faranth for the cooler weather and wishing she had it all
the time. She waited for the other goldrider to get settled, knowing she was
probably curious why she had asked her to talk. It wasn't often the River
Bluff Weyrwoman went visiting, much less on purpose. She crossed and
uncrossed her legs and nodded, ready to just get on with it. "So
Saibra....one of your weyrlings happens to be my nephew." She gave a wry
smile after that announcement.

"Oh?" Saibra, who was sitting opposite of Rhosyn in a chair, idly ran her
finger around the lip of her cup. She wasn't sure why the River Bluff
Weyrwoman had called this meeting. They were far from casual friends, but
surely there was something more important here at play than someone's
nephew?

"Aye, the thing is I'm not sure if he knows it. I haven't really kept in
touch with my family since Impression and I saw them at the Hatching. For
some reason they were less than pleased to see me. The boy has never sought
me out either. So....I asked G'nir to keep an eye on him. By my count, he's
getting very close to going between." She became quiet at that point,
considering what that could mean. "I suppose I thought it would sort of be
unfair if I never....said anything and maybe something happened. Maybe he
should know he does have family that...well I don't know. In case he needs
someone later." She put her free hand in her lap and then took another gulp
of hot klah.

Saibra knew the weyrling, she had to keep an eye on him after all as he
would most likely be a part of the Queen's Wing until he was old enough to
join the fighting Wings. The Dragonsfall Weyrwoman didn't see how Rhosyn
could have much attachment to R'gelen since she'd never been in contact with
the boy, and had apparently had little contact with her family even, but
family was family.

"So what would you like me to do?" she asked with a tilt of her head. There
must have been some reason for Rhosyn's in-person visit.

"I don't want to upset him or his dragon. So I was wondering if you could
see if he would even want the meeting. That way if he doesn't, no harm
done." Finding it hard to air her family's dirty laundry as well as her own,
Rhosyn had never had to talk about something so personal. And she didn't
really quite understand it herself anyhow.

"Of course, I can talk to him and see what he says. I'll try to ask around
and see what he knows about you first, maybe his family has told him, and if
not then I'll break the news to him." Saibra understood what it was like
having a complicated family, after all, she wanted to strangle Saidrene and
Kaibren's uncle K'yne.

"That would be great thanks." Sighing at how awkward this was, Rhosyn didn't
want to reveal too much yet. So she grabbed the pot and poured more klah.
There were a couple of other things to talk about anyway like the upcoming
joint threadfall practice.

~*~

**Love, will you speak to R'gelen's bronze and ask him to come to my
office.** Saibra relayed to her gold as she moved into the chair behind her
desk.

Chioneth sought out the young bronze. }:My rider would like to speak to
yours in her office.:{

}:The queen calls. Her rider wishes to speak to you:{ Iroth relayed,
surprised but pleased. R'gelen wasn't so pleased over the news though.
Wondering what bad thing he had done to get the Weyrwoman's attention, he
put down his chart hides and headed to the office straightaway. Stopping, he
pulled his tunic down and ran a hand through his short curls. Then he stood
in the doorway. "Weyrling R'gelen reporting as requested Weyrwoman." His
eyes glittered with nervousness.

Saibra flashed a smile at the young boy, not so far apart in age from her
Kaibren. "Have a seat please R'gelen. I'd like to talk with you for a
moment." She gave him time to get settled. "If I asked you about the
Weyrwoman of River Bluff, Rhosyn, could you tell me anything about her?"

Immediately, he stiffened just slightly at the name. Still this was the
Weyrwoman he was talking to which meant she knew his Aunt. And he remembered
the admonishment that G'nir had given him that one time he had said... So he
tread carefully. "Well yes mam...I mean from lessons her queen's name is
Orlaith-she's been there for a few turns now." **I can't tell the Weyrwoman
that my parents think she's a whore**

}:What is this you are thinking? You are ashamed. Why?:{ Iroth didn't
understand the feelings and images he was receiving. The bronze tried to
make sense of it but he did pick up on the thought that it was in connection
with a queenrider which further confused him.

**It's a family problem. Don't worry about it.** Still the fact that he was
in the Weyrwoman's office and she was asking about said family member was
giving him cause to worry about it. Were they going to kick him out of the
Weyr because of her?

Saibra's cobalt eyes narrowed a little as she studied the youngster, trying
to determine if he was nervous because he was in a meeting with the
Weyrwoman, or if he was keeping something from her. "You don't know then
that you are related to Weyrwoman Rhosyn?"

**Shardit.** And there it was. Now he'd have to just come out with the whole
thing. "Well...I didn't till I came to the Vintner Hall and we seen my
records. My parents never said. I think the family doesn't want people to
know because of things said about her. I was asking G'nir and he said I
should respect her and not to say things like that so I didn't." He hoped
that really made sense to her because he didn't necessarily want to tell
Saibra those things. Now that he was a bit older and had been in the Weyr he
felt worse about saying them. "But I've never met her or anything." And then
a thought occurred to him. "But you have..."

"Yes, yes I have." She wondered what Rhosyn would think about R'gelen having
already known about their relation. "She would like to meet you, you know."

That threw him for a loop. His Aunt knew about him? How long had she known
then? She had never come to visit or anything. **Well maybe it was cause Ma
and Da didn't want her to.** "Oh umm...that's nice. So she's not really like
everyone says? She's...different?" He watched Saibra, searching for her
reactions. Surely she wouldn't lie to him. "Or..what is she like?"

Saibra's eyebrows arched a bit as she leaned back in her chair. "I guess
that depends, what have you heard about her?"

G'nir had said he shouldn't say it, but now she was asking him to.
"Ummm...well....the Whorewoman name came up." He blushed bright red from the
top of curls to his toes and he felt Iroth listening curiously through their
bond.

"And why do you think they say that about her?" If it hadn't come out of the
mouth of a Weyrling Saibra might have chuckled, not because she believed it
of Rhosyn, but because it seemed like something a simple-minded, prudish
holder had come up with.

"I don't know. I mean...maybe she's free with herself or whatever she is.
Maybe she does things she shouldn't. I just..I don't know. G'nir made it
seem like it wasn't my place to worry about it though. I mean if she's a
Weyrwoman, she can do whatever she wants. I guess....my family just didn't
want people to know that we were related to a woman with such loose morals.
It could have hurt my siblings' chances for marriage I guess." That was
likely true enough. Then again, R'gelen still hadn't had a chance to ask his
mother and father why they didn't want him to know about his aunt. He was
almost afraid of the answer. The blush turned into a look of misery. He
hated having to have this conversation with _this_ person.

Saibra steepled her fingers together. "That's unusual, you know. Most
holders I have ever met fall over themselves at the chance for their
daughter, niece, or cousin, to Impress a gold dragon. Rhosyn isn't just any
goldrider either, but the Senior Weyrwoman, making her arguably the most
important person at River Bluff Weyr. It is the Weyrwoman who provides
stability, blood, and strength to the Weyr through her clutches, regardless
of what she does in the privacy of her weyr." She leveled her blue gaze on
R'gelen. "Perhaps you should meet Rhosyn and judge her for yourself, rather
than listening to what you have heard others whisper behind her back?"

"UUUhhh.....would it matter Weyrwoman mam.....if I thought my mother
probably wouldn't like it?" He could imagine having that conversation later.
Then again, he really didn't have to. He didn't have to tell his mother.
"Would she...need to know?" **Will Saibra tell them? I belong to the Weyr
now so they don't need to give permission, right?**

Had this child not been paying attention during his Candidate, and now
weyrling, lessons? "You belong to the Weyr now, no one is babying you or
sending reports home to your parents. Your decision is your own, it's up to
you whether or not you share it with anyone."

**Okay but if Ma finds out...I'm going to be the one to deal with it.
Great** Still, his curiosity was overriding his sense of personal safety.
And he remembered what Symion had said. Knowing people with power was never
a bad thing. Later on, it might help him. And if it didn't, then he could at
least know if he did have more family. **Plus she does want to meet me.** "I
guess that would be okay then."

"I will let Rhosyn know that you are agreeable to meeting then. You are free
to go." Saibra said.

Just like that he had made a very big decision that would likely have far
reaching impact on his life. Still, he was a dragonrider now and he needed
to act like a grown up that could make the right choices. "Thank you mam."
Turning on his heel, he had never hotfooted it out of an office faster in
his life.

Last updated on the January 20th 2016

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Testing the Waters