Perceived Slights
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Halyonix
Date Posted: 28th November 2024
Characters: I'serin, A'len
Description: A'len makes some choice remarks about the Hatching
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 22 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Saibra, R'enh, Sybana, Zaphare
Notes:
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leaving the chaos of the clutch's first feeding in the capable hands of the Weyrlingmasters, I'serin, Saibra, and R'enh had returned to the feast to see to their guests. As I'serin parted ways with the Weyrwoman and her mate in favor of giving them some time together and allowing himself to drift through the crowd, he quietly observed who was where within the great Dining Hall -- which Lord Holders were sitting with whom, which riders were congregating together, which families had arrived to see their children Impress.
He had hoped to avoid his father for as long as he could. But that was not to be.
"My son!" A'len said proudly, immediately drawing some attention in that charismatic way he had always mastered. I'serin kept a polite mask in place, hoping that said attention would fade once onlookers realized that A'len simply wanted to have a private conversation with his son. Hopefully, it would be a private one. I'serin felt as though he had been walking on eggshells since their encounter nearly a month ago, waiting for A'len to do...something.
His father had never been one to forget slights. Especially ones from his own son.
"Quite an entrance that queen made, am I right?" A'len crowed as he clapped a hand on I'serin's shoulder. "But, don't they all? They are queens, after all. I've never heard of one being demure. Though, there's a first time for everything. I would have wagered such a thing on Aluneth's get. She certainly was a looker."
There was something...veiled...to A'len's words. Or was I'serin reading too deeply into it? That was the problem. His father had always been good at getting a reaction out of I'serin and then claiming that I'serin was being too sensitive or overreacting. Simple gaslighting, I'serin knew, and yet, he fell for it.
"Galgaith will prosper," I'serin remarked with his emotional mask still in place.
"Oh, most certainly!" A'len agreed heartily. There was something to his grin though. I'serin had seen this expression before. "Though I was surprised at only two bronzes. Surely Chioneth led Aluneth on a merrier chase than that! Perhaps next time. I remember when Tirenth sired those five bronzes. That was a good clutch."
So, there was the first snide jab -- at Aluneth's virility. "Clutches prior to a Pass often skew towards larger sizes and thus more metallics," I'serin countered, though he knew data would not persuade his father from the course he was about to take. "Thirty-seven eggs during a Pass is considered standard."
A'len's eyes glittered with...something. Malice? No. But not friendly. "Ah, my son, ever the historian. Well, hopefully, next time, Aluneth will rectify that. If he's quick enough next time." The second jab. Sowing doubt. I'serin hated how this playbook was being repeated. "And that girl Impressing a blue! Seems all the rage nowadays, women on blue dragons. How the times are changing. What will we see next? A woman on a brown dragon?" A'len chuckled darkly. "Now _that_, that aberration I'd wager on Aluneth's get."
"You seem bent on dismissing Aluneth's achievements with this conversation," I'serin replied, feeling anger slithering somewhere within his ribs. Was that the ploy? Deride Aluneth in order to provoke I'serin? It would work, I'serin knew, because I'serin allowed others to condemn him but would not stand for the same treatment of his dragon. I'serin had to remain calm. An outburst in his office was one thing. An outburst during the Hatching feast? Unacceptable.
"Dismissing?" A'len echoed, evading. "Hardly, my son. Just...remarking about how _unique_ the clutch is. An all out brawl during the first feeding is _quite_ intriguing. You've certainly set an interesting bar for others."
}: Tirenth will have to keep up, :{ Aluneth remarked darkly. And...humorously? Had I'serin heard his dragon's tone correctly? Yes, he had.
His bronze's words were like a key turning, opening up to some previously unseen insight. A'len was sixty Turns old, not old but certainly leaving his prime. I'serin tried to remember when was the last time Tirenth had caught a queen. Had it been back at River Bluff? So six Turns ago, at a minimum. And Tirenth had _never_ sired a gold egg. Aluneth had.
That was it. That was A'len's issue! Tirenth was aging out. His chances of catching a queen grew smaller with each Turn. And Aluneth was coming into his prime! It was all a jealous ploy!
I'serin made sure that his expression didn't reveal his inward feeling of triumph, that he had figured out what A'len was getting at before it had unbalanced him. "Tirenth will have to keep up," he said, repeating his dragon's words, unbeknownst to A'len.
A flicker of darker emotion crossed A'len's face. "Oh, I am certain that he will," the older man said with steel in his tone. He raised his wineglass slightly in mocking toast. "Happy Hatching, _Weyrleader_."
His father left, leaving I'serin feeling as though he had won some minor victory but wondering at what cost.
Last updated on the December 10th 2024