A Bright Spot in Troubled Times
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, Devin
Date Posted: 30th December 2024
Characters: I'serin, N'vanik
Description: I'serin and N'vanik talk at the Hatching.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 22 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: D'hol, N'kevyn, Saibra, Cyradis, M'gan,
I'serin spotted the Dolphin Cove Weyrleader across the Dining Hall and politely excused himself from his current conversation with an eloquent word and courtly bow. He wound his way through the crowd until he was within earshot of the other bronzerider. "Weyrleader N'vanik!" he greeted loudly to catch his attention.
N'vanik turned and did a little half-salute with his drink. "I'serin!" He gently pushed his way through a few people. "Congratulations on a fine hatching. And the new queen!" It was sharding nice to have something to celebrate.
The Dragonsfall Weyrleader chuckled. "A rambunctious one, she is, from what the Weyrlingmasters already discovered. She shall be a handful." He clinked glasses with N'vanik merrily. "What news from Dolphin Cove? Give me an update. Is Weyrwoman Cyradis here?"
N'vanik glanced around and spotted her talking to a small group. "Enjoying herself." N'vanik nodded in her direction with a small smile. Then a shadow darkened his expression. "Still no word on M'gan. I don't know if you heard, he went missing last month. Just . . . gone. The dragons haven't keened for his bronze so he's not dead, but it's just . . . weird." And with holders plotting and Riyanth being killed, N'vanik feared the worst.
I'serin's face mirrored N'vanik's. "I had heard that he had gone missing but I thought...perhaps he had been found by now. Not even the queens know where he went?" For a dragon to disappear was practically unheard of. Dragons _always_ knew where the other dragons were, hence why they were so aware of when one died. There were very few instances of dragons disappearing without reason and all of them were recorded in the histories as a course of action that was incredibly dangerous to try. "Or perhaps the better question to ask is 'when'?" I'serin suggested in a low voice.
N'vanik's frown deepened. "Yeah that crossed my mind too. But M'gan isn't the reckless type." N'vanik shook his head. "Doesn't seem like him at all. But I kind of hope he did do something that sharding stupid because that means he might come back." And that he and Isarth weren't being held by kidnappers somewhere.
"I assume that his Wingsecond is taking over in the interim?" I'serin inquired.
N'vanik nodded. "Until I find a replacement. At this point I have to admit I don't know if or when he's coming back." It would be better if he at least knew what had happened, instead of having nothing but guesses and suspicions.
"What a limbo to be caught in," I'serin remarked. "You can neither move forward nor back, to a certain point, without knowing." He clapped N'vanik on the shoulder in sympathy. "I would offer to send one of our bronzes over but I know you will navigate the course just fine on your own." I'serin could think of a plenty of bronzeriders from Dragonsfall who would jump at the chance of becoming Wingleader somewhere else but he was not about to interfere with N'vanik's decisions.
"You don't need to send anyone, but you can spread the word I have an opening. I know things have shuffled around here, maybe someone with solid experience is feeling a little put out and would appreciate the chance." N'vanik took a drink.
I'serin nodded. His mind briefly rifled through the names of a few riders that he could quietly speak with but that would wait. Today was about celebrating. Well, mostly. "Have you spoken with D'hol yet?" he inquired as his eyes scanned the room for the Barrier Lake Weyrleader. "I spoke with N'kevyn from Barrier Lake earlier but I have not spotted D'hol yet."
"Not yet. I'll go say hi later." Check on him, more like. N'vanik knew D'hol was taking things rough.
That brought another, more thoughtful nod from I'serin. "I cannot imagine..." he murmured. He had lived through the Weyrwoman of River Bluff dying but had not been close with her at all. Losing Saibra, though they were not romantic, would be a blow in so many ways to I'serin. He did not like to imagine that possibility. Out of a sudden spike of worry, he located her in the crowd, noting thankfully that her guard still hovered unobtrusively nearby. "It feels as though the Weyrs have been on high alert for so long," he remarked. "Celebrating today is a welcomed change."
"Yeah." N'vanik sighed and took a drink. "I'll take every good moment I can get." Wanting to get off depressing topics, he said, "Is this the first queen Aluneth has sired?"
"The first clutch entirely, yes," I'serin replied. "If he was insufferable before, I assure you, he is worse now."
N'vanik's eyes widened. "First clutch _and_ a gold?" He laughed. "It was the same with Loseth. Late bloomer and overachiever."
}:I won when it counted the most,:{ the bronze said smugly.
"Truly?" I'serin asked, delightfully incredulous. He raised his glass to toast their similar paths. "Well done to you and Loseth then as well!"
The Dolphin Cove Weyrleader clinked his glass against I'serin's. "To our shiny overachievers."
Last updated on the January 1st 2025