Important Diplomatic Conversation

Writers: Devin, Shawna
Date Posted: 11th January 2025

Characters: N'kevyn, N'vanik
Description: N’kevyn runs into the Weyrleader of Dolphin Cove
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 3, day 12 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Aydhan, Nidre, Cosani, Cyradis, Cirina, Aydhara, Ciara

N'kevyn

N'vanik

It had been warm at home, but it was bordering on ‘too hot’ in the
afternoon sun at Dolphin Cove. That hadn’t stopped N’kevyn from
heading for the beach as soon as he’d finished the errand that had
brought him to the tropical Weyr, however, it just meant he’d rolled
his sleeves up before heading for a stroll. He wasn’t paying attention
to much besides the weather, and he’d almost walked past N’vanik with
no more than an absent minded nod before he pulled up short, clearly
doing a double take.

“Weyrleader N’vanik, I didn’t realize I would be stumbling into your
office today, I'd have made an appointment,” he grinned, taking in the
other man. “Certainly lovely weather for a day outside, though.”

N'vanik had been deep in hidework and was slightly startled. Looking
up, he recognized the man as Aydhan's weyrmate but had to grope for
his name. "N'kevyn, right?"

"That's me. I'm without my prettier half today, so I know that makes
me less memorable," N'kevyn said. "I didn't actually mean to bother
you, I apologize. I was just enjoying the scenery."

"Feel free to have a seat." N'vanik gestured to the space next to him.
"I probably need a break anyway."

Never the type to say no to any invitation, N'kevyn took a seat. "Do
you work outside often?"

"As much as I can," N'vanik said with a laugh. "The view, the shade,
and a breeze off the ocean . . . way better than being stuck in an
office." He stretched his legs out.

"I hear that," N'kevyn agreed. "Barrier Lake is great, but you do have
the better views here. And I'd go crazy staring at the walls of an
office for more than an hour."

The Weyrleader gave an exaggerated sigh. "Sometimes I have to be in
meetings for _candlemarks_."

"My sincere condolences," N'kevyn said solemnly, "I hope your people
know the great sacrifices you make for them."

N'vanik chuckled, but then his expression grew more serious. "How's
Aydhan? You guys managing okay over there?"

"Good. Well, as good as can be, considering. It's a lot of work to
shoulder at once, and in terrible circumstances. It's one thing to
lose a Queen to Thread or age, but this..." N'kevyn shook his head
."But the Weyr's mourning, but strong." He sounded proud, either of
his new home, his weyrmate, or likely both.

"Anything you need, just ask," N'vanik said. "I mean it." He wanted to
do what he could for Barrier Lake. They all had enough problems with
Thread and natural disasters, but _people_ attacking dragonriders . .
. Again, and again, and again. There were moments he wanted to take
his people to an island and just let the rest of it burn.

N'kevyn smiled, "I'll make sure Aydhan knows. Unfortunately, what the
Weyr needs most is to recruit another gold transfer, and you know what
a chore that can be. It's unfortunate to have to be doing that so
soon; everyone's just gotten used to Aydhan and Tym."

N'vanik nodded. "I've been through that a few times. You either get a
flurry of replies or a just a few applicants the other Weyrs are
obviously eager to get rid of." And you had to be all the more careful
when any gold you brought in could be the next Senior Weyrwoman.

"Well, here's hoping we get the former. I don't think Aydhan or Nidre
were castoffs; maybe Barrier Lake can get lucky again. I wonder if
whoever was third on the list is still considering it," he mused. Or
perhaps they could lure Nidre, but he wasn't about to say that
outloud.

"Oh no, that was a competitive batch." N'vanik chuckled. "We had a
hard time choosing. Your weyrmate is definitely not the bottom of the
barrel."

"You don't need to tell me that. I got her to marry me, you know,
before she Impressed." He held up the hand with the ring on it, "I've
always known she was special. Your Weyr missed out there," N'kevyn's
tone was joking, though.

"Barrier Lake is lucky, and so are you," N'vanik said easily. "I think
I remember her calling you her ex-husband at the interview."

Shaking his head, N'kevyn said, "Yeah, she thinks that's funny, but
she still wears the ring! What about your personal life? I've heard
you have children, yes?"

"Got a few running around," N'vanik said with a smile. "Cosani, she's
a wingrider. She's my oldest. And then I have Nisheyl, she's four, and
Cyradis and I had a son a little over a year ago. Well, it's mine or
her ex-weyrmate's, you know these things go." N'vanik loved him no
matter what the truth might be. And little Nievan, just a few months
older than Cyranik, who definitely wasn't N'vanik's even if he
encouraged the rumor. He hoped the possibility of being the
Weyrleader's son would overshadow the fact that his mother had tried
to murder dragons.

"Oh, I hadn't realized some of your children were that young. My
oldest is a weyrling right now, and my youngest hoping to be in the
next class. I can't imagine chasing a toddler at this point, but I
miss that age. So much fun and almost never mean. My daughter can be
savage," N'kevyn said it fondly, however.

"Nisha's got some fire in her, but her foster mother has so far
managed to keep the worst traits of her birth parents from taking too
much of a hold." N'vanik chuckled. "Cyranik is mostly sweet so far,
but he hasn't gotten to the troublesome stage yet."

"Eh, a little fire is good," N'kevyn said with a grin. "Ah yes, the
sweet phase before they start running everywhere with the singular
goal of destruction. I think twos were as stressful as the teen
years... and those have included my daughter deciding she was going to
Impress blue. Which wouldn't be bad, but it's not as likely as green."

"It's so weird that just started happening. Like something shifted in
the dragons all of a sudden," N'vanik said. "Dragonsfall, here, and
then Barrier Lake."

With a dismissive shrug, N'kevyn said, "Maybe the previous generations
just didn't have enough girls on the sands? We seem to have a good mix
these days, and the girls are as fierce as the boys."

"If it was just fierceness, Cosani would've got one," N'vanik said.
She hadn't Impressed the gold in that clutch either, but that made
sense to him. While golds had all the prestige and he certainly
thought she was worthy of the best, Cosani was much more suited to a
fighting dragon.

"I'll trust you on that. Maybe the first one just taught the
candidates it was an option so now more of them are considering it?
Although Aydhara has been saying she wanted a "good boy like Avicath"
since she could talk, so...Still, I think it's a good development. Who
knows what's next. Browns?" N'kevyn chuckled, "One of your candidates
hitched a ride on a brown to come give us the tour of the festivities
at Turns End and had us half convinced it was hers."

"Really?" N'vanik chuckled. "Who was that?"

"Cirina. She and Aydhara are friends now. I'm actually wandering your
beach so that they can catch up on the latest ... Whatever candidates
gossip about. I told them I'd entertain myself for an hour before we
headed back. Give them some privacy... Also they talk so fast it gives
me a headache," N'kevyn joked.

N'vanik laughed. "Oh yeah, Ciara's little girl. I suppose not so
little now. I'm glad she found a new friend. I know being left
Standing so long is weighing on her."

"Seems to be a good kid," N'kevyn agreed. "I think it's good- they can
both commiserate on how long they've been waiting but they aren't
competing for the same hatchlings. Aydhara will probably come with
Aydhan and I to your next hatching to cheer her on, if schedules
permit. Consider this your warning."

"Is there some reason I should be worried? How savage is your sweet
little girl?"

"Oh, she just inherited my lungs. We might be loud cheering guests,
but that's not so unusual for a hatching, right?"

"Not at all. An enthusiastic crowd is good, and maybe she'll give
Cirina some extra luck," N'vanik said. It was nice to talk about the
future, about hope.

"Hopefully. And then I don't have to shuttle teenage girls around.
They don't tip, you know," N'kevyn's tone was light and joking. "But I
should let you get back to your work and go collect my daughter. I'm
sure we'll run into each other again soon."

"It was nice chatting with you," N'vanik said. "I appreciated the
excuse for a break, and we could call this 'maintaining important
inter-Weyr ties.'"

Climbing to his feet and casually dusting himself off, N'kevyn said,
"That's it. It was an important diplomatic conversation. Have a good
afternoon, Weyrleader," he gave a polite nod before heading back the
way he'd come, telling Avicath to tell Aydhara it was almost time to
go.

Last updated on the January 15th 2025

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Important Diplomatic Conversation