We're Not Retired Just Yet

Writers: Halyonix, Heather
Date Posted: 28th January 2025

Characters: M'kall, A'len
Description: M'kall and A'len catch up after the Hatching
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 23 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Tsaera, Galgaith, Chioneth, K'ran, K'lvin, A'kades

M'kall

"Well, A'len, you must be proud of I'serin. That was quite a
hatching," M'kall said as he sat down beside the other bronzerider
with a steaming cup of klah. Although many had stayed up late the
previous night celebrating the Hatching, M'kall had turned in at a
reasonable time. The light night drinking parties were for much
younger folk.

"Quite a Hatching indeed," A'len agreed jovially. His saccarine smile
hid his true feelings about the event. Over the Turns, A'len had
developed a charisma that allowed him to endear and evade. He was a
bronzerider, a natural born politician of a leader. He exuded pride
and confidence.

But he did not want to talk about his disappointment of a son, who had
spurned him so delicately during the celebration yesterday. All of
that power, going to that boy's head. A'len would have to find a way
to remind I'serin of his place and how he needed the veteran
bronzeriders to pick up his slack. So, he directed the conversation
towards more pleasant topics. "I heard that Cyan Wing already set up a
betting pool that Galgaith outgrows Chioneth by a whole hand in the
shoulder."

"It would take a fool not to bet on those odds," M'kall commented.
"Chioneth's not even the largest gold on Pern right now. She's average
size, at best. Aluneth certainly put some size into this clutch.
Several of the dragonets were much larger this time than they've been
in previous clutches."

"Ah, I remember those times. Tirenth had a few of his get outgrow
previous sires. Though, of course, all of his offspring were far more
well-behaved. Can you imagine a brawl at the first feeding at River
Bluff? Tsaera would have never allowed it!" He laughed for good
measure. Yes, Aluneth would be adding size to the clutch but A'len
would still gladly take the chance to drag down the young bronze a peg
or two. Only two bronzes in the clutch! What a miserable number.

“Yes, _that_,” M’kall said, referring to the disaster among the
Weyrlings’ first feeding, “was a poor look.” On at least one thing,
they could agree. “Speaking of Tsaera. Have you spoken with her since
she’s come to Dragonsfall?”

"A few times, yes," A'len said smoothly. But Tsaera, for all of her
prestige, was waning in her power. A gold dragon that did not rise
would not be Weyrwoman again. A'len would keep on good terms with her
out of respect for her rank and history, but he wouldn't go out of his
way to curry favor with her. "And you?" There was a knowing smirk to
A'len's expression then.

“Of course, I have.” M’kall readily admitted. “We have most of the
core of River Bluff’s former leadership here at Dragonsfall now. It
feels a bit like old times.” And he had liked old times when he’d been
a Wingleader and River Bluff had been in its glory days. Of course,
they hadn’t known they were in their glory days, then.

For a moment, A'len's eyes twinkled with ambitious mirth. "A bit like
old times indeed," he agreed. He sipped his klah for a moment, letting
that set in, while his mind tried to come up with the next angle to
try on M'kall. The other bronzerider was not calculating like A'len
was -- he was a romantic. So, A'len decided to work with that. "Would
that we could recreate those days. Us back as Wingleaders. K'ran as
Weyrleader. I haven't spoken with K'lvin or A'kades lately. Have you?"
No, they were all spread out now, a diaspora diminishing their once
united River Bluff strength. And even with one of theirs now in
charge, the boy was more loyal to the Dragonsfall leadership than his
former.

"I caught up with A'kades a bit when he came to visit Kadira. K'lvin
is happy with his work as Weyrlingmaster at Barrier Lake, or at least
it's keeping him busy." M'kall took a sip of his klah. He was rolling
his eyes on the inside, however. A'len had always thought he was so
clever. "I loved being a Wingleader," he admitted, "but I think I'm
done with all of that now. Sanderveth and I have several good fighting
Turns left in us. I'd rather just enjoy that and support these younger
bronzeriders in whatever way I can. After all, if we continue being
leaders, how will they ever learn?"

Ah, yes, A'kades would have come to visit his atypical daughter who
had Impressed a blue dragon. What an omen that had been! And another
woman had Impressed a blue in this clutch as well! What was Pern
coming to? But A'len was not going to give his remarks on that.
"Done?" A'len repeated, slightly surprised. "M'kall, I had never
expected to hear those words from you. We're not old yet. These
youngsters still have plenty to learn from us being in charge. They'll
have their time soon enough. And then we can laugh at them from the
retiree's Wing."

It was true that Sanderveth had a decade, maybe two, left in him for
fighting Thread, but M'kall found himself interested in things other
than leading a Wing now. Namely, a certain retired goldrider who had
come to Dragonsfall temporarily. **I have to make the most of our time
together before she leaves,** he thought.

"I'll admit, A'len, I have an incredibly hard time imagining you
retired. Senile? Yes. Retired? No." M'kall grinned.

A'len laughed loudly at the idea of him going senile. Preposterous!
"I'll retire when I'm dead," he said, which was a common sentiment for
a lot of dragonriders. They were born to fly Threadfall, to die
defending Pern. Retirement did not sit well with many of them. "Or
maybe apply for a Weyrlingmaster position." He doubted that T'lonas
would like that though. He was a Dragonsfall man. He had no loyalty to
River Bluff. "But. I'm not sailing my retirement ship just yet.
Tirenth nearly caught Chioneth last time." He shot M'kall a wicked
grin.

M'kall had seen Chioneth's flight, and he didn't personally think
Dragonsfall had ever been in danger of Tirenth winning, but A'len was
one of those people where it was best to just let him talk sometimes.
"I pity the Weyrlings that have Weyrlingmaster A'len. They won't know
what hit them," M'kall teased.

"A discipline that some of the Wings are sorely lacking, that's for
certain," A'len said. He had never been one to tactfully hide his
feelings about the Cyan Wing parties. But he winked, turning it into a
joke rather than letting it sour the joviality. "Ah, well, I suppose
I'll just have to watch T'lonas muck it up from afar and then work it
out within my Wing. As my Wingleader decides, anyway." Shells, he was
slipping a bit on his tone. He should probably wrap up the
conversation before it ended on a poor note. He took a sip of his klah
and his eyes turned wickedly merry. "Bringing up Tsaera again -- have
you asked her out yet?"

"Of course. The day she arrived." M'kall said this with zero shame. He
was too old for games. He was interested in Tsaera and saw no reason
to beat around the bush or hide it.

"Good. Don't let the moment pass you by," A'len cautioned with a
knowing grin. He rapped his knuckles on the table and rose. "Speaking
of moments. I've got sweep to handle today." He toasted the rest of
his mug to M'kall. "Stay out of trouble. And retirement!" he said as
he departed.

Last updated on the February 11th 2025

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

We're Not Retired Just Yet