Curiosity

Writers: Corrin, Devin
Date Posted: 18th March 2025

Characters: K'mai, Sybana
Description: K'mai and Sybana meet for the first time
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 4, day 20 of Turn 12

K'mai

Sybana

}:The little Queen is out,:{ Sebeth said. }:We should meet her.:{

K'mai had been looking for an opportunity to meet the Weyr's newest goldrider. There had been too many people eager to have a word with her after the Hatching, and at the Feast he'd gotten a bit . . . distracted.

**Are you brave enough to introduce yourself to a gold?** K'mai teased.

}:She is still a baby.:{

**I think being friends with Aluneth has made you bolder around metallics.**

Sebeth huffed. }:We should say hello before someone else gets her attention.:{

K'mai laughed.

A few moments later, Sebeth landed in the Weyrbowl. }:Hello, Galgaith. I am Sebeth. You look . . . shiny,:{ he said politely.

Fresh from her bath and meal, Galgaith was no prettier, but she gleamed even in the muted daylight, her damp hide carrying the faint sheen of oil over its golden luster. She had been restless after bathing, so Sybana had taken the opportunity to walk her around the Weyrbowl. They were investigating the waterfall when Sebeth and K'mai joined them.

Galgaith, sniffing the misty air near the curtain of water, paused to puff up with childish delight as she turned to face the blue. }:I am shiny. Most of my clutchmates are not. Not really. They're more... dull shiny. Like you.:{ The young gold faltered in her happy prattle for a second, listening to some inner voice, (Sybana), before amending, }:I can't say 'dull shiny.' Even though it's true. Different. They're different. Smaller too. I am very big... compared to them.:{

She was less than half the size of Sebeth.

"I'm sorry, she's a bit blunt," Sybana explained to the man astride the blue.

K'mai laughed as he slid down. "It takes a lot to hurt his feelings." He patted Sebeth's arm. "I'm K'mai, and this is Sebeth."

}:Golds are the largest and the shiniest,:{ Sebeth said easily, lying down so he was closer to the hatchling's level.

Waterfall momentarily forgotten, Galgaith preened. }:That will be me one day. And then I will...:{ She trailed off, this great future fading into lack of a concrete goal. Still, }:It will be great.:{

"It's nice to meet you both. I'm Sybana and, of course, this is Galgaith." It might not have been necessary to say their names, but Sybana was nothing if not polite. A quick glance around, subtle as she could manage, confirmed that there was no one else really in the vicinity besides her sole guard a slight ways off. The dragonrider didn't appear to have any bathing gear with him, and the waterfall pool was probably too small and cold besides. So he had come just to say hello. Interesting.

"A pleasure to meet you," K'mai gave them both a slight bow. "Holdbred, weren't you?" She wasn't a weyrbrat, that was sure. He didn't know all the weyrbred Candidates personally, but he was at least familiar with them.

"Yes, my father holds Skyvale, not far from here." Even if K'mai hadn't been familiar with the faces of the weyrbrats, it was easy enough to peg Sybana's origin. Between chores she dressed more finely than any local would find practical and when she spoke it was with a certain harperly polish not drilled in the creche. A highborn holder, for all the dragon by her side. "I arrived at the weyr barely two seven's before the hatching. It's been quite a whirlwind."

"Oh, wow, I bet. Probably a lot to adjust to." A mischievous gleam lit his eyes. "What's the most shocking thing you've seen?"

Sybana blinked, caught off guard by the question. She had expected some more pleasantries, perhaps a little harmless flattery-- something easy to navigate. Instead, the dragonrider had leapt straight into asking about shocks and scandal. A part of her wondered if it was a trap.

But he really seemed curious and if Sybana was being honest, she was starved for conversation with another person. So much of the past few days was mindspeech and Galgaith, while charming, was not quite the sort of conversationalist Sybana was used to.

"The communal baths," she admitted at last, and despite herself, she felt the heat rise in her cheeks at the thought.

K'mai started to laugh and covered his mouth. "Oh you sweet, innocent thing. I suppose two sevendays isn't much time to see the good stuff, and now you're going to be somewhat sheltered. With good reason!"

Sybana stiffened as he laughed, the feeling of warmth in her cheeks shifting to something sharper-- indignation. She wasn't that sheltered, was she? Who but a weyrborn, with their wild morals, would think men and women bathing together was a good idea? She had half a mind to end the conversation right there, but her pride was stung -- it was like he thought she couldn't handle more -- and her interest was piqued, despite everything. "What will I be missing? What is 'the good stuff'?"

K'mai grinned. "Come and ask me when you graduate to Senior Weyrling."

The non-answer irritated and intrigued Sybana in equal parts. "That's rather vague. And convenient." She lifted her chin with a hint of challenge. "Is that to give you time to think?"

"It's to give your dragon time to grow up so she can handle adult discussions." He smiled again. "There are rules even I obey."

That gave Sybana pause. Now that he mentioned it, she recalled the warnings the masters gave in the short lessons while the dragons slept. No getting too emotional, too angry, or upset or... excited. Not until the dragons were old enough. Just what _had_ this man seen that would be so shocking it'd endanger Galgaith?

If it was that shocking or, as she was beginning to expect, salacious, maybe _she_ shouldn't hear it either. The conversation had already slipped past the usual bounds of hold propriety-- but she was invested now and found she really didn't want to live up to his estimation of 'sweet and innocent.'

And she wasn't at the hold anymore, was she?

"Very well," Sybana said. "Keep your secret, for now. I just hope it's worth the wait."

The bluerider chuckled. "It will be." He wondered if he'd be able to show her a few things before the bronzeboys tried to lay claim to her. "But for now, let's talk about something else. How about your family? Do you get along? Did they come to the Hatching?"

The directness of his questioning surprised a laugh out of her. "You're _very_ inquisitive," she said, looking him over for some ulterior motive and seeing little more than his sunny blond hair and easy smile. "Are you asking for the cavern gossip or the printer's scandal rag, or are you actually trying to get to know me?"

"I want to get to know you," K'mai said. "I love meeting new people, and you seem interesting."

What a strange man.

Sybana prided herself on her ability to read people, to navigate their expectations and ambitions and desires. But now? K’mai baffled her. Either the tells were different at the weyr -- and how much was the friendship of the most junior goldrider worth to a blue rider anyway? -- or the man was truly genuine.

Honestly, she wanted him to be genuine. She could use more friends.

“Very well. I'll answer your questions, but you have to answer mine. I want to get to know you too-- and this place.” And, because she still felt a little uncertain and that made her want to take power where she could, she added with a sweet smile, “I'll answer one of yours, for every two of mine. Deal?”

"Deal," he said easily.

Last updated on the March 26th 2025

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Curiosity