Security Precautions

Writers: Duskdog, Halyonix, Heather
Date Posted: 1st April 2025

Characters: Saibra, M'kayre, I'serin
Description: The Weyrleadership of DFW reacts to the tragedy at BLW
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 2, day 7 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Kapera, Ashela, Lanniya, Tymborikath, Piketh
Since this takes place before Ashela's departure, she is still DFW WW2nd at this point in the timeline.

Saibra

M'kayre

I'serin

The glows burned brightly in the Weyrleader's office until very late that night.

I'serin had briefly considered going to the celebration at Barrier
Lake as a show of support from Dragonsfall but had fallen behind on a
project he had intended to finish earlier that afternoon. When the
dragons suddenly started keening, I'serin knew that he would not be
leaving the Weyr at all.

**What has happened?** he asked of Aluneth, going out to the ledge and
looking up at the Rim where his lifemate was perched. Aluneth's eyes
whirled a cautionary orange, offset by the gray tinge to his bronze
hide. Something was not right. This was not a normal dragon's death --
I'serin could feel it through their link.

}: Riyanth has gone /between/, :{ Aluneth reported gravely. The
bronze's gaze turned towards the ledge where Chioneth rested, growing
more egg-heavy each day with their clutch. Riyanth, the senior queen
of Barrier Lake...was dead? What of Kapera? What had happened? Were
the other dragons safe?

As details began trickling in, I'serin's dread rose, until it was met
with a paranoid determination. "Have M'kayre meet me in Saibra's
office," he said, knowing that Aluneth would pass along the message to
both Bhelth and Chioneth.

"Weyrwoman," I'serin said with intense formality as he entered.

M'kayre wasn't far behind, snarling to himself -- not over I'serin's
summons, as that was to be expected, but over the whole nasty affair.
The loss of a queen! Absolutely brazen, disgusting, it absolutely
_could not stand_!

"Weyrleader, Weyrwoman," he greeted, pulling himself up short and
straight beside I'serin, hands behind his back, doing his best to
school his expression. Now was not the time for flying off the handle.
Now was the time to _lead_. But Bhelth rumbled in the back of his
mind, pacing from foot to foot, equal parts angry and grieving, and it
was hard not to let his dragon's unhappiness affect him. His heart was
still beating fast, and his clenched jaw and the twitch of a jumping
nerve in his cheek probably betrayed his lingering outrage. "I have to
admit... seeing you alive and well is... a _balm_," he continued,
focusing on Saibra, and that was the absolute truth. Regardless of his
personal feelings about her, knowing that Dragonsfall's Weyrwoman was
safe (at least in this moment) was more soothing to his nerves than he
might have expected. "I suggest that our immediate priority should be
ensuring you stay that way."

Since Dragonsfall had met Threadfall that day, Saibra had found
herself too tired to attend the ceremony at Barrier Lake, although now
she was glad of it.

She nodded to the two men that entered her office, but did not address
them immediately as she spoke with Chioneth.

}:Tymborikath and Piketh have things under control at Barrier Lake. I
have been assured that your Saidrene and grand-hatchling are both
fine.:{ The gold reported back, her tone serious and clipped.

"Ensuring I stay that way?" Saibra latched on to the last thing
M'kayre said as her brain came up to rapid speed. The poisoned food at
Dolphin Cove, now an attack on Kapera and Riyanth, was Dragonsfall
next? Was _she_ next?

**Pull all Dragonsfall dragons back to the Weyr, now. If they're being
held by Tymborikth and Piketh that's fine, but I want a report of who
is where.** Saibra turned back to I'serin and M'kayre as Chioneth
began to broadcast the orders.

"I want guards with Ashela and Lanniya as well," she said to I'serin
and M'kayre. Outside, Aluneth could be heard adding a brassy roar to
Chioneth's command.

I'serin nodded once. "A wise idea," he agreed. "M'kayre, select riders
to whom you would entrust the safety of the Dragonsfall queens. I want
that decided within an hour."

"We have non-dragonrider guards as well that can help out," Saibra
reminded the two River Bluff natives.

I'serin's face showed that he was cursing himself internally for not
thinking of that. Saibra's suggestion made better sense since pulling
dragonriders away from their other duties would cause impacts there
and the guards were _trained_ to guard. "The Weyrwoman is wise," he
acceded. "That is a better use of our resources." He turned to M'kayre
and said, "I would like then for you to decide which bronzes and
browns to have as watchriders. I do not want stray dragons coming and
going without reason and review." And it was far harder for dragons to
dismiss the authority of a bronze or brown.

M'kayre frowned. "If I may... the quicker communication via dragons,
and the added presence of a dragon as deterrent, isn't worth
considering for guards? Surely we can spare some greens and blues?" He
didn't add that he didn't trust non-riders with much of anything, let
alone _this_. "I'll assign the first watchdragons immediately, and
draw up a schedule for the rest. I'll have it on your desk within the
candlemark."

“Our dragonriders aren’t trained to fight but guards are,” Saibra
reasoned. “For myself, I’d rather have a guard. If Wings can also
spare other riders from duties then I’ll leave their uses up to you
gentlemen.”

"Fair," M'kayre had to admit, and then paused. "Perhaps, given recent
circumstances, that is something we should consider changing. In the
future. Clearly not today."

"A topic we can consider at another time," I'serin agreed. With
security measures going into motion, I'serin turned to Saibra again.
"I would suggest that you and I visit Barrier Lake at some point very
soon to see what aid we can perhaps render." Or, if none could be
offered, it would at least keep relations between the two Weyrs on
pleasant terms.

"Thank you both," Saibra said to both men. "Weyrleader, we should plan
on visiting Barrier Lake soon. Offer D'hol and Aydhan any assistance
that Dragonsfall can provide."

"I'll see to my tasks, then," M'kayre said. "Weyrwoman, expect your own guards promptly."

Last updated on the April 15th 2025

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Security Precautions