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Writers: Halyonix, Heather
Date Posted: 6th May 2025

Characters: Saibra, I'serin
Description: Saibra and I’serin catch up over lunch
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 5, day 12 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned E’kavas, M’kayre, Sybana, Adamanth, Alzaryth

Saibra

I'serin

It was I’serin who remembered their lunch commitment this day. With a drudge in tow, he walked into Saibra’s office, directing the drudge with a hand gesture while he gave the Weyrwoman a bow. “If I am too early…,” he said.

“Nonsense,” Saibra said, waving off the concern. “Food is always exactly on time.”

The drudge departed after completing their task. I’serin sat down across from Saibra. “A hearty stew is most welcomed in this dreary weather,” he remarked as he lifted the lid to his. “If the wet cold continues, I may ply the Wingleaders with taking the Wings up north a bit so that we all remember what sunshine feels like.”

“Even just a skip over to Dolphin Cove would be nice. Hot, powdery beaches. Sun. The smell of ocean water.” The Weyrwoman had closed her eyes and was inhaling as if she could actually smell it. “Living at Dragonsfall is a chore sometimes,” she admitted. “Being from Far Island, the water and sun are in my blood. I struggled with the depression the cold and rain and snow caused when I first took over as Weyrwoman here.”

“The weather took an adjustment from me as well,” I’serin said. “River Bluff…” He paused. He wondered if the word would ever stop getting stuck momentarily in his throat. “River Bluff was a warmer clime. Similar to Barrier Lake. I did enjoy the fullness of seasons there.”

Saibra studied I’serin’s face as she chewed. “The love and loyalty River Bluff’s riders have for it is a testament to what was built there. There are still strong sentiments about River Bluff among many of our riders, as I’m sure you’ve noticed. And equally strong resentment from Dragonsfall riders who feel as loyal to their home. I hadn’t anticipated the divide. I thought we would have meshed together a bit better by now.”

The young Weyrleader’s expression grew thoughtful in the way that indicated he was trying to select the correct words for something. His gaze slid away, back in time somewhere. “There are some wounds that heal easily,” he finally said. “Some that take more time.” A longer pause. “And some that fester.”

He looked back at Saibra, now returned to the present. “It is something that has been on my mind ever since. I am…aware…of certain bronzeriders that chafe, serving under blue and greenriders. But I…do not know how to mend that rift. Any insight that you can offer would be welcomed.”

“I’m afraid my insight may not be much better than your own. I’ve been at Dragonsfall less than a decade, yet many of our riders were born here decades _before_ the return of Thread. There are certain Dragonsfall customs that were already in place long before I arrived.” Saibra’s focus caught on something I’serin said. “Do you mean that River Bluff didn’t have blue or greenriders as Wingthirds?”

His expression showed that he was searching back through those Turns to find an answer. “They…did,” he said slowly, as though pulling forward information through the mire of time, “but I believe the issue we encounter now is that it was not two Weyrs thrown together. At River Bluff, there was more of a balance within the ranks. With the diaspora of riders, there is not enough rank to feed the ambitious. At least, that is what I gather from the situation here.” He made note to ask the other Weyrleaders if they were experiencing the same thing.

I’serin exhaled softly. “Regardless of origins, we are all Dragonsfall now. Even former River Bluff riders like me would be wise to remember that.” He motioned at the walls of her office, indicating the greater Weyr outside. “This is our home now.”

“When River Bluff riders first arrived, we thought it best to leave their Wings as untouched as possible. Not to separate riders who had just survived a catastrophe together. But now… Would a complete Wing re-shuffle help anything, you think? Set down and raise up a balance number of Wingleaders from both Weyrs?” The structure and personnel of the Wings all fell on the Weyrleader’s shoulders. Not an enviable position.

But I’serin shook his head. “E’kavas and I had a discussion about this. Why deprive rank to those who have earned it? That would only cause a new issue. Besides, it speaks volumes about the riders who are unable to adapt to their new home. Open versus closed mindsets. I would prefer to reward the former rather than the latter. Though M’kayre and I have been working on rotating the Wingseconds and potential ones in and out in order to give them more experience in case…”

Here he paused. He gave Saibra a wry smile before continuing, “In case we have another situation like mine,” indicating his lack of solid Wing leadership.

“You know, the old standard used to be that a man had to be a _Weyrlingmaster_ before his Weyrleader would consider him for Wingleader. Imagine if we went back to that,” she laughed a little, trying to imagine some of the current Wingleaders having to deal with the Weyrlings. Especially _this_ Weyrling group.

Her laughter and suggestion brought a small twinkle to his hazel eyes. “Can you imagine that indeed?” he agreed. “I did not expect Aluneth’s progeny to be so…willful. Imagine what will happen when they begin flying.” He took a bite and then added jokingly, “We may need to incorporate tethers like the herdsmen use with runners to keep them from flying away.”

The Weyrwoman’s blue eyes widened with laughter. “Now _that’s_ an idea. I can just see them now, flying in circles on their tethers. Galgaith leading a rebellion, Adamanth sitting on his rider….”

“Little Alzaryth cautioning them all not to do anything dangerous,” I’serin added. “Was Chioneth as willful as her daughter?”

“I think it is a gold’s nature to be willful. Fortunately, I’m just as stubborn as Chioneth so we’ve always balanced each other out. She was never very adventurous, though. Even as a dragonet, Chioneth was content to be adored by all. As long as the adoration was there, she was content. Something that continues to this day.” The Queen made an affirmative sound.

I’serin chuckled. “If nature is the case, then Aluneth split his shell already commanding entire Wings in his mind. He was never one to take a back seat though he has mellowed a bit during our time together.”

}: I adore you, my queen, :{ I’serin heard Aluneth say to Chioneth.

“So far, Sybana is everything I could have asked for in a gold Weyrling. She’s a good age, knows etiquette, and conducts herself maturely.” Saibra had yet to voice this to anyone else.

I’serin, hearing this sound assessment from Saibra, raised one eyebrow to add, “I hear that she had a near Lady Holder upbringing. Hopefully that training will be a great asset to the Weyr later on.”

“As long as Weyr culture doesn’t _startle_ her too badly, I think her training will be an asset.” It would be a nice reprieve to have someone that could probably talk with other dignitaries, she thought. The rumors about Ashela and Lord Zathris had been bothersome.

“I do not think there is much that can be done to lessen the…surprise that was Galgaith,” I’serin replied with an amused glint in his eyes. But he understood Saibra’s point. Weyr culture was a shock to many newcomers.

Saibra smiled. “She _was_ a surprise. I honestly still marvel at her. She’ll easily outgrow Chioneth’s size.”

“How does Chioneth feel about that?”

“She said something along the lines of ‘of course she’ll outsize me, she’s _my_ daughter, after all,’ and then she started waxing poetic about the superiority of her clutches and dragonets.”

I’serin chuckled. “So she and Aluneth have been doing the same thing I see. He has such pride in the two bronzes, though I know they are a handful for the Weyrlingmasters. I cannot imagine what the Holdless think of the young dragons. Or the larger ones.”

“Me either. I imagine seeing these half-baked dragons must be a shock. Especially if they see Galgaith.” Saibra covered her mouth with her hand, smothering her laugh at the thought.

“I assume that you heard about their little escapade into the camp?” I’serin asked, certain that she had.

“Yes,” she said, sounding a bit exasperated. “I never considered the proximity of the Weyrlings to the tents when they were set up.”

“Crises often do not allow for much forethought,” I’serin said gently, in a tone that excused her from taking the blame. “No one was hurt. That is the important part. It sounds as though the young dragons had a bit of fun though, protecting the Weyr from very scary tent fabric.”

“I mean, it really is quite a cute story when you put it that way.”

“I am certain the Holdless would not see it as such,” the Weyrleader said with a soft chuckle, “but I am glad there was no further incident. Have you heard that some of them are looking to remain -- as Candidates?”

“I have,” Saibra revealed. “But I don’t want to grant them free rights to stand as we do with Weyrfolk. I think they should have to pass through a Searchrider first.”

“There may be concerns about the validity,” I’serin brought up. “There was rumor out of one of the Weyrs recently that one was accepting marks for Search tokens. Let us make certain that none of our riders are engaging in the same…disreputable…practices when it comes to a Search.”

“Agreed. Maybe each Search should be done by a _pair_ of Searchriders, to keep things as honest as possible.”

The bronzerider nodded thoughtfully. “A sensible idea. I will have Aluneth relay this through the ranks and report back to Chioneth.”

Last updated on the May 19th 2025

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