Words of Actual Wisdom

Writers: Corrin, Heather
Date Posted: 6th September 2025

Characters: Saibra, Sybana
Description: Saibra and Sybana discuss her upcoming mating flight.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 6, day 20 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Sanvi, Halia

Saibra

Sybana

**I've never had to do this,** Saibra thought as she straightened her desk. Again. In all her Turns as a gold dragon's rider, she had never had to explain to another goldrider about mating flights. When she had lived at Far Island there had always been, conveniently, another junior Weyrwoman who took on the responsibilities of guiding the latest gold Weyrling. And then at Dolphin Cove, there hadn't been a gold Weyrling while she was there.

It was only now that Chioneth had finally brought a daughter of her own into the world that Saibra felt it was her duty to help Sybana prepare for the inevitability of her own mating flight.

She didn't really know what to say, if she was honest. It was hard to describe an emotion, a sensation, to someone who had never experienced it. How did one explain stars to someone who had never seen them?

}:You're stalling.:{ Chioneth reminded her. }:You told Galgaith's rider that you would send for her today.:{

Saibra wrung her hands one last time, for good measure, before exhaling her nerves. **Why am I so nervous about this?**

}:I was wondering the same thing,:{ Chioneth said with dry amusement.

**Oh, alright, send her in!**

Sybana was nervous. Not because she had no idea what Saibra was calling her in for today, that wasn't too uncommon, but it was her first time seeing the woman since Halia and Sanvi had had her (made her? let her?) read that sordid book about _Vaibra_ and her adventures. Her adventures having wild sex all throughout the Weyr. Sybana didn't know if she could look Saibra in the eye.

Still, Chioneth had sent along summons and Sybana wasn't one to dally. She drew herself up and reported to the office. "Weyrwoman," she said, stepping in. "You wanted to see me?"

"Yes, please, have a seat. Make yourself comfortable." Rather than at her desk, Saibra motioned to the small couch in the corner of her office. "How are you and Galgaith?"

The invitation to the couch was a relief. The weyrwoman's sturdy desk had featured prominently in far too many scenes of-- Sybana shoved that thought away and mustered a practiced smile as she took a seat. "Very well, thank you. Galgi's really taken to hunting herself-- and she's still growing like a weed, of course."

"Lots of wagers have been made on what her final size will be." Saibra took a seat, curling her legs up under her. "So, I'm aware that the Weyrlingsmasters led everyone's favorite lesson last sevenday - the flight talks." She remembered it well from when _she_ had been a Weyrling, and that was quite a while ago now. "I thought I should probably talk with you specifically, since your scenario will be different from everyone elses."

Sybana nodded slowly, not quite flinching but very clearly not relaxing either. “I see,” she said with all the composure she could muster, folding her hands neatly in her lap. She didn't know if she felt relieved or mortified at the prospect of more tuition on the subject. Still, it was important for her, for Galgi. "How... how different is it? Of course there's the eggs... but the rest?"

"Well, I was actually going to ask you what questions you might have for me? None of your Weyrlingmasters or fellow Weyrlings know what it is like to have a gold dragon rise. I believe their information can only cover a few similarities, but without personal knowledge, they might not have been able to answer all of your questions."

Sybana stared down at her hands for a long moment. There was so much _to_ ask. So much of a dragon rising was foreign to her, daunting. She hardly knew where to begin-- except at the beginning. “What was your first goldflight like? How did it feel when Chioneth rose?"

"It felt...." Saibra thought back, sifting through Turns of flights. "Angry. It felt like there was a fever burning through my veins. On the other end of that fever was a very hostile gold dragon. I remember being shocked by how terrifying she was. She seemed so different from the mild-mannered lifemate I'd had since Hatching. I remember feeling a flash of fear that I wouldn't be able to control her. Her will was stifling."

"How did you handle it? Did you keep control?" Sybana asked, wide eyed.

A dry chuckle. "Not at first. She absolutely _inhaled_ the first herdbeast she grabbed. So much for 'blood only.' But I got a grip on her after that. Golds are willful and strong, but they _will_ listen to you if you're stubborn and persistent enough." She considered the way Chioneth was now. "It gets easier over time. You become increasingly more familiar with your dragon's moods and temperament. I still have to fully exert myself on her when she rises, but it's not so daunting because after that first time, I knew I could do it."

“I don’t think I’ve ever truly felt Galgi angry-- not really. She’s not mild, but she’s always so…” Sybana gave a short laugh and fond smile, shaking her head. “She's always so pleased with herself. Pleased with me. With everything. Maybe she'll be different. Or maybe she'll surprise us like Chioneth... that's good to know though. I wasn't expecting Anger of all things."

"What about during the flight itself? And... directly after?" She was too wellbred to mumble, but there was a tension to the way she asked, the way she paused, the way she was still quite unable to say 'sex'. "How much can you retain control then? I don't want to do anything... Foolish."

"_During_ is nearly impossible to remember. Everything is desire and instinct. Directly afterwards, you can sometimes remember brief snatches of things that transpired, but it's like waking up from a dream and trying to hold onto it before it slips away. Which can be a gift, if it's something or someone you don't want to remember, or a punishment, if it _was_ a person or moment you want to remember." Saibra smiled a little. "Afterward, you're mostly back to normal. There's still some residual lust leftover, but you'll have enough of your own mind back to dress and leave if you wish."

Sybana swallowed. She felt foolish for asking it, but she had to know: "And outside of flights... Must I-- what sort of relationship am I meant to have with bronzeriders?" She glanced at Saibra's expression and her blushed deepened as she rushed to explain, "Normally I don't give much credence to rumors, but they’re half of what anyone in the Holds ever hears about the Weyrs. And-- and I was lent a book and-- and it's very _detailed_ about gold and bronzerider relationships. It seems more like a unspoken marriage or-- or I don't know what--"

The Weyrwoman's blazing blue eyes were slightly puzzled, her brow furrowed. "A book? What sort of book?" She could only imagine what sort of things holders thought went on between gold and bronzeriders.

Sybana’s lips pressed thin, and for a long moment she looked as though she might backpedal entirely. Her hands tightened in her lap before she admitted softly, “It's called 'The Weyrwoman’s Choice.'”

Her cheeks burned. “It’s a scandalous book. Of course, I know enough not to mistake fiction for reality. But…” her voice faltered, then steadied with an edge of concern, “writers rarely spin their tales from air alone, do they? They embellish upon what they know. It just left me wondering if there's any truth to it at all. Honestly the book was a little... Alarming."

Saibra's chuckle was throaty and soft. "Ah, yes, 'The Weyrwoman's Choice,' I've read it. I'm sad to say, the life of a goldrider isn't quite what is painted in those kinds of books." There was amusement shining in her blue eyes. The exploits of Weyrwoman 'Vaibra' often brought her endless amusement. She reached out and patted Sybana's arm gently. "Your private life, the level of intimacy you wish to share or not, is completely up to you, dear. Your personal life is your own."

"That's a relief." The frank admission was out of Sybana's mouth before her manners could get in the way. She managed a smile, a bit shyly, at the weyrwoman's gentle amusement, at her own outsized fears. "I don't think I could keep up with half of what Vaibra does." It was a shock to find the weyrwoman knew about the book and moreover that she didn't seem to mind its existence. Sybana thought she'd die if she was ever in one herself, but there was something impressive about the way the older woman took it in stride.

“Even _I_ can’t keep up with Vaibra,” the Weyrwoman said with a wink.

Last updated on the October 3rd 2025

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Words of Actual Wisdom