Foundations

Writers: Halyonix, Sia
Date Posted: 30th September 2025

Characters: Q'vettan, I'serin
Description: Q'vettan drops in on I'serin
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 9, day 17 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Qelhelias, Viseya, D'brul, V'maran, A'len (RIP)

Q'vettan

I'serin

Tzenketh bugled a warm welcome to old friends after he and Q'vettan appeared over Dragonsfall. Roars of dragons echoed back, though whether they were friends or not Q'vettan didn't know. Tzenketh didn't remember, either, but thought that they must be. It was where they were born, after all.

}: Iokath asks for us. :{ Tzenketh relayed.

**Later, though you can go see her once I'm down.** Q'vettan answered. His mother would much enjoy the surprise visit from them both, but he needed to take care of business first. They turned together to the Weyrleader's weyr. Tzenketh rumbled a greeting to Aluneth as Q'vettan dismounted, then ducked off the ledge again to high-tail it away.

"Hello, Dragonsfall!" Q'vettan called inside, letting his gaze linger on the breadth of the Weyr below him before turning and heading inside. "The weyrbowl looks no worse for the wear, I'serin. Compliments to Saibra and her Headwoman."

The young Weyrleader looked a bit worse for wear but had a warm, polite smile on his face as Q’vettan entered. “Their organization and coordination were a sight to see with the Holdless,” I’serin said. Most of the camps had moved on now that the sun had warmed the days again. The Weyr, in all honesty, was breathing a sigh of relief as their spring began to show. “Please, join me.” I’serin motioned for Q’vettan to take a seat as he served his guest. “What brings you to Dragonsfall today?”

"I'm here probably more than you'd like." Q'vettan said easily as he took the offered seat. "My mother is a retired greenrider, and there's not as many old aunties around the Weyr like there was in the Weyrhold. I like to check in on my son, too. Keeps him on his toes."

“Your son?” I’serin queried politely. He knew that Q’vettan’s mother was a greenrider -- Veytra -- but could not recall the son.

"Qelhelias. He's a journeyman harper here." Q'vettan said with a nod. "He's also on the list of candidates for your next few hatchings."

I’serin shelved this information away to inspect later. “I will be cheering him on,” he answered. “What can I do for you today? Or is this more of a social call as well?”

"A little of both. You're getting close to the end of your first term, aren't you? How have you found being Weyrleader so far?"

The younger bronzerider tilted his head curiously at the wording about terms. It was well known that green dragons rose with regular frequency but a gold dragon was another story. Shelving it away to dwell on later, I’serin answered, “It…has been a challenge.” Which was putting it _extremely_ mildly. Throwing an inexperienced rider like himself into the leadership of so many things had shown the glaring issues with his training. His studies had only prepared him so far. Adding the Holdless and his father to the pile of hurdles to overcome, I’serin looked back about the last Turn and felt beset on many sides.

And yet, there had been breakthroughs, though not in the ways I’serin had expected. “I do…feel a bit more prepared for a second term, if Aluneth catches Chioneth again.” He ignored the decidedly pointed snort from his dragon. “If you have any advice to give me, I would appreciate hearing it.”

Q'vettan studied the younger bronzerider with an easy smile that didn't quite mask the sharpness in his eyes. "You'll find the second term easier in some ways, harder in others. And that doesn't change if the terms aren't consecutive. Not all of us get _preferential treatment_." His tone lingered on the last words, clearly meaning another Weyr. "The first is about surviving. Finding your feet, keeping everyone alive. The next time Aluneth wins, the Weyr will be expecting you to know what you're doing. And you _do_ know what you're doing. You've got more experience now than any rank-and-file bronzerider."

I'serin did not disagree that he had more experience now then he had at the beginning of the Turn. It was _how_ he had acquired that experience that stung. He was still not certain what to think of Q’vettan’s seemingly firm belief that I’serin was going to have a second term. There were plenty of instances of a Weyrleader only serving for one flight in the records.

Aluneth snorted indignantly. }: I will capture Chioneth again. She is mine. :{

“I appreciate that insight,” I’serin answered, accepting the advice as a warning. If he indeed had a second term, he knew that he would approach it differently. But that was counting the dragons before they hatched. “How are things at Barrier Lake? How is your new Weyrwoman?”

"Things are going well, aside from a few small complaints over my changes to the leadership. These things will pass as everyone gets used to the new status quo." Q'vettan said easily, though he didn't mention that he was also partially here because a few protesting Lower Caverns staff made it difficult for him to get unburnt klah. "The new leadership can try to undo the changes, but it'll be harder to demote some over others than it was for me."

“Ah, yes, I did hear that you now have a greenrider as Weyrlingmaster,” I’serin remarked. “I am certain that raised a few eyebrows.” There was also a brownrider leading a Wing, which was interesting and certain to have also riled some traditionalists, but the same change had been made at Dolphin Cove earlier that Turn so a precedent existed at least.

"Viseya, D'brul, V'maran." Q'vettan clarified. "It did, and there's some grumbling, but it'll be worse for anyone that tries to move them now that they're placed. Very few want to be considered that kind of regressive traditionalist."

“Few, yes,” I’serin agreed, “though I have encountered some that are willing to fight on that hill because of their beliefs. It does not lend to the harmony of the Weyr, let me assure you. Hopefully, you do not encounter the same resistance.” The mention of V’maran’s name had I’serin mulling. “How is V’maran?”

"Better, now that he has something to do." Q'vettan answered. "Still a bit abrasive, but he's almost back to what I hear is his old self. I've heard some stories from old River Bluff."

I’serin’s gaze shifted away momentarily. “We all have stories from River Bluff,” he remarked with quiet gravitas. But that was Turns ago and the past needed to be left there. Composing himself, his eyes returned to Q’vettan. “I am glad to hear that he is finding purpose. That is quite important in riders who have had cataclysmic changes to their lives.”

Q’vettan's smile thinned. "Purpose keeps a rider sane. Without it…" he trailed off, eyes unfocusing for the briefest moment as he listened to Tzenketh. He'd lost everything but his purpose at Igen. Barrier Lake was a chance to exit gracefully, to find a fresh start. Barrier Lake had been his salvation, not for peace but for the work of rebuilding, reshaping, negotiating. Politics left little time for grief.

But he had no interest in showing cracks here, not to a boy just learning what it meant to wear a Weyrleader’s knot.

“And how are you doing, I'serin?” he asked more smoothly. "First River Bluff, and then A'len. Have your duties given you purpose?"

The answer, briefly, was no, but I’serin was not certain he was willing to admit that another Weyrleader that was not N’vanik. Headaches? Yes. Purpose? No. He did not feel meaningfully fulfilled by his duties. Eloquently, he said, “They have provided me a foundation to build upon. And the realization that I have much still to learn.”

Q’vettan leaned back slightly in his chair, studying the younger man as if weighing the words behind the polite phrasing. He knew a hedge when he heard one, and that was more interesting than the answer itself. Information to file away for later, for another time. "Don't we all." He said mildly, "Let us hope you are Weyrleader long enough to build more than a foundation."

I’serin was not quite certain how to respond to that.

Last updated on the October 3rd 2025

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