Duck and Weave

Writers: Halyonix, Heather
Date Posted: 24th June 2026

Characters: F'lin, H'stre, Taril, Olov
Description: F'lin takes H'stre to a fight - and wonders if it was a good idea
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 2, day 28 of Turn 13
Notes: Mentioned: Q'vettan, Byrvin

Two bronze dragons came from /between/ over Sunstone Seahold just as the sun was edging toward the horizon and the sky was beginning to bleed from blue to pink. Seneth's wings flared in the sea breeze as he circled the Hold and landed on the pebbled beach nearest the warehouses, and furthest from the dockyards themselves. The bronze dragon eyed the dark alleys between the buildings suspiciously as his rider dismounted and undid the top button of his riding jacket.

"I love it here," F'lin called to H'stre as the Weyrsecond dismounted and joined him on the beach. "There's something about this place... I think it reminds me a bit of home."

H'stre also eyed the space around them but with a curious, roguish grin tugging at his mouth. Daith's attention went to the sea and the ships docked nearby. "Home?" H'stre echoed as a question as he took in the surroundings. It had character. Potential. And would probably get them into some sort of good trouble. H'stre couldn't wait.

"Topaz Seahold," F'lin said with a quick smile. "My Ma married a fisherman instead of Impressing. Not that she wanted to Impress a dragon," he added. "She always thought there were too many dragonriders in the family already. If I hadn't Impressed Seneth, I'd probably be living somewhere like this."

"She sounds interesting," H'stre remarked. Most people -- especially women stuck in hidebound Holds -- would never pass up the opportunity to Impress. But then again, most people really didn't think about all of the dangers and work that went into being a dragonrider. "Is your mother still around?"

The Wingsecond nodded. "Still at Topaz Sea Hold. Or what's left of it," he added, starting up the beach toward the docks and buildings. "I know you Impressed at Igen Weyr, but are you from there as well?"

H'stre shook his head. "Far Island. Dragonrider family. I Impressed there but made it to Igen a few Turns later because they needed healers. I figured that would give Daith and I a change of scenery and a new challenge. We tend to like those things." Which was why he had taken on coming to Barrier Lake at Q'vettan's request. "I met our Weyrleader at Igen. That's probably why he was able to convince me to come South."

A change of scenery was a privelage when you could still go home. F'lin felt a pang of homesickness, but he wasn't sure if it was for Topaz Seahold or River Bluff. "What's the biggest challenge you've faced?"

Surprised at the question, H'stre's eyebrows went up, matching the contemplative exhalation he let out. "Well, that's a great question. Probably going to see a mindhealer, I think." He paused, trying to find a better answer but he returned to his previous statement. "Yeah, that. I went through a lot of personal stuff in my thirties. Ruined a lot of good relationships because of it. Thought too much, drank too much. I'm still rather surprised that I didn't get Daith maimed or worse during that time." Truthfully, Daith had kept H'stre from self-destructing worse than he had. "But yeah, facing up to the fact that I needed help. That was the biggest challenge."

"I know that," F'lin said quietly. "I've been to see a few myself, over the turns. Ah-- here we are." He stopped in front of a fairly ordinary looking warehouse and nodded at the large man sitting outsite on a stool. The man looked to be in his sixties at least, and had a bit of a paunch and arms the width of tree trunks. "Hi Olov."

Olov nodded. "Bronzrider. Who's this?" He jerked his chin at H'stre.

F'lin put a hand on H'stre's shoulder. "This is H'stre of bronze Daith, and Weyrsecond at Barrier Lake."

The older man's eyes narrowed, but he gestured to the door. "Taril'll want to meet him."

"Sure. Good to see you." F'lin clapped Olov on the shoulder as he ushered H'stre inside. "Olov's won me a few marks in the ring," he said quietly. "Don't underestimate him."

"Wouldn't dare, not with the size of those arms," H'stre answered with an appreciative look to his eyes. "How often do they host events?"

"Once or twice a month, usually. Depends on what ships are coming through." F'lin pulled H'stre through the crowd toward a corner in the back where a man with pale hair sat at a table with a ledger. A scar ran from his cheek back toward what was left of his ear, pulling his left eye into a squint. He was dressed in a black tunic and coat with the collar up, and a cane rested against his chair.

He smiled when he saw F'lin. "Here to lose a few more marks, Wingsecond?"

"Nah, I plan to win some." F'lin clapped H'stre on the back. "This is H'stre of bronze Daith, Weyrsecond at Barrier Lake. H'stre, this is Taril."

Taril nodded and held out a hand in greeting. "You'll have to excuse me for not getting up," he said dryly, kicking a leg out from under the table. His leg ended just below the knee and he wore a carved wooden prosthetic. "Well met, Weyrsecond. I hope my establishment's up to your standards."

H'stre offered his hand back in greeting. "Please to meet you, Taril. F'lin here was telling me about your bouts. I'm eager to hear more. Maybe get in some practice."

Taril's eyes sharpened with interest. "You fight?"

That grin widened. "Not for a living, not by a long shot. But I do like getting into a competitive tussle every now and then. It lets a lot of steam off."

"Ah-- maybe let's watch a fight first?" F'lin clapped a hand on H'stre's back and tried to sound nonchalant. He'd be a dead man if he let the Weyrsecond step into the ring. There were too many people who'd love to get their fists on a dragonman. "Who's fighting today?"

Taril smiled. "You have an open invitation to step into the ring any time, H'stre. As do you, Wingsecond. If you ever change your mind." The merchant turned back to his betting books. "Bets go through me. I don't tolerate side bets at my fights, it leads to too much trouble in the alleys and the Lord Holder doesn't like it, so if you don't like my rules you can take it up with him. For the big fights tonight we've got Guardsman Pacien versus Lonil from the Southern Star with six to one odds. Shach from Ebbing Cothold up against Usolan from the Southern Star, four to one odds. Guardsman Mem versus Rilax from the Fatty Shipfish."

The Weyrsecond's eyes lit up, both at the prospect of eventually being able to step into the ring and being able to bet on a few fights today. "I prefer the underdog so put me down for an eighth mark for all three fights," he said as he went to fish out the marks.

F'lin watched him with a faint worried crease between his brows. "Same for me, Taril."

The merchant made a few notes and accepted the marks with a nod. "Enjoy your evening, dragonmen."

As they walked away F'lin tried to think how best to brooch the subject. "Ah... have you been to a fight like this before, H'stre? At Igen?"

The older bronzerider shook his head. "Bitra, mostly. They've always been big into anything that involves gambling. But you had to be very careful about it there. They loved to slide in extra fine print on things, take a little off the top that they weren't clear about when you placed bets. That sort of thing." He grinned. "Always did appreciate how sleight of hand those Bitrans could be. It takes a wily mind to see opportunity like that in everything. Even if it was morally grey."

"Hmm." F'lin paused for a moment. "Bitra's inland. They might be clever, but Sunstone is... the people here can be hard. Be careful what you promise Taril. He collects on his promises."

H'stre nodded with solemn understanding before his joviality returned. "I won't overpromise myself. Or get in over my head." He tapped his head as he said that. "I appreciate the warning though. I do. Helps to know the area better. Not everyone is open to having a dragonrider around. Some might like a chance to get in a few surprise punches on one in certain parts. Learned that the hard way up near Telgar one time."

"You'd think with Thread in the sky it wouldn't be so tempting," F'lin said dryly. Just then a sharp whistle echoed through the building and a short man stepped into the ring. F'lin elbowed H'stre. "Looks like the first fight's about to start!"

The Weyrsecond clapped his hands together and rubbed them. "Bring on the entertainment!"

Last updated on the September 2nd 2026

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Duck and Weave