Reflections [Open]

[A'ric]

Though they had not been gone long, rediscovering the Weyr held great interest to A'ric. Somethings had changed, children were older and faces he once knew as familiar no longer there. He strode through the Weyr's bowl searching the features of those he saw. Occasionally, someone waved however by and large most did not recognize him. Too many had gone or come during the passage of time he spent at Crashing Seas.

Now were the rumors of the disruption among the tithes stronger. At Crashing Seas the rumors were scarce, where they did not rely on tithes but rather hunted and farmed for themselves or got what small amounts they could in trade and indeed sought in all ways to continue to be independent of the greater system.

His wandering took him to the Hatching Sands, the heat of the place rising upward as the sands radiated the warmth meant for the hatching dragons. For now, it was bear, waiting for new arrivals. Soon, he hoped, eggs would once again gleam on the tan and white expanse. A'ric paused a moment to lean against the doorway of the great cavern and then made his way to the Stands. Selecting a seat near the heated sand, he settled into it and began to think.

The Wingleader did not intentionally find himself alone, he merely had a few moments between searching through the dusty records of his office and sorting out his Wing. So he fell into a brief contemplation as he looked to the late summer sky, and watched without truly seeing the fire-lizards and dragons wheel above.

[A'ric]

One fire-lizard peeled off from the rest of those above him. Dropping with swift speed toward the contemplative Wingleader, the bronze released a warbling greeted ere he landed on A'ric's head. He set about preening the man's hair.

With a shake of his head and a soft chuckle, A'ric swept his hand across his head to force the fire-lizard on to his shoulder. "Get off you wherry." His grumble was a good-natured one despite the scratch of tiny claws on his scalp. When Jaron protested, A'ric used both hands to pry him off, tearing a few strands of hair out in the process. "Ow!" A'ric winced. He held the fire-lizard at arms' length and stared at Jaron. "You are a pest."

The fire-lizard chirped, his eyes whirling faster with generous shades of green and blue; however there lay of strand of yellow among the happier hues. Jaron revealed images of Crashing Seas Weyr, the places they frequented there and the weyr that A'ric lived in for the first turn of the bronze's life. He gave a querying chirp to complete his question.

"Crashing Seas?" A'ric asked, and frowned. He shook his head. "No friend, we are not going back. This is my home, this is Caldreth's home... and now it is yours." Setting Jaron on his shoulder, he gave the fire-lizard's eye ridges a long scratch. "It is a good place, and I will miss it but I am only fond of it. These mountains.... the sound of the wind through the rocky shelves here... this is where we belong, Jaron."

The bronze kept his fire-lizard thoughts to himself as he fell 'silence'. He closed the majority of his eyelids, leaving only the inner most one half-open so he could peer out across the Hatching Sands of his new home, and his bonded's old one.

[Ampara]

There was a commotion from the hall that connected weyr to cavern one that sounded like clanking buckets, and then there were voices raised over that. There was kind of a general chatter, and then voices raised in disagreement, all coming into view and pouring out into the sands. The drudges that formed the main pack of chatterers began to break off into groups they were headed to sweep out the sands and make note of repairs needed to anything that seemed less than sturdy.

One of voices raised in disagreement was definitely Ampara, "I understand your concern, but we're in danger of nothing at the moment plus I've been balancing very carefully with your help and with the addition of our scavenging expeditions there is nothing to worry about." She was doing plenty of worrying anyone could trust that, but at this moment there was nothing to panic over.

"Yes, but that's now and what if your dragon gets it in her head to rise right now or tomorrow or soon because you know it's going to be soon. What happens when we get twenty or thirty new hungry mouths and hungry dragons?" The other was the assistant headwoman looking distinctly disgruntled. They kept moving towards the main entrance.

"That isn't a whole lot, and as I keep telling you we're attempting to reach a resolution as quickly as possible."

"Yes, but when? And that isn't even taking into account your junior weyrwoman and that could double the count? That's just a modest estimation in the first place."

Ampara ran a hand through her hair which was down for once, mussing the dark red auburn strands.

"Must you keep harping on this? I've already given you a plan of action. Maybe if you're lucky I'll get horribly scored the next threadfall and that will be one less mouth to feed." Her sarcasm was cutting, but effective as the woman got visibly very red and began muttering something that was no doubt highly apologetic. There was bowing and scraping before the woman went to go supervise one group of drudges that were obviously not sweeping sand vigorously enough.

Ampara wasn't usually so rude or so brusque, but she tired of the woman pecking at her at every spare moment as if there was going to be a famine in the next hour. That was certainly not happening any time soon.

Dysmeth, please. The great gold dragon stretched her wings, and took off from the rim, gliding down to meet her beloved. A ride would be nice.

Ampara sighed, turning her head trying to loosen up the sudden tightness in her neck when she happened to realize A'ric had been sitting there presumably the whole time. She froze for a second, but it wasn't as if she'd said anything completely outlandish; however, she wasn't sure if she ought to smile or wave or what. It was one of those awkward moments where glances had probably met so you felt compelled to do something or say something.

"I think you're a little early for the hatching," she said dryly, deciding to try and inject a little humor into things.

[A'ric]

The convoy of drudges and their general activity caused Jaron’s eyelids to open and he sat up straight upon his bonded’s shoulder. He puzzled at these as-yet-unfamiliar voices with a soft, quizzical chirp. Then, he shuffled on A’ric’s shoulder, tiny claws digging brief into the Wingleader’s neck as the bronze hooked his ‘hand’ on A’ric’s ear and head. He craned to watch the two women as best he could, and leaned quite far out from A’ric.

For his part, A’ric kept his hand on Jaron, not for fear he would fall but to steady him on the chance the fire-lizard started enough to earn him more scratches. Still unused to their new home, his little companion had developed the unpleasant habit of clawing deeper or clinging tighter than necessary to maintain his various positions upon his human mobile-perch.

Though A’ric was curious about the subject of the Weyrwoman and the other woman’s conversation, he did his best not to appear as nosey as Jaron. Fire-lizards who stared openly at humans were oft excused, whilst a Wingleader gaping in obvious curiosity and perplexed interest might not be. Due to the nature of this argument another voice or an observer might be most unwelcome indeed. A’ric did not recognize the other woman and assumed she was either the Headwoman or some member of the Headwoman’s staff. He kept his focus on the sands and rested his chin in his palm as he stared at the rising waves of warmth from below, gaze occasionally flickering toward the working drudges or simply following them with his eyes if they happened into his field of vision.

Upon seeing the Weyrwoman’s approach, A’ric stood up for courtesy’s sake despite the fact she did not immediately register his presence. In the moment ere she shifted to see him, he admired her. So young a woman and yet the strength in her words is great. It is clear the leadership weighs upon her, now more than it should for lack of a Weyrleader, however she bears it well. By force rather than choice and yet it is during tribulations and troubled times that the greatest leaders are made.

Jaron sunk down on to A'ric's shoulder and attempted to make himself as small as possible. Not an easy task for him. He curled his tail around A'ric's neck and pressed his body into the crook of his human's neck and shoulder. More yellow streaks registered in his multifaceted gaze, the blues and greens fading in intensity as all indicated his distress.

A'ric put a soothing hand on Jaron's back. He inclined his head as Ampara addressed him and his gaze flickered briefly toward the drudges and the other woman ere he replied to Ampara. Then, a smile etched his lips as he returned hers. T'was a generous one to match the mischief that laced through his eyes.

“Ah yes, it is true; however I wanted to ensure I got the best seat.” A’ric gestured with brief wave to indicate the area of the stone bench near him. “I saved you a seat, Weyrwoman, if you would like to wait with me?”

[Ampara]

"For a bit perhaps." She grinned. There seemed no harm in having a good sit.

She made her way up into the stands, arranging her hair into a messy bun, finding it too warm to have it on her face on the sands even if there was no clutch to make it extra warm.

"Too bad they don't come with cushions," she murmured in part to herself as she took a seat next to him, surveying the sands from on high. It had been a while since she had served as a spectator. Most of the time werywomen were forced onto the sands to keep their nervous, distraught queen's in hand.

Dysmeth was more gentle than most, but she still preferred to be down there for support. Soon enough she would be playing the roll again which was why she was putting the drudges to work on keeping things ship shape in here.

"So what brings you to the happy hatching grounds?"

[A'ric]

A'ric returned Ampara's grin as she played along with his joke. He considered her form as she ascended the stairs and watched her make her way to where he was sitting. As she approached, A'ric shifted over on the stone bench enough to give the Weyrwoman more room, not to presume he sat too close to her. He did not want to interfere with whatever she felt was her 'personal space' else he be considered presumptuous.

"I agree, it would be nice if there are cushions. Perhaps we can arrange for drudges to set them up prior to future Hatchings?" Even as he suggested this, he knew Ampara was not likely to benefit from this advantage. Her fate was - still - to stand on the hot sands next to the golden queen who served as her soul mate. Until Klissi's Tuirith Rose again or Kitti's Tezorath was old enough to Rise. Ah, an interesting maiden Flight that will be... A'ric mused brief as he considered the feminine representative of Pern's draconic twins.

Upon hearing Ampara's inquiry, he canted his head to one side as he considered his reply. Then he said, "Reconnecting with home... and attempting to find a bit of solitude." He added with a rueful chuckle. "Though I am glad for the company now. You sounded in the middle of a row with the Headwoman...." The Wingleader left the statement open-ended, giving Ampara the ability to answer with a nod or a more thorough explanation.

[Ampara]

Ampara smiled, but kept her mouth closed and her chuckle in the back of her throat.

"It's a deal if it's Tuiruth or Tezorath." The weyrwoman's forehead crinkled momentarily, just realizing how alliterate her junior queen's names were. She certainly had no need of them unless they got her some to stand upon so she wasn't dancing along with the often fearful candidates. Even with touchings there were always some nerves, but at least that meant fewer accidents.

Ampara nodded at his solitude statement. It was a pretty good spot for that when she wasn't have the drudges spruce it up.

"Ah, the headwoman's assistant..." she bit her lip momentarily before plunging ahead, "well, I suppose our strained relations with the Lord Holder are no secret, and so she's rather concerned that I'm going to be the death of us all unless I threaten to rain blazing fury down upon him." Her hands, which had been resting in her lap, tightened into fists momentarily, and her shoulders sagged just slightly.

"Which of course," she touched Dysmeth's mind just briefly, "is about the most ridiculous thing one could possibly propose." She stared out across the sands, mind elsewhere only for a flash.

"But," she turned to face him, "at this point his stubborn behavior, while tiresome, isn't easily countered. For now it is the waiting game after a fashion."

[A'ric]

((OOC - Forgive the wait, and t'was not a worthy post to wait for. However, I hope tis enough to move the thread forward.))


A'ric chuckled an acknowledgement of her agreement. Then he frowned. His assessment of who the woman was Ampara quarreled with proving wrong. The Headwoman's assistant then... a presumptuous creature to bandy such words to the Weyrwoman herself. The Wingleader grunted. "No from those who are interested, it is no secret, though I doubt all of Pern knows about it - yet."

He shook his head. "This is not something she should be suggesting, indeed, a most ridiculous proposition." A'ric shifted to turn his body more toward the queenrider. "Tell me, Weyrwoman, if you would - what has been attempted to placate the Lord Holder? Why has his bile risen to such a great length in recent months, and why has he taken to such means as sabotaging the tithing trains?"

[Ampara]

"Yet being the key word." Between herself and K'ivan they had been managing to push that moment further and further away, but realistically she knew it would catch up to her eventually. That was her life, catching up on one thing or another. Staying on top was a constant struggle even with good help at hand. She would have to have words with the Headwoman later about her assistant.

"Verbal apologies, written apologies, veiled threats to withdraw aerial threadfall support as a consequence of his refusals to cooperate. Diplomacy is apparently wasted and he is too angry or too stubborn to care if his holders are injured by lack of dragons in the sky when thread comes. The reason is twofold. Perhaps three, technically."

Ampara rubbed her neck, feeling her muscles tense up. Her stress liked to ride there of late.

"Of course the Lord Holder has never been fond of dragonriders. He tolerated us until his wife and daughter and son all managed to make it to Great Cliffs and the son to White Sands and impress dragons. I think maybe if they all hadn't been greens this news might have been a little easier to swallow. Not that anyone here holds green riders being against them, but in his mindset of course if dragonriders are low then greenriders are the lowest of low. There is then no way to recompense a wife, a daughter, and a son. There is not even the chance to find him a replacement bride as we've heard he's already made arrangements. Now he is taking his anger out on what tithes we are receiving. I do not forsee an easy end to this."

Ampara told him this, because as he'd said there weren't really any secrets from the truly interested parties. What had happened with Jeysu was a poorly kept secret indeed, and it was Dysmeth's own clutch to boot. Insult to injury as far as trying to reason with the man went. She still had no clue how that had managed to happen. The woman had just appeared, and then she'd been shuffled off to Crashing Seas quietly enough. If it had only been Miranda and the boy, Cl'fey she thought, as they weren't his primary heirs that probably could have been swept under the rug. Miranda less so as he had hoped to marry her off for the sake of alliances, but still according to what she had discreetly dug up he didn't care much for her much as a daughter. Of course she was a boon to the weyr as F'rendil had discovered.

Ampara made a mental note to push that girl towards something other than just fighting in the wings. It would be a waste to let potential as a crafter or something else go without nurture. She would have to speak to K'ivan.

"Dysmeth's clutch too so I had the front row seat to the disaster as it happened. After that I challenge any of my staff to come up with ideas on how to repair relations for I seem to have exhausted all conventional methods."