Something Amiss..?

[ruckseite]

(ooookay, gonna have a second go at the whole..T'roy returning to GCW bit, it'll have a bit of hopeful meddling into the Feyotlian plotline as well and I've run it by Ampara and sent you a PM about it as well K'ivan, so hopefully we can run a bit farther with this sharded Lord Holder >.> You can delete my posts in that 'Lakes thread with S'yloa so I can reuse them better here. Anywho 1, 2, 3 Go!)



Muttering curses to himself and the mess that had arisen from one sharding green Rising at Fort at THE WORST moment made T'roy want to pull his short brown hair out. He sincerely doubted however that S'yloa would appreciate that new look, so he balled his hands into fists as his bronze wheeled into the Weyrbowl.

"Ori, I'm going to probably need your assistance cooling Engmyth and S'yloa's ire at this newest problem. As greens gossip he's no doubt heard about that sharding green that Rose over at Fort," he tone was frustrated and slightly apologetic to his bronze who simply bobbed his head in understanding as they touched down near the storage halls. As if summoned with a hidden cue, a number of drudges and Record keepers filed out of the stone building that jutted out of the Weyrbowl's packed dirt like a defiant statement to the sky. Nodding to them, he tossed the nearest Record keeper the bound hides that gave the totals count and receipts of the shipment he had carried over.

As he dismounted his bronze Orikath swiftly he began his speedy dismantling of the supplies he'd secured upon Orikaths' harness. Pausing for a moment T'roy pulled off his riding helmet with a grimacing sigh. They'd had to take the long way home, since he wasn't able to risk the newly tanned leathers to the extreme cold of between before they'd been properly cured for the jumps in reality. Already delayed with the long trip, T'roy's urgency was almost palpable as he picked up the frantic pace of organizing the newest shipment.

He was displeased at the turnout of amount of supplies he'd brought the request for. The Weyr he'd gone to not only needed their own supplies, but even the amount they promised to loan Great Cliffs seemed less than expected. There wasn't any reason or excuse given to the disgruntled Great Cliffs rider as they guiltily helped him secure the wrappings on Orikath. T'roy knew at least he and Great Cliffs ought to be grateful for getting something at least as opposed to nothing, though he couldn't help but wonder on the mysterious shortage. There wasn't anyway to see if he was simply being hosed by a stingy trader or actual scheming from someone out to get the Great Weyr. At least, no way to see based merely on quick observation; he was sure the Weyrleaders would all look into the matter soon enough once they read the skimpy report.

He didn't know how long it would be until he met up with S'yloa and Engmyth. Hopefully his mate hadn't jumped to the wrong conclusion on the matter of the Rising, though he wouldn't blame him if he did as what else would a person expect from an event like that? However he knew the greenrider would undoubtedly have found out already as dragons and firelizards sometimes spread rumors for sport around here, but was forced to account for this skimpy delivery right now instead of consoling his weyrmate. He hadn't seen the Searchrider and dragon on their weyr's ledge as he'd circled with Orikath to the 'Bowl's floor upon arrival but he hoped he'd run into him soon enough, perhaps Engmyth had seen them circling in and would inform her rider of their return.

However, on his honor T'roy could say and was probably sure he had an alibi if needed that he never had consummated the Flight. Just his sharding bronze did. The man grumbled a bit to himself as he watched a drudge shoulder a rolled collection of hides and head back to the supplies building. Watching as he almost tripped in mid-step T'roy grimaced knowing he couldn't have the supplies damaged in any way as he feared a shortage in GCW was returning. Every bit was as precious as a dragon egg, and he backtracked while he waited for his patient bronze to be unloaded about how far back shortages had occurred. No doubt that meddling spiteful Lord Holder Feyotlian had dipped his finger in the Weyr's troubles from time to time, and T'roy wouldn't put it past the tempestuous aging man to have meddled this time around as well.

[S'yloa]

Engmyth preened between her toes as she watched a bronze appear in the sky above the Weyr. It didn’t take her long to recognize who it was. She continued preening her front foot. Her toes spread out as far as they could go, she nibbled between them. Dragon tongues were not designed for licking the way a cat’s were but she did her darnest to try.

T’roy was correct, she did inform her rider. S’yloa responded with an apathetic acknowledgement and went back to the nap he was attempting to undertake. Since T’roy left he had been anxious, and then upon finding out Orikath had flown another dragon, he was heartbroken. In the sevendays that had gone on since then, Engmyth rose again and that was the way of things. Green riders were notoriously fickle in their affections, a sad stereotype many of them succumbed to and alas S’yloa was no exception.

When the green last Rose he had been restless and ill at ease, and not taken kindly to Engmyth deciding she needed to Rise. However, the months T’roy had been away and the intimidate bond between dragon and rider soften S’yloa’s desires for his handsome bronzerider. Though the green favored him for Turns of Rising, Orikath was not there to take back his prize. Someone else caught her. As with all physical-connections conceived within the bounds of Dragonlust, this relationship had been strong and fast. S’yloa’s new weyrmate held his current attention as much as T’roy had because the green rider gave into his dragon’s emotions to hide his own for T’roy. Now as with so many times, dragon and rider emotions ran jumbled With no reinforcement from T’roy, only his current weyrmate S’yloa gave into Engmyth’s emotions. She fancied the dragon so S’yloa fancied the rider.

So now that S’yloa received the news of T’roy’s return, he sensed an inner conflict rising that had not been there for several months. The fact he’d have to look T’roy in the face and talk to him about moving on – sort of – but that it was entirely possible for him to come back to T’roy if Orikath caught Engmyth again was a daunting one. For some dragonriders it was difficult to explain why green riders seemed fickle. S’yloa felt one of the main differences between green riders to any other rider was that they were more at the whim of their dragon’s emotional state. While it did not mean green riders had any less willpower than other riders, he simply felt it was harder for them to control their emotions if they wanted to keep them out of tune with those of the dragon. Some green riders were great exceptions, those who could maintain some self-control and dignity even while their dragon was Rising. However, this was usually only a handful of female riders. He knew of only one or two male greenriders who weren’t at the whim of their dragons.

I’m not ready to face him, Ngmyth… S’yloa finally admitted. The dragon snorted and sent him the sense of agreement. She had no problem speaking to Orikath, what was done was done, he would understand. Dragons were sensible. Humans on the other hand, she wasn’t sure. They never made sense to her. Yes, Loa-love you are right. Roy-not-mine will be distraught. I think, maybe, because he Flew too.

So S'yloa sat up in his weyr. He had a feeling if T'roy wanted to find him, the bronzer would come up to the weyr. Even though he'd moved out of T'roy's weyr and back into his own when Engmyth flew, T'roy knew where his former weyr was. Usually the green would move into the weyr of his weyrmate, but his current weyrmate had a lover and they shared their weyr. Too many people in the same weyr if there were three of them.

[K'ivan]

((Ampara used with permission.))

While S’yloa might not be rushing into T’roy’s arms and did not meet him with the desire to strangle him, someone else wanted to speak with the returning supply-gatherer. He expected a report of a different kind than supplies. When Ampara had been assigning who would go on the run, K’ivan suggested T’roy. He was a reliable messenger and K’ivan wanted a Guardian to do the run so T’roy could keep his eyes open for any Syndicate activity they might have missed, or anything else suspicious. In this case it’d be any potential allies to Feytolian in the form Holders who were giving their Weyrs similar troubles. He asked T’roy to come to him with report of his findings, and assumed he would get something regardless of how insignificant it seemed.

K’ivan’s last sevenday had been incredibly busy. After several meetings with the leaders of Crashing Seas and almost as many with the other Guardians spread around the Western Continent, K’ivan was exhausted. The traveling was what did it for him, moving from one area to another and coordinating the meetings so there was enough time to talk to everyone thoroughly without rushing them, yet get to all the meetings he had scheduled. Thank Faranth for being able to travel from one point to the other almost instantly!

Finishing up reports from the Guardians at the Weyr, K’ivan grabbed some klah. It was during this time Baizynth informed him of T’roy and Orikath’s arrival. Thank you Bai. Let T”roy know to come here if I don’t see him first.[/i] Knowing that it would take the drudges and lower cavern workers at least some time to unload Orikath, K’ivan did not hurry to get to the Weyrbowl.

This put Baizynth was on the alert for Orikath’s arrival. As soon as the younger bronze appeared on the horizon, Baizynth bespoke him. Greetings, Orikath. K’iv-mine would like to yours. If they are finished before he arrives, ask him to come to the Guardians’ office.

Of course reporting to the Weyr was the official thing to do, but official and proper channels aside, the faster K’ivan could speak with T’roy, the sooner he could get something to eat and get some rest. He also wanted to get the day over with to spend time with Cevara. Their schedules were finally coming back into sync again, so they’d both be awake at the same time and not the: you-waking-up-first-and-leaving-for-the-day / me-coming-in-after-you-are-asleep schedule they’d had for several months.

He sat at enjoyed his klah. After some time, K’ivan stood up, stretching his arms above his head. He rubbed his stomach, old injuries paining him. He was not looking forward to the coming winter, and how the weather would affect him. Exhaling a long breath, he turned his head from side to side and walked out.

K'ivan jogged down the two levels of stairs with the heedless grace of someone long-used to the navigating the narrow steps at high speed. He often jogged up them on the return from the morning jogs around the Weyr or land surrounding it. It didn't take him long to reach the Weyrbowl. He paused at the bottom to brush himself off and then headed toward Orikath and T'roy. The bronze was easy to spot, the bustling group of drudges gave it away and as Orikath's healer, K'ivan had intimate knowledge of the dragon.

Once he was finished, he shook his head to settle his runner's tail and ran his hand through his hair and walked to the other bronze rider. He gave T'roy a wave of greeting as he got closer. "Hail and fair skies, T'roy. How's it all?"

[ruckseite]

(yay posts!)

While T'roy was unaware of his ex?-mate's dragon Re-Flying, Orikath had been rather quiet throughout the unloading process. His head from time to time craned back, eyes peering curiously up at his weyr's ledge behind them. He couldn't seem to spot a familiar emerald form perched there and this allowed him pause to give a faint sort of wistful exhalation. He surmised that he would have to win over the vibrant green once more and earn her affections towards him again. They had indeed been away a bit too long. While he still puffed the barrel of his chest out to support his male dragon ego (the harness holding the supplies to him creaking and causing a few drudges to cry out in alarm and cast him annoyed glares), Orikath couldn't help but feel a trickle of jealousy flicker into his ichor-thumping heart. His eyes swirled orange tinged with violet for a brief moment before he remembered to relax which eased the unloading process.

Meanwhile, T'roy had been watching the drudges darting to and fro from his dragon to the Hall, a deranged sort of assembly line it seemed had begun to form. A few times he had attempted to help them unload, remembering the order in which the packages were strapped onto the harness, however his helping hands were swatted away. With a bit of a disgruntled snort he moved back again to stand to one side and looked around almost boredly.

-'Mine, Baizynth sends word that 'Ivan-Not-Mine wishes to talk to you about something..- The bronze canted his head slightly upwards in a general encompassing direction he assumed Baizynth to be in. -Greetings to you and Yours-not-mine as well Baizynth, I have relayed your message to 'Mine.- The simple reply was laced with tones of slight relief to be home after the long trek away. One could easily imagine Orikath and T'roy both were in the same boat with K'ivan in being equally grateful for a bit of a pause in the crazy routines of dragonrider affairs.

The brooding younger bronzerider nodded slightly to Baizynth's relayed message and folded his arms across his chest, one arm resting its elbow on the other arm and bringing his hand up to scrub at his bristly chin thoughtfully. He wondered briefly to himself if he would be able to pass on his suspicions of foul-play in the shipment to K'ivan, seeing as he was a Guardian who had to report to the man eventually.

Snapped out of his silent reverie by a cold burst of air from no doubt between blasting down the back of his neck, T'roy held in a rather undignified yelp to whirl around looking for the culprit. Only catching a glimpse of gold tail in his peripherals, he whirled back the other way to see a golden firelizard swooping in dainty concentric circles around him. Eyebrows high on his head it took the man a few trying glimpses to catch sight of the red and black line markings on the end of her tail to figure out the flit was Hikria, X'cer's signature calling card on happening events. Snorting in light exasperation he watched her dive at a few drudges stalling in their work to stare in wonderment of her, her tiny darting form scaring them back to work. Letting out a curious, long, and rather musical trill, she arced over Orikath's head and raced past T'roy and out across the Weyrbowl. Small sails of her wings scooping and beating against the air like a bird of prey, her gaining speed was abruptly cut short with a bodily flaring of all limbs, nary a foot in front of K'ivan's face as he advanced on T'roy and Orikath's location. Barking a short squeak at him, she jerked herself backwards into a flip, pulling out of it to continue sailing along past K'ivan.

Turning sharply she curved her flight-path back around the striding man and extended all four paws(carefully of course), tiny body rearing back, wings scooping the air as she alighted atop the man's head comically. Tail characteristically draping down to loop around his neck she fussily pawed his hand away when he reached up and ran it through his hair. Scolding him lightly with a series of chirps and clicks, she didn't push images of some random story into his head like she normally did, more rather she remained mentally silent and if K'ivan were to notice that respite from her normal gossip, he might figure out she was being silent so as to absorb knowledge of the event for X'cer. During the bronze-rider's run as Weyrleader, his little gold counterpart had become notorious for being his eyes and ears when he could not physically attend. The gold had a reputation for being overly affectionate towards the Weyr's Master Dragonhealer. However, that behavior was more often her way of harassing the blonde man with maternal affection rather than spying on whatever it was he was doing at any other time.

As the gold began distractedly preening K'ivan's hair back to a more tamed state, in her opinion, T'roy had by then turned around having watched her show and caught sight of K'ivan advancing towards him. Oh good, he's already on his way he thought to himself, smiling and waving back in return greeting. Striding out to meet the other man halfway to his goal, he extended a hand to shake and nodded his head in affirmation.

"Hail to you and Your's as well K'ivan, and aside from the usual love-life drama, I've been well. The trip went soundly, we didn't jump between, hence the long return, however of the supplies I did manage to acquire, they're all in good condition I'm pleased to report." His expressive blue eyes casting for K'ivan's own depthless gaze held a hint of concern within them. "I have something else to report about the shipment, however I don't know if you wish to discuss that out here or in a more...private area. It concerns some suspicions I've been brewing up and I don't think being within earshot of an attentive drudge would be the best location for such a topic as what I have to discuss." If K'ivan should return the handshake, T'roy's gloved grip would pump the other man's hand heartily and pull slightly as if to turn back towards the proceedings for both men to perhaps watch them unfold. T'roy's free hand would sweep out gesturing openly to his bronze and the busy drudges. Much to T'roy and Orikath's delight, it seemed they were by now close to finishing the unloading process. Only a few more larger packages remained strapped in and it took more than one drudge to unload them so the contents didn't tumble down.

[K'ivan]

My thanks, Orikath. Replied the other bronze. He shifted position, his tail sliding and then dropping over the edge of the ledge he was sprawled on. It was one of the ledges near the top of the Rim, and if he put his head up craning his neck he could just gaze toward the mountains. He was content to stare downward at the Weyrbowl as his friend was unloaded. Orikath was not gone so long Baizynth forgot about him and it was good to see him again. No doubt the tones of his mental voice reflected this.

A flicker of annoyance cast across his face as Hikria appeared. Eyes and ears of the Weyrleader understandable and tolerated; however followed and dogged relentless since her return no longer amused him. “Hikria…” K’ivan said softly. “Please leave…” Regardless of her intentions now, any outside source troubled him. He had yet to ascertain where X’cer’s loyalties lay and though he assumed his long-time friend was not a Syndicate spy, he needed to have a conversation with the former Weyrleader to ensure their minds continued to run on the same patterns of allegiance. He spoke these soft words to Hikria prior to actually meeting up with T’roy. Whether she left or not was up to her.

K’ivan grasped his hand and shook it with old familiarity and the same firm grip. Upon releasing T’roy’s hand, he nodded at his commentary. “Of course you didn’t go between. I think Ampara … and I… expected it. Some things shouldn’t be exposed to that extreme cold. Were the rumors of fruits and vegetables true?” If that were the case many would have rotten on the trip; however there would be plenty to salvage.

For K’ivan he was eager and equally concerned to find out what T’roy had to report. The Weyrbowl was not the best place to speak it; however and he realized this even as T’roy suggested going elsewhere. He nodded and grimaced. “Such are the times…” He said, leaving his sentence hanging. K’ivan hoped T’roy understood the rest of his statement; the unspoken commentary and sadness that hung heavy upon him, and upon them all. ‘Such are the times that two dragonriders could not speak plainly in the very heart of their home about such matters that concerned the entire Weyr. Yet traitors within their midst proved even causal conversation should be done with wary glances and concerns.

“I agree somewhere else is a better place." He knew the exact place. "You can take your ease and we can discuss everything over some klah and a late lunch? I'm sure one of these drudges can be spared to go to the kitchens and fetch something for us.” The dark halos of K’ivan’s eyes narrowed as he contemplated what T’roy’s suspicions might be. With so many possibilities a foot it was hard to pin down just one or two. He rubbed his chin, fingers trailing across the freshly shaved smoothness. He chuckled and added, “But before you get too settled on being home, if you’re up for it, I was thinking of sending you to White Sands tomorrow… Or’west offered some supplies….”

K’ivan’s gaze was hooded for a moment and he cast about as though he feared who overheard his next words. He lowered his voice so the sound only carried between T’roy and himself. In addition he timed it so the drudges were not close enough to them to properly hear. “There’s something else too… which can be discussed inside?” As he spoke the final phrase he gave a sweeping gesture in the general direction of the weyrs, specifically toward the Guardians' weyr.

[ruckseite]

Upon alighting the Master Dragonhealer's head Hikria gave a bit of a disgruntled squawk at being asked to leave. Puffing her miniature regal self up as best she could muster, she gave a queenly huff and sprung from K'ivan's head and shoulder and raced towards Orikath who had been peering about himself. Darting in front of a laboring drudge as they attempted unbuckling a large box most likely filled will blankets for the coming season change, Hikria winged upwards and alighted on Orikath's head.

The great bronze suddenly yowled sharply--though not from Hikira's landing--and lurched to one side, jerking away from the drudges suddenly. -Ouch! Be more careful with that harness Shard you!- the great beast all but yelled mentally, openly, to any minds capable of receiving Dragon-Voice. Accusing white and red flecked glare whipping the bronze's head down and around to snap his razor sharp teeth at the air near the offending drudge. The drudge, who by fault of merely not paying enough attention to his surroundings, had been startled greatly by Hikria flashing in front of his handiwork at unbuckling the carabiners. In his surprise he erred badly. Faltering, and almost losing his balance backwards where he was positioned rather high up by the dragon's elbow near the body, he had grabbed the strap tightly to save himself a tumble and had savagely pinched a good portion of Orikath's russet hide in the buckled strap in the process. Orikath's snap at the air hadn't been intending to rend human flesh, but merely the type of snap an older dragon would use to warn an errant Weyrling. However to the drudge's slightly slower mind this was as close to terrifying as the poor young man would ever get. He gave a wordless despaired cry of fear and hurriedly descended his purchase against Orikath's forearm and ran back to the Hall once he'd hit solid ground.

The other drudges gazed warily at Orikath now and gave pause to resume the work the offending drudge had abandoned. "Oh for the shards of every dragon's Egg. Get back to work you gutless wherries! He's not out to eat you! You'd snap at someone too if they twisted the skin under your armpit as well," roared the overseer in charge of the unloading process and the one in charge of this lot of drudges. He knew this group of witless inferiors and knew how to wrangle them back to a steady pace once more, even if the man had been burnt to a crisp from DragonFire instead of merely startled. Startled more from their overseer than the dragon before them, the drudges clambered back to work hastily unloading the last few boxes.

Half turning for a moment from K'ivan, T'roy's eyebrows rose hearing the vulgarity burst from his dragon at being pinched. -By Faranth you pottymouth, it was only a pinch Dearheart, please do not scare the drudges too horribly. You are much bigger than they are and though they're around dragons well enough, I daresay they're not around the business end of a dragon all too often to not take a snap of teeth less seriously than a threat on their life...- T'roy mentally chided his Beloved. The forlorn reply was both defensive and injured in tone, -But he pinched me rather horribly himself 'Mine, if he had been watching what he was doing I wouldn't have had to snap at him.-

T'roy merely grimaced back at K'ivan in apologies as his bronze beast flicked the end of his tail to settle himself back as regally as a dragon could, despite the whirling of orange and yellow of unease belying his outward attempt at composure.

"I don't think he's all that completely injured, moreover he's probably as startled as the poor drudge was. Though from what he tells me I think he was pinched rather badly in a rather tender spot, and perhaps before I take off again for this trip you're sending me off to on a lark, I would appreciate a quick glance over of the affected spot by you if you have the time. I'd rather make sure the area is nothing so threatening before Orikath gets it into his mind to complain the whole trip to White Sands when the harness rubs against him." T'roy quickly flashed K'ivan a rather sheepish grin and soft chuckle. He knew the trip to White Sands wasn't all carefree as perhaps there was more supplies or information to gather from their Sister Weyr.

Turning back to fully face the other 'rider T'roy continued on after a bit of a brief pause in case K'ivan had anything to add or acknowledge of his request.

"Yes, you heard right about fruits and vegetables being sent along, though there wasn't the amount I was hoping to secure as I first thought. I'll elaborate more on that once we get to a more comfortable area. However, I had the trip planned in mind as to how long we'd be in the air without going between and for a good portion of the trip I'd asked Orikath to fly at a slightly higher altitude if he could manage comfortably, to try and keep the food as cool as possible during our trip. It's so ghastly hot sometimes that I had worried about the food going bad." Hand reaching up to run through his short cropped hair he looked up at the sky briefly as if that alone could emphasize his point.

"However most of the tubers we received I'm sure are just fine regardless. I know the bottles of numbweed, the big ones anyway were part of the more precious cargo, same as the leathers, since Threadfall is likely soon around the bend. So I'm confident that the numbweed and other medicinal supplies are well-kept." T'roy knew the leathers would have been fine at the cooler temperatures of higher altitudes packed as they were, however he knew at between the cold would have seeped through even the wrapped packaging.

T'roy returned the grim countenance at K'ivan's hanging statement and nodded slightly. Stepping forward with K'ivan's sweeping gesture towards the Guardians' weyr he nodded more affirmatively. "But aye, I could do with a bit of lunch, the only thing I've had to gnaw on along the way is a bit of rather stale wherry jerky." The younger man made a bit of a face that showed it wasn't his first choice for an in-flight snack. He joined in on the good humor as he made good on them turning to head for the weyrs. "I don't mind stopping over at White Sands on the 'morrow," dropping his voice as his fellow bronze rider had done he continued, "especially seeing as our shipment was rather skimpy this time.." the frown on his face was troubled and his voice remained low, "And yes? You have something you wish to share as well that you're stewing up?"


Before the two dragonriders had left earshot, the overseer of the drudges had piped up to K'ivan, having heard his mention of a drudge to get food for them, "Yes sir, I'll send one along for you to prepare some food." He solid timbre drifted to the two bronzeriders easily over the soft muttering of the drudges and their work. He was trained to listen for such keywords from the 'riders, 'food', 'I need', 'bath', and a few others were to automatically cue his butler-esque mentality into a helpful service.


As the two riders would eventually turn to head inside, perhaps to K'ivan's relief, Hikria was no where to be found, having already vanished in a startled pop of cold between air when Orikath had lurched himself sideways.

[K'ivan]

((Hm, what do you think Crem ... should we continue this board?))