Hail to the Queen

Writers: Avery, Heather, Leigh M-F.
Date Posted: 6th January 2016

Characters: Saibra, Talwynn, Eionen
Description: Time to go through the wringer again.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 22 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: D'kere and Kenirath, A'kua and Zeiranth,

Saibra

**Can you see if Saibra's free?** Talwynn asked Riveth.

}:Chioneth, is your rider busy?:{ Riveth said to the senior queen dragon,
her tone very deferential. }:Mine has discovered a problem involving a
weyrling. She thinks yours needs to be involved.:{

The gold considered Riveth's request before relaying the message to her
rider. }:She is available in her office.:{ Chioneth replied.

}:My rider will be right there. Thank you for your time,:{ the green dragon
said. She liked golds, and liked when they had time for her.

Talwynn's stride was rapid as she went through the halls to the Weyrwoman's
office. Her fury gave her strength and speed and let her temporarily ignore
the limp and pain. Any nerves she might have about seeing the Weyrwoman one
on one - after all, she never really had a reason to get to know her well -
were subsumed in the same feeling. She rapped quickly on the door when she
arrived and waited to be called in.

"Come in." Saibra was curious about the sudden request to be seen, but it
wasn't completely unusual. "Talwynn," she knew the young woman's name,
she'd heard the story about why she was retired. "Have a seat," she
gestured, "and tell me what I can do for you."

"Weyrwoman Saibra, my duty to you and Chioneth. I'm here to report an
incident that just occured with a weyrling. A'kua, he's from Lissath's last
clutch," Talwynn said.

"A Harper just arrived with the tithe train who was looking for him. Said
he was the boy's father and had news. When A'kua talked to him, he became
distressed and started yelling - then he ran away. His bronze Zeiranth is
calming him down. But I wanted to let you know so a gold was keeping an eye
on the pair."

A'kua. The name rang familiar. Saibra remembered the red-haired Candidate.
He'd been the unusual one who had come to apologize to her for "taking
advantage" of her since she'd taken him to the beach and allowed him to put
some lotion on her. **What a piece of work he was.** she thought.

}:Kenirath says that his rider is with A'kua and Zeiranth.:{ Chioneth
reported to Saibra.

"D'kere is handling the situation with A'kua. Why don't you send me his
father?" she asked.

Talwynn was glad D'kere was speaking to A'kua. She suspected they'd have
some very interesting notes to compare later.

"Yes ma'am, I can go get him for you right away," Talwynn said.

"Yes, bring him to me."

******

Eionen was on his second cup of wine when he was found. A drudge in the
dining cavern had taken pity on the obviously out of place visitor and
given him a plate of food and something to drink. It was a good red,
surprisingly smooth, but he put it down in a hurry at the approach.

Talwynn crooked a finger at him. "The Weyrwoman has agreed to see you. I
suggest being on your best behavior, Harper. She has full authority over
this Weyr."

Once he was following, she led him along the path back to Saibra's office.
By this point, her leg was starting to ache, but she was determined to not
stagger or limp. Not in front of this man - or in front of the Weyrwoman.

Maybe he should have finished the wine. Eionen cracked his knuckles again
as nerves presented themselves another time. "What can I expect from her?"
he ventured.

"I dunno," the greenrider said. She didn't know Saibra well enough to know
what she'd say, but she was hoping it'd involve kicking this man out. She
also didn't even know she'd be allowed to see. But she'd sure hear about it
from A'kua.

"Depends on what she thinks about what you say, and if Zeiranth is panicked
enough to need Chioneth's intervention."

When the door to her office opened, Saibra looked up into a very similar
face. She could see the similarities between A'kua and his sire. She could
also see the tension in the way Talwynn held herself, and she wondered at
the hint of hostility she felt from the greenrider toward this man.

"Have a seat, both of you, please." she said.

Eionen immediately did so, sitting with his spine perfectly straight,
shoulders back, and hands on his thighs. The Weyrwoman reminded him of his
old dance teacher; she was a scary sort who took no guff from her students
and had been made journeyman before the craftban. She had become a tough
old wherry due to defending her position. Even though the Harper was likely
older than Saibra, she still scared him a little. "Thank you for agreeing
to see me, Weyrwoman," he said in his most proper and polite tone,
inclining his head.

Talwynn settled down and listened quietly, prepared to allow Eionen to
defend hmself, willing to be a witness to how severely A'kua had reacted if
called upon. She was so curious about how this was going to go.

"Welcome to Dragonsfall." The Weyrwoman said as she studied the man in the
chair. "I hear that you are causing some unrest among my dragonriders. What
is your name, sir, and what brings you to my Weyr?"

The freckled man wet his lips. "I'm Eionen, journeyman harper; I travel and
entertain," he began. "I'm here because several weeks ago, I once more came
to a minor hold, Bex, which tithes to Dragonsfall when it can. There, I was
informed by a young woman that I have a son, Aluka. I went looking for him
because I was afraid for his safety, and I- I want to apologize for
everything that happened to him because of me. I also have news from that
young woman for him. I was warned Aluka hates me, and I was prepared for
venom, for rage, even for a physical attack. But instead, he was upset, and
ran away."

His hands curled into fists, betraying his own distress. "I know this is
horribly audacious of me, Weyrwoman, but I can't leave with the tithe
train. Two days isn't long enough to stay, and I can't just up and vanish
again, not when I have finally found my son. Please allow me the time to
wait and approach Aluka when he's calmed down," he begged, looking into
Saibra's eyes. "I just need a chance to make this right. Even _half_ a
chance will do."

Saibra considered the man's request behind an unreadable mask. As a parent
she understood the need to atone for a mistake that had been made, and she
tried to put herself in the man's place of wanting to see his child after
so many Turns.

**Zeiranth, how is he?** she asked Chioneth.

}:He is okay, beyond a little confused. The young rider seems much more
upset than Zeiranth. Kenirath says that Zeiranth's rider has agreed to meet
with his sire tomorrow, if Lissath's attends.:{

"You are in luck, Journeyman, my dragon tells me that A'kua has agreed to
see you tomorrow. one of our goldrider's will be present to make sure the
situation remains... calm. Talwynn can show you to our Headwoman who will
give you a place to stay for the night. You may ask your son about your
presence here tomorrow. If he is okay with you staying longer, I have no
problem with it, but if he wishes for you to go then I expect you to leave
posthaste. We will have a dragon transport you if necessary."

Wait, what? Really?! Eionen felt a blast of relief and hope and let out a
breath he hadn't known he was holding. "Thank you," he said fervently.
"Truly, Weyrwoman, thank you so much." He smiled brilliantly. Here was the
half chance he needed. If he could just explain and apologize, then perhaps
he could start building a real relationship with his son.

Talwynn was slightly surprised that the man was getting to stay. Well, if
A'kua was willing to see him, then she supposed the Weyrwoman couldn't
_force_ him to go just yet. She rather hoped that he was asked to leave
though. Not that she hoped A'kua continued to be upset - but she didn't
like this man mucking about ruining weyrling's lives, and she wanted him
gone.

"I'd be happy to escort him," Talwynn replied. **Preferably out the Weyr,
tomorrow,** she thought.

"You are quite welcome Journeyman, please enjoy your stay at Dragonsfall, I
hope everything goes well with A'kua." Saibra looked to Talwynn and nodded,
letting the greenrider know they were dismissed.

"I hope so too." For a moment, Eionen wanted someone to wish him luck. He
was going to need it. "Thank you again, Weyrwoman." He stood to depart.

Talwynn stood as well and bowed to Saibra before gesturing at the Harper.

Last updated on the January 12th 2016

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Hail to the Queen