A Wing of Bronzeriders
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyrhold
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Elsewhere on Pern
NPC Weyr (NPC)
River Bluff Weyr
Seacraft Hall
Writers: Heather, Yvonne
Date Posted: 20th January 2020
Characters: Saidrene, Alina
Description: Alina comes to visit with a friend.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyrhold
Date: month 2, day 7 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: J'ackt, Lanniya, Teseada, Kapera, Jayzine, Ashela
They had to use the image provided by the watchdragon at Dolphin Cove, and but the mental picture didn't capture how busy Barrier Lake Weyr. **It's a rest day,** she thought a little worriedly as Imarith circled. The sky above was clouded, where Dolphin Cove was clear. But thankfully it was just as warm.
**Ashareth is waiting by the lake!** Imarith said excitedly. The dragon turned her wings toward the water and they soon spotted Ashareth's minty green hide. Imarith made a playful loop before landing beside her clutchmate.
Alina had already half-undone her straps and was soon leaping off her dragon to give Saidrene a hug. "I've missed you!"
Saidrene smiled as she tossed her arms around Alina's neck. "I've missed you too! There is no one here to gossip with, well, no one that will put me in my place as good as you do."
"Darn straight. If you'd replaced me already you'd be in _so_ much trouble." Alina stepped back with a grin. "I tried to get J'ackt to come, but he had some stupid fighting practice thing lined up. Oh! And I brought this--" she hurried back to Imairth and pulled a bag from the straps, which she held out to Saidrene. "There's two bottles in there of Dolphin Cove's best beer, in case you get homesick. It feels a bit early... this time difference is going to take some getting used to."
"Come on, let me show you to my humble abode and then we can crack one of these bottles open," Saidrene said, holding one in each hand.
"Please."
Saidrene led her to the small temporary quarters where she was still living until more weyrs for green and blueriders were opened.
"It's even smaller than my place was at Dolphin Cove but it's just temporary," she said as she opened the door and led the way inside. There was a quaint but neatly made bed which took up most of the space immediately when they walked in. "But check this out," Saidrene bent, unsnapped a latch, and folded the bed so that it was now in the shape of a couch. "They were really being creative with ways to make multiple things fit into these small spaces."
Alina blinked, surprised, then went to test the couch. It was softer than she'd imagined. "Wow. That's really clever. We could have used something like this in the cothold. It makes it seem so much bigger in here... better for entertaining?"
Saidrene laughed at the suggestive question. "I suppose so, I'm not sure, I haven't really had the time to 'entertain' anyone."
"Really? That surprises me. Not even K'ran,?" Alina asked.
"No," the greenrider shook her head, her long, dark braid slipping over her shoulder. "He's the acting Weyrholder, you know, so he's very busy. He's constantly having meetings or overseeing something, which he loves, I can tell."
Alina's lips quirked as she failed to hide a grin. "You and Weyrleaders! I bet the next bronzerider you crush on flies the Senior Queen, too."
A mental image of J'ackt flashed before Saidrene's eyes. "Yes, probably. I tend to get hung up on people who are totally unavailable, huh?"
"Aww." Alina got up to give Saidrene a hug. "The stars will align, I promise. And in the mean time, you have a whole new Weyr to explore. Tell me more-- what are the kitchens like? Is the food as good as what you got at Dolphin Cove?"
"The food isn't bad," Saidrene admitted, annoyed at the twinge of guilt she felt over Alina not knowing about the conversation she and J'ackt had the day he'd won her flight. "The Headwoman, Jayzine, runs a tight ship." As promised, Saidrene opened one of the bottles of beer and split it between two mugs, one that she handed to Alina.
The greenrider lifted her mug in thanks before trying to taste the beer and being defeated by the foam. "Well that's a relief. I'm very glad you won't starve! So what else-- tell me more about the Weyr!"
"Well, the construction has been really interesting. When I arrived there had been a lot of fuss about some fans in the Hatching Cavern not working but I think the technicians finally got that sorted out."
"That's a relief. I hear that one of the gold dragons could rise at any time." Alina leaned forward a little and lowered her voice, even though there was no one else around. "So now that you know the goldriders here, whose dragon do you hope will rise first?"
"Honestly, I'm hoping it will just be Kapera. I already know her and everything from Dolphin Cove so it wouldn't be a huge change."
"Have you met the other two goldriders?" Alina asked.
"I have been around Ashela a couple of times," Saidrene took a drink of the beer and wiped the foam from her lip afterwards. "She seems like most goldriders," the greenrider lifted her shoulders a little, "and then I know Teseada a little because she was my mother's 'second at Dragonsfall."
"What do you think of them?" the other greenrider asked curiously.
"I like Teseada, she's no drama. The other two are about the same difference, really."
Alina thought about that for a moment. Kapera she knew by sight from around Dolphin Cove. She'd thought her poised and elegant, and Alina liked that about her. Perhaps this Ashela was the same. "It does feel exciting. Founding a new Weyr... that's the sort of thing that gets made into songs and passed along in stories. Whoever's gold dragon rises first is a lucky woman. And you're lucky too, since you get to see it happen."
Saidrene shrugged. "I think you're more excited about it than I am," she grinned at Alina. "I think it's because I was raised by a goldrider. It's just not as majestic for me."
"Oh, come on. You can't tell me that you're not a little bit excited?" Building a new Weyr, new goldriders-- Saidrene made it all sound so ordinary, when Alina thought it all seemed pretty romantic.
"Not really," Saidrene laughed. "Now, what does excite me is to know what other good looking bronzeriders might be considering transferring in. Now THAT is something to get all starry-eyed about."
"Oooh, anybody I might have heard of?" she asked eagerly.
"That's what I was asking you! I need to know who else might be coming," Saidrene grinned. "All of the bronzeriders here right now are here to try and be Weyrleader. I need a bronzerider here who just wants to have some fun."
"I heard a rumor that F'lin will probably transfer, although he's leading Rapids now and his Seneth caught Dessa's Santhiath when she rose for the first time." Alina wrinkled her nose. "You'd know him better than I would."
Saidrene's eyebrows lifted. "F'lin is niiiiice. But he's cursed with the gold fever like other bronzeriders. Hung up on Lanniya, so I hear."
"Not hung up enough to transfer to Dragonsfall Weyr, though. So..." Alina shrugged.
"She's got a weyrmate at Dragonsfall. I guess that could get awkward. Two's company and three's a crowd, I suppose," Saidrene giggled.
"So there you go! And there might be other bronzeriders from other Weyrs on their way. With the way things seem to be going here, you might end up with a full Wing of them!"
"I don't need a hold Wing of them," Saidrene confessed. "Just one who wants me. That'll do." She raised her glass in mock toast.
"One Wing would be exhausting, anyway," Alina said. She winked and clinked her glass against Saidrene's.
Last updated on the February 1st 2020