Politics and Poker

Writers: Avery, Mirren
Date Posted: 7th February 2016

Characters: L'airev, A'kades
Description: The bronzeriders talk about goldflights and other matters.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 3, day 27 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Lenala, Rhosyn

A'kades sat down across from his friend and lifted a klah mug. "Good
afternoon."

L'airev looked up from his book and nodded. "Afternoon. How's Lenala?"

"She's doing better. Allowed out the infirmary to her own weyr, but on
very light duty. It must be boring," he said sympathetically.

"I'm sure." L'airev put his book down on the table. "Knowing women she's
taking on too much anyway." They never did seem to know when to rest.

"I'm more worried about Rhosyn assigning her too much," A'kades said. "I
suspect she'll be trying to take more duties on herself now, and push more
of hers to Rhosyn. Lanniya's graduating but too young for many of it. If
only she had a good wingthird."

L'airev nodded. "Perhaps they should transfer in a junior." What
_they_ did was probably none of his business, although he did have a
vested interest, since he lived here too.

"It would be nice to have a queen not from Vista Point's bloodline.
I've been thinking it for almost a Turn now," A'kades agreed.

"Inbreeding can't be good for them." Which is what would eventually
happen if they didn't mix the golds up a bit.

A'kades was warming up. Considering dragon pairings and the clutch
bloodlines was a side hobby of his. It was interesting to see how a
Weyr's lineages could be dispersed far from its geographical location
thanks to all of the transferring. Like how River Bluff had all Vista
Point derived queens, or how Dolphin Cove kept cycling through queens
from new locations, while Rising Moons Weyr had a consistent bloodline
of its senior queens dating from its reopening.

"It is a risk," A'kades agreed. "It's mitigated by the fact that
bronzes from other Weyrs keep winning them, and that for example
Vilarth isn't being caught by the same bronze every time she rises.
But I'd still like to see a trade for a slightly healthier mix - two
from one Weyr, two more each from different."

L'airev nodded. "Maybe it's time to start banning bronzes from other
Weyrs from participating in goldflights. Everyone knows when they're
due to rise. How hard is it to stay away?" Then maybe they could
ensure she not be caught be a beast too closely related.

"It would be nice if the golds could chase them out." Since the gold
rising wouldn't think of anything but the choice. "How often does it
actually happen? A few times things have been unlucky."

L'airev scoffed. "Unlucky? We're not talking about teenage boys who
can't control their hormones. They're grown men, sometimes those with
rank. How can they lead if they can't control their own dragons, or
themselves? Flight lust is hardly an irrefutable force like
impression."

"I don't know, the territorial impulse to claim golds is just as hard
to fight as their desire to fight Thread," A'kades mused. "I was
thinking of when that Dragonsfall gold rose over Dolphin Cove
territory and became the Weyrwoman. It was a freak accident, but she
should have known better than to take her queen out so close. I can't
blame the Dolphin Cove bronzes for chasing after her."

"Of course not," L'airev agreed. "The rider was at fault. If a gold is due
to rise, she should stay home, or the bronzes should. Unless the
flight is thrown open and bronzes are invited, then don't you think
taking part is rude?"

"What if the senior wants to oust her Weyrleader and maximize the chances?
There's precedent." A'kades was curious what the other man would think.

"Is the best thing for the Weyr a man who needs to be taken to every
location and learn every coordinate before he can lead the wings?"

"I wouldn't think so, but perhaps the gold would know something we don't."

"If a lusty bronze doesn't know up from down then I'm not sure I'd
stake that on a gold." L'airev shrugged. "It's been done before though
and the planet is still here. Maybe they're wiser than we know."

"Orlaith's shown sense so far. Though I do miss Tsaera as the Weyrwoman."

"Rhosyn has a good head on her shoulders." L'airev knew that not
everyone liked her, but he liked her sense and directness. Both were
lacking in too many people.i

"She does. Willful and proud but that's good for the Weyr's sprit."

"There's nothing wrong with a little pride," L'airev said. "It's
better than not enough."

They were both bronzeriders. It was a fact of life for them to be
proud. "We have more to be proud of than some Weyrs. We haven't
suffered major disasters recently."

L'airev glanced around warily. "No, not lately…" Faranth willing his
words weren't the precursor to something terrible happening.

"If something comes up, we'll handle it with grace."

"That we will." L'airev might be opinionated at times, but he was
fiercely loyal to his friends and his Weyr.

"Speaking of something coming up, do you follow the waterball games at all?"

"I do. Why?"

"I'm looking forward to our match against Dream's End," A'kades said.

"I'll have to come and cheer you on."

A'kades liked that the Weyrwoman was so active in the team. He knew at
some Weyrs the game wasn't very important and the teams were casually
organized. But at River Bluff it was well-organized and drilled, and
it meant they had a good history of wins.

"We could use the ego boost of the win, that's for sure. Rhosyn needs
the good news."

"I'll be the one cheering loudly then," L'airev said ironically. He
never did anything loudly, but the team would know he supported them.

"That's the spirit. And win or lose, there'll be beer and dragonpoker
afterwards."

"Two of my favourite things." L'airev smiled. As interesting as it was
to debate politics and dragon bloodlines, a man needed to unwind at
the end of a long day.

"Then it's settled. Waterball, beer, and poker. A good night all around."

"I'll be looking forward to it."

Last updated on the February 9th 2016

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