Feels Like Home
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Yvonne
Date Posted: 9th September 2019
Characters: F'lin, Bilpen
Description: F'lin takes a trip to the future Barrier Lake Weyr
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 12, day 1 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: K'ran, Tsaera (ONPC)
The lake was a broad blue expanse that rippled in the sunlight, and the cliffs were dark stone. F'lin remembered flying over Barrier Lake on drills and fighting Thread, but he'd never bothered to land. There had never been much at the little mining hold to pique his interest-- until now.
Except it didn't much look like a Weyr, at least not yet. There were too many buildings and what seemed like too few caverns dotting the edges of the cliff. And so far it was eerily devoid of dragons. Still, this was River Bluff territory. It was home-- would be home. Seneth circled twice around the cliffside and hold as F'lin watched Crafters scurry around like little bugs in the tall grass performing their mysterious tasks to get the Weyr ready for residents. The bronze dragon then sent a greeting to the Watchdragon and came to a gentle landing in the middle of the courtyard. F'lin felt eyes on him as he pulled off his helmet and began unbuckling his straps.
"Welcome Bronzerider," Bilpen called expansively. "Time for a tour of our progress?"
"If you have the time." F'lin grinned at the crafter as he stepped down from Seneth's back. **Master crafter,** he thought as Bilpen came closer and he could see the knots on the man's shoulder. "I'm F'lin, from Dolphin Cove Weyr."
"Of course," Bilpen nodded. "Well met F'lin, I'm Bilpen the Project Manager." He swept a hand to the almost completed Dining Hall building. "That building will be the dining hall, quarters for the traditional lower caverns staff, and a creche. The top floor will be for the candidates."
What luck for him, that he'd happened upon the man who was running the place! K'ran had mentioned Bilpen and spoke highly of him. F'lin nodded as he examined the large building. It reminded him a bit of a Hold, with its sprawling wings and narrow windows. "How many people will be able to live there?"
Billpen turned to look directly at the building. "Well it will depend on how may beds the Headwoman can cram into some of the spaces. The second and third floors are for the staff and candidates so I'd imagine with bunks and such we could house as many as two hundred in that building alone."
That was a lot of people. In his mind's eye, F'lin pictured the old Weyrling barracks at River Bluff, now empty and abandoned. Beyond them and over the river had been the stables and buildings for Crafters. He cleared his throat, trying to dislodge the lump that had settled there. "You and your crafters ought to be proud. It's as fine as any Hold I've seen."
Bilpen had been around the area all his life and knew the names of all the bronzeriders and queens. He smiled a little sadly. "To be honest," he said. "I was thinking of your grandmother when I ordered the Weyrwoman's quarters. What to see?"
"I'd love to," F'lin said quietly. He followed after Bilpen as the Crafter led him toward the cliffs. "Did you ever meet her?"
"I did," he smiled. "When I first came to Riverbluff as a young journeyman. Too many turns ago," he chuckled. He led the young
bronzerider up through the main passages which were finished with decorative plaster and lit by electricity hidden behind the plaster. He finally arrived at a very fine door and pulled out a key to open it. He reached out and flipped a wall switch to turn up the interior lighting.
F'lin stepped past the Crafter into a very fine set of caves. The floors glowed with a soft blond wood, and the walls were smooth white plaster. Hidden alcoves directed electric lights upwards. The doorways on the inside were tall and arched, the plaster decorated with whorls that drew the eye. "Tsaera would have loved this," F'lin said. His grandmother wasn't a fussy woman, but she had an eye for good, clean design. "Whoever the new Weyrwoman will be, she is a lucky woman."
"Thank you," Bilpen said fervently. "Many crafters did their very best work for our new Weyrwoman and whoever is chosen as our new Weyrleader. You should see the bathing pool he said and led him past the sleeping area and around a corner. "The Weyrleader's is even a touch larger. But then the natural cave there has a bit of a different shape to it." He smiled at the rider. "Perhaps one day you'll live there?"
F'lin hesitated. Now that he was here, back in River Bluff's old territory, he wanted to be able to say with confidence that he would. Even though the wind was cool and the bluff overlooked a lake instead of the sea, this Weyr felt like his. It felt like _home_. But there was a long way to go-- the Weyr wasn't even completed yet and his heart was still torn between his Wing and his Weyr. The bronzerider squelched down his desire. "Perhaps," he said carefully, "and only if the queens are willing."
"Aye," Biplen nodded at the reference. "The dragons decide," he said. "But you'll be here one day, mark my words. It's in your blood."
Last updated on the October 26th 2019