Advantageous Acquaintence

Writers: Estelle, Heather
Date Posted: 27th January 2020

Characters: Ashela, K'lvin
Description: Ashela is trying to win over bronzeriders in the hopes that Aglayath rises first, she doesn't realize that K'lvin doesn't have a shot of being Weyrleader.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 1, day 3 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Riveenata, Teseada, Kapera

Ashela

Ashela sauntered into the dining hall, sleek and freshly bathed after
practice drills and caring for Aglayath, and glanced around for
somewhere to sit. It was early yet for dinner and most of the crafters
were still at their work, but there were a few riders about, relaxing
after their day's duties. She didn't turn as many heads as she had as a
newly arrived goldrider, which was more than a little frustrating. As
the days passed without any sign that Aglayath would soon rise to mate,
she grew anxious, wondering if one of the other queens might start to
glow...

Still, it gave her time to get to know the bronzeriders just as well as
Kapera and Teseada did, which was to her advantage. She saw one tall,
broad-shouldered man with the right knots; though his face was familiar,
she couldn't remember seeing him in the Wings. Intrigued, she wandered
in his direction as if by accident.

"Bronzerider?" she asked. "May I join you?"

K'lvin, who had just been placing his tray down on the table, looked up,
a hint of surprise showing in his green eyes as he looked up at the
voice. He recognized Ashela easily, he had been in enough leadership
meetings, and even if that hadn't been the case, there were only three
goldriders at Barrier Lake and he knew Teseada and Kapera.

"Of course, Ashela," he said, curiosity piqued.

"Thank you." She took a seat, gracefully tucking her legs under the
bench and leaning forward. "We haven't had a chance to meet properly.
You must be...Xmrenth's rider, from Dolphin Cove?" She hesitated, as if
she didn't know the names of every bronze pair at the Weyrhold as well
as her own.

"That's right," he said, offering a slight grin. "How is Aglayath?"

"Very well. She likes it here." There was a satisfaction in her voice
that reflected her dragon's feelings. Aglayath might not be senior queen
yet, but she was certainly enjoying not having another gold lording it
over her. "It's hard to keep her out of the water when we've got work to
do. I'd say she was part fish if I didn't think I'd mortally offend her."

"It is hard not to get distracted by the water," K'lvin agreed since
Barrier Lake was so uniquely built right on the water. "Xmrenth is a
little grumpy about it since he's been kept in the dragon infirmary on
several different occasions to help provide dimensions for weyrcouches
there."

"Surely if the builders chose him as their model, he must be the perfect
size for a bronze," Ashela suggested, her eyes sparkling. "Turns from
now, the dragons of the future will be measuring themselves against him."

}:A very wise goldrider,:{ Xmrenth broke in.

"He is very flattered." K'lvin relayed with amusement. "We'll need
Aglayath to come by and be the model for a gold's weyrcouch."

"She'd be delighted to help, especially if Xmrenth was there to watch
her," Ashela replied lightly, a note of mischief in her voice. "She
thinks she looks absolutely ravishing, draped over a couch."

"Xmrenth agrees. He has done his fair bit of gazing at her around the
Weyr." K'lvin admitted, glancing over the goldrider, wondering if he
would be calling her 'Weyrwoman' some day.

"In that case, I'll be sure to bring her along so she can show herself
off. So you're a dragonhealer?" she asked, glancing at his knots. "That
must be hard work, building a new infirmary on top of your Wing duties
as a bronzerider. I do admire people who can keep up a craft...very
much." Remembering the technician who'd fixed the lighting in her weyr,
her lips curved into a sensuous smile - but only for a moment. Maybe
healers had skillful hands too...

K'lvin noticed the look in her eyes and was slightly amused. He had
heard that she had been making her rounds with the bronzeriders eligible
to be Weyrleader. "Yes, I'm a dragonhealer. I do it full time because
I'm retired from active Threadfall duty. I was a Wingleader at River
Bluff before the collapse, so K'ran asked me to come over and help get
things set up here."

"Oh." The inviting expression vanished and for a moment, she couldn't
hide her disappointment. If he didn't fly with the Wings, he could
hardly be Weyrleader. She'd been wasting her time. Yet he didn't _look_
injured or doddering with age, and she didn't think it was his dragon
who was unable to fly Fall. Could it be some nervous complaint?

All the same, he was still a bronzerider and former Wingleader, and it
sounded like he was a friend of K'ran. It wouldn't be wise to offend
him. "The Lord Weyrholder must think very highly of you. I hope he's not
working you too hard."

"Oh, no he hasn't," K'lvin said, noticing immediately the change in her
face, and knowing what the question she had must be, because it was the
same question everyone had. "I had some trouble with my heart right
after the River Bluff collapse. The healers said too much stress and
strain could cause the problem again. It's been a nonissue for the past
couple of months so I'm hoping it will stay that way."

"I'm sorry to hear that. And I do hope your health continues to improve.
Perhaps I'll see you in the fighting Wings again soon." Though it wasn't
likely, Ashela thought, that would happen soon enough to win Aglayath
and be her Weyrleader. Even if his bronze chased, surely the others
would be in better shape.

Still, you never knew what the future might hold. Weyrleaders could
always change; it made sense to be keep her options open. "Until then,
I'll know that the health of the Weyrhold's dragons is in capable hands."

K'lvin could sense the dismissal, but at least she was being polite
about it, he supposed. Not that it hurt his feelings, K'lvin was not
looking to win any gold flights. As soon as he was done setting up the
infirmary he would be moving back to Dolphin Cove where he could be near
Riveenata. "Thank you, Ashela, and I wish you and our Aglayath luck in
rising first."

"Thank you, too. It was very nice meeting you, bronzerider, and I will
certainly bring Aglayath to the dragon infirmary whenever you like."
Ashela rose to leave, having spied another Dolphin Cove bronzerider just
coming in to the room who she'd like to meet. If nothing else, she
thought, her gold would enjoy the attention - and who knew? Perhaps the
Lord Weyrholder would stop by.

Last updated on the February 1st 2020

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Advantageous Acquaintence