The Right Impression (2/3)
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: Corrin, Duskdog
Date Posted: 1st November 2024
Series: From Hold to Weyr
Characters: Sybana, Zaphare
Description: New to the weyr, Sybana meets Zaphare who offers a bracing new perspective on everything from other candidates, to relationships, to Impression. They make a pact for the upcoming hatching.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 8 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Zorenh, Syerin, Aedris, M’thos, T’lonas, Tannock, Varethos, Ekirim
“Have you been here long?” Sybana asked as they ate. “I suppose you came for the gold egg too. Is there anyone else I should know? Or avoid?”
“I’ve been here a few months,” Zaphare replied. “Long enough to know most of the candidates who aren’t new, anyway. Let’s see… there’s Zorenh, another one with a fancypants father. He’s tolerable, I guess, but he brags. You know, about how he’s going to get a bronze. I hope he gets a green, just because. Syerin is sort of a jerk. I don’t know what his problem is, but he’ll make it _your_ problem. If he makes it _my_ problem, I’m gonna _give_ him a problem to stew about. We’ve got a sort of new guy, Aedris, he seems okay. He can hear dragons, isn’t that wild? Two of the weyrlingmasters have kids who are candidates, too. M’thos has… I don’t know, probably twenty of them. Okay, not twenty, but too many. One of them, Lemhask, is apparently dating T’lonas’ son Tannock. It’s so cute and dumb that it makes me want to hit them both. Just a little slap, okay? Varethos is great…” Her eyes narrowed suddenly. “But don’t get any ideas. I’m not done with him yet.”
Just as quickly, she gave a little shrug. “Anyway, that’s the rundown, I guess. Oh, Ekirim! He’s nice but kind of boring, I guess. Really, uh… steady? Unruffled? You might like him. He’s not going to give you any trouble, anyway. He’s holdbred, too. If you’re looking for a boy, maybe go for him or Aedris. Zorenh if you’re into might-be-bad boys. And don’t worry, nobody here will even care if you do. Have fun while you can, right?”
Oh. Oh! Sybana had heard about loose women being sent to the weyrs. She’d always imagined them as a sad, desperate lot. Zaphare seemed anything but. She had an easy, casual confidence that Sybana recognized and respected and she seemed daring and bold besides. Also it wasn’t like Sybana and the other wards of Opal Cove didn’t enjoy whispering and dreaming about the local lads. They just didn’t _do_ anything, not like Zaphare seemed to. Sybana glanced around to see if anyone had heard, if they were listening in. Absolutely no one appeared to care.
How thrilling.
“That’s… Well. I’m not looking for a boy just yet. I’m hoping to Impress the baby gold when she hatches. If I can, well, that would rather change things. I wouldn’t have to wait for my family to find the right match for me-- and hope that he actually chooses me instead of some other girl.” That sounded a little too bitterly specific to be a general concern, but Sybana forged on, exhilarated by this quasi-taboo talk. “If I Impress, I suppose I might look then.”
“If you Impress, that’ll be a loooong wait,” Zaphare said, grimacing. “They don’t let you touch anybody for a few months after you get a dragon. They don’t even let you touch _yourself_. I don’t know how they know if you do… I better not Impress a blabbermouth. But if you get the gold, you could probably pick almost anybody you wanted. They’ll be falling all over themselves to get to you.”
Last updated on the November 9th 2024
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