An Unexpected Meeting

Writers: Heather, Suzee
Date Posted: 1st March 2025

Characters: Cyradis, E'ben, Cyranik
Description: E'ben has the pleasure of meeting Cyradis and Cyranik.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 14 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Naradis, R'nar

Cyradis

E'ben

He'd only been at Dolphin Cove for two days, and while he only knew
about five names, E'ben was already finding the change in geography a
pleasant one. He could walk around Dolphin Cove without seeing a
single memory of Meriathel, and for the first time in a while, he felt
like he could breathe again.

A lovely petite woman passing just in front of him with a child barely
drew his attention, until a small, stuffed animal bounced to the
ground.

"Ma'am? You dropped something." And then she turned around and E'ben
found himself stunned by her beauty. Her lovely, dark eyes were
captivating.

Cyradis smiled and took Cyranik's stuffed 'draggie.' "Hello," she
smiled. "I don't believe we've met." She shifted her son to her hip
while he jabbered at his toy companion and bounced. She stuck out her
hand. "I'm Cyradis."

Although he had not immediately recognized her as the Weyrwoman, E'ben
certainly had heard the name "Cyradis" before. He took her hand and
inclined his head at the same time. "Weyrwoman, we haven't met. I just
arrived a couple days ago. I'm E'ben of Tirlath."

She smiled again into his warm brown eyes. "Welcome E'ben," she said
and leaned to peek at his knots. "Ah, Cyclone. Great wing. You guys
fly second tier in the front and make sure that about the only thing
that reaches me is char and sometimes a falling pair. I don't like
that second one so much."

"Hopefully Tirlath and I will never be in that second category."
E'ben's mouth quirked into one of his rare smiles. "And who is this
handsome fella?" He reached out and tapped the toe of the boy's foot.

"As do I," she nodded to his wish for his future. She smiled and
looked at her son. "This is Cyranik, my youngest."

"Aren't you a bonny one?" E'ben said to Cyranik. He turned his eyes
back to Cyradis. "I didn't mean to keep you from," he waved his hand,
"wherever you were going. But I do thank you for indulging me for a
moment."

Ever the bold one Cyranik chose that moment to demand, "up!" and hold
out his arms to the brownrrider, one hand still clutching the little
toy.

Cyradis chuckled and leaned forward slightly if the man decided to
indulge her son.

E'ben, who had raised two children of his own, swung the boy into his
arms without hesitation. "Now where to, young sir?"

Cyranik pointed in a random direction and gabbled unintelligible instructions.

Cyradis grinned. "He's imitating his father," she said.

"Ah, your father must be an important man then, young sir. You have an
air of authority about you." E'ben said goodnaturedly as he took off
in the direction Cyranik had pointed.

She couldn't help the proud smile. "He's a flight baby but I was also
weyrmated at the time so..." She shrugged as she followed the pair.

"More parents to dote on you," E'ben reasoned. He turned so that he
could see the lovely Weyrwoman. "Are we at least headed in the
direction of where you need to go? If not, I'll see if I can bribe
the young dragonrider here to change course."

She nodded with a grin. "Generally the direction of the dining hall."
She liked to bring the little guy to mix with people during lunch so
he'd get a bit more socialization.

"My guy likes to eat," E'ben said with an approving nod. He carried
the tyke into the Dining Cavern and up to where the Weyrwoman normally
sat. Lifting Cyranik over his head, he set the boy down in a chair and
ruffled his hair. "There you are, milord."

Cyradis chuckled and shook her head. "Let's not give him delusions of
grandeur," she said. "Have you had lunch yet?"

"I haven't, but I wouldn't want to impose." E'ben's words were purely
etiquette, as he certainly wouldn't mind getting to know the
Weyrwoman, but he also didn't want her to feel obligated when she was
having time with her son. He understood well, having raised two
children with his weyrmate, how precious time with children could be.

"Oh, please," she smiled. She rather liked this brownrider and wanted
to get to know him a little better. She'd go back to work later and
check the transfer records just for curiosity's sake. But she got a
good feeling from him. Grounded, strong, and a family man. She patted
the chair next to her. "Let's have lunch."

It was an invitation E'ben found himself unable to turn down as he
looked once again into the petite Weyrwoman's dark eyes. Nodding in
agreement, E'ben took the chair opposite Cyradis as drinks were
brought to the table. "Oh, this has been my new favorite thing," he
said as a spiced juice drink was set in front of him. "We didn't have
this at Far Island."

"It's one of mine too," she smiled. She noted the curious eyes. They
were forever staring at her and she was used to it. But she also noted
the ones carefully _not_ looking at her like Naradis. She took a
breath and pasted a smile on for the new rider. Her daughter wasn't
speaking to her at the moment and she didn't want to push the
relationship to complete failure.

"So, tell me about your family," she smiled.

"Well, I have two children, T'berian, he's my eldest, twenty-one. A
brownrider like his father," E'ben said with obvious pride. "And then
my youngest, Eriabel, is nineteen and just Impressed her own green a
turn or so ago."

"That's wonderful," she smiled. She noted that he hadn't volunteered
anything about a 'mate, so there was likely a story there he didn't
want to talk about. Since she didn't want to discuss her last weyrmate
either she was just fine leaving those questions unasked.

"I have a rather large family," she smiled. "It's blended and
fostered, loud and boisterous. Ranging in age from my eldest Lonrad
who's working his way up to Journeyman Vinter. I was raised at the
Vintner Hall and my father and brothers are in the craft." She handed
Cyranik a bread stick to gnaw on. "My eldest is 25 and this little
tyrant is just a turn."

"We wanted more children, but it wasn't in the cards for us," E'ben
said. "They're treasures, aren't they? Watching this piece of you grow
and become their own person? I was fortunate to get to be there for
their early Turns before Thread came back. How do you manage it now in
a Pass?"

She smiled softly, "Yes, the first ones were easier but even then I
was a gold rider with a lot of responsibilities in running the Weyr.
But I'm lucky to have lots of help."

E'ben smiled in thanks as a kitchen drudge set his plate down on the
table. Perks of sitting with the Weyrwoman, it seemed. "Any grandkids
yet?" he asked. Her eldest children were certainly of an age to have a
child or two of their own.

"One," she smiled. "He's a turn older than his uncle here." she nodded
toward Cyranik who was busily trying to stuff two meat rolls into his
mouth at the same time. "My son R'nar is at Barrier Lake."

The brownrider imagined their family reunions were quite a sight. "I
have heard of Barrier Lake but haven't been there to visit yet."

"It's beautiful," she smiled. "The craftsmanship is wonderful and
everything is new. They have electricity throughout the entire Weyr." She
nodded as she took a bite, "you should definitely visit."

"I would love to visit, but only if you're offering to be my tour
guide." There was a sly twinkle in his eyes.

"I'm sure we could arrange that," she said with a twinkle of her own.

Last updated on the March 5th 2025

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

An Unexpected Meeting