Vengenance Served Cold

Writers: Heather, Sia
Date Posted: 13th October 2025

Characters: Saidrene, Q'vettan
Description: Saidrene’s revenge against Q’vettan begins
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 6, day 28 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: K'ran, V'maran, Thiseta

Saidrene

Q'vettan

Calculating hazel eyes narrowed as the Weyrleader entered the Dining Cavern. The amber orbs, framed by a thick frame of lashes, batted casually as they watched the man. **The tunnelsnake,** she thought. It had been a sevenday since K’ran had been ‘let go’ from his position. Several positions around the Weyr had changed but the most galling had been the former Lord Weyrholder’s demotion from Weyrsecond to _nothing_.

All those Turns of experience, dismissed with the stroke of the new Weyrleader’s pen. **What a fool.**

K’ran had downplayed his demotion, but she knew, she knew how it must have hurt his pride. Her weyrmate prided himself on his excellent work and job performance. He was also too good and noble to fight for himself… But she had no such restrictions.

Saidrene was momentarily distracted from her study of Q’vettan as the familiar face of a lower cavern’s friend passed by behind the leadership table. Her eyes locked with Gyllie’s. Without a word, Saidrene knew that “it” had been done.

**Excellent.** Now all she had to do was wait.

Q'vettan took his customary place at the table, completely unaware that he was being watched any more than someone of his rank would. His hand reached almost automatically for the klah pitcher at his elbow, pouring into his mug without a pause.

A pair of pursed lips curved into a nefarious smile across the Dining Cavern.

He lifted it, sipped, and promptly froze. His mouth worked once, twice, before he set the mug back down with exaggerated care. No one else seemed to notice his twitching expression.

It could have been the fact that the klah had been brewed within an inch of its life, burnt and bitter enough to curl the tongue. Different from the day before, which had so much sweetener dumped in that it had been closer to a syrup. The day before it was cold. Always the pitcher nearest him, all the others perfectly normal and perfectly prepared.

He would catch on, eventually. When no one else reacted the same way to their klah. When meals taken with Thiseta or V'maran were to the standard that he remembered. When it escalated to clothing starched within an inch of its life, when mending took twice as long as it needed, when he ended up at the bottom of the list of requisition needs.

Saidrene’s eyes shuttered in sheer pleasure. While others might not have noticed the slight twitch of expression on the Weyrleader’s face, she saw it _all_. She hoped his tongue was shriveling in his ancient mouth. She hoped he gasped awake later still remembering the raw taste of the burnt klah.

The rest of the morning meal was the same. The eggs made wrong, the toast burnt. The sausages cold. Nothing that would cause any real harm, but enough of an inconvenience to give him pause. If he was dumber he could have thought the kitchens were having just off days, but a quick glance at his neighbours plates proved otherwise too. His gaze lingered a little too long in conversation as he tried to guess if the others had the same problems on their plate and unwilling to make an issue if he was being singularly targeted. Those who noticed chalked it up to a little harper eccentricity.

He didn't quite have all the pieces together yet, but when he did…he would not be the first man to back down.

The figure of a greenrider slinking out of the Dining Cavern was barely to be noticed. After all, the Dining Cavern was filled with greenriders. The sheen of Saidrene’s inky black hair was nothing but a blip as she rounded the corner. A full smile bloomed on her face. Today had been perfect, but she would need to up the ante.

Last updated on the November 2nd 2025

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Vengenance Served Cold