Craving the familiar
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: Emma, Yvonne
Date Posted: 11th July 2006
Characters: Tsaera, K'sedel
Description: Tabarnith rises and is caught for a third time by Nikornath
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 12, day 13 of Turn 3
Tabanirth's hide glowed a deep, brassy gold in the afternoon sunlight, and her rider watched her with a sense of anticipatory pride. She would rise when she woke; Tsaera knew the signs as well as she knew her own body's. The other goldriders were already well away, and all they had to do now was wait.
The bronze dragons knew. They watched the golden queen sleep from perches along the cliff, on nearby outcroppings, and some overly-eager souls; from the sky. Their eyes swirled excitedly but they were all quiet, respecting Tabanirth enough to let her finish her nap.
And most of their riders had done the same. K'sedel had come by earlier, but Tsaera, affected by her dragon's mood, had sent him away before she could snap at him. U'das had come by as well... her two former Weyrleaders. She wondered if either of them would stand by her side this time. Tabanirth had never been known for consistency in choice of mate, but she'd chosen twice in a row, twice, since her rider had been poisoned. And although the Weyrwoman enjoyed a little... variety, she also found herself craving the familiar, just a bit. **Perhaps I'm getting old,** she thought, then glanced over at her dragon. Tabanirth's hide reflected the sun's light and made her sparkle like a golden jewel, like burnished copper, like amber.
**No...** she thought, **Nothing that beautiful could be old.**
Tabanirth stirred. Her wings flexed, trembling like leaves in a light breeze. She opened her faceted eyes, saturated with lust, and slowly uncurled her tail. Tsaera was hit with an overwhelming hunger, and rose to her feet. **Be strong, love. Blood them only.**
Tabanirth hissed and their eyes locked. For a moment, neither rider nor dragon moved as their minds fought a silent battle for dominance.
Tsaera won, and a moment later Tabanirth had risen to the sky in a thunderclap of wings, trumpeting her dominance over the Weyr below and her ownership of the bronze dragons that watched her possessively.
Tsaera's eyes watered, but she couldn't blink. She couldn't take her eyes off her gold dragon as she plunged toward the earth and struck a herdbeast with talons now streaked red with blood, watching and fighting for control as Tabanirth tore out its throat and sucked the still twitching animal dry. She watched her do it again, then for a third time, and then let herself ride with her dragon as she took to the sky trailing a skein of amorous bronzes; a brilliant second sun, and Queen of the Weyr.
~*~
Dragonlust faded, leaving Tsaera limp and exhausted. And hot.
Someone's arms were around her; his smell familiar. She licked her lips and let her eyes slowly pick out the shapes in the mating hut around them. Torn clothing, an overturned chair. Furs that had spilt onto the floor. Her body felt wrung out, heavy and sated. She turned over to face the man at her back. "K'sedel?"
"Who else?" was the reply. The Weyrleader had woken moments earlier, realizing he was in fact still Weyrleader. "You were expecting Lord Ishek perhaps? Or another bronzerider?"
"I don't know who'd be more horrified - Ishek or me." Tsaera smiled and ran a gentle hand across K'sedel's face. "Congratulations. You've done what very, very few men have ever done."
"I think it was all Tabanirth and Nikornath." Even asleep, the bronze was radiating a smug confidence about his position. "She made a good choice."
"You're only saying that because you're here," she said indulgently.
"But I'm glad you are. I don't have to train someone new how to do your hidework this way."
"So that's why Tabarnith chose me, to save you hassle later on," he teased. Although he had known it could be a possibility. Everyone had said that Tabarnith could change her mind on a whim.
"More likely to save your replacement the hassle of cleaning out your office."
"My office is not a mess, it's organized under my system," he teased.
"It took me a while to get it working, but it does me just fine." She leaned over and gave him a deep, lazy kiss. "Good," she purred, "because it's going to have to do you for a while longer."
Last updated on the July 12th 2006