We've both already won

Writers: Emma, Yvonne
Date Posted: 25th September 2005

Characters: K'sedel, Tsaera
Description: K'sedel is woken by Tsaera bringing him the news that Tabarnith is clutching.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 8, day 5 of Turn 3

K'sedel

"K'sedel.. K'sedel, wake up," Tsaera said quietly. She sat down on his bed beside him and ran a finger lightly over his jaw - a light stubble had sprouted in the night and softened the angles of her Weyrleader's face. She liked the way he looked when he slept -
rumpled and very male. "K'sedel..."

"What?" The Weyrleader rolled over in his sleep, muttering to himself. But when he felt the slight touch, it was enough to wake him. He opened his eyes to find Tsaera there. "What? What's wrong?"

The Weyrwoman smiled. "Nothing at all. Get up." She stood and stretched, and then handed him the robe that she'd found on her way in. "Hurry!"

Still feeling slightly disorientated from sleep, K'sedel took the robe from Tsaera. As he slipped it on, he suddenly realised what the fuss must be about. "Tabarnith," he said, "She's clutching?"

"Mmmm hmmm. Wear thick shoes." She lifted the hem of her light pants to expose her weyrhide riding boots. "There's nothing worse than broiled toes when you want to stay on the Sands for a while."

"Then boots it is." He went to his closet, pulling out pants and a loose shirt, rapidly dressing, then kneeling to slip riding boots on.

"Shall we?" he said offering his arm after he got to his feet.

She slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow and led him out the door, through the dimly lit halls, and through the double doors of that led to the Hatching Cavern. The shadows half concealed the gold who was lording over her eggs and the bronze who watched over her.
}:You did not come quickly!:{ she told her rider.

**I had to get K'sedel - he'll want to see too. Oh Tabanirth, I am so proud of you!** The Weyrwoman grinned as she stepped onto the Sands, feeling flush with maternal pride. There were already over thirty glistening eggs on the Sands. **You should have called me sooner!**

Tabanirth looked smug.

"Is that thirty two already?" asked K'sedel. His finger pointed as he tried to count quickly, yet accurately.

"I think so." Tsaera squinted in the dim light. "Several are big enough to be bronze, too.. this seems as if it was a good flight."

"It certainly was, from what I remember," teased K'sedel gently. As they watched Nikornath looked out over the eggs, as though the bronze himself were counting also. "That looks like thirty six now. Perhaps she will surpass herself."

"We're aging like a fine wine and not simply aging," Tsaera replied tartly. "The last clutch was a little small, even for Tabanirth. I'm betting we get over fourty."

"A wager on this?" he suggested. Even though he had lost last time, it had still proven to be fun, the guessing what may be the final total.

The Weyrwoman laughed. "Another one? But you keep losing! And as I recall, you still owe me a house plant."

"Double or quits?" suggested K'sedel.

"Fine - double. I'll say over fourty. It was a good flight, and even if Tabanirth and I are getting old we can still keep pace with the younger queens." Tsaera put her hands on her hips. "Or do I need to be more specific with my number?"

"That's usually how these things work," replied K'sedel, an amused glint in his eye. "How can I make my guess otherwise?"

"Then I say fourty exactly."

"And I'll go for..." He paused briefly, there were thirty eight eggs now. "I think there will be another five, so that makes fourty three."

Tsaera stuck her hands into her pockets and turned back to watch her dragon.
"Now now, that's getting greedy."

"We'll see," he said.

"Then it's between my fourty and your fourty-three. May the best rider win!"
The Weyrwoman stuck her hand out, and K'sedel shook it to seal the bet.
Tsaera glanced back at the eggs on the sand and her expression softened. "But I think that we've both already won."

Last updated on the September 25th 2005

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We've both already won