A Difficult Queen (2 of 2)

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 1st November 2010

Characters: Hygalia, G'nir
Description: Hygalia's Genith finally Clutches!
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 6 of Turn 5
Notes: Part 2 of 2

G'nir

Another egg slipped onto the Sands and the gold whirled her head around
to look at her rider expectantly. "That one's beautiful, love," Hygalia
dutifully said and nodded to G'nir to say something too. "Don't over do
it," she whispered. Praise, but no unnecessary attention.

"It's lovely. It's almost same colour than Nirreth's egg was, by they
way," G'nir remarked, getting little bit nostalgic.

"That one over there, I'm pretty sure, will be bronze," she whispered,
pointing one of the eggs towards the edge of the Sands.

G'nir nodded and agreed with her. "So, at least two likely bronzes?"

"If you count the one she just laid," she nodded, though it looked more
like a candidate for brown to her. It wasn't worth arguing though, and
she could tell he was very hopeful. "We're up to twenty now. I think
you can move a little closer if you like."

"All right," G'nir replied and moved downwards, closer to the Sand.

"Do you want to wager a guess?" she asked as she settled down next to
him. "How many do you think there will be?"

"Close to 50," G'nir guessed.

Hygalia schooled her face into a thoughtful expression to hide her urge
to laugh at his bronzerider arrogance. **He really does think highly of
himself...** "I think anything over forty I will count as a success."
Though inwardly she hoped for 45.

"We shall see, shall we?" G'nir just said.

"Shall we make a wager? Whoever has the closer number?" In her mind
there was no way she could lose that bet. Either she lost and they had
a stunning first Clutch, or she'd have the joy of taking his ego down a
notch, which was something she always got a kick out of.

"All right, my stake is one bottle of vintner hall's finest white wine,"
G'nir said.

"Then I will meet that with a bottle of red." Truthfully, she tended to
like white better. Another reason to lose happily! "We already up to
25. Let's see who is right."

"You're on."

They watched for a while, chatting softly, only making louder comments
when the gold demanded praise for the job she was doing. When they had
reached 36, Hygalia began biting the inside of her lip nervously. The
eggs were coming more slowly. She could tell the queen was almost
finished. Faranth she just hoped they'd get up to 40! But she didn't
want to concern the bronzerider. "Well, that last one was beauty,
wasn't it."

"Yes, a beautiful mottled colouring. Although I can't decide if the
colour is blue or green," G'nir replied.

"A little mystery keeps things interesting," the goldrider said, her
toes curling in her boots in a silent nervous gesture. **Just let there
be at least forty...** she thought as the 37th appeared on the Sands.

"Thirty-seven," G'nir breathed the number softly.

He probably would be so awestruck if he knew her gold better. She was
slowing down and Hygalia knew it! "I need some klah," she sighed,
wondering how long the last few would take.

"Shall I call a drudge...or would she let him or her in? Perhaps I
should just fetch us something," G'nir asked.

"She wouldn't let them through the door, I'm afraid," Hygalia sighed.
"She's not done yet. You won't miss but an egg or two, and I would be
most grateful."

"All right, as long as she doesn't jump on me when I come back," G'nir
replied and got up. Sitting in one place so long was making him stiff
and he was actually glad to get a change to move a bit.

**You better not finish before he gets back,** she thought, not really
directing her thought towards the gold, but she caught it any way.

}:I'm done when I'm done. Now watch while I lay another one.:{

G'nir returned after a while, carrying a tray loaded with large
klah-pitcher, two mugs, bread, cheese and few fruits. "Here you go," he
placed it on the ground next to them.

"That's forty," she pointed the freshly laid and glistening egg, a
relieved smile on her face.

"We are nearing the end, one way or the other," G'nir said and handed
her a mug full of steaming klah. He had also remebered her preference
for
milk.

"Thank you," she said with a grateful smile. The goldrider breathed in
deeply of the smell. "Perfect."

"You're welcome," G'nir replied with a cocky grin. He fell back to
watching the eggs. Forty eggs made a quite a pile.

"Forty-one," Hygalia smiled, reaching for some food. At least the
Flight couldn't be deemed a failure now!

"She is looking very slim now, " G'nir remarked and sipped his klah.
Perhaps she couldn't reach his number, but it was good clutch either
way.

The Weyrwoman nodded her agreement. It didn't come as a great surprise
when the queen nudge the forty-second egg into place and proclaimed
proudly, }:I am now done.:{

"Forty-two. I'm sorry I can't owe you that bottle of red." She hoped
he wasn't too disappointed.

"I think I can live with that," G'nir flashed a grin. He was bit
disappointed but not too much. Forty-two was still a good clutch. All
that matters was that the eggs were now safely hardening on the Sands.
"I owe
you the white wine."

**So, can I go...** Hygalia began to ask in her most appealing tone.

}:No. He can go, but you will stay.:{ As emphasis the gold let out a
very unlady-like hiss.

The Weyrwoman sighed and turned apologetic eyes to the bronzerider.
"Maybe later?"

"She's keeping you here?" G'nir guessed.

Hygalia nodded. "It's going to be a long month, I'm afraid."

"I'll make sure there's someone at your disposal at the all time, drudge
or candidate. I have to get back to work now, and spread the news about
the
Clutch," G'nir said.

"If there aren't little weyrbrats already scattering from the cracks in
the wall to spread the news," she said with a knowing smile. As long as
her gold didn't know they were there, she didn't mind. "I'm sorry for
her bad temper."

"It can't be helped. Can Teseada fill in your Wing duties?" G'nir asked.
The weyrwoman's Second was so young, and he really didn't know how
capable
she was.

"As I understand, she's done it before." A lot had been put on that
young pair, from what Hygalia could understand. "Of course I can do a
lot of hidework here."

"I'll let her know about the situation," G'nir promised.

"Could you make sure to ask the kitchen to keep the klah coming? And
ask someone to bring me the stack of hides off my desk." She couldn't
even think what all she'd need, but who knew how long Genith would keep
her there.

"I'll take care of it all," G'nir promised and gave her a kiss for
goodbye before leaving to do his work.

Last updated on the November 7th 2010

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A Difficult Queen (2 of 2)