The Competitive Instinct of Bronzeriders

Writers: Paula, Eimi
Date Posted: 25th February 2013

Characters: G'nir, Hygalia
Description: Hygalia let's G'nir know where he stands...
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 12, day 2 of Turn 6
Notes: Follows "Someone's Gonna Get It" and simultaneous to "Private Things"

G'nir

Hygalia gave her office door a shove and headed straight for the cabinet
for a drink. Those two bronzeriders would be the death of her! And
frankly, it seemed G'nir was more trouble than U'kaiah for her. Well,
that was going to stop _now_.

G'nir followed her in, not sure why she was so angry. "Hygalia?" he asked.

"G'nir," the Weyrwoman said, sipping at her fruit brandy. "So tell me,
just what did you think you were doing back there?"

"I was talking with U'kaiah," G'nir said with innocent expression.

"Tunnelsnake turds, G'nir! I know what you were doing. You were
purposefully provoking the man, and what's worse," she said growled,
pointing a finger straight into his face, "You used one of _my_ riders
to do it!"

"She's his weakness. You couldn't possibly understand the competitive
instinct of the bronzeriders," G'nir replied, his tone arrogant and
patronizing.

Hygalia was not impressed. "_I_ don't understand the competitive
instinct of bronzeriders?" she asked in a sickeningly sweet tone.
"Just who do you think they are competing over?" It was a rhetorical
question and so she continued, "What I don't understand, G'nir, is why
you feel so sharding threatened by U'kaiah. You've already won. Such
behavior _should_ be beneath the dignity of a Weyrleader. Or are you
just a Weyr_man_?"

For once, G'nir was loss for words. "I don't know, he just irritates me
for some reason," he finally said.

"Because he 'irritates' you..." Hygalia shook her head in sad
disbelief. "And just where is it all supposed to end, G'nir? How far
does this little feud between you have to go before one or the other of
you must leave in order to keep the peace in this Weyr? And are you so
sure the one who has to go would be _him_?"

"Perhaps it's bit silly..." he said bit lamely. Last time someone had
spoken like this to him was when he was still a weyrling. Somehow it
just made him respect her more. She sure didn't hesitate to voice her
mind.

"A bit," she agreed, locking his eyes in a powerful stare. "_Think_
about what he means to this Weyr, G'nir. Really think about it. You
and I are in our places because our dragons made it so, but he was made
Wingleader because he earned it. Weyrleaders and Weyrwomen have come
and gone over the last few Turns, but the one who has stayed the same
is _him_. The people can depend on him, they can trust him, they can
_believe_ in him. They put their lives in his hands and they follow
him without question. Can you really afford to lose a man like that
over your pitiful arrogance and pride? Is _that_ the way you intend to
lead this Weyr?"

She was really making him think it over. "You're right," he said slowly
after the moment of thinking. "We can't loose him. I'll keep things
more professional with him from now one," he promised. It did stung his
pride but the reason won, and his sense of duty. Weyr did come first,
and he had grown up learning diplomacy. Now, he just had to put those
skills in use with U'kaiah.

"I hope you do." Hygalia's tone had lost it's angry edge, replaced by
weary acceptance. "I would hate to question whether or not my Genith
made a mistake."

"She hasn't," G'nir was quickly to assure her. Shards, to loose his
position as a Weyrleader, no, G'nir didn't want that. "And I keep away
from your little wingrider too," he tried a disarming smile.

Hygalia was oblivious to his charm in that moment. "See that you do.
But only after you apologize to her. She did not deserve that."

"She didn't, she's a sweet girl. I offer her an official apology,"
G'nir agreed.

"Thank you." It was enough for now. But she would keep on eye on her
Weyrleader and his dealings with U'kaiah. If he did not keep to his
word... Well, then he would know the full force of her temper. "Now I
have work to do."

"Me too," G'nir sighed.

Last updated on the February 28th 2013

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The Competitive Instinct of Bronzeriders