Post by shouriko on Jun 21, 2010 18:20:07 GMT -6
Being Weyrwoman was a task that most girls never truly understood the meaning of. They were often drawn to the shiny, golden hide, the rarity and size of the dragon, and the fame and recognition of the position. Responsibilities were often not given much of a thought and hardly revisited if it ever did cross the brain of one of the hopefuls.
Kaelu had been different, because she suspected that Weyrwoman was not a position to simply desire, it was one to earn. She was a sisterly sort of woman with the kind, caring affection and the tough, almost feisty personality. She was well liked because she was friendly and energetic, but it allowed for the stigma of youth and naivety to spread amongst the older riders. There were none who could match her sense of duty and responsibility, but likewise, none could match her in aspirations and impulsiveness.
Change came to Weyrs suddenly and often with opposition. That had been the same with Kaelu, the girl whom everyone had anticipated to be a blue rider, maybe green, but never gold. Yet Kyrieth had only looked at her without any doubts or questions. It had been so many turns, so many clutches, since a gold egg had been laid and she came from what many thought would be the last of the current Senior pair. She was larger than any gold any had seen and was calm, though quite vocal, and very motherly. Kyrieth was the voice of reason for Kaelu who often let her emotions carry her away. It was no surprise that they were made the Senior pair just a couple sevendays prior the gold’s maiden flight. It was no surprise the amount of expectation that surrounded them.
Such a pressured position with so much more depth to it than many could conceive of. Being Weyrwoman of a Weyr was akin to being the Lady Holder of a Hold. Everyone looked to you, you were the center of attention, and any mistake in judgement, any wrongdoing, any rumor, was amounted to be your failure. Kaelu knew this and still smiled brightly all the same. She had to.
But there was more reason to smile today than any other:
Kyrieth had clutched the night before and on the sands, buried carefully and watched over religiously, were at least a dozen eggs. The gold was being secretive of her clutch and was steadfastly possessive of it, just as she was of her rider when she had been but a hatchling. Kaelu had been allowed to enter, but not to dwell too close to the eggs, but it was enough for her to know roughly how many were there. As to the presence of a gold or not, she had her suspicions that it was unlikely.
Why? Simply because there had been no thread to flame for so long. There were fewer dragons, they were changing. What was the use of many golden queens when there was little to no use of dragons? True, there was the war between the North and South, but it was hardly a reason at all. The present gold had only just clutched gold and was not likely to clutch again and if she did, hardly a clutch at all. They had been smaller, farther between. It made metallics all the more precious. But it was just a theory after all.
“Fourteen eggs total.” Kaelu had told the former Weyrwoman, “As to what they are as individuals Kyrieth is determined to keep secret.”
Kaelu had been different, because she suspected that Weyrwoman was not a position to simply desire, it was one to earn. She was a sisterly sort of woman with the kind, caring affection and the tough, almost feisty personality. She was well liked because she was friendly and energetic, but it allowed for the stigma of youth and naivety to spread amongst the older riders. There were none who could match her sense of duty and responsibility, but likewise, none could match her in aspirations and impulsiveness.
Change came to Weyrs suddenly and often with opposition. That had been the same with Kaelu, the girl whom everyone had anticipated to be a blue rider, maybe green, but never gold. Yet Kyrieth had only looked at her without any doubts or questions. It had been so many turns, so many clutches, since a gold egg had been laid and she came from what many thought would be the last of the current Senior pair. She was larger than any gold any had seen and was calm, though quite vocal, and very motherly. Kyrieth was the voice of reason for Kaelu who often let her emotions carry her away. It was no surprise that they were made the Senior pair just a couple sevendays prior the gold’s maiden flight. It was no surprise the amount of expectation that surrounded them.
Such a pressured position with so much more depth to it than many could conceive of. Being Weyrwoman of a Weyr was akin to being the Lady Holder of a Hold. Everyone looked to you, you were the center of attention, and any mistake in judgement, any wrongdoing, any rumor, was amounted to be your failure. Kaelu knew this and still smiled brightly all the same. She had to.
But there was more reason to smile today than any other:
Kyrieth had clutched the night before and on the sands, buried carefully and watched over religiously, were at least a dozen eggs. The gold was being secretive of her clutch and was steadfastly possessive of it, just as she was of her rider when she had been but a hatchling. Kaelu had been allowed to enter, but not to dwell too close to the eggs, but it was enough for her to know roughly how many were there. As to the presence of a gold or not, she had her suspicions that it was unlikely.
Why? Simply because there had been no thread to flame for so long. There were fewer dragons, they were changing. What was the use of many golden queens when there was little to no use of dragons? True, there was the war between the North and South, but it was hardly a reason at all. The present gold had only just clutched gold and was not likely to clutch again and if she did, hardly a clutch at all. They had been smaller, farther between. It made metallics all the more precious. But it was just a theory after all.
“Fourteen eggs total.” Kaelu had told the former Weyrwoman, “As to what they are as individuals Kyrieth is determined to keep secret.”
