Don't Leave - T'rel

[stolenhart]

Ilayria paced back and forth in her small office, hands on her lower back as if to support the massive burden that protruded under her skirts. She'd taken to wearing skirts since they were more comfortable than breeches but she didn't like them. Shards she didn't like anything about this pregnancy. Less than a month to go and then she'd be free. She thought she'd have the baby when the sharding love net went up in the dining cavern but she'd been lucky. Though even now the Healer's recommended she be on bed rest. It had been sevendays since she'd scrubbed Astoth and though the gold was taken care of, she looked shabby to her rider's eyes. Still the gold was not complaining, she was allowed to eat all she wanted and didn't have to work.

"Where is he?", she growled under her breathe. Ille, the greenrider stationed in Igen had returned this morning with news that Southern's gold had not only returned from between but was ready to rise any day now. How could they have missed it? The Southern Weyrleader was a canny old man to send such a young dragon back in time. And the plot succeeded. And if they had succeeded once, who knows how many dragons were back in time? Any day now they could be facing an army of equal or greater size. Something had to be done.

"Shaffit", she slapped her desk then put a hand to her stomach to calm the viscious kicks within. "Be quiet", she cautioned getting a hold of her nerves. T'rel had to win that flight, Ilayria needed that man to take over Southern Weyr. Maybe, just maybe, if he did win the South would let Northerners stand for the clutch even if they didn't let T'rel stay as Weyrleader. The more eggs Impressed to Northerners the less eggs left to the south.

[saidaltam]

T'rel, who had made an effort since the web went up to see to it that he was constantly at one duty or another, rather than allowing himself to think about the stupid thing. He didn't know what sadist had come up with that idea, but it was more than a little irksome. Unfortunately, that meant that when Ilayria called him, he was a goodly distance away, and as pregnant as she was, she was more than a bit impatient and snappish, these days.

Making his way swiftly to her office, he stopped at the door to rap lightly, indicating his presence, and awaited her acknowledgment to enter. As he waited, he wondered briefly just for what, exactly, she was calling him. With a spot of concern, he wondered if she were going to dress him down for the hearts by his name on that wall, but that would hardly be fair, would it?

Of course, since when was an irritable pregnant woman fair?

[stolenhart]

"By the First Egg I swear that had better be T'rel or I will kill whoever is on the other side of that sharding door", she swore as her office door was rapped upon. She waddled over to the door slowly and opened it with surprising strength. "Oh good. It is you, get in here", she ordered him, turning on her heel and returning to her previous spot. "Sit down please", she motioned to a chair, she was entirely too wound up to sit down herself. "This is going to come out of the blue but what do you know about Southern's Gold?".

She crossed the room to a small table and poured herself a cup of fruit juice, making a face at the harsh taste of the herbs in it. The Healers told her they were good for her, well Ilayria wasn't so sure, the taste was about to kill her but what could she do? Hopefully they new more than she did. She set teh cup back down and turned to face T'rel waiting on his answer.

[saidaltam]

"Out of the blue" was an apt description of affairs, and T'rel blinked as he settled into the specified chair. The southern gold? What DID he know about her? Well, let's see...

"I remember her hatching. She was a beautiful color. Uhm... The girl she impressed to looked to be on the older end, to me. Twenties, maybe? She was small, but with hatchlings, who can say if that will last? Certainly had an attitude on her." He pursed his lips, trying to recall any other details that might help.

:She was commanding, especially for such a young dragon. When she grows, she will be a formidable mind, indeed,:[/color] Vijaith prompted. :I do not envy the southern bronzes. She was not nearly so pleasant as Astoth.:[/color]

'Thank you,' T'rel sent, then said aloud, "Vijaith says that she was very commanding, especially for a hatchling, and that he thinks she will be ... formidable, when she grows up." Pausing, he added, "He also feels she's not as pleasant as Astoth."

[stolenhart]

Ilayria's lips quirked in a smile at the final declaration. Not as pleasant as Astoth? Was he just trying to butter her up in case she was going to assign him a distasteful task? "This gold went between two days ago at five months old", she met T'rel's eyes. "Before sunset of the same day she returned, nearly ready for her first flight. Word says she will rise any day now and Southern will have a new Weyrleader". B'oone had dealt the smaller Weyr a serious blow when he sent their Weyrleader between to his death. But this Gold, even thinking about the gold drove Ilayria nuts. That was a Northern traitor in a dragon disguise if she'd ever seen one.

"You are going south. Vijaith is to participate in the gold's flight. He IS to win", she stressed the words, "By whatever means necessary. Hopefully it will gain us some concessions. A gold is not likely to endanger her mate while the eggs are still hardening on the sands and perhaps it will be a low blow for the Southern morale to know a Northern dragon caught their precious queen", she added with a sigh, running a hand through her hair.

[saidaltam]

T'rel blinked, stunned. "You want... Vi and I ... to try to fly the Southern queen?" That... may be the silliest idea he had ever heard. Oh, the idea was sound enough. Certainly having a Northern rider as Weyrleader would be a powerful asset. However... Vijaith? That was the part that didn't make any sense. Why him?

Unless it wasn't about Vijaith. Perhaps it was T'rel? He wracked his brain for a moment, but could think of nothing he'd done to justifiably upset her. Perhaps she was sending him over that stupid wall. Alternatively, it could just be that she trusted him, but somehow, all this just didn't sit well with him.

"No disrespect, Weyrwoman, but... Vi's never won a queen flight. He's never even come close. He chases like he'd chase a green, and that doesn't work on golds. They're wilier, and they don't use their speed to win, they use their stamina. I frankly don't think he's got a successful queen flight in him," he pointed out.

:I could do it,:[/color] Vijaith objected. There was a long pause, during which T'rel's incredulity washed over the dragon before he amended mildly, :Maybe.:[/color]

[stolenhart]

Ilayria frowned at the bronzerider, a whole world of malice in her gaze. "You don't think it is a good idea?", she asked, lifting a slim golden eyebrow in question. "You doubt poor Vi? T'rel no wonder he's never won", if he doubted his poor dragon, no wonder T'rel hadn't won either of Astoth's three flights. Sharding idiot. "You will go and you will win. That is my final two words on the matter", she gave him a reassuring smile, "It's a maiden flight, she will have little skill in flying away from bronzes and Vijaith is an intelligent dragon. With a little luck he could ambush her and win", she finished.

Arrow came to her, landing on her shoulder with a soft peep, nuzzling his person's head gently. "I know", she crooned to the flitt. "We'll get something to eat in a moment", she admonished him turning back to T'rel. "I trust you like I trust no other rider in this Weyr. You are older and more mature than most and I've known you longer than the rest", she explained to T'rel. "If you fail though I will not hold it against you", she teased him.

[saidaltam]

The accusation that it was his fault that Vi had never won stung. T'rel was hopeful each and every time. He didn't even fight during queen flights, on any level, conscious or otherwise. How dare she? To add insult to injury, the mockery in her tone when she said she would not hold it against him was downright offensive. Anger flashed through his being at her declaration, sufficient that he didn't even take real note of her declaration of trust.

Rising, he tilted his head politely toward her. "If that is what my Weyrwoman wishes, of course I shall enter the Southern queen's flight," he said smoothly, expression cool. "When do you desire we depart, Weyrwoman?" Despite his outward calm, however, it was obvious to anyone who knew him that he was not pleased.

:Do not be hurt, mine. She is wrong. You do not hurt me, I promise,:[/color] Vijaith offered soothingly, concern touching his eyes, though from where he sat up on the fireheights, it was unlikely that anyone would notice.

'I know, Vijaith. Don't worry. I'm alright,' T'rel sent reassuringly. 'I do believe in you,' he added as he waited for Ilayria's reply.

[stolenhart]

Ilayria's face froze for a moment, eyes studying T'rel's face. Faranth please let him win so we won't have this problem anymore, she silently prayed. If he won the flight he could stay in the South and Ilayria could do her best to forget about him. If he lost he'd be back here and once more in contention during Astoth's next flight. And Ilayria wasn't sure if she could keep from arranging that flight so that VIjaith did win. Best if it was all taken out of her hands by that Southern schemer and thief of a Weyrwoman.

"It is my wish and as soon as you may. You may return for supplies and such every few days but I want you to settle as close to the Weyr as possible without being found out", she ordered him matching his cool expression with one of her own, though she felt far from cool. She was just a little bit hurt on the inside herself and she knew he was and that made it worse.

"Good luck T'rel. Do your Weyr proud", she admonished him. With a short nod of her blonde hair she dismissed as well, turning her back on him to contemplate some scrap of hide on her desk.

[saidaltam]

"Very well," T'rel replied, bowing deeply. "Vijaith shall, of course, keep you appraised." Turning on his heel without another word, T'rel walked out.

((Seems like a good closing note.))