A Summer Gather

[stolenhart]

With the onset of summer on the Northern Continent, the height of the racing season was just being reached. And with Ruatha's Summer Gather, the richest purses were being rewarded to those few trainers, riders and runners that excelled against all comers. The hold had been scrubbed from top to bottom, and even the stables had recieved a coat of white-wash. Runners could be seen in every direction as they pranced and raced about. On the heights of the hold and from the stands, humans in every shade of coloring available were seated, rooting and cheering for their favorites. The clothes were of the best quality as was the food, drink and entertainment.

In a special area, with a ceiling of cloth, sat the Lord Holders that had been invited to the Ruathan Gather. Lord Tidgin of Telgar, heir to Benden, leaned against the stone wall and cheered for a Benden runner. J'kul, former Weyrleader of Northern, clapped the younger man on the shoulder and turned to Lord Ralis of Ruatha. "Ruatha still has the better sprinters but I think Benden might have something in their long distance stock", J'kul laughed, refilling a skin of wine.

"Whale", Ruatha's Lord drawled out, "we might 'ave sprintas, but Benden 'as wine", he touched wineskins with the rider and laughed. on the fireheights of the hold, dragons of every color and size alighted, glowing like jewels in the mid-afternoon sun of the hold. All had been oiled to within an inch of their lives, their riders equally pampered, all of them easy to spot among the large turnout of the Gather. "Ware is the laddies? And yer new Wireleader?", Ralis asked J'kul, an expression of polite interest on his face as he waited for the answer.

"I suspect they will be along shortly. Delia sent me ahead and the Weyrleaders probably had something crop up. They will be here", J'kul replied. That something was probably the Southern Weyrleader. Despite the sevendays since the attack, T'ran still resided in Northern. He claimed to be waiting on his injured rider to heal, but J'kul knew the man had his eyes on Kaelu. And she wasn't exactly saying no. There was no rules that said she had to be with her Weyrleader but there were some unspoken ones that said she ought not be so friendly with the enemy. It worried J'kul and it worried the older riders as well.

Tidgin was silent from his perch. What would his wife think if she knew he had brought her to Benden, as pregnant as she was, so he could meet the Weyrleaders. As Hybrian's son he had no allegiance to the Weyr but as Benden's future Holder he had to have some dealings with the Weyr, though he'd hold allegiance only to the Collge. Still Ruatha was a good place to gather gossip fodder to start rumors with at Benden. Especially if what the Harpers had been spreading around already were true.

[shouriko]

Kaelu had not be ignorant of what was going on. She liked attention very much and had often asked for it, but this was a different kind of attention entirely. She wasn't sure what to do with it, so she walked her usual line of neutrality with it. T'ran was a man to be respected, a fine warrior and leader, that almost put the untried M'tias to shame. She had her allegiances in the right places though. She kept to M'tias and did not falter in supporting him. Kaelu praised him for ending the skirmish with only one injured dragon and it was not even theirs and for bringing Southern into talks with Northern. He had done that. That was something she was very proud of because hardly anyone got hurt. Though not everyone saw it that way and she was troubled by it, but she kept her troubles to herself and Kyrieth. If she showed so much concern everyone would see it and begin to doubt her even more than before.

Going to the Gather was a show of her respect for the holds and a display that she was in control. If she didn't show herself, more rumors may spread and she had to dampen them somehow. Kael resorted to insisting that T'ran join her and M'tias and the other riders so that he could experience the North and she could keep an eye on him. It might not seem so to others, but her plan was to get him to fall in love with the North, her people and places, and maybe convince him to call off raids for as long as he was Southern Weyrleader. Such a peace was dreamed of, but hard to achieve.

And it still bothered her that he was brother to Hallek, Overholder in the South. It made her wary of his intentions. She knew that men seduced women to get things that they wanted and her best protection was that she didn't believe in love and avoided lust as best she knew how. So with all these thoughts in her head hidden by her smile and bright and loud personality, she came to join J'kul and the Holders in their special seat while Kyrieth was the brightest and largest of dragons on the heights.

"J'kul! You have beaten me here!" Kaelu called out, part of her black hair had been pinned back in silver pins so that her angular face could better be seen. She had brought a dress with her, but beneath it she still wore leggings and calfskin boots. "Greetings Holders, do forgive me for not arriving sooner. I am afraid I have hostaged guest to keep an eye on lest trouble be caused. Trouble I will not allow, but we must find some time for joy, no? I hear Benden has some promised stock and Ruatha has their very best. Today should be most exciting then!" Her voice rattled off jovially as she spoke.

[stolenhart]

All the men turned when Kaelu's jubilant voice grated harshly on their ears but all three men turned to give her a welcoming smile as she appeared. "I no longer have duties that keep me tied to the Weyr when I would rather be drinking, gambling, and just plainly making a nuisance of myself Weyrwoman", J'kul replied, turning to look up to the fireheights. He could just make out his bronze in one of the sunnier and warmer places, glancing appreciatively towards the egg-heavy Kyrieth. To bad J'kul though of the young goldrider as his daughter, he'd have liked to hold onto the Weyrleadership a few more turns.

"And this must be Weyrleader T'ran?", J'kul asked extending a hand towards the younger man. He seemed to be about V'las age but there was a maturity and intensity to the Weyrleader that V'las had yet to gain. It was obvious the man was a fighter bred and trained, the wicked scar on his face hinted at what would be under his clothing. He felt the callouses of weapons and hardwork on the young man's hand when they shook. "Are you enjoying the North so far?"

T'ran slid his arm from Kaelu's as J'kul offered his hand to him. In the sevendays since his 'capture' he'd slowly gotten under the Weyrwoman's skin. Oh nothing to improper, she still stuck to her Weyrleader but he could tell she was slowly opening up to his advances. Ytaisuth had a few more sevendays before she could between home so he had some time to work on her. He really did like her, she had a spunk to her he had seen in both Cresce and Gimna. Maybe that's why they were goldriders. Still before shook J'kul's hand he gave Kaelu's neck a gentle kiss and then turned his attention to the gathered men.

"And you are J'kul? And yes, I find your summer is not so harsh as ours in the South", he replied. J'kul was a tall man and despite his age would be a dangerous enemy. You did not become Weyrleader, survive countless battles and patrols and not gain a certain edge of danger. And the man was Weyrbred. T'ran had learned that the North considered Weyrbred riders as better than holdbred, it amused him, but that meant J'kul could rally riders that might otherwise welcome T'ran, who was holdbred.

The man's gravelly voice unnerved J'kul but not as much as teh casual touch he had bestowed on Kaelu before replying. Had it gone so far already? Did she assume it was merely Southern charm that made him so open and friendly towards her? "I bet not young'in. I'm tha Lord Ruatha, Ralis by name. This is Tidgin, future Lord Benden. It's ta him we owe the wine", Tidgin shook T'ran's hand, noticing the callouses as well. Hmmm it might be time to speak with G'bral at the Weyr. Hybrian would like to meet T'ran, Tidgin was sure. "You paid for it my Lord", Tidgin reminded the plump Ruathan. "An' so I did. Tell me Sir, do ya fancy the runnin?", he lead T'ran over to the wall. T'ran glanced back at Kaelu and gave her a warm indulgent smile, a smile he reserved for only the women he liked, showing he liked what he saw, in terms of Ruatha, the runners and her.

"I've seen a few here and there but Southern has other sport besides runners. I hear Lord Garon has a runner or two here?", he asked, turning back to Ralis. "Son o' Garon actually, escaped from Souther' he did, with two o' his da's beasts. Somethin' abou' disobeying Lidal was 'is crime", Ralis answered jovially. "Yes. Lidal has that problem when they issue unnecessary orders". T'ran knew all about Garon's disobediance, the boy had been ordered to Lidal to serve in Lidal's military and had refused. Pity the boy hadn't thought what would happen to his family. All the members of the family had been taken to Lidal Hold as drudges except for the three year old daughter who had been married to Hallek's sixteen year old cousin, who was now Garon's Lord Holder. Pity that, but no one here would know that was the result of disobeidiance.

"We tend to ignore his orders. Nothing ever happens", T'ran added. "Kaelu do you have an eye for runners?", T'ran asked the Weyrwoman, turning to her invitingly, his expression helpless. "I'd like to wager but I have no idea how". J'kul did not miss the man's intentions but he could hardly call him out when it was friendly and polite. V'las had been right.

[shouriko]

Kaelu was actually very happy to see J'kul here already. It gave her an option of escape. When T'ran was introduced he gave her a kiss and like it always had, it unnerved her. She side-stepped away quickly afterwords and shot him a look of surprise as she tended to. Why was he always doing that? Hadn't she asked him to stop? Was it a Southern thing that she did not quite understand, because in earnest she hardly knew what to do.

"Stop that." She muttered to T'ran, knowing that no matter how much she lowered her voice she was still very loud. Instead she went the long way over to Tidgin in order to better leave some distance between herself and the man. It wasn't that she didn't like the attention, but it rubbed her the wrong way and she hated to be impolite right off the bat.

"Lord Tidgin, I hear that your new wife is with child? That must be awfully exciting, no? Let me congratulate you and wish that you have a strong little son in due time." She shook the man's hand and smiled as she spoke. There had been some news about their wedding being rushed and not in Benden's favor, but she knew that Benden was a long-running ally to the Weyr and with him in standing to be the next Lord she had best befriend him. "And how is your father? Is he happy as well about the good news?"

When T'ran smiled at her from the wall and she crossed her arms over her chest and rolled her eyes. She sidled back towards J'kul and in a lowered voice, as low as she could go so that her voice might not carry so far. "I do not know what to do with the man. I have never garnered so much attention of this sort." Her green eyes were steady on the older man who had been one of her teachers. Surely he could see the very quiet cry for help and advice there.

She turned away quickly though when they spoke of Garon. Everyone knew he had fled from the South. T'ran seemed to know about it well enough and Kaelu's attention was picqued by it. Problem? Unnecessary orders? Ignore orders? More and more dissent she heard from the man. Kaelu's greatest hope of keeping all of the North safe, not just the Weyr, stemmed from keeping reigns on Overholder Lidal and if the Weyrleader of the Southern Weyr spoke so, then a truce was always possible. That was partly why she put up with him, hoping that she could find a way through him to achieving that goal, one she had not shared with T'ran yet. She didn't want him to know her plans until she thought that they could better be achieved by it.

"Runners?" Kaelu asked, woken from her thoughts. "Heh, just because I came from an area where gambling prevailed amongst most folks does not mean I am an expert. Pick whichever you like best, that's what I've always done and I've faired well enough." She smiled then thinking of those few races in which she did very well just by picking one out because she found it in her fancy or it was very different from the others.

"Those that are favored are not always the best suited for success." Her words were not true only to runner races, but also to leadership. She still believed very much and M'tias and if he was here she would stick to him like glue. He was her Weyrleader afterall, not T'ran.

[shouriko]

He simply adored Gather's and one that included the greatest chance of success whilst gambling made this summer Gather the best one to go to. T'rell dressed in best, most practical clothes and assured himself that he had a good, fat pouch only half-filled with marks. Hopefully if Lady Luck was with him this Gather he would return with a full pouch and some new boots or a jacket.

Come on Zurith! I don't want to miss one race, not one! T'rell ran out to the ledge where the older blue was laying, quite content to remain there if he so desired it.

The blue opened one eye and considered his rider. As Zurith looked back at T'rell and tried to stare him down, he simply could not bare the sudden loss of smile there. He heaved a sigh and sniffed unhappily as he rose.

T'rell climbed up and belted himself in, "That's the spirit Zurith! See, good for the two of us to go to the Gather!" He had the coordinates and as the blue whirled over the Weyrbowl. When next he looked they were circling over Ruatha Hold and the sounds of chattering voice and dancing music rose up to meet them. With a great wide grin on his face he shouted, "This'll be loads of fun, eh Zurith?"

Loads, of course. The blue replied dispassionately. He landed and watched as T'rell went bounding off with his seemingly limitless energy. He remembered having that same energy when he was younger and it was still there. It was just that today was one in which he desired to laze about in the sun and he joined the other dragons on the heights and made himself comfortable there.

"Look out you bettors! Here I come!" T'rell went bounding off immediately to see the race card, the current odds, and make his first round of bets.

[stolenhart]

“My father is overjoyed that a new Benden heir is on the way”, Tidgin replied woodenly. The truth was his father was overjoyed, a lot of relatives were pregnant in Telgar which meant Tidgin’s child would marry into a Telgar family, which suited Hybrian’s needs perfectly. “May I congratulate you on your forthcoming clutch”, he returned the congratulations before turning back to the start of another race.

“Kaelu”, J’kul looked at her, “I’m not sure I want to help you in your mess. You are trying to change a tunnelsnake into a flit with that man and have only yourself to blame for the trouble it causes besides”, he gave her a steady look, “I don’t like T’ran on principle alone, he seems to be a good man, cares for his dragons and all. You aren’t used to male attention and it makes you uncomfortable. Take it as a compliment if not from him then maybe from some other people?”, J’kul advised her then turned to talk to one of the sons of one of the Lords. J’kul still had not forgiven her for V’las, he had so hoped his grandson would succeed him and the elderly bronzerider was one of the few who knew what V’las felt towards Kaelu. Maybe if she could get used to T’ran’s obvious efforts V’las more subtle ones would get her attention. Love didn’t exist? Honestly the girl was as silly as a green flit drunk on wine.

“Pick whichever I like best? If only it worked that way with people”, T’ran replied but his look towards Kaelu was not one she might have anticipated. This time it was a faraway look, as if he was no longer in Ruatha but somewhere else, with someone else. He seemed to be gone for a moment but then he returned. “I’ll take the bay with the green and gold flag thingie”, he told Ralis. “That’s Carrik’s beast. Good lines on ‘im”, Ralis approved of the bet. T’ran didn’t know who Carrik was, he’d just picked the animal because it was misbehaving at the starting line.

[shouriko]

"Why thank you so very much Lord Tidgin." Kaelu replied and then let him go. There was something off in his eyes. Was he worried about something?

Kaelu nodded, she understood what J'kul was saying. And it was very true that she was not accustomed to that kind of attention from men. He was so forward and that in itself made her balk at the very idea that someone could want her. She couldn't even tell if it was because he liked her or if he just wanted to boast about having had her. Though there was one thing the older bronzerider said that made her do a double-take.

"Others?" Kaelu was surprised. "Like who? J'kul, what do you know that I do not?" She wanted to grab his elbow and force him to tell her like she had once done to her father when she asked why he and her mother were so distant to each other. She might not like the answer, but she wanted to know.

When T'ran responded, there was a difference in tone. His very look was right through her as if she weren't there. Kaelu could only think that it meant one thing. Perhaps he missed Weyrwoman Gimna or another woman from the South, or was worried and concerned. Maybe it was this whole love thing that people told her existed. She could see it in others, she saw it in the way she acted towards her siblings and dragons, but she didn't think she could ever love a man. Not with her being Weyrwoman. She knew the real reason why her parents got married and the convenience was more than others thought it was.

Kaelu wandered over to the edge and said with a thoughtful gaze, "Mmm, I don't bet, but I'll say that the chestnut one with the high fore socks will do it." He was prancing there, a sparkling in his eyes, ears forward. He looked trained and like he wanted to win.

Since she was close to T'ran she said it a little more quietly, thankful for the roar of the crowd as the race started so her voice did not carry as much and without looking at him said, "You meant Weyrwoman Gimna before, didn't you?"

[stolenhart]

He frowned when she joined him. "No", he said softly, then sighed, "Gimna and I are very good friends, she took me in hand when I came to the Weyr, walking around like I owned the place with a broomstick up my butt", his smile was faint and it did not reach his eyes. "I had a lot of fights with the older bronzeriders, they couldn't tell me anything. I was young, overly smart and confident in my father's blood", he chuckled darkly. "Of course Gimna wasn't going to have that. It took her nearly a turn and a half but she finished what I had started", he stretched, arms holding onto the wall in front of them. "I told my father I'd never step foot in Lidal Hold again. It was the only time I ever rebelled against him, Gimna helped me break all ties with him and taught me how to deal with Hallek who is just like our father. No she's a very good friend and I hope she is doing well".

He wondered if he should tell her, she would probably be scandalized by his thoughts. "No I am thinking of a certain junior weyrwoman who hates my guts and reminds me of you in alot of ways. Though she only gets loud when she's angry", he teased Kaelu. "I am training her to be the next Weyrwoman because none of Southern's healers are sure how much longer Gimna is going to live". He was silent for a moment as the horse's finally stilled at the starting line and took off. It was to be a long distance race, several laps around the smooth track. "Cresce keeps me on the ground, she's not afraid to call me on my faults and she's good for a laugh. Better than most women I know, and it was Knymawth who Searched her".

[shouriko]

Kaelu smiled, she knew what that was like, only she wasn't taken under anyone's wing until Kyrieth came about. "Delia was like that when I impressed Kyrieth. Though she is more like the mother I wished I had than a very dear friend." She laughed uneasily at that. It sort of hurt to admit the truth of the matter. "My mother wouldn't even flinch if I said it to her face."

There was something she was worried about. Gimna seemed the quiet type who was gentle and kind. This sudden illness and her continued fraility was questionable. "Did the healer's ever find out what has been ailing her?"

The smile that was there was not because the runner she had chosen was doing well in the race. It was too bemused to be because of a runner race. "I remind you of her, eh? Is she the one you miss, or are you only worried about her as well? Do you have feelings for her, or are you just protective of her? Is she as chatty as I am? I bet she talks your ear off like I do, then. Must be more ladylike though, I bet she has a figure too, you seem to like those. You only give me attention because I'm Weyrwoman and I refuse to leave you alone." Kaelu raised an eyebrow at him as she asked. She was rather amused by this and then another thought came along.

"Ah, I'm sorry, you don't have to answer my questions. I got caught up again, didn't I?" Kaelu stood erect and rubbed the back of her neck nervously, looking sideways at the Southern Weyrleader.

[stolenhart]

"No. The healers can only say that her heart is failing her but before that day", he shook his head, "There has never been anything wrong with her heart until she met with Hallek. He did something to her", he growled, hands becoming fists with white knuckles. He seemed to stare off into the distance as he slowly regained his composure and calmed down.

He gave her a tight smile. "You undervalue yourself Weyrwoman", he told her, "I would give you attention were you the kitchen drudge with ashes on your face and a dirty dress. Some beauty cannot be seen", he whispered to her. "I hate that you think I am so shallow as to only chase women who are pretty. I like intelligence too, someone I can talk to is a lot better than someone I can only look at", he turned back to the race, seeing his beast in the middle of the pack with race left to go.

"As for Cresce, I worry she will get too deep and not know how to get out. And of course she is ladylike she is the daughter of a Lady Holder but as for feelings, I could not say. Worry will work though", he added. Cresce was in dangerous waters with the men in his Weyr and while she might be adept at hold politics, weyr politics were a different matter altogether.

[shouriko]

Seemed like Hallek was not only a bad brother and a poor leader, but he clearly was not very good at making and keeping friends. He was a dangerous man and Kaelu's sense of justice was itching to be let go. Still, she knew it was too soon to try to mend the relation between Southern and Northern Weyr. Hallek would not have it, neither would any of the riders, and she had an ill feeling about Lord Telgar and his whers. It wasn't really about what she wanted anyway, it was about what was best for the Weyr and its inhabitants.

"Beauty? What is it really?" Kaelu grumbled. Her green eyes followed the runners and the chestnut was finally making a go for the lead. Would he make it and still have enough to go beyond the others for the win? Who knew, but it'd be nice.

She snickered a little, "So I am the one you talk to? What does that say of my dear greenriders?"

A trouble-maker of sorts? And a Lord's daughter, it made her think of how she felt about gold dragons before she herself became impressed to one. Snobbish, self-important, over-inflated egos, and the list went on and on. Every girl who was born to a Holder of any size always thought that the only dragon they could possibly impress was gold and forbid it if they impressed green. Though that certainly would be the case in the South.

With obvious sarcasm and some past experience in interacting with such a person, Kaelu snorted and said, "Ah, she must be the little Lady, isn't she? Probably thought she'd impress gold the moment she was searched, or even insisted that she be searched when you came around. Almost all of them are like that." Clearly her experience with such people had not been a pleasant one.

In fact, being a candidate with such a girl meant dealing with not only her, but those girls who became her ardent followers. Or as she preferred, cronies, to put down the others. It hadn't worked on her, not when she told them and their leader off for it.