Put it to a Vote - Open

[stolenhart]

F'shr glanced at the Weyrleader's chair and smiled a tiny smug smile. Went and got himself caught, shame, shame shame, he passed along to his dragon, Dewarnth. The former Weyrleader was not upset with his replacements capture in fact, he'd said it often enough if the last sevendays, he had seen it coming. A few Turns under F'shr and no one had bothered Southern shores, though Hallek's grip had slowly tightened. Still F'shr saw reason why trade secrets had to be kept secret, he'd sworn to follow the man, even if he didn't particularly care for him. And T'ran was his brother. Who knew what evil plots the two of them had Hatched up?

Who got caught? And why is it a shame?, Dewarnth asked from his perch outside. Knymawth. And I was being sarcastic. With him out of the way you can win Vandyith's next flight, F'shr explained patiently. Dewarnth was not the brightest glow in the basket, he often needed a great deal of explanation for even mundane things, but what he lacked in brains he made up for in speed and speed was all he needed because F'shr could be the brains for both of them. Oh. I like Vandyith, was all the bronze said.

F'shr, as the Former Weyrleader and in place of T'ran, had called a meeting to discuss Vandyith's next flight. If the majority of the Wingleaders and Seconds were happy with T'ran's leadership they would vote for a closed flight, but if they were unhappy, well even if they voted for a closed flight it might be open anyhow, seeing as T'ran wasn't back yet. Spies did say they had spotted Knymawth, resting with greens. Greens who might or might not be ridden by women. Disgusting. "It's almost time".

***
R'kil was an older brownrider, well used to the politics of the Weyr and even more used to tuning those politics out. He was too old to be butting into things that did not concern him. He might consider himself too old but in fact he was just past forty-five, still in the prime of dragonriding as Hesath had Impressed him only twenty turns ago. He'd been a wingsecond just shy of five turns now, mostly because of his laid back attitude, because he wasn't particularly interested in being a leader. He just wanted to get the job done and then come back home to his wife. He was one of the few riders that was married, he married Jiset at seventeen, and he'd never had a problem. Both born and raised in the Weyr they understood the traditions and concepts so when Hesath won a green a flight, Jiset never let on that it bothered her. Though their oldest had skipped out of the Weyr to be a Harper, the few young ones were already standing for clutches and R'kil's hopes were high.

"F'shr", he nodded to the man as he entered the council room and took a seat. "R'kil, you are the first. Did you see anyone else?" the bronzerider asked. "I saw a few, they'll be along shortly I think, just getting snacks".

[sai]

"Your pardon for my tardiness, sirs," Be'yard offered by way of greeting as he slipped into the room. "I'm afraid I got all caught up in matters and just couldn't get away when I ought to have. You gentlemen are looking quite well." Then again, when Be'yard spoke, everyone was looking 'quite well'. As the man slipped into his seat, he added mildly, "Nobody else in attendance, yet?" Well, at least he wasn't that late.

When the meeting had been called, Be'yard had to admit that he'd been a bit confused, but it hadn't taken too long to piece things together. T'ran might still be absent, no doubt with some pretty young lady who'd stolen a little piece of his heart (and maybe something else, though Be'yard would never say so), but it was only in good form, after all, for him to see if the Weyr wanted a closed or open flight, and T'ran had always seemed like a good enough sort. Of course, Be'yard didn't know him well, but he seemed cordial enough. It was just good of F'shr to be calling this little assembly for T'ran while he was absent. Honorable man, that one. Considerate.

It had, of course, crossed Be'yard's mind that there was no doubt an ulterior motive behind the meeting, for he may have been trusting, but he was not a fool. F'shr had been Weyrleader before. Certainly, he would want to be Weyrleader again. Power, after all, is rather like a drug. Be'yard understood that. That, however, was another one of those thoughts that was better left unsaid.

[shouriko]

Y'bal had his suspicions about the reasoning for this meeting and if it had anything to do with Vandyith's next flight, then he was right. He knew what to vote for when the time came, but it wasn't really his vote. Though no one suspected the typically jolly bronzerider, he was perhaps one of Hallek's greatest informers and in-Weyr spies. He even on occasion did some dirty work. He was too nice, too kind, too helpful, almost too perfect the Wingsecond who held anchor to his wing when the Wingleader was busy.

He entered the room all smiles and white-toothed grin. He ran his tanned hand through his bleached blonde curls and gave a quick wave to the lot of them, "I heard there was a meeting in order, but T'ran isn't back yet. Shouldn't we wait on him? We haven't even heard word of him."

That's what he said, but not what he heard. Some said that T'ran was captured and half the wing with him. Others claimed he died at the claws at the Northern Weyrleader and what was left was fed to their egg-heavy gold. The more interesting one was that he was a willing captive almost to the point of being called a guest in their Weyr. Not just him, but the entire wing since there was hardly no battle at all, just one injury and to a green of all things! Either way, whichever the case, with the true Weyrleader gone and Weyrwoman Gimna still weak, this was the prime time for Hallek to finally take the Weyr in hand. He, Y'bal, was going to help him and through him he would be Weyrleader not through flight, but by assignment from the OverHolder.

I do like the idea of being the leader and not because of a silly gold. Yorasinth agreed. He was a large, dark bronze full of heavy and taut muscle. He was not fast, but he was enduring and a master of brute force. When he piled into a smaller dragon, he crushed their bones. He was as grim and power-hungry as his rider.

Yes, so do I. Y'bal replied, his mindvoice dark though he had a warm, friendly smile on his face.

[stolenhart]

R'kil nodded towards Be'yard but F'shr did not seem to notice him. "On their way", R'kil answered the young broznerider's question just as Y'bal came into the room followed by a few other riders. F'shr straightened up, glanecd around and shrugged, "The others can get the gist of the meeting as they come in and if they are not here by the time we are done voting, they don't get a vote", he told everyone, taking the seat that used to be his at the head of the table.

"As we know T'ran has been abesnt the last sevenday or so but word has reached me that T'ran is at Northern Weyr", he paused for dramatic effect, "and not only that, but he might as well be a guest. Apparently he is there trying to woo the Weyrwoman while a single, simple, solitary greenrider recovers from injury. We all know how T'ran likes a pretty girl", he left it hanging. T'ran's proclivities towards pretty women outside of the Weyr were well known, he'd never shown any interest towards weyr girls and disappeared for a day or two from time to time.

"I'm not one hundred percent on what he is doing but I do not think he deserves the respect of a closed flight when Vandyith rises. I know their last clutch resulted in a healthy Hatching with a gold egg to boot but we all know that their next clutch won't be as good. And he did have one girl Impress a green dragonet. That's a waste and no Weyrleader should have to banish a dragon, because it should never happen in the first place". F'shr glanced around the room, meeting eyes and studying postures. "We can't trust T'ran to do what is necessary so I am voting for an open mating flight for Weyrleadership".

[sai]

Be'yard paused, processing all of this, then leaned forward, furrowing his brow. "Now, just a moment here, F'shr," he began in a lazy drawl, giving himself time to sort his thoughts without letting the conversation run away without his input. "T'ran does seem the sort to wait until that green is healed up to come back - it's not much like him to abandon a rider, as I can tell it - and of course we all know his reputation, but to imply there's more to it than that, well... that may be a bit of a stretch. I'm sure no one here thinks he's a traitor. Certainly, you wouldn't be implying that, would you?" Be'yard arched a brow significantly, but moved on without missing a beat, not giving F'shr the time to reply.

"As far as the flight goes, there is some reasonable concern, what with T'ran being absent and all, and surely, if he's not back, it will have to be an open flight. I know all of you probably want your shot at that chair, too - it's to be expected, after all - but with Gimna having been so ill, oughtn't we to be consulting with her Healers before we go making this sort of decision? I wouldn't want to strain the poor dear while she's still so fragile, after all, and surely none of you would, either." His tone made the answer obvious as he leaned back into his seat, clearly implying that anyone who felt the Weyrwoman's health was not a serious concern in this matter was unfit for his dragon. It was, after all, exactly what Be'yard believed.

:Be'yard, I'd rather be able to chase her...: Adonath interjected gently.

'I know, Adonath, and I would, too, but if the lady's not kept in good health, nobody's gonna be chasing her, are they?' Be'yard pointed out. He could feel it as Adonath settled back, disgruntled but understanding, and swiftly returned his attention to the conversation at hand. Like it or no, the answer was a good one.

[shouriko]

"Er, but..." Y'bal wanted to go ahead and argue the point that they should wait, but clearly F'shr was not going to wait.

The man was once Weyrleader and he easily took the place of such a person when the true one was absent. Perhaps they had the same goal in mind for the meeting, but for the Weyr? No. Y'bal would behave himself and act the part of the slightly more complacent bronzerider as he had since graduation from Weyrlinghood. It worked well enough to get him Wingsecond and in favor with OverHolder Hallek, he should not drop it now just because F'shr was going to be grabby.

"I heard the same, but surely T'ran would not leave Gimna here so long for another Weyrwoman." Y'bal said, his voice somewhat pleading for either agreement or to be rebuked with greater truth.

Though it was true that he was rather lecherous, he was a good leader. Too good. And he did not follow Hallek as he should, just barely. He was a bump in the road and needed to be flattened. It might be all well and good if he just stays there in the North. He put on the well worn look of concern and he looked around at the others. Sure, he seemed the type to give him the benefit of the doubt, but with great disappointment, he knew what he had to say.

"I... yes, an open flight for Vandyith's next." Y'bal said, his voice slightly lower as if dejected by the very words he spoke.

[Femisis]

She hadn’t QUITE needed to neglect her chores today, but since she had a legit excuse to get out of them, namely sitting with Gimna, she’d take it over laundry any day. At the moment, she was busying herself at the hearth with the flitter eggs, rearranging them to make sure that they would stay warm. She’d wisely marked her egg with charcoal once she’d brought them all back much to Anaelth’s delight. The queenling had sworn to eat the flitter if it turned out to be a Green, a threat the blond took completely seriously.

Don’t you have somewhere to be?[/color] Ana asked, breaking Hers out of her thoughts for a moment. There was no sarcasm in the question, only curiosity. She could have sworn that Hers was supposed to be somewhere, somewhere important…

“Shaffit!” Cresce swore as she jumped up, hastily waving goodbye at Gimna (An explanation wasn’t needed. The Weyrwoman knew where she was going.) and rushed out of the weyr. “I can’t believe I forgot…” She muttered, running her fingers through her hair in an attempt to appear presentable. Of course she knew about this meeting, though only through Gimna who knew through another rider. With T’ran’s absence came a slew of problems, namely everyone trying to become Weyrleader. As much as T’ran annoyed her, though, he was a good man and she’d never have met Anaelth without him, so she would represent him if she had to stab everyone in the room to do it.

“Faranth, if T’ran has friends like this, I’d hate to see his enemies.” She drawled as she forced her way into the council room, having heard the tail end of Y’bal’s words. Without waiting for anyone to give her permission to actually be there (Not that she’d have listened.), she dropped gracefully into an empty seat next to Be’yard and was suddenly all business. Now it was time to see if all that sneaking around listening in on Ravan’s meetings would pay off. “You ARE such lovely friends to T’ran, deciding to treat him as if he didn’t exist the second there’s trouble. You’d think that MAYBE you would want to rescue him, but here you are squabbling over Vandiyth’s Flight like a bunch of old ladies over a middle aged man. “ She told them bluntly, pausing for a moment to let it sink in. “There’s a good reason why he’s Weyrleader and none of you are.”

[stolenhart]

R'kil was just about to say something when Crescentia entered the room and sat down at the table like she belonged there. Now R'kil was from a Holder family, and turns of women doing certain chores had been ingrained in his DNA, and Cresce sitting at a table with mean discussing one of those things just didn't quite make the list. She ought to be off somewhere learning something important for when Anaelth was grown. He opened his mouth to say something but F'shr beat him too it.

"There are two key points you seem to be mistaken on Weyrling Crescentia", she didn't get her true title until after graduation, "First we are not squabbling like old ladies. We are discussing the matter as men and deciding what we should do as a group. Should the majority vote for a closed flight we will of course abide by that decision and should we vote for an open flight, well we will abide by that decision too", he fixed his keen blue eyes on her. "Secondly, and I don't speak for everyone here, I am a Wingleader in the Weyr, that does not make me T'ran's friend", he added, "we are doing what is best for the Weyr as we see fit in the absence of our Weyrleader".

"You should know though, the T'ran is in the North with a woman. Not just any woman but Northern's Weyrwoman. He left your tender care for another woman's, and for all intent and purposes is planning to stay there. And it's no concern of the Weyrwomen who chases their golds, only that a dragon does chase. So... don't you have some chores you need doing?", F'shr asked her.

[shouriko]

Y'bal was quiet when he saw that Crescentia had taken a seat by Be'yard. A good place for her. If she were next to any other, they would have kindly showed her the way out and closed the door after her. He would, but he'd have to apologize in order to keep his image. For now, he just frowned and waited for someone else to make the first comment on her presence and even more so, her misunderstood words.

"F'shr, be gentle with her, she is not Weyrborn." Y'bal said with a weak smile.

He turned to face her, that weak and sad smile there on his face as he addressed her. "Yet what he says is true my dear, this is a meeting that is held every turn a gold is to rise and in particular the senior by the men who lead the Weyr. It is our opinion of leadership and though I respect T'ran as a fellow rider and find his leadership good, he has made a very poor choice in going to Northern Weyr and remaining there."

Here he stopped and looked at her, his eyes full of sadness. In truth, over the many turns he had spent as a dragonrider and furthermore, as a Wingsecond which he worked hard to earn the place of, never had a Weyrleader in such trying times gone on a scouting trip and not returned. Even if it was a raid or a small skirmish, the Weyrleader always returned regardless because it was for the better of the masses. If he was with the Weyrwoman, he was sleeping with the enemy, whether he was waiting for a rider to heal up or not, that was the poorest call of judgment he had ever heard of in a leader.

"Weyrleader T'ran left us with explicit instructions and one was to undertake this meeting, was it not F'shr?" Of course he knew that T'ran might not have said so, but if F'shr could so easily pull off this lie, then all the others would follow suite. "And if he was indeed in need of rescuing, he would have sent word one way or another."

[sai]

Be'yard rose when he noticed Crescentia, taking his seat once more as she took hers, more out of habit than anything else, though had he been thinking on it, he'd likely have done it anyway. His father may not have been present to pop him for failing to be polite, but it was so ingrained into him now that it had become a way of life, anyhow. When the girl spoke, however, he was swiftly distracted from that line of thinking with mild shock, and he could feel his eyebrows rising. F'shr, unfortunately, beat him to the punch, and inwardly, he winced. Delicacy was not the man's strong suit, clearly. Well, at least Y'bal was moderately helpful. Perhaps this was salvageable.

"Surely you don't think so poorly of us as all that, Miss Crescentia," Be'yard added in turn. "If any of us heard one word of T'ran being in real trouble, you can be sure we'd mount a rescue. Surely there are those who don't much like him, and I myself barely know the man, but it isn't a matter of fondness. Do you truly believe we could be so negligent in our duty to the Weyr? With this war of attrition, we need every dragon we have, and we all know it, Miss Crescentia. Don't you fret on it. We haven't forgotten him, and we're not likely to."

Poor girl. F'shr was never a gentle creature, and the child was obviously already upset. She was going to work herself into a proper bother if someone didn't settle her. He just hoped he could keep her eye on him for a few moments longer and maybe settle her anger a bit, before she made herself ill.

[Femisis]

It was a good thing Anaelth was awake and she was disarmed or Cresce would have stabbed just about everyone in this room. She’d made the right decision to sit next to Be’yard as opposed to anyone else. She’d been negligent in getting to know the wingleaders and seconds, something that might cost her right now, but she’d heard enough to know that she’d picked the right person to sit next to, even if they all were intent on kicking her out. It was obvious that they were all against her being there, trying to do something that was reserved for men alone, the great Bronzeriders of the Weyr. Well, she could play their game just as well as they could.

“While it is true that T’ran is in the North with their Weyrwoman, is it possible that… well… I don’t know. Is it possible that MAYBE he is discussing some sort of treaty rather than having an affair as you clam?” She asked, cocking a brow at them. She may have had faith in T’ran, but she knew the he was a womanizer at the heart of it all and wouldn’t be surprised if he was sleeping with Northern’s Weyrwoman. It seemed that the possibility that he was sleeping with her was the ONLY thing they were worried about, or maybe they were just trying to turn her against him.

“Anaelth has informed me that a Green was injured in the skirmish. Is it also possible that he’s waiting for her to heal? I know that most of you probably consider a Green to be expendable, but I’d like to bet that her rider doesn’t think so, so before you start making accusations, try and gather some facts. Until I hear it from T’ran himself that he was with Northern’s Weyrwoman, which wouldn’t surprise me, really, PLEASE don’t act like he’s a traitor.” She was proud of herself for keeping calm for so long, though she wasn’t sure how much longer she’d be able to stay that way. F’shr was wearing on her nerves rather quickly, so it was only a matter of time before she lashed out and it wouldn’t be pretty.

[shouriko]

Y'bal had to bite his tongue to keep from smiling. In fact, if he did have such control about himself and his appearance, he'd probably end up rolling on the floor, holding his stomach while laughing so hard he could hardly breathe. This new goldrider knew nothing huh? Even T'ran himself would sacrifice a green if the need arose. Anyone of them would and every greenrider knew that it was a potential fate of theirs. Surely she did not think that every dragon was of equal value? Sure, every dragon counted in a battle, but to stop fighting just because one green was injured? That was almost cowardly! It was akin to getting a bug bite and wailing to the healer's that a wild feline had attacked them!

He just shook his head, "Though T'ran is a good man, he is a man of war."

Y'bal gave her credit for coming up with such an idea, but he greatly doubted that even T'ran would do so. Only Hallek was able to say whether or not a truce could be spoken for and the last one had been so long ago that there were hardly any riders alive who even recalled those days. If he was going to talk to the Northern Weyrwoman about anything, he'd try to convince her to send her Weyr against the OverHolder in an attempt to kill him.

"And while I agree that every dragon counts, to surrender when only one green has been injured is a great folly for a Weyrleader of his caliber. It is said that Northern's Weyrleader is as young and as untried as their Weyrwoman, surely he could have defeated them. I do not understand why he surrendered." Y'bal shook his head and then continued, "but the truth of the matter is that he remains there when he could be here. We have traded for our rider's return before."

There were so many unknowns, so many possibilities, but it all came down to the point that T'ran made his first decision that no one int hat room liked. The only one who seemed stupid enough to not see it was Crescentia. A Weyrleader who leaves his Weyr and does not return for so weak a reason as he had was no good Weyrleader at all.

"What matters is that he is not here when he well could be." Y'bal said and his voice was deep and dark. As a dragonrider, he was disappointed in his fellow bronzerider. As Hallek's secret inside man, he was joyous that he had finally faltered. As a man, he could almost feel badly about what was happening. "And I have made my decision already."

[stolenhart]

“A treaty?”, F’shr gave a quiet laugh, “You don’t know T’ran very well do you? He’d sooner tear out his own eyes than sign a treaty”, he told her leaning forward in his chair with a gleam in his eye. “Unless of course there was something in it for him”, he replied. There were nods of understanding all around the table. “We all know that T’ran did not like his father, he made that quite clear but none of us have ever been sure about Hallek. And if Hallek promised T’ran the entire Southern continent in exchange for help in subduing the North….”, he left it hanging there, trusting in the fellow riders to fill in the ending of the sentence.

“Excuse me F’shr”, R”kil cleared his throat, “If I could add something?”, the bronzerider nodded in agreement to the older rider. “Y’bal has it right. If we take away all our reasonings, all our excuses for T’ran’s absence we come up with one simple, single, undeniable fact that has neither cause nor effect”, he paused for a moment. “T’ran is not here. He is our Leader and he is not here. Would you have us turn to Hallek? The Lord Holder would be happy for us to do that. Would you have us turn to you? Untried, unblooded, with a gold not even able to fly? Who are we to turn too in T’ran’s absence?”, the older rider asked her, concern in his voice.

“It is best we follow F’shr’s lead for now and choose an open flight. If T’ran were to come back before the flight the matter could be revisited, he would still be our leader, but in his absence. I will agree with everything F’shr has to say. As should you Junior Weyrwoman. One day you might be Senior Weyrwoman but today you are still a weyrling. We have done you the courtesy of hearing you out, out of respect to your future position but do not try our patience”, his voice was like a father’s scolding his errant child and several riders nodded agreement with R’kil’s speech.

[sai]

Be'yard could feel the tension escalating in the air as the conversation continued, until, after F'shr spoke, it was almost palpably thick. Swiftly, he interceded in an effort to soothe the situation before the tension of it got to be too much for the young goldrider. The stress was likely to overload her poor, delicate heart, if he didn't. "Now, Miss Crescentia, you must understand," he added gently, turning to face her. "This meeting isn't to decide T'ran's fate. We all want to see him come home safe, with everyone he took, and, of course, we'll do something to see it happen. This whole meeting is happening at T'ran's behest - you heard what Y'bal said, didn't you? - and is only about makin' certain the Weyr's leadership is strong and ready to keep everything together, should the worst happen." Oh, dear. Didn't want her thinking too hard on that one. "Not, of course, that it will, but we'd be a poor representation of the Weyr if we didn't worry for that, now, wouldn't we, Miss Crescentia? Don't you fret on the matter too much. Now, please, you oughtn't be worrying yourself over these things. None of us believes T'ran is a traitor."

Be'yard was nothing like sure of that particular fact and, truth be told, didn't even really believe it, at the end of the day. Oh, he didn't think T'ran a traitor - he would never use such a word for the man - but he wasn't sure he wasn't a fool, either, and he couldn't honestly say he didn't know T'ran wouldn't say the wrong thing to the pretty face on the other side of the pillow. Besides, while he didn't believe T'ran a traitor, and he doubted Y'bal believed T'ran a traitor - perhaps a fool, as he did, but not a traitor - there was no doubt in his mind that F'shr would be happy to bill him as one. F'shr seemed patently bitter of the other man, and it rather bothered him how deeply that bitterness seemed to run.