Adventures
Who: Rilkie, Olwyn, Ephara, Yronica, Pharai, Tenli
What: While coming to take a gander at the eggs, Pharai and Yronica get Searched moments apart.
Where: Hatching Galleries, Telgar Weyr // Candidate Barracks, Telgar Weyr
Galleries, Telgar Weyr
Stretching along the eastern wall of the hatching cavern, these tiers of seats have enough room for several hundred spectators for clutchings and hatchings. To one side, long shallow steps descend to the entrance. There is also a railing separating the lowest tier of seats from the hatching sands themselves. Other parts of the galleries are closed off from the sands by a wall to the north and south. From here you can reenter the bowl, or follow the pathway down to the sands.
Ephara shifts, her eyes flicking nervously to the eggs. "Er, methinks insulting a broody gold is a bad idea." The girl shakes her head, looking down at her food and forming her thoughts around another mouthful of long beans. "Ah.." she finally replies, "I guess so.. at least.. I think so.. if nobody kicks me out, that is. I think Gr'din and Tenli both are waiting for any excuse." Her expression sours visibly.
Olwyn laughs. "Exactly. She was mostly amused by their ignorance, but had a bit of fun putting a scare into them." At the girl's admission, her brow furrows. "Why would Grae want to kick you out?" she asks, sounding very puzzled.
Ephara rubs her lips together thoughtfully. "He doesn't like me." She admits. "We got off on the wrong foot, you know. All I wanted to do was learn how to sort firestone. And then he went and told my aunt I was being disrespectful." Which is only the truth, but the young will see it their way. "Anyways." She sighs deeply. "Anyways, do you think we'll get to touch them soon? The eggs, I mean. I've never seen a dragon egg up close!"
Rilkie enters the galleries, the brownrider for once ambling at a leisurely pace, without the intensity or purpose that her gait usually has. Her first intention seems to be to take a seat off to one side at a nice vantage point to just look out towards the eggs, but she spots Ephara and Olwyn and goes to join them, instead. "Hello!" she calls, giving the two a wave.
Olwyn considers the candidate's words carefully, giving her a sharp look as she tried to read between the lines. "Hmmm," is all she says finally before moving on to the girl's question. "Perhaps. They need to be a bit harder yet and it will depend on how much I have to do," she explains. Once Rilkie appears, she waves back. "Howdy, wingleader," she tells the brownrider cheerfully.
Ephara offers excitedly, "Hi Rilkie!" she says, almost leaping up but remembering the laden plate on her lap. Instead she settles for waving to the brownrider. Her head swivels back to Olwyn, "How much you have to do? What do you mean? Do you have to do something special to the eggs to make them harden? I don't know much about this.." Her face is openly eager, as if begging for more knowledge.
"Howdy, goldrider!" Rilkie echoes back cheerfully, "And candidate." She listens to all the eager questions, grinning, but letting the other rider answer them. "Touching the eggs is worth the wait," she offers, by way of her own opinion. "Really exciting, just being up so close. And it gives you an idea of what the Hatching day'll actually be like."
Olwyn laughs and shakes her head. "No, it's nothing I have to do to the eggs. It's my duties as a weyrwoman. I have a lot to do. I go over all the reports turned in from the wings, I help the steward and headwoman with inventory, I have to take care of Aleith, that sort of thing. It takes up a lot of time." To Rilkie's words she nods. "At least as much of an idea as you can get before the actual Hatching. There's nothing that can truly prepare you for that other than doing it."
Ephara wrinkles her nose. "That sounds like an awful lot of work. Like everything my Ma does for our farm." she spears a few seasoned tuber wedges, nibbling on them. "So, um.. someone told me touching the eggs helps prevent maulings, but I don't know how. I've collected chicken eggs before, I touch them all the time, but the chickens still peck me when I get too close."
"A very rough idea," Rilkie agrees. "But it helps. Knowing at least a tiny bit of what to expect." She turns her head slightly in thought at the question about maulings. "Prevent maulings? Well-- I suppose it can help? I don't think I'd heard that, myself. People say different things about what touching the eggs does. I think it does let the dragonet inside know you're there, so maybe being familiar with you helps." She turns to look at Olwyn. "What do you think?"
Olwyn shakes her head. "I don't think that's it. I've had to read over some of the old records and it sounds like they used to not tell candidates anything. They would just shove them out onto the sands and so they didn't know what to do or expect and would get mauled. When we do egg touchings, it gives candidates a chance to see the eggs, get an idea of how big a dragonet will be, and become familiar with the sands so they can be more careful about getting out of the way. At least, that's what I've gathered. I was never mauled during three separate Hatchings," she concludes with a shrug.
Ephara considers their words, touching her chin thoughtfully. "That makes sense." She finally agrees. "I suppose dragons are more intelligent than chickens, anyways.. and chickens aren't telepathic." She concludes. She lifts her plate, setting it aside. "You're Stood three times?" Her tone is awed. "That seems like a long time to wait."
"And neither was I. Well, in the one Hatching, anyway." Rilkie grins. "Your reasoning makes a lot of sense, Olwyn. I guess I just like the idea of the dragonets inside being aware of us before the hatch. But that's a little romantic, isn't it? In any case-- just looking at them, you can tell that they're a bit different from chicken eggs. A lot prettier."
Olwyn smiles ruefully. "Yes, it was. I almost refused to Stand again when R'dur asked me to. I'm so glad I didn't, though," she says, turning a fond smile on her golden lifemate, who is busy moving another egg. "But fowl are a lot different than dragons. We're taking their eggs to eat and the mother is just trying to protect them. It's different in this case, because we're not trying to harm the eggs and the dragonets need to find their partners, and the dragons know this."
Yronica has no basket, no lost people in tow, and no excuse. She comes into the hatching cavern just to see what's here to see, slowing her pace so she can take the stairs and move between the chairs safely with her attention on the sands instead of her feet. She moves slowly through the galleries, distractable until voices break her concentration. She looks at the sources of those voices a moment, dubious-looking, then heads toward them anyway. "Hey," she offers up with a wave directed more or less to Ephara. "Ma'am" suffices for the other two, with a smile.
"Some chicken eggs are quite pretty. Like turquoise blue or rusty brown, or spotty. But definitely not as interesting as the mottled dragon eggs.." concedes Ephara finally. "Gosh, I don't know if I could be cooped up in the Weyr all that time. But I guess it's good for.. for.. Al.. Aleith.." she stumbles over the name, grimacing apologetically. "Er, good for your dragon that you were there. What happens when you aren't on the Sands, though? Do they just.. Impress to someone else?" Yronica awards an impish grin from the girl, "Hey there, Yronica. Come to see the eggies?" her voice drops into a less formal drawl when she addresses the girl.
"In between hatchings, I wasn't cooped up. I wasn't a candidate anymore, so I could do what I liked as long as I got my duties done. I actually was at Fort initially, but I was born here at Telgar and decided to come back after I Stood unsuccessfully twice," Olwyn explains. Then, at Ephara's other question, her face drains of color. "I'd rather not talk about that possibility," she says shortly. At the entrance of yet more people, Aleith stops in her rearranging of the eggs to examine each one. When the person appearing is Yronica, the gold dragon lets out an unhappy bass rumble. Olwyn whirls on the girl. "You!" she exclaims. "How dare you treat my dragon as if she's stupid?"
Pharai enters the galleries at an even pace, her gaze skimming over the seats as she takes note of the various people gathered around to look at the eggs. She quickly sidesteps out of the way as a man bustles past in the direction of one of the front rows. She looks over in the direction of the sands only to find her vision blocked by a few tall people sitting in the back rows. Pharai then swivels her head to the side and eyes a few possible rows that could afford her a better view, the expression on her face being one of curiosity. With her decision made she begins to make her way down towards one of the rows where a small group of people have gathered. Taking a seat close to them she nods a polite greeting, "Good afternoon. I had heard there were eggs here and not having had a chance to see them often before I decided to come take a look." She explains, at last turning her gaze upon the eggs with an expression of interest. She crosses her arms close to her sides and leans forward, the eggs obviously having caught her eye.
Yronica lifts her chin, rewarding Ephara's impish grin with an open, guileless beam of her own. "Yes," she begins, and there'd no doubt be more, but Olwyn's whirling-about catches the girl reasonably by surprise and she's backing up a step instead. "Your," she says, then catches on with a blink and -- puts the guileless beam right back on. "Oh, ma'am. No. I didn't mean to suggest such a thing." She tones down the smiling just enough that she can see out of her happy little eyes, keeping them wide and harmless. "Just because I couldn't understand what she was up to doesn't mean anything, I'm sure. -- and I'm sorry about the hearing, but I didn't know they have proper ears at all!" She glances down at Aleith, like she's looking for ears, then back at the weyrwoman, who gets a gameless shrug.
Tenli makes her creaking way into the galleries just in time to hear Olwyn's exclamation. Her eyebrows raise in surprise, then narrow in a frown as she spots Ephara by the goldrider. "Overgrown firelizards indeed," she humphs to herself, then moves up to one of the higher rows before settling her ancient bones down, content to watch for the moment. Up above, her green dragon takes a spot on a ledge, her eyes bright blue as she watches the scene below with interest.
Rilkie waves to the newly arriving the impromptu gathering in the galleries, about to voice a cheerful "Hello!" to Yronica when Olwyn's sudden whirl towards her makes her simply close her mouth, silent. From above, a brown dragon swoops down and lands on a ledge, bugling his regards to the gold dragon and her eggs and the also-arriving green. Rilkie listens to Yronica's explanation, and her eyes gloss slightly at a conference between her and her lifemate, getting the full story.
Ephara glances curiously at Yronica, surprised that she is the one to insult Aleith. Shifting uncomfortably, she licks her lips, reaching for her plate and putting it in her lap to resume stabbing foot to put into her mouth. Mouth too full to get her in trouble, she watches the happenings curiously. Suddenly the cavern is full of people, including Tenli, who's already made her dislike of the girl clearly known. Hey, she's behaving today! Finally she finishes chewing and asks Rilkie as if nothing is going on, "So, you said you'd stood once before? I didn't know the Weyrs could take Candidates from other weyrs as well. So did you stand first at Telgar or somewhere else before you Impressed here?" Yep, best to just ignore it.
When Yronica moves back a step, Olwyn advances with her, looming despite their nearly equal heights. "You never, ever act as if a dragon can't hear and understand. They can understand everything you say," she exclaims, shaking a finger in Yronica's face. "And you especially are to never question my queen's intelligence! She's smarter than you are. I don't want you this close. Go back there," she hisses, pointing to the back of the galleries where Tenli and the tall men lurk.
Pharai settles back in her seat and looks at the eggs, although she can't help but overhear some of the conversation going on next to her. She looks over at Yronica with an expression of mild puzzlement, "You'd speak ill of a gold dragon?" She asks with a hint of surprise to her voice. Maybe is isn't her business but she can't but be curious about someone who would dare to speak ill of a gold. Her gaze then settles upon Jr. Weyrwoman Olwyn, knowing she's better be making some more formal greetings. She nods politely to the Jr. Weyrwoman, "Good afternoon Jr. Weyrwoman. Do you know how long ago these eggs were clutched? I just recently arrived so I'm behind on the news." She asks, both because she's curious and the fact that she doesn't want to situation to turn sour. Her hands tighten on the wood as she observes the situation in hopes that things don't turn out too badly. She then glances at the others and gives a friendly smile to those arriving, a polite nod given in greeting but nothing else said as of yet.
Yronica jerks up her chin, less smiling by the beat. "It was never a question of understanding. I'm sorry my ignorance caused her hurt feelings." She pulls in her mouth, tucking her hands into the folds of her skirts, brows drooped. Cheerless, for once, she tacks on in a raw low voice, "And you, too, ma'am." Obedience kicks in thereafter, and the wild-haired girl puts her back to the weyrwoman so as to ascend the stairs toward the back of the galleries.
Tenli raises her eyebrows again when the angry goldrider's attention briefly turns towards her, then she turns her gaze to follow Yronica's progression. She glances at the hulking men in the row behind her, then gingerly moves a bit farther in to give the girl someone to sit as far from the junior weyrwoman as possible.
Rilkie's mouth drops, slightly agape, at Olwyn's response at first, but quickly closes it again, surprised at but understanding the goldrider's actions. She watches as Yronica heads towards the back of the galleries, then turns once more towards those immediately near her. "Welcome to Telgar, then!" She says brightly, to Pharai, though her cheerfulness seems just a bit forced given what just happened. Easy enough to focus on something else for the moment.
Ephara chews on her lower lip, flinching a little at Olwyn's vengence. "Er, weyrwoman Olwyn.." she whines, lifting her hands and glancing at Aleith, then back at her rider, as if she expects the woman to start breathing flames like a dragon in Threadfall. Looking around, she deposits her plate in the seat beside her and grabs the mug and pitcher, pouring the juice out and offering it up helpfully to the irate woman, "Ah, maybe something to drink?" She looks altogether too nervous about the woman's yelling. "Er, mayhaps on second thought.. I'd better get back to my chores.." she attempts to press the mug into Olwyn's hand. If the woman doesn't take it, the girl takes it with her along with her nearly empty plate. "I'll see y'all later!" And then she's hurrying out of the Stands.
Olwyn, her attention taken up by glaring at Yronica's retreating back, instinctively grabs the mug when Ephara pushes it into her hand. Before the weyrwoman has regained her temper a bit, the young girl is gone, no chance for thanks or threats or whatever else the upset woman might come up with. "The queen is mine, so I know exactly when she laid the clutch," she says coolly in response to Pharai's question. "It's been nearly a month now."
Yronica, too, glances at the hulking men in the backmost row. She scans the seats around them, scans their faces and their expressions, then looks down at her feet. For a moment she holds that pose, but it's only a second and she picks up her head, clears her lungs with a little hemhaw cough, and -- noting the space opened up beside Tenli -- moves into the row to sit down. "Hello, ma'am," she says to her new neighbor, cheerful as could be expected.
Pharai studies Yronica with a critical gaze from a distance as if studying not just what she is saying but her behavior in general. To the Trader it is an anomaly, a puzzle to solve for nothing more than to satisfy her curiosity as to why somebody would act such a way. As a person who has always been by the book it is hard for her to understand why someone would say such things about a gold. She opens her mouth to say something before realizing the question may just make the situation worse. She closes her mouth and remains silent for a moment, tilting her head to the side to observe what is going on next to her. Besides, it really is something she knows nothing about. She leaves the subject to drop and then smiles at Rilkie, "Thank you very much. I'm Trader Pharai by the way. May I ask who you are?" She inquires of the brownrider. She inwardly winces at the coolness of the Jr. Weyrwoman's tone, knowing it may have not been the best time to ask. She gives a quick nod, "Thank you. She truly is beautiful gold, the clutch is quite impressive." She compliments before falling silent, too wary to say anything more.
The old greenrider looks Yronica over curiously. "Hello, girlie. I see you've been on the receiving end of a brooding queen's wrath," she says, glancing down at the glowering gold dragon and her rider. "Learned your lesson, I hope?"
"That dragons have ears, ma'am, and brains. I really did assume the latter already," provides Yronica with a shake of her head. But her smile's coming back to her, and meekness in its wake burns away. She glances over at the greenrider and asks, "If the dragon's so upset, why is it the rider that brings down the word? The queen could have buried us in the sand on the spot if she pleased, if she were so upset." A pause, and her grin becomes almost unbearably bright, mad match to her raw alto voice. "And why does everyone call me 'girlie?'"
Rilkie smiles back at Pharai with a touch of relief in her expression, the tense moment between Olwyn and Yronica having passed. "Nice to meet you, Pharai. I'm Rilkie, brown Ancaith's. That's him." A vague gesture in the direction where her lifemate perches on a ledge. "How have you found the Weyr so far?" She waves in the direction of the suddenly-disappearing Ephara, then glances over to Olwyn, trying to look reassuring.
Tenli chuckles. "Have others been calling you girlie? I must be rubbing off on some people." Then she pauses and shrugs. "I can't rightly say, as Aleith is not my mindmate, but she's a generally good natured queen and I imagine she thought it was in bad form to squish some offenders in front of her eggs. And much as a queen is protective of her eggs, many of us riders are very protective of our dragons." Her expression sours for a moment. "That candidate that just rushed out thinks they're nothing more than overgrown firelizards. I'm watching her for any misstep and R'dur is going to get an earful if he lets such a disrespectful scamp get away with anything."
At Pharai's flattery and Rilkie's desperate attempts to change the subject, Olwyn starts to calm down. Sending one more dirty look in Yronica's direction, she turns her back on the girl and takes a long, soothing drink of the juice Ephara left her. Aleith's eyes have been blazing red, reflecting her rider's anger, but as Wyn settles down, so does the queen. "Thank you," she says finally. "She and they are very beautiful."
Tenli's words are met with nods and thoughtful quiet until Ephara becomes the topic to hand. "Well, she has, for one." With a glance the way the candidate just left, Yronica adds, "The one that just rushed out, Ephara. Is that what she said? Overgrown firelizards?" The wild-haired girl crosses her arms, leaning back in her chair to frown down at the queen. She tips her head as Aleith's eyes calm, and glances at Olwyn, as if trying to draw the connections based on body language alone. "Well, I have yet to see a dragon dart into the kitchen, steal a chunk of meat, gulp it down and then try to play innocent with gravy all over its chin, so I'm going to go with them being a bit more than that."
Pharai relaxes her tense back posture as the moment of tension in the area seems to have gone. She watches Yronica and Tenli for a moment but is a bit too far to hear much. She looks over to Rilkie with a broad smile, "Well met then Brownrider Rilkie. To be honest it's a lot different from what I'm used to seeing. But then again most of my time is either spent on the road or at Holds. It's not often I've been to a Weyr. So far I like what I've seen of it though as the people here are very friendly and the Weyr is well organized. I'm here visiting an Uncle who settled down here. I haven't seen him in turns. He got tired of all the traveling and decided to finally settle down somewhere and here was the place he chose. I can't really blame him either." She informs Rilkie before looking up at Ancaith and then back to Rilkie, "So how long have you had him?" She inquires in a curious tone, eager to learn anything more. At the thanks she nods politely to the Jr. Weyrwoman, "You're welcome. Though really it's nothing more than the truth." She remarks, shifting in her seat as she glances to the gold. One can't help but be a bit nervous looking at the blazing red eyes before the gold settles down.
Tenli's brow furrows again. "Yes, it was her. That brat could use more of me rubbing off on her. You're entirely right. Firelizards have their place, but dragons are much, much more. I had one years ago and it's nothing like having a dragon," she concludes. "So, what else do you know about dragons?" she asks conversationally, glancing over at the girl.
"Oh, it's been turns now," Rilkie says vaguely, "But it seems like it's been forever, sometimes. Easy to forget that I didn't always have him around." Her voice takes on a lower, loving tone as she speaks of her dragon. "And yes, the Weyr does take a bit of getting used to, doesn't it? Seems to be what everyone says when they come visit." From his ledge, Ancaith bugles down to Aleith. Perhaps it's meant to be a soothing sound, but it just comes out a bit gruff and abrupt.
Yronica's posture improves while Tenli's words amount to agreeing with her own perspective on dragons vs. firelizards, but she slouches when there's a question lobbed her way. "Not much," she admits quietly, her full cheeks refusing to let her smile be as rueful as her voice. "I mean, they're inherently heroic. They fight Thread fearlessly, breathing fire, carrying riders into battle and safely home again. Golds and bronzes give orders, but any rider can give orders according to rank, and queens have clutches. But it doesn't seem like much. I mean, apparently they have _ears._" She lifts a hand to push back the wild mess of her mane, tucking it behind her shoulders so she can better eye Tenli sidelong.
Olwyn still looks distant and continues to sip at her mug. Abruptly, she sets it down on a bench and gathers up the hides she abandoned there. "I have things to do. No one else better be insulting Aleith," she says, shooting another suspicious look Yronica's way. She manages to raise her hand politely in farewell, and with that, she stomps off.
Tenli listens to the girl thoughtfully. "They don't have ears the way we do, but they certainly can hear," she notes absently, then gives Yronica a searching look. "What is it that you do here, anyway?" she asks in a sudden change of subject.
Pharai glances towards Yronica and Tenli once more but finds little interest in any conversation about the earlier incident which is best forgotten. She taps her fingers on the wood of the seat next to her, a bit of an annoying habit she tends to have when she's thinking. Rilkie's reply shakes her out of her thoughts and she looks up sharply before smiling, "I can certainly imagine. We Traders are very grateful to have dragons around as there's been more than a few times we've had to move quickly due to these unexpected threadfalls." She mutters under her breath, sounding miffed about the threadfall. At the comment about it taking some getting used to she grins, "Indeed it does. Well you can't blame those who don't get to see them often. It can be a bit overwhelming. If it wasn't for a few hatchings I've watched I'd have no experience at all. I guess it's hard to see it in that perspective if you've spent a lot of time at a Weyr. A lot tend to look at them with a touch of awe and admiration." She comments in a thoughtful tone of voice. At the bugle she looks up at Ancaith and smiles, her gaze eventually drifting back down to the eggs. She glances to the side as the Jr. Weyrwoman leaves and remains quiet with a contemplative look for a moment.
"Well, they have hear-ers, then," affords Yronica in a light tone. She straightens again, hands smoothing her skirts like she might soon be up and on her way. But the greenrider's question gives her pause and she twists in her seat to face Tenli. "I carry laundry to and fro, and sometimes food to the infirmary." She fidgets with the beads at the lowest point of the strands of them that hang from her neck. "Why? May I get you something, ma'am?"
"They won't, Olwyn," Rilkie says in way of farewell, a wave to the goldrider as she departs. Back to Pharai, "Oh, I always try and imagine what it's like for someone not from the Weyr. Kind of hard for me to do. I've never lived outside of one." Her gaze drifts up towards Ancaith, thoughtful, and he bugles softly back to her. "Can't imagine what it's like to be a trader. Do you have lots of adventures? I always thought that traders must. Going so many places."
Tenli considers the girl's words, nodding a bit and hmmming to herself. "Necessary, but not terribly critical, and something you can keep doing. How would you like a chance at learning more about dragons?" the old greenrider says finally.
Pharai turns her gaze to when the Jr. Weyrwoman once was and then nods in agreement, "I know I certainly won't. To speak ill of a gold is unthinkable, at least it is among my Caravan." She mutters softly before turning to look back at Rilkie, "Yes that's true, you can imagine all you like but its hard really. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to be a dragonrider. It's just one of those things you can't really know unless you experience it yourself." She remarks in a contemplative tone. At the question she smiles and nods, "Oh I've certainly had my share of adventures, you get to see all sorts of different places as a Trader. But it's also dangerous and even more so with the unpredictable threadfall. Often times we have to travel rough roads and a few times we've got caught in storms. One time I had to stay behind because one of the runners pulling my parent's wagon went lame when he stuck his hoof is a tunnelsnake whole." She informs the brownrider.
Obviously Yronica doesn't quite comprehend. "Oh, even if it's not necessary or critical, ma'am, I'd be happy to get you whatever." The sentence might have had more to it, but she clips it there, reining in her mouth since it's gotten a bit ahead of her ears. She tips her head, like by putting one of those ears closer to the greenrider she might understand better, even though the words are already said. "I, uh. Sure? Do you offer lessons, ma'am? Or, um, do you mean I should be back in harper lessons? It wouldn't be the first time I'd heard -- " Mouth ahead again, the wild-haired girl reins it in hard and presses her lips thin.
Tenli chuckles hoarsely. "There may be harper's lessons in your future, girl, but first you have to tell me whether or not you're willing to stand for Sareith and Aleith's clutch when they hatch," she wheezes after a minute.
"Adventures, indeed," Rilkie says, nodding as she listens to the stories. "Well, how'd you like to have another one? Something a bit different? That might give you an idea of what it'd be like to be a dragonrider? A /very/ good idea, perhaps." Her expression flickers mischievously, and a sound like draconic laughter comes from Ancaith. "How would you like to stand for Sareith and Aleith's clutch?"
"Stand," repeats Yronica, and for once keeps her monologue internal. Just for a moment, just long enough to furrow her brow and widen her eyes and give the concept enough thought to be quite sure of what's been said. When she does speak, it's low, her voice raw and wary. "I -- do I really have a choice, ma'am? With Thread falling, and all. I'm obliged, if you wish it, aren't I?"
Tenli chuckles again. "There's always a choice, child. I must say I was more afraid you wouldn't want to after the chewing out you got from the weyrwoman, but Iridith insisted I ask, so there you have it. Yes or not?"
"I, I. No, it's fine. She's the weyrwoman, and I must have really hurt her feelings -- " Yronica puts a stop to the prattle again and has another obvious think, her consternation clear in the lines of her young, too-full face. "Is it terribly dirty, ma'am? Being a rider. I know candidacy is pretty bad. But it's temporary, right? What about after that?"
Pharai has fallen silent to reflect on some past memories when voices some distance off catch her attention. Her eyes widen as she looks over in the direction of Tenli and Yronico. She shakes her head for a moment as if to clear it before glancing over at them, was that girl just searched? She finds it hard to believe after she had just acted. No sooner has she heard them when she hears a similar question....only this time it is directed at her. She looks to Rilkie with an expression of wide-eyed surprise, "Me?" She asks, the word coming out more like a squeek. Her face pales and she leans back and tries to think, her expression now once of shock. Her hands clench into fists and unclench as she tries to think, "Well I am always one for adventure. And I think this would be an adventure of a lifetime. I'd....I'd be honor to stand for this clutch." She replies with a shy smile, hardly believing her luck.
"Candidacy isn't always bad. It depends on what chores you get assigned. As for afterwards, it depends on whether you Impressed or not," Tenli explains. "If you don't, you can go back to what you're doing, and if you do, it depends. Some of it's messy, particularly at first when dragons are babies, but you also stay very clean because of all the washing they expect to get."
Rilkie beams, and from the ledge, Ancaith's response is an enthusiastic trumpet. "Oh, wonderful! You do know the risks-- I mean, if you Impress, you'll be fighting Thread. It's a big decision-- don't rush into it if you're not sure. But it seems like you are. And Ancaith seems pretty keen on you Standing."
The wild-haired girl turns her head, letting her hair fall as a mop of a curtain between herself and the greenrider, looking down on the eggs on the sand. "So I could clean up right and -- my father wouldn't have to know, if he visited." Yronica's tongue appears between her lips, then slips back in, leaving her pursed mouth damp as if her mouth's suddenly going dry. The thinking takes time, no matter how fast and frantic it's done, but it's only a moment more before she turns back to Tenli. She tosses her head just enough to get her hair out of the way. "On your recommendation, ma'am. Yes."
Pharai forces herself to take a few deep breaths and composure herself in order to get over the initial shock before looking up at Ancaith, "Is he...positive about this?" She asks tentatively, and for one of the first times in her life her voice is wavery. She leans forward and braces her hands on the seat to either side of her, her arms resting on her lap as she gives a broad smile, "To be a dragonrider....I never really considered the possibility. I thought I might continue on to start my own Caravan one day or become a Bakercrafter...but a dragonrider? There are very few people in my family have been searched. I'm more than aware of the dangers. The life of a Trader is almost as dangerous. My brother was killed in some foolish accident several turns back, because a wagon rolled over him. I'm prepared to face the danger should I impress." She informs Rilkie in a more serious tone before looking up at Ancaith and smiling, "Can you please tell him thank you for giving me this chance?" She asks, her face positively beaming with joy.
Tenli frowns again at Yronica's strange response. "You're in the Weyr now, child, and you're a candidate. If anyone gives you any trouble of any sort, you go straight to a rider, you hear me?" she says firmly, not prying, but trying to get the message of safety across.
"Of course! A dragon doesn't choose someone if they're not sure. And they have a knack for knowing," Rilkie reassures. "And he says you're very welcome. Now, I think I'm to show you to the barracks, were you can stay until the Hatching-- I guess you have all your things with you, if you're a trader? You don't need a lift anywhere, to gather any of your belongings?"
"Oh, it's not like that, ma'am," Yronica assures Tenli, suddenly all smiles, and somewhat blushing ones at that. "He just -- doesn't want me doing dirty work. He'd be ashamed." She straightens her shoulders and lifts her chin, as if being told she's the Weyr's candidate in the way the greenrider's put it does have some effect bearing on pride. "Oh, but I will need to write him. Um. I caught Iridith's, but might I ask your name, ma'am? I'm Yronica. And thank you."
"He should be proud to have you be either a candidate or a dragonrider, no matter what sort of work it entails," Tenli grates. "Would you believe this is the second time in as many days I've forgotten to introduce myself? I must be getting old. I'm Tenli, greenrider. And don't thank me, thank her," she says, pointing up to the ledge that holds the green.
Pharai gives a sigh of relief and smiles, "Thank you. I wasn't doubting him, I just wasn't so sure of myself. It's not something that happens every day." She remarks in an amused tone before nodding, "Certainly I'd love to see the barracks. I'm not really sure what happens from here to be truthful. I know a lot about Holds and traveling but little about Weyrs." She admits, feeling a bit foolish for not having a lot of experience with Weyrs. She then gives a quick nods, "Yes I have everything with me. I tend to travel lightly." She explains.
"Well, I forgot myself, ma'am, it's no trouble." After which, Yronica tips back her head to look up the way of the greenrider's point, grinning quite thoroughly now, so much so that her fat cheeks just about swallow her tiny eyes. "She didn't mind my, um, boo-boo about the queen, then?"
"Well, follow me! And I can try and fill you in on everything you need to know," Rilkie says, rising and gesturing to Pharai as she leads the way.
Candidate Barracks, Telgar Weyr
This cavern has a rather low ceiling, with many openings for air, since this becomes an abode for a large number of people before every hatching. Every inch of the floor is kept clean, although little of it can be seen due to the many rows of cots that fill most of the space. The central part of the cavern is rather dim, as most of the glows are on the walls. Little decoration is evidenced except for a few personal effects. You wouldn't call it uncomfortable unless the unusually low ceiling for a weyr makes you claustrophobic. On the wall, scrupulously maintained, is a list of Candidates and their assigned chores for the day. Tampering with it is rumored to be an offense punishable by death or latrine duty for the rest of one's life.
Finally, Rilkie leads the way into the barracks themselves, after having shown the new Candidate the way across half the Weyr. "And here it is-- your new home sweet home! You can choose whatever cot you'd like that isn't already taken. You'll have chores, of course, now-- those'll be posted. And, I guess you haven't heard the 'rules' yet, if you haven't been at the Weyr for too long?"
Pharai enters the candidate barracks slowly, looking around with a critical expression as she observes her surroundings. She takes note of the cots lined up in rows for a moment before turning to Rilkie and grinning, "That's fine I'm used to chores. I've had to do them most of my life." She admits before shaking her head about the rules, "No I'm afraid I'm not familiar with them."
"Well, I think even if you did, I'd have to tell you again. Candidates aren't allowed anything that could jeopardize them Standing-- so that means no drinking, or sex, or fighting," Rilkie explains. "I know, it sounds strict. Never bothered me much, but I know it bothered some people. Anyway, R'dur is the Candidate Coordinator, so he's in charge of all you Candidates. Have you met him? If not, I'm sure you will soon."
Pharai smiles at that and nods, "That's only reasonable as far as I'm concerned. To be honest I've never drank as I know that can really mess some people up. And you really need your wits about you when you're on the road. As for sex..." She pauses after saying the word with some measure of distaste in her voice, "Don't need to worry about that either as I haven't had time to get involved with anyone and that's not about to change. I've never been one for fighting either. So I think I should be okay." She remarks in an amused tone before shaking her head, "No I'm not...but since he is in charge then I look forward to meeting him. What's he like?" She inquires.
"This sounds a lot like my life at the Weyr so far anyway," observes Yronica peaceably enough, while keeping pace with the older woman. "Only until now none of it's been so directly enumerated." She ducks her head a little as they move through the caverns and tunnels, finally emerging at the barracks; there, the wild-haired girl straightens, almost bristling so wary she's suddenly become. "Will the assistant headwomen be assigning my duties still?"
"R'dur is... R'dur," is all Rilkie has to say. "You'll see when you meet him. Anyway, I should be going-- my quick break to see the eggs turned into a much longer one than I anticipated." She grins, though, obviously not minding all that much. "Congratulations again, Pharai!" And with that, the brownrider departs, with a nod to Yronica and Tenli as she passes the arriving on her way out.
What: While coming to take a gander at the eggs, Pharai and Yronica get Searched moments apart.
Where: Hatching Galleries, Telgar Weyr // Candidate Barracks, Telgar Weyr
Galleries, Telgar Weyr
Stretching along the eastern wall of the hatching cavern, these tiers of seats have enough room for several hundred spectators for clutchings and hatchings. To one side, long shallow steps descend to the entrance. There is also a railing separating the lowest tier of seats from the hatching sands themselves. Other parts of the galleries are closed off from the sands by a wall to the north and south. From here you can reenter the bowl, or follow the pathway down to the sands.
Ephara shifts, her eyes flicking nervously to the eggs. "Er, methinks insulting a broody gold is a bad idea." The girl shakes her head, looking down at her food and forming her thoughts around another mouthful of long beans. "Ah.." she finally replies, "I guess so.. at least.. I think so.. if nobody kicks me out, that is. I think Gr'din and Tenli both are waiting for any excuse." Her expression sours visibly.
Olwyn laughs. "Exactly. She was mostly amused by their ignorance, but had a bit of fun putting a scare into them." At the girl's admission, her brow furrows. "Why would Grae want to kick you out?" she asks, sounding very puzzled.
Ephara rubs her lips together thoughtfully. "He doesn't like me." She admits. "We got off on the wrong foot, you know. All I wanted to do was learn how to sort firestone. And then he went and told my aunt I was being disrespectful." Which is only the truth, but the young will see it their way. "Anyways." She sighs deeply. "Anyways, do you think we'll get to touch them soon? The eggs, I mean. I've never seen a dragon egg up close!"
Rilkie enters the galleries, the brownrider for once ambling at a leisurely pace, without the intensity or purpose that her gait usually has. Her first intention seems to be to take a seat off to one side at a nice vantage point to just look out towards the eggs, but she spots Ephara and Olwyn and goes to join them, instead. "Hello!" she calls, giving the two a wave.
Olwyn considers the candidate's words carefully, giving her a sharp look as she tried to read between the lines. "Hmmm," is all she says finally before moving on to the girl's question. "Perhaps. They need to be a bit harder yet and it will depend on how much I have to do," she explains. Once Rilkie appears, she waves back. "Howdy, wingleader," she tells the brownrider cheerfully.
Ephara offers excitedly, "Hi Rilkie!" she says, almost leaping up but remembering the laden plate on her lap. Instead she settles for waving to the brownrider. Her head swivels back to Olwyn, "How much you have to do? What do you mean? Do you have to do something special to the eggs to make them harden? I don't know much about this.." Her face is openly eager, as if begging for more knowledge.
"Howdy, goldrider!" Rilkie echoes back cheerfully, "And candidate." She listens to all the eager questions, grinning, but letting the other rider answer them. "Touching the eggs is worth the wait," she offers, by way of her own opinion. "Really exciting, just being up so close. And it gives you an idea of what the Hatching day'll actually be like."
Olwyn laughs and shakes her head. "No, it's nothing I have to do to the eggs. It's my duties as a weyrwoman. I have a lot to do. I go over all the reports turned in from the wings, I help the steward and headwoman with inventory, I have to take care of Aleith, that sort of thing. It takes up a lot of time." To Rilkie's words she nods. "At least as much of an idea as you can get before the actual Hatching. There's nothing that can truly prepare you for that other than doing it."
Ephara wrinkles her nose. "That sounds like an awful lot of work. Like everything my Ma does for our farm." she spears a few seasoned tuber wedges, nibbling on them. "So, um.. someone told me touching the eggs helps prevent maulings, but I don't know how. I've collected chicken eggs before, I touch them all the time, but the chickens still peck me when I get too close."
"A very rough idea," Rilkie agrees. "But it helps. Knowing at least a tiny bit of what to expect." She turns her head slightly in thought at the question about maulings. "Prevent maulings? Well-- I suppose it can help? I don't think I'd heard that, myself. People say different things about what touching the eggs does. I think it does let the dragonet inside know you're there, so maybe being familiar with you helps." She turns to look at Olwyn. "What do you think?"
Olwyn shakes her head. "I don't think that's it. I've had to read over some of the old records and it sounds like they used to not tell candidates anything. They would just shove them out onto the sands and so they didn't know what to do or expect and would get mauled. When we do egg touchings, it gives candidates a chance to see the eggs, get an idea of how big a dragonet will be, and become familiar with the sands so they can be more careful about getting out of the way. At least, that's what I've gathered. I was never mauled during three separate Hatchings," she concludes with a shrug.
Ephara considers their words, touching her chin thoughtfully. "That makes sense." She finally agrees. "I suppose dragons are more intelligent than chickens, anyways.. and chickens aren't telepathic." She concludes. She lifts her plate, setting it aside. "You're Stood three times?" Her tone is awed. "That seems like a long time to wait."
"And neither was I. Well, in the one Hatching, anyway." Rilkie grins. "Your reasoning makes a lot of sense, Olwyn. I guess I just like the idea of the dragonets inside being aware of us before the hatch. But that's a little romantic, isn't it? In any case-- just looking at them, you can tell that they're a bit different from chicken eggs. A lot prettier."
Olwyn smiles ruefully. "Yes, it was. I almost refused to Stand again when R'dur asked me to. I'm so glad I didn't, though," she says, turning a fond smile on her golden lifemate, who is busy moving another egg. "But fowl are a lot different than dragons. We're taking their eggs to eat and the mother is just trying to protect them. It's different in this case, because we're not trying to harm the eggs and the dragonets need to find their partners, and the dragons know this."
Yronica has no basket, no lost people in tow, and no excuse. She comes into the hatching cavern just to see what's here to see, slowing her pace so she can take the stairs and move between the chairs safely with her attention on the sands instead of her feet. She moves slowly through the galleries, distractable until voices break her concentration. She looks at the sources of those voices a moment, dubious-looking, then heads toward them anyway. "Hey," she offers up with a wave directed more or less to Ephara. "Ma'am" suffices for the other two, with a smile.
"Some chicken eggs are quite pretty. Like turquoise blue or rusty brown, or spotty. But definitely not as interesting as the mottled dragon eggs.." concedes Ephara finally. "Gosh, I don't know if I could be cooped up in the Weyr all that time. But I guess it's good for.. for.. Al.. Aleith.." she stumbles over the name, grimacing apologetically. "Er, good for your dragon that you were there. What happens when you aren't on the Sands, though? Do they just.. Impress to someone else?" Yronica awards an impish grin from the girl, "Hey there, Yronica. Come to see the eggies?" her voice drops into a less formal drawl when she addresses the girl.
"In between hatchings, I wasn't cooped up. I wasn't a candidate anymore, so I could do what I liked as long as I got my duties done. I actually was at Fort initially, but I was born here at Telgar and decided to come back after I Stood unsuccessfully twice," Olwyn explains. Then, at Ephara's other question, her face drains of color. "I'd rather not talk about that possibility," she says shortly. At the entrance of yet more people, Aleith stops in her rearranging of the eggs to examine each one. When the person appearing is Yronica, the gold dragon lets out an unhappy bass rumble. Olwyn whirls on the girl. "You!" she exclaims. "How dare you treat my dragon as if she's stupid?"
Pharai enters the galleries at an even pace, her gaze skimming over the seats as she takes note of the various people gathered around to look at the eggs. She quickly sidesteps out of the way as a man bustles past in the direction of one of the front rows. She looks over in the direction of the sands only to find her vision blocked by a few tall people sitting in the back rows. Pharai then swivels her head to the side and eyes a few possible rows that could afford her a better view, the expression on her face being one of curiosity. With her decision made she begins to make her way down towards one of the rows where a small group of people have gathered. Taking a seat close to them she nods a polite greeting, "Good afternoon. I had heard there were eggs here and not having had a chance to see them often before I decided to come take a look." She explains, at last turning her gaze upon the eggs with an expression of interest. She crosses her arms close to her sides and leans forward, the eggs obviously having caught her eye.
Yronica lifts her chin, rewarding Ephara's impish grin with an open, guileless beam of her own. "Yes," she begins, and there'd no doubt be more, but Olwyn's whirling-about catches the girl reasonably by surprise and she's backing up a step instead. "Your," she says, then catches on with a blink and -- puts the guileless beam right back on. "Oh, ma'am. No. I didn't mean to suggest such a thing." She tones down the smiling just enough that she can see out of her happy little eyes, keeping them wide and harmless. "Just because I couldn't understand what she was up to doesn't mean anything, I'm sure. -- and I'm sorry about the hearing, but I didn't know they have proper ears at all!" She glances down at Aleith, like she's looking for ears, then back at the weyrwoman, who gets a gameless shrug.
Tenli makes her creaking way into the galleries just in time to hear Olwyn's exclamation. Her eyebrows raise in surprise, then narrow in a frown as she spots Ephara by the goldrider. "Overgrown firelizards indeed," she humphs to herself, then moves up to one of the higher rows before settling her ancient bones down, content to watch for the moment. Up above, her green dragon takes a spot on a ledge, her eyes bright blue as she watches the scene below with interest.
Rilkie waves to the newly arriving the impromptu gathering in the galleries, about to voice a cheerful "Hello!" to Yronica when Olwyn's sudden whirl towards her makes her simply close her mouth, silent. From above, a brown dragon swoops down and lands on a ledge, bugling his regards to the gold dragon and her eggs and the also-arriving green. Rilkie listens to Yronica's explanation, and her eyes gloss slightly at a conference between her and her lifemate, getting the full story.
Ephara glances curiously at Yronica, surprised that she is the one to insult Aleith. Shifting uncomfortably, she licks her lips, reaching for her plate and putting it in her lap to resume stabbing foot to put into her mouth. Mouth too full to get her in trouble, she watches the happenings curiously. Suddenly the cavern is full of people, including Tenli, who's already made her dislike of the girl clearly known. Hey, she's behaving today! Finally she finishes chewing and asks Rilkie as if nothing is going on, "So, you said you'd stood once before? I didn't know the Weyrs could take Candidates from other weyrs as well. So did you stand first at Telgar or somewhere else before you Impressed here?" Yep, best to just ignore it.
When Yronica moves back a step, Olwyn advances with her, looming despite their nearly equal heights. "You never, ever act as if a dragon can't hear and understand. They can understand everything you say," she exclaims, shaking a finger in Yronica's face. "And you especially are to never question my queen's intelligence! She's smarter than you are. I don't want you this close. Go back there," she hisses, pointing to the back of the galleries where Tenli and the tall men lurk.
Pharai settles back in her seat and looks at the eggs, although she can't help but overhear some of the conversation going on next to her. She looks over at Yronica with an expression of mild puzzlement, "You'd speak ill of a gold dragon?" She asks with a hint of surprise to her voice. Maybe is isn't her business but she can't but be curious about someone who would dare to speak ill of a gold. Her gaze then settles upon Jr. Weyrwoman Olwyn, knowing she's better be making some more formal greetings. She nods politely to the Jr. Weyrwoman, "Good afternoon Jr. Weyrwoman. Do you know how long ago these eggs were clutched? I just recently arrived so I'm behind on the news." She asks, both because she's curious and the fact that she doesn't want to situation to turn sour. Her hands tighten on the wood as she observes the situation in hopes that things don't turn out too badly. She then glances at the others and gives a friendly smile to those arriving, a polite nod given in greeting but nothing else said as of yet.
Yronica jerks up her chin, less smiling by the beat. "It was never a question of understanding. I'm sorry my ignorance caused her hurt feelings." She pulls in her mouth, tucking her hands into the folds of her skirts, brows drooped. Cheerless, for once, she tacks on in a raw low voice, "And you, too, ma'am." Obedience kicks in thereafter, and the wild-haired girl puts her back to the weyrwoman so as to ascend the stairs toward the back of the galleries.
Tenli raises her eyebrows again when the angry goldrider's attention briefly turns towards her, then she turns her gaze to follow Yronica's progression. She glances at the hulking men in the row behind her, then gingerly moves a bit farther in to give the girl someone to sit as far from the junior weyrwoman as possible.
Rilkie's mouth drops, slightly agape, at Olwyn's response at first, but quickly closes it again, surprised at but understanding the goldrider's actions. She watches as Yronica heads towards the back of the galleries, then turns once more towards those immediately near her. "Welcome to Telgar, then!" She says brightly, to Pharai, though her cheerfulness seems just a bit forced given what just happened. Easy enough to focus on something else for the moment.
Ephara chews on her lower lip, flinching a little at Olwyn's vengence. "Er, weyrwoman Olwyn.." she whines, lifting her hands and glancing at Aleith, then back at her rider, as if she expects the woman to start breathing flames like a dragon in Threadfall. Looking around, she deposits her plate in the seat beside her and grabs the mug and pitcher, pouring the juice out and offering it up helpfully to the irate woman, "Ah, maybe something to drink?" She looks altogether too nervous about the woman's yelling. "Er, mayhaps on second thought.. I'd better get back to my chores.." she attempts to press the mug into Olwyn's hand. If the woman doesn't take it, the girl takes it with her along with her nearly empty plate. "I'll see y'all later!" And then she's hurrying out of the Stands.
Olwyn, her attention taken up by glaring at Yronica's retreating back, instinctively grabs the mug when Ephara pushes it into her hand. Before the weyrwoman has regained her temper a bit, the young girl is gone, no chance for thanks or threats or whatever else the upset woman might come up with. "The queen is mine, so I know exactly when she laid the clutch," she says coolly in response to Pharai's question. "It's been nearly a month now."
Yronica, too, glances at the hulking men in the backmost row. She scans the seats around them, scans their faces and their expressions, then looks down at her feet. For a moment she holds that pose, but it's only a second and she picks up her head, clears her lungs with a little hemhaw cough, and -- noting the space opened up beside Tenli -- moves into the row to sit down. "Hello, ma'am," she says to her new neighbor, cheerful as could be expected.
Pharai studies Yronica with a critical gaze from a distance as if studying not just what she is saying but her behavior in general. To the Trader it is an anomaly, a puzzle to solve for nothing more than to satisfy her curiosity as to why somebody would act such a way. As a person who has always been by the book it is hard for her to understand why someone would say such things about a gold. She opens her mouth to say something before realizing the question may just make the situation worse. She closes her mouth and remains silent for a moment, tilting her head to the side to observe what is going on next to her. Besides, it really is something she knows nothing about. She leaves the subject to drop and then smiles at Rilkie, "Thank you very much. I'm Trader Pharai by the way. May I ask who you are?" She inquires of the brownrider. She inwardly winces at the coolness of the Jr. Weyrwoman's tone, knowing it may have not been the best time to ask. She gives a quick nod, "Thank you. She truly is beautiful gold, the clutch is quite impressive." She compliments before falling silent, too wary to say anything more.
The old greenrider looks Yronica over curiously. "Hello, girlie. I see you've been on the receiving end of a brooding queen's wrath," she says, glancing down at the glowering gold dragon and her rider. "Learned your lesson, I hope?"
"That dragons have ears, ma'am, and brains. I really did assume the latter already," provides Yronica with a shake of her head. But her smile's coming back to her, and meekness in its wake burns away. She glances over at the greenrider and asks, "If the dragon's so upset, why is it the rider that brings down the word? The queen could have buried us in the sand on the spot if she pleased, if she were so upset." A pause, and her grin becomes almost unbearably bright, mad match to her raw alto voice. "And why does everyone call me 'girlie?'"
Rilkie smiles back at Pharai with a touch of relief in her expression, the tense moment between Olwyn and Yronica having passed. "Nice to meet you, Pharai. I'm Rilkie, brown Ancaith's. That's him." A vague gesture in the direction where her lifemate perches on a ledge. "How have you found the Weyr so far?" She waves in the direction of the suddenly-disappearing Ephara, then glances over to Olwyn, trying to look reassuring.
Tenli chuckles. "Have others been calling you girlie? I must be rubbing off on some people." Then she pauses and shrugs. "I can't rightly say, as Aleith is not my mindmate, but she's a generally good natured queen and I imagine she thought it was in bad form to squish some offenders in front of her eggs. And much as a queen is protective of her eggs, many of us riders are very protective of our dragons." Her expression sours for a moment. "That candidate that just rushed out thinks they're nothing more than overgrown firelizards. I'm watching her for any misstep and R'dur is going to get an earful if he lets such a disrespectful scamp get away with anything."
At Pharai's flattery and Rilkie's desperate attempts to change the subject, Olwyn starts to calm down. Sending one more dirty look in Yronica's direction, she turns her back on the girl and takes a long, soothing drink of the juice Ephara left her. Aleith's eyes have been blazing red, reflecting her rider's anger, but as Wyn settles down, so does the queen. "Thank you," she says finally. "She and they are very beautiful."
Tenli's words are met with nods and thoughtful quiet until Ephara becomes the topic to hand. "Well, she has, for one." With a glance the way the candidate just left, Yronica adds, "The one that just rushed out, Ephara. Is that what she said? Overgrown firelizards?" The wild-haired girl crosses her arms, leaning back in her chair to frown down at the queen. She tips her head as Aleith's eyes calm, and glances at Olwyn, as if trying to draw the connections based on body language alone. "Well, I have yet to see a dragon dart into the kitchen, steal a chunk of meat, gulp it down and then try to play innocent with gravy all over its chin, so I'm going to go with them being a bit more than that."
Pharai relaxes her tense back posture as the moment of tension in the area seems to have gone. She watches Yronica and Tenli for a moment but is a bit too far to hear much. She looks over to Rilkie with a broad smile, "Well met then Brownrider Rilkie. To be honest it's a lot different from what I'm used to seeing. But then again most of my time is either spent on the road or at Holds. It's not often I've been to a Weyr. So far I like what I've seen of it though as the people here are very friendly and the Weyr is well organized. I'm here visiting an Uncle who settled down here. I haven't seen him in turns. He got tired of all the traveling and decided to finally settle down somewhere and here was the place he chose. I can't really blame him either." She informs Rilkie before looking up at Ancaith and then back to Rilkie, "So how long have you had him?" She inquires in a curious tone, eager to learn anything more. At the thanks she nods politely to the Jr. Weyrwoman, "You're welcome. Though really it's nothing more than the truth." She remarks, shifting in her seat as she glances to the gold. One can't help but be a bit nervous looking at the blazing red eyes before the gold settles down.
Tenli's brow furrows again. "Yes, it was her. That brat could use more of me rubbing off on her. You're entirely right. Firelizards have their place, but dragons are much, much more. I had one years ago and it's nothing like having a dragon," she concludes. "So, what else do you know about dragons?" she asks conversationally, glancing over at the girl.
"Oh, it's been turns now," Rilkie says vaguely, "But it seems like it's been forever, sometimes. Easy to forget that I didn't always have him around." Her voice takes on a lower, loving tone as she speaks of her dragon. "And yes, the Weyr does take a bit of getting used to, doesn't it? Seems to be what everyone says when they come visit." From his ledge, Ancaith bugles down to Aleith. Perhaps it's meant to be a soothing sound, but it just comes out a bit gruff and abrupt.
Yronica's posture improves while Tenli's words amount to agreeing with her own perspective on dragons vs. firelizards, but she slouches when there's a question lobbed her way. "Not much," she admits quietly, her full cheeks refusing to let her smile be as rueful as her voice. "I mean, they're inherently heroic. They fight Thread fearlessly, breathing fire, carrying riders into battle and safely home again. Golds and bronzes give orders, but any rider can give orders according to rank, and queens have clutches. But it doesn't seem like much. I mean, apparently they have _ears._" She lifts a hand to push back the wild mess of her mane, tucking it behind her shoulders so she can better eye Tenli sidelong.
Olwyn still looks distant and continues to sip at her mug. Abruptly, she sets it down on a bench and gathers up the hides she abandoned there. "I have things to do. No one else better be insulting Aleith," she says, shooting another suspicious look Yronica's way. She manages to raise her hand politely in farewell, and with that, she stomps off.
Tenli listens to the girl thoughtfully. "They don't have ears the way we do, but they certainly can hear," she notes absently, then gives Yronica a searching look. "What is it that you do here, anyway?" she asks in a sudden change of subject.
Pharai glances towards Yronica and Tenli once more but finds little interest in any conversation about the earlier incident which is best forgotten. She taps her fingers on the wood of the seat next to her, a bit of an annoying habit she tends to have when she's thinking. Rilkie's reply shakes her out of her thoughts and she looks up sharply before smiling, "I can certainly imagine. We Traders are very grateful to have dragons around as there's been more than a few times we've had to move quickly due to these unexpected threadfalls." She mutters under her breath, sounding miffed about the threadfall. At the comment about it taking some getting used to she grins, "Indeed it does. Well you can't blame those who don't get to see them often. It can be a bit overwhelming. If it wasn't for a few hatchings I've watched I'd have no experience at all. I guess it's hard to see it in that perspective if you've spent a lot of time at a Weyr. A lot tend to look at them with a touch of awe and admiration." She comments in a thoughtful tone of voice. At the bugle she looks up at Ancaith and smiles, her gaze eventually drifting back down to the eggs. She glances to the side as the Jr. Weyrwoman leaves and remains quiet with a contemplative look for a moment.
"Well, they have hear-ers, then," affords Yronica in a light tone. She straightens again, hands smoothing her skirts like she might soon be up and on her way. But the greenrider's question gives her pause and she twists in her seat to face Tenli. "I carry laundry to and fro, and sometimes food to the infirmary." She fidgets with the beads at the lowest point of the strands of them that hang from her neck. "Why? May I get you something, ma'am?"
"They won't, Olwyn," Rilkie says in way of farewell, a wave to the goldrider as she departs. Back to Pharai, "Oh, I always try and imagine what it's like for someone not from the Weyr. Kind of hard for me to do. I've never lived outside of one." Her gaze drifts up towards Ancaith, thoughtful, and he bugles softly back to her. "Can't imagine what it's like to be a trader. Do you have lots of adventures? I always thought that traders must. Going so many places."
Tenli considers the girl's words, nodding a bit and hmmming to herself. "Necessary, but not terribly critical, and something you can keep doing. How would you like a chance at learning more about dragons?" the old greenrider says finally.
Pharai turns her gaze to when the Jr. Weyrwoman once was and then nods in agreement, "I know I certainly won't. To speak ill of a gold is unthinkable, at least it is among my Caravan." She mutters softly before turning to look back at Rilkie, "Yes that's true, you can imagine all you like but its hard really. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to be a dragonrider. It's just one of those things you can't really know unless you experience it yourself." She remarks in a contemplative tone. At the question she smiles and nods, "Oh I've certainly had my share of adventures, you get to see all sorts of different places as a Trader. But it's also dangerous and even more so with the unpredictable threadfall. Often times we have to travel rough roads and a few times we've got caught in storms. One time I had to stay behind because one of the runners pulling my parent's wagon went lame when he stuck his hoof is a tunnelsnake whole." She informs the brownrider.
Obviously Yronica doesn't quite comprehend. "Oh, even if it's not necessary or critical, ma'am, I'd be happy to get you whatever." The sentence might have had more to it, but she clips it there, reining in her mouth since it's gotten a bit ahead of her ears. She tips her head, like by putting one of those ears closer to the greenrider she might understand better, even though the words are already said. "I, uh. Sure? Do you offer lessons, ma'am? Or, um, do you mean I should be back in harper lessons? It wouldn't be the first time I'd heard -- " Mouth ahead again, the wild-haired girl reins it in hard and presses her lips thin.
Tenli chuckles hoarsely. "There may be harper's lessons in your future, girl, but first you have to tell me whether or not you're willing to stand for Sareith and Aleith's clutch when they hatch," she wheezes after a minute.
"Adventures, indeed," Rilkie says, nodding as she listens to the stories. "Well, how'd you like to have another one? Something a bit different? That might give you an idea of what it'd be like to be a dragonrider? A /very/ good idea, perhaps." Her expression flickers mischievously, and a sound like draconic laughter comes from Ancaith. "How would you like to stand for Sareith and Aleith's clutch?"
"Stand," repeats Yronica, and for once keeps her monologue internal. Just for a moment, just long enough to furrow her brow and widen her eyes and give the concept enough thought to be quite sure of what's been said. When she does speak, it's low, her voice raw and wary. "I -- do I really have a choice, ma'am? With Thread falling, and all. I'm obliged, if you wish it, aren't I?"
Tenli chuckles again. "There's always a choice, child. I must say I was more afraid you wouldn't want to after the chewing out you got from the weyrwoman, but Iridith insisted I ask, so there you have it. Yes or not?"
"I, I. No, it's fine. She's the weyrwoman, and I must have really hurt her feelings -- " Yronica puts a stop to the prattle again and has another obvious think, her consternation clear in the lines of her young, too-full face. "Is it terribly dirty, ma'am? Being a rider. I know candidacy is pretty bad. But it's temporary, right? What about after that?"
Pharai has fallen silent to reflect on some past memories when voices some distance off catch her attention. Her eyes widen as she looks over in the direction of Tenli and Yronico. She shakes her head for a moment as if to clear it before glancing over at them, was that girl just searched? She finds it hard to believe after she had just acted. No sooner has she heard them when she hears a similar question....only this time it is directed at her. She looks to Rilkie with an expression of wide-eyed surprise, "Me?" She asks, the word coming out more like a squeek. Her face pales and she leans back and tries to think, her expression now once of shock. Her hands clench into fists and unclench as she tries to think, "Well I am always one for adventure. And I think this would be an adventure of a lifetime. I'd....I'd be honor to stand for this clutch." She replies with a shy smile, hardly believing her luck.
"Candidacy isn't always bad. It depends on what chores you get assigned. As for afterwards, it depends on whether you Impressed or not," Tenli explains. "If you don't, you can go back to what you're doing, and if you do, it depends. Some of it's messy, particularly at first when dragons are babies, but you also stay very clean because of all the washing they expect to get."
Rilkie beams, and from the ledge, Ancaith's response is an enthusiastic trumpet. "Oh, wonderful! You do know the risks-- I mean, if you Impress, you'll be fighting Thread. It's a big decision-- don't rush into it if you're not sure. But it seems like you are. And Ancaith seems pretty keen on you Standing."
The wild-haired girl turns her head, letting her hair fall as a mop of a curtain between herself and the greenrider, looking down on the eggs on the sand. "So I could clean up right and -- my father wouldn't have to know, if he visited." Yronica's tongue appears between her lips, then slips back in, leaving her pursed mouth damp as if her mouth's suddenly going dry. The thinking takes time, no matter how fast and frantic it's done, but it's only a moment more before she turns back to Tenli. She tosses her head just enough to get her hair out of the way. "On your recommendation, ma'am. Yes."
Pharai forces herself to take a few deep breaths and composure herself in order to get over the initial shock before looking up at Ancaith, "Is he...positive about this?" She asks tentatively, and for one of the first times in her life her voice is wavery. She leans forward and braces her hands on the seat to either side of her, her arms resting on her lap as she gives a broad smile, "To be a dragonrider....I never really considered the possibility. I thought I might continue on to start my own Caravan one day or become a Bakercrafter...but a dragonrider? There are very few people in my family have been searched. I'm more than aware of the dangers. The life of a Trader is almost as dangerous. My brother was killed in some foolish accident several turns back, because a wagon rolled over him. I'm prepared to face the danger should I impress." She informs Rilkie in a more serious tone before looking up at Ancaith and smiling, "Can you please tell him thank you for giving me this chance?" She asks, her face positively beaming with joy.
Tenli frowns again at Yronica's strange response. "You're in the Weyr now, child, and you're a candidate. If anyone gives you any trouble of any sort, you go straight to a rider, you hear me?" she says firmly, not prying, but trying to get the message of safety across.
"Of course! A dragon doesn't choose someone if they're not sure. And they have a knack for knowing," Rilkie reassures. "And he says you're very welcome. Now, I think I'm to show you to the barracks, were you can stay until the Hatching-- I guess you have all your things with you, if you're a trader? You don't need a lift anywhere, to gather any of your belongings?"
"Oh, it's not like that, ma'am," Yronica assures Tenli, suddenly all smiles, and somewhat blushing ones at that. "He just -- doesn't want me doing dirty work. He'd be ashamed." She straightens her shoulders and lifts her chin, as if being told she's the Weyr's candidate in the way the greenrider's put it does have some effect bearing on pride. "Oh, but I will need to write him. Um. I caught Iridith's, but might I ask your name, ma'am? I'm Yronica. And thank you."
"He should be proud to have you be either a candidate or a dragonrider, no matter what sort of work it entails," Tenli grates. "Would you believe this is the second time in as many days I've forgotten to introduce myself? I must be getting old. I'm Tenli, greenrider. And don't thank me, thank her," she says, pointing up to the ledge that holds the green.
Pharai gives a sigh of relief and smiles, "Thank you. I wasn't doubting him, I just wasn't so sure of myself. It's not something that happens every day." She remarks in an amused tone before nodding, "Certainly I'd love to see the barracks. I'm not really sure what happens from here to be truthful. I know a lot about Holds and traveling but little about Weyrs." She admits, feeling a bit foolish for not having a lot of experience with Weyrs. She then gives a quick nods, "Yes I have everything with me. I tend to travel lightly." She explains.
"Well, I forgot myself, ma'am, it's no trouble." After which, Yronica tips back her head to look up the way of the greenrider's point, grinning quite thoroughly now, so much so that her fat cheeks just about swallow her tiny eyes. "She didn't mind my, um, boo-boo about the queen, then?"
"Well, follow me! And I can try and fill you in on everything you need to know," Rilkie says, rising and gesturing to Pharai as she leads the way.
Candidate Barracks, Telgar Weyr
This cavern has a rather low ceiling, with many openings for air, since this becomes an abode for a large number of people before every hatching. Every inch of the floor is kept clean, although little of it can be seen due to the many rows of cots that fill most of the space. The central part of the cavern is rather dim, as most of the glows are on the walls. Little decoration is evidenced except for a few personal effects. You wouldn't call it uncomfortable unless the unusually low ceiling for a weyr makes you claustrophobic. On the wall, scrupulously maintained, is a list of Candidates and their assigned chores for the day. Tampering with it is rumored to be an offense punishable by death or latrine duty for the rest of one's life.
Finally, Rilkie leads the way into the barracks themselves, after having shown the new Candidate the way across half the Weyr. "And here it is-- your new home sweet home! You can choose whatever cot you'd like that isn't already taken. You'll have chores, of course, now-- those'll be posted. And, I guess you haven't heard the 'rules' yet, if you haven't been at the Weyr for too long?"
Pharai enters the candidate barracks slowly, looking around with a critical expression as she observes her surroundings. She takes note of the cots lined up in rows for a moment before turning to Rilkie and grinning, "That's fine I'm used to chores. I've had to do them most of my life." She admits before shaking her head about the rules, "No I'm afraid I'm not familiar with them."
"Well, I think even if you did, I'd have to tell you again. Candidates aren't allowed anything that could jeopardize them Standing-- so that means no drinking, or sex, or fighting," Rilkie explains. "I know, it sounds strict. Never bothered me much, but I know it bothered some people. Anyway, R'dur is the Candidate Coordinator, so he's in charge of all you Candidates. Have you met him? If not, I'm sure you will soon."
Pharai smiles at that and nods, "That's only reasonable as far as I'm concerned. To be honest I've never drank as I know that can really mess some people up. And you really need your wits about you when you're on the road. As for sex..." She pauses after saying the word with some measure of distaste in her voice, "Don't need to worry about that either as I haven't had time to get involved with anyone and that's not about to change. I've never been one for fighting either. So I think I should be okay." She remarks in an amused tone before shaking her head, "No I'm not...but since he is in charge then I look forward to meeting him. What's he like?" She inquires.
"This sounds a lot like my life at the Weyr so far anyway," observes Yronica peaceably enough, while keeping pace with the older woman. "Only until now none of it's been so directly enumerated." She ducks her head a little as they move through the caverns and tunnels, finally emerging at the barracks; there, the wild-haired girl straightens, almost bristling so wary she's suddenly become. "Will the assistant headwomen be assigning my duties still?"
"R'dur is... R'dur," is all Rilkie has to say. "You'll see when you meet him. Anyway, I should be going-- my quick break to see the eggs turned into a much longer one than I anticipated." She grins, though, obviously not minding all that much. "Congratulations again, Pharai!" And with that, the brownrider departs, with a nod to Yronica and Tenli as she passes the arriving on her way out.