Charoigne Weyr: Effortless Denial: Prologue
"It was her. I know it was. I saw her do it."
"Really? Why aren't you the one who's dead, then?"
"Well, I didn't see her actually do it, but I did see her around that area."
"Poor child. The Weyrwoman's in total denial over what happened."
"Are you sure it was her?"
"She's rather hard to miss, you know."
"Yeah. You're right. If her hair and eyes weren't enough, you'd know she was around the corner by the lack of heat."
"I don't like her. Not one bit."
"No one does. But what can we do? She was the one that impressed that horrific beast of a gold. Did you see what it did?"
"What? You mean it did more than the damage on the sands?"
"Yeah. I guess you didn't hear. It went into a rampage and killed a good group of wherries and heardbeasts at the hold."
"What was that woman and her mutation doing at Fort Hold?"
"I don't know, but nothing good. They say that the thing killed several men who tried to calm it down, but as soon as The Horror Keeper appeared, Perinaesth calmed down at once. Isn't that creepy?"
"Well, any rider can control its dragon, you two should know that. You're both seasoned riders yourselves."
"Yeah, but the few who were with them said that it was almost unnatural. Even their dragons, who had picked up on Perinaesth's rage and were starting to act out themselves calmed down when she came."
"Maybe she's a HAD?"
"No, I know for a fact she isn't. I don't know what she is, but I don't like her."
"You already told us that."
"So where is she now?"
"Cooped up in her weyr, last I heard. They say Perinaesth's close to rising, so they can't leave."
"So we're the ones stuck with her until this entire mess is sorted out?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Better watch your Iyhijomlith, D'tal. He might be one of the ones that goes after Perinaesth when she rises."
"By the first egg, you actually think I'm going to let him chase? That thing isn't fit to be a gold dragon, and it certainly isn't fit for Iyhijomlith."
"Touchy."
"Geez, calm down, D'tal. We know you wouldn't let Iyhijomlith chase Perinaesth even if the two were the last dragons on Pern."
"Faranth, let's hope that never happens."
"Oh, easy for you to say, Yu'mell. And you too, M'achi. You two ride a green and a brown. Not exactly the dragons that are in the correct size range for Perinaesth."
"Calm down, D'tal. We know. Besides, last I checked, Yu'mell's Fujnmilepth was close to rising again. A female isn't exactly about to chase a female, right Yu'mell?"
"Faranth, I hope not. But isn't Quipth large enough to chase Perinaesth, M'achi?"
"No, not really. That creature may be a gold, but she isn't exactly a very large one, is she?"
"Well, wouldn't that make it easier?"
"Quipth isn't the largest brown."
"Right. I forgot, you got the midget brown, didn't you, M'achi?"
"Shut up, Yu'mell."
"Shut up, the pair of you. Someone's coming."
So someone suspected her. That was alright, as she knew that they would. It was simple really; a simple plan. Of course she had killed that disgusting brat. Perhaps he would have lived if he had stopped screaming for his mother.
A cold smile, frigid like ice or the frozen depths of space, spread across the woman's pale face, deathly pale skin stretching slightly to allow this unfamiliar muscle movement to take place.
Icy blue eyes sparkled with malicious intent as Leucothea, Rider of gold Perinaesth, turned and walked away from the whispering group of men. Long white-blond hair dancing behind her in a shimmering dance of frigid beauty as she moved, Leucothea considered her next move. The options before her were limited, but she could work with them.
At least one of the things that the men had said was true; Perinaesth was close to rising. Closer than any of the others realized, perhaps. This was the problem which might be the solution to everything. If only things could be planned correctly. Plans were always needed. Needed more than people. People were puppets to be controlled by plans. Nothing more and nothing less.
The smirk back on her face, hidden by a delicately boned long fingered hand, Leucothea proceeded to the Weyrbowl, thoughts clicking away in her brain like clogs in a clock, each one shining and glittering, each tooth slipping neatly into place as the entire machine worked, ticking down the time until she would be victorious.
Entering the Weyrbowl, Leucothea's eyes flicked upward to where a blue dragon was sleeping on a ledge, his wings flopped over the side in complete relaxation. At the sight of the blue, his coloration making him blend into the sky almost completely, Leucothea's smirk turned to more of a smile, and while it was not a natural one, it at least looked more settled on her face than the smile that had crossed her lips down in the lower caverns.
Deciding that it was best to allow the dragon who had worked so hard for her to sleep just a few minutes longer, Leucothea turned and made her way by foot to her own private weyr, situated only a few levels up from the base of the Weyrbowl. But, despite the placement of her quarters, Leucothea had assured complete privacy some time ago. There were pleasantries to being nicknamed The Horror Keeper.
The air inside the rooms was glacial in nature, so cold that even in summer your breath could be seen as a great cloud of vapor, rising through the air after hovering for some time and disappearing as it went. The darkness, as well, was stifling. An oppressive feel lurked in this weyr, snatching at dreams and snuffing out hope without a thought or emotion.
The stone couch that occupied more than a half of the second was full of glittering dragon, the faceted eyes of the gold the only light in the entire weyr. When Leucothea entered, the gigantic gold head lifted from its rest, sagging skin scrapping across the rough stone as Perinaesth turned to stare at her rider, the gravely hum which was Perinaesth's voice emanating through out the rooms.
You have come back.
The voice was harsh, dissonant, painful to listen too, but upon hearing the dragon's words inside her head, The Horror Keeper's smile returned once more. This time, however, the smile was one of cunning delight.
"Yes, My Dear. I have returned. Did you except me to leave you? Perhaps for another beast? Someone less glorious and powerful?"
No. I did not think that you would leave. I was just stating that you have come back sooner than I expected you.
"Yes, humans are such simple things. Prod them in the correct direction and they can take it from there. Never suspecting that the ipeople/i they whisper about are the ones who planted the rumors and gossip in the first place."
But are you not human as well, LeucotheaMine?
"I wonder, Peri. If I was, would you have smashed your way across the sands, devouring your siblings as you went, to find me?"
I do not know, LeucotheaMine. I cannot say.
"It is fine. Peri. It is fine. I do have a job for you, however."
Yes, Leucothea mine? What do you desire?
"Rise, my dear. Simply rise. Rise and be chased. Chase and be caught..."
It was here that Leucothea's voice dwindled to nothing, and the pair began to talk mentally, Rider facing Dragon, the distance between them small.
It shall be done. You have my word.
"Very well."
And with these few words, Leucothea turned to walk back across the cold stone floor, hair dancing behind her, still as beautiful as ever.