Sorry about the delay in updating and the issues with formatting! It's been awhile so I had forgotten I needed to run things through notepad first. Hopefully the formatting is all fixed now. Unfortunately I don't know when I'll be able to update again, since the current pandemic has really mucked things up... but I'm hoping to have this finished by the end of the year. Finally.
~AS
An impossible Weyrleader for an impossible Weyr.
Kayta's words rang through N'kar's head as he bathed in his new quarters. He supposed it was fitting, that he, a brownrider, would be the leader of such a rag tag group of riders and holders. They had quite a rough road ahead of them if they wanted to develop into something resembling a cohesive unit.
And that change had to start with the Benden Weyrleaders.
He admired, and was even terrified by at times, by both Lessa and F'lar. They had done quite a lot for Pern over the course of their lives. One could even say that if it wasn't for them, Pern would be nothing but a writhing mass of thread. But the truth was they took on too much, and overstepped their boundaries far too often. Weyrs, like holds, should be autonomous, only coming together when thread, or some other threat, required them to. Instead the Benden Weyrleaders seemed to have a say in everything, and their word was often the final word on most matters.
The Island Weyr was no longer a threat. Hadn't been for months. And yet the Mainland weyrleaders continued to check in on them, once or twice a month. They left instructions for R'nahl on how to run things, rather than letting the man run the Weyr himself. Supposedly their interference would end now that Lysith had flown, but the brownrider feared that they would try to use him as an excuse to continue their visitations. And while he was grateful for the support of Benden and the other Weyrs when they needed it, it was far past the time they started standing on their own two feet.
He dressed quickly in his best tunic, but wore his wherhide pants in favor of the lighter linen ones many of the islanders wore. He supposed that it was a show of strength for the visiting Weyrleaders. Something to show them that he was dedicated to his role and had not been struck dumb by the sun and sand. He had noticed over the years that T'gellan and the other Southern dragonriders often did the same thing when meeting with anyone from the North. If anyone commented on it, he could claim that it was because he planned to have the wings assemble for inspection after the meeting. Which wasn't quite a lie as he was planning on it as soon as the Benden Weyrleaders left.
They will not question you. Elanth's warm tones reached out to his rider, from where the dragon was curled up on the sands with Lysith.
I wish I had your faith my friend. N'kar replied. While no one would dare to insinuate that the results of a flight weren't fair when it came to established weyrleading pairs, the stakes were so high here, and things were so unsettled, that there was sure to be some grumbling. Especially due to the color of his dragon. He was grateful for the fact that Kayta was on his side. As long as they continued to present a united front, he had no doubts that they could weather the storm and come out on the other side in one piece.
Apparently Kayta had had the same thoughts, for when she met him on the sands of the weyrbowl, she immediately pinned a new set of shoulder knots to his tunic. Once they were in place, she smoothed them with her fingertips. "There."
"Thank you." He shifted his shoulders under the slight weight of the cords. Physically, they weren't any heavier than the knots he wore as a wingsecond, however the responsibility that came with them was monumental.
"Stop that." Kayta lightly smacked his arm. "You're a Weyrleader now. Stand strong like a stone. Don't shift about like an errant weyrling." She, apparently, did not feel the need to dress to impress. The queenrider was wearing a simple dress, but it was slit up the sides to hips revealing a pair of loose trousers underneath in case she needed to run. She had also done her hair up in a neat braid that was wrapped around her head in case she needed to fly. The look suited her. Though, he couldn't help but recall the events of the day before, she could be dressed in mud and still be beautiful.
"Yes, ma'am." N'kar tried to tease her, but some of his desire must have seeped through, for she flushed and looked away. R'nahl was right; he really did act like a moon addled weyrling around her. He sighed and clenched his jaw in an effort to contain himself. Just because they had an enjoyable time together post flight did not mean that she would want to pursue things any further. It was very rare that Weyrleaders became weyrmates, after all. Besides, they had far bigger things to worry about.
And those bigger things had just come out of between and were getting ready to land.
They waited patiently while Mnementh and Ramoth circled the Weyr, coming ever closer to the ground. Once their feet finally settled onto the loose sand, the dragons quickly bowed so their riders could dismount. F'lar slid down first before walking over to offer his Weyrwoman a hand. As they began their approach, Kayta stepped forward to welcome them.
"Greetings, Lessa and F'lar. This is quite a pleasant surprise."
Rather than returning the greeting, F'lar walked right past her, completely ignoring N'kar's presence as he did so. "Come. We have much to discuss."
"I fail to see what needs to be talked about. Everything is in order, as it was the last time you visited." Kayta kept her voice level and sweet, and when N'kar glanced in her direction, he noted that her expression was pleasant but determined. He was amazed that she didn't bow under the combined force of the Benden Weyrleader's anger – but then she had spent so many turns of her life dodging Z'char's moods that she practically a master at playing a role. No wonder she had been able to fool him for so long.
"You know very well what I mean."
"I would think you and the rest of the Weyrleaders would be happy that the leadership situation was finally resolved."
"Browns do not fly queens." For the first time, F'lar's eyes darted to N'kar – and quickly looked away again as if he couldn't stand the sight of the man. N'kar felt what little resolve he had sink into his belly, while he had known that they would not be pleased by the results of the flight, he had not expected such vehemence.
"Historical evidence shows otherwise." N'kar finally regained his voice but was disappointed that he couldn't keep it as level and calm as the Queenrider standing next to him could. While it did not waver, there was an underlying need for approval that he detested.
"Damn the evidence!"
"There is nothing anywhere that says that Browns cannot participate when Queens rise." He repeated. "Several engaged in Ramoth's last flight. How is this different?"
"Yes," Lessa agreed. "But they never win. With the exception of Canth, most Browns are often smaller than Bronzes and cannot keep up. They or an older Bronze are usually the first to drop out."
"Lysith is not your average Queen though."
"No, she is not. Her size is significantly smaller - which should have made it all the easier for a Bronze to catch her."
"Due to her size, she is more agile, like a Brown." Now Kayta's voice took on a firm tone, the one that often crept in when she was facing another showdown with Malena. "Her style has always been more acrobatic. The bronzes were unprepared for that."
"Are you quite sure that was the only thing affecting the flight?"
The younger Weyrwoman's smile took on a brittle quality. "What do you mean?"
"It's well known that you two had an attachment prior to this."
"In friendship only."
"You were seen dancing and being intimate at previous gathers." N'kar opened his mouth, however the look Lessa shot him quickly quelled whatever he wanted to say. They knew. They both knew how he felt about her. R'nahl had spilled the proverbial beans. Probably as soon as the flight had ended. Damn the man. "Think wisely before you answer brownrider."
"Weyrleader." Kayta corrected the other woman, earning herself a cutting look as well
"If there were any feelings beyond that, they were purely one sided." N'kar admitted. "Prior to today all the Weyrwoman has felt for me is friendship and nothing more."
"And after today?"
"That is strictly none of your business." Kayta snapped, her own eyes flashing. "Regardless of what my feelings were, they have never played any sort of part in any mating flight. Otherwise we wouldn't be in this situation now would we? I would have never had to knock on your door requesting your help. And, by Faranth, I am beginning to regret that I ever did."
"Kayta..."
"I'm done with this discussion. Elanth won the flight fair and square. N'kar remains Weyrleader."
"This is not just a decision that you can make." F'lar snapped.
"I'm the Weyrwoman here!"
"So you should recognize that there is more to this than who is a good lay. Others lives are at stake!"
"I've lead R'nahl's wing and flight when he has been indisposed. Many a time." N'kar reminded his former Weyrleader.
"Leading a Weyr is more than just that. Will the riders and their dragons listen to you? I've no doubt that you are a good leader, but running a Weyr is much larger and harder than running a flight during a few hours of thread. Perhaps it is best that R'nahl continue-"
"No." Now it was N'kar's turn to put his foot down. F'lar crossed his hands over his chest. "This is Kayta's Weyr, not yours. Yes, she came to you for help when she needed it, and she has heeded your advice since as she and the others acclimate to being a part of Pern once more, but she did not give it over to you to run. You do not get to make the decisions here."
"She is young and reckless-"
"And so were you and Lessa once." Gone was the tremor from his voice, the need for acceptance. Instead he felt cool as he continued to speak. "She has had to be, much like you had to be, in order to survive – but that does not make her a fool. Nor has she been overstepping the boundaries laid out by the Charter, so you cannot remove her from her position based on that either."
"We'll withdraw our support."
"Perhaps that would be best." N'kar gave them a short sharp bow. "We thank you for your visit and appreciate your congratulations on such a successful flight. We'll be sure to let you know about the hatching, should you desire to attend."
To his surprise there was something akin to approval in Lessa's eyes. "Good afternoon. Weyrleaders."
F'lar clearly had more that he wanted to say, but he followed his lady's lead. The Benden Weyrleaders mounted their dragons once more, and were gone as quickly as they arrived. The only testament to their presence were the marks in the sand from their dragons taking off, but even those would be washed away by the ocean in time.
The whole affair left N'kar with a sour feeling in his stomach. As much as he felt that the two interfered too much, it felt strange to be without their support.
Kayta tugged on his arm, "Let's get the rest of this day over with, shall we?"
Instead of being used to help appease the Benden Weyrleaders, the assorted goodies waiting inside the meeting room were used to assuage any disgruntled feelings that the various Wingleaders had left over after the events of the flight. They did little to help, for only children could be distracted by sugary sweets, but at least some mouths were too full to yell at full volume.
N'kar let the men shout and complain. While he needed to establish that he was the leader now, and not R'nahl, he also knew that many of them had been stewing in anger for months on end, chaffing under the leadership of the Mainland riders. Venting would do them good.
Lysith says Kayta wants to know if this is necessary. Elanth's voice invaded his thoughts.
He glanced over at the Weyrwoman sitting next to him with a tight smile on her face. Let them exorcise their complaints. I want to go into this with everything out in the open.
Her gaze slid over to meet his, and she inclined her head ever so slightly. Lysith is growing upset.
Let her know her rider is not in any danger. I'm with her.
With how much yelling is going on today, she's not so sure that that's true.
By now the men's arguments were growing repetitive, so he could see the Gold dragon's point. He cleared his throat, and when that didn't stop them, he raised his voice to be heard above the shouting. "The truth is no one was going to be happy with the outcome of the flight." They fell silent at that, and he could feel Kayta's eyes on him as well. "If a mainlander won, the islanders would be upset and cry foul. If an islander won, the mainlanders would've done the same thing. This is no different – just a bit more... unexpected."
One or two chuckled at that, but others remained sour – M'rocav and R'nahl in particular.
"You can't expect me to believe that F'lar and Lessa accept this." The later grumbled.
"They have no say in the matter." Kayta spoke up.
"That's a bit much considering all they've done for you."
Her eyes flashed at the reprimand. "I appreciate their help, and the help of all the other weyrs. "
"Well banishing them from the Island is a fine thank you."
"They aren't banished. However, we won't be taking our directions from them any longer."
That caused a whole new outcry from the men gathered in the room. N'kar ran a hand through his hair; would today never end?
"Weyrs, like Holds, are autonomous, with the others only stepping in if something serious happens." N'bel reminded the others once there was a lull in the grumbling.
"The events that happened with Z'char certainly called for an intervention. A brown flying a queen? Not so much. As much as the bucking of tradition bothers me, just like I'm sure it bothers you all, the dragons have spoken."
"Aye." Another bronzerider agreed. "N'kar is no untrained weyrling. He knows what he's doing."
"And he's willing to listen to reason," W'lam piped up. "Unlike others we could name."
R'nahl growled at that. "And what is that supposed to mean?"
"Enough." N'kar barked, silencing the bronzerider. "What's done is done. If the majority of you feel I am doing a horrible time in six months, then by all means, relieve me of my duties then. Or if you feel you can do better, then you'll have your chance whenever Lysith rises again. There will be no more judgement based on dragon color in this Weyr. Is that understood?"
A chorus of 'ayes' range through the chamber. Granted, some were grumbled and reluctant, but it was a start. He stood. "The same goes for the location of a man's birth. There is no more Islander or Mainlander. We are one Weyr now, starting now." He made sure to stare at each man in turn, not looking away until they nodded in agreement.