"Char!"
Char glanced up from the huddle of Benden greenriders and Lybae she was talking to, as Fulsa waved from across the Bowl. Char broke into a grin, and waved back.
"She's Fulsa, the wherhandler for Telgar Hold. You'll like her, she wants to see more girls on all color of dragon." She explained as the wherhandler trotted over. The Benden trio exchanged startled looks, but relaxed when Vaeth greeted the wherhandler with a warble.
"Hello yourself, Vaeth." Fulsa laughed and gave him a friendly thump on the side. "How are those wing exercises going?"
The stretches you showed us have helped. The blue replied, his eyes glowing green. We told the new dragonpairs the trick of it. It helps with the growing pains.
"I'm glad to hear that. Hello, bluerider, greenrider." Fulsa hugged Char and Lybae by way of greeting. "And how are you?"
"Antsy." Lybae replied with a wide grin. "The Changeover was just called. The wings should be returning soon."
"Could the Weyr use and extra pair of hands?" Fulsa asked, having forgotten Threadfall, as it was not scheduled over Telgar Hold.
"You'll have to ask Tress." Char replied, and turned to the other greenriders. "You want to officially meet everyone?"
"Yes please!" A week from hatching most of the dragonets were napping off their breakfasts, but the Benden trio's greens got up from their wallows as the group moved towards them. There was a marked different in the shade of green from Benden, a hair more yellow than the Telgar greens, and Fulsa knelt to put herself on eye level with them.
"This is my Hapith," Yudnov, the shortest of the Benden trio said with quiet pride. The green dragon flapped her wings in pleasure as Fulsa caressed the offered head with practiced hands. Oh! Is nice. Came the green's startled comment, the first Char had heard from the Benden greens. This caused the other two greens to push into Fulsa's personal space.
"The one on your right is my Esparath," Ulpixo, the eldest said with a proud smile. "She's says you have a very firm mindtouch."
"I should hope so! I talk to watchwhers all night." She rubbed Esparath behind the head nob and the green leaned her head into Fulsa's head. The last green pranced impatiently, and Fulsa laughed, reaching her other hand out to the shyer green. "And you are?"
I am Bliskth of Thukem. The green said stoutly, and crooned from Fulsa's touch.
"She is my whole world." Thukem added softly, her voice slowly recovering as the bruises around her throat faded.
"As she should be, dragonrider." Fulsa glanced over her shoulder at the woman, her throat covered by a light gauzey scarf. Something in her tone? -pose? suggested to Char that Fulsa knew more than she let on. And why not? Char thought. It's not like there were secrets in the Weyr, and the Benden trio's story was well known within hours of their arrival. As was the poor treatment they had received at C'seld's hands. "And what a wonderful world you will have, from astride a great green neck. It has been my great honor to meet all of you." Fulsa told the dragonets, who arched their necks and flapped their wings in pride. She pet each one once more then stood and faced the women.
"Where are my manners, I'm Fulsa of Telgarsk. The Queens has asked me to take your depositions about C'seld's actions." She explained, and pretended not to notice when the greens pulled away from her and hurried to their bondmates, leaning and twining around them to reassure them of their presence. "I know this isn't easy, but the Holds and Halls are beyond fed up with his behavior. The other Weyrs are worried because of it too. You stayed when you could have left with the other weyrfolk, but you didn't, because you were loyal to the dragons."
"And were well rewarded for our loyalty." Ulpixo retorted, holding her dragonet to her. Char felt a wave of warring emotions wash over her.
They are hurt, they are confused. They do not wish to remember the past. Nor can they forget it. Vaeth told Char, walking over to the group and settling down behind Fulsa.
"If C'seld hurt you, this is the best chance to stop him from ever hurting another rider." Lybae said, looking from one woman to another.
"No one will make you return to Benden, if that is what you fear," Fulsa added. Yudnov shook her head.
"No. I cannot."
"I can." Thukem's voice was still gravelly, it might forever be, given how close she came to death. "And I will." She looked at the other two. "I have nightmares, 'Pix, Yuds. I can't close my eyes without seeing him standing over me, his hands on my throat. I am not spending the rest of my life running from him. B'ton has promised us protection. Jurille has said we are free to go to any Weyr we want once our darlings are grown. I'm going to hold them to that promise, and I'm going to be the a rider Bliskth will always be proud to have chosen." She looked back at the wherhandler. "Whatever you need, I'm ready to give it."
"If Tress doesn't need us, then let's get your deposition." Fulsa said.
The Headwoman says you aren't needed to attend the returning Wings. Vaeth informed them. Fall has been sparse and the Wings are being careful.
"If Thukem is going to, I'll also." Yudnov said meekly. Ulpixo shook her head. "I- I need to think about it."
"It's okay." Fulsa nodded. "When you are ready, I'll be back. For now, please come with me." She said to Thukem and Yudnov, leading them into the lower caverns.
"Tress might not need them, but I bet she could use us." Lybae smiled encouragingly at Ulpixo. "Want to come with me?" The blackhaired woman nodded wordlessly and together they headed for the triage station set up by the lake.
"J'kil." B'ton gestured to the Wingsecond, who joined him by the klah pot.
"Weyrleader?" He asked politely. He was an older rider, having served as L'stur's wingsecond since before the bronzerider was Weyrleader. B'ton offered him a mug, which he took.
"I'm sure you've heard about Redell." B'ton started.
"If this is about my flying him to Exile Island, I did everything Lord Kestle asked." J'kil replied.
"I believe you did. I promise, no one is suggesting otherwise. Why I'm bringing it up is because he's been after everyone who was involved with his incarceration." B'ton explained. J'kil nodded.
"I have heard about the attacks."
"Then you know what I'm going to ask you to do." B'ton looked apologetic.
"To curtail my activities outside the Weyr?" J'kil didn't seem surprised by the request.
"Please."
"Not a problem, B'ton." J'kil flashed him an understanding smile. "I haven't any reason to leave the Weyr much these days anyways."
The night air felt delicious as Buckset lead the runners down the moonlight track. Maulul was nodding off in the saddle, although Buckset didn't call her on it. Sopra flew high above them, the way Twa had for the wherhunter, and periodically showed the harper what he saw from his high vantage point.
Abruptly, Buckset stopped, and Maulul almost pitched out of her saddle.
"Wait, wha- why have we stopped?" She asked in a soft whisper.
"Sopra says there's something large on the path ahead." Buckset replied, and turned to look at the journywoman when he heard her draw her blade from it's sheath. "That's hardly a friendly welcome if it turns out to be people, 'Lul."
"If it's people, they aren't holders." She whispered tensely.
"We're not here to find holders." He murmured, as the foliage before them parted and something dark colored stepped out onto the path. It was herdbeast, larger than any either harper had seen, it's horns a fathom across. The beast seemed as surprised to see them as they were it, then melted back into the forest.
"Did we really just see that?" Maulul asked after a long moment.
"Yes. And if anyone asks, we don't know what Lord Suplee is breeding." He waited for Sopra to send the 'all clear' then continued down the path.
It was almost midnight before they reached their destination, a tiny cothold that had ceased to send tithe to either the Lords of Bitra or Benden. All evidence pointed to it being a hold that had turned it's loyalty to Redell. The harpers were disguised as a young couple striking out on their own, with an assortment of wares to trade, all items acquired at the last Gather in Bitra.
Wearily, Buckset rapped on the east facing entrance. They wouldn't have to fake their tiredness, both of the them had been on the road since noon. It took two more raps, then the window over their heads opened and an old man stared down at them.
"Who are you?" He barked at them.
"I'm Bucky, this is my mate Lul. We are trying to get to Fork Hold." Buckset called back up.
"We aren't a rest cot." The man growled at them. Buckset couldn't blame him, it was too close to moonset for him to get a good look at them, and they were in the middle of nowhere.
"That's fine, can we camp in your courtyard? We'll leave with sunrise."
"Suit yourself." The man slammed his window shut.
"Not much for hospitality out here, huh?" Maulul asked, sliding out of her saddle.
"Can't blame them. At least they have a proper courtyard, we can sleep against the wall." Buckset replied and began unsaddling the runners. Maulul drew up water from the well, and watered the runners as Buckset set up a place for them to rest. They didn't light a fire, but bedded down warm enough curled up under the blankets together, Sopra resting asleep on top of Buckset's shoulder.