Note: Ok, I just realized the misspellings. I apologize. Erm…thanks for providing me with the name of Talina's dragon. And on the spaces, I totally forgot, as I haven't put anything new up in a while. Wont happen again. So, thanks for pointing me in the correct direction. I will fix the first chapter's errors as soon as I have a moment, maybe even tonight. Thank you! Oh, and I am looking for my copy of A Dragon Lovers Guide to Pern, and that should help A LOT. Until then, toodles!
Chapter two: The new queen and the flight
"Hello!" Talina looked up to be saluted by what must be the new Queenrider. She had long blonde hair up in braids, and big brown eyes.
"Hello," Talina said respectfully, as she watched the girl's dragon take flight again and quickly reach the sunning rocks the other dragons usual sprawled upon.
"I am Srene(S-Reen), rider of Linith(Lyn-ith). You are to be the Weyrwoman?" She reached Talina, and they grasped each others arm in the equal gesture.
"Yes, I think so. I'm Talina, rider of Arwith."
"You were the one to Impress Arwith? Wasn't that when they wanted Brekke to re-Impress?"
"Yes," Talina said rather waspishly. She was tired of being constantly compared to that. It was over. Brekke was fine, though always living half of what she was. She no longer wanted to suicide, and F'nor's love kept them together.
"Your queen is to mate soon?" They walked over to the outside porch, just perfectly shady during the noon hour. Talina, playing gracious Weyrwoman(though she really didn't know how) poured some wine(they managed to contrive some Benden) and sat back in chair to regard this new girl.
"When I found out that I was to be the other Queenrider here at the Weyr, I was so excited!" She said, after taking a sip. "As was Linith. A fair few of her clutch mates are here, too, so I'm not entirely alone. How long ago did you Impress?"
"Oh, quite a few turns ago. Arwith has risen before, but sadly Kemeth was scored badly in Threadfall and died along with P'gan." Srene pulled a sad face, but Talina waved her hand. "I really felt no attachment to P'gan. It was just luck that he managed to fly Arwith. And it was his fault that they didn't blink between fast enough to avoid the clumps."
"Have you any mind on who you would like to fly her?" Srene gave a giggle.
"No, I really haven't had time to consider it. I have been busy with getting some help for the lower caverns and kitchens, and arranging for wherries and other game for the dragons to be brought to the plateau. Thread is tomorrow. Are you flying?"
"Oh, yes. But, we don't have to fly all the time, do we?"
I like fighting ThreadTalina caught Linith's sour retort, and Srene sent a hundred apologizes.
"You aren't?" Srene's eyes once again took on the wide look. Talina fidgeted with the glass in her hand, and set it down.
"I do not want to overstrain Arwith. Last time she only clutched thirty. Ramoth's first clutch was forty-one! At least with this clutch, we can finally establish a decent sized weyr, then decide if we should move anyone else in." Talina looked up to see the almost finished weyr, carved into a mountain face in the shape of a half-circle. That lead to the plateau, which dropped off into a large and clear blue lake in which the dragons could bathe.
"I talked to N'bom, K'mit, L'rek, and T'lilhan about whether we should stay here, or try to force the Oldtimers out of Southern. But we agreed they don't have much life left in them. We have ample room here, and when they finally all disband, we can have others moved in there. Besides, we found a hallowed out volcano, not unlike Southern's, and that will serve perfectly for a Hatching Ground."
"Did Arwith's last clutch have a queen?" Srene asked innocently enough.
"No. But I was told that sometimes, they don't clutch queens on their first flight. But, its not like we have a shortage of queens running around."
"I have a twin sister, and she didn't impress with me. Do you think that she could be one of the candidates?"
Talina stood up, and called to Arwith, who quickly came gliding onto the clearing made especially for that purpose. She received her apatite back, and Talina had to make sure that she didn't overstuff herself.
"She was Searched with you?" She asked, as she settled between her two dorsals.
"Yes, and it almost broke her heart that she didn't Impress, and therefore couldn't come with me."
"Where is she now?"
"At Benden, working in the lower caverns. I had to leave Benden and go to Ista because of all the queens." Srene's face took on one of relief and gratitude.
"Well, I guess I can head there. I need to pick up the last remaining things of mine, and I can let Arwith eat there. What is your sister's name?"
"Surend(Sir-end). She has dark hair instead of light, and is maybe a good head taller then me."
"I will have to check this over with the Benden Weyrleaders first, and make sure she isn't one of Ramoth's candidates. We do have enough time to see if she Impresses there. Arwith still has to rise. I think we must wait."
Srene shook her head vigorously. "Is the lake warm? Linith would like to bathe before she takes her afternoon nap."
"Yes, actually. There is always a dragon there, because they love the water so. I think the dragons really like the warmth of the sun down here. I'm still getting used to it."
Talina gave the other weyrwoman a salute, and urged Arwith into flight. They spiraled lazily until they went between.
(\/)
N'bom quickly strode into his living quarters, and let out a gust of air.
That Srene grates my nerves to the bones! He snarled, exasperated. Geneth slowly stretched from his sleeping position and arched his back before sitting and regarding his rider.
You do not like her? Geneth asked, his eyes slowly whirling from his pleasant nap.
"No," N'bom said aloud. "It's just that she is so young, and very…I dunno. I don't think I will let her fly tomorrow. She is still inexperienced. She shouldn't be allowed to even fight at so young an age."
I have an itch. He complained, his breath coming out in a whistle. And you are not Weyrleader yet.
"Do you need oil?" N'bom chose to ignore the dragon's candid thoughts.
Yes. Oh! Right there. Geneth sighed as N'bom scratched the flaking spot.
"That's one thing I do not like about the heat down here. You dragons flake too bloody much. I feel sorry for Talina, having to do with her Benden queen."
Ramoth is a fine queen. And Mnementh a fine bronze. Of course they have fine offspring. Arwith is not quite the size of Ramoth, however.
"Yes, yes, you lazy thing. No dragon is the size of Ramoth. Where is Talina?"
The dragon was silent for a moment, then gave one nod of his head. She is in Benden, looking for a candidate for a queen egg.
"Counting her eggs before they hatch?" N'bom laughed.
She is checking to see if she is one of Ramoth's candidates. I think she is looking for the twin of the girl you don't like.
"Oh shards!" N'bom stalked out of his weyr, irritated, and rather deflated.
(\/)
Talina strode into the queen's weyr at Benden, about to peel off her riding jacket, but quickly put it back on, as the chill of mid-winter hit her bare shoulders.
"Already used to the sun?" Came an amused and dry tone that had to be the Benden Weyrwoman. Talina turned around, and smiled at Lessa.
"Yes! Only thing is, the dragons flake an awful lot. And I have no sympathy for those with smaller dragons. I must find an excuse to thank Ramoth for having such large and sturdy beasts in which it is a pain to rub oil on."
Lessa stared up at Talina, looking squarely into her eyes. After a moment, she finally cracked a smile. "Yes, I think I know the feeling. When Ramoth was growing, I had to rub oil on her every other day. I couldn't fly her yet, so that was the only highlight of my day." Lessa's eyes went distant, and Talina could tell that she was looking through her dragon's eyes, surveying the eggs hardening on the sands.
"I came to ask you about Ramoth's latest clutch." Talina said, after Lessa reemerged from her mind. They went into the council room, where F'lar was looking over his times tables. He looked up briefly, gave a nod of his head, and continued with his reading. Lessa shot him a sour look, but he didn't seem to notice his mate's dissatisfaction. Or if he did, he paid no heed.
"What about it?" Lessa's tone was short.
"Is there a queen?"
"Of course." She rose her head haughtily, and Talina had to stifle a laugh.
"Is one of her candidates a…Surend?"
"I think so…but the girl isn't that bright. Nearly had a fit when her sister Impressed and she didn't. Ramoth doesn't like her around the eggs, because she is dead clumsy. F'lar?"
"Hmm?" F'lar looked up again.
"Surend, the one who's twin Impressed a few turns ago, she didn't Impress Ramoth's last queen either, did she?"
"Er…no."
"Yes, do you think that she would fare better with Arwith?" Lessa stopped, and said to no one in the room, "Its nothing against you, dearest. But you don't like her around your eggs. Arwith might clutch a queen, you never know."
"Did she clutch a queen last time?" F'lar stood up, and settled all the records into a neat pile.
"No," Talina pulled a face.
"Well, maybe because something in the dragon's say we don't exactly need more queens."
If that is true, then why do I always clutch a queen? Came Ramoth's retort.
"Not always, love." Lessa assured her dragon. "Thankfully."
"Well, why do you want her?" F'lar asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I really don't want her. But the other Queenrider in Southern is her twin. Practically needled me into it actually."
"Well, we'll save you some time. If she doesn't Impress here this last time, then she wont be a candidate any more." Lessa shrugged. "But if you want her for the lower caverns after that, you can take her!"
"Thanks, I think?" Talina smiled. She was becoming used to this new role. She wasn't Weyrwoman yet, but she will be. She had to learn to deal with every Weyrleader and Weyrwoman in order to better serve her own inhabitance. Before, she was frightened by the small and strong Lessa. Now, even though Lessa was a good head shorter then her, she considered herself…maybe…an equal. But her ego shot her down, because it was the Benden Weyrleaders who chose her. She didn't fight her way through it all.
I do not feel right. Arwith informed Talina. With a gasp, she bid farewell to the Benden Weyrleaders, and quickly ran up the steps from the council room to the queens weyr. She vaulted upon Arwith's neck, and quickly urged her dragon up and between.
"The bronzes!" Srene cried when Arwith was back-wining to land.
"Take Linith out of here now!" She cried, jumping down and watching as the four bronzes attacked and bled their kill. Srene just looked at her stupidly, and Talina was now in panic. She wasn't ready for this yet!
"If you don't take Linith out of here now, you will be forever exiled from this weyr!" The voice of N'bom came sharply from behind them. With a confused and hurt look, Srene called for Linith, who quickly came. They rose in the air and disappeared.
"You know what to do?" N'bom asked in a hurried voice, thick with excitement and anticipation.
"Y-yes." Talina stumbled. Her head was slowly becoming hectic. As the building confusion grew, she felt even more lost, so far from home. She felt herself clinging to him, but her sheer force of will allowed her to stand upright once more.
"Go!" T'lilhan urged Talina to the pen where they kept their wild game for the dragons. Arwith's mind was in a jumble as well, and slowly, instinct took over once again. With a surprisingly swift jump, Arwith was in the air and screaming at the other bronzes to move away from the feeding ground. They all dispersed and took to the newly carved ledges.
"Don't let her gorge!" N'bom's ragged voice was in her ear. Talina swayed uncontrollably.
With the bond that took them for life, Talina ordered Arwith to only blood her kill. The dragon, shrieking in defiance and hunger swung her head around to glare at Talina, her large talons ripping open the beasts throat. How she wanted to eat the warm entrails, but again, Talina forced her to only take the blood.
As Arwith finished her third buck, she seemed to grow. In radiance, not from the gorging but from blood that dripped from her muzzle. As she brought down the forth, and sucked it dry, she let out a defiant shriek that almost defined those watching. With the important stroke of her large and strong wings, Arwith was airborne.
And Talina was locked with her mind.