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Post by neopanther on Jun 17, 2008 14:12:42 GMT -8
P’nset felt he had been placed in a slightly awkward position, his wingleader obviously had as much authority over his actions as the weyrleader did. And if B’nek was to withdraw his support for the campaign, then perhaps there might be a problem, with regards to where P’nset’s loyalties were to lay.
{Do not worry of it mine, it is unlikely that it will happen}
You have a good point there Sarjenth... P’nset still sounded undertain.
{You think you your wingmates correct?}
P’nset felt a little heavy hearted. Aye, they will be without their second, and their leader.
{I would trust J’fel had or has a plan regarding that, he would not be foolish enough – surely – to call you both here without an idea of what would happen with regards to your possibly leaderless wing, now, eh mine?}
Stranger things have happened. P’nset felt scathing about this situation. He would not give them information.
P’nset set this aside for a moment, more pressing things plagued his mind, “So, J’fel-sir, will you be gracing us with the details of these people’s demise? Or is it another thing you know of,and know nothing on?” His comment was unintentionally sharp, but P’nset’s temper was beginning to flare. The weyrleader was being tiresomely irritating. He did not intend it to be this way – but sometimes P’nset was a little too easy to display his emotions on a topic.
“My apologies, sir,” He said turning to B’nek, “With both of us on this... expedition, there will be none to lead your wing,” He turned to J’fel, “I presume you have something in mind Weyrleader?”
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Post by Invisible on Jun 17, 2008 15:18:50 GMT -8
What in Faranth’s name is a Rulf? G’tet wondered as first Selvagem and then J’fel mentioned it. I do not know. It sounds tasty. Well, whatever it is I think that leaves us out of the whole carting something unknown around. “I’d have been happy to take you, miss,” G’tet said to Selvagem with a grin. “Only Kalpeth already thinks whatever a Rulf is sounds tasty.” Which gets us out of whatever that is at least.
I was sleeping. Sorry, beauty. Go back to sleep. No, I am up now. What is going on? This time G’tet kept his laugh pent up. Only his eyes betrayed his delight in dealing with his green. A sudden thirst led him to the table to pour a glass of water. One he’d had a drink he looked back to the Weyrleader. At least we don’t have to listen to these others if we don’t want to. Could be fun doing things the way we want. I always do what I want. When I remind you to. Although he was now embroiled in conversation with his dragon G’tet kept an ear out for the Weyrleader’s answers. As for him, he had no other questions and was content to wait for orders.
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Post by Alsivor on Jun 18, 2008 8:58:29 GMT -8
The last of the riders acquiesced and Aleda watched the continuing byplay between the men through lowered lashes. Let them think she was mulling things over. J'fel's voice rang out again though:
"People have died already." and her head snapped up sharply, fixing the Weyrleader with at least as intense a look as he now favored for all of them. Dark eyes narrowed on him as P'nset asked his question and G'tet made light of Selvagem's animal companion, probably a dog. She had seen the girl about the camp with a dog, hadn't she? Her mind skipped over all of that, on to that serious statement of J'fel's. Perhaps rudely, certainly bluntly, she tossed her own question into the ring:
"When and where have people died, Weyrleader? If there are deaths already and it is truly the Plague again we have very little time." From reticence to focus. Aleda's hands curled around the back of the chair tightly, knuckles whitening a little. Though she had not the formal training of a Craft Healer, she knew too well the recited tales that Giana, her mentor, had taught her, of the symptoms of the plague, how quickly it spread, the means of transmission. Fear curled deeply in her belly, not for herself, but for Pern, for any who were likely falling ill right now if people had already died.
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Post by Omnia Munda on Jun 18, 2008 10:46:48 GMT -8
"An understandable sentiment," said J'fel, his eyes now dark but not unmerry and fixed quite carefully upon B'nek. "But not quite the responsibility to your cohort I might hope for, wingleader. Keep in mind that you do not act alone, but for the good of all people." He paused to allow P'nset's question, then murmured, "My own 'second will see to your wing, B'nek."
Again it was the sabedoria who demanded that the weyrleader provide information.
And he did.
"By the sea, Aleda. From exactly where it's come before, this thing can come again. This time, prevention must be permanent."
It was the darkest his voice had yet been.
"We're risking discovery every second you all stand here," said J'fel's voice then, or the voice that sounded like J'fel's at its richest, most resonant and powerful, a voice that promised he could be more weyrleader than he'd ever yet been. "Attend your dragons to Jordeth. Ladies," and of course he glanced at Selvagem and Aleda on this, his expression apologetic but darkly bright, "My apologies. I beg your trust on this, for I can do no better."
So it was to the riders assembled in J'fel's chamber, via their beasts, that the image came. Brilliant, clear, stable and perfect: an ocean horizon lit ruddy and gold by setting sun, the stretching spears of piers among the tide, the buildings of Igen Sea Hold.
On his ledge outside and above the receiving chamber, Jordeth blinked slowly, three sets of lids closing and opening again over whirling eyes. He'd done as J'fel demanded, though that demand had been wordless and strange; his contact with each of the dragons he'd been signaled to send the image to was brief and uninterrupted by conversation.
Still, he was not quite sure what had just happened. He might have guessed his rider to have been asleep all this time for all the contact they'd had. What are you up to, he wondered, softly - and got no response.
Disgruntled, Jordeth settled low on his ledge to wait. This would teach him to pay so little attention to his rider's audiences.
In his receiving chamber J'fel spoke again, once it seemed sure each of the riders had the image in question. His voice was low, as though now nerves had come upon him, fear of the 'discovery' he'd mentioned.
"Is it clear enough?"
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Post by neopanther on Jun 18, 2008 11:19:42 GMT -8
P’nset sighed, The weyrleader was becoming increasingly infuriating, and then – P'nset was pretty peeved at the whole situation, part of him was rigid with distaste at the whole it, but it could not be helped, he said he would help, and so he would. He would not back out now, besides it would be nice for the Caminar minority to remain up one rider.
Clear? Clear as mud perhaps. There was no information gifted to them.
P’nset slouched into a chair, his mind could not function correctly in that state. “So.” He said, “We’ve been given nothing. After all of that, we know people are dead, that it has come from the sea, two things we could almost certainly have justified ourselves.” P’nset’s tone was monotone, He was thinking as he spoke.
“I know, I do not have authority here, and I know we are set a task, and we are allowed to go about it as we please. I do, however, think that it would be most logical to stay together. Saboderia, Selvagem, I do not mind giving one of you passage, I would suggest it best if B’nek took the other – after all, we have the largest dragons amongst those here.” He stated, looking blankly at the floor, he was simply suggesting the logical to the room, “Undoubtedly if we are away, and investigating this.. this problem, we will be given supplies, and it is bet to burden the stronger of the dragons with the most weight,” His words were blunt. He was likely the eldest in the room; he could not see that any other would be older than he.
He thought slowly. Trying to piece together the fraught and sparse details the weyrleader had given them. He sighed, this was going to be a hell of a task.
Sarjenth conveyed the image to his bonded, making sure the image was as sharp and true as he had received it. This only furthered P’nset’s distress. Igen, of all places. The Sea hold.
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Post by Invisible on Jun 18, 2008 13:00:31 GMT -8
I will not forget Kalpeth told G’tet who wondered if that was true. Well, nothing to be done for it but hope they didn’t leave too far into the future. Show me where again G’tet asked of his green who did so with a little vocal trill of enjoyment. Somewhere different. Have we been there? I cannot remember. The greenrider laughed again and just grinned at anyone who gave him a look because of it.
Here it goes, Kal. Always with the ‘I should be the boss’ around fellows like that. Like the size of their dragon corresponds to the size of their manhood and that makes a difference. Like size matters. Neither of them could even catch you. Fast and agile, right, beauty? They cannot catch me. They can say what they like. Too true. Well, let’s just make it clear where we stand.
“Begging your pardon and all, but size doesn’t mean that much. Kalpeth could easily carry a passenger,” G’tet began with a grin. “And in times of trouble it’s a fast and agile dragon that’ll get you out of it more than some lumbering beast.” He winked at P’nset and B’nek to show no hard feelings. Not their fault they’d had the poor luck to not impress green. Which brought him to Aleda since he was already out of the running with Selvagem since she had some…thing. Bring the thing. We might get hungry. It was all G’tet could do not to laugh again and even still he couldn’t quite stop the little snicker from escaping as he tried to talk to Aleda. “Up to you who you go with, of course, but if you want to travel in style feel free to find me and let me know.”
That done he looked towards the Weyrleader. It was a look that asked permission to leave if the man had nothing else to say. He certainly had nothing else to offer. Pestering the man would get them nothing else if he wasn’t going to share. No sense worrying over what can’t be changed. What are we worrying about? Not a thing, beauty. Not one thing.
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Post by Alsivor on Jun 18, 2008 17:18:53 GMT -8
Once again, J'fel answered by not answering and Aleda sought his eyes out again. There was /definitely/ something she was missing here. Why wouldn't he just /tell/ them what Hold they were supposed to go to? How could they plan to stop a plague without information. By the sea. What kind of information was that? Nothing. Permanent prevention. That too. What was /that/ supposed to mean? He spoke in nothing but riddles and she fumed inwardly, letting her eyes snap at him. But then he was saying something about attending to dragons, but of course Aleda had no dragon partner and her lips pressed together firmly, nostrils flaring even as he apologized.
"May I ask what it is exactly that is supposed to be clear?" A little edge of impatience crept into her voice and her gaze settled away from J'fel this time and onto P'nset. Ah. Brownrider. Right. So his dragon would in fact be larger. Next she sought out Selvagem's gaze and gave the girl a little nod before her eyes moved on again to B'nek and G'tet each in turn. Maybe she was feeling perverse, or maybe she just liked the way the greenrider said that size didn't matter, but she inclined her head his way. "I would be honored to accept your help, greenrider. My thanks, to you."
Aleda lifted her chin and looked back towards J'fel. "For all the lack of information that leaves me unsettled and a little uncertain, we need to move quickly and make whatever plans we can with what you have told us. I have things to attend to, to prepare. Medicines to bring. By your leave, Weyrleader?"
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Post by neopanther on Jun 19, 2008 9:28:48 GMT -8
P'nset shook his heat, G'tet was still to naive where it came to dragons, he was tempted to tell the boy where he was wrong, that yes a green could easily carry anotther passenger, however, on a long flight where there would be not just a person, but a second person's worth of luggage, a Saboderia's luggage, a green might be more agile, but it would be stamina that counted, He was just about to speak; but Sarjnth's voice rumbled in his mind,
Hold you're tongue, there is no use in starting a quarrel before we depart.
That, I know. But it seems I have inadvertently impugned upon his pride. And he now has the front to say such things,
Let him bonded, let him. Kalpeth and Hers will learn soon enough. The brown faded out of his mind again, enough said.
"I apologise, G'tet, that was nott how it was intended. I meant no malice against greens, neither yours nor S'gurs" He dipped his head. Listening to the Saboderia, at least her journeying was sorted.
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Post by rigantona on Jun 19, 2008 13:48:49 GMT -8
"I thank you, Weyrleader." B'nek nodded, less than pleased about leaving his Wing alone, but glad that he didn't have to rush to find leadership before their departure. J'fel's Wingsecond would be competent, at least, although he was a trifle uncomfortable with the assignment. If he didn't know better, he'd think this was some kind of plan meant only to disrupt his Wing.
Look,[/color] Hyth said, and he delivered the picture to his rider. The sunset-stained horizon of Igen Sea Hold was almost beautiful, betraying nothing of the danger that was said to lurk there. Igen is good for swimming,[/color] Hyth added. B'nek couldn't tell if there was humor in the bronze's words or not. Yes. Thank you, Hyth.
"The image is very clear." Even if nothing else was. Once Aleda's ride was figured out, he inclined his head to Selvagem. "I'm willing to carry you as well, and I believe I could convince Hyth not to be upset by your pet. It's your choice who you ride with."
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Post by Omnia Munda on Jun 19, 2008 15:04:43 GMT -8
P'nset called what J'fel had given them 'nothing' and the weyrleader - young and obviously too-sure-of-himself weyrleader, deep-eyed and soft-smirked cocky weyrleader - he had the gall to shrug minutely and grin.
While the riders conversed about the business of passage for the Caminar women, Aleda got her answer; again the words came with an intimacy almost improper, though it was perhaps less strange this time what with the dragonmen speaking among themselves. "Jordeth provided their dragons with what I have to give them: the place where your investigations must begin."
Then J'fel lifted his glass again; he paused to give Aleda a look over its rim. Perhaps she earned this look because she'd asked for his leave and, for reasons professional or flirtatious, he hesitated to give it.
His gaze held its place upon the sabedoria, and there was for a moment the opportunity for Aleda to see a brief unfocusing in the weyrleader's eyes - as though he conferenced with Jordeth, of course, or as if he struggled to remember something important. The smile vanished, leaving his mouth slack and confused.
J'fel's free hand lowered, fingertips landing lightly upon the table as if to steady himself. Was it the strain of his thought or the depth of his fiery focus upon the Caminar woman that unbalanced him?
But then the weyrleader drew a deep breath and his pretty mouth found its smile once more. Shame she has to go, he found himself thinking, and finding the water glass in his hand, lifted it to his lips to wet them. He felt as though he'd been talking for hours. After his swallow he spoke, and on account of his voice being so tired and the deep feeling of certainty and accomplishment that filled his mind - they'd all agreed! - J'fel bothered no longer with enhancing his voice.
"The best time for you to go will be during the hatching. You'll know when, of course, by the dragons' humming." He raised the glass in a silent toast to the anticipation of that happy day, then set the glass down on the table, allowing himself a giddy sensation and a snuck glance at Selvagem. Deny it, candidate, I dare you. Telgar dares you. But Telgar won't have a Caminar weyrwoman on my watch.
The young bronzerider spread his arms wide, a gesture ostentatious in the extreme. "Thank you all. You know how important this is to everyone."
A nod to Aleda, then, and permission: "Go ahead." To the rest: "One or two at a time as you go, please. Better not to be known as a group." J'fel saluted them. He was ready now to part their company, or watch them part his.
And all the while Jordeth observed through his bond to the strange young man, feeling strangely as if he'd napped through something very important.
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Post by Alsivor on Jun 19, 2008 15:35:24 GMT -8
A brief flash of frustration crossed Aleda's face. So, J'fel refused to tell her and Selvagem where it was they were bound for. Lovely. She shoved the anger away from herself though. Easy enough to wheedle the information out of one of the others soon. Briefly she looked over each of the men again. P'nset perhaps ... he /looked/ like he had Caminar blood ...
Her attention snapped back to J'fel as his glass lifted and her eyes narrowed a little as his face slackened so. The momentary lack of focus did not seem unusual: she'd seen other riders do this as they conferred with their dragons in the last however many days. But the slackening gave her pause brief as it was. She pushed a smile onto her face though and tilted her posture just so to emphasize the curving line of her spine as she pushed away from the chair. Give him a focal point as she dropped a graceful curtsey.
"My thanks to you, sir," and she turned to go, then hesitated at his suggestion of ones and twos, heel half-lifted off the floor, head rotating to look back over her shoulder at the Weyrleader, the others in the room.
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Post by Invisible on Jun 19, 2008 18:28:07 GMT -8
Kal? I think the Weryleader has lost it. What has he lost? Did he ask around? When I lose things I ask you. No, Kal. He’s acting like…I don’t know. He’s making me nervous. When Aleda went to leave G’tet watched her and then watched her pause.
“By all means,” he said ever the gracious greenrider. “No one will trample a lady trying to leave. We shall await our turns.” G’tet poured himself another glass, content to wait for the others to go if that was their wish. However, if there was a lull he would show himself out. He stewed in his own thoughts, and what passed for Kalpeth’s own thoughts, until then.
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Post by Omnia Munda on Jun 23, 2008 9:43:45 GMT -8
He'd dismissed them, J'fel was sure of that; G'tet obviously knew it, and it was only the fact that one of his fellows hesitated that had him stopping, too. Think fast, thought the young weyrleader, one brow lifting in a most undiplomatic, aristocratic arch.
"Aleda."
Faster, he urged his brain, trying to clear the fog that he attributed to the great success he'd had with assigning this group to their task. And then it came to him in a flash and J'fel had to work not to smile.
"Will you come with me?" He tilted his head toward the back of the room, toward one of the doors which led to weyrs beyond, his and Aderes' separate quarters. "I have a few questions for the healer."
He didn't think to question his understanding of the duties of a sabedoria and he didn't pause to wonder whether she'd take his question to be an order and be offended by it and he most certainly didn't wait to see if she'd actually oblige him.
"Thank you all again," J'fel said instead, and turned from the table to retreat into his weyr.
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Post by Alsivor on Jun 23, 2008 10:10:42 GMT -8
The request turned Aleda back around slowly and she regarded the Weyrleader for a moment while he was still there to look at. Then she inclined her head very slightly, straightened her back and moved to follow after him. "Of course, sir." After his back was turned, there was a brief flash of humor on her face. Could this day get any odder?
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