Waiting For Royalty(Tags, Raelwyn)(Fin)

[Dreamer]

Yashma was well aware that the new Weyrwoman of Telgar was arriving that day. However, at this point in her life, Yashma was far from being impressed by that fact. Indeed, the older woman was becoming decidedly irritated by the lack of consideration these Goldriders possessed. It wasn't right that a Headwoman should have three different senior Weyrwomen in her career. It would have been hard enough with the changes in junior Weyrwomen, but Yashma was very much above middle age and didn't want to have to change her style for another Weyrwoman.

And just when every had started to work out between her and Elisha to.

It simply wasn't fair, and she wasn't going to stand around in the Weyrbowl waiting for the Queenrider to arrive. Instead, she'd dispatched the current favorite for her successor, and continued on working through all of the various paperwork that should have already been done(if there hadn't been the frantic moving around with both of the Telgar Golds moving out), and waited for the girl to bring the new Weyrwoman to her.

It wasn't entirely proper, of course, much like this notion of changing senior Weyrwomen wasn't entirely proper. Yashma, however, felt that having the Weyrwoman be brought to her was a lot better than waiting in the Weyrwoman's office doing paperwork. That really wouldn't have looked right. Besides, everything she needed was right here.

And it wasn't as if she changed the chair in front of her desk from it's normal stool to an actual chair, with a cushion, and armrests. Well, she was trying to make this smooth, and Yashma needed certain facts from the Weyrwoman before the woman could run off to brief the Wingleaders.

Then, from outside of office came the noises Yashma associated with the silencing of gossip. Someone was coming, and Yashma paused in her paperwork, looking up expectantly at her open door.

[FireThorne]

What a fix this was.

Raelwyn sighed for what could have been the hundredth time, eyeing her new weyr critically. Her possessions were strewn on the sleeping furs, her clothes laid out as neatly as possible beside them. The goldrider was generally far more organized than this, and she hated seeing her room in such a state. She would have loved to take the time to settle in a bit, but a protégé of the headwoman had already requested her presence at her office. Yashma, that was her. Rael never forgot a name.

Well, at least they are trying to give us a warm welcome. The new Senior Weyrwoman remarked, noting the freshly-changed glows and neatly swept floor.

In appearance, anyway. Aeriath replied dryly, sniffing her new couch. This is satisfactory enough, but none of the bronzes have made their duty to me yet. I am not a pleased queen.

Grinning slightly at her dragon's imperious tone, Rael shook her head, turning to pad quietly out to Aeriath's stone couch. Don't worry, love. I am sure they just do not want to bombard you with praise upon arrival. Scratching the queen's eyeridges until she relaxed and closed her outer lids, the lithe woman smiled softly. Better, Ari?

Better.

Good. Now let's go. Stepping quickly onto the gold's outstretched foreleg, Raelwyn leapt up and settled with a graceful ease born from turns of practice. The Weyrwoman scowled lightly as Aeriath dropped from her ledge, gliding lazily down to the bowl. She would have to meet with the Weyrleader next, and get acquainted with all of the wingleaders as well. Rael knew of them, of course, but they had much to talk about. Especially with her taking over the senior queen's duties instead of merely the juniors. She and Ari were the only pair transferred to take the position of Senior Weyrwoman upon reassignment, and they both intended to do well with their new home. Even if they weren't exactly thrilled with the change.

Aeriath was aware of many dragon's gazes upon her as she circled down, and arched her neck proudly, knowing the sun would paint her sunny-gold hide in iridescence with every movement. Let them look! She was their new queen, and she was worth watching.

Chuckling softly from her perch, Raelwyn kept her thoughts to herself on that matter. Even goldriders knew when to keep their mouths shut, sometimes. Once on the ground, the Weyrwoman slid from the straps and landed easily, patting Ari on the shoulder before striding into the weyrhall. The queen trilled lightly for a moment, watching her rider go, and then leapt upward, choosing to sun on her ledge where she could be seen.

Raelwyn strode through the weyrhall, hearing voices silence around her as she walked. Of course she was the talk of Telgar, no doubt, this High Reaches junior who took Elisha's place. Aside from Telgar's pointed disagreements with her birth-weyr, Aeriath had never clutched a gold, and now this 'untried' pair were to lead them all? Rael smirked to herself. She and Ari would show them.

After asking a drudge to take her to the Headwoman's office, Raelwyn noted the open door and smiled slightly. That was a good sign, at least. The Weyrwoman could practically feel the eyes on her as she moved, the silence that came when she neared anyone. Standing her full five feet and four inches, the goldrider strode into the office before her, not surprised to find the headwoman looking up already. Pausing as she came in the door, Rael smiled kindly, but her voice was professional. "Hello Yashma. I hear you have some things to discuss with me?" She moved to stand before the desk, but waited to be offered a chair. No sense in alienating her new Headwoman by acting too high-and-mighty, right?

[Dreamer]

When the very pretty, young, blond Weyrwoman(Greenrider's might have worn the same clothing, but they didn't have quite the same presence, so Yashma barely bothered to double check the shoulder knots for rank), stepped into Yashma's office, she attempted to get up quickly. Unfortunately, she wasn't quite as swift on her feet as she'd once been, and it too a few seconds to stand. Keeping the flash of humor off of her face(a Redhead, a Brunette, and a Blond- three different Weyrwomen, three different haircolors), Yashma moved on to the next step in greeting her Weyrwoman properly.

Planting a firm, professional smile on her face, Yashma reached out her arm across her desk, intending to clasp the woman's forearm in a traditional Dragonrider greeting. If Raelwyn didn't reach out herself, Yashma would drop her arm, with no hard feeling apparent on her face. After all, some people didn't like to be touched.

Mentally wincing about being a good three or four inches taller than her new Weyrwoman, Yashma motioned with a hand down at the Raelwyn was next to.

"Please, if you would like a seat?" Yashma offered, before taking hers back. After allowing a few seconds for settling into the chairs, Yashma continued speaking.

"This doesn't have to be a very long meeting, I'm aware that the Wingleaders are practically chewing stone in their eagerness to meet with you," Yashma offered a shrug, as if to say Bronzeriders, "But I insisted on seeing you first." The woman smiled slightly, and then continued.

"I just need to know a few basics. Did you see your weyr yet, and was it acceptable, is there anything you didn't bring from High Reaches that you need, did you bring a personal drudge, and if not, would you like me to suggest a few girls, and-" Yashma frowned slightly, and then paused.

"Well, I suppose I'd better let you answer all of that before continuing."

[FireThorne]

Raelwyn noted with some hidden humor that her new Headwoman had several inches on her own lacking height, but kept it off her face. After all, she did not want her to get the wrong idea and assume Rael was amused by her. Clasping Yashma's proffered forearm, the Weyrwoman already approved of the elder lady. She seemed the professional sort, and that was something the goldrider appreciated greatly. She also returned the Headwoman's smile, not exactly open and friendly, but it was warm enough.

"Yes, thank you." The goldrider replied, sitting gratefully in the chair, happy to have a cushion and a comfy seat. It had been a long morning for her already, and she hadn't even accomplished half the things she wanted to yet.

That was quick, ridermine. She has earned your good graces so swiftly? Aeriath was sunning lazily on her ledge, yes, but she was terribly interested with how the other twolegs were going to treat Hers. Well, she was interested for the moment, anyway. It would not take long before the boring politics would lose the queen's attention.

She seems professional, Ari, which is something I can relate to and welcome. Raelwyn then quickly turned her attention back to the Headwoman, not wanting to miss anything she said. A little grin spread across her features when the elder woman spoke of the bronzers, amused by her airy disregard for them. Yes, the Weyrwoman could just imagine how eager they were. Even if she was a High Reaches rider, it was she and her gold that Telgar looked to now, and no doubt her next Flight would interest them...much. "That was wise of you. I do not think my meeting with them will be short in the least." Waiting for her to continue, the goldrider then nodded.

"Yes, I've already been shown to my weyr, and it was very satisfactory, thank you Yashma. Ari and I both appreciate your concern." Raelwyn smiled a bit at the Headwoman, then tilted her head slightly to the side, thinking quickly. "I am in want of nothing personal, no, but I did not bring a drudge with me. I would be grateful for your suggestions, of course." Rael then paused, nodding. "What did you need to discuss next?"

[Dreamer]

With intuition honed from turns upon turns of Headwomaning, Yashma mentally crossed seven girls from her prospective personal drudge list. She had a sense that most of the girls would be entirely unacceptable for this particular woman. Running her mind over the remaining girls, Yashma picked the top three. With a mental note to call the three to her office once the interview was over, Yashma continued on her business.

"Well, we have a lot to discuss, especially when it comes to Searching candidates and bullying the Holds into better quality Tithes, but that's not pressing, and that can wait until you've settled in some." Yashma considered, but decided against adding that they could cover those topics in great detail if she wanted to impress upon the Bronzeriders that she was a Queenrider and they waited upon her, and not the other way around. If the woman was a quarter the Weyrwoman Marisol had been, she'd think of it herself, and decide herself if that was what she wanted to do.

"Pressing includes whether or not you'd like me to have some food sent up to that meeting with the Wingleaders, and whether or not you'd like a feast held in your honor."

Yashma could have also added that the Weyr really could use the boost in moral a feast generally provided, and that one of her senior cooks was threatening to quit if she wasn't allowed something difficult, nor did she add that the provisions the Weyr had could withstand a feast and hold out until the next Tithe trains.

Okay, so maybe it wasn't her job as Headwoman to test a former junior weyrwoman and see if she knew anything about being a senior. But if she didn't do it, no one would, and it would be better if Yashma knew right away how much to trust the Weyrwoman with. And if it was everything, so much the better. Yashma didn't want to have to pull more than her own weight, that was for certain.

[FireThorne]

Raelwyn's gaze did not waver from the Headwoman as the other continued speaking, green eyes piercing. She tended to trust her gut when it came to Weyr matters, and it had never lead her wrong before. The goldrider felt it talking to her now, and she did what she always did. She listened. "Settling in would be nice, but I would rather see to Weyr business before my own comfort. I can do that after we are through." She replied, reclining more comfortably in the chair and swinging one leg over the other. Rael focused her stare on Yashma, letting a small silence stretch between them as she considered the elder's words.

"For the pressing matters, yes I would prefer some small refreshment for my meeting with the leaders. Nothing too fancy, as I don't want them to fall asleep on me; just some breads, fruit and klah...and a pitcher of redfruit juice, too, if you would please." Redfruit juice was the Weyrwoman's favorite drink, but she would tell Yashma that later...or let her figure it out herself. She didn't think they needed to start talking personally yet. Raelwyn then thought quickly about the feast, her sharp mind processing rapidly. "I would like the Feast to be held as well, since it would be the perfect opportunity for Ari and I to formally and properly greet the Weyr and her residents. As long as it will not tax your supplies too thinly, of course. Faranth knows these Holders are stingy with their tithes."

The Weyrwoman paused for only a moment, then continued. "Which is something else we will have to discuss as well. I will take a look at your records so I will know how our supplies are holding up." She was unused to not knowing exactly how much stock was left in the lower caverns, and felt odd unknowing if her feast would be too much. "I would also like to know when each of your tithes arrive from their respective Holds, and take a look at what they are sending, as well as the amount." Raelwyn fully intended to begin 'bullying' these new Holders for their subpar goods, too. "I do not doubt your word the tithes are of low quality, but I would do well to know exactly how inferior the goods are before confronting the Holders."

Smiling a bit at the headwoman, Raelwyn inclined her head to the elder lady. "Of course, we cannot shovel all of that into one day, but just expect me to be down here quite a bit for a while. I would like to familiarize myself with everything as quickly as I can." Now the Weyrwoman searched for anything else that was pressing on her mind, but there was so much she needed to know, and it wasn't all just about the lower caverns. "Before we get into the other standard business, is there anything you want to know? I welcome any questions you have."

[Dreamer]

Listening carefully to everything Weyrwoman(and from the content of her conversation, Yashma was more than pleased to think of Raelwyn that way), Yashma nodded, and mentally selected a few tasks to be dealt with after the Weyrwoman left. First, to call up the three possible personal drudges, second to have a light snack sent to Weyrwoman's meeting, and third to call one of her grandson's to make a quick trip Between and make a trade for some more fresh fruit. Based on the Weyrwoman's lack of interest in wine, and the request for both fruit and juice, Yashma figured she might as well stockpile. It couldn't hurt after all.

"I would suggest three days hence for the feast," Yashma suggested, though she'd take no offense to whatever Raelwyn chose. "Most of the Wings have their free day in four days, as do the Weyrlings, so there'd be fewer irate Wingleaders." Yashma knew better than to consistently mess with Wingleaders, though she did find it irritating that most of them did not realize they Ranked the same as her.

"As for the Tithes, most of the older records are in the We- your office. I have a couple down in here, but I'll send those back up as soon as I've double checked a few figures." Yashma almost allowed herself to smile over the interest that Raelwyn was taking, but since it wouldn't have been professional, and she didn't have the prior relationship to allow unprofessional behavior to occur. Maybe in a few years, if she hadn't retired yet. And it hadn't even occurred to her that she might have been offended at Raelwyn's request. After all, Yashma would have wanted her facts straight too.

"Crom Hold should be sending off it's Tithe soon, and as far as our two Holds go, they are the worst. Telgar shaped up when the new Lord took over. That occurred almost four turns ago, you'll see when you examine the records." Yashma privately thought the change had more to do with the Lady than the Lord. Lady Telgar was raised in Benden after all, and they took Dragonrider's seriously. But, there wasn't even a scrap of gossip to back up her supposition, so Yashma didn't bother to share.

"But moving on from that." Yashma stopped, and took her time before continuing. As Headwoman, one of her duties was the inspection and training of suitable candidates.

"I'd like to be informed about what you decide to do in regards to candidates. But," Yashma paused, winced and offered unsolicited advice, "I'd hold off on making a decision just yet. The appearance of consideration on the girl issue is almost more important that what you decide." Yashma, feeling her duty to that uncomfortable issue had been dealt with moved onto a more pleasant topic.

"Do you have any rough estimate on when Aeriath will go through Flight next? And would you feel comfortable prodding the Wingleaders into allowing Searchriders going out early?"

[FireThorne]

Nodding as Yashma spoke, the Weyrwoman was grateful for her advice on the matter of the feast. After all, Raelwyn had just arrived in Telgar that same day, and she did not know their schedules just yet. Oh, she would of course, after she had her meeting with the Wingleaders and satisfied their curiosity, and hers too. Until then, however, she was running blind, so to speak. “That will do nicely, thank you Yashma. The less interference on weyr schedules, the better.” The goldrider knew that irate Wingleaders were more than just a little annoyance. Those bronzeriders were the strength of the fighting wings, and if they were displeased, then their riders suffered. That was not acceptable in Rael’s weyr.

“I shall start reviewing the records after my meeting, then.” The queenrider mused, mentally filing that away in her ‘to-do’ list. It was growing longer by the minute, it seemed. However, Raelwyn never flinched away from work, and she always merely steeled herself to plunge in headfirst. Maybe at times she was a bit impulsive, but no one could accuse her of ever being lazy. “That is perfect timing. I’ll arrange a visit to Crom after seeing the tithe.” Unfortunately, not all weyrs had the good fortune of Benden, did they?

It would be nice to visit outside to see what it’s like around here. Aeriath commented, her mindvoice drowsy. The sun was nice and warm, despite the winter chill, and it caressed her iridescent hide in the most wonderful way. The queen would soon doze off, she was sure.

Eyes narrowing on Yashma when the headwoman hesitated, the goldrider held still, waiting for the obviously awkward topic she was about to raise. Ah, the issue of female candidates, was it? Telgar had certainly been divided on that particular matter, she had heard. Greenriders gossiped worse than old ladies. Raelwyn already had her decision on that subject, but she would keep her own council as to when she would let it be known publicly. “I will let you know.” She replied, waiting for the next topic the headwoman wished to discuss.

Raelwyn genuinely smiled at her next query, far more pleased with the current topic. “Oh, Ari has a while before she will Rise again. A good eight sevendays, at the least. She’s like clockwork, my gold.” Tilting her head slightly to the side, the Weyrwoman regarded Yashma with a piercing gaze, her mind working swiftly. Now why would she want the searchriders going out early? “Why is that, Yashma? Are they waiting too long to Search, or is there another intention to it?” Rael again cursed her unfamiliarity with Telgar’s habits and schedules, hating to be in the dark about those in her charge.

[Dreamer]

"I'll make sure that the Crom Holders are informed." Yashma said dryly, fairly sure the Crom Holders would not be pleased. But that wasn't her problem, thank the Skies, and Raelwyn had probably been trained in dealing with recalcitrant Holders.

Thankful that Raelwyn didn't want to discuss the girl candidate issue with her, Yashma readied her arguments for Searching earlier than usual.

"There are two major reason. One, of course, is the sickness. When we Search, we'll have fewer options, and we have far fewer Weyrbred boys to be our Candidates. And secondly, because I'm understaffed, and having these Candidates will me out." Yashma shrugged.

"I'm going to assume the next clutch will probably be fairly large. And finding thirty or more suitable boys is going to take longer than we're used to. The labor won't be a drain on our supplies, because I need more laborers for upkeep. It's very logical."

Yashma thought about anything else she might need to cover with the Weyrwoman, and couldn't think of much else.

"Do you have any requests of me?"

[FireThorne]

Nodding again, the Weyrwoman inwardly smirked, rather certain the Lord Crom would be more than irritated when he got the message she was coming to visit. Well, he brought it upon himself when he slighted the weyr. Raelwyn was stubborn to a fault, and if he needed to be reminded of his duty to Telgar, then by Fall she would do it whether he liked it or not. As a matter of fact, it might even be fun.

Listening carefully as Yashma clarified her reasoning, the goldrider got the distinct impression she wasn’t just explaining her request; she was defending it. Rael had no intention of waving aside her concerns to begin with, of course, but she could see the Headwoman was very adamant about this. At High Reaches, none of her Search riders had complained about being strained for time when flying out, but then again maybe Telgar typically waited longer than her birth-weyr to Search.

Of course, that fact that the Headwoman was thin on help came as no surprise. Wasn’t everyone these days? Trying to flesh out their lives again after the devastation the illness brought was difficult for weyr, hold, and hall alike. Smiling slightly as the elder woman finished, Raelwyn was silent for a moment. She had not intended to accuse Yashma of being illogical with her query. “Yes, it’s reasonable. I will bring it up at the meeting this evening with the Wingleaders and have the Searches out early. I’m sure I can convince them to do so.” The goldrider was also counting on Ari’s latest clutch to be a good size herself, since there would new bronze blood after her.

The Weyrwoman also paused for a moment to think quickly. “No, nothing else comes to mind for today. Just wait a bit over a candlemark before sending up the food for my meeting. I have a few things to take care of before calling in the bronzeriders. Oh, and perhaps you could send one of the drudges you select to my weyr afterwards, to help me get things settled tonight, if you don’t mind.” With that, Raelwyn stood, satisfied with what she had learned and planned. “Thank you for your help, Yashma. I look forward to working with you further.” The queenrider supplied a little smile, showing the sincerity behind her words.

At the back of her mind, Aeriath’s connection dimmed and became calm. The gold was fast asleep.