Studying Records ((Elisha))

[FireThorne]

Caidenth heaved a great, draconic sigh, aimlessly watching the wing in the sky practice above Telgar’s bowl. Triveni. The bronze snorted, the gust of air sending some dirt off his ledge to float slowly and quietly away. The low sun, orange in the sky, graced his hide with it’s hot rays, sending red fire along his skin. In the setting sun, he looked more crimson than bronze, credited to his dark coloring. If it was not obvious by now, the bronze would have to announce it soon, and not at all kindly. He was bored.

I know you are bored, Caid. His rider remarked dryly, sketching a few notes on the skin before him. E’riol, who was seated in the Records Room, was doing some research on Telgar’s flight history, noting how many riders the past Wingleaders had decided to use in Fall. If it fell more thickly than the rider guessed, he would have to adjust a few of his flight patterns. Blue eyes intent upon the skin, he had no time for his bronze’s amorous desires.

Stretching his expansive wings, the dragon slapped his tail impatiently down on his ledge, snapping his jaws in the direction of the Records Room. Elation abounds. Caidenth snapped in reply, his mindvoice dripping with sarcasm. It seems it does you no good to know anything but drills and patterns. You know Deluth is gone now, and yet—

Stop. It was one word, but it was low, and cold, and the Wingleader was clearly in no mood for the direction the conversation was heading. He was by no means a blind man, nor slow, nor ignorant, but what kind of dragonman would take advantage of a woman after she had been through so much? Rumor traveled in the weyr faster than dragons through air, so it was no surprise many knew of what happened between the Weyrwoman and bronzerider. Personally, E’riol detested the man, but there was no room for personal feelings in his position. At least…not that he could show.

Caidenth paused, aware that he somehow touched a nerve with his rider but unsure of why. Dragons changed mates all the time, so he did not understand why E’riol thought courting Adeloth’s rider would be so….inviolable. Snorting again, the bronze wished he knew if the lovely gold was busy or not. He would start FOR them, if he could.

[brimstone81]

Elisha had come into the Record Room laiden with recently copied hides. She had given R'net a different task and took this one as her own. Now she had to organize the room. She walked in and depositied the random hides on the table nearest to the door and sighed. There were a few record skins that had fallen to the floor and she stooped to pick up one. Never had she seen the room so distressed. Well she planned on fixing that. She loved to organize and looked at a few hides scattered on the tables. They ranged from past clutch charts to thread charts. She didn't even notice E'riol until she turned around and bumped into him. "Oof! Oh, dear me, I'm sorry,"

She straitned her skirt and then looked up to the man, his knots declared him as a wingleader. "Terribly sorry, bronzerider. Uh, I didn't hurt you, did I?" She was sure she did not for he was bigger than she was and well, she hadn't knocked him over, just sort of ran into him. She was the smaller and thus received more damage (though that being none at all other than a slight embarassment and surprize.) and was pretty sure he wouldn't be angry with her. All the same, Elisha was polite and lady-like at all times so she wanted to make sure everything was fine.

She smiled, trying to make things light, "Not getting hidebound, are you? I think I might be enough for the two of us." Elisha loved reading and writing. Some people who were bitter with her might have even called her hidebound, though never right to her.

Caidenth is a very lovely bronze. He spends more time with me than with Beynath. If Adeloth remembered anything, it was those bronzes who found it fit to avoid her. And there was one that she probably would not forget. Not right now, any way.

[FireThorne]

Several records scattered before him, E’riol made quick, precise notes on the blank skin he had brought with him, his sharp blue eyes missing nothing, After studying quite a few hides that recorded thread patterns and injuries sustained, the Wingleader stood and rolled them back up and deposited them accordingly. Zahra, rule breakers, were still rule makers, after all, and had a professional reputation. Something the bronzer wanted to uphold. Pulling a few skins on flight formations from their respective shelves, the ex-solider turned at the sound of a sigh, watching with veiled surprise as the Weyrwoman filled a table with an armload of records. Quirking a brow, he strode over her way, wondering what she was doing with such a large amount of skins. He was sure it was something vital for the Weyr, though—gold riders always had more duties than many would expect.

Curious as to which records she held, and wondering if he could glean anything from the new skins she had just brought, E’riol came up behind her and was about to announce himself when she suddenly turned and ran right into him. As a reflex, the bronzerider reached out a hand to steady her, but found that the Weyrwoman had steadied herself. He let his hand drop. “Not at all, my lady.” The Wingleader replied, inclining his head to the woman before him. He had not had the pleasure of spending much time with Elisha, but it was not from lack of want. It was merely the result of his duties to Zahra. “I hope you are unhurt as well, Weyrwoman.” The hilt of his sword hung just about where her stomach was….He hoped it did not hit her.

When she smiled and teased him about being hidebound, the Wingleader grinned in reply, actually glad to have a break from studying his records. While it was true his passion was weapons and flight patterns, E’riol was also a man, even though a dragonman. He was human as well. “My lady, I believe I am past ‘getting’ hidebound. I spend much of my time studying records….much to the dismay of my wingriders.”

Caidenth was extremely pleased with the new development. With Adeloth’s speaking to His, he could find out about the lady queen. Stretching his wings, a red dragon in the sun, the Wingleader’s bronze gave a short bugle. Inquire after the lovely Adeloth, my hidebound rider. I wish to make my duty to her.

E’riol inwardly scowled at his dragon’s amorousness, but nevertheless inclined his head to the woman and inquired after her queen. Otherwise, the bronze would constantly badger him, and he would not be able to concentrate on the Weyrwoman. Your duty?

It is my duty to ask after the Queen and give her my most sincere compliments. You would do well to follow suit.

The Wingleader barely managed to keep his irritation off his face. He gave Elisha a small smile. “Caidenth asks if Adeloth would be awake at the moment; he would like to make his duty to her.” E’riol said, then added, “As do I, my lady. I hope to find both you and Yours well this eve?”

[brimstone81]

“My lady, I believe I am past ‘getting’ hidebound. I spend much of my time studying records….much to the dismay of my wingriders.”

She smiled and then laughed, "It is a surpize then, that we have not bumped into eachother sooner. And pray tell why your wingeriders might be dismayed. Is it because you spend more time in study then their revelries?" She smiled again. He was a nice looking fellow, and well read, too. Probably smart, then, and would probably assume, like her, that thread would be falling again

She sorted a bit when E'riol spoke once more. His wording, though formal, sounded a little intimate to her, but then again, there were plenty of armourous riders talking to her. And Adeloth, though the dragon expected it. Elisha none-the-less told Adeloth of this, Love, Caidenth wishes to admire you, I think. To which was the prompt reply: Tell His that I will meet Caidenth at the lake. Elisha returned the small smile. "Adeloth will meet your bronze at the lake. She likes her swims. And as for me, I'm holding up pretty good. Adeloth is in excellent condition. I trust you are well, not too overworked I hope?"

[FireThorne]

E’riol felt a half-smile tug at the corner of his mouth when the lady laughed, rather thinking that she fully understood what it truly meant to be hidebound. The leaders of the weyr spent more time in the Records Room than many riders knew, researching and planning. “Dismayed, my lady, because they know that as I study, the more patterns I orchestrate for them to learn. They are excellent fliers, my riders, but I constantly challenge them with intricate formations.” Quirking a brow, the bronzerider raised his hand towards the table Elisha had dropped all of her records on, indicating them. “It seems you spend more time in study than revelries as well, lady Weyrwoman. What is it that has taken up your studies so intensely, if I may ask?” The man had spent much of his time looking over the skins of records Telgar had to boast, and might be able to aid her.

Inclining his head to the lady, the Wingleader relayed her message to his dragon. Adeloth will meet you by the lake. Elisha says she likes her swims. Do try not to make a fool out of yourself. He knew that Caid loved to tend to the golds, but he needed to watch his back. There were other bronzes with their eyes on the senior queen, ones that had called Telgar their home for far longer.

The bronze snorted. Have you forgotten which of the two of us is the smooth talker? Caidenth asked, a haughty smirk in his mindvoice. Rising from his ledge, the large dragon stretched his wings and leapt into the air, gliding effortlessly across the bowl towards the lake. His hide gleamed red in the bright sun, causing his whole body to be cast in moving fire. A smooth landing gave credit to Zahra’s skill, and the Wingleader raised his whirling eyes skyward, awaiting the golden Adeloth.

The bronzer smirked in reply to his dragon’s arrogance, unable to keep the somewhat bemused expression from his features. Caidenth loved to show off for the golds, but the only thing he loved more was to flirt with them. The bronze was a smooth operator all right, but that did not mean the lovely Adeloth would choose him over all the Telgar dragons she had to choose from. “I hope he does not offend you, Weyrwoman. My Caid has an adoration of the queen that he will not allow me to ignore.” E’riol smiled fully at the goldrider, once more inclining his head to her. “I am glad you and Yours are well, and I thank you for your concern. I, too, am shouldering my responsibilities well.” The Wingleader’s expression changed then, his smile melting into a slight scowl. “ My largest concern right now is keeping my flight formations flexible enough for Threadfall. It is difficult to keep my riders prepared when I do not know what to expect of a Fall myself.” He spoke surely, as if he did not doubt the return of the dragon’s ancient enemy, a menace since the dawn of their species.

[brimstone81]

“Dismayed, my lady, because they know that as I study, the more patterns I orchestrate for them to learn. They are excellent fliers, my riders, but I constantly challenge them with intricate formations.”

She smiled, she was never in a fighting wing, but of course the riders she was close to were, and she had seen them in practice. Elisha could appreciate the hard work they did, and knew that intricate patterns were no day in the park. "Tut tut, don't go working them too hard, else I have a lot of tired riders on my hands." Especially if thread returned, if they found practices too tiring, moral might be down for the real thing, but she was just teasing E'riol.

“It seems you spend more time in study than revelries as well, lady Weyrwoman. What is it that has taken up your studies so intensely, if I may ask?”

Elisha looked blank for a moment and then nodded in realization. She looked to the stack, "Oh, those, no I was just restoring those. They are nothing in particular, just the oldest skins redone for your reading pleasure. I still will need to sort them out again, but I think I could stay there for a day or two while I get other things in order. Much to be done as a Weyrwoman. More so than when I was just a junior, but I knew that. It's just-"

She broke off. Elisha was not going to go into that right now. The queenrider looked at E'riol as he went on. "There is no offense, Wingleader. I am well aquainted with bronzes." She grinned at him. "I am not a little girl, and I know how things work. Do not apologise. And I am glad you are finding your spot as Wingleader comfortable. I do not doubt your abilities. Riders have told me you are fair Leader. So what do you do when you're not reading in here?"

[FireThorne]

E’riol could not stop himself from grinning a little at Elisha’s words, lifting a brow slightly. He had never been ‘tut-tuted’ before, and it was more then a little amusing to hear her teasing reproach. “I’ll shall try not to, my lady, but I have sent them to their weyrs grumbling more than a few days.” Though he said it lightly, jesting, there was some truth to his words. The bronzer was a good Wingleader, and a good man, but he did expect much of the riders under his command. Zahra was, after all, known as professionals. Excellent fliers, yet jokers and rule-breakers. Their Wingleader was the embodiment of that reputation.

Quirking a brow, looking over the large stack of skins, the man shrugged, taking one of the records and unrolling it. “I could put them away for you, if you like, Weyrwoman. I know you must have many things to attend to.” Scanning over the contents of the hide, blue eyes quick and sharp, he found it ironic that he held one of Telgar’s Wing records. They had just been discussing drills and patterns. “I spend much of my time in here. Putting away a few records as I study would not be no inconvenience.” Setting the skin back on the table, E’riol focused his gaze upon the goldrider once more.

She broke off her sentence, as if she had said too much. The Wingleader gave her a curious look, but he would not push her to divulge her secrets. The ex-soldier could understand that she had much upon her shoulders, but wondered if she truly had someone to share her burdens with. After all, with the Weyrleader now.....ah, better to not think on it.

I think on it much. I yearn for Adeloth’s Flight. Caidenth said, still sitting at the lake’s side, awaiting the queen’s arrival. The bronze sat patiently, straight, but with his muscles practically burned in his effort not to preen. He wished to look good for the gold, but he did not want her to think he thought himself grander than she. Nothing was more magnificent than Adeloth.

Ignoring his dragon, the bronzerider grinned a little mischievously at Elisha, leaning against the corner of the table with his arms crossed. “You probably know more about bronzes than I, my lady.” Chuckling a bit, E’riol inclined his head to the queenrider at her words, pleased to hear that she had faith in him. It was good to learn she held confidence in his abilities. “Thank you, Weyrwoman, I do try to be a fair commander.” It was hard to drop the terminology of his upbringing as a solider, a warrior. Grinning, the Wingleader wondered if he should let the goldrider in on the many pranks he enjoyed pulling on his wing in his spare time. “When I am not reading, Caid and I are usually trying out new maneuvers, or I am practicing my swordplay. I was raised as a Guard at Fort, so I enjoy sparring. What about yourself, my lady?” E’riol did not want to delve too deeply into his history, since she may not be interested.

[brimstone81]

“You probably know more about bronzes than I, my lady.”

She laughed a little and nodded, "That could be true, I get to know quite a few bronzes through Adeloth. She likes to tell me about them." Elisha looked at the stack of records and picked one off the stack, and then looking breifly for it's correct spot. "I'd really appreciate the help, E'riol."

Meanwhile Adeloth made her way to the lake, landing as gracefully as a bulky queen could. Her hide shone in the light, and she was very aware that she was the object of every young bronze's desires. Or at least that was what was deep in her rider's mind and she picked it up. Adeloth reguarded her companion for the eve, Greetings Caidenth.

"I know you to be a fair commander, no need to persuade me." She answered him with a smile. She did not mind his terminology at all. After all she had grown up in holds with guards and the such, though she never much paid attention to them until she got to the metropolis area of Telgar. "Sparring, fighting, well that's not for me. I worked with herds growing up, and then I was apprenticed to the scribe craft before coming here. But I like to read and socialize and mostly I have organizational duties." It might be nice to have a Weyrleader soon to take up more duties. Perhaps I had been too foolish to let go of D'rian so soon. She thought to herself for a moment before sliding another record into it's proper place.

"Have any children, E'riol?" She asked causually, taking another newly copied record out. She was curious to know about the bronzerider.

[FireThorne]

E’riol took the record he had just looked over, as well as a few others, and followed the Weyrwoman over to the skins, easily finding the place the hide with the wing record belonged to. That particular area was one he frequented quite often. “Not a problem, my lady.” He answered, scanning another skin and locating it’s place. The Wingleader spent many afternoons studying as his bronze sunned or admired the queen, but he was still tanned and muscular. Though the ex-soldier studied long hours, he was up before the sun announced the dawn, practicing the sword and keeping his muscles honed. A dragonman always had to be at the peak of physical condition.

As his rider filed away record skins, Caidenth watched the golden dragon glide towards him, admiring her loveliness as always. Adeloth was a lady queen worthy of every bronze’s desire, and she held it. As she landed, the Wingleader arched his neck and bowed his head to her, unable to resist trying to show off for the dragon a little. Greetings to my queen, Adeloth. Your hide gleams brighter than the sun. He said, mindvoice very sincere. I do hope you are well, lovely gold.

The Wingleader filed away a few more records, surprised when the Weyrwoman revealed a bit of her history to him. “You worked in the Beastcraft, my lady? I have a brother who is a Beastcrafter at Fort. Though, my other two brothers were trained as guards like me. My father was the Captain, so we admired him greatly.” E’riol was glad to hear her confidence in him, and it made him feel a bit more comfortable around her. He had hoped she agreed with his training techniques. “I am sure you are very busy with your duties for the Weyr, my lady, but I do hope you find time for yourself. Every woman deserves to he happy.” The bronzerider had a soft side for women, having been raised as a gentleman and warrior by his father, who taught him respect.

Returning to the table, E’riol collected another few skins and begin to file them away, a half-grin tugging at the corner of his mouth as she mentioned children. The goldrider had called him by his name, and not his rank. He hoped she would not mind if he did the same. “None, my lady Elisha. I have not yet found....a lady with which to share my life.” Smiling at her, the Wingleader slipped the last hide he held into it’s proper place, inclining his head to her. “And yourself?”

[brimstone81]

I am good, Caidenth. I am happy to hear that you are fine. Adeloth crooned. She was pleased at how he complimented her, though to tell the truth, she expected it. She would accept nothing less.

Elisha was secretly relieved that E'riol was helping her sort. He had something about the beastcraft hall, and she nearly laughed. "Oh, I was never in the craft. Never an apprentice for it, I should say. The few goats and sheep my mother had were for her weaving, and neither of us were beastcrafters. I was just in charge of watching them while my mother took care of my younger brother at the hold." While her mother was alive, it would have been impossible to be sent to craft. Utterly impossible. Was it not she who wanted to go to the healer craft but her mother would not, could not, allow her? There were too many responsibilities like the herd and Nevon.

Then he said every woman deserves to be happy. Her job was to try to make every one happy, and she knew this was impossible. She was trying to make the Weyr stronger, though she could not please every one. Elisha thought she was happy once, being a junior queenrider, with the love of a bronzerider and a little son. Now, her personal life had fallen apart, but still she remained publically strong. Was she happy? She supposed she was, though it was not the kind of elation she always had associated happiness with. She nodded to him, but was silent on the whole subject.

Then he mentioned that he didn't have a woman to share his life with for children, she smiled at him, "I have found in my life that long time commitment and children have seldom to do with eachother, milord." She was a little surprized that he had called her by her first name to her face. Few did that to her now, usually only Marisol, and those few riders closest to her. She did aknowledge him by his name, not rank, mostly because she felt she had right to, as his superior. But she found that she didn't mind being called Elisha by him, she sort of liked the sound of it coming from him. "I have one son who's very young."

[FireThorne]

Caidenth felt his eyes start to whirl as the gold crooned her reply, pleased that she had enjoyed his compliments. He would give her so many more if she would just allow. She deserved every clever and sweet word he could weave for her, and then much more. It is a good thing to hear you are well, my queen. One such as you should always be so. The bronze watched her, adoringly, so desperate to make her his own but knowing that she would have her own mind about that. Come Flight time, the dragon always sounded to sure to others that he would win, but deep down he knew that everything rested upon the lady’s whims. It all came down to if he had earned favor with her, or not. I could stand before you and admire your beauty all eve, golden Adeloth, but would you wish for a swim? He asked, wishing above everything to make her happy.

The pile of records were growing smaller and smaller, E’riol noted, carefully taking a few more of the fresh skins and sliding them gently in their respective places. “Forgive my ignorance, my lady. I know precious little of crafts since I was a Guard.” He apologized, grinning at himself. Well, he was good at making a fool of himself, that was for sure. “Did you not wish to pursue weaving as your mother, or perhaps a different craft? Or were you Searched before you had the chance?” The Wingleader wondered if she had enjoyed the crafts she practiced as a child, and was just yet another youth that had been swept away at the thought of Impressing a dragon, like himself. As a boy, the man had thought of nothing but swords and honor, and his greatest desire was to become Captain one day, like his father. Yet, when Searched, the idea of dragons and flying for glory and Pern had replaced all of that, leaving nothing but a burning ambition to Impress. Much changed when one had to chance to call the Weyr home, even when one had not considered it once in the entirety of their lives. Was she the same, or had it been her goal all along to Impress?

Her silence was enough to convince the bronzer that she did not share his sentiment. The dragonman wondered if she was just not happy, or if she did not think it realistic for all women to be content. E’riol knew that his views and morals were not always quite sensible or rational, but they did not have to be. Just because the Wingleader thought all women should be happy did not mean they would. It just meant he wished they were. He would have asked her, outright, but he knew that etiquette denied him that, for it was not his place, or right, to question his ranking superior on such a personal level. Unfortunately.

“I have found that Flights and children also have seldom to do with each other.” E’riol replied softly, snapped from his reflections by her words. The greens that Caidenth had flown…well, their riders were less-than-pleased with being pregnant, and many of them had gone betweening on purpose to abort the child. The others that had not, had found that riding a dragon had denied them their baby anyway. The Wingleader was a busy man, true enough, but he still would have found time for his own son or daughter, and would have been glad to. There were precious few people that he considered himself close to, his Wingseconds being some, and a few of his riders. However, he knew from experience it was a bad idea to grow too close to your wingriders, for then they sought to take advantage of your friendship. No, he would not have minded a child….

Of course, there were others means than Flights to bearing a child, but the bronzerider was too much of a gentleman to take them. He did not want to indulge himself in the trysts with drudges and candidates that so many seemed to favor, for it was not in him to have something so fleeting or what he considered to be cheap. There was nothing in such a relationship, except lust. Of course, had he fallen in love, or at least found deep affection for a woman, he would have taken her if she wished for a child as well, but…Well, he did not exactly have the time for the amount of romantics that would take. He was a Wingleader, with far too many responsibilities to court a lady right now.

Milord, she called him. E’riol was certainly unused to that, but…He smiled. “Hardly a lord, my lady.” The bronzerider replied, glad that she did not seem to mind him calling her by her first name. They were both highly ranking, after all, though she still held above him. Far above him. Even though a Wingleader’s duties were vast, her’s were far more so. Ah, she had a son? The bronzerider wondered had if he been born from Flight, or love. Either way, it did not matter, as long as he held someone’s affection. “A son?” The rider wanted to ask by whom, but once more decorum stood in his way. “He is a handsome fellow, I’m sure.” He grinned, knowing how much parents loved to gush about their children. Usually. “What is his name?”

[brimstone81]

Caidenth was very pleasing to Adeloth, for she had loved to be adored and complimented. The gold of course was not won yet, but still she expected to hear such nice things from all her bronzes.What had Elisha once called bronze pairs? Oh yeah, brown nosers. But that didn't make sense to Adeloth. Shouldn't browns be called that? After all, they had brown noses. . . She waded into the water, I would love a swim.

Elisha didn't really have to think too much on the next few questions. "Well, actually, I didn't want to be a weaver. I had wanted to be a healer, but my father left my mother, and she had nothing. She couldn't afford to send me away to a craft. That's why I hearded her beasts and watched over my brother. She continued weaving to make us some marks, but it wasn't enough. It was never enough." It was a sad enough truth, a truth she was never afriad to give, though she was never one to bring it up. Elisha didn't particularly care to be pitied there were plenty of other people who had it worse than she. "But when my mother died, I was taken in by my uncle, and was then an apprentice scribe for some time before being Searched, and then Impressing Adeloth. The Scribe Craft isn't one that first comes to mind if you think about crafts much. I guess, I'm still a practicing scribe." She smiled and motioned to the pile she had copied over.

She was slightly surprized that he did not seem to know. Many had known, and all knew who the father was. Her boy was born in winning streak of Deluth, and while she was fairly sure he came to be from a flight, Elisha had still loved the boy's father, at least at the time. Already he had the looks of his father about him, and so when E'riol insinuated that the boy was good looking, she nodded. "His name is Elirian, he's a good kid thus far. I have high hopes for him. Though I think any mother has high hopes for their sons."

[FireThorne]

Caidenth waited at the water’s edge until Adeloth waded in, then followed her, though careful not to crowd her. After all, the bronze adored her more than anything, and wanted to make her happy. In truth, the Wingleader appeared very cool and in-command when he was before his wing, but he was a pushover when it came to golds. Especially one he admired like Adeloth. Though he had never had the pleasure of spending much time with her before, she was still always regal and kind with the weyr, and that more than anything endeared her to him. Do you like swimming in this water, my queen, or in the big waters? Though, neither are good enough for a lovely gold. By ‘big waters’, he of course meant the ocean, but the bronze had not heard the word enough to remember it.

E’riol was mostly silent through the lady’s words, occasionally nodding as she spoke, though his cobalt eyes were serious. She had been through much, it seemed, but he could detect nothing in her voice that would allow him to pity her. He had always known that the Weyrwoman was strong, for she had to be to hold a weyr together, but she was a tough one. The Wingleader was quiet for a few moments after the goldrider had finished, thinking on her words. The ex-guard knew from experience that anything of difficulty in one’s life only strengthened you that much more, but it still seemed cruel at times. “I seems that you are, my lady.” The bronzerider replied, smiling at her and the records.

As she continued, speaking of her son, E’riol was convinced the boy’s father was D’rian, considering his name. How had he not known of the child? Rubbing his chin with his thumb and forefinger, the Wingleader thought back. He had been at Telgar for....five turns now, so it was surprising that he had not heard at least some gossip of Elisha’s son. Of course, he had been rather busy with his new duties a mere quarter-turn after his transfer, and had not had the time for social activities since. In some ways, it made perfect sense. "Mothers do, my lady, and rightly should. It is a sign of love." E’riol slid a record deftly into place as he spoke, his voice low. Love...that word....

Returning to the table, the bronzerider was glad to see a mere few records left to sort, and he gathered them up carefully. “I have only been at Telgar for five turns, having been transferred here as a Wingsecond, so I did now know of your son. I suppose that, my lady, lends credence to my reputation for spending all of my time studying Thread patterns and flight drills.” Grinning at the goldrider, E’riol slid a few more skins into their places, having only two left.

[brimstone81]

I am accustomed to this water. Adeloth said simply, for she had not been to the big water for a long, long time. Adeloth's was needed here, and could not just go anywhere she pleased anymore, and definately not alone. I am sure that bigger water must be nice. Are you satisfied with this lake, Caidenth?

"My son has only been at Telgar for five turns as well." Meaning that the boy was only five in age. She smiled at him, finding is hard to believe that he did not know. He did explain and she did not push the matter or tease him for being hide bound. Elisha thought about Elirian for a moment. E'rian, or E'ian, or E'an? She pondered about his future honorific. He would surly Impress one day. But she did not speak on this. A mother always liked to talk about their children, and Elisha smiled softly when thinking about hers. She was not a breeder, like Adeloth, and treasured him even more. She could have talked about him more, but that would not be polite, especially when they could not exchange stories.

She was curious about him. He was a bronzerider after all, and there was a good chance that he might win Adeloth come the next flight. Any bronzerider had a chance, especially when the previous favorite was not around anymore. Elisha favored no one herself, and always was pleased to meet a new bronzerider. She wanted to get to know him, for in case of flight, but also she liked to know all about those around her, period. "So tell me more about yourself, like what you like and don't like, and whatever you want to share with me."

[FireThorne]

Caidenth dipped his head under the water, the protective lid sliding over his faceted eyes as he plunged through the lake. His metallic hide wet, the sun flashed against his body, the rays lighting the crimson bronze and bringing the look of fire to the dragon. Near him, the golden body of the queen flared in the light, her hide blazing like a brilliant gold flame in the sun. She was radiant, and the wingleader could only watch her adoringly, desiring to make her his mate but knowing full well her favor would not be easy to gain. The big water is indeed pleasant, my queen, but the pleasure of your company makes this small water far more inviting. Caid replied sincerely. Are you in want of anything, my queen?

The Wingleader slid the last two records into place, straightening and stretching to work out the knots that had slowly began to loosen in his back. Though studying so long had made him stiff, his muscles were gradually relaxing, and he was starting to feel the reassured, cool tension return to his body. The ex-guard was always alert, his muscles and lean sinews constantly taut and ready to act with lightening reflexes, something that had been drilled into the man by his father. ‘Never let your guard down ‘ was his advice. It was something he bored into all of his soldiers, and he made sure they took it to heart, and lived by it. “We have both known Telgar for only five turns.” E’riol said in amusement, smiling at the goldrider. “I trust he finds it as pleasant as I?”

When she inquired about him, the bronzerider was surprised that she wanted to know of him, considering. Many riders found him to be a bit aloof, slightly cold even, and not very interesting at all. True, he had an fascinating past, and he himself was a curious individual, but not many had even bothered to ask of it. Usually, they were too busy marveling at Zahra’s sly tricks, or cursing their cleverly maintained professional appearance. Gesturing towards the table, E’riol politely pulled out a chair for the lady, smiling slightly. “Would you like to sit, lady Elisha?”

Seating himself at the other side of the table, E’riol looked at the queenrider, rather unused to someone being so curious about him. He was a Wingleader, and was generally thought to be a rather ‘untouchable’ sort of man, one who was always immersed in his records, or his swords. Boring. “I suppose I would have to say I enjoy being a Wingleader, and that is my main interest.” The tall man said, crossing very capable arms over his lean chest. “I like the challenge of creating new flight patterns and testing them in flight, and trying my strength and mind against the adversity of the sky.” The ex-guard grinned a little, unable to completely mask the devilry that burned inside him. “Of course, dragonlore and drills are not the only thing that holds Zahra’s interest, but I am sure you are aware of that, my lady Elisha.” He said with a low chuckle, then continued. “Raised as a guard, I also enjoy swordplay, and practice much with what free time I do have. I also collect weapons, especially rare or unusual swords. I have many armaments hanging upon my weyr’s walls.”

After the bronzerider started speaking, the words seemed to come to him easier, and he found that he enjoyed speaking with Elisha. “As far as my dislikes, my lady, I have few. Obstinate riders would be one, and self-righteous holders that seem to think riders have outlived their usefulness.” Quite normally, E’riol did not speak so freely, but for some reason, he felt he could tell the Weyrwoman what he truly felt without worry. “What about yourself, my lady? Though little time I am sure you have, do you have your own pleasures?”