Reporting as Instructed (Janesa)

[kayla]

Kiaran had gotten the little firelizard egg settled in a warm - almost hot - and safe arrangement in her weyr, though it had been difficult to figure out just the right way to do it. She thought she would need to petition one of the weyrwomen about the possibility of getting some of the hot sand to cradle the little egg to give it the best start possible. With a last stroke of the egg's hard surface, Kia had left to go to Janesa's office as instructed.

Reaching her superior's office, Kia knocked gently on the door and waited to be told to come in before entering. Sometimes, Kia found Janesa's attitude to be amusing. She could not help but shake her head at how the older woman thought that because Kia was ambitious that she was eager to take over her position immediately. Other times, Kia found it completely infuriating, especially when the other woman made it difficult for her to do her own job because of her paranoia.

Right now, Kia just hoped that Janesa's frustration at her daughter getting to make the first choice over the eggs - a daughter which Kia knew Janesa did not favor - did not increase her paranoia concerning Kia's designs. That could create a very unpleasant atmosphere.

[brimstone81]

Janesa was at her desk working on stuff. Her egg was settled and hopefully it would hatch. She heard the knock, and with out looking, answered, "Come in." She needed to get some things settled. Were they now going to get their wine? Telgar or Benden? Would they get salted fish this year? How many herdbeasts did they have, and how many more could they sustain? She looked up, "Ah, Kiaran. I trust you got an egg?"

Of course she did. "I think we should look into training them to make work between us run smoother. Run errands, send messages. I think this would be beneficial. What say you, Kiaran?"

She wasn't going to harp on her about anything else. Janesa was in a pretty good mood, considering her usual ones. A firelizard was exciting. As long as it didn't prove to be a pest. Right now she wasn't even thinking about her protoge taking over for her.

[kayla]

Kia did not let out a sigh of relief, but only because that would be rude. She did respect Janesa, but the woman's occasional bouts of paranoia could be annoying. Instead she smiled warmly and nodded, "I think that'd be a great idea, if they're trainable."

Honestly, Kiaran did not know much of anything about raising or training a firelizard. If they could make life easier and work more efficient, that'd be wonderful. But for the time being she kind of saw what she hoped would hatch from her egg as just a great pet.

"Do you have any idea as to how to do that? I mean, I have to admit I did not think the rumor was even worth looking into because, until just a little while ago, I did not even believe that firelizards are real. So um... I'd be more than glad to train them together and to use them for work as well as just pets, but I really, would not have any clue where to start." Who even knew how intelligent they'd be? Some animals were pretty much dimglows.

[brimstone81]

Unfortunately, while she could manage her part of the Weyr, she had no experience with animal husbandry. She didn't know the first thing about training a firelizard. But now she needed to figure out how to prove them useful. "I think perhaps we should call in the resident beastcrafter."

A pet would be nice, no matter what. Afterall, there were only four eggs total, and to be with one of them was certainly a status symbol. If her egg hatched, she would reward the greenrider handsomely. Or at least fairly. A little shoulder ornament might be pleasant. She wondered if she could get her firelizard some kind of band for around the neck, or something. Maybe not clothes. . . but something nice. Maybe it would be more useful than her helpless children. Honestly, could any of them do a thing right? J'var had come back with out a promise of securing a spot with Jenafa, and he could hardly seduce the Weyrwoman. Janirsa would never get a chance for a queen, and Larissa, who has such promise, was determined to do nothing with it. She couldn't even successfully train her children, much less something that could not talk. What kind of offspring had she borne?

"Well Lady Jenafa said they looked real enough, we should just hope they hatch first. Though I think training should start right away. We need to consult some one with more knowledge in the beast area. Hence why we should talk to the beastcrafter here. He should know a thing or two about this. Maybe not firelizards, but how to start. If they are trainable." She leaned on her desk, "I've seen my fair share of hatchings before, and I know dragons eat right after hatching. When our eggs start to hatch, I believe it will be important to feed it. So make sure you didn't spend your money on a feral creature. Okay?"

She was about to dismiss the girl when she thought of something, "And were you going to tell me something when you came in? Or were you just curious of the eggs?"

[kayla]

Kia nodded, "I think speaking to the beastcrafter would be a good idea. Perhaps, if they are so similar to dragons, we could also get a Green Rider and his dragon to help us with training them? I don't know, that may be a silly idea." She shrugged slightly. She was still feeling rather giddy about the whole firelizard thing.

The Assistant Headwoman was quite used to Janesa's barbs, and rarely did any of them cause her any real consternation. A tough skin was quite required in order to be a woman with any kind of rank in the world, especially at Igen, and Kiaran had long learned not to allow Janesa to get to her.

"I had thought about that as well. If nothing else, feeding it by hand should teach it a kind of trust, possibly even dependence so that it will stay. My only question is how shall we know when they are ready to hatch? I doubt all the dragons will start humming over four tiny possibly firelizard eggs." And that was the biggest concern that Kia had regarding the little egg. She could quite easily stay busy and miss the hatching, though she was absolutely determined not to let that happen!

Then Janesa asked the question. "Oh. I'd completely forgotten. No, I honestly hadn't believed the rumors about the firelizard eggs, or rather I didn't believe them to be real eggs. I had come looking for you to tell of a situation that needed your attention. The head cook and the head of the creche are both arguing over the same girl. A..." She stopped to think a moment to remember the name "A Kelest. Apparently, she's made an impression on both of them - and I've seen her work, she's a good hard worker. But they both want her permanently assigned to their areas. Based on what I've seen of her work, my recommendation would be the kitchens, but the two are both arguing rather passionately about this."

Kia actually thought that the girl could eventually become next in line to be head cook, while she was good but not outstanding in the creche.

[brimstone81]

Janesa looked at her critically, and said, "Well, do you have one in mind?" Maybe she was soft on a greenrider. There were some pretty boys that rode green. Kiaran was a decent looking girl though, Janesa felt she could end up with at least a brownrider. She mused at the notion that Kiaran would probably even excell past both of her own daughters. Well she was a nice girl, but just a nice girl wasn't going to cut it. A woman had to have smarts, guile, and a determination. Kiarann was slowly showing her some of these characteristics, and her good sense made Janesa worried a little for her postition. Kiaran was a more than adequate replacement. But that needed to be one day far into the future. Besides, she rationed, the girl was far too young.

"Yes, you feed them once, and they'll end up being the pests that keep coming back for more." She had heard that about wild canines, and holdless too. Mangy bunch, both of them. She nodded to herself, making a mental note to keep bits of raw meat on hand. Maybe-"Since it is unreasonable to keep fresh raw meat on hand, perhaps we should use some dried meat to satisfy it first when it hatches? Long enough to keep it occupied as we send some one else to fetch good meat?"

She listened to Kiaran's tale, and nodded thoughtfully. As much as she knew Kiaran's judgement to be good, she wanted to hear both sides for herself. "Very well, I will take your view into consideration. I want you to arrange a meeting between those three and ourselves. Then we shall give the final judgement. Is that all then, Kiaran?"

[kayla]

Kiaran blinked at the question. Did she have a particular Green Rider in mind? No, they were just the ones who usually got assigned to tasks that the rest of the Riders would find to be small or petty or just irrelevant. And then she realized the implication of Janesa's question and chuckled a bit, "No. I just figured that most rankers would see the idea of trying to help train firelizards as too far beneath them to consider." While Kia was not yet interested in any lasting romance, she still rarely had even interludes with those who did not ride Bronzes or at least ranking Browns.

"Oh, I doubt they'll be pests. Even if we cannot train them, there were only four, and one of the others is held by the Junior Weyrwoman. At the very least they'll be unique pets which others will envy." She just hoped that that increase in standing would not bring negative consequences with it. Especially for Lara.

"Would tomorrow be a good time for you for the meeting? Its getting to close to dinner to try to get the head cook to come to a meeting today. If tomorrow works, I'll set it up for first thing in the morning."

Kia tried not to laugh as she continued talking to her about the idea of her being with a Green Rider! For starters, every one of them preferred men. No, if Kia ever settled down, it would be a Bronzer or a ranking Brown Rider. Nothing less.

[brimstone81]

Janesa nodded taking in her words. Kiaran was a good girl. A suitable assistant to any woman. Unfortunately Kiaran was saddled with a crotchety woman named Janesa. Oh well, it was one of the pitfalls of trying to get somewhere in life. "Yes, yes, I suppose."

Janesa nodded, "Then tomorrow it is. We'll have the meeting and decide once and for all." Though she knew one woman was going to be going home disapointed no matter what. It, again, was something that came with power and authority. There were things that had to be done that some people weren't going to like. "However I can't help but wonder why the girl can't just open her mouth and make a decision herself. And, for that matter, what is so great that they would fight so passionately for."

"Alright, you are dismissed, Kiaran. See you tomorrow morning." She nodded to the door. Hopefully nothing else would come up tonight and she could relax for once...