Little of Your Time

[elainsie]

It was the third time within a month that Landaras had recieved a complaint about a particular Holder of his. The first could have been written off as sour grapes, though he had inquired into it as he had also done after the second missive. But this last one, the one that implied not only was the man hoarding the earnings of the minor Hold but had been making unwanted advances on the wife of one of Landaras' closest friends, was the final straw. Landaras knew what he did and did not balk at the task, he had Turns of experience in dealing in such matters, but it was a nuisance. He was already so busy, and yet somehow Landaras would have to find the time to travel to the Hold, relieve the current retainer of his post and replace him with a suitable candidate.

Dark head bent over the consuming hide Landaras did not hear the footsteps of the fair-haired woman as she entered his office. Realising her presence had not attracted her Lord Holder's attention she crossed over to the large, finely crafted desk and perched herself on the edge. "Daras please don't tell me you, of all people, have forgotten that we were meant to be at the Weyr, oh, only about half a candlemark ago." Astonished eyes met the incredulous gaze of the Lord Holder as he lifted his head, the hide forgotten for the time being.

"That was today? Why didn't anyone come find me sooner?" Landaras shook his head, as he stood up from his seat, the chair scrapping against the flagstones.

Linae's eyebrows met in the middle of her long face, "You did actually forget? I thought you must have rescheduled and for some reason the notice had not reached us. Are you ok Landaras, this is not really a habit of yours." The woman scanned the Lord Holder's face, and it was a sign of how close they were that he did not turn away from her scrutiny. "You know if something is wrong you can confide in me, or Jamison. We arn't going to broadcast it to the rest of the Hold, however there is no need for you to keep everything so bottled up. No one but you expects you to be perfect."

Landaras shook his head again, this time a smile crossing his face, "I'm fine Linae, I'm not about to break into two, or have an anxiety attack, though your concern is rather touching. I just got caught up in reading that huge pile of hides, and no I am not perfect. If I was I would not have forgotten, I don't think the Weyrleaders will be too happy to have been kept waiting though. Is everyone ready to leave?"

"Yes, yes, they are waiting near the wineries. And I'm sure the Weyrleaders won't even mention your tardiness, not if they have half a brain." Linae slipped of the desk, her pale green dress floating around her. "But perhaps if you turn up looking like that they may have something to say. No, no, we havn't the time for you to change, you'll just have to come as you are though I doubt you are particularly concerned about your attire." Linae entwined an arm around Landaras' and proceeded to march him out to the waiting party.

Outside for the first time that day Landaras had to admit, privately, that is was quite a beautiful day. Although Summer, the heat was not unbearable, just warm to give you that good-all-over feeling.

This excursion that Landaras, and a number of his Holdfolk, were to embark upon, was a monthly thing in the warmer months while in the Winter they would have dragons from the Weyr sent to fetch them. Strange to think how his decision as an eighteen year old boy, new to the post of Lord Holder, had become a tradition some fifteen Turns later. And yet it was a good one, even if Landaras was the one to admit it.

The small party could be heard before they were seen as they made there way along the winding path to the Weyr. The general air was one of good spirits, and for certain members, anticipation. A number of attachments had sprung up between Hold and Weyrfolk alike, contributing to the children availabe for fostering, and those Holders with partners at the Weyr were perhaps most anxious to reach Fyr Amenti.

A laughing Linae pulled away from the group she had been chatting to and made her way back to Landaras. "Oh you'd have loved to have been a part of that conversation Daras, truly. Apparently the reason you have been holding back from marrying and getting yourself some children is because you like men, and not just men in general but a particular one. One that I myself have to confess I am particularly fond of, do you think you could guess who?" Linae broke off into a fit of laughs again.

While Landaras' face remained impassive his lips quirked slightly, "I think I can guess who, and I think we both know that I do not like your husband nor any man. I just don't see the need for a wife, I don't have the time for one, and that is something all women desire. Time."

Linae steadied herself, her laughter subsiding, as they approached the Weyr. "Maybe so Landaras, but at some stage you will need to produce an heir, there is no law saying you have to marry though I know most of Kijuju would like to see you settled. There have been other suggestions too...." Linae let the words fall between them.

"Like what? I take a mistress? No, even then I would have to devote time I neither have nor want to give." Landaras folded his arms across his chest.

Linae shook her head, "That is not it. It has been said, and by quite a few I assure you, that you should perhaps do as you promote for the rest of us and look to the Weyr for the prospective mother of your child. It's not without merit Landaras, surely you can see that."

However before Landaras could form a response they had arrived at the Weyr and the rider who seemed to have been awaiting their arrival.

[Desert]

Xealnaveth was not happy to be out of the Weyr at midday. Though he and the other hybrids were better able to handle a diurnal lifestyle than their wher ancestors, they didn't have to enjoy it, and Xeal was not. Summer was his least favorite season, since it meant that the sun was out longer. That did mean more time to bask and warm his bones -- hybrids had inherited that habit from dragons -- but the sun was just so infernally bright. He only had his eyes open marginally: enough to see what was going on, but not so much that the sunlight would blind him.

Ayeda stood with one hand resting on his armor-plated left shoulder, waiting with every outward appearance of patience. However, one could tell by the rhythmic twitch of Xeal's tail that one or both of them were getting tired of waiting. Skolth, ever present at his big brother's side, had his head buried under one wing while he dozed the afternoon away. However, as the group of holders appeared, their clamor woke the cephalo with a start; Skolth lurched halfway to his feet with a surprised hiss, tail lashing wildly. Xeal deflected the sharp drillspike from digging into his flank with the armored section of his wing and clipped the smaller hybrid sharply with the wingtip. Settle, baby brother.[/b][/color]

Skolth snapped his teeth irritably at the offending wingtip and sank back onto his belly, muttering in disgruntlement about stupid, loud, inconsiderate humans. Ayeda, having heard the comment through Xeal, suppressed a chuckle at the grumpy cephalo. Instead, as the group of holders drew closer, she took a step forward and put a welcoming smile on her lips. "I'm sorry the Weyrleaders couldn't greet you themselves, milord Landaras, but they had pressing business to attend to abroad, so you'll have to settle for me."

Xeal tilted his head and instructed Skolth to go round up the handful of kipepo assigned to help transport the visitors into the Weyr. It was a hefty drop into the Weyrbowl cavern, and astride a conventional flier like a duvalia or cephalo, the drop was accomplished easiest by descending in a tight spiral -- or in a stoop, but that was best done without non-rider passengers -- and such a trajectory sometimes didn't sit well with some non-riders. But on a kipepo, who with their odd wings could reach a true, steady hover, the ride down was much more user-friendly for those not accustomed to riding a flying beast. Skolth complied reluctantly, sulking across to the mouth of the cave and dropping into the cavern.

While that was being taken care of, Ayeda continued her conversation with the holders. "I am Ayeda, rider of duvalia Xealnaveth, who you see behind me." She executed a graceful half-bow at the Lord Holder and his entourage. Then, Skolth returned with the kipepo, and further conversation was suspended while the visiting holders were conveyed into the Bowl. Ayeda went up and touched Landaras' elbow to get his attention. "Xeal has requested the honor of taking you down himself, Lord Landaras," she said, and led him over to where her bonded waited.

In truth, Xeal had said no such thing, but it might have been taken as a slight by some for the Hold Lord to be conveyed by a mere brown-ranked kipepo, so it was the duty of the higher ranking hybrid to provide that transport. Ayeda's explanation had merely been a gracious white lie. While Ay brought Landaras up, Xealnaveth had stood, and now the big hybrid was stretching his wings leisurely. He dipped his head graciously in greeting to the Lord Holder, and even knelt down to bring his shoulders closer to the ground to facilitate mounting. Ayeda vaulted easily onto her bonded's withers, then held out a hand to help Landaras. Since this was an old routine, she didn't bother giving instructions; he'd likely know to use Xeal's foreleg as a step-stool to help him get up.

Once his passenger was aboard, Xeal stood up; he waited for the kipepo ahead of him to finish their descents to give him more air-space to work with, and strolled casually to the edge of the cave mouth. Then, he fell. This was routine; what wasn't was when he didn't open his wings to turn his fall into a glide. Instead, he continued to free-fall, angling his body into a steep dive. He didn't leave it until the last moment to pull out -- that was fine for showing off, but with a passenger inadvisable -- but with the speed he'd built up, an abrupt transition from dive to swoop was inevitable. Xeal's hind legs touched the Bowl floor gently, followed by his forepaws, and the duvalia folded his wings smugly from his artistic landing.

Ayeda mentally scolded her hybrid for pulling that stunt, and hoped Landaras wasn't too spooked by the sudden aerobatics. Xealnaveth one again dropped his forehand to the ground and waited with languid, wry patience for the two humans to dismount. Ayeda swung off with the same agile grace as she'd used to mount -- no trick Xeal pulled would ever unsettle her -- and looked up at Landaras, her expression betraying her mild concern.
[/size]

[elainsie]

As the Lord Holder and his entourage had approached the Duvalia rider, Landaras had had the distinct impression he had seen the woman before. Of course with his frequent visits to the Weyr it was likely he had seen her around at some stage but his mind niggled at something else. Why could he not recall, he had such a good memory most days and yet is seemed as if today it had fled him enitrely.

Landaras extended a hand as Ayeda approached, holding her own finely boned between his much larger one, dipping his head in acknowledgment of her welcome. He glanced up at her face trying to discern where he recognised her from, her features were too unique for him to mistaken her for someone else, however it was her name that gave the game away. Ayeda; she had been the mysterious girl who had one day just appeared at his father's Hold and proven herself quite the combatant. Landaras supressed a smile at the memory, instead returning to the moment, though with a greater degree of ease.

"There is no need to apologise, and I would hardly call it settling when a Duvalia and his rider are sent out to greet my friends and I." Landaras turned to acknowledge the hybrid, and on second thought the Cephalo as well. "In any case I should be the one apologising, we are late and the blame lies solely on my shoulders." Landaras did not feel the need to embellish on his exact reasons, who knew what offense may be recieved had he explained a recalcitrant Holder been the reason for his standing up the Weyrleaders or their delegate.

The Lord Holder stood back as he allowed his Holders to make their way to the Kipepo, privately amused at the rather child-like air surrounding his friends. Although these visits were frequent it was still somewhat of a deal for his Holders to ride upon the back of a flying beast, even if the trip was only a short one.

He glanced back at the woman as she addressed him once again, explaining that he was to take her Duvalia down into the Bowl. "I thank you both for such an honor, while I doubt I hardly deserve it, I accept nonetheless," Landaras replied as he followed Ayeda to Xealnaveth, rather excited himself over the prospective ride down to the main portion of the Weyr.

Landaras dipped his own head in response to the Duvalia's acknowledgement, before clambering up the side of the hybrid. Ayeda had been right to assume he knew how to get himself upon Xealnaveth's back, the Lord Holder's tall frame making it easy to propel himself from knee to back, and while he hardly needed the hand to help him up, he made use of it rather than snub the Duvalia rider. Adjusting himself so he was as confortable as possbile between the neckridges, he awaited for the moment when the ground would fall away form underneath them as Xealnaveth took to the sky.

He had been quite enjoying the ride and the aerial view to be had when Landaras realised their descent differed to what he was used to. The Duvalia, rather than descending at a sedate pace, seemed to be aiming at a rather steep angle towards the ground. The only sound to escape his lips was a short intake of breath, before he clamped down on the side of his mouth. No, he could not reveal his anxiety, the Duvalia must surely know what he was doing, Landaras just had to trust in the dragon and his rider. Nonethless Landaras' fists were white from gripping on tightly, and it was with relief that he noticed they were levelling out, the ground no longer rushing towards them at a high speed, the slight bump indicating they had not only hit the ground, but actually landed.

Landaras awaited Ayeda's descent before following her, not quite as gracefully. Outwardly there was little sign to indicate his fright, although his heart still thudded quickly in his chest and he could taste the metallic tang of blood from where he had bit too hard down on his cheek.

"That was...exhiilrating," he remarked with a small smile for Ayeda, before turning to the Duvalia and bowing his head. "Thank you for the ride, it was certainly memorable," he swivelled back around.

"I'm a little at a loss, to be honest, as what to do. As you probably know the Holders are permitted to mingle with those riders and weyrfolk who are currently unoccupied, but I was to discuss a few things with the Weyrleaders. Did they give any indication of what I was to do when I did arrive? Did they have anything of importance to pass on?" The Lord Holder wondered if perhaps the trip was to be redundant on his part. If that was the case he would have been better off back at his Hold finishing the never ending pile of work that was demanded of him, while his Holders had gone off to the Weyr on their own; after all they were not children, they hardly needed his watchful presence.

[Desert]

Xealnaveth rumbled a soft chuckle. He'd felt the Hold Lord clamp down nervously around his shoulders during the dive and could easily sense the leftover fear in the man; however, Xeal's personal estimation of Landaras rose considerably, considering he managed to maintain a convincing amount of aplomb despite his trepidation. The big hybrid nodded briskly, and remarked to Ayeda, I like this one. He has more courage than many of his underlings.[/b][/color] Ayeda suppressed a smile at this pronouncement though she agreed entirely with it. Compared to most men his equal in rank, Landaras at first blush was a much more easygoing, pleasant person, and his reputation according to his holders backed up this impression.

Ayeda sent Xeal on his way with a fond slap on the leg and turned back to Landaras. "The Weyrleaders instructed me to entertain you however I saw fit until their return, but they may not be back for some time, so I also have instructions to convey you back to your Hold should you desire to return before the rest of your entourage." She shrugged. The Leaders would have been there themselves to exchange words until their appointment beckoned, but since Landaras had run late the two duvaliariders had gone ahead and departed, leaving their resident diplomat to deal with the visitor whenever he showed up. "If it's questions you have, I will try to answer them to the best of my ability, but being neither a Wingleader or Second I probably don't have the quality of information you're looking for. I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

While his rider was in conversation with the Holder, Xealnaveth was trying to ignore Skolth. His adoptive brother was especially energetic at the moment, and was trying to convince him to playfight some. The cephalo prodded Xeal's shoulder repeatedly with his tailspike. Come ooooonn, big brother! Please?[/b][/color]

Without opening his eyes, the duvalia quickly unfurled one wing and shoved Skolth, sending the smaller hybrid tumbling tail over tusks backward. In the same movement Xeal was on his feet, forepaws splayed in a draconic play-bow, grinning wolfishly. Skolth scrambled upright and leaped into the air to try and come down from above unexpectedly, but Xeal moved too quickly; the big hybrid tucked his chin into his chest, wrapped his forelegs around his chest to cover his face, and mantled his wings so that the hardened sections closed over the un-armored sides of his neck. When Skolth came down he was met with a ball of hard black shell against which his drillspike was impervious. Xeal shuffled backward a pace under the weight, crouched on his hind legs, tail braced against the ground for balance, then opened out again. Skolth slid down his back and landed in an inglorious heap on the floor. Before he could recover Xeal had spun around, still rearing, and slammed his forehand down onto the cephalo. Skolth rolled out of the way with an alarmed squall just before the armored top of Xeal's head collided with the ground where his abdomen had been moments earlier.

Ayeda watched the playfight with one eye, smiling slightly to see her bonded in action. Both sparring hybrids uttered mock-snarls and growls or yelps from time to time, but neither meant ill to the other. Sometimes, if Skolth left an opening, Xeal would take advantage of it and while he had his baby brother pinned point out the error, and make Skolth repeat the maneuver until it was perfected. To an onlooker not native to the Weyr, it would look at first like the two hybrids were in a serious fight, but once they noticed the pulling of blows, it would no doubt be perplexing.
[/size]

[elainsie]

Landaras shook his head, "Please, there is really no need for the apologies, and it's not so much questions as just a couple of issues that have cropped up, neither of which are overly pressing and can wait, I assure you. But you're entertaining of me is not keeping you from more pressing things is it? If so feel free to relieve yourself of me. I know my way well enough around the place, and it is a rather nice break from the Hold matters I was immersed in up until our departure." He had noticed the general hive of activity around them, the Weyr certainly seemed busy this afternoon, and was sure Ayeda had many other things she would rather be doing than attending to him.

His gaze travelled from her to the raucous sounds of the 'fighting' hybrids. Grey eyes widending in surprise he looked back to Ayeda but noticed her tolerant smile and relaxed a little. If the two were to inflict serious harm on one another he doubted the woman would stand by watching with amusement. "What exactly is it they are doing?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued as he watched the unusual doings of the hybrids, the little one seemingly losing out to the bigger Duvalia.

It seemed Landaras had been standing a little to close to the commotion for just as Landaras had posed the question a huge cloud of dust puffed up as Skolth fell to the ground, and with mouth still open the Lord Holder copped a moutful of the powdery substance. Coughing as the particles pervaded his lungs, the Lord Holder would have laughed at the ironry had not his chest already been tight from the removal of dirt.

By the time he finally had his breathing under control tears had streamed from the corner of his eyes, and he was coated lightly in a fine film of dirt. "Perhaps it was lucky after all that I do not dress up as Linae expected," he said more to himself than for the benefit of Ayeda. Dusting himself off as best as he could he realised the futility of it and knew he painted the rather dishevelled picture, certainly not befitting Linae's idea of a Lord Holder.

He gave a shrug of his shoulders, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Do forgive my appearance Lady Ayeda, I would ask of you a place to perhaps wash off but that may seem rather inappropriate. It's probably best if I return to the Hold to clean myself up and allow you to return to your own devices. I can come back another day when it is more convient for your Leaders to receieve me and I assure you I will be on time." He glanced again at the hybrids who had seemed to have not cared in the slightest over his predicament, and he could hardly blame them. After all it was just a bit of dirt, and yet others did get so fussed over the 'wrong appearance.' Landaras knew if he stayed his cousin would be scold him for a sevenday that he had paraded around Fyr Amenti looking like he had been working in the mines all day.

[Desert]

Ayeda saw Landaras look at the two sparring hybrids in alarm, and the half-smile on her lips widened. ""Actually, one of the reasons the Weyrleaders had me do this is because I currently have nothing else on my plate for the day. And there's no need to worry about Xeal or Skolth, they're just playing. They won't actually hurt each other. If they do you'll know it. Xeal has no pain threshold, and neither does Skolth." If one of them was injured, he would set up such a fuss that half the Weyr would be roused. It was quite comical to see the usually collected duvalia or snarky cephalo creeling like weyrlings with their talons caught in their wingsails, at least until the hybrid in question fixed his mirthful audience with a quelling glare.

Skolth was slammed, once again, onto the ground. This was routine since Xeal was so much bigger, but the duvalia usually dumbed down his game when he sparred with his baby brother unless he felt like being the instructor from hell. Apparently he was in one of those more sardonic moods today, because Skolth barely had time to slither away before the big hybrid's saber-fangs snapped together inches from his head. He tried striking out with his tail, but Xeal caught the limb in one paw and used it to sling him aside. That was a particularly rough move, and Skolth let out a piercing squeal of pain and scrambled away. Xealnaveth skipped backward a pace as the cephalo lurched upright, tail lashing wildly, and promptly scampered off into one of the myriad of tunnels honeycombing the Weyr.

Oops. I hope I didn't hurt him too bad,[/b][/color] Xeal commented, eyes wheeling with a spurt of contrition.

Ayeda patted the duvalia's tail soothingly. "He'll be fine. Give him a few hours and he'll turn back up after he's had a sulk." This was a common occurance with unbonded hybrids: like dumb feral beasts, even the most amiable ones when frightened or hurt badly enough tended to either strike out at the cause of their discomfiture, flee, or more often a combination of those.

She turned back to Landaras as Xealnaveth went to get a snack and wait for his baby brother to forgive him, and almost chuckled at his comment. "Perhaps you forget, milord, but even the best of us here at the Weyr have plenty of times when we get rather grimy in the course of the day. And please, don't call me 'lady', it's not a very fitting title for me." She smiled modestly and ignored Xeal's scathing snort. "I'm sure the Headwoman has some spare clothing and a place for you to clean up, if you prefer not to go back to your Hold like that and raise any eyebrows." Since the man seemed to have a decent sense of humor, Ayeda let her own have more free reign, instead of guarding her tongue strictly as she would woth most other Hold Lords.
[/size]

[elainsie]

"Is that so," Landaras responded upon Ayeda's explanation of the hybrids' antics. Still, he winced as Skolth was grabbed by the tail and pummeled into the ground by Xealnaveth; surely that particularly maneouvre would have earned the cephalo a number of scratches and bumps. He watched the retreating hybrid scamper off as Ayeda reassured her bonded.

Landaras' eyes were light with amusement at her comment. Yes, if the woman who now stood before him had retained anything of the girl who had presented at Kijuju Hold during his mid-teens he could understand why she would not believe the title Lady suited. As a teen he had been in slight awe of her, the self-assured girl a couple of Turns his senior, who fought unlike anyone, male or female, he had seen before. How much had her time at the Weyr honed that ability? What changes had it wrought? "And yet your position as a Duvalia rider makes it deserved. But I will make you a compromise, I'll drop the 'Lady' if you will do me the same service. I hear my title enough that if one less person says it I highly doubt I will forget myself. Have we a deal?"

Landaras was amused by the woman's wit, glad the Weyrleaders had chosen her as their enovy. If he had to spend time away from he wanted to be doing most, completing his work, at least it seemed he had a rather entertaing companion. He considered her suggestion of visiting the Headwoman; of all his options he could see the possible implications. That was just one of the problems he faced as a Lord Holder. There was always someone who had to read into a siutation for more than it was worth. If he went back looking the way he did there would be, as Ayeda predicted, upraised eyebrows. Also leaving so soon could be misconstrued as rude and no doubt cause some insult to someone. However washing himself and changing into clothes here would also set tounges wagging; Landaras able to come up with just a few of the scenarios he could almost already hear circulating.

Well let them talk, he finally concluded, as long as the general opinion towards him, as a Lord Holder, was amiable, what did it matter if he supplied them with fodder for their gossiping and postulating. Everyone needed some outlet to get them through the day.

"If it's not too much trouble I will take up the offer to change then. I'm sure all I need is a damp cloth to wipe myself down, it's not as if I've been rolling around in the mud. But a change of clothes would be appreciated, anything that's remotely close to my size will do."

A high pitched squeal broke through the conversation, and before Landaras had time to steady himself a blurrish streak collided into him, grasping around his waist, and squeezing tightly. Taking a step back to support his and his hanger-on's weight, Landaras looked down fondly at the fair-head.

The young girl, a child of thirteen turns, let her arms drop by her side, beaming smile on her face as she looked up at the Lord Holder, before glancing down at her heads and turning up her nose. "Uncle, you're dirty. Why did you come visit us looking like that?" The girl waved her hand up and down Landaras' body, in the perfect imitation of her mother.

Lanadaras gave a knowing smile to Ayeda over the child's head before replying, "If I'd known I was going to see you then maybe I would have put in a little more effort. But as I thought I'd just be meeting with the Weyrleadres I decided I'd come like this." He gave the girl a wink and toussled her hair.

Lamias rolled her eyes, but then her excitment once again transformed her back to the child she was. "Guess what, uncle, guess?" But before Landaras had so much as formed a word on his tongue, Lamias rushed on, "I'm a Candidate now! I get to stand for the next Hatching whenever that is." Then, as if only just realising the presence of Ayeda the girl pvioted around on her foot. "When do you think that will be? Will Xealnaveth chase, Ayeda? I think he should, he's so wonderful and handsome that any Queen would want him to sire her clutch. And then I'll my very own duvalia, or kipepo, either one will do, though a duvalia like Xealnaveth would be rather nice." Lamias nodded her head as to emphasis the point. "And Unlce, you simply must be here when I do. You wouldn't miss it, would you?"

Landaras played the aghast look well, "Miss my favourite and only niece's Impression, hardly. Not even Thread could keep me from it Lamias, I promise." So technically Lamias was not his niece, in fact she was the daughter of his cousin Linae and best friend Jamison, but from a young age Linae had taken on the role of Landaras' older sister, and when Lamias had come along it seemed natural for him to think of the young girl as his niece.

[Desert]

Ayeda smiled. "A deal it is." Yet again, her opinion of Landaras rose, for it was unusual for a Hold Lord to allow, let alone encourage, many people to drop his title when speaking to him. She found herself warming up to the man, and her relaxed manner became more genuine; at first, having not met this Lord before, she had predicted him to be more like his peers and so had used her considerable acting skills to assume the role of cordial hostess. But, now that Landaras was proving to be a far more pleasant person than she had initially expected, she allowed herself to act naturally.

While Landaras was absorbed in conversation with his niece, Ayeda privately asked Xeal to have the Headwoman gather up a spare change of clothes and a wash basin for the Hold Lord. The big hybrid sought out the Headwoman's bronze firelizard and sent him to the errand. Meanwhile, Ayeda listened to Lamias and Landaras with a faint smile still hovering on her lips.

That smile widened into a proper grin as the girl turned to address her. Xeal crooned at the compliment and arched his neck coyly. "What do you think, Xeal?" Ay asked, turning to her bonded. He rumbled throatily and gaped a grin of his own, and apparently said something to his rider that elicited a snicker from the woman. She turned back to the other two. "Xeal says Evarsath should be Rising within a few sevendays, and he favors himself to win that Flight."

That's not quite what I said,[/b][/color] Xealnaveth pointed out wryly, letting Landaras hear him.

"I had to paraphrase, love, we're in mixed company." Ayeda slapped his flank fondly. Xeal hissed a snicker.

Just then, the Headwoman's bronze flit appeared over Xealnaveth's head and landed on the big hybrid's brow ridge with a smug chirrup. Ayeda thanked the little bronze and glanced at Landaras. "A wash basin and change of clothing are available if you wish to follow this handsome fellow," she said, and the bronze launched off of Xeal's head with a croon at Ayeda's flattery.

ooc; fah, spazzy Muse. e_e[/size]

[elainsie]

"Really? That soon? And of course he'll win, Navicularith is too old and that mean Hyiath is just a bully." Lamias' eyes grew wide with excitement, and she executed a cute little twirl of joy, hugging her arms around herself. "Thank you Ayeda, thank you Xealnaveth, if I don't see you before good luck in the Flight!" she turned and addressed the hybrid, sketching a bow. Shooting a glance over her shoulder, she adresses Landaras, "I better go now Uncle Daras, I am meant to be doing some chores and I am sure Ayeda can tell you what the Headwoman is like if she finds anyone shirking. But I just had to come see you, didn't I?" She stretched up to try and reach Landaras' face, and after realising what the girl was trying to do Landaras' knelt done, wrapping his arms around Lamias. The girl gave him two large, smacking kiss to his cheeks and an airy wave to Ayeda before flitting off to return to her chores.

Landaras watched her run off with an amused look on his face. "I'm glad to see she's settled in so well," Lamias had been one of the children from the hold to undergo the fostering system and it was clear she had flourished. Every time they sent children to the Weyr he felt a small pang of concern, not everyone was suited for the Weyr life and while they tried to get those who would be most adaptable there had been a handful of children who had not coped and were promptly brought back to the Hold. He rubbed the back of his neck idly, the chirrup of the firelizard catching his attention.

"Thank you for arranging that Ayeda, hopefully by the time I return I will be as respectable as I ought." His eyes shone with supressed mirth although his face remained as smooth and impassive as before. He looked to the bronze firelizard who was pacing backwards and forwards over the hybrid's head and followed the creature once it had launched into the sky. "See you both later," he called over his shoulder, dipping his head as he spoke the words, before quickly hurrying after the impatient firelizard.