Post by elainsie on Feb 10, 2010 22:24:23 GMT -5
Valeena, as the rest of the Weyr had been doing so for quite sometime, glanced over at her dragon Ailith looking for any physical sign that might suggest the gold was to rise soon. However Valeena could detect no such thing, and this left an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. What if she never did rise? For surely she was overdue to do so. And what would become of them if such a circumstance arose? For Valeena doubted greatly that D'myn would keep the pair around should they be of no use to him, should he be unable to manipulate them as he saw fit.
I will rise, have no fear Mine. It may not be today, or tomorrow, nor in the next sevenday, but I will rise and I will bear Black Sands the Clutch they so desperately crave. Ailith's reassuring tone did somewhat to calm Valeena, but the woman could not help feeling agitated. She did not like feeling anything less than in control and in her short tenure as Weyrwoman events had conspired to intensify the feeling that she was merely a bit piece, that she lacked any real power in the political games played out about her. D'myn seemed to do as he saw fit, with little acknowldegment of her equal rank and without informing her of his actions. Actions that had caused them the ire of a number of other Weyrs.
"I am Weyrwoman, for Faranth's sake. I have a right to know what goes on in my own Weyr," the words burst forth in a rare display of emotion from Valeena. "And then there is this nonsense with that Weyrleader, if he even is what he says. Why have I never heard of him before? Or of this Skrull Island? And why, if indeed they have kept themselves secluded all these Turns, make an appearance now?" Valeena's shoulders slumped visibly, a finger to her head head as if it could somehow draw out the answers she so desired.
For Valeena had her own ways of keeping an eye on Pern's doings, and interesting stories had filtered through. This B'acch had been sending unusal looking dragons to the various Holds dotting Pern and selecting certain females to back to his Weyr, or so Valeena assumed. Did this then mean he was looking for Candidates for a Queen egg? Or merely a pliable mistress? Despite chewing over that bit of information like a canine with a bone, Valeena had not managed to arise to any definite answer. However it did present her with a great opportunity, if he was taking women to his Weyr then there was a good chance she could get information about the man through such an avenue.
Perhaps she herself could make herself available at some Hold? But as soon as that idea came into her head, she arised to a rebuttal. It would be noted should she leave Black Sands for an extended period of time, and what would happen to Ailith, for the dragon would not be able to come with her. And merely the idea of the chaos D'myn might bring down upon all their heads should he remain unchecked whilst she was away was enough to send shivers down her spine. She required some girl that would perform the task unwaveringly. Then again, any girl could really be suitable, all it would take was a little help from any of the Miseries pledged to Valeena, and yet Valeena knew too little about the Skrull dragon talents to risk that. What if they could pick up on the mental interference? No, she needed someone who would have a will to carry out such a task for her, a desire to go through with it. And just like that the answer came into her head, so blindingly simple Valeena was amazed she had not arose to such a conclusion earlier. Dabria's daughter, Rosia.
Valeena knew little of the girl, but the information she had gleaned from the child's mother made her confieant in her choice. The girl was one to act impetously when she percieved hurt to someone she held dear. And Valeena would not even have to lie very much to manipulate Rosia to her will.
Ailith, please ask Rosia to come to my weyr as quickly as she can manage. Let her know it is in regards to her mother's death. The great gold dragon dipped her head in the direction of her rider, before picking through the minds of the weyrfolk, searching for Rosia.
The younger woman was seated on the black sands the Weyr had earnt its name from, staring out at but not seeing, the dreary landscape in front of her, when Ailith's melodious voice filled her head. The Weyrwoman requests your presence. It is concerning your late mother. Rosia was too used to the sound of a dragon's voice in her head to be very startled by Ailith, but she rose fluidly at the mention of her mother, and without question made her way to the Weyrwoman's weyr.
She knocked on the door once and at Valeena's insistence and entered her mother's weyr....no, no that was wrong. Valeena was Weyrwoman now, this was her weyr. Rosia cast a quick glance about the room, noticing the subtle changes since her mother's tenure, and inclined her head to the new Weyrwoman. "You have news regarding my mother's death?" The girl's intense blue eyes searched the Weyrwoman's face hungrily, looking for answers to questions that had haunted her for months now.
"Take a seat, please." Valeena gesture to a comfortable looking chair across from her, "And before I speak a drink perhaps? Something to eat?"
But Rosia shook her head, "Thank you Lady Valeena, but I want neither seat nor consumables. Please, just tell me what you know of my mother." The girl's voice shook slightly, Valeena noting well the fire in her eyes, the urgency Rosia ill-tried to conceal.
"Very well," Valeena herself deigned to sit while the younger girl remained standing. "What I tell you now I expect you to keep in great confidence. Very few know the truth of the matter, though some no doubt may have guessed as such. Do you yourself have any theories on the mater?" Valeena drew out her words, prolonging the moment, knowing each second she withheld the information from Rosia, the more impatient the girl was becoming.
"Of course, my Lady. But they are just that, theories and speculation, you seem to know what is more than that." Her eyes narrowed slightly as she appraised the woman who had taken her mother's place as leader of Black Sands. Little was known of Valeena's background, however anyone with half a brain recognised the woman's amibiton. Had it in fact been Valeena who had disposed of her mother to take her place? And was Rosia now hear for the Weyrwoamn to gloat over that fact?
Valeena pressed a finger to her dark lips, as if considering whether she really should continue in the telling, before moving her left hand to encompass the right one in her lap. "Very well, as a clever girl like you surely guessed your mother's death was no accident." Rosia nodded her head, she had suspected as much, though it still came somewhat as a shock to hear someone else give breath to it. "She was cruelly murdered, and I bore witness to it."
"So you did kill my mother!" Rosia took a long step up to Valeena, her hand balled into a fist. Valeena grabbed hold of the girl's hand holding the arm away from her with some difficulty, "Let me finish. I respected your mother, and while many may believe I wanted her dead so I could step into her place, I did not cause her death." Valeena lowered her voice so it was barely audible, and even then her eyes darted around the room. Who knew what spies D'myn had, whether or not she too was closely watched. The Weyrwoman bent her head, as if to kiss the younger woman's cheek, and spoke softly in her ear. "D'myn ordered her death, she resisted him publicly one too many times."
Rosia pulled away from the Weyrwoman, her face flushed with anger. "How can I know you speak the truth? And why wait so long to speak of this now, when the event you speak of occurred months ago. I am no dim glow, tell me what it is you really want?"
Valeena's lips her curled slightly, a glimmer of a smile. She was impressed by the girl's vivacity, her intelligence. And yet, despite both things, she still had little concern over Rosia deciding not to go through with her plan. For Valeena recognised the way Rosia itched to take action, to do something to avenge the grievance.
"You are correct to assume I want you to do something for me. There is no way either of us, or anyone of Black Sands could do much to right such a wrong. There is no knowing which people are his, and which are not. However there are others who have cause to wish him ill, who have suffered at his hands. I wish to learn more of one of these men before I seek to form any sort of an alliance. And yet I can not do this on my own, this is where I need you. Girls from Holds all around Pern are being selected by peculiar dragons to be taken to Skrull Island Weyr. This is no Weyr I have ever heard of before, and I have little knowledge of it's Weyrleader. I want to send you to a Hold in the hope you will be chosen, and so you can gain the information I require. I have thought long and hard about my options in retaliation to D'myn and this is the only solution, as feeble as it is, that has arisen. What do you say?"
Rosia paced the length of the weyr as Valeena spoke, her eyes not once leaving the Weyrwoman's face as she looked for some sign of subterfuge. She doubted the Weyrwoman had intended to be so candid and yet somehow Rosia had forced her to be. Or had she? How could Rosia trust anyone, anymore? It seemed everyone had an objective, some secret to hide. And yet surely this was better than doing nothing? For how much longer could she endure the constant routine her days had taken since her mother's death, that uneasy feeling that things at Black Sands were more than they appeared on surface inspection. This was her chance to either take part in it or escape it. Once free from Black Sands, who was to stop her from returning at all? But then again, it did not take too great a stretch of the imagination to see why D'myn may have wanted her mother dead. Surely a Weyrwoman who was answerable to him as opposed to one publicly against him would be more desirable. And the only way to gian the former would be to dispose of the latter, although it seemed in this D'myn may have made an error of judgement.
"And you truely believe if I do this for you, you will find a way to rid Black Sands of D'myn?"
Valeena shook her head, "I can't say with any certainity. I first need to suss out what type of man B'acch is. But until I do that we are at a stalemate."
Without giving herself much more time to think of the perils in assenting Rosia did so. "In that case I will do as you ask. When shall I leave and to which Hold?"
=-=-=-
I will rise, have no fear Mine. It may not be today, or tomorrow, nor in the next sevenday, but I will rise and I will bear Black Sands the Clutch they so desperately crave. Ailith's reassuring tone did somewhat to calm Valeena, but the woman could not help feeling agitated. She did not like feeling anything less than in control and in her short tenure as Weyrwoman events had conspired to intensify the feeling that she was merely a bit piece, that she lacked any real power in the political games played out about her. D'myn seemed to do as he saw fit, with little acknowldegment of her equal rank and without informing her of his actions. Actions that had caused them the ire of a number of other Weyrs.
"I am Weyrwoman, for Faranth's sake. I have a right to know what goes on in my own Weyr," the words burst forth in a rare display of emotion from Valeena. "And then there is this nonsense with that Weyrleader, if he even is what he says. Why have I never heard of him before? Or of this Skrull Island? And why, if indeed they have kept themselves secluded all these Turns, make an appearance now?" Valeena's shoulders slumped visibly, a finger to her head head as if it could somehow draw out the answers she so desired.
For Valeena had her own ways of keeping an eye on Pern's doings, and interesting stories had filtered through. This B'acch had been sending unusal looking dragons to the various Holds dotting Pern and selecting certain females to back to his Weyr, or so Valeena assumed. Did this then mean he was looking for Candidates for a Queen egg? Or merely a pliable mistress? Despite chewing over that bit of information like a canine with a bone, Valeena had not managed to arise to any definite answer. However it did present her with a great opportunity, if he was taking women to his Weyr then there was a good chance she could get information about the man through such an avenue.
Perhaps she herself could make herself available at some Hold? But as soon as that idea came into her head, she arised to a rebuttal. It would be noted should she leave Black Sands for an extended period of time, and what would happen to Ailith, for the dragon would not be able to come with her. And merely the idea of the chaos D'myn might bring down upon all their heads should he remain unchecked whilst she was away was enough to send shivers down her spine. She required some girl that would perform the task unwaveringly. Then again, any girl could really be suitable, all it would take was a little help from any of the Miseries pledged to Valeena, and yet Valeena knew too little about the Skrull dragon talents to risk that. What if they could pick up on the mental interference? No, she needed someone who would have a will to carry out such a task for her, a desire to go through with it. And just like that the answer came into her head, so blindingly simple Valeena was amazed she had not arose to such a conclusion earlier. Dabria's daughter, Rosia.
Valeena knew little of the girl, but the information she had gleaned from the child's mother made her confieant in her choice. The girl was one to act impetously when she percieved hurt to someone she held dear. And Valeena would not even have to lie very much to manipulate Rosia to her will.
Ailith, please ask Rosia to come to my weyr as quickly as she can manage. Let her know it is in regards to her mother's death. The great gold dragon dipped her head in the direction of her rider, before picking through the minds of the weyrfolk, searching for Rosia.
The younger woman was seated on the black sands the Weyr had earnt its name from, staring out at but not seeing, the dreary landscape in front of her, when Ailith's melodious voice filled her head. The Weyrwoman requests your presence. It is concerning your late mother. Rosia was too used to the sound of a dragon's voice in her head to be very startled by Ailith, but she rose fluidly at the mention of her mother, and without question made her way to the Weyrwoman's weyr.
She knocked on the door once and at Valeena's insistence and entered her mother's weyr....no, no that was wrong. Valeena was Weyrwoman now, this was her weyr. Rosia cast a quick glance about the room, noticing the subtle changes since her mother's tenure, and inclined her head to the new Weyrwoman. "You have news regarding my mother's death?" The girl's intense blue eyes searched the Weyrwoman's face hungrily, looking for answers to questions that had haunted her for months now.
"Take a seat, please." Valeena gesture to a comfortable looking chair across from her, "And before I speak a drink perhaps? Something to eat?"
But Rosia shook her head, "Thank you Lady Valeena, but I want neither seat nor consumables. Please, just tell me what you know of my mother." The girl's voice shook slightly, Valeena noting well the fire in her eyes, the urgency Rosia ill-tried to conceal.
"Very well," Valeena herself deigned to sit while the younger girl remained standing. "What I tell you now I expect you to keep in great confidence. Very few know the truth of the matter, though some no doubt may have guessed as such. Do you yourself have any theories on the mater?" Valeena drew out her words, prolonging the moment, knowing each second she withheld the information from Rosia, the more impatient the girl was becoming.
"Of course, my Lady. But they are just that, theories and speculation, you seem to know what is more than that." Her eyes narrowed slightly as she appraised the woman who had taken her mother's place as leader of Black Sands. Little was known of Valeena's background, however anyone with half a brain recognised the woman's amibiton. Had it in fact been Valeena who had disposed of her mother to take her place? And was Rosia now hear for the Weyrwoamn to gloat over that fact?
Valeena pressed a finger to her dark lips, as if considering whether she really should continue in the telling, before moving her left hand to encompass the right one in her lap. "Very well, as a clever girl like you surely guessed your mother's death was no accident." Rosia nodded her head, she had suspected as much, though it still came somewhat as a shock to hear someone else give breath to it. "She was cruelly murdered, and I bore witness to it."
"So you did kill my mother!" Rosia took a long step up to Valeena, her hand balled into a fist. Valeena grabbed hold of the girl's hand holding the arm away from her with some difficulty, "Let me finish. I respected your mother, and while many may believe I wanted her dead so I could step into her place, I did not cause her death." Valeena lowered her voice so it was barely audible, and even then her eyes darted around the room. Who knew what spies D'myn had, whether or not she too was closely watched. The Weyrwoman bent her head, as if to kiss the younger woman's cheek, and spoke softly in her ear. "D'myn ordered her death, she resisted him publicly one too many times."
Rosia pulled away from the Weyrwoman, her face flushed with anger. "How can I know you speak the truth? And why wait so long to speak of this now, when the event you speak of occurred months ago. I am no dim glow, tell me what it is you really want?"
Valeena's lips her curled slightly, a glimmer of a smile. She was impressed by the girl's vivacity, her intelligence. And yet, despite both things, she still had little concern over Rosia deciding not to go through with her plan. For Valeena recognised the way Rosia itched to take action, to do something to avenge the grievance.
"You are correct to assume I want you to do something for me. There is no way either of us, or anyone of Black Sands could do much to right such a wrong. There is no knowing which people are his, and which are not. However there are others who have cause to wish him ill, who have suffered at his hands. I wish to learn more of one of these men before I seek to form any sort of an alliance. And yet I can not do this on my own, this is where I need you. Girls from Holds all around Pern are being selected by peculiar dragons to be taken to Skrull Island Weyr. This is no Weyr I have ever heard of before, and I have little knowledge of it's Weyrleader. I want to send you to a Hold in the hope you will be chosen, and so you can gain the information I require. I have thought long and hard about my options in retaliation to D'myn and this is the only solution, as feeble as it is, that has arisen. What do you say?"
Rosia paced the length of the weyr as Valeena spoke, her eyes not once leaving the Weyrwoman's face as she looked for some sign of subterfuge. She doubted the Weyrwoman had intended to be so candid and yet somehow Rosia had forced her to be. Or had she? How could Rosia trust anyone, anymore? It seemed everyone had an objective, some secret to hide. And yet surely this was better than doing nothing? For how much longer could she endure the constant routine her days had taken since her mother's death, that uneasy feeling that things at Black Sands were more than they appeared on surface inspection. This was her chance to either take part in it or escape it. Once free from Black Sands, who was to stop her from returning at all? But then again, it did not take too great a stretch of the imagination to see why D'myn may have wanted her mother dead. Surely a Weyrwoman who was answerable to him as opposed to one publicly against him would be more desirable. And the only way to gian the former would be to dispose of the latter, although it seemed in this D'myn may have made an error of judgement.
"And you truely believe if I do this for you, you will find a way to rid Black Sands of D'myn?"
Valeena shook her head, "I can't say with any certainity. I first need to suss out what type of man B'acch is. But until I do that we are at a stalemate."
Without giving herself much more time to think of the perils in assenting Rosia did so. "In that case I will do as you ask. When shall I leave and to which Hold?"
=-=-=-
