What She Deserves

Writers: Estelle, Suzee
Date Posted: 5th September 2019

Characters: Ashela, Yvonnes
Description: A third goldrider is offered the chance to go to the new Weyrhold
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 12, day 18 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: K'ran, Kapera, Teseada

Ashela

Aglayath coiled lazily on her terrace, delighting in the warmth of the
spring morning and the way the sunlight gleamed on her pale golden hide.
For once, the other junior queen was elsewhere and she had the admiring
glances of the passing weyrfolk all to herself. She lifted her head as a
flash of bronze caught her eye, gliding down towards the beast pens,
then blinked, recognizing him as a young dragon who'd hardly been in the
Wings for a Turn. Interesting, but he wasn't Kalmath...

**He's leading a drill, my love.** Amused, Ashela padded out of the weyr
to greet her lifemate, lithe and graceful, her hair still damp from
bathing. She was careful to keep track of where the bronzes and their
riders were, and the Weyrleader's dragon in particular. **But you could
invite Gerenth up to sun with you.**

She shaded her eyes and watched as the bronze descended on his kill.
**Maybe he'll bring you that buck to share. His rider's rather nice.**

}:He's rather young,:{ Aglayath replied, trying to sound disdainful.

Ashela laughed and reached up to caress her dragon's eye-ridges. She
wondered if the bronze pair were considering the opportunity offered by
the new Weyrhold. They must be; any bronzeriders with ambition would be
trying to judge whether they had more chance of winning Casaranth, or
whichever gold rose first at the new lake Weyrhold. As for the
goldriders - who would want to stay, waiting dutifully for their seniors
to retire or die, when there was a Weyrwoman's rank just waiting for
someone to claim it?

She knew who that someone was going to be. If only...

As if answering her impatient thoughts, her dragon spoke, and Ashela's
heart leapt. }:Casaranth says that her rider wishes to see you.:{

The goldrider closed her eyes, let out a breath. Would Yvonnes give her
Second the position instead? She'd prepared the ground as best she
could, hinting that the other goldrider preferred to remain at Dream's
End, that she made a wonderful Wingsecond but perhaps - perhaps she
didn't have that indefinable spark that was required to lead a Weyr.
Now, at this meeting, she would find out if her efforts had been successful.

}:She will choose you,:{ Aglayath said loyally, nudging her gently with
her nose. }:This new Weyr will be ours.:{

"Then I'd best go and change." Dress smartly, she thought. Practical,
not frivolous. Look like someone who's about to open a new Weyr, but
tasteful, too, like a Lady. Considering her wardrobe, she gave her
dragon a last scratch and turned to go back inside.

Yvonnes tea grew cold as she waited for the younger gold rider. She
gave her head a minute shake and sighed as she lifted the cup to her
lips for a final sip. It was just like her to keep her waiting for
whatever reason she saw fit this time. Well, if things worked the way
she intended, this one would be out of her hair sooner rather than
later.

There was no doubt Ashela was capable of becoming an excellent
weyrwoman were she to apply herself to her work rather than scheming
for whatever the next shiny thing might be available. It had taken her
quite some time to figure this out about Ashela but now she had her
number and intended to divest herself and her Weyr of the influence.
Her eyes narrowed as she heard the scratch at her door. Time to make
the girl someone elses problem. "Come," she called warmly.

Despite the time she'd taken to get there, no-one could have looked more
respectful than Ashela as she swept into the room, neatly dressed and
perfectly groomed, a charming smile on her lips. "Weyrwoman." Not even a
hint of resentment at being the one to be summoned could be detected in
her voice. "Aglayath said you wanted to see me?"

"Yes dear," Yvonnes said and waved at the chair across from her. "We
have an opportunity for you if you're willing," she said.

"Oh?" The goldrider sank gracefully into the chair and smoothed down her
skirts, bowing her head to conceal the brief flicker of excitement in
her eyes. An opportunity could, after all, be anything from the chance
to go to the Weyrhold to a dull task like teaching the weyrlings or
tallying stores. "Of course, I'd be happy to serve the Weyr in any way I
can."

"I'm very glad to hear that," Yvonnes smiled. "The opportunity is
significant and I will understand if you are reluctant." Her eyes
lowered momentarily to hide her gentle challenge.

"I assure you, Weyrwoman, Aglayath and I are ready for anything you
might propose," Ashela replied smoothly. Shells, she'd be glad to get
out of Yvonnes' Weyr. One day, she vowed, she'd meet this woman as an equal.

"Good," she tilted her head and looked at the extremely beautiful
younger woman. "The Conclave wishes to send three eligible and trained
weyrwomen of appropriate age, as candidates to the new Weyrhold.
Teseada of Dragonsfall has already gone. Kapera of Dolphin Cove, a
former Weyrwoman at Dragons Fall, if not there already will be soon.
I've discussed the possibilities here with the Weyrleader and we think
you would be an excellent choice."

Despite her practiced calm, Ashela was unable to hide her delight. It
had worked! She was going to the new Weyrhold. She would have her chance
at being Weyrwoman. One in three... And perhaps she could find ways to
improve those odds. She tried to recall what she'd heard of the other
goldriders. Teseada was quite young, she thought, and Kapera had been
Weyrwoman before and lost her position. Still, she ought to get herself
there as soon as possible.

With a bright smile, she bowed her head. "Thank you, Weyrwoman. I'm
deeply honored that you thought of me."

**Hook, line, and sinker** Yvonnes thought though she didn't let her
triumph reach her face though Ashela hadn't been quite as adept in
hiding her true feelings. "I wish you the very best Ashela," she said
warmly. "Will you need any help packing? I can send to the headwoman
for help if you'd like."

"Yes, please. That would be most helpful." Ashela thought of her
extensive wardrobe, as fine as any Lady's. The drudges could assist her
with packing it up, though she'd have to supervise the folding of her
gowns. That train of thought led her naturally to wondering about
bronzeriders. "May I ask who will be leading the Weyrhold, until one of
the queens rises?"

"That is K'ran of Bronze Rogueth," she said with a smile. "He was the
Weyrleader at River Bluff when it was destroyed by the tidal wave. Are
you familiar with him at all?"

"Not very," Ashela replied, though she planned to rectify that gap in
her knowledge as soon as possible. "I've heard his name, of course, but
we haven't met." She returned Yvonnes' gaze guilelessly. "I look forward
to making his acquaintance."

"He's quite handsome and very well mannered," Yvonnes assured her. She
hadn't mentioned any of the other riders she knew would be there as
well. One or two of them wouldn't be easily subverted by a pretty
mischief maker. "Well then," she brightened. "I should reach out to
the headwoman, and you have some packing to do." She stood in
dismissal and held out her hand. "I hope you get everything you
deserve Ashela," she said, meaning every word.

"Oh, I do, too. I really do," the goldrider replied pleasantly, her eyes
glinting as she took the Weyrwoman's hand. "And I'm absolutely certain I
will."

Last updated on the September 9th 2019

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

What She Deserves