Not Standing On Ceremony Here

Writers: Halyonix
Date Posted: 22nd October 2026

Characters: Hesbia, Katora
Description: Hesbia joins her new Wing
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 5, day 5 of Turn 13
Notes: Mentioned: K'valdran, L'val, Rathandra, N'dhavi, M'sar, R'hil

Hesbia

Notes:

~*~

Hesbia had never really been one for pomp and circumstance. Being Holdless didn't give you a lot of time for rituals, ceremonies. Just furtive actions, decisions made from a need to survive. Thriving wasn't really a _thing_ while Holdless. If you had a birthingday with a full belly, that was considered a gift in itself.

Part of her listened to Weyrleader K'valdran congratulate her class on their graduation with the same cynicism as she did everything. Arrogant leadership going on about duties and new chapters. But part of her felt...accomplished. Like she had actually achieved a milestone she had never expected to make. Weird. She'd never really had had an opportunity to feel pride in herself, aside from maybe the pride she could feel about learning some useful skill that would help her family survive better.

}: But we don't need to just _survive_ anymore, Hes, :{ Oriveth pointed out, listening in. }: Yes, during Threadfall, we will be fighting, but outside of that -- this is a new chapter for us indeed. :{

He was right. As usual. Shells, she was glad she had Impressed a wise dragon.

She was certain that was something ceremonial she was supposed to say when she was assigned to L'val's Wing but she didn't care. She wasn't going to start standing on ceremony just because she had Wingrider knots now. She hoped her new Wingleader wasn't a stickler for that. Else she was going to figure out how quickly she could transfer to another Wing.

}: Give Kyverth's rider a chance first, :{ Oriveth suggested. Of course, he had already introduced himself to the bronze that would be calling their shots now.

**Sure,** Hesbia thought as she strode towards her Wing's table, taking in the expressions on everyone's faces. Some, she could _tell_ -- they didn't like having a Holdless in their Wing. They'd probably hold that against her for Turns. Sear 'em. Her chin lifted higher. She and Ori would show them that they were just as good as Weyrbred. There was nothing special about them.

But some, some had expressions of hesitant welcome or even a few open smiles. Including a girl that looked to be her age with dark, critical eyes and greenrider knots. She shifted to let Hesbia take a seat. "Welcome to the Wing," she said in a neutral, yet forward tone. "I'm Katora."

"Hesbia. Oriveth's my dragon."

Katora nodded. "Saoirth's mine. Yours is a blue. Good. We need more of those in the Wing."

Hesbia shot her a curious look. Katora was speaking in this matter-of-fact tone, like she had been in the Wing a while. "Well, we're here now. Hope you don't have any issue with a Holdless woman riding a blue." May as well get the biases out of the way. That could be a fun start to being in the Wing. An argument with someone.

The other girl blinked placidly. Those dark eyes didn't look away. Hesbia could almost see the girl processing what had been said against...who knew what else. But eventually, after a long moment, Katora answered. "I'm a Trader. I'm not against working with Holdless so long as you want to work with me." In Katora's mind, as long as the Holdless weren't stealing from the caravan and were doing fair business, everything was fine. "We traded with Holdless before. Not all of you are deserving of the prejudice others might hold."

Hesbia blinked. "How do you know that I'm not a murderer?"

The Trader girl tilted her head to the side. "Saoirth talked to Oriveth. He told her that it was someone else that caused you to be Holdless. Not you. You just became guilty by association and couldn't escape that."

And just like that, Katora had sliced through a dozen biases that Hesbia always prepared to defend herself against as though none of those opinions mattered. Just the facts. Shells, if only more people were like that. **Okay, she's okay,** she said to Oriveth.

Both riders watched as a few more the class were assigned to Wings. Looked like Rathandra was joining the same Wing. Well, that was good. Rathandra had a good head on her shoulders. N'dhavi was here too but Hesbia wasn't really keen on him. At least she didn't have to listen to M'sar trying to get in bed with every guy in the Wing. Good luck with whatever Wing he got assigned to.

Once the ceremony was concluded, Hesbia looked back at Katora, whose attention had drifted to look at another table with that same observant look. Maybe she looked at everything that way. "Anything I should know about the Wing?" Hesbia asked.

"We train hard but Wingleader L'val is a good Wingleader. He cares about the Wing. You'll be paired with some of the more veteran riders to start, especially when it comes to sweeps." Katora tilted her head to the side again. "I doubt you'll be paired with me. I've only been a rider for a Turn."

"Shells, younger than me, aren't you?" Hesbia muttered.

"Maybe. But I made it here, just like you." There was no defensiveness in that response. It was a clear statement of accomplishment. "Do your duty and you'll succeed."

Hesbia rolled her eyes. "Okay, don't you start with the duty thing too. I get tired of hearing about that romantic heroic duty whershit."

Somehow, without even moving her head, Katora's expression became analytical. "I wasn't talking about harper tales. Duty as in responsibilities. You'll have sweeps, drills, Threadfall, dragon maintenance, jus--"

"Did you just say 'dragon maintenance?'"

Katora blinked. "What do you call it?"

"I don't know. Care? Love? Maintenance sounds so...dry."

"Strap checks, bathing, oiling, other physical care -- that sounds like maintenance to me."

Hesbia snorted. "Does Saoirth know you're talking about her like a Trader's wagon? Spokes and axles and all that?"

Katora blinked. "Saoirth doesn't have spokes or axles. She has wings and claws."

**Okay, she's okay but a little weird.** Hesbia snorted and rolled her eyes. "Okay, maintenance. Whatever you wanna call it. So, do my responsibilities and everything is sunshine. Got it." Hesbia looked up at the dais. Looked like everything was starting to return to evening dinner normal. Great. Time to leave. She had a really good dessert waiting for her with her sister and that was a way better way to celebrate this occasion than chatting with Wingmates that she'd soon be sick of anyway. "Well, been a pleasure chatting with you, Katora. Thanks for the welcome. I'll be sure to pick your brain if I have any other questions." Hesbia got up and slipped away from the table.

Katora watched her go. **She seems nice. Mostly. She needs a little polish, I think.**

}: Oriveth is very polite. I liked talking with him. :{

**Maybe he'll rub off on her like you did on me,** Katora thought with a soft smile. She scanned the crowd for R'hil. **Let's see what Dath's rider is doing. We have to plan our next adventure.**

Last updated on the October 28th 2026

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Not Standing On Ceremony Here