Too Easy

Writers: Estelle, Miriah
Date Posted: 26th October 2019

Characters: Ashela, D'hol
Description: Ashela tries her charms on D'hol...but does she succeed?
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 12, day 23 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: K'ran, Jayzine, Kapera, Teseada, Timassa

Ashela

D'hol

Aglayath circled high above the Weyrhold, allowing her rider to take in
the view before she glided down to make a graceful landing close by the
healers' hospital. She'd seen the riders gathered in the bowl, perhaps
just finished with a drill or assigning duties, and neither she nor her
rider were averse to a little showing off. Her golden hide glittered in
the sunlight and she arched her neck proudly, pretending not to notice
whether she caught the attention of the bronzes.

Once she'd settled, Ashela unfastened the straps around the small chest
of medicines she'd been transporting and carefully climbed down from her
lifemate's back with it tucked under one arm. It was a pity she couldn't
descend with her usual agility, but she landed lightly on the ground and
disposed of her burden as quickly as she could to a waiting journeyman.
It looked as though the wing meeting was just breaking up. Leaving
Aglayath to return to her ledge to sun herself, Ashela began to walk in
the direction of the dining hall, her path crossing that of the tall man
with Wingleader's knots as if by accident.

Yumath watched the arrival of the young gold with intense interest and
spread his wings while he bugled his welcome. Sending an image of the
gold to D'hol, he conveyed both his enjoyment of her display, but also
amusement at the coyness.

The newest arrival had caught the attention of his wing even before
he dismissed them; he knew enough about some of the younger riders to
know that keeping their attention would be difficult. D'hol dismissed
them, tucking his riding helmet under his arm and turned, only to find
her right in front of him. He inclined his head in greeting. "You must
be Ashela." He offered his hand even as his gaze flicked over her,
taking her in, measuring, and recalling the hides Yvonnes had sent
before her arrival. "Welcome."

"Thank you. And you must be D'hol, from Dolphin Cove." Ashela took his
hand with a bright smile. "I've heard very good things. The new Weyrhold
is fortunate in its leadership." She glanced at the departing
wingriders. "I hope Aglayath and I didn't interrupt your meeting?"

"I'm not the leader here. That would be K'ran at the moment, but the
sentiment is appreciated." D'hol's lips curled up in a half-smile. "A
new gold is always a distraction to riders and dragons, but we were
nearly finished as it was, so it's no trouble. Are you looking for
Jayzine? She'll have your quarters assigned and ready for you, I
suspect."

"Oh no, I've met her already. We arrived earlier, but I've been put to
work right away, fetching supplies for the healers." Ashela gestured
towards the infirmary. "Even goldriders are expected to pitch in and
help here at the Weyrhold, it turns out." She suspected he might be a
exacting worker with little time for complaints, like many high-ranking
bronzeriders, so she took care to sound cheerful, as if there was
nothing she enjoyed more than running errands like a newly graduated
wingrider. "But if transporting medicines is good enough for the
Weyrwoman in the ballads, it's surely good enough for me. I'll have time
to explore eventually, I suppose."

"Good. " It sounded as though Jayzine had the young woman well in hand.
"And you're right, everyone's expected to. It's busier here than I
suspect you're accustomed to, but we'll all adapt." D'hol's eyes flicked
over her again with undisguised interest. "If you're headed towards the
dining hall, and you don't mind company, I can walk you there." He
offered his arm.

"I was going that way, as a matter of fact. Thank you, Wingleader."
Ashela took his arm and smiled warmly, resisting the urge to roll her
eyes. This was too easy. Was there anything more predictable than men?
"It's impressive, isn't it, how much work they've done in a few short
months? And such a beautiful location. I know I'll be very happy here."

"It's because everyone has worked hard getting it ready. If you enjoy
hard work, then I'm sure you will be. I'm afraid I've been far too busy
to really take part in much it has to offer. I'm hoping in a turn or
two, it'll change."

"Oh, I hope it won't last that long. I'd hate to think of you poor
bronzeriders having no time at all to enjoy yourselves." She thought
with dismay of Turns of toil and drudgery, and redoubled her hopes that
Aglayath would rise early and win her the Weyrwoman's position. "If your
bronze wins the first queen's flight, then it could all change sooner
that you think."

"Yes, I'll be even busier, but it'll worth it." It was something he'd
been striving for the moment that he Impressed. "Your gold is supposed
to be close to rising, is she not?"

Ashela nodded. "It's been some time since her last flight, so it
shouldn't be long." She wondered when Kapera and Teseada's dragons were
due to rise to mate, and made a mental note to ask around. Someone from
their former Weyrs ought to know.

"The same can be said for Kapera's Riyanth and Teseada's Onnyth. My
Yumath last flew Riyanth, and Onnyth's last mate also arrived with
her. I do hope that they don't rise too soon after each other; I don't
know that our Hatching sands can accommodate more than one queen just
yet." As they approached the door to the dining hall, he paused in his
steps, his mind silently calculating odds. "The dining hall is likely to
be crowded for dinner; can I offer you a more private dinner instead?"

Her smile widened. "I'd be delighted. It's been a busy day in a new
place and I'd appreciate not having to fight my way through a crush for
my dinner." She also recognized the disadvantage she was at; the other
two goldriders had their last mates with them, and she didn't. If she
could detach one or both of them, it would be an excellent start towards
building her own support among the bronzeriders. "I'd like to get to
know you, too. Since we might be working together."

"Of course. I'll ask for plates to be made for both of us. Then we can
get to know each other in privacy and quiet. You're likely to attract
the attention of the entire dining hall. Surely you'd like to wait for
that until you're fully settled in." He hailed a passing drudge, spoke
quickly to her, and receiving a quick nod of assent, led the new rider
away from the Hall and towards the small dwelling that he presently
occupied. "We will be, certainly at least on some level. In my
experience is never to early to establish a positive working relationship. "

"I quite agree. Of course, we won't know exactly what that relationship
will be until the first queen rises, but we can make sure it's a
productive one, no matter what." She looked curiously at the cot as they
approached. She'd been lucky to move straight into a weyr, since the
goldriders' quarters had been completed first. "How are you and Yumath
finding living here? It must be a change, after a Wingleader's weyr.
Weyrleader K'ran has told me they're still working on the dragonriders'
weyrs."

"It's an adjustment of course, and Yumath is used to a stone wallow,
but the weather is still pleasant enough for him to be comfortable.
Jayzine made a great deal of effort to make it comfortable. Right now,
my wingthird is staying with me until her weyr is ready." He opened to
door to offer her entrance. "She's likely not to be eating at the
dining hall this evening, so we'll still have privacy."

Ashela arched an eyebrow in amusement as she preceded him inside. **That
must be a close working relationship.** She wouldn't have had him down
as the type. Though it could all be innocent, she supposed. It was well
furnished, more than she'd have expected for a temporary dwelling, but
the Headwoman clearly took pride in her work and after all, he was a
ranking bronzerider. "So you're not sharing a weyr with Riyanth and her
rider?"

"No, but I work well with Kapera and consider her a friend. Timassa had
a need and we're comfortable with each other's company for now. " He
shrugged, then pulled out a chair, offering it to her. "I'm surprised
no bronzeriders followed you here. "

Her eyes flickered, briefly; a moment's resentment, perhaps. "Yes. I'd
have thought with the chance of being the first Weyrleader... But then,
we didn't have so many riders from the old River Bluff wings. I've heard
a lot of those have volunteered to come." She seated herself in the
chair he'd drawn out for her with a graceful nod. "Of course, I'll miss
them, but I'm not altogether sorry. I've always liked meeting new
people. And ambition, in a bronzerider."

That fact alone told him quite a bit about the goldrider, even with
the hides he'd read. But even so, there was a chance that this young
woman's gold could be the first to rise. "There are plenty who
volunteered, but it's a case by case basis, to be honest. We don't
have room for the younger bronzeriders yet, and honestly, the Weyrhold
will need experience for the first turn or so, at least that's what
we're hoping for. Ambition is all well and good, but it has to be
tempered, in my opinion."

"Oh, I agree. Tempered with wisdom and experience," she replied
smoothly, glancing at him and trying to guess his age. Older than K'ran,
certainly. Might there be tension there that she could make use of?
"Like the Weyrleader. He seems very capable."

"He is." D'hol agreed, a slight tilt of his lips his only expression as
he studied her. The glint in her eyes, her body posture, the smooth
repartee, he'd seen this before in goldriders he'd encountered on the
Northern continent. She was ambitious and sly, much liked Yvonnes had
implied. "Have you spent any time with him yet?"

"Yes, we met earlier. He showed me the plans for the Weyrhold." Ashela
let out her breath in a light sigh, her lips curving into a smile. "It
was so kind of him to take the time to explain them to me, when he must
surely be busy. I appreciated it very much."

"I'm sure he was glad to." D'hol rose at the knock on his door, opened
it and took the tray of food with a murmured thank you to the drudge.
Turning back to the table, he set Ashela's plate in front of her, then
poured her a glass of wine, but only a glass of water for himself.
"K'ran is working with the crafters mostly and I'm working with the
incoming riders and assignments. It's an effective allocation of
duties."

"I see." Ashela raised her glass to him, then sipped delicately. **How
clever of you.** He'd get the best opportunities to meet the goldriders,
and ensured that the wingriders would be familiar with him as a leader.
Of course, no-one knew what governed a rising queen's choice - it all
could be mere chance - but if it wasn't, he would be well positioned as
a candidate for the Weyrleader's role. **Maybe too clever?** She'd have
to wait and see.

"And what duties are assigned to the goldriders? Besides running errands
for the healers," she added with a smile.

"Administrative. The goldriders and working with Jayzine to make sure
buyers are met and then, spending in their skills, they help out with
crafting , building..." He waved a hand. "Much like the rest of us. I'd
something needs doing, we do it. There's not much time for leisure, not
yet at any rate. Evenings are a bit more free, of course, but mostly
time for resting. "

"And getting to know each other, of course." She tasted the wine again,
enjoying the pleasant thrill of the subtle flavor. It was very good, as
befitted a senior bronzerider. "I'm sure you know how important it is to
know and trust your fellow wingriders. It must require a lot of skill to
put together a Wing from pairs who've never flown together before."

"Oh, of course." He offered her a rakish smile, openly letting his
eyes slide over her. The smile lent him a charm that normally wasn't
seen except privately. He took a drink of his water, then took a
quick bite of a finger root. "Well, we're getting experienced riders
right now, no one just out of being a weyrling, so most know what
their duties are. Drills help with the bonding process, so it's
mostly going smoothly."

"That's good to hear." Well aware of the attention she was receiving,
Ashela looked up at him demurely through her lashes as she nibbled at
her own food. **Too easy.** But fun, she thought, leaning back in her
chair and raising the wine glass to her lips. He might be older, but
he was still a fine looking man. Definitely a candidate for her
Weyrleader. "The riders will feel confident that they have an
experienced and competent leader. It makes all the difference." She
returned his smile with a dazzling one of her own. "I'm glad you're
here, bronzerider."

"Hm...thank you." He gestured to her plate. "And you? Are you glad to
be here?" D'hol studied her, picking up a glass and sipping his water.
"You're young and ambitious, I'm sure. Was it the lure of leadership,
or simply wanting a change in surroundings?"

"Perhaps a little of both?" There was a spark of amusement in her eyes
as she replaced the wine glass on the table. She could feel the pleasant
buzz of it already, and knew she shouldn't take more if she wanted to
keep a cool head, but it was so good... "Of course, I go where my duty
sends me, but I do want the chance to lead. I think it's important to be
honest about that, don't you?"

"Definitely. I also want a chance to lead. Most bronzeriders do, but
I've the experience to back up my ambition." Her leaned forward, elbows
on the table. "You'll need a strong Weyrleader if your Aglayath rises
first. Why not move to ensure that? Golds do show preferences over time."

"So I've heard. My Aglayath has yet to choose a regular mate. But
perhaps she simply couldn't find one worthy of her at Dream's End." She
met his gaze boldly, picked up a stick of fingerroot from her plate and
bit off the end with a crunch. "Perhaps she'll have more luck here.
There are, as you said, many experienced bronzes."

"Perhaps she will at that. And what of you. Ashela? What of your
preferences? In my experience, a gold follows her rider's wants most of
the time. " D'hol's lips curled upwards at the movement of her own. "Do
you prefer experience or would you prefer the energy of youth?"

"Well." She leaned back in her chair, glass in hand, and surveyed him
with a mischievous spark in her eye. "I like to think I supply enough
youthful energy for both myself and my partners. It is always exciting
to match that with experience."

"Care to try that match?" He tilted his head, his interest blooming
into a full grin, dimples flashing. "We can see if your energy can
keep up with my experience."

"That sounds like a challenge, bronzerider." She drained her wine,
licking the last drop slowly from her lips. Not bad for her first day at
the Weyrhold. This could prove to be both pleasurable and useful - and a
small, wicked part of her couldn't help wondering how she could casually
mention it to Kapera when they met. "Perhaps a challenge best attempted
in my weyr, unless you find the risk of your wingthird walking in on us
stimulating..."

"Perhaps it is one." D'hol sent a quick message to Saryolth via
Yumath, informing Timassa that the small dwelling they shared would be
occupied this evening. He knew his friend and sometimes lover would
most likely simply roll her eyes and find other accommodation. "Here
is fine, Ashela."

The goldrider raised one elegant eyebrow. "All right, then..." She set
down the empty glass and rose to her feet with feline grace, then came
to stand before him, leaning on the edge of the table and stretching
lazily to display her body to its best effect. "Show me that experience
of yours, Wingleader."

"Gladly." Too easy.

Last updated on the December 18th 2019

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Too Easy