Influence

Writers: Devin, Halyonix
Date Posted: 28th January 2025
Series: Bronze and Blue Entwined

Characters: K'mai, A'len
Description: A'len corners K'mai about his relationship with I'serin
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 4, day 22 of Turn 12

K'mai

Notes:

~*~

A'len made sure to catch K'mai a few days later, once the initial
memory of the incident was sure to have faded. When the bluerider's
guard would be down. "You," he snapped curtly, with the entitled tone
that bronzeriders seem to be born with. "Sebeth's rider. Come here."

K'mai held back a wince. Great. He'd dreaded the idea that A'len would
come after him, and just when he thought it was safe . . . "Yes, sir?"

Noting the eyes upon them in that public space, A'len shifted his tone
and mannerisms guilefully for a moment. "Your sweepride yesterday? Did
you find anything of note?" he asked. To anyone watching, it would
look like a bronzerider doing what bronzeriders did -- ordering other
dragonriders about, collecting important information to ferry upwards
to the Wingleaders, etc.

"Sir . . .? Sorry I'm not sure what sweeprides have to do with
anything?" K'mai wondered if 'sweepride' was supposed to be some code
for lunch the other day but he still couldn't figure out what A'len
was after.

A'len withheld a scathing comment that would have linked K'mai's
intelligence to his dragon's color. "There's word of flooding
throughout the territory. Did you see any of it in the quadrant you
swept yesterday?" He made a snapping motion, indicating that K'mai
should follow him, drawing the bluerider into a more private setting
while giving the onlookers the impression that they were talking about
the recent weather.

K'mai considered just . . . leaving. But that wouldn't go well at
_all_. Stomach sinking even further, he followed the bronzerider.

"You haven't answered my question," A'len remarked as they headed
towards a secluded alcove.

"You actually want to know about my sweepride?" K'mai couldn't hide
his confusion. "Yeah there was some flooding. The local holders think
it might be worse inside the caves."

"Of course I don't want to know about your sweepride," A'len muttered
darkly, his tone absolutely stripped of whatever congenial command it
had just moments ago. Now alone, he rounded on K'mai, his posture
morphing into imposing. "I want to know what your intentions are with
my _son_, K'mai," he demanded softly, dangerously.

"Intentions?" K'mai asked, surprised. Did he think K'mai was
manipulating him for prestige or rank? "I want to make him happy."

What a daftly nebulous response, A'len thought. He scowled. "Happy?
And just _how_ do you propose doing that?" What was K'mai's agenda,
A'len wondered. Yes, the older bronzerider remembered that I'serin and
K'mai had been friends back at River Bluff but that had been when they
were younger and the duties of a bronzerider should have separated
them from anything tight-knit.

K'mai shrugged. "Doing things that he likes. Making sure he eats.
Giving him gifts. Reminding him that it's okay to just be himself
sometimes and step away from his duties."

"Distracting him," A'len concluded. "That is what you're doing. It's
the drudges' job to bring him food. He's the Weyrleader -- he doesn't
_get_ to step away from his duties."

"He still needs to _live_, sir." Usually K'mai was intimidated by the
overbearing bronzerider, but he felt the need to defend I'serin. "He
can't be a good Weyrleader if he's so overwhelmed he collapses under
the weight of it all."

A'len made a dismissive sound. "He'll be fine. He's strong. We all go
through a trial by fire moment and this is his. If you think that
currying favor with him by trying to make him 'happy' is going to get
you a promotion or something, you're barking up the wrong tree. He's
not one to favor _anyone_ like that." Was that a hint of resentment in
A'len's tone? Possibly. He hadn't expected his son to outright hand
him a position of authority but the way that I'serin constantly and
impudently ignored A'len's advice was annoying.

K'mai laughed and quickly covered his mouth, knowing it was a bad idea
to do that in front of A'len. "No, sir. I have no interest in rank
whatsoever."

The older bronzerider didn't like that laugh, even if it was in
hilarity at the idea of a bluerider holding rank. His scowl darkened
further. "No, I wouldn't expect responsibility from someone like you.
Not with all of those parties I hear you throw," he said in a low,
rumbling tone. Still not convinced that K'mai wasn't up to something
but not having anything substantial to go on, A'len was forced to let
the matter lie until another time. "See to it that you don't waste any
more of my son's precious time with your antics. He has a Weyr to
run."

A'len had always been a dick. He'd always belittled I'serin and made
him feel terrible. He'd just done it the other day, marching into
I'serin's office like he owned the place, upsetting him, ruining their
lunch. Something rebellious rose in K'mai and before he could think
better of it, he said. "You're not the Weyrleader. You can't tell me
what to do."

Why did everyone think that having a title was the only way to get
something done in a Weyr? Did they not understand that leadership
existed outside of authority granted by arbitrary means? Did no one
understand how _influence_ worked? A'len exhaled slowly, exasperated.
"I may not hold the _rank_ but I can make it quite difficult for you
regardless. Heed my words, K'mai." With that, he stepped out of the
bluerider's personal space and stalked away.

K'mai let out a long breath. He had no doubt A'len could make good on
that threat and he was worried about what might come of it. But that
little rebellious voice whispered that K'mai could make things
difficult for A'len too, if it came to that. Because K'mai had
friends. _A lot_ of friends.

Last updated on the February 11th 2025

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Influence