Honor and Consequence (2)

Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 2nd March 2025
Series: Honor and Consequence

Characters: Saibra, Ki'ben
Description: Saibra deals out justice to her son, Ki'ben, for his actions at Shadow Mountain.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 18 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Vadira

Saibra

Ki'ben

Chioneth had barely touched her talons to her weyrledge when she spoke
across the Weyr to a young bronze.

}:Setoth. The Weyrwoman wishes to see your rider. Immediately.:{

Setoth, who was nowhere near Chioneth geographically, still flattened
himself to the ground in obedience as he spoke back to the senior
queen. }:Yes, of course. Absolutely.:{ The tone of her voice had been
one of irritation.

}:What did you do?:{ Setoth broke in, interrupting Ki'ben, who sat at
a hand of cards with some others from his Wing.

**Excuse me?**

}:The Weyrwoman wants to see you. Now. Chioneth sounded annoyed.:{

Ki'ben continued looking at his cards. **Tell her I'm in the middle of
a hand of cards but will be there once this is finished.**

The bronze made the dragon equivalent of a large gasp, but then meekly
reached back out to Chioneth.

}:My rider says he is in the middle of cards, but will be there once
he is finished.:{

}:NOW.:{ was the only response he received from Chioneth.

Setoth's wings flared in agitation. He hated displeasing the queen.

}:Right _now_, Ki'ben. The Weyrwoman demands your presence _immediately_.:{

The bronzerider sighed but folded his hand and left the game.

Annoyance laced his voice as he strolled into his mother's office.
"What is it, Mom? I was right in the middle of -"

"Sit down, bronzerider." Saibra's voice was not the voice of his
mother, but the voice of the Weyrwoman.

Ki'ben's posture changed and he straightened his shoulders a bit more
as he took his seat. "Yes, ma'am," he murmured.

"I had a meeting at Shadow Mountain today. Would you care to guess
what it was about?" Saibra's voice showed no emotion, although one
eyebrow was arched imperiously.

"Tithes?"

Her lips flattened.

"Hardly. Lord Vadimir wanted to tell me that his daughter was
impregnated by one of Dragonsfall's riders." Her head tilted. "You
know his daughter, don't you? Vadira, I believe? A beautiful little
thing. A bit nervous, though, probably because her father treats her
like property." She was getting worked up now, her tone becoming more
biting. "But then, you treated her the same, didn't you? Like
property? Used her a little and then ran away?"

Ki'ben had the good sense to duck his head as his Weyrwoman and mother
lay his transgressions before him.

Silence filled the office as Saibra drew breath and stared at her son. "Well?"

"Well, what?"

"You're not even going to try denying any of it?"

"I slept with her, a lot, I'll admit that, but there's no way for me
to know she wasn't doing the same thing with some other rider."

Grabbing the paperweight on her desk, Saibra chucked it at Ki'ben. He
winced as it collided with his sternum. "Ouch, Mom! Geez!"

"If I'd been standing beside you I would have slapped your face. Be
grateful. I was only in the same room as Vadira for five minutes and I
knew already that she wasn't the type to just casually sleep around."

He'd never seen his mother so angry. Not at him, at least.

"Do you _know_, do you _understand_ how life works for a holder girl?
Clearly you don't or you wouldn't have done something so pathetically
foolish and cruel." Her voice was an angry hiss. "In the eyes of
holders you have _soiled_ her, _ruined_ her. If she stays at the Hold
and has _your_ baby, she'd be as good as an outcast. _Your_ child
would be raised and treated like a bastard."

"It's not like she has to have the baby. We could help her with that..."

Saibra scrambled for another thing to throw at her son but Ki'ben
wisely shielded his head this time as a glass figurine zoomed toward
him.

"You're such a fool. Even if she aborted the baby and pretended as if
_you_ hadn't stolen her virginity, her future husband would find out
on her wedding night and then she'd be right back to being an
outcast."

The young bronzerider stared at the tips of his boots.

"Look at me."

Ki'ben's eyes raised slowly to his mother's molten blue ones.

"Do you not feel remorse of any kind? No empathy for Vadira?"

"She knew what she was doing. She made the choice," he answered.

Saibra stared at her son, not recognizing the person who sat before
her. She wished his father was there. K'fel would have known exactly
what to say and how to say it.

"She made a choice based on lies. Lies _you_ told her about your
future with her."

If he had shown any remorse at all.... but he hadn't.

"I'll be bringing Vadira to the Weyr. Without prospects for her in
Shadow Mountain, she'll come here and join the Weyr. You may have no
regard for the life you have created, but I'll be damned if my
grandchild is raised like a bastard in some backwater minor hold.
_You_ will collect Vadira and bring her here. _You_ will go to Oselle
and retrieve the furniture she will need. _You_ will be with her at
every healer's appointment."

Ki'ben lifted his chin. "And if I don't?"

There was a pregnant pause.

"If you don't, you can find a different Weyr to live in, because I
certainly wouldn't want someone of your ilk here at Dragonsfall."

The words fell heavy, like a ton of lead, but the mother's heart in
her chest could not outweigh the justice of the Weyrwoman.

"What'll it be, bronzerider?"

There was a tic in Ki'ben's jaw, but he finally pushed out between
clenched teeth, "Fine."

"Excellent. I will let Vadira know you'll be by Shadow Mountain to
collect her tomorrow."

Ki'ben stood. "Your permission to leave, Weyrwoman?"

Saibra didn't look at him. "Dismissed."

Last updated on the March 5th 2025

[Prev: Honor and Consequence] Series: Honor and Consequence [Next: Sibling Support Group]

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Honor and Consequence (2)