The Lot of Them!

Writers: Jane, Kaysea
Date Posted: 24th March 2007

Characters: O'rian, H'lem
Description: Odarian faces an angry and unhappy rider.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 3, day 14 of Turn 4

Odarian didn't stay late in the dining cavern very often; not these days. He had been late to his meal, though, and by the time he finished eating and then finished his ale the harpers were striking up and the dining cavern wasn't as much a eating place as a socialising one.

He got to his feet and picked up his mug to return it to the servery and nodded at the others at the table.

"Personally, I don't know how he can bear to show his face around here."
H'lem's voice carried, as he had meant it to. The thin, weedy rider's eyes never left Odarian as he walked from the table. "The lot of them should be made to transfer out..."

The apprentice healer glanced around and met the eyes of the speaker, confirming that the comment was meant for him. For a moment he dithered, then turned back to face the group. "The lot of _who_ exactly?"

"Your father for a start, and he may as well take the rest of his useless offspring with him. He made a hopeless Weyrleader, and hopefully won't ever get the chance again." H'lem pushed himself up from the bench he had been sitting on, and took a step over it and away from the table. He glanced around but no one would meet his eyes, no one, except Odarian.

"Is it your place to say if he stays or goes? Did you dragon win Nyith's flight?"

H'lem gave a derisive laugh, "Hardly, how many greens do you know who fly Gold's?" Once again he looked around at those within hearing, but no one would meet his gaze. "As to whether its my place to say if _you all_ stay or go, maybe not. If it was up to me, you would _all_ go.
It'd be one less reminder of that day..."

H'lem didn't see the glances exchanged around the table as his voice faltered, if he had, he may have crumpled completely.

Odarian wanted to drive home the point, that the man didn't have the right to make decisions about who stayed in the Weyr or left it since he wasn't the Weyrleader but something in the greenrider's expression made him hesitate. "None of us can forget it," he said simply.

"Maybe not, but at least you still have _him_ around. Some of us weren't so lucky!" H'lem all but spat the last words out, he could feel his emotions overwhelming him again. He felt someone touch his arm, but shrugged it off; his eyes were riveted on the healer in front of him.
"Oh yes! You still _HAVE_ him!" his voice was rising now, bordering on hysteria, and not one but, two bodies closed in on either side of him.
K'ldan and E'nirie took hold of both of his arms.

"Easy H'lem." K'ldan whispered in his ear. "It's not the boys fault, it happens."

E'nirie looked across at Odarian, "His mate was taken that day...." he said, by way of explanation.

"Yeah." Odarian sighed. "A lot of riders and dragons were." Was there anything else he could do? Even though it was unlikely to be welcomed he had to acknowledge what the man had said. "I'm sorry," he said simply, then nodded to the other men and headed away from the table.

"Don't ever stand on the Sands, boy - you don't have what it takes -
none of your line do!" H'lem let out the parting shot as he watched Odarian walk away.

Last updated on the March 25th 2007

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The Lot of Them!