Breaking Chains That Bind (J'ldaem and N'var)

[Yuu Kanduet]

There came a time when a person stopped caring about repercussions and decided they were well and truly fed up with everything. J'zen had finally reached that point. It had been three years, three years since he had been free to do as he needed, and enough was enough. He was going to see his family. The Weyr wasn't even protecting the people of the North. Wasn't the thought of saving those he loved the only thing that had tamed his anger at being controlled throughout his training and graduation? There was no excuse for this, and his brief trips to the North Searching out others to bring to this wretched prison had only deepened his need to return to his home.

When he had left, the North had teetered on the brink of war, and now it was falling into the ruin of desperation. His journey to the South had accomplished none of those lofty hopes and dreams that had ridden on their expedition team. War was no longer imminent, but that was only due to the apathy of those J'zen had come to serve. If it weren't for his deep affection for Tyreth and a few of his fellow low-ranking riders, J'zen would have split long ago, regardless of the consequences.

No, he was forced to do this properly. J'zen, proud and haughty had been brought so low that he would grovel if it was desired from him. He had been denied the right to teach his craft and practice the traits that had earned him respect once. What use was a Northern Harper with no knowledge of the South teaching children? J'zen could not even fully blame that on the Weyr. After his first refusal, he had lost all desire to learn of the world outside.

Reaching the office of his wingleader forced J'zen to take a moment to pause and collect himself. Outwardly, no one would see his inner turmoil, but inside he was a riot of emotion. This meeting could end several ways, and not all of those endings were particularly desirable.

Once J'zen felt well enough to speak without saying something rash or regrettable he looked throgh the open door. There was already someone in the office talking to J'ldaem, but they had their back to him. J'zen wasn't entirely sure, but he was pretty certain it was N'var. Without really wanting to interrupt but knowing it was necessary, J'zen rapped the door softly with his instrument calloused hands.

[HG]

N’var was dressed in his leathers prepared for his meeting with J’ldaem and his new “partner” for his missions. Unlike J’zen, he knew who would be coming with him. He had given the WEyrleader some ideas on who should come and J’zen being Northern and a Harper would be a good person to have with him. Not that he particularly cared for the other rider. He actually felt almost nothing either good or bad about him. After the Expedition had almost all Impressed dragons he had only become more hated by the other Northerners instead of less. So he pretty much steered clear of the people whom he had at one time led to the Weyr.

He was early. Then, N’var was always early. Nemesyth would never forgive him if he were late. The green who seemed excited about their new task, was now resting on her ledge. She was quite comfortable, half in sun, half in shade but she was not asleep. Her eyes were watching other dragons fly in and out of the Bowl. The light in the dark of his thoughts was as ever the green dragon who had changed his life forever. The darker thoughts were much like J’zen’s. He blamed himself at times for the acute failure of the mission. Now though, he was more concerned with his new mission. After all, his father thought him a weak young man who had no future. No matter what his mother might say to smooth things over, there was no doubt in N’var’s mind that he was a disappointment.

To the Expedition, well, N’var was thoroughly hated because he could not save the families of those involved. However he was set up for failure. It was the whole reason he had been sent instead of someone more mature, more used to leadership and better at diplomacy. Although he was not horrible at the latter he thought perhaps he could have been more forceful with Weyrleadership Turns ago. Now at least he felt J’ldaem was preparing to do something about the North. Something much more reassuring to his own mind than what had been done in the past.

His arrival at J’daem’s office, although early, was not unexpected so he was let in fairly quickly. All they had to do now was wait for J’zen’s arrival. He started off with the usual pleasantries, “Good day, Weyrleader. I trust your Tseravith is well.” From what he heard of the Bronze, he was much more laid back than his rider. N’var would shrug at that. He preferred the fact that his green was more ambitious and possibly vainer than himself.

[♥Rizu-Chan♥]

J’ldaem of Tseravith
Weyrleader && Pyralis Wingleader

It was a good thing the man was used to waking up early in the mornings; N’var’s fondness for arriving to meetings earlier than schedule certainly helped keep the man on his toes – though J’ldaem always seemed to be ready and in his office whenever needed. Then again the man spent so much time in that place one would thing he’d moved his weyr there now; if he wasn’t off in some woman’s bed, or with his baby sister, it was more than likely that the current Weyrleader of Refuge was with his nose stuck into a pile of old scroll hides in his office.

”Ah, N’var, come in.” No sooner than the knock had come to his door, parting slightly to reveal the Greenrider, J’ldaem waved the man inside as he stood from his desk. Walking to a smaller desk to the side of the office he soon fetched out a bottle of wine and two glasses; he always did welcome an excuse to drink a bit. ”He’s been well as usual; I trust the same is true for your Nemesyth.”

Much like N’var’s comment hadn’t been a question but a statement the same was true of J’ldaem’s reply; handing off the glass half filled with wine to N’var before he poured a second one. This one however was set on his desk closer to the two chairs provided in front of it for guests; clearly this glass was meant for the Bluerider also schedule to meet with them today. Finally grabbing a glass for himself the man poured some more white Southern wine into it, before sealing the bottle and setting it aside.

After all they weren’t there to get drunk.

Finally the much awaited for knock came on the door for a second time, icy blue eyes turning away from the Greenrider before him to gaze at the wooden door instead. ”Come in, J’zen.” The invitation extended J’ldaem moved from his current position, sitting near the edge of his desk in a more laid back manner, before grabbing th spare and filled glass of wine as he moved to meet with the Bluerider. The object handed over to him he returned to the center of the room; raising his glass just slightly for a toast.

”To our Weyrs, and to the North. May we find a solution to this all soon.”

While he did not held much fondness from the North, and the war brewing in its surface quite worried the man, J’ldaem could still understand in some sense how these two Northerners might be feeling at the moment. When his Kreallie had been left at Haven as they dealt with the Holdless in Refuge it had torn the man apart every single second until he’d finally been able to have her transferred to his side once more. No doubt both these men probably felt similar, if not perhaps even stronger, similar feelings to those he had felt a while back.

[Yuu Kanduet]

There was something odd going on. J'zen had come to the office of his wingleader in order to demand a favor, but had not only found the Bronzerider expecting him but N'var as well. What could the two men possibly be plotting that would involve himself? This was highly irregular, and J'zen was not sure whether he should feel nervous or not.

Outwardly, J'zen showed no signs of surprise or paranoia. Instead he took the offered glass of wine and stepped further into the office. The toast was odd coming from a Southerner, and J'zen immediately knew that this was something to do with the North. N'var had come to the South on the same Northern expedition team as J'zen, and now a man with no strong connections to the land was toasting it. It was not a hard leap to make.

Still J'zen said nothing and raised his glass to his lips after the toast was said to drink to his two homes. As much as J'zen loved the North, he was not one to deceive himself. As long as he rode Tyreth, there was no longer a place for him in his former home. All that remained North was a family that J'zen missed terribly and wished to save. Thread threatened the North, and he felt boxed in and useless the longer he did nothing.

J'zen knew next to nothing about the political situation either. When he had left, he had left in the hopes of stopping a war. None of the Northern candidates had talked about a war, but J'zen had not really been all that willing to speak with them either.

"I get the feeling that you are about to ask something of me. I am fine with this since I had the same designs for you. However, where does N'var come into this? I feel like I have arrived late to a terribly important meeting without any idea of said meeting."

There was a glibness to the Bluerider's tone, but his eyes were hard and steady on J'ldaem as he spoke. Although J'zen's tone had been humorous, his body was rigid as if it were tensing for a blow. It was not a conscience thing, but it was obvious.

[HG]

He nodded. Taking in the surroundings of the Weyrleader’s office he found the place a bit cluttered for his taste but then, even Nemesyth would have made certain there were some more feminine touches. He supposed the Weyrleader felt more comfortable in a more bare environment. The greenrider was snapped from his detailing of the room, by the next knock on the door. As J’zen entered, he nodded in greeting.

The Weyrleader was certainly prepared for this meeting to start on good terms. He hoped J’zen would see the value in the plan and the work they would be doing. He would be wise to view this as a great honor. Especially seeing as he would have the pleasure of working with a Lord Holder’s son. Here in the South that meant nothing but in the North, dragonrider or not, having blood ties to those in power had its benefits.

N’var took the glass provided and raised it, “To our Weyrs and the North!” He watched the others drink to the toast and waited. Surely J’zen had already begun to wonder what this was all about by now. Harpers were supposed to be thinkers. He would probably begin to piece things together on his own only to find the exact plan slipping through his fingers. At least he could count on J’zen to value the interests of the North and be cautious enough not to get himself into any trouble.

At the other man’s outburst of questions N’var smiled secretively. The suspense and wait were getting to the other rider. Patience was not a virtue that N’var held in very high esteem at the moment anyway. “Our Weyrleader is about to tell you everything you need to know. I’m here because this meeting pertains as much to me as it does to you.” His voice was quite casual at first though the tightness in the second half was more from the irritation in knowing the other riders especially those from the expedition were not all that fond of him and it showed.

His statements showed that N’var’s arrogance after being a greenrider for well over three turns had clearly not diminished. They would all see he was capable of what he had promised despite all the nay sayers and the hate thrown at him. N’var was tougher on the inside than he seemed.

[♥Rizu-Chan♥]

J’ldaem of Tseravith
Weyrleader && Pyralis Wingleader

”Ah yes, my apologies J’zen. I hadn’t originally thought of meeting the both of you together so quickly; but N’var could certainly use a hand over in the North.” That playful smirk never left the Weyrleader as he studied J’zen back, N’var had mentioned him a few sevendays ago as a possible option to aid him with his researching and dealing in the North, being a Northerner much like the Greenrider and all. In the end J’ldaem had decided to call Nemesyth’s rider on that idea when the Bluerider had requested a meeting with him but a day or so before; the reason for the three men to be in the room now.

”Since I became Weyrleader I’ve been aware that A’lez has still kept his wing dealing with the North; though the man fails to report much, if anything at all, to me.” More than once he’d heard rumors of the man consulting with Sakorai instead, the ex-weyrleader was certainly no fool. ”Shortly after N’var came to me to request something no doubt similar to your current wishes. I’ve granted him permission to visit the North so long as he’s on official duty for me; and I plan on our wing to also take a more active and direct approach with Threadfall soon enough.”

The last part was the reason the man had been so grueling with his practice flights lately, sometimes scheduling twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, with his wing. He wanted to make sure they were all in tip-top shape and coordinated; as well as line any rebellious riders in their place. Helping hunt, gather and move edible resources, as well as candidates, to the North and South was all good and stuff – but there was no reason for A’lez and Neinoth to hold all the fun of Theadfighting in the foreign continent.

That and the man was quite interested in finding a possible solution to dragonriders’ long ago exile from those lands. Not only were they ripened with candidates, but perhaps a Weyr could eventually be established over in the other continent in a not so distant future.

”But yes, in order for all of this to work I do need more information on the North and the situations happening around the Holds; and with A’lez not being quite sharing I’ve mostly tasked N’var with this daunting and time consuming chore.”

He would wait to see the bluerider’s reaction, wondering just how well this ex-harper’s mind was still working. His teachings might have been disregarded before due to his background, but J’ldaem saw them as useful fountains of knowledge of the continent no dragonman had seen for well over a century until recently.


OOC:// Excuse the crappiness of the post, as well as lateness. ;3;

[Yuu Kanduet]

What J'ldaem was suggesting caused J'zen to reconsider things. The Bluerider was in no way adverse to the idea of running what would appear to be scouting missions for the Bronzerider, especially since it would mean a continuing interest and presence in the North.

Looking over at N'var, J'zen made a low humming sound in his throat. N'var was as much a stranger to J'zen now as he was four and something turns ago when they met. Still, the man was not only Northern but a person of some rank. Did that still apply now that he rode a dragon, and a Green at that. It was a well known fact that Holders had always looked distastefully upon male Greenriders. On the other hand, their mission had been to find dragons, and they had. Perhaps that alone would keep him in good standing with his Hold father.

The problem with situations like these was that J'zen did not feel as if he had enough answers to satisfy himself, but asking would make it seem as if he was planning on using the others involved. He did of coarse, and there was no doubt in J'zen's mind that they knew this. It was just tactless to bring it up.

If N'var's influence could be used to keep his sisters safe if it ever came to that, anything would be worth it. J'ldaem's offer was sweet. Information and a wits J'zen had in plenty, and if such things could be used to secure the safety of the people of the North, namely his family, then J'zen would give his all.

"The North is expansive, and our wing cannot possibly hope to protect it all. How shall we decide what Thread to fight, and what Thread to let fall?"

At that moment, J'zen knew he would agree to the Bronzerider's terms. This was his way of assuring himself that he would not regret his actions in this office.

[HG]

N’var was listening to the Weyrleader and made no attempt to interrupt the man. This really was going to be interesting. J’zen was someone who needed to have his curiosity quenched. He would not be able to resist something like going North and investigating the continent. They would have no one to answer to up there and there would be time to visit family.

He kept the amusement out of his eyes as J’zen thought about what was being said.Sure the bluerdier would have misgivings especially when it came to working with him. N’var expected it. He did not however see J’zen refusing such a position. To be the right hand of the Weyrleader, in charge of secret operations in the North, well he certainly was not going to turn it down no matter who he would have to work with. N’var waited without any fear of being rejected in this.

He smiled as J’zen asked about how one wing was going to fight thread. “Don’t tell me you haven’t heard?” Letting the words dangle in the air for a moment, he went on, “I suppose it is a secret to people who don’t notice the way Illume Wing is never around for drills. How they always come back dusty and tired… A’lez already has his wing fighting Thread in the North and the South.” N’var was a self important asshole. He would not even deny that but the young man was very good at noticing the fine details. He was also diplomatic when he needed to be. He was a skilled fighter and no matter how much trouble he seemed to be in, he somehow ended up moving up in esteem of the Weyr anyway.

He looked at the Weyrleader, “If I may interject my opinions here for just a moment…” He implored and then went on to speak. He knew J’zen would not appreciate everything he said. N’var had been North, he had seen how the people were suffering from starvation. Soon J'ze n would see just how dire things were.

“We need someone of your talent to help decide what areas of the North are more vulnerable, what areas are already being protected. Personally I think food sources and places where beasts are kept should be of top priority. If the people cannot feed themselves there is no point in saving them from Threadfall. The Major Holds should be helping those they can. I know Keroon is currently doing all it can for its people. I’d also like to say and I may sound biased in this, that the Holds who support the Weyrs will get more support. Bitra for example would be the last Hold I’d be willing to protect from Threadfall.” Especially with the war mongering, power hungry Jahzia still in charge.