Holdless and other problems (Tags within)

[Lady Smara]

S’nuo found himself uneasy within the presence of the bronze riders as the discussion of the trip North slid into a debate which A’lez did his best to squash quickly. The blue rider had no wish or desire to go North. He would go if commanded there, but it was just as well to him to allow higher ranking riders to do that. He would stay here and protect what he knew.

That being said, the discussion of keeping N’var well out of the plan had S’nuo shifting in his seat. Thankfully, the Lord Holder’s son rode green rather than a more willful bronze. Even so, it left S’nuo with just as much authority as he lacked to begin with. Malith, while blue, was the size of a green and didn’t have a mean or firm bone in his body.

“If you want N’var watched, A’lez, I would suggest a bronze or a brown who is in his wing. I would volunteer, but Malith doesn’t have the heart for conflict and a blue would do little good. With our gold’s at Haven, a bronze is our next best option to keep the man grounded if he does catch wind of the mission.”

Pausing, he added in an afterthought, directed toward the man’s wingleader. “Do you think N’var would try to go North even if he does not learn of the mission?”

[HG]

Going North was political whether A’lez wanted it to be so or not. He had put quite a bit of thought into the North as well. While A’lez undoubtedly wanted the first trip to be incognito, he was making a mistake at not including the Holders. If he wanted to make them feel even more separated from the rest of the Weyr he was doing a wonderful job of it.

The problem was not N’var, it was what he was supposedly representing. “I can see your mind is made up. However I’d like to add as an aside that all this talk about one of my riders is rather off putting. He is no longer a Holder, he is a dragonrider. I trust him with my life and if you cannot do the same there is something wrong here. The problem is therefore not in N’var’s character but in your prearranged judgments of his reaction to this. ”

D’seus was not simple although A’lez seemed to be asserting himself in a way that was to make the rest of them look like idiots. Standing up, D’seus started pacing despite the other man’s orders. He was irritated. He didn’t like feeling threatened by his own Weyrleader and a look of complete disgust crossed his face. The man was about as personable as a tunnel snake sometimes. Smoldering any thoughts that were not supportive he continued to pace. He was not trying to be rude but he really had reached the point where sitting still added to his frustration.

Volunteering himself he said, “I’ll keep an eye on him myself but I think you are all seriously misjudging the rider and his dragon.” Shadow Wing did not just accept any rider D’seus had high standards for his riders. Looking at the blueriders, he said, “I could even keep N’var busy with helping the Weyrlings and Candidates if you would like. He’s not the easiest to get along with but he is nearly unmatched when it comes to sparring. He and Razia in fact could come and teach them some sparring.”

Then he moved to dismiss the topic entirely. “Now IF any of you have a direct problem with the greenrider please report it. Otherwise this feels to me a lot like a lets bash a rider we’re unsure of party and I will not be part of it.” He was seriously considering walking out the door at that moment.

[Ise]

“Look, I trust N’var too. He’s a good rider and not such a bad guy when he isn’t berating people. He’s just stubborn and a bit rash. If he finds out about this trip North and hears he isn’t invited, I easily see him trying to go there on his own. I can’t really blame the guy for that either, I’d want to go home too if I had been away for more then two turns.”
B’ren shrugged a little. He had never had any real problems with the green rider but he hadn’t been deaf to all the mutterings about him. And the real problem was that N’var was smart enough to figure out some way to go North and probably get a lot of the other Northerners to go with him as well.

The young bronze rider sighed and held his hands up. He was sure that A’lez had some reason for not wanting to take N’var along. Looking over to the Weyrleader, B’ren just hoped that N’var wouldn’t hear about this. Then they wouldn’t have to worry about what he may or may not do. Certainly at some point all of the Northerners would be allowed to return home, at least for a little while.

[Marnark]

A'lez's brows crawled together and he sighed as D'seus practically exploded on the topic of N'var. Given the circumstances ... he could understand. "D'seus ... please sit down." he requested. "I apologize for the seeming nature of the decision, please allow me to explain. It has nothing to do with N'var being a holder ... or even being from the North. I do plan to take a Northern-born rider with me. But not one who is begat from the Lords. Yes, this is a political venture, and when I plan to make contact with the people there ... and probably with the Lords at that ... I want a clean, clear picture. Not one slimed over with silver tongues and thick political intrigue. I will be taking a natural Holder, not a highborn one. One with perspective of the people. For it is the people we are going to be saving here, even if we do have to deal through the Lords. I want to see the reality of it, not the political presentation of a facade."

"The only thing I have against N'var is who his father is." He clarified. "And that only pertains to this particular, point venture mission. On later missions, he may be allowed to go. Initially? I'd really rather not. We have to gather accurate intel so that we know where we stand ... as well as make a particular impact upon the people there when we do arrive. To come as politicians ... as the Lords handle things ... the people will not be so easily worked with."

That, and it was the Lords who had kicked the Riders out ... not so much the people. So it was only natural that A'lez was aiming to set a solid footing with the people quickly. "Do you understand? I mean no insult to your rider, your dragons, or to your wing. This is merely political, and not at all personal." Ironic as that was. It was a political decision, made expressly to not be political. Twisted logic as it was.

"I apologize for not making my motives clear earlier. But for understandable reasons, the less that is known about this mission, the less that can be leaked." A'lez pointed out. But as to what B'ren had to say? "In time, all of them will be allowed trips. I do not begrudge them this. But in this critical and very fragile stage of reopening relations between the North and the South ... it is like treading on thin ice. Allowing a stampede of homesick to pound across first will only shatter any hope we have of actually accomplishing anything but more hatred."

A'lez looked to D'seus again, and with a silent look asked the man to sit. Not as an order, but as a request. "Do you disagree?"

[HG]

D’seus was not one to push too far and everyone in the room knew that. He took another moment to collect himself. “I understand not sending him. I’m addressing the assumption that he would disobey a direct order.” And he was not accusing only A’lez of this the entire rest of the accusers were involved in his defense of the greenrider.

He was perfectly capable of dealing fairly with all of them. For the most part he and A’lez had always understood each other. He had even accepted that right now the other man was leading the Weyr. They had similar goals in mind although they did go about achieving them differently. In the end, D’seus main concern would be that of the Weyr and those they were sworn to protect.

He sat down after his nerves were calmed. The Bronzerider then added. “If he rode a Queen dragon I would be concerned. As it is no dragon can disobey the direct order of a Queen. Nemesyth will not be allowed to go North. Therefore there would be no chance that N’var could. I doubt this mission will get out until you are back. Its then that I should think we need to be most careful.”

Looking at B’ren, he added, “This is why it is imperative that we keep a closer eye on the Northern riders. If they seem as if they know anything at all, it is our job to be certain they stay put.” Not just N’var although he saw that they knew him to be a leader. A leader that most of them disliked. Seemed hardly possible for him to sway the others much.

“I agree and back you one hundred percent.” The Bronzerider added waiting to see what everyone else had to say. Or’yn was being strangely silent. Most Bronzeriders were itching to get into the thick of things.


The youngest person in the room was behaving himself…mostly. He lost them after that long ass speech given by D’seus. He yawned quietly into his hand. One day he needed to perfect a way to sleep with his eyes open. All this North crap was BOOOORRRING. He used said hand to then put his hand through his close cut hair because that was one of his usual movements.

He watched as the Bronzeriders discussed and decided he would be better off avoiding these meetings from now on. They did not need nor want his opinion. He was not at all hurt by this. He was sixteen. He could be one of their charming yet illegitimate children at this rate. One day he might be ready to have an opinion. Right now it seemed he was there to watch and listen. Not his strong points. Still he would try to pay attention enough to catch wind of what was going on here.

The young man then asked something completely random. “So then we have to defend the cotholds, the weyr and the north but we are completely under strength. Our two mature Queens are at Haven and from the sound of things I don’t think they’ll be coming back until after we’ve been attacked to keep Aeriath safe.” And Or’yn was positive there would be an attack. We have no time to start bonding with the Northern Lords because lets face it, Thread’s already come to them and people are dead. And the biggest problem we are having is a Northern greenrider’s possible reaction to the latest mission North.” He could have laughed, almost. With Rath he would.

The humor seemed to light his eyes despite trying to hold back. Heck someone had to lighten the room up a bit “Have I missed anything?”