Before the Fall [Execution Escape] [Open]

Rhaedalyn was beside herself with anxiety and fear. She had seen the notice on the board the day before and stood frozen on the spot as she read the statement thrice before someone shoved her aside so they could read it as well. She was pretty certain someone helped her to a chair back at the Dining Hall as well and for all she knew it could have been Aradissicath with how out of it she was. They found the culprit who had attacked D’ren! But they were going to execute him. She was so torn! D’ren was a sweet man and he had been kind and patient with her so anyone that would do him harm had to be a horrible person but this seemed so extreme! She did her best to relax over night but come morning, only a little sleep had been had though anxious fire lizards and Aradissicath’s sleep schedule didn’t help much either. Her sweet dragonet hadn’t quite grasped the concept of time and when it was appropriate to sleep and talk just yet.

Rhaedalyn, a dragonet, and three flitters followed the rest of the class to the gathering location where they would meet with the other two weyrling classes and anyone else that wanted to go with them outside of the boundaries. It was nice to know there were other kind people in the Weyr on such a horrible day of convicting an evil man. Her pretty girl was far too young to be subjected to the affects of losing one of their own and even Rhaedalyn wasn’t looking forward to hearing that sound again. The keening was something you couldn’t easily shake from memory and when the weyrling that should have graduated recently was lost between Rhaedalyn thought her ear drums would burst and that the tears would never stop falling. So much pain in those calls!

Are you remembering to breathe? Rhaedalyn gave a squeak of surprise when the calm voice filled her mind and hazel eyes snapped down to look at the dragonet. “Of course I am! It’s as natural for me as it is for you.” In truth, she wasn’t certain if she had been remembering to breathe or at least more regularly before being startled. Not only was she upset over the event of the day but some of her closest friends were missing from the group and it wasn’t sitting well with her. Mevrit was going to stay in her – formerly their – room or do some chores while the execution happened, stating the keening didn’t bother her and that she was more manly than some of the men in the Weyr. That had made Rhaedalyn giggle over such a scandalous thing to say but she understood. Still, she wished Mevrit was there with them! R’nya was another obvious missing person. He was always with them! He was their protector and it didn’t seem right to have him away at such a time of need either. R’nya knew how to soothe the girls and calm them down without even trying and he would make sure the trip out was safe. But the Weyrleader still came first and he had need of R’nya so the goldriders and the hopefuls were out of luck. The way Rumour and Whisper kept disappearing in turn made her suspect they missed R’nya as well and kept going to check on him.

This is like one of your stories, you know. Aradissicath pointed out as she nosed at Rhaedalyn’s hand, urging a gentle petting to begin. “How so?” Of course she gave in and even dropped to her knees to sit for a moment and give the gold proper attention as they spoke. Well, there is someone that was in trouble, a hero, and a villain. The hero is about to deal with the villain, right? Everything is going to end happily soon. We’re only missing the romantic man to sweep the pretty wo—oh! Rhaedalyn frowned at the sudden distraction that took over her dragon before following Aradissicath’s gaze and subsequently nearly dying of shock. Z’ia! What was he doing here?

Rhaedalyn quickly got to her feet and dusted off her pants – since riding in skirts was frowned upon – and walked as casually as she could over to Kahleena, Aradissicath hot on her tail and Muffin beating her to the destination to steal Kahleena’s shoulder. “Look at all the dragonriders coming to help!” She said conversationally with what Rhaedalyn hoped was her usual smile. It was the only way she could think of to point out that Z’ia was there without actually pointing him out and that was the only reason she could come up with as well as to why the cheerful man was with them. Well, rumour had it that his dragon was timid and perhaps Aveleth didn’t want to be near the action of the day either and Z’ia’s obvious concern over his dragon warmed and melted Rhaedalyn’s heart all over again. What a sweet man!