Testing the Waters [Volfetti]

"That sounds like a deal to me, Jada. I'll have someone interview the women ages 27 and above, and any who don't wish to stand will leave a slot open for someone in the 25 to 27 bracket. The mothers as well, since I imagine some of them are more interested in their child for the time being... Maybe you should do the interviews, Jada. I imagine you would seem more approachable to them than myself or Tsuen. That way, no one will feel pressured to give up their spot."

When D'ren had spoken those words to Jada after the Flight, the Harper had little believed that he would remember them. She had hardly believed that the Weyrleader would trust an overexuberant young Northern girl to ask the other women who wanted to Stand. Hardly dared think that this conversation would remain in his mind for very long, what with all of the other things that the man had to concern himself with.

So when D'ren had sent a list of names to her only this morning, Jada had been ecstatic to be given something to do. The fact that Krypth had successfully clutched, and six lovely eggs to boot, bolstered her confidence tremendously. The fact that D'ren had remembered his promise made her proud, and she had practically skipped back to the Sands, poring over the names the entire afternoon. When she wasn't considering the things she had learned from- and about- the brownrider who had delivered the message...

There weren't many, something which made Jada frown. It made sense, however, given that there were only 6 eggs, and none would be a Queen. With a Brown for a father, the Clutch would be all fighters, and D'ren wanted men on his fighting dragons. Still, it was at least a few women, and so Jada would work her way through the names. The top of the list was one that Jada recognized. Volfetti. She was a Seacrafter, and had chosen not to Stand a turn ago. Her son, Benden, would be... a Turn, give or take. Jada pursed her lips, considering.

Would the woman- a seacrafter, if Jada was remembering correctly- choose to take the chance of Impression and give her son to the creche? Jada bit her lip, but finally sent off a note to the redhead asking her to please join Jada for the evening meal. It would be a little noisy, so prying ears would have a little harder time overhearing, and it was public, so the woman wouldn't get the wrong idea. She hoped. Oh, was she doing this right? She had no idea what she'd say. Maybe just a little chatter?

When Volfetti had received the note to meet Jada in the Dining Hall she had initially frowned and tossed it back at the messenger dismissively. She had little opinion of the Goldrider beyond being a wherry-brained child that couldn't control her dragon. Not only had she been stupid enough to retreat from the circle of Candidates during the last hatching which had resulted in Indivara's mauling, she let the Gold gorge and be caught by a Brown. If there was one thing Volfetti could say was positive about the metallic beasts, it was that Bronzes were excellent at siring Golds when they were needed. Now in the dragon's time of need they would be short of another potential Gold who could clutch more of the chromatics.

Not that the chromatic dragons were particularly liked by her anymore either.

She spent the rest of the day musing over the summons despite having dismissed it. There was no reason for the Weyrling Goldrider to interact with Volfetti unless it involved the clutch. The Seacrafter was yet to decide whether she would take the opportunity to stand or not. Last time Benden had been very small, too small to give away to some stranger for the chance of a grubby dragon. Now he was a turn old, almost a turn and one month even! But was it still too young? If Volfetti had it her way she would be far away from the dragons, raising her son and daughter with their fathers. But there was no escaping this.

The plight of the dragonrider's made perfect sense to Volfetti. Given all the turmoil that was eating away at the Weyr however, there had to be a better way to solve the current problems. It baffled her as to why the riders had stayed south for so long. Why not return north once Nirinath had flown that first time? Before then they had no guarantee of the dragons continuing to survive as a race, there had been no reason to impose themselves on the Holds, nor would the Holds have deigned to tithe, no doubt. But with a Gold ready to clutch, ready to populate the Weyrs again... That would have been the perfect time. Not now, five turns later with angst fuelling the desire.

Evenutally Volfetti had decided to humour Jada. Perhaps she would be able to glean some information from the young woman about returning North, after all she did seem to be having more than enough meetings with the Weyrleaders. She had no idea that the Goldrider was cut off from such plans; to Volfetti it seemed that the Goldriders held the reigns of the Weyr.

She walked into the Dining Hall at the specified time, her loose white clothes fluttering around her as she walked. She had changed out of her more practical pants and tunic into a plain top and skirt of quite a thin fabric that covered most of her body, a dressing habit she had acquired in Ista and greatly appreciated in Katila's heat. It didn't take her long to spot the Goldrider at the empty table, the hall was filling quickly but her table remained cleared for the meeting. Making her way past the serving tables to collect a plate and some food she then approached Jada, almost appearing to glide from her flowy clothing.

"Evening Jada." She nodded as she aproached, placing her plate down and taking a seat. Should she have referred to her as Lady? Volfetti shrugged mentally, this woman was eight years younger than her, that was a long time for someone that wasn't a dragonrider. She wouldn't refer to anyone that much younger than her as a Lady, for the time being anyway.

"What was it you wished to speak to me about?" While she suspected the meeting was about the clutch, the note hadn't revealed Jada's intentions and she looked a little nervous. She had no qualms in starting the conversation. One couldn't be afraid or nervous of talking when you were on the boats. If there was a problem left to stew because one was too nervous to strike up a conversation about it, it would only become worse for everyone on board. Nevermind if you were dealing with a child. She began to eat as she waited for Jada to lead on. She couldn't do all the work now, Jada had to learn somehow.

---

[sub]I think I went on a lot of tangents and it may not make a lot of sense... sorry! x.x[/sub]