20.Sep.12, 03:08 AM
Ah, there it was. The question D'ren didn't know how to answer.
The secrecy had played a large role in the dragonriders' extended exile. Tsuen, in all her questionable ways, had forbidden the riders to make themselves known to the outside world from the very start. The order had been in place before D'ren became the legitimate Weyrleader. He understood the provisional Weyrleader's reluctance to protest, but he often questioned his own.
His power had been fragile in those days, back when he was new and Tsuen had been, for turns, the only true authority in the Weyr. Things has changed since then. Everyone now realized what a poor leader she was. She had no real power anymore, not with D'ren's relative success and her own popularity. She only had any real power in one area, but sadly, it was the one area that mattered most where going home was concerned.
Nirinath could ground the dragons.
"It's complicated," D'ren confessed. "At first, we stayed here in secret because Nirinath failed to rise. We figured if we were going to die, we may as well die here together and not burden the world with it. When she finally did, though...well...things were still tenuous. For everyone." Himself included. He still remembered how small he felt.
"Tsuen proposed stealing. I was green...untested, and didn't want to risk destroying everything by starting a political screaming match with her over it. That doesn't mean I blame her over myself, however," he said.
There was more to the story, but not something he could talk to anyone about. Anyone.
"...In short, I agreed on the basis of necessity. Dragonriders were liked by the common folk back home, but never much by the Lords and Masters. We expected if we returned home without building ourselves up, we'd be hedged out before we could get a foothold. We can't go home until our wounds have healed."
He finally managed to smile again. "We have two queens now, Sanderon. I hope that the day we can fly strong again will be soon."
Then, a much more pleasant question. "I hadn't noticed, actually. I suppose it's a habit of mine," he confessed. "And no. I don't have a son. I always wanted children, but things have gotten in my way over the turns. I didn't have any back at home, but last spring I was fortunate enough to finally have my first. It's a little girl," he said. He warmed up immediatly at mention of Tsereni. "I hope one day she will grow up to be a part of a better, stronger Weyr...back at home."
"I'm glad to hear that, Sanderon. I'shan and Talian both gave you favorable reports."
The secrecy had played a large role in the dragonriders' extended exile. Tsuen, in all her questionable ways, had forbidden the riders to make themselves known to the outside world from the very start. The order had been in place before D'ren became the legitimate Weyrleader. He understood the provisional Weyrleader's reluctance to protest, but he often questioned his own.
His power had been fragile in those days, back when he was new and Tsuen had been, for turns, the only true authority in the Weyr. Things has changed since then. Everyone now realized what a poor leader she was. She had no real power anymore, not with D'ren's relative success and her own popularity. She only had any real power in one area, but sadly, it was the one area that mattered most where going home was concerned.
Nirinath could ground the dragons.
"It's complicated," D'ren confessed. "At first, we stayed here in secret because Nirinath failed to rise. We figured if we were going to die, we may as well die here together and not burden the world with it. When she finally did, though...well...things were still tenuous. For everyone." Himself included. He still remembered how small he felt.
"Tsuen proposed stealing. I was green...untested, and didn't want to risk destroying everything by starting a political screaming match with her over it. That doesn't mean I blame her over myself, however," he said.
There was more to the story, but not something he could talk to anyone about. Anyone.
"...In short, I agreed on the basis of necessity. Dragonriders were liked by the common folk back home, but never much by the Lords and Masters. We expected if we returned home without building ourselves up, we'd be hedged out before we could get a foothold. We can't go home until our wounds have healed."
He finally managed to smile again. "We have two queens now, Sanderon. I hope that the day we can fly strong again will be soon."
Then, a much more pleasant question. "I hadn't noticed, actually. I suppose it's a habit of mine," he confessed. "And no. I don't have a son. I always wanted children, but things have gotten in my way over the turns. I didn't have any back at home, but last spring I was fortunate enough to finally have my first. It's a little girl," he said. He warmed up immediatly at mention of Tsereni. "I hope one day she will grow up to be a part of a better, stronger Weyr...back at home."
"I'm glad to hear that, Sanderon. I'shan and Talian both gave you favorable reports."