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Post by ShadowReine on Mar 10, 2011 14:22:18 GMT -5
Silia was not in a very good mood. Rumor had it that the assassin had attacked again, stabbed Nyocia's *other* violetrider and then been killed. In fact, it had been rumored that the dragon had killed him.
And now Nyocia had two violetriders again, with Nayarath having thrown a third violet hatchling. The rational part of her really hoped it was the same assassin.
The part of her influenced by the violent nature of her wher hoped there was another one out there so she could kill him or her herself.
Thus, she paced her den, with Silisk pacing too, a mirror image. She dared not let him out in his current mood...he might kill somebody's valuable animal because he was thinking with his teeth and fangs not what passed for his mind. Being a blue, Silisk was far from the most intelligent of whers, although steadier than any green.
But he was also a natural killer. Right now, she could not trust him, and that made the tension build even further.
Shards. The only thing she could think of to help was to get laid, and as far as she knew none of the wherhandler women shared her preference. Of course, maybe if Silisk could find a wild green it would at least take care of *him*.
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Post by Jenth on Mar 11, 2011 19:49:39 GMT -5
Itunas had just come back from a sevenday at the Weyr, summoned urgently by weyrwoman Kora. With him he had taken Pari, Shaine and the distraught Lianly, combing and guarding and patrolling the Weyr without incident. No, it was something completely different that now completely shook him despite fighting for a calm composure. Who's insane idea it had been he would never know, but the handler wished he had just kept their ideas to themselves.
What was he supposed to do? Say no? They hadn't really given him much choice, knowing full well the cost it might be to him and Itusk. As he had been made aware of, preparations were being made as he prepared...
Shadowed by his massive bronze, Itunas one by one visited every resident of the Labyrinth to give them the choice of their own futures. Silia was the next of his list, known for her on-edge temperament he wasn't surprised to find her door open and the pair pacing.
"Silia, a moment of your time?"
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Post by ShadowReine on Mar 12, 2011 20:05:10 GMT -5
"I don't have anything better to do," the bluehandler almost snapped. No, she was not in good humor and neither was Silisk.
The blue did not quite snap at Itunas and Itusk, but he did give the bronzehandler a look that clearly said that outrank or no outrank, the bronze had better NOT come in HIS den.
"Sorry," Silia said after a moment. "Somebody needs to go find himself a green to chase." She gave her wher an arch look. Of course Itunas was safe...Silia preferred women...but then, so much was on edge these days. So much was uncertain. The bluehandler studied Itunas, managing to soften her gaze.
Something was clearly bothering him.
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Post by Jenth on Mar 12, 2011 21:17:13 GMT -5
The bronzehandler was used to Silia's temperament, not even blinking an eye to it. The girl matched her blue, but he wasn't sure that was a good thing when it appeared to borderline feral. It was probably a good thing Itusk hadn't come with him on the rounds.
"Understandable enough, we have greens but when they will run is beyond our control." Itusk no longer had a gold to chase which meant he now had to compete with his offspring for greens. The poor blues may not get the chance to catch often.
"I came in inform you that we are given the opportunity to move the Labyrinth to Danac Hold, so that we may better support the Weyr and Pern." Normally such a request wouldn't have phased the man, always having thought the whers needed to merge with the public to provide more awareness on the dragons smaller, nocturnal cousins. Itunas was stiff, almost emotionless and his eyes not focusing on anything for long. For the first time since his troubles with Sabre he was troubled.
"You don't need to leave if you don't want to, but I haven't been given a choice. In a sevenday i will be leaving... to become the new Lord Holder of Danac Hold."
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Post by ShadowReine on Mar 13, 2011 16:04:20 GMT -5
Silia nodded. "I'm fine with moving, as long as you don't think Silisk's attitude will cause problems." Or her own, for that matter. Silia mixing with the general public might not seem to be the best of ideas.
The lack of a queen was also something that needed to be addressed at some point. Green eggs could not keep the labyrinth in the long term, not when half of them were duds and only rarely was anything as large as a brown thrown.
They might, she thought, end up having to buy eggs. Which could get...
...and then the rest registered. "LORD HOLDER?" Silisk stopped pacing, startled by his handler's reaction, and ended up striking a pose not unlike a hunting dog that had scented prey, except that instead of being straight out in front of him, his head was turned towards the humans.
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Post by Jenth on Mar 13, 2011 18:18:20 GMT -5
Itunas looked from the shocked look on Silia's face to the almost startled appearance of Silisk, if that was what he could call it. It was probably the first time he had ever seen the pair stopped so in their tracks.
"Yes, it sounds like some bad joke but its I can assure you its very real..." All it had taken was one comment from a holder trapped in the Weyr during the investigation. Once the dragonriders had heard it they had supported the idea, and with the Weyr's support the craft masters approved the situation. It seemed nothing was going to be resolved if they let the holders decide for themselves.
"I think more human interaction will do you both some good. We're worse then the Weyr, buried underground here..."
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Post by ShadowReine on Mar 14, 2011 14:33:04 GMT -5
Silia considered that. "Probably. And Silisk has been threatening to eat my firelizards again. He's none too keen on them, never really has been. Maybe if we're at the Hold, out in the open, we can get more handlers. And the Hold is rich enough to buy eggs if needed."
She let out a breath. "You realize they'll make you get married, right?"
Wherhandlers were not forbidden marriage, as dragonriders were, but it was not exactly encouraged, and any woman would have to accept that Itusk would chase and she would either have to deal with infidelity or lock her husband in their bedroom...
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Post by Jenth on Mar 15, 2011 7:55:52 GMT -5
"I am well aware of it, yes. I may have a son to succeed me but its not enough." The bitter sweet result of accepting the position was that Itunas could finally be reunited with the son Sabre have given away. He would be 3 by now, and the bronzehandler had a lot to catch up on. The trouble would be as soon as he arrived nearly every unmarried woman would be pushed infront of him, the over bearing thought sent a shiver down his spine.
"In time I may also have to pass Itusk on to another, or let him run feral..." That was the part that Itunas loathed the most. A sence of duty and urgency had forced him to rise above anything he had ever wanted, but it might come at a price he wasn't sure he could pay.
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Post by ShadowReine on Mar 15, 2011 16:17:46 GMT -5
Silia frowned. "I hope it does not come to that. Itusk is a good wher...although I rather suspect you would have quite a few takers to transfer the bond." Whers commonly outlived their handlers, unlike dragons. Unlike them, they would readily transfer to a new bond.
Readily, but not necessarily happily. She knew she would not, for any duty, give up Silisk. "I had forgotten you had a son," the bluehandler admitted, softly. Sabre...well. She was not unhappy Sabre was no longer around. "You know, you could use Itusk as a test for your future wife...if she doesn't run screaming from him she might be suitable?"
Silisk rumbled something at his handler's words that was likely wherish laughter mingled with agreement.
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Post by Jenth on Mar 16, 2011 22:20:58 GMT -5
Like dragons and fire lizards, it was believed that having a higher ranking color was a quality of personal strength or status. In dragonriders it might be correct but fire lizards was pure chance, or selfishness. Itusk was a fine bronze, the size of a small runnerbeast and about twice as strong but about as head strong as cliff face when he wanted to. It would take an equally strong person to take over the bond.
"Itusk could unnerve anyone just wanting to play around. I'm going to have enough trouble with Wardens let alone a wife." It was clear that choosing a wife was a bit lower on his list then most would want it, but there was more important things first. Itunas had to establish and prove his ability to rise to the task put before him, anyone could attempt to contest him for a simple mistake.
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Post by ShadowReine on Mar 17, 2011 18:59:40 GMT -5
Silia grinned. "But it would help you avoid being shackled to some weak, silly little chit." She let out a breath. "Wardens..."
She knew very little about the business of running a Hold. Moving to the Hold to work as part of its guard and night watch would have relatively little effect on her life, other than more time spent explaining to people that no, they could NOT pet her wher. Silisk was not very pet-able.
He only really let HER pet him. It was, in many ways, a good job he wasn't a bronze.
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