Long ago.... on a planet called pern (Blue + HG)

[starshine]

Z'skel sat nervously at the long table in the councel room. He had been waiting to speak with the weyrleaders on this matter and well he needed to get the ball rolling. Time was moving and fast. He had wanted to get the endevour goign sooner but unforseen Weyr events had delayed him from this inevitable meeting.

Seth was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun by the lake and Z wanted so much to be out there with him. It had been a nicer than usual day out. For now however he simply waited in the dimly lit room. This was going to prove to be interesting and he hoped that the Weyrleaders would be behind him and Rishka.

Adding another queen to the mix at Ponaa would have untold rewards. It would take some of the strain off of Nisurath. The lovely queen with a fire for a temper was slim and while her last clutch proved to be lively and spirited it had stretched the dragon. First clutchs tended to do that.

And what of the other boy. Alaxis... the bluerider Kess had made it clear that her dragon felt that this boy was destined to ride but that he wouldn't come to his partner in the usual way. It had given Z something to think about. Could she have meant that the boy was supposed to join them? Would he be useful on a mount? He had spent some time observing the lad and from what he had seen, he was an odd sort, but who was he to judge another? Rishka's response to Z'skels mentioning of the boy had also ruffled his feathers. She seemed so adament that it wasn't going to be easy. Since Z had had little contact with him he wasn't going to jump to conclusions about him yet and would simply wait for the others to arrive.

[hrsegrl]

Meetings, meetings and more meetings. That was what his life now seemed to consist of. Ev'os was prepared for that when he became a Bronzerider. They all were, however he had a hard time sitting in one place for any amount of time and would probably pace which seemed to either annoy other people or make them nervous. He smirked to himself, let them feel nervous or annoyed, he was still in charge and could do as he wished.

Rovanoth had informed him that Z'skel was waiting so he had given command of Alpha Wing back to his wingsecond and made for the meeting room. He was lightly dusted fromt he bowl, his leathers a little more worn than when he had recieved them. Walking into the room he gave a curt nod to the Bronzerider and poured himself a glass of water that he had commanded always be placed in the meeting room for him. After taking a sip he looked over at Z'skel again.

"How are things with Beta?" He knew that nothing serious was wrong but he liked updates on progression. Besides they needed something to talk about until Iaslia arrived. Unless she wanted to arrive to two men standing and sitting in awkward silence. Although comical probably not the best way to begin a meeting.

[LyricalBlue]

The request that had come from the bronzerider was fairly odd and cryptic. Iaslia walked into the council room fuming. There was little she was unaware of in the Weyr, and finding out there was something she was unaware of did little to improve her already volatile mood. She stalked into the room than paused, seeing both the Weyrleader and the Wingleader already there. Hands rested on slim hips and she glared at the pair of them. Males, they were always such trouble. On top of it she already was debating pulling out Ev'os's hair, strand by strand. The Weyrleader had been so busy lately that they'd hardly talked. It was enough to make her almost wish to be back at the cove.

Seth sleeps, but his rider is rather nervous.
The Weyrwoman switched her gaze to the Wingleader, pinning Z'skel like a bug to a wall. Nervous was he, what in the world was it that he wanted to talk about that would make him so nervous? Iaslia could not dismiss her curiosity, nor her annoyance but that was another matter. By the look on Ev'os's face, he was trying to make small talk again. Typical man, he'd grown all together too... friendly for her tastes. There was work to be done, what use was it, trying to be friends with everyone?

"Well, gentlemen. Lets get this show on the road." She spun and marched to her usual seat, sitting down and crossing her legs below the table. Leaning forward, she propped her elbows down and plopped her chin into her hands. "Whats so important that it cannot wait until I've finished the shipment receiving?"

[hrsegrl]

Ev'os had seen her coming and sipped at his water. She was in a foul temper which would probably be more directed at him than at Z'skel. Although one could never be one hundred percent sure with Iaslia. He remained standing as she entered, trying not to seem concerned at all about her apparent attitude. If she wanted to be so angry at the world, let her.

His dark gaze lay once again at the man sitting at the table. What secret had he kept from them? Of all his Bronzerider's he had suspected the least resistance from Z'skel and now he had some secret to tell them. Well he had better get on with it before Iaslia became a volcano of fire and ash. The only thing that concerned him about all of this was that it could not be said in front of the three other Bronzeriders. Whyever not? He could not say yet. Those men were the most trusted people in the Weyr.

Noting that the Weyrwoman was not at all willing to wait for Z'skel to open his mouth he thought he might distract her momentarily. The lean man walked back to toward the water pitcher and began to pick up a glass. "Water?" He asked her, knowing how very impatient she was at that moment. Fiery tempered woman, she needed to cool off just enough to let the man speak. "Z'skel, best you get on with it. We both have busy lives as you can imagine I'm sure..."

[starshine]

Z'skel rose when the Weyrleader entered the room, and remained standing until the Weyrwoman had entered and taken her place at the table. She was obviously in a foul mood but then again when wasn't she hot tempered about something going in the Weyr. It was a big place after all, and there was several accounts for her to keep track of. Never the less he felt he needed to carry on with their meeting. He didn't want to keep them waiting.

He picked up the glass of water he had been pushing on the table and held it in his hand. He opened his mouth to speak when the Weyrleader stepped in. "Z'skel, best you get on with it. We both have busy lives as you can imagine I'm sure..." He flushed. He had waited too long.

"Well, I asked to meet with you because I've been putting alot of thought into an old record. The girl Rishka came across it and well..." He needed to get to the point. "I feel strongly that she has a good shot at impressing the stolen gold." He placed the cup back down on the table and braced himself for the inevitable onslaught from the weyrleaders.

[hrsegrl]

There was more to that girl than his brother must have known. Perhaps they should have paid more attention to what records she was reading and whom she was sharing the information with. At least she had had the good sense to talk to a Bronzerider but why she had not gone directly to Iaslia was beyond him.

He was familiar with the tale of the stolen eggs though everyone knew that Ista had taken them. The obvious thoughts came into his mind. Was it necessary to even attempt such a mission? If Nisurath was unable to clutch Gold perhaps it would be best but then that would place him in an even tighter spot than he was already in with Iaslia. His own dragon might be slightly miffed with him on that note.

Then there was the matter of how to plan to get them that far back in time. Not to mention what would happen if this girl did not impress the Gold? "That is quite an undertaking." He said is voice and face gave away nothing of what he was thinking though he turned to catch Iaslia's expression. Ev'os would prefer to hear what the Weyrwoman had to say before making any statements of his own.

[LyricalBlue]

As Z'skel dropped his verbal bombshell on the Weyrleaders, Iaslia's fidgeting died. The Weyrwoman sat in what seemed to be perfect silence for a long time. The rumble in the back of her mind let her know all too clearly that Nisurath had heard, and was not at all pleased with the thought of another Queen. And yet... how desperately Pern needed one. It was a long few moments before the lanky redhead said anything.
"First, we don't know that the stolen Queen ever Impressed. Secondly, how would you get in there? Third, why Rishka?"

She shook her head slowly, duty taking precedence. The stolen eggs... Everyone at Ponaa Weyr knew that old story. But the thought of a simple girl getting full access to those records bothered Iaslia in a way she could not quite explain. If she could get into the Records Room, anyone could. And after Gaelle's death... Perhaps she should speak to Ev'os about doing something about security. They couldn't afford to lose Nisurath any more than they could have afforded to lose Aliath.

After another pause Iaslia spoke once more. The theft of the eggs was known, if the details about exactly it was accomplished were not. "And Z'skel, how would the egg survive a jump between times?" Her brows furrowed together, hoping the bronzerider had answers. Which, knowing him, he most likely did. But still... The magnitude of the feat was staggering.