But still, she hadn't seen K'dan about lately, in fact he'd maintained a conspicuous low profile about the Weyr since that trouble with Lord Lucaren at the Hold. Not that she'd ever known him to be particularly gregarious, but even *she* hadn't seen him about much lately.
Maybe she'd go and look for him. It would be so easy if Somnolenth would bespeak Saith, but Kira didn't want to risk the sure silence by asking her gold. Somehow the bronze was indelibly intertwined with his rider in her dragon's mind. She sighed loudly.
>>Oh well, might as well go and find something to do.<<
She could find Alea and if she wasn't busy they could go over a bit more of the Weyr management and record keeping. >>Never thought I'd be a harper scribe when I came to the Weyr!<<
Alea shooed Circe away from her desk and opened the thick wherhide covered file to show Kira the tithe records. There were stacks of thin hide with figures and hold names in columns covering the top sheet.
"This is where we keep the current Turn's records. Each major holding has their own sheet, with all of their cotholds and any crafthalls listed on the same sheet. It's confusing when you first start, but you'll get the hang of it."
The Senior Weyrwoman looked longingly over at the ledge where Resanth lay sprawled in the sunlight. The day outside was perfect and Alea would much rather be flying somewhere aloft than sitting here going over old records. She was fairly sure Kira felt the same way too.
Kira glanced around the Weyrwoman's weyr, noticing but not noticing the now familiar surroundings. She looked at the tithe records. >>This'll be a piece of cake.<< "So, we fill these out when the tithes come in from each hold? I suppose Jess lets us know what arrives. Or are you usually there too when the tithe trains arrive?"
Kira hadn't taken much notice of those sorts of things during the last turn, but it seemed simple enough. Though she did wonder just how much the holds gave to the Weyr, and assumed that this would fall off a bit this turn what with the spate of nasty storms the continent had had. She idly wondered if they'd have enough, then discarded this thought as unworthy of Alea's and Jessany's management skills. Of course they'd have enough.
This goldrider stuff was still annoying her - though she'd gotten used to her role, it didn't mean she had to like it.
She looked out the window in envy at the others in her weyrling class. They'd just been allocated new trios, and she'd heard a few of them complain about the changes in partnerships. >>Well, they could trade with me!<< Not that Alea was a difficult workmate, far from it, once Kira had gotten to know her she found the Weyrwoman to be remarkably easygoing and quite human, not at all as scary as she'd thought when she was a candidate. But she would rather have been outside, dodging and diving in flight with the others as they honed their manoeuvring skills. And she was aware of Somnolenth's lazy gaze in the direction of the rest of her clutch. She was getting to be quite the matriarch for all that she wasn't fully grown.
Alea nodded. "Jess sends a drudge to get me when a train arrives. Although from these heights, everyone usually knows when one is approaching. And there are the folks flying sweeps who send word back when they see one. We have plenty of notice." Alea rested her chin on her hand and thought for a moment.
"We may have fewer trains this Turn though, what with the weather and all. I only hope the smaller cotholds can make it through until next harvest. It's going to be a tough Turn.
Almost as if reading the Junior Goldrider's mind, she added quickly, "The Weyr will be fine. I've got Jessany's talent for budgeting to thank... along with her skill at making use of everything! The woman's amazing!"
The pair worked comfortably alongside one another, with Alea glancing over the other girl's work approvingly. Kira would be an excellent Weyrwoman.
Circe, however, was being a pest. As the green flit buzzed past for the umpteenth time, Kira said "Did you have Circe before you Impressed Resanth? I can't imagine looking after *two*. Not, of course," she hastened, "that Circe could be as demanding as a dragonet, but I'm sure she has her moments!" She smiled to herself, remembering that in one of his lighter moments K'dan had divulged that J'rek's pair had spread powder all over the weyr.
Alea laughed. "Circe is far worse than Resanth ever was. She's loud and demanding and spoiled!" She caught the errant flit and held Circe still in her lap, much to the green's dismay.
"I Impressed Circe after I Impressed Resanth. I'd never really wanted a flitter; J'rek's Fidget could be such an annoyance. But once this little green monster looked into my eyes, well, you know how it is." She shrugged helplessly.
"So, Kira, other than being the odd woman out in your clutch, how's life as a goldrider treating you?"
"Well, you know." Kira was unsure of how to put it into words. "Being a rider's great, Somnolenth's great too. But I still get hacked off at being the 'goldrider'. We were the last to get to fly, and now we can't even practice with the others 'cos they've done it already while I'm in here."
She was aware that she was moaning again, and Alea had heard it all before.
"Sorry. Anyway, life's good. Though I wish ... - well, I just wish Somnolenth would do as she's told. I try to get her to listen, but with her you never know 'cos she doesn't say much."
She'd been about to say that she wished she'd seen K'dan around, but she didn't want to get him into more trouble by drawing attention to his existence, however her concern about Somnolenth was valid.
Alea released Circe who promptly flew out the opening to the Weyr Bowl. She watched the flitter leave as she thought about what Kira was saying. "Sounds like Somnolenth is testing you, Kira. Have you spoken to B'ren about this?" Kira shook her head, eyes downcast. "No, I wouldn't have either. But if it's serious things, like training and commands to the wings, it's a matter of some importance. The queens are the backbone and make sure that all the dragon wings know what's happening. They serve as the facilitators of communication during the stressful and chaotic Threadfall." Alea laughed. "While we don't have Thread right now, it will return and I, for one, want Pern and her dragon wings to be prepared. I know you do too. So if you think having Resanth speak to Somnolenth would help, I will be happy to make that happen. On the other hand, if you think this is a passing phase, then we can just wait and see what happens."
Now Kira had gotten her dragon into hot water. She struggled to say what she really meant. "No, it's not like that - well, I don't *think* it would be. Not about something so important to Pern. It's not *serious* things." >>Well, it *is* serious to me<< She thought hard as Alea was still looking concerned and waiting for an answer. "Its just that - well, there's someone she doesn't like much, and she won't even mention them, *or* their dragon, or have any conversation about them, and it's just like she's being really stubborn." The words tumbled out. "And she's never been one for conversations, anyway. Don't ask Resanth. I'll wait and see if there's any dragons she won't bespeak when we're flying in formation." She laughed, trying to lighten the moment. "But I think it's just me she won't talk to sometimes."
Alea closed the tithe records.
"In your Threadfall Games, you and Somnolenth will be flying with the wing and doing your job of passing commands and keeping tabs on everyone. I suggest that you talk to B'ren about practicing with Resanth and me while we get ready for the coming of these Games. And you can stay in the Weyr Bowl with us before we take off."
"I only hope we don't get 'scored' too badly," she said with a grin.
"Come on, Weyrwoman, we'll be the best team ever! Though I s'pose we'll have the advantage. That is, if you and Resanth are any good at dodging?" She got ready to dodge herself.
