The Gold Count

Writers: Avery, Devin
Date Posted: 25th May 2017

Characters: N'vanik, K'ran
Description: K'ran remembers chatting with N'vanik at Lanniya's first Hatching.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 12, day 14 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Lenala, Lanniya, Cyradis, Meledei, Y'gel

N'vanik

K'ran

Lenala's queen was curled on the sands of River Bluff, protectively
watching her clutch. It was a good sized one, and all the more welcome as
the first clutch since Rogueth's, since Lanniya's had been laid and
hatched at another Weyr.

Other people might have begrudged it. He knew several of the Weyrfolk
weren't thrilled about their young queen having her eggs on foreign sands.
But given how risky Lanniya's behavior had been and how unhappy she was,
K'ran thought it had been the right decision. He had been glad that she'd
seemed happy at the Hatching. How much worse would it be for an unhappy,
resentful goldrider to be at the Weyr?

The question now was, would Lanniya want to come back home, or stay at
Dolphin Cove? From the hatching, he'd gotten the impression she might
stay...

~~flashback~~

K'ran thought that it had been a satisfying experience watching
Anaeryth's Hatching and seeing how well Lanniya was doing at Dolphin
Cove. Now it was time for the feast, the dancing, and the interaction
with dignitaries - which was easier when you were the visiting one,
not the host. So he wove his way through the crowd towards the Dolphin
Cove Weyrleader.

"How are you and Loseth today?" he asked.

"K'ran! We're good." N'vanik gripped the other Weyrleader's arm with a
smile. "How is Rogueth?"

"He's doing well. Though we nearly got hit by a weyrling throwing
firestone sacks at their first Blooding," he said with a laugh. Nobody
had been hurt.

"Gotta watch out for those weyrlings." While N'vanik generally got
along with the other Weyrleaders, he was genuinely glad to spend time
with K'ran. He wondered what kind of picture they made with such a
difference in height.

"It's wonderful to have them graduate, but sometimes you wonder if
they're really ready to go out there." Some were, some weren't, and it
wasn't always a factor of age. "I can't wait until my clutch
graduates."

"The first one is extra special." Watching Loseth's hatchlings grow up
was always wonderful, but nothing could be quite like the first time.

"I'm hoping to have many more to go, but who knows?" he said. "I'll
have to let you know how it goes."

"I'm rooting for you. Provided you want to stay Weyrleader, of course."

"Would anyone not want to?" K'ran asked. He couldn't say he'd actively
pursued it. It had been a chance event. And yet he found the job
exhalation and challenging.

"Some people might not like the reality as much as the idea." And
there were some bronzeriders that honestly didn't want to be
Weyrleader.

"I wasn't expecting it, but I like the job. Of course, it's always the
lady's choice. If Rogueth is passed over next time, I'll adapt," he
said. "You must be pleased Loseth's won multiple queens."

N'vanik couldn't help a grin. "Yeah, he finally caught a gold and now
he can't stop."

}:I am very good at catching and the queens like me,:{ Loseth said in
a smug tone.

"That says a lot about the both of you," K'ran said.

A cheer went up from one group across the room. "I must admit I'd
expected Lanniya's first clutch to be at River Bluff, so I don't know
any of these candidates, but I hope they're all going to do well
together."

"We'll take good care of her hatchlings." N'vanik felt bad that
Lanniya's first clutch would grow up at another Weyr. "She's free to
visit any time. You and Y'gel, too. I'll send you updates on their
progress."

"I like visiting Dolphin Cove and checking on Lanniya. Speaking of
progress, there's actual changes to the lighting, isn't there?"

"Yep. Cyradis's big project is making more tangible progress now."
Dolphin Cove was looking and feeling more like a modern Weyr.

"That's fantastic as a change," K'ran said. He hadn't minded it when
he was here, but he had to admit that the difference between Weyrs
with the electric benefits and without was noticible. "Any other big
changes?"

"Meledei is moving North." Though N'vanik wasn't pleased about that he
was happy for her.

"You must be disappointed to lose her," K'ran said sympathetically. He
remembered that she'd come from Loseth and Nyith's first. "Hopefully
she'll visit often."

"She grew up here, her father still lives here. I'm sure she'll
visit." Dragonriders had the benefit of never being too far no matter
the distance.

"It's the beautiful thing about having wings. I still like coming back
here or Dragonsfall to see people. I don't go as much to Far Island
lately." A function of busy busy and having lost track of some of
those friends.

"Ever get bored at Dolphin Cove, or is it home for good, now?"

N'vanik's gaze flicked over the other weyrfolk and guests. "Pretty
sure I'm gonna stay."

That was a good thing to hear. Dolphin Cove had had N'vanik at its
head through several senior queens, and that kind of stability was
rare. "It seems like Panitath agrees, so that's good for you both."

N'vanik chuckled. "Loseth keeps impressing her, and gets crafty when
he needs to. And despite a rocky start, Cyradis wants to keep me
around."

K'ran wasn't sure if any of the River Bluff goldriders were interested
in keeping him around, but it wasn't the kind of thoughts he wanted to
entertain at the moment.

"Speaking of keeping someone around," he said, "I know the original
plan was to trade juniors around for only a clutch, but do you think
Lanniya might stay here longer? She has family here, right?"

N'vanik's eyes brightened. "Stay? But don't you need her back?" That
would leave River Bluff with only two -- no, _one_ gold.

"We would love her back," he said. They needed the golds. "But it
sounds like she struggled adjusting during weyrlinghood. I don't know
if the changes were all too much too soon for her, or if it was
something about River Bluff. If she is settling in happy here, perhaps
it would be better if she stayed here and we found another junior."

What good would if be for Lanniya if she came back and was miserable?

"I'd need to check with Cyradis but personally I'd be happy for
Lanniya to stay." N'vanik liked the young goldrider.

"Just have Loseth let Rogueth know. Or you're welcome to drop by."

Another person started heading N'vanik's way with intent. "I should
let you get back to your guests. It was good to see you again."

"Good to see you too."

~~end flashback~~

Lenala's plan for overseeing Cascade while she was grounded was a good
one, but she had been right - they really needed another gold. If Lanniya
didn't want to come back then they would need to follow Lenala's earlier
suggestion and apply for another gold transfer. Perhaps they'd get someone
slightly older, someone who was out of weyrlinghood by a few Turns and
wanted more responsibilities on her plate.

He would have to visit Dolphin Cove and talk with Lanniya and their
Weyrleaders about what would happen next. But that was a visit to
contemplate not in the evening.

Last updated on the June 10th 2017

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