The Uninvited

[M'kel]

The other's stolid composure in response to his jabs caused M'kel to grit his teeth through the smile. It was true, unfortunately, that despite their Turns of experience and previous 'lofty' position in the past, Syth was not an old dragon, and neither was his rider that far on in life. The pair may lack the speed and sheer vigour of his Tirenth and he, but they certainly weren't incapable of flight yet. Yes, this was certainly a displeasing hitch in their plans. M'kel would be forced to sign up for more charting shifts to improve Tirenth's endurance, and they'd need to spend more evenings practicing dive manouvers...if only there were some feisty greens to practice on!

Although the other bronze rider's apathetic dismissal rankled, the Weyrwoman's thoughtfulness irked more. She couldn't possibly be considering that old fool! After all M'kel had done for her, after the loyalty he'd shown, he deserved to rule by her side in this new Pern! B'kay's time was long past, literally, and it was M'kel's turn to rise. He would have to redouble his efforts to win Sitareh's favour, for this was a prize he could not go without.

At last, she seemed to remember his presence, but the smile she offered only half redeemed her earlier transgression. Nonetheless, M'kel's heart beat slightly faster, though her businesslike topic was more than disappointing. Was he a weyrling that she needed to check in on him? "I charted past the old Honshu, as per your instructions," was his terse response. Although he wanted nothing more than to confront her on the issue of allowing B'kay to remain, he knew that such would be a mistake. The Weyrwoman was obviously making the decision in the interests of the Weyr; experience and bronze riders were always needed. But she didn't have to gaze after the departing man that way...

"Weyrwoman..." he paused, glancing back at the near-black bronze's departing figure self-consciously, "...he will not be loyal to you." Perhaps if he couldn't convince her to force the other to leave, he could at least turn her against him. "That's why we didn't approach him in the past; we knew that he would not support you as you deserve. The only goldrider on Pern deserves more respect. She deserves bronze riders that she can rely on." That he was one of those bronze riders need not be mentioned, as that was perfectly obvious.

[bleedtearsofshame]

Sitareh's plump lips curved into a smile, easily reading the jealousy and concern flickering upon M'kel's face. His words only reinforced the emotions that she read there. He was reminding her of why B'kay was not trustworthy. Not because he thought that she was too foolish to realize it, but because he seemed nervous that she would favor him about the others.

"I know, M'kel," she said soothingly. "I know that he is not trustworthy. For all I know, he might be sent to spy on us here. So we shall have to turn his loyalty towards us. We will give him a project to capture his attention and keep him too busy to cause trouble, and when Thread begins to fall, he will stay. He won't betray us to Artemis. And if he isn't a spy, we need to keep his loyalty. We don't want him leaving in order to tell the others where we've been. Here he is, and like it or not, we must keep him here."

She paused in order to tilt her head slightly to the side, opening her brown eyes wide to focus on him. Her hand reached out, fingers brushing over his arm. "Do not worry, M'kel," she said in a low murmur. "I shall not forget my true supporters. You have been my strongest help here at Araelen, and I shall never forget your help. You have proved yourself to be the most loyal of the men who have followed, and you work harder than any Weyrleader ever has. And you are right about B'kay. Therefore, I must ask your help once more."

[M'kel]

M'kel's hostility dissolved somewhat at the Werywoman's honeyed words, and the brush of her fingers against his arm sent delightful shivers down his spine. There was a way her lips moved, particularly at times like this, when it seemed the world had ceased to move and nothing existed but her alluring smile and that sparkle in her eyes that spoke of promised delights beyond his imagination... Still, he was reluctant to believe her reassurances, for he was perfectly aware that she treated all of her bronze riders this way. And they certainly were hers.

Weyrleader. The way her tongue curled around the word, applying the title to him in such an offhand yet deliberate manner, caused a heat to rise in his gut. The warmth that seeped through his limbs as he absorbed this statement was filled with so much more than desire. His features hardened in determination, and his hazel eyes flashed with confidence. Yes, he would be Weyrleader. When Aviciath rose, Tirenth would catch her, and together, they would come to power. It was destiny.

Perhaps he'd lost himself in the dream or become hynotized by Sitareh's purr, but it was the absence of the latter that roused M'kel to her final statement. She needed his help. Unbeknownst to the bronze rider, his shoulders stiffened slightly with pride and eagerness. Now that the thrill of jumping forward through time had died down, he'd found himself despairing at the mundane tasks required by an understaffed Weyr. The duties he'd had to perform were unfit for a bronze rider, but the other colours were far too drastically underrepresented; at least until more dragonriders trickled forward from the past. The prospect of a new, dark task assigned by Sitareh and the opportunity to impress her with his aptitude in completing it roused his excitement and curiousity to no end.

"Anything you ask, Sitareh, I shall fulfil." M'kel's eyes glittered in anticipation, and he was surprised to find his own voice nearly a purr. "You know that I am forever at your service, my dear." How ruthlessly daring of him; she who loved to possess would never want to be owned. Anything that might win him points was worth it, though. Perhaps he wasn't as rational as he believed himself around this woman.