A Golden Entrance

[Requiem]

Kalierre directed a pointed glare at Shmee. Primarily, she didn't much care for the woman's high-handedness. No, girl's high-handedness. She almost wished S'rei had gone off on the weyrwoman moments ago instead of just sullenly withdrawing. The healer was aware that things were amiss at Benden - shards, she had to treat a lot of the problems that cropped up. But she also knew that they'd kept S'rei and Salenth out of the loop as much as they could, seeing as how they couldn't afford to lose the dragonpair to an attack of scruples, and, by extension, the leadership had seen fit to keep things from Kalierre as well. Regardless, those two probably knew a whole lot more about what was going on at Benden than Shmee. And it wasn't as if the weyrwoman could keep this 'weyrwoman business' to herself forever.

It didn't really matter, though, because Shmee didn't seem to notice that Kalierre had only taken a step back. She went on with Kaegan as if the healer were invisible. Which was fine with her, when all was said and done. At Kaegan's explanation, Kalierre felt her heart catch in her throat. "Shards," she breathed. Salenth! The healer's gaze darted to Shmee's face, wondering how the weyrwoman would react to this news. What's wrong, Kali? Were they using enhancers on the golds at Benden?

S'rei glanced up from where he stood, musing, in the center of the weyrbowl, eyes flashing at the sudden surge of rage flooding through him. "Salenth?" A flurry of words and emotions passed between the two. A shadow flickered behind the man's eyes, his jaw setting. Then he leapt to the bronze's back, the great beast thundering a roar before he burst from the forest, the roar cut off as the dragonpair disappeared into Between.

Unbelievable! Salenth had obviously just disappeared to who knew where - although Kalierre could venture a guess - and Shmee had no idea what Kaegan was trying to say! She was about to open her own mouth and explain, however someone beat her to it. She directed a dark glance at the older healer she'd never even seen coming. "What do you mean, your old records, Trenlor?" Of course she'd heard of him...and probably seen him off and on, though she couldn't quite remember. Her voice was cold.

[Tashe]

Shifting uncomfortably as Shmee looked to her, Kaegan ran a sleeve along her face to get rid of the tears that had formed. Although the Queenrider jumped slightly when Trenlor addressed her, his voice reminding her of someone she knew from Benden. Looking up from the ground at the older man, Kaegan responded quietly to him. "Yes sir. Today was supposed to be the seventh treatment. I'm not trained in the art of healing, they found me to be better at politics... but I believe they said the clutch size was slightly larger." Not taking her eyes off the man, the young woman responded to the Weyrwoman. "Its a way to inject liquids under the skin Miss Shmee."

Growling slightly as she remembered how the people at Benden had forced her to allow them to give her the shots, Millieth reached out to Kaegan with her mind. Each time the Queen refused to acquiesce to the treatments, they would threaten her with various suggestions that included the possible harm of her mine.

[saberlin]

((mind if I jump in? R'ton is a young Benden Upstart Bronzerider who got kicked out for trying to rise a revolt from the war.))
R'ton heard familiar voices as he passed through the cooridors of the new Weyr's main building. His metal reinforced boot edges clacking loudly on the stone floor. He had always hated the sound of his boots. They sounded far to commanding, like some of the other bronzes and browns at Benden. Well good riddens to them. He was gone for good. He could start his own seed down here, and be happier. When he rounded the hall he saw one of the Gold riders that was from Benden and if he had hackles they would have risen well above his head and heck. What was she doing here. The frustration and anger was quickly resolved as he heard what she had been talking about. He stopped in the entrance and bowed deeply, knowing that they would have heard him coming down the hall by now.
"Goldrider Kaegan. What a pleasant surprise to find you here. Are they now so stupid as to get rid of Goldriders? Or did you flee of your own accord?"
He did now know if she had known him, or would remember him if she did. After all, being stuck in the weyrling class so long had put him behind in memorizing everyone of even his own flight squads.

[Administrator]

Shmee ignored Kalierre. That girl had no right to be glaring at her- she was Weyrwoman, after all, and she knew what she was doing. She was a mere healer. Yet again, Trenlor was a healer as well... And look at her! She was relying on a healer! Granted, he was a rider once, but still. Relying on underlings. Shmee sighed.

Trenlor's expression did not change. "I was trying to increase clutch sizes, and found some chemicals in plants that would be injected. Unfortunately, they were too hard to be used alone, and I spent a long time trying to dilute it to go safely into dragon's blood without harming the dragon. However..." He paused. "I could find nothing to dilute it, so I left it alone. Apparently Benden finds it more important to increase clutch sizes more than the lives of there dragons. This is a very serious matter," he remarked, half to himself. However, there was something he wasn't telling them- something he never would tell them about his mistake. The test subject.

"I know what needlethorn is, silly girl," Shmee said sharply, still trying to figure all of this out. "I was just unsure what you meant... I just can't imagine doing it to dragons!" She shook her pretty head slowly, imagining scary-faced healers injecting hatchlings with needlethorn that was full of a vicious substance. She paused. "What does the seventh treatment mean?" she asked, looking to and from Trenlor and Kaegan.

The man cleared his throat. "A total of ten times," he remarked quietly. "Ten treatments completes it, given to queens, bronzes, and browns. A full ten will make a dragon go completely mad- especially when undiluted. Girl, was it?" he demanded quickly, looking at her with a frown. If they had diluted it, both dragon and girl would be all right, weak in the most part. "However, a full ten makes the clutch sizes almost two times bigger than they would normally be- but there are side effects," he added darkly.

A sudden change of mood- a bronzerider suddenly came, seeming so relaxed, almost playful about the situation. "None of this concerns you, bronzerider," Shmee snapped. "Weyrwoman business. You two can catch up later." Right now, she was not concerned about how handsome he was- that could happen another day. Right now, they needed to figure out what would happen with Kaegan- and this mess Benden seemed to be making.

[Tashe]

"Two undiluted and four diluted... thats what we were given." Turning to the Weyrwoman, Kaegan bobbed her head slightly before speaking again. "Forgive me Miss Shmee... I was unsure what you meant." Ears pricking slightly as the bronzrider spoke, the young goldrider vaguely remembered hearing that voice at Benden. "You're that boy that Benden kicked out..." Shaking her head she turned back to the Weyrwoman and the old man as Shmee addressed the young bronzerider.

Twitching her wings slightly, the Queen reached out with her mind and spoke to Kaegan.

/There are so many transfers and people from Benden... We can't trust anyone.../

Shrugging off Millieth's comment slightly for it was something she already knew, the Queenrider returned her gaze to the floor.

(ewww. Short post = <///3)

[saberlin]

Hearing the Healer talk and explain about the treatments and what it could have meant for Kaegan and many of the other bronze riders at Benden, suddenly everything made sense. No wonder they wanted strict obediance, they had wanted secrecy as well. He rocked back on his heels as though he had been hit by a board. Though it was not at the words of the Weyrwoman, who he became rather unimpressed with in a very short period of time. Who was she to think that she could immediatly order him about? Well that would change, this place was in obvious need of a good strong bronze rider. He would bide his time, he would change things. If he could.

For now his thoughts were on Kaegen. His eyes went to her, to look at her. She looked alright, how was her queen, was her queen ok? Seven treatments in. How had they forced her to do such things? Did they administer the treatment before the queens could fly so they could not get away? Was that why the Weyrlingmaster had died? Was it arranged. Suddenly questions of his whole history as a "Fighter" for Benden came in to question.
In reply to her correct explination, "Yes, they did kick me out. Its what happens when you know too many of their 'secrets' and disagree with them. As such I was willing to risk my dragons hide to sear thread, not to fight another dragon." So much for keeping it to himself that he had been kicked out and not just left...

Rodonth, bespeak Kaegan's Gold for me. I need to know if she is feeling alright. Then get a hold of one of your green friends at Benden, tell them to keep listening for you. There could be more at stake with this fight than just dragon vs dragon.

The bronze who was sunning himself out on a ledge looked around for the Queen in question and spotted her. He glided over to her on easy large wings and rested a respectable distance away, so as not to frighten her.

Meanwhile R'ton looked at the Weyrwoman Smee, still a neutral look on his face, he bowed to her again, "I beg your greatest pardon's Weyrwoman. I had merely heard the voice of other Benden riders. My name is R'ton and I recently were asked to leave that blooded Weyr for lack of wanting to put dragon against dragon." He spoke only to her and had only eyes for her while he talked. Wanting her to know that he did respect her and while he said what he did, she was the only thing that mattered.

[Requiem]

Kalierre's eyes narrowed at Trenlor's explanation, her lips setting into a thin line. She may be a candidate, but she was a weyrhealer foremost, and a respected dragonhealer at that. How was it possible that all of this could have been going on at Benden without her knowledge? Although, admittedly, most of the cases she took on with dragons were the result of Threadscore or burns from firestone... Closing her eyes, she rubbed her brow. A horrid headache was beginning to blossom inside her skull. She'd known that the clutches were getting larger, but she'd chalked it up to the Pass and stress. What an idiot she'd been.

The bronzerider received a glance from Kalierre, then merited a closer look. Shards. It's R'ton. S'rei would not be all too happy to hear about that. The wingleader had been working within the system to find high-ranking bronze and brownriders who opposed the dragon wars - and, as he was considered a neutral and was being treated with kid gloves by the weyrleaders anyway, was not too hard for him to do - when the young idiot started stirring up trouble. Everyone clamped down after that, too afraid that their opinions would get back to Benden's leadership. A friend tipped S'rei off that he might be in for a less than friendly 'visit' soon, and the bronzerider had left, figuring he could do more good from the outside. The resurfacing of memories of Selenitas had made his destination an easy choice.

No, Kalierre was pretty sure S'rei wouldn't be pleased. The healer regarded R'ton closely, wondering if he'd even recognize her. It was unlikely. The man hadn't been to the infirmary often, and, as well-known as S'rei was, if R'ton didn't know him personally - which he didn't - he probably wouldn't know the company the former wingleader kept. Still, Kalierre bespoke Salenth Rodonth and his rider are in Selenitas. The bronze's response was slow to come. I know. I haven't told him yet. Anger simmered beneath the words, but she suspected it had more to do with wherever the pair had gone than R'ton.

[Administrator]

Trenlor grunted. "So, trying to vary it, eh?" he asked with dark amusement. "Not doubt trying to see what is more effective." It relieved him that the queen was still sane, what with for undiluted solutions. However, he wondered how things were going for the rest of the unfortunate clutch... "If your queen develops a rash or doesn't seem to act like herself, report it to me, got it?" he said, his cold eyes finding Kaegan's. He had given his test subject only seven undiluted solutions when the pair finally could take it no longer.

Shmee gave R'ton a flash of irritation. "I think it wise to leave now, or else you may be asked to leave yet another Weyr," she told him coldly. "And make any mention of this to anyone and I will personally see to it that it happens," she added, eyes narrowed. Aslath, too, was unimpressed with his bronze. Back away from her, she snarled. The last thing she wanted was Millieth to be frightened by a full-grown Benden bronze so near her.

She paused, then trumpeted. To any and all dragons of Selenitas- you are forbidden to make any mention of the events occurring right now to anyone outside our walls! Do not come near Millieth. This was a queen command, and woe to anyone who disobeyed her, she knew. She rarely commanded her Weyr in such a way, but she was queen and what she says goes. She was not going to risk a dragon slipping a hint to someone of Benden or Fort that the junior weyrwoman of Benden was here right now. Shmee shot a glare at everyone.

"I'll let you know what happens later if I need to, but the only people needed here are Trenlor and the girl- healer, you can stay, but step away so you're out of earshot," she told Kalierre with narrowed eyes. She figured a healer would still be important once she got the needed information- and she didn't trust Trenlor. Whirling to him, she said, "What side effects?"

"Not only could it madden the dragon," he said after a long moment, "But the eggs- the doubled clutch- may suffer some problems. I haven't yet seen the product, nor do I want to." He paused, and a strange feeling hung over the small group of people before he went on. "As this stuff is put directly into the ichor, there may be genetic effects, as well. For example, Millieth's children might be... handicapped. As well as their own children," he finally finished.

[Tashe]

"I was almost always in one place of the Weyr... if not taking injections I was in the Library or somewhere in the Weyr working on political and Domestic matters that my... I mean Benden's Weyrleaders and Senior Weyrwoman felt were beneith them to do." Slowly tracing a circle with her finger upon Millieth's golden hide, Kaegan put her free hand to her forehead feeling a bit dizzy.
"If something happens to Millieth I will let you know Mister Trenlor. And R'ton... please do what Weyrwoman Shmee says. You can speak to me after I am done if you wish, but now we must converse on this issue alone."

Slightly wary of the bronze who had come up to her, Millieth thrashed her tail slightly in agitation. A moment passed before a prickling in the back of her mind caused her to refocus her interest on what the older Queen had to say.

[saberlin]

R'ton was confused and certainly more and more unimpressed with the Senior Queen Rider and her dragon. He left Benden for this? One was almost as bad as the other. Oh well, he couldn't afford for himself or Rodonth to lose another home.
Clicking his heels together he threw a salute to Shmee, "As you wish Goldrider." He turned then calling Rodonth in his mind and the bronze bowed his head to both female's backing up slowly in respect so that when he took flight he did not spray either of them with sand. When they were far enough away, but still in the line of sight, Rodonth lowered himself just enough so that R'ton could run and vault from ground, to arm, to neck of his dragon and they flew off.
"Can you believe them?! I understand Weyr business, but to tell a bronze pair to just get out? Who does she think is going to fly her precious beast? The neighboring watch wher's bronze? All the better if you ask me. The eggs that are already on the sands look sickly enough. I feel for the candidates who Impress them." None of this, was of course heard by any of them.

[Requiem]

Trenlor had ignored her. Undoubtedly it had a lot to do with her young age and his own hubris, but then, he seemed to completely disregard Shmee's authority anyway, speaking only what it served him to say. Arrogance had always annoyed Kalierre. It was one of the reasons the only bronzerider she'd connected with was S'rei, a man who managed to exude self-confidence without making everyone else feel inferior. There was certainly plenty of arrogance to go around here. At Trenlor's command to Kaegan, Kalierre frowned. His knowledge might be invaluable. Still, she didn't trust him one bit. Any healer who could knowingly create these - enhancers - and test them on weyrlings did not deserve the rank of healer. That he hadn't made mention of these or done anything to stop their administration implicated him just as much as the ones who were actively using this stuff.

Upon Aslath's command, Kalierre found the need to connect to Salenth once again. S'rei had never really been the emotional sort. Still, she wouldn't put it past him to have disappeared to Benden before he thought. Salenth. Where are you? When his reply came, she was relieved to find that the anger had died down to something like resignation. At the Healer Hall in Fort. S'rei needed to see Ninian. It seems that not only are clutch enhancements a possibility, but it's also probable that that's what's occuring at Benden, from what the healer's seen. He doesn't know Kaegan's at Selenitas, does he? Of course not. S'rei managed to pass it off as concern for me after hearing rumors.

Now it was Kalierre's turn to feel concerned. They didn't... Something like amusement actually filtered back to her. Of course not. They couldn't do it without S'rei's knowledge. And, frankly, the Weyrleaders couldn't afford to lose a Wingleader. Kalierre let out a sigh of relief. All right. Just be sure he knows that Shmee will get all over him if it gets out that Kaegan's here and he turns out to be the source. Will do.

Speaking of Kaegan, she looked a bit weak. Kalierre hoped Shmee would get this over with quickly so that she could properly examine the goldrider. The healer met her Weyrwoman's glare frankly, her face blank, though inside she wanted to rail at the woman. Any information on these drugs could only help when she determined Kaegan's fitness and what needed to be done to help the girl. Still, after a long moment, Kalierre bowed with frigid formality and moved further away, arms crossed as she stared in the opposite direction of the little pow-wow she'd been banned from. Weyrwoman Shmee was not impressing her overly much. Oh well. She could handle a little arrogance as long as it didn't interfere with the health of her patients.

[Administrator]

Shmee was silent for a long moment. She was simply at a loss. A queen hatchling, drugged, no less, just got foisted upon them. Now she had to find away to keep the knowledge that a Benden queen was hiding out at Selenitas away from the other Weyr, but also needed to do something about the drug. If Trenlor was saying something true, then wouldn't it just be a matter of time before Selenitas was overcome with crippled hatchlings? Shaking her head slowly, as if in denial, a slow scowl appeared on her fair features, directed at Trenlor.

"How could you let such a thing happen?" she demanded angrily. She had half a mind to punch him, and probably would have had Aslath not restrained her.

Trenlor blinked, not caring that she seemed to be furious. "They merely found my notes," he remarked. Glancing back to Kaegan, he gave her a curt nod. "I'll be in the infirmary. Come if you need me- I'm sure you will probably be off there soon anyway." With that, the dragonless healer stalked away, relieved to know that his secret was still safe with him.

His words reminded Shmee of Kaegan's injury. Scanning the girl, she nodded. "Healer girl! Get over here and help her. I'll go... figure out what to do." With this not very promising statement, Shmee darted off to one of the boats to take her to the Hatching Ground weyr, where she would spend the next long while trying to figure out how to handle Benden.

[Tashe]

Watching the Weyrwoman and the male healer walk away from the group with squinted eyes, Kaegan leaned against her Queen as a sort of Dizziness swept over her. Struggling to keep consciousness, the young woman blinked back tears as the pain in her arm doubled... Apparently she had done more than scrape her arm, but as to what she had no idea. The lights and sounds around her began to flux as her eyes seemed to grow heavy, she had been able to stay awake long enough to tell the Weyrwoman her story. She had accomplished her goal.

Eyes flicking to bright yellow, Millieth swung her head around to face the Healer as Kaegan's mind seemed to grow dim. This was the only time in her short life that she had been truly afraid of anything...

/Quickly! She is starting to slip into unconsciousness!/

(I shall be setting up a thread in the Infirmary when we finish up here. :3)

[Requiem]

"Healer girl, my arse," Kalierre muttered vehemently. The little Weyrwoman was young, and, further, immature. To think she'd call anyone a girl...especially someone older. Nevertheless, she turned, walking swiftly to where the young goldrider sagged against the hatchling that would cause a lot of trouble in the near future. Her eyes travelled quickly over the bruising arm, frowning. There was a good deal of bleeding beneath the surface of the skin for it to bruise that badly. A fracture? That seemed the most likely explanation, as it didn't seem to be broken. And the girl was young...if a fracture occurred near the growth plate, she would always have one arm shorter than the other. Maybe not noticeably. But it would be so. Kalierre stopped conjecturing as she drew near.

At Millieth's urging, Kalierre cast a quelling glance at the gold. She caught the girl at the waist, allowing the goldrider to slide to the earth, though with far more gentleness than if she had been left to fall. She'll be all right, Millieth. Most of this is weariness. And shock. And pain. But the shock and pain would fade with sleep, to be treated by the healers before Kaegan awoke. "Where did you grow up?" Kalierre asked the girl quietly, her voice calm and soothing. She probed to see how coherent Kaegan still was, while gently opening the lids, watching the pupils as they dilated too slowly for the girl to be considered fully conscious.

You have to be strong for her. Any distress that you allow her to know of will only make it worse for her.

[Tashe]

A murmur came from the young Goldrider as she shifted slightly trying to answer the healer's question, but it to low to be heard by human ears. Finally letting herself slip into the darkness that over shadowed her, Kaegan was finally able to sleep without fear.

Flicking her tail unhappily, Millieth watched as the Healer started to take care of her Mine. Slowly, the large Queen rose to her feet and rumbled something to herself... waiting for the Healer to move.

(RAWR! To the Infirmary! RP OVAH.)