Eastern Bowl, High Reaches Weyr
Ringed by rough granite walls to all sides but one, this end of the huge bowl narrows from the even broader plain to the west, continuing the ever so slight downward slope toward the blue and green of the Weyr's lake and surrounding foliage. More open to sun and wind than the western bowl, but less frequented when there aren't weyrlings in residence, the bowl's grassy tufts keep the topsoil in place and thicken into a bloodstained meadow within the feeding pens that adjoin the lake.
At the base of the surrounding cliffs lie entrances to several caverns, including the dragon infirmary and the weyrling barracks: the former to the northwest near where the spires begin, the latter opposite to the southwest. Both archways are large and dark enough for any dragon to pass through, but it's the infirmary's that is haunted by faint smells of redwort and numbweed, as though over generations they have seeped into the very stone. To the southeast, between the weyrling area and the lake, there are a handful of structures built into the floor of the bowl, standing out amidst otherwise an empty space.
A lovely summer day has people outdoors as much as possible today, even as the day fades into dusk. There's still dragons and swimmers in the water, still a trail of people walking from the caverns into the bowl and the night. Brieli is not amongst the swimmers, unsurprisingly - but she is taking the opportunity to enjoy the weather, in a bight yellow short sundress, walking along with a couple of weyrfolk as they make their way to the lake. The conversation seems light enough, but the goldrider seems interested in what they're saying - until it's time for them to head for the shore, towels in hand. There's brief farewells and she continues on, dark gaze sharp around the bowl, even on an easy walk in a quiet night.
Among the swimmers - or at least well on his way - is Arekoth, streaking down from his ledge, talons forward, a shriek splitting the air as he skims the water just shy of a blue in his wing. The water breaks his speed, makes a big, obnoxious, wave, and the brown, satisfied, sinks. H'kon is longer in coming, long enough that some of the annoyance, excitement, or what-have-you from those nearer his dragon might have died down. It's a path from the caverns that brings him and the fresh, rather large jar of dragon oil he hugs to his chest, up toward Brieli. So of course, "Weyrwoman," is issued with a respectful bob of his head.
It's not like the lake isn't accustomed to dragons plummeting into the water, shrieking or no - there's space enough for Arekoth, and a ripple of reactions from the others nearby. One is belated, it doesn't come until the brown sinks into the depths that there's the roar of the tide, Iesaryth watching as she swims past, slowly. Brieli casts a glance overhead as the brown streaks by, so seems unsurprised to find his rider near. With a brief, faint smile, "H'kon. How are you?" She might still twitch a touch at the title, but it's easy to miss.
Yes, but 'dragons' does not necessarily mean Arekoth; and the brown is in spirits enough to make himself known, flailing about a little as he resurfaces. « That smell... » A waft of fish. « Iesaryth, is that you? » For all that fish is likely something plucked from H'kon's mind, some reflection of Tillek's docks, the brown paddles Iesaryth-words. Drawn. Meanwhile, H'kon twists his mouth into that pained smile of his, and gives a gruff nod. "Well enough. Yourself? Iesaryth?"
« Come find out. » Not quite playful, but amused, Iesaryth is at home in the lake, even if it's not the oceans she prefers. She doesn't have to breathe just yet, so sways behind a clump of weeds and a diving blue. Her rider tries not to look all that entertained, either by the swimming or the brownrider's attempt at a smile. With a shrug, Brieli glances lakewards. "About the same. Iesaryth is enjoying warmer waters." When she looks back to H'kon, head tilted, she notes, "I hope... things have been all right over the past few months. No issues." Since being accused of murder and all, but why put words to that unpleasantness?
« Maybe I will. » Arekoth probably -likes- getting into that diving blue's personal space, a lazy trip, not without the occasional flick of his wings for, let's say, effect. "Arekoth as well," comes through half-gritted teeth. He's not paying that brown attention. H'kon hefts the little jar into a better grip when it starts to slide, and gives a flat look to the weyrwoman. "The results have been mixed," he decides after a moment, managing to keep the edge out of his voice, if not rightly his eyes.
The blue might be bothered, but Iesaryth isn't; she's too busy surfacing for air - barely - then back to lurking in the depths and amongst the weeds. If Arekoth wants to go looking, he can, though there's little light to find her sunny hide this time of day. Brieli smirks a touch, telling H'kon, "I noticed." Whether the brown, or his rider's reaction to it amuses her, it's hard to say. Flickering a look to the jar before the man again, she agrees, "I've found that. I would hope if there were anything we could do, you'd mention. To myself or Azaylia." It's light enough to be you know, if, not saying that there is anything. Or any issues either. There's a pause before, "I'm trying to sort out what went wrong. And I know you have opinions."
It's not so much looking... It's a dive, only so low and long enough to inform Iesaryth « What a pity it is to hide your hide. » Under water, a careful full turn along the axis of nose to tail is eerily slowed. « Hide your hide! » is not without a smack of a leg toward the blue - but he is too far gone now to get that self-satisfied punch to the shoulder. And the brown moves up toward the surface once more. "Hm," is thoroughly dissatisfied on his rider's end. "You think it's so explicable?"
« Not always. » Just right now, since she moves so much easier in the depths of the lake, like very slow air. Iesaryth is in no rush to get out of the water, be visible - though she images herself on her ledge, as per usual. Everyone can see her there. And her visitors, to her rider's dismay. Speaking of Brieli, her fine brows draw together before slowly, "No..." She takes a moment to consider her words before telling H'kon, "I don't want to see the same mistakes made. One thing is difficult to explain. Try as I might. How it got there..." Her shoulders lift in another shrug.
On the surface, Arekoth takes a greater breath before wing-kicking his way into another dive. « Always a pity, » is as smooth in tone as it's meant to be in character. The wingstrokes continue, striving for the depths, if only to prove... H'kon has narrowed his eyes only slightly, possibly only force of thought. Brieli is examined, but only for a moment before he remembers himself, and makes the excuse of looking to the water. Where his dragon has disappeared. Back to the weyrwoman: "Mistakes. You've found several?"
Iesaryth is not surprised by Arekoth, necessarily - but she's vain enough to be pleased by that reply. Perhaps unexpected, given the brown's past agitation. And if he has something to prove, well. It's only to himself. The queen is content with the company alone. And fortunately for H'kon, Brieli is very good at pretending she's not being studied - it's as if he never even looked at her, just to the lake. "Maybe? Some people think there's more than others. Some people think the mistakes are different. I like to have multiple perspectives. Not everyone thinks like I do." There's a dark, wry smile for that.
Arekoth gets deeper than his previous attempt before he moves to the surface again, this time not without a glance spared in Iesaryth's general direction, to see if she's moved. "I'm not certain that perspective will be of any help to you. I should think there were certainly more," slightest pause, and he lands on, "developed perspectives within the Weyr itself. But she was not killed within the Weyr. Not from within, at any rate."
"But... There were people who agreed with seeing her dealt with, though not... in the way it happened, yes? People talked to me about it in weyrlinghood." Brieli purses her lips, before pointing out, "It's helpful to know why people felt that way. How they feel now. What they'd see done. I can't see that being without value." Glancing sidelong to H'kon, "Not that you have to tell me what you think. But I'd appreciate it." Out in the lake, Iesaryth's only moved from weed bank to the next, but she's not a fish; there's a trail of bubbles behind her as her head breaks the surface again, stays there for now. Maybe she's watching the other conversation.
H'kon remains quiet for some time, though he doesn't move off from Brieli at all. "I doubt it is possible to lead a Weyr with full consensus. The Weyr was divided, and riders sat on their ledges. Do you think the boy had any real concept of all the opinions? What he saw should have been largely external, and still he carried out the murder of a weyrwoman." It brings a sigh, finally, and H'kon shakes his head and gives Brieli what is probably one of his more sympathetic looks. "I do not know there is anything solid in this to push off of, Weyrwoman."
With a sigh, "I'm not looking for agreement. I'm not--" Brieli pauses rather than finish that sentence, instead saying, "I don't expect much. I just want to know the pieces, where they stacked up to push one way or another. Where they are now. Information can only be to my benefit. Our benefit." She has a flicker of a look for Iesaryth, out in the lake. Her lips quirking, "I don't need anything solid, H'kon. I just want to know. I want to know the possibilities before anything happens." If she's surprised by anything near sympathy, she doesn't show it.
And Arekoth, staying closer to the surface, has followed after her, is floating close behind her, perhaps also listening, perhaps just enjoying what view he's come by. The eventual clicking noise he makes in his throat probably suggests the latter. H'kon, for his part, has taken on a troubled frown. "Possibilities." He shakes his head once, and grips that jar tighter, and stays silent and staring for an uncomfortably long time. "I do not know if there is anyone, anywhere, who could die and not have at least one other person be pleased to see them gone. I wonder, if there is a right, what purpose it has." The look he levels at her is drawn, weary. "If you will require me to tell you my own opinions, whatever little they accomplish, I will," is more or less lifeless.
Brieli is quiet herself for a time, dark gaze steady on H'kon, until she just shakes her head. "There's no purpose to it, but I can make sure there was one. What do we have left, in the end, but our marks on others." Her attention shifts away again to the shore, where Iesaryth is swimming for the shallows; if she noticed Arekoth's clicking, there's little time to react now. What'd his rider say? Well done. "And I'm not going to make a habit of interrogating you, thank you, though." She's a little tired herself; with a lift of her chin the gold's way, "We've things to do before it's too dark." Nothing specific. 'Things'.
That question might have been rhetorical, but H'kon is in deep brood now. "Actions, Weyrwoman," comes the answer, surprisingly prompt, low in voice, serious. "Our actions speak louder, and last longer." Arekoth is not so sensitive as to keep, « Or not, » private. It manifests in a wince in his rider, who steps back, nods dutifully, and waits for Brieli to take her leave. Only after will he deal with getting his dragon out of the water, and meticulously cared for.
That title again; Brieli grimaces briefly as Iesaryth wings her way across to the ground ledges, and she starts away. And probably because she likes to have the last word - go figure - she points out to H'kon, "I'd rather plan before acting than act blindly." Then, with brisk, long-legged strides, she's gone.
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