Difference between revisions of "Logs:Eliyaveith's Hatching Feast"

The hatching feast is after midnight, so hopefully no one turns into anything that they are not meant to be. Given the late hour, there is more booze than food offered to Fort's guests and their riders. The riders, at least, seem to be imbibing freely to celebrate the new queen, the health of the new dragons, and just to celebrate, it seems. In the crowd, in her pale gown, Lilah seems to be doing the same, celebrating her freedom, as she thanks a Holder politely for his congratulations.

There is a touch of gentle, exploratory warmth that they might, might find familiar as Eliyaveith checks in on her children, already a pang of worry in the golden queen for them being away from her. She misses them, surely, for all that she's glad they have found their riders. (To Uiysath, Lucuxyth, Taeliyth, Caidelyth, and Zymadiath from Eliyaveith)

Initially, Farideh seems surprised that High Reaches' leadership takes a detour to Fort's hatching feast -- because K'del is an evil fun-sucker in her eyes -- but she warms up to the idea quickly, and slips off when they first enter to find a drink without a couple pairs of disapproving eyes watching. Fun later, drink now.

To Uiysath, Lucuxyth, Caidelyth, Zymadiath, and Eliyaveith, Taeliyth's earthy mind answers with a flash of the wild wanderings and paths her mind holds, each vanishing into untold secrets. There's a cockiness there and a distinct brash brush of impudence in answer to her dam. It doesn't take words to intimate that she's got it covered; no need for Mom to worry. Except maybe about-- The thought breaks off.

Irianke arrives on K'del's arm, her burnt orange skirts rustling like the leaves embroidered onto the panels. The late hour doesn't seem to affect her given the adrenaline of the hatching that just happened and the Reachian weyrwoman guides herself and her escort into the hubbub, plucking two drinks off a passing tray and handing one to K'del. "I've thought of rider exchanges with the other Weyrs of just graduated weyrlings. Nothing," she says, lifting a hand quickly, "Permanent. Just something to create ties for the future."

To Eliyaveith, Uiysath, Taeliyth, and Zymadiath, Caidelyth wafts in on a sweet melody shared with all in her immediate vicinity, her young mind unable to summon the focus to only reach her dam. She is warmth and reassurance, shimmering with a multitude of colors in her joy and excitement.

It can't really be any surprise that Hattie is less interested in the party side of things than she is in the organisational aspect of the event, and thus, though she's dressed for the occasion in a long gown in varying shades of indigo, her near silent attendance has thus far involved skirting the edges of the room and checking on the availability of drinks and food, quiet direction given to the kitchen staff and others assisting with the celebration. Only now does she pluck a glass of iced juice for herself from a tray, then she continues on her way.

K'del, too, seems wide awake and cheerful enough, graciously accepting the profferred glass as he tilts his head to the side, seemingly both considering what his weyrwoman has to say and studying the room at large. "It seems," he says, after a moment's pause, "like a not unreasonable proposition. We all do things different ways-- we might as well learn from each other, and build up bonds. All the better to aim for positive relationships, across weyrs. Would you start with our current group?"

To Uiysath, Lucuxyth, Taeliyth, Caidelyth, and Zymadiath, Eliyaveith does not seem to be reassured by either of her daughters, though Caidelyth's sweetness and warmth is met with a softness that attempts to blanket the young one, before she tells them all, « Be strong. Be brave. Take care of one another. » And silently, an implied: and if you need her, she will be here.

"Perhaps, or the next one depending." So many things are depending these days and the limbo Irianke is in for the near future causes her sunny late night disposition to falter. "It just seems like it'd be a good outreach program overall to make friends and bring back different ideas of how to do things. There's the Weyrwoman," says Irianke suddenly, gesturing to the striking indigo-clad woman who is deep in organizing. "We should pay our respects."

Shifting shadows, fleeting from a distance. Figures- words? beings?- come and then are gone, and then shift back again. Not nearly so pleasant a thing as the shared melodies of his green sister, Zymadiath's ghosts linger at the periphery as his backdrop of darkness reaches, curious, to touch those minds nearby. (To Eliyaveith, Uiysath, Taeliyth, and Caidelyth from Zymadiath)

H'vier was at the hatching and now he's come to the feast. There's an attractive Iceberg greenrider on his arm, one whose green isn't an unusual sight on Reisoth's ledge of late. But since they break away once they each have a drink, it might not be that they're here together, exactly. The bronzerider watches after her for a moment, but he seems disinterested when she finds another man to talk to.

Lilah extricates herself from the Holder soon enough, though not quickly enough to be rude for all that she might want to. But her path doesn't set her to her Weyrwoman or to any other visiting dignitaries, but rather back to the drink table.

K'del glance side-long at the woman on his arm, aware, it seems, of that falter. He makes no comment on it, and instead agrees, "It does. We'll have to discuss the logistics and finer points." But not now: now is a time for following her lead, and taking the first step towards Hattie. "Of course," he agrees. And, as they approach, a neutrally polite: "A lovely clutch; congratulations to your Weyr."

To Eliyaveith, Uiysath, Taeliyth, Zymadiath, and Lucuxyth, Caidelyth's thoughts, though delicate and ethereal in nature, sparkle with the strength of a diamond as they reflect light everywhere. « I will. » From her, the words are a promise followed by a flurry of affection, like leaves blowing through the wind touching each of her siblings in turn.

By the time Farideh resurfaces in the crowd of moving bodies, her cheeks are already flushed and her hazel eyes bright, on the greener side, in alignment with the turquoise blouse she wears under her riding jacket. She has a glass in one hand and a finger sandwich in the other, drinking from the first and nibbling on the second interchangeably as she moves through the crowd. "H'vier!" is who she spots first, sidling up to the bronzerider with a boozy, too-happy smile. "You're here."

Hattie can't be half-cut already - or at all, if the contents of her glass are anything to go by - yet she sways a little on her feet as one heels catches a little wrong when she turns slightly from her chosen path to be drawn out of the shadows she's seemingly attempting to keep to. "Thank you," is a prompt response for K'del, if mannered, her words not so clipped as a touch too precise. "Fort's duties to the 'Reaches," she adds a moment later. "But really, it's Lilah you should congratulate, and--" the Weyrwoman glances about, searching, "--C'stian. Or Eliyaveith. Not that we generally go and deliver congratulations to the dam. Perhaps we should."

"Perhaps we should." The good nature of Irianke's voice clashes with the fleeting look of concern in Irianke's gray-blue eyes for the sway Hattie starts with. "But I hadn't been able to come by with my respects to your Weyr since transferring to High Reaches and it seemed an opportune moment. "We plan to before we leave, but wanted her to have the moment to shine," says the Reaches goldrider smoothly. "It's always a heady experience, your dragon's first clutch. I will likely always remember Niahvth's first. Five months pregnant, the sands blisteringly hot. Good times."

"So I am," says H'vier to Farideh, looking over her head for a moment as though there might be someone else he's looking for before he's gazing down at her. "Somewhat surprised to find you here. Weren't you banned from Fort or something?" He might be exaggerating. But no one can be surprised by that, can they?

K'del's arm half-lifts, as if, for a moment, he intends to reach out and steady Hattie - although in the end, he does not; he adjusts, lifting his glass towards his mouth instead, a poor cover-up. "We should," he echoes, firmly. "It's their work, far more than ours. Still, it's a wonderful thing to be able to celebrate. I'm sure Lilah will also remember today, looking back."

Drink acquired and a moment of peace to herself, Lilah takes the moment to sweep her gaze over the gathering even as she takes a slow sip. Her gaze catches on Farideh and H'vier there, lingering over the pair. Though, at least, she doesn't seem to be storming over.

"No," is one, long, drawn out syllable. "I was grounded', twice, from-- going, anywhere, not just Fort. It's not the same." Farideh scrunches her nose up, and takes a temperamental bite from her sandwich. "Irianke let me come today with her, and K'del," she adds, turning her head and bouncing on her tippy-toes to try and see over the heads of others, to find the two weyrleaders. "It was a lovely clutch, wasn't it? All of them Impressed."

Though her gaze momentarily finds the floor for her not-quite slip-up, when Hattie looks up again, focus dragged slowly back, there's something silently grateful there for K'del when her attention rests on him, if coloured by embarrassment that only causes her to retreat further into that mannered safe-ground. "I'm sure she will," she agrees easily enough, with both of High Reaaches' leaders. "I... hope that she's pleased with the outcome of the clutch. The waiting is never easy. It's good that... it was a success." She presses her lips together, perhaps trying to find more words on the subject, gaze darting to Irianke, yet, in the end, she has to settle for, "We can track her down, if you like? Lilah, I mean. Closer to hand than Eliyaveith, I imagine."

"Grounded," repeats H'vier. "Well, that is different. And you're here getting drunk." He sounds more impressed than judgmental. "I hope you're planning on insulting the Fortian weyrwomen even more." And that sounds sincere rather than teasing. He even looks to Lilah when he notices the weyrwoman looking their way. "Perhaps you should tell her that Igenite fashions don't suit her. You're rather well-educated in that area, aren't you?"

"We can find her," the concern never completely disappears and K'del's outreach that turns into something else is greeted with her own grateful look to the Reaches Weyrleader. Torn between verbalizing this concern and the fact Hattie has retreated to politeness seems to shift Irianke's focus. "In fact, maybe we should find her now before the weyrlings emerge from the barracks, if they do with the hour so late." Her smile, polite for Hattie, "Thank you for hosting this celebration, Weyrwoman."

K'del keeps his expression from showing too much concern, though his head lowers into something akin to a nod, just for a moment, and there's something in his eyes, still: watchful, though, rather than wary. "Yes," he agrees. "We should go and find her, I think. Thank you, Weyrwoman, and best of luck with the rest of the evening."

"I'm not drunk," Farideh argues, frowning now that she's been called out, "and-- what? Why would I do that? Do you want be to be grounded for-ever? I'd prefer not to make them anymore mad, if you please," could be about Fort, or High Reaches, or both even. "And what is that supposed to mean?" Her eyes narrow before she takes another bite, and she continues to squint at H'vier, suspiciously, as she chews. "I think she looks just fine."

To Eliyaveith, Cadejoth reaches out with a length of curious, probing chain, letting it jangle in merry celebration. « It was a beautiful clutch, » he says. « He says we should both congratulate you both, so we are! »

Lilah meets H'vier's gaze with a curved brow upwards, even across the distance, but given that she can't hear him--. Then her attention slides away, sweeping again over the crowd though looking specifically for someone. That it lands on K'del, and then Hattie and Irianke by extension is likely no coincidence.

Eliyaveith's buried warmth is slightly sad, a pang of already missing her children as a physical presence with her, yet she seems happy too. « Thank you, » is geniune, carrying with it an extension of her happiness to Cadejoth. « They are even lovelier, outside of their eggs. » (To Cadejoth from Eliyaveith)

Hattie bobs something akin to a curtsey, though it might simply be an over-emphasised nod and a rustle of skirts as she bids both K'del and Irianke to, "Enjoy it." As soon as is socially acceptable, she slowly turns and adopts her previous path, which leads her to find one of the younger kitchen hands, who currently looks both exhausted and terrified, to fuss over and direct en-route to attempting to blend back in with everything going on in the background of the celebration.

« Yes, » confirms Cadejoth, with a staccato clatter. « They are. So very lovely. » He seems... reluctant, after that, hovering for a moment before he says. « K'del wonders if something is wrong with Elaruth's rider. » K'del worries. (To Eliyaveith from Cadejoth)

"She does look fine," H'vier agrees. "I'm sure she looks even better without the dress, granted, but it is nice." So he only wanted to encourage Farideh into saying more things she shouldn't, probably. But he changes the subject. "I've been disappointed that you haven't extended an invitation to me for a tour of your weyr. I might have to drop in to give myself a tour." If she's not going to invite him, anyway.

When Irianke walks away with K'del, ostensibly seeking Lilah, but she pauses when she finds a woman who looks like she might work in the lower caverns and says a few quiet words with a glance back to where Hattie is, and then, "Thank you." Her knot might not be Fortian, but it's complicated enough the woman might listen. "Do you see her? Lilah, I mean?"

It isn't helpful the response that the bronze draws from the queen still in brooding mode; it is just a wordless scorch of worry. Over Hattie, over Elaruth, over those children Eliyaveith had to part from. (To Cadejoth from Eliyaveith)

K'del glances back over his shoulder at the departing Weyrwoman just once, but it's not a lingering glance: he doesn't press. He's silent as Irianke has her quiet conversation, the knit of his brows intensifying before he forcibly attempts to relieve it in order to say, "There." And a murmured comment, too, beneath his breath as he extends a hand to point out the goldrider in question.

"H'vier," Farideh whispers urgently, glancing around to make sure no one heard the bronzerider's salacious statements; not that anyone around them cares. "That's disgusting. I don't want to think about what she-- or any of these people-- look like underneath their clothes. Can't you imagine it in your head? Not out loud?" She shakes her head, tipping her glass back to drain the rest of its contents and still, almost spits it all out. "Excuse me? My weyr? What's wrong with your weyr?"

Given that she's now caught sight of the Weyrleader, it isn't likely that Lilah misses the gesture he makes to her. She doesn't step forward to meet them across the crowd, not with her prime spot near the drinks table secure, but there is a hint of a smile there on the goldrider's lips.

Even after Lilah is pointed out, Irianke glances around, as if looking for someone, and when that someone fails to materialize, fixes a pleasant smile to her lips and heads towards the drinks table. "She doesn't seem the type to share even if things were not all right. Hello," from quiet to loud, the greeting extends towards Eliyaveith's rider, even if her prior words are meant solely for K'del. "Congratulations on Fort and your dragon's clutch."

"No," agrees K'del, so quietly, before seriousness and concern is set aside in order to smile brightly in Lilah's direction, his glass raised in obvious toast. "Congratulations, Lilah. She did beautifully. You must be pleased."

"The female body is not disgusting." H'vier sounds practically scolding. Tsk, Farideh. "But if you're willing to come to my weyr, I suppose I can live with that instead." A man who's easy to please, even if he doesn't seem focused enough on the idea that he expects the weyrling to do anything but reject the idea. "You should go get another drink, hmm? I see your keepers over that way."

"Pleased to be off the sands," greets Lilah to K'del dryly, her own glass tipped in response before she lifts it to her lips. Her smile to Irianke is more polite, nodding acceptance of her congratulations. "Thank you, Weyrwoman. Certainly not as large or lovely as your Niahvth's last clutch, but it was a good first one, I think."

To Eliyaveith, Cadejoth acknowledges that with a low, solemn rattle. He does not approve.

"Oh, I'm not Weyrwoman. Just call me Irianke. Him, you can be all formal with," says Irianke with a jerk of her head to K'del. "How is Eliyaveith? And," she glances back, "I mentioned to one of the serving girls to take a glass of water to your Weyrwoman and a plate of some nibbles." Another drink tray passes and the goldrider exchanges her empty for a fresh one.

"I don't know what I would do there. Do you want to play cards? Dice games? We could always go to Bitra, once I'm not grounded, if you feel the need to gamble your stipend away--" Farideh's words are fluid until she's offered another glass from a passing waiter, and she pauses to issue a bright, "thank you". She turns back to H'vier, but her eyes flick around to find K'del and Irianke. "If anyone can be called my keeper, it would be Quinlys," is issued dry, for all that her words are a denial of his accusation.

"I bet," is full of sympathy, K'del acknowledging it with a tip of his head and a smile that is more friendly than formal. "And if you start calling me 'Weyrleader,' I'll--" A pause. No threat is forthcoming. He's still going on his glass, seeming only to remember its presence now, as he lifts it for another sip. "There were some lovely dragons. Can't really compare one clutch to another, surely."

Lilah's gaze follows Irianke's to where she glances, a hint of distraction for the Weyrwoman's additional information. But Lilah only dismisses K'del's threat as she glances back, "Weyrleader, you do not scare me. She may scare me, but you do not." Her words hold a soft humor, though, to imply that she isn't actually scared of Irianke. "Eliyaveith is happy yet sad. I hear that this is rather normal, with mothers."

"Oh, you know perfectly well what you'd do there." H'vier ignores the rest about gambling, his attention still focused in the direction of the Reachian Senior. He's probably not looking at her hair style. "Why aren't you off trying to turn some young Fortian man bright red, anyway? I can only imagine you'd enjoy his company more than mine." Which begs the question of why she's lingering. And maybe answers the question of why H'vier thinks it's appropriate to proposition her.

"For some," Irianke allows, not distinguishing whether Niahvth is similar or not. "It's an emotional experience watching your babies grow and Niahvth tries to reach out to her children over the turns until..." The inevitability of dragon forgetfulness. "I see someone else I should say hello to. Congratulations once more, Lilah. See you tomorrow morning, K'del?" She doesn't wait for an answer, that too is inevitable.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, H'vier," Farideh replies, airily, giving her glass a little swirl and taking an indulgent sip; she doesn't bother specifying which of the things she has no idea about, his weyr or Fortian men.

K'del turns, opening his mouth to reply to Irianke but falling short of actually doing so; she's busy. Glancing back at Lilah, he says, "So it will have to be Junior Weyrwoman for you, all night long, then." It's cheerful enough, dimples showing about the corners of his mouth. "They're no longer under her protection, I suppose. Have to live their own lives, without her. Still." A firm nod, as if that says everything it needs to.

As time passes, Hattie spends a short amount of time eating and drinking, sat around the same table as several of the Fort region's Blooded. They spend their time engaged in the same quiet, low-key conversation as at the hatching itself, even a rare smile given here and there, before the Weyrwoman excuses herself and leaves the cavern and the celebration behind, but not without having left the usual too detailed instructions about the eventual clean-up operation.

"High Reaches' Decades-Long Weyrleader," counters Lilah to that, a dry drawl, as she trails a look after Irianke as well. But, eventually, her gaze drifts back to Farideh and H'vier instead as she lifts her glass to her lips, only adding dismissively, "She will get over it, soon enough. And it isn't as if any of them are gone."

"As you wish, weyrwoman," says H'vier, leaving it at that and simply standing there with his barely-touched drink in hand. They can watch people pass by, perhaps even people enjoying the late feast.

Irianke knows several someones, including that Telgar brownrider from before, laughter bright in her eyes, that fades briefly when Hattie departs. The brightness returns, but she doesn't overstay her welcome, particularly this late at night, and after a short while, she also departs.

"Are you trying to make me sound old? Will you address your Weyrwomann in similar fashion, too?" K'del finishes his wine in a single gulp, twirling the stem between his fingers. Then, "That's true. She'll be fine. And in a few turns you can do it all over again; lucky you." "Fine," Farideh snaps back, unnecessarily so, and makes a face at him, before slipping into the crowd and disappearing to annoy some other, poor, hapless person at the feast; being short has its rewards.

A smile plays at the corners of Lilah's lips, before she tells him simply, "You were attempting to start a fight you couldn't possibly win. I had to remind you of that quickly." It seems that she'll follow K'del's lead, swallowing the last of her wine and setting it aside, before she adds her own, "True. I guess I should enjoy being free of it while I can, then." And this time, her gaze returns again to H'vier, even without High Reaches' young goldrider there.

Once he's left to his own devices, H'vier is free to move along. His steps bring him toward the drinks, even if he hasn't finished the one he has. His intention to approach Lilah, rather than the drinks themselves, is soon enough apparent, though. "Weyrleader," he greets K'del first, almost like they don't hate each other, before adding, "Congratulations on a fine clutch of dragons, weyrwoman," to the redhead with a smile.

K'del makes a face, though falls short of actually sticking his tongue out at Lilah. "Why am I nice to you?" he wonders, then, transferring his empty glass from one hand to the other. And then, "Who are you-- oh." He gives the goldrider a dubious glance, as if to say 'why are you looking at him?' although that particular glance is hastily turned more neutral as the bronzerider in question approaches. "Wingleader."

"Because you love me and you want to get me another drink," Lilah replies shamelessly, the smile that comes with her words lingering as H'vier approaches. Perhaps purposefully so, even as she greets him with a slow, "Thank you, wingleader."

Dee doesn't look like she wants to be here, despite having bathed and dressed (in a simple layered green dress with a slight puff to the sleeves that hang on her shoulders) for the occasion. She tries to stick to the outskirts, but those with congratulations to offer quickly draw her in, asking questions and bubbling their excitement in ways that even personable Dee is not prepared to handle. "Yes-- I--" is all she gets out sometimes, but that seems to suit some well enough, "If you'll excuse me--" is what she manages for the group that has her backing into--

"You can have mine, if you like," H'vier says to Lilah, offering her his drink about the same time that a smaller body bumps into his. The drink sloshes, slightly, but fortunately not close enough to get onto Lilah's dress, just the bronzerider's hand. He turns, too carefully to be upset. "Well, well. If it isn't Pern's newest goldrider herself."

K'del's gaze drops towards the drink Lilah is being offered just in time to see the slosh; as he glances up, it's to see Dee there, his words following on promptly from Lilah's. "Congratulations," he says. And, "Chin up. Don't let anyone bother you. Lilah-- I'll get you a fresh drink." Nothing H'vier has slobbered into.

"Can I?" isn't the world's most witty response to H'vier's offer, though it comes with a lingering dark gaze and a challenging smile on the part of the goldrider. But then, of course, half of the discussed drink is being sloshed about and Lilah's attention slides to that weyrling, even as she introduces, "K'del, H'vier, this is Dee. And how is Taeliyth?"

Pern's Newest Goldrider turns in the wake of colliding already with an apology coming out when she has to look up, and up to see H'vier's face at this proximity, her brows lifted. She rocks back a step to blink at him from a better vantage before her hazel eyes are pulled by the other male voice, and both knots and distinctive red hair is taken in in the single glance. "Oh," is shape more than sound in the girl's lips, her cheeks already blushed as much as they're apt to get in the face of all of this. "Thank you, sir, Weyrleader," is an uneasy stammer to K'del, before she turns her head to add, "and I really am very sorry for--" bumping into H'vier, is intimated by a movement of her hands toward the bigger bronzerider, and because Lilah shouldn't be left out, she's apologizing again- "-for interrupting you." She'd like to be on her way now, but in that the Weyrwoman makes introductions, she's probably not going to get her wish. "Well met, sirs," is formal and polite enough." The second question earns an awkward silence. "Sleeping," is the lackluster answer, before she adds in a way that's probably supposed to explain everything, "She insisted I come."

If Lilah doesn't want his slobbered in drink, he'll just have to drink it himself, something he seems more interested in doing now that part of it is on his hand. H'vier's attention lingers on the girl, though. He even smiles at her. "No interruption at all, sweetheart. It's nice to know that Fortian golds have decent taste in women, anyway. You don't look like you'd break easily." It's probably supposed to be a compliment?

K'del shoots H'vier a glance that is both aghast and a warning, his brows knit as tightly together as they ever have been. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Dee," he says, firmly turning his attention towards the weyrling. "Wish you the best of luck. If you'll all excuse me? Lilah, I'll get you that drink. Congratulations again. H'vier..." That, too, is a warning, if not one followed by anything more substantial. The drink will, in time, make it back here; K'del, himself, will not.

Lilah's brows lift slightly, only, at H'vier's words to the newest goldrider, though her gaze lingers on the man for a moment even before she does get her drink. Once she has that drink, however, she only adds a dry, "Well, it seems like you will not be getting back to Southern, doesn't it? At least your brother will be here with you."

Dee's expression briefly looks perplexed in the wake of H'vier's comment. A glance to Lilah is probably asking if she's supposed to know how to take that or how to respond. She has a distracted nod for K'del at first, though his turning of his attention to her has her really looking at him for one (possibly skittish) moment. She looks overwhelmed, but then Impression is overwhelming, isn't it? "Thank you," she manages which might suit for both men (or just the appropriate one). She looks awkward until the drink arrives, a fleeting glance toward the bowl indicating she might wish to excuse herself. Her cheeks renew their blush in answer to Lilah's words, "No, ma'am," and, "Yes, ma'am." She's a thrilling conversationalist tonight!

The big, bearded bronzerider smiles after his Weyrleader and his warnings, but his attention returns to the goldriders in short order. "Oh, don't let her tell you that. Fort seems to have a habit of sending its golderiders to Southern. You'll end up there again one day, I imagine." He makes it seem like it could just be some form of comfort except that there's something almost slimy in the way that he says it. "Not sure I can say the same for your brother." As though H'vier has any authority to say anything at all on the matter.

Despite the alcohol and relief of being off the Sands, H'vier's words still earn the slight narrowing of Lilah's dark eyes on the man. "One would hope that we have no reason to," she replies dismissively, the glass lifted to drain as much of the liquor as she can in one gesture before she sets it aside as well. And then, without even so much as a congratulations to the young woman who has bonded her queen's daughter, she turns on a heel to stride away.

If anything, Dee looks more uneasy as Lilah makes her exit, certainly more than she did after H'vier spoke. She shifts uncertainly. If Lilah can just walk away, can she? "I--" she starts to make an excuse and nothing comes to her.

H'vier watches after Lilah for a moment, then looks at Dee with a smile that somehow seems more predatory than charming. "You should rest while you can, weyrwoman. Hatchlings can be very demanding." But he'll leave her with that because then he's turning to follow in Lilah's wake. It could be a coincidence, but maybe he's not done with her yet.