Logs:Healer Spies
| |
|---|
| |
| RL Date: 27 August, 2013 |
| Who: Aishani, Madilla |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Aishani and Madilla catch up on recent events including Iesaryth's potential for proddiness, the Boll incident, and Nabol. |
| Where: Lake Shore, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 20, Month 8, Turn 32 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: Barran/Mentions, Ienavi/Mentions, Iolene/Mentions, Lunmein/Mentions, Ustelan/Mentions, Z'ian/Mentions |
 |
| Lake Shore, High Reaches Weyr
A large freshwater lake fed by a low waterfall, it not only provides warm-weather bathing space for humans and dragons, but has one end fenced off as a watering hole for the livestock in the feeding grounds. The water there is often muddier than the rest of the clear lake, whose shallows drop off abruptly several yards out into deep water, and whose edge undulates against the coarse-hewn bowl wall: here close enough to just be bramble-covered rocks, there far enough away that a narrow land bridge divides the main lake from a smallish pond. Between are several rocky outcroppings that form excellent makeshift diving points, though only one -- across the bridge -- has a set of narrow, slippery, quite possibly tempting stairs. Warm sunshine and cloudless skies make for a beautiful day and pleasantly warm evening. A breeze tempers the heat with no humidity lingering in the air.
Two of the children enjoying the lake this afternoon are Madilla's, though they are likely difficult to distinguish from all the rest by anyone not well and truly familiar with them. Madilla's presence is more of a giveaway - the healer stands on the shore, supporting her back with two hands, as her eyes follow two distant figures. In time, she turns away again, and it's then that she lets her gaze track past Iesaryth, not lingering, and on to Aishani herself. Finally, the healer drops her arms and begins to walk, stepping around the slumbering queen and towards her rider. "Aishani." The children are all kind of a screaming mass unless one takes time to tell them apart; chances are Aishani's more interested in the adults of the Weyr for the time being, at least. She's conscious enough of her surroundings to catch Madilla's approach, aware enough to know it might be mildly disconcerting to converse with someone sharpening blades. Sheathing the knife at her hip as the healer greets her, she looks up to offer a brief smile. "Hello, Madilla. I hope you're well?" The knife may have disappeared back into that sheath, but Madilla gestures towards it with a tip of her head, all the same: "I suppose it must feel like a dangerous world to live in, for a goldrider. These days." Perhaps all days, her expression suggests, but evidently she doesn't feel the need to specify that. "I'm well enough, yes, thank you. Enjoying what's left of the summer before we barrel on towards the cold and dark. And you?" With a wrinkle of her nose, a grimace, "It's felt that way for some time. Now it feels like... being at war, almost. It doesn't seem like there are any lines that won't be crossed." Aishani will specify that if Madilla won't, but such declarations are in her nature. With a glance to the knife, shifting the stone from hand to hand, "I've been armed for some time, I just thought being visibly so might be wise. And I'm doing about the same. Iesaryth had thought to swim, then decided to nap. I'm not sure if that means anything or not." Not that she seems to think the healer cares whether the queen might rise or not soon, but... "At war," repeats Madilla, discomforted by the possibility, but visibly striving for equanimity. There's no implication that she disagrees, though - it's just an uncomfortable idea. She turns her head, glancing at Iesaryth again, though even now, her gaze is not destined to linger over-long. "I suppose she'll rise when she's ready. It must be... strange, though. Waiting for it. I had a rider in, the other day." She's back to looking at Aishani. "He gave me the impression that you're not the only one arming up. Nabol." It's not an idea that Aishani looks as though she loves either -- there's a visible tension about her that's not usually there, likely owing to the vague threat of attack in the air. The queen does not stir much for even brief glances, content to relax for now. She might be listening, but if so, she doesn't seem to care. With a touch of a smile, the goldrider admits, "It's strange to wait and know what to look for. And I wasn't here before, and I'll admit I'm not looking forward to that." But it's Madilla's last that causes her to frown a touch. "I'd... heard some rumors. I'd hoped family might be able to work things out civilly amongst themselves. Surely someone will have to step in." A pause. "Their posted Harper was killed, I heard. Before the Lord passed." Madilla's half-smile is sympathetic, albeit hesitantly so: no doubt she can't even imagine. "It doesn't sound terribly pleasant," she agrees. "I hope it all goes well, when the time does come. I - had heard about their Harper, yes. That bothers me, too. Harpers are supposed to be..." She waves a hand in lieu of an actual answer, though she probably means something along the lines of 'inviolate'. "It's a good reminder that none of us have ideal methods of succession - there's always something that can go wrong. But... it's harvest coming up, and it worries me. If there's trouble, will they manage to get the tithes in, do you think?" Soberly, "If it doesn't go well..." Aishani draws the stone along her throat with a cutting sound, then grins -- though it fades a touch as the topic shifts. "We thought that a lot of things, a lot of people were meant to be... given a certain amount of respect. I suppose, in an Interval, life is cheap." She doesn't sound as if she's impressed with that, nor does she expect the healer to be either, with the saving lives and all. There's a little laugh though, amused; "We needed another reminder? But no, you're right; perhaps this is an opportunity to require the Harpers and Council and Conclave to draw up some guidelines for these situations." The tithe question is one to consider, and after a moment, she notes, "Not without help. And the question remains, who releases it in the first place, yes?" That grin doesn't do much to ease Madilla's reaction to those first words, which is hardly enthusiastic, and nor do the comments that come next. "At least crafters make an attempt at selecting on the basis of merit, though I grant you it very easily becomes a popularity contest - or a matter of political maneuvering." The healer chews on her lip, considering her words carefully, after that. "Guidelines would be useful. Something to... prevent this kind of situation. I expect all the claimants will want to curry the Weyr's favour by being the one to release the tithes, unless they're all too busy trying to, I don't know, fight each other. Surely it should bother them if their own people end up starving as a result." And yet she's clearly not convinced of that. "I'm certain there's political maneuverings amongst families for these sorts of things. There's all the weddings, besides. Precious few of those are for any other reason, if the bride and groom are Blooded. But it's something that there's at least an attempt at some objective criteria." Aishani tilts her head, considering, before, "Though that might be more difficult with Harpers, art and all. In any case, yes. Something at all. It would possibly make sense to name a temporary guardian for the Hold, for example. The Steward, or someone, just to keep things like the tithes moving... without it becoming a political bidding war. If it ends up being a matter of it looking like the Weyr supports one candidate over another by taking the tithe... should it be taken? Interesting question." Not one the goldrider really seems to think she needs to answer. Madilla sucks in a long, low breath and then releases it, her shoulders drooping as she does so. "That is an interesting question. I wonder if we can afford to be choosy like that, if it comes down to it. On the other hand... can we afford to be seen to take sides?" The healer certainly has no answers to those questions, and nor does she seem to expect Aishani to. "Preferably, in naming a temporary guardian, you would want someone who doesn't have a claim on the Hold... though I suppose in a situation like this one, you could end up with someone claiming they do have a claim, because they have kept things running. I hope they work it out soon." Beat. "Before it devolves into bloodshed. I wonder if Lord Ustelan wanted this kind of mayhem." Quirking a wry smile, "I am guessing I know where the Weyrleader, at least, will come down on that. But it's a concern, if someone decides to make an issue of it, ensuring everything looks on the up and up. Unless you want a reputation as Lordmaker. That might be as dangerous as goldrider." Aishani nods to Madilla's theoretical requirements for an 'acting holder', so to speak, just shaking her head a touch at the idea of a claim to a claim. "I suppose you'd have to specify 'not Blooded' or similar, then." She falls silent for a moment, before, "It would be easier if there were a clear claim. I'd think that he probably just... thought there'd be more time." Her own pause before, carefully, "How did the Healers determine Iolene had been poisoned?" Head shaking, Madilla admits, "I'm always so relieved when I remember that I don't have to make these kinds of decisions. Politics always leave me feeling utterly overwhelmed. Still - the man was old. Did he really believe he was immortal?" Perhaps, her expression says, he really did. He wouldn't be the first. "Or perhaps there really is an unborn heir out there, and he really did name it. There are..." She hesitates, answering that last, careful question with due care of her own. "Certain signs, in a body. Depending on the kind of poison. It's not always possible to know. One could argue that an overdose of fellis is a kind of poisoning, but that won't show up. Our methods are... imprecise." Shrugging, Aishani has to admit, "Sometimes, I think there is no good decision. And perhaps he did - or if there is an unborn heir out there, could anyone blame the Lady for going into hiding? It doesn't look good, but at the same time..." She trails off, lifts her hands. Madilla's answer is given appropriate attention, fine brows coming together in a thoughtful frown. "Interesting. I imagine, then, it might be difficult to determine the sort of poisoning that some are trying to claim. I wondered if it was even possible to tell." "If there is, I can only imagine how terrified she must be," is Madilla's firm - and sad - reply. She turns her gaze away from Aishani, out towards the water, likely enough to seek out the two figures that are her own children. In doing so, she holds her silence for some seconds. Her words, when they do come, are carefully chosen. "It depends. I understand he was on a number of medications begin with. I could... one of Nabol's healers was a classmate of mine. I understand a Master was sent, given the accusations. I could..." She lets her gaze slide back towards the goldrider. "Ask." "I can't imagine, really." Aishani follows Madilla's gaze, pursing her lips a touch. She has Iesaryth, and Iesaryth has her spawn, but none of that is really the same. With her dark gaze serious, steady on the healer's, she allows, finally, "Only if it's not going to put anyone in undue danger to do so. Crafters at Nabol have reasons to watch their backs, these days. I'd imagine near everyone at Nabol has reason to do so right now." Madilla's answer is a short nod, accompanied by a purse of her lips. "I'll feel him out," she says. "But no, I wouldn't like to put him in any danger. I imagine that's why the Hall has not confirmed or denied it, even if they must know if there is anything - if they found anything, I mean. I don't know that it will do anyone any good to know... it isn't as though you can prove who did it, even if we can approve someone did." Poison, as a concept, clearly does not please Madilla even a little. "From what I understand, we don't even know for certain that the Harper was murdered - only that he's disappeared, but well before Lady Ienavi did. It's hard to know how it all fits together." Nodding as well, "I'd appreciate that. I'm not sure that it'll help to know anything, but... I feel like it's better to be aware of the situation than not. Even if it sorts itself out, we'll still be dealing with those people. It might be nice to have some idea of what they're capable of." Aishani's expression is a bit grim at that; clearly she doesn't like the idea of poisoners any more than Madilla likes the poison concept. Looking out over the water, thoughtful, "There must be some precedent for this. So much must be lost in the records, to time or something else. Interpretation." "Whoever wins, the rest aren't going away," concludes Madilla, uneasily. "Which means we could face the whole thing all over again-- no, I'm not going to think about that. I'll write to Barran later today. Perhaps it would be better if he and I met in person, somewhere neutral. I'll see what he thinks." She smooths down the fabric of her skirt, focusing on it - on having something to do with her hands, however temporary - as she adds, "You'd think so. There must be. To be honest, it surprises me that the Holder Conclave haven't stepped in already." "Unless they're properly pacified, yes? Paid off." Aishani smirks a little at that, though she'll note, "That won't work for everyone, but I'd think some will take the easy way out. And I do wonder about that." She looks back to Madilla, bemusement clear in her frown, the pull of her mouth. "I know why the Weyr, the Halls won't step in, but why hasn't the Conclave said anything, or met, even? Are they aware of something we aren't? I have to think... someone must know something." Madilla gives a very careful nod, one that suggests that although she agrees with what Aishani is saying, she's not wholly comfortable with it. "They must do," she agrees. "Someone must do. And all that takes me back to my original thought: I just don't like this, any of it. I wish someone would just make a move and be done with it, no more posturing. I scarcely think it matters who wins, most likely." Her sigh is a wary, weary one. Aishani considers, then guesses, "They're obviously waiting for something. Maybe... to be able to prove their claim or have the might to enforce it. It obviously matters to someone. But it seems to me that if the Conclave doesn't see it as their business soon, more people might end up disappearing. And in that case, I can't see how people won't look to the Weyr to be involved." The goldrider wrinkles her nose and shakes her head, rueful. "I'm a dark cloud on a sunny day, aren't I. I'm sorry about that. I ought to wake her and get her bathed anyway." There's a glance over her shoulder; Iesaryth's still not moving. Disappearing. Madilla bites her lip, and doesn't argue the dark cloud - but then, she scarcely seems positive about any of this, either. "Don't be sorry," she says, quietly. "They're all important questions. Important things to consider. I hope-- that is, I suppose we'll have to wait and see. Enjoy your afternoon, Aishani. I'll let you know if I hear anything." Her gaze slides back to Iesaryth, just briefly, but it's obvious that she is not intent on watching the queen for signs of glow, even now. Flashing a smile, "I appreciate it. It's good to think about it, I suppose. Even if thinking is all we can do. I hope you and your children enjoy the sun." Aishani nods towards the shoreline, the crowd of children there, before she gathers her blanket and bag and goes off to rouse Iesaryth, who takes her time about it. That's not unusual, nor is the brightness of the queen's hide, but there's still a few dragons that track the pair's progress across the bowl to their ledge, then out of the bowl to the springs. |
Leave A Comment