Post by Kaya on Mar 24, 2015 23:06:55 GMT -8
| The Weyr Bowl | Noon | 77.03.15 |
Fifteen minutes. Rilora looked at her face in the glass. Hair up. Dress straight, formal knots on her shoulder. They had done their very best to make her into the image today needed. She smoothed the black dress down in front, but it didn't need it. Today then. Fourteen minutes.
She walked with an even, powerful pace. Face cleared, then allowing just a hint of a severe frown to work its way back in. She felt Archith in her posture. She let her own nerves hide in the subtle twitch in the Gold's tail. More than a fair trade.
Ten minutes. Someone fussed with her hair just shy of the entrance to the ledge. It had been cleared of dining tables and instead held a single, long table. No chairs. A large paper rested atop it. Pens beside it. Rilora looked up to see Isodae fight off one worker only to have another straighten the sleeve on her stiff shirt. All the Weyrwomen. D'gan. And R'le. The faces of their Weyr.
Five minutes. The crowd had gathered long ago. They had only moments left to wait now. It had gone out as an announcement the previous evening at dinner, and again at breakfast. The Weyrleaders had an important announcement to make. Attendance mandatory. Afternoon activities suspended for an hour.
Rilora looked at her black dress. It was Lithena's color. Not hers.
"You have the stage, Weyrwoman." Rilora's head didn't turn, it was glued to the crowd outside. She let Archith's tail lashing worsen. Today, then.
She walked forward, the other leaders right behind her. Chin level, steps loud. The large document on the table gave her a chill. Archith's tail shook instead.
With a subtle encouragement from D'gan she began.
"My Weyr," her voice projected. More of Archith's doing. "You have seen and heard these past months the injustices against us. I have worked tirelessly for you and yet negotiations have not been fruitful. Therefore," she raised a page, dwarfed by the document on the table. It was of a size to be held. Its words mirrored those on the table. Rilora took in a breath to read the words they had penned. She spoke evenly, projecting best she could.
"This document declares that a state of war exists between Rainbow Mists Weyr and Igen Weyr, including any such Holds and peoples under their jurisdiction and any allies thereof.
Whereas the negotiations required to allow peace have failed,
It being that a party of Riders attacked and murdered M'lak and Midnight Baneroth
AND
Threats against the well-being of our leadership have been made on multiple occasions
AND
An attempted assassination of the Lady Artemis of Azure Zabrielth has occurred
AND
That an egg was stolen from Gold Archith and Tiger Mosiliath and remains unaccounted for
The two aforementioned Weyrs shall remain at war until the following conditions are met:
The severe punishment of the attackers is administered
AND
The raided tithes are returned plus reparations for any damages made
AND
All threats cease at present and forevermore
AND
The stolen dragonet is returned to Rainbow Mists Weyr
AND
Those responsible for the theft are brought to justice
This Rainbow Mists Weyr does solemnly declare under the authority of Senior Weyrwoman Rilora, Senior Weyrleader D'gan, Weyrwomen Kaya, Isodae, Retny, Rekkora, and Artemis. In Witness whereof we have hereunto set hand and seal this 15th day of the 3rd month, 3077."
Stiff lipped in the face of the crowd, Rilora turned, set the paper down and picked up a pen. She signed. She stood back. The others took their turn with that damning pen. There were smaller copies to be taken around the world, the Riders to take the message already saddled, who now knew what message they were delivering.
In only sixty three Turns, Pern found itself at war.
Fifteen minutes. Rilora looked at her face in the glass. Hair up. Dress straight, formal knots on her shoulder. They had done their very best to make her into the image today needed. She smoothed the black dress down in front, but it didn't need it. Today then. Fourteen minutes.
She walked with an even, powerful pace. Face cleared, then allowing just a hint of a severe frown to work its way back in. She felt Archith in her posture. She let her own nerves hide in the subtle twitch in the Gold's tail. More than a fair trade.
Ten minutes. Someone fussed with her hair just shy of the entrance to the ledge. It had been cleared of dining tables and instead held a single, long table. No chairs. A large paper rested atop it. Pens beside it. Rilora looked up to see Isodae fight off one worker only to have another straighten the sleeve on her stiff shirt. All the Weyrwomen. D'gan. And R'le. The faces of their Weyr.
Five minutes. The crowd had gathered long ago. They had only moments left to wait now. It had gone out as an announcement the previous evening at dinner, and again at breakfast. The Weyrleaders had an important announcement to make. Attendance mandatory. Afternoon activities suspended for an hour.
Rilora looked at her black dress. It was Lithena's color. Not hers.
"You have the stage, Weyrwoman." Rilora's head didn't turn, it was glued to the crowd outside. She let Archith's tail lashing worsen. Today, then.
She walked forward, the other leaders right behind her. Chin level, steps loud. The large document on the table gave her a chill. Archith's tail shook instead.
With a subtle encouragement from D'gan she began.
"My Weyr," her voice projected. More of Archith's doing. "You have seen and heard these past months the injustices against us. I have worked tirelessly for you and yet negotiations have not been fruitful. Therefore," she raised a page, dwarfed by the document on the table. It was of a size to be held. Its words mirrored those on the table. Rilora took in a breath to read the words they had penned. She spoke evenly, projecting best she could.
"This document declares that a state of war exists between Rainbow Mists Weyr and Igen Weyr, including any such Holds and peoples under their jurisdiction and any allies thereof.
Whereas the negotiations required to allow peace have failed,
It being that a party of Riders attacked and murdered M'lak and Midnight Baneroth
AND
Threats against the well-being of our leadership have been made on multiple occasions
AND
An attempted assassination of the Lady Artemis of Azure Zabrielth has occurred
AND
That an egg was stolen from Gold Archith and Tiger Mosiliath and remains unaccounted for
The two aforementioned Weyrs shall remain at war until the following conditions are met:
The severe punishment of the attackers is administered
AND
The raided tithes are returned plus reparations for any damages made
AND
All threats cease at present and forevermore
AND
The stolen dragonet is returned to Rainbow Mists Weyr
AND
Those responsible for the theft are brought to justice
This Rainbow Mists Weyr does solemnly declare under the authority of Senior Weyrwoman Rilora, Senior Weyrleader D'gan, Weyrwomen Kaya, Isodae, Retny, Rekkora, and Artemis. In Witness whereof we have hereunto set hand and seal this 15th day of the 3rd month, 3077."
Stiff lipped in the face of the crowd, Rilora turned, set the paper down and picked up a pen. She signed. She stood back. The others took their turn with that damning pen. There were smaller copies to be taken around the world, the Riders to take the message already saddled, who now knew what message they were delivering.
In only sixty three Turns, Pern found itself at war.
