Power is a curious thing (Nicole) | 75.09.06

[Moo]

Weyrling Master's office
after classes, shortly before dinner

Bent low over his desk, L'ras dutifully scribbled out the last few squares of lessons for the next sevenday. He tried not to plan too far ahead in advance - who knew what would happen in this Weyr - but it was still helpful to have some sort of running idea for the weyrlings.

"Do you really think it had something to do with their disappearance?"
"It must! How else do you explain it after that Azure comes around? I was never one to start believing in curses, but..."

He glanced up at the sudden sound of conversation outside his door - which he liked to leave open when he was inside - and followed the pair of riders with his eyes as they passed by his room. With a frown, he set back to writing. Seemed the entire Weyr was talking about Artemis and her new Queen.

It was precisely the reason why he had called her to his office today.

She's late, you know.
She…is…hold on one second.

With care, and a steady hand, he drew out the chart that boxed in next week's lesson plans. The strokes were sure, and definite, and as he leaned back to observe his handiwork, he smiled to himself. It would do. After blowing on the ink to dry it out, he relaxed back in his chair with a tired, satisfied sigh. Despite all of the restrictions and considerations this new Weyr had, it would do, and that was good enough for him. He only hoped they would find it interesting enough.

At least that's done with. As I was saying…she's not late yet. Still has five minutes or so. I've just been here a while, that's all.
Isn't that the same thing? I haven't seen you since classes ended, which was a while ago.
What, miss me already? And no, it's not particularly the same thing. Now hush. I have things to write. I'll see you after this meeting has ended.
Alright.

Setting the chart aside on his desk, L'ras wiped his hands clean of ink, pulled out a fresh sheet of paper, and started on the next task. It was nothing more than a standard-fare report, little things he had picked up from his weyrlings, but he found the task insightful for lesson plans and learning styles. It would tide him over until Artemis arrived.

Whenever she does.
Is there something we need to talk about, Teth?
No...sorry. I'm just hungry. I was going to wait for you, but...you know how I get.
The corner of his mouth lifted in amusement. He hadn't known another dragon to get as upset when he was hungry as Teth. Go eat, then. I'll be along shortly. But I want you to mind yourself. I don't want you go judging her as well.
Yes, I'm sorry. I just expect a junior Weyrling to arrive early, that's all.

[Nicole]

Artemis had always found it best to arrive exactly on time to things. She usually knew just when to leave, just when to show up, and - thanks to her particular set of abilities - knew just what obstacles would be in her way.

Today, she was running late. She had forgotten about a particular set of obstacles. Ones that trailed her around and insisted on making sure that wherever she was going was safe.

You would think I would be safe in my own Weyr. But they insist on looking around every corner. Artemis stalked down the halls, shoulders brushing one of the wherhandlers as she slipped by him. He made some comment about protecting her, gesturing wildly to two people in the hall who stared at her with wide eyes, and Artemis shrugged off his comment.

Behind her, Zabrielth twitched her tail amid her circle of whers, mildly amused with her Rider's comments. The whers liked her well enough, not understanding curses but understanding her rank. They listened to her and her short emotional commands. They listened to her better than the wherhandlers did to Artemis.

Artemis was pretty sure the whers were smarter than the wherhandlers. She hadn't told them yet, though.

Two of the wherhandlers darted in front of her again, trying to peek around the corner. Artemis threw her hands up in the air and pushed past both of them, feet light against the ground as she walked towards L'ras' office. Honestly, if she wasn't safe in the WeyrlingMaster's office, she might as well leave the entire Weyr.

Teth's comment from outside ruffled her the wrong way, and she let out a small sigh. It seemed she spent more of her time angry since she had Impressed Zabrielth than anything else. Not that it was Zabrielth's fault; the little Azure was a perfect princess, sweet and adoring and flawless. It was that nobody else saw that, and everybody else seemed to doubt her.

When she gestured for the wherhandlers to stay outside the door, they nodded, all of their shoulders drooping in unison as if glad that they didn't have to keep up with her anymore. And still irritated by the idea that she should have arrived early rather than on time, she slipped through the door and pushed it shut behind her.

Well, slammed.

Zabrielth calmly walked over to the Weyrlingmaster, nodded her head, and curled up on the floor and fell asleep. Artemis glanced back at the door, looking at the rattling handle. "You asked for me?"

She skipped the honorific. He may be her teacher, but she technically ranked him. He would get her politeness. But seeing as his dragon seemed to dislike her, and dragons usually reflected their Rider's opinions, he would not get much more.

[Moo]

Quill screeched across paper as the door slammed shut, drawing a thick, black line across his report. He wasn't keen on bringing up the fact that he had jumped at the sudden sound, but he supposed Artemis' arrival, much like her Azure Queen, would be nothing but dramatic. That was how everyone else was treating the situation, anyway. L'ras looked up from his work - which was ruined now, and would have to be written all over again - and nodded.

"Yes, as a matter of fact," he said, offering a brief smile to the little Azure. He gestured to the vacant chair in front of his desk. "Sit down."

L'ras sat forward again, setting aside the report for a later time, and gathered his thoughts. He considered Teth's words more carefully now. Though the dragon had been unthinking and upset, and mostly because his stomach, he still brought up some considerable points. He would have to hold her at a different level of accountability.

As much as he didn't want to, he would have to treat Artemis differently, much more so than her classmates. It wouldn't have been much of a concern if she had Impressed another dragon, another Queen even - but it was Zabrielth's color, and the general panic that followed in her wake, that was their undoing.

He steepled his fingers and focused his gaze on Artemis. "Your entrance needs a bit of work. Dramatic, but not very conducive. For a Junior Weyrwoman, I expect better of you. The eyes of the Weyr are upon you, and this is not the time to act rashly. Please understand that."

L'ras leaned slightly back, away from his desk, and watched Zabrielth for a moment or two before looking back up to her rider. He took a breath, then continued.

"Now, to business...I feel I owe you an apology, not to put too fine a point on it. Though I have been monitoring you, Zabrielth, and your progress during lessons, I never took the time to ask you how you felt about all of this. This, being…having a wherguard follow your every move, for example. Or hearing about that ridiculous curse wherever you go. Your thoughts on being the newest Queenrider in this Weyr. Even how you feel about my orders to watch you."

He watched her face carefully. "I'm asking now, Artemis, and I am asking politely. I would appreciate your candor."

[Nicole]

"Your entrance needs a bit of work. Dramatic, but not very conducive. For a Junior Weyrwoman, I expect better of you. The eyes of the Weyr are upon you, and this is not the time to act rashly. Please understand that."

Artemis resisted the urge to gape at him, to snap back at him with disdain. Acting rashly? He thought she was acting rashly? She was not the one who had assigned guards in a snit of fear. She was not the one who had yanked papers out of the Weyrwoman's hands and ruffled the chain of command. She was not the one who flaunted around his firelizard like a prize rather than a creature. She was the one who listened and waited and did what she had to do, and if she occasionally shut a door a little too hard because she had been stalked and poked and prodded by people all day, then Shards, she could slam a door a little too hard.

But she didn't say that. She stayed quiet, and watched him watch Zabrielth, and waited for him to speak again.

"Now, to business...I feel I owe you an apology, not to put too fine a point on it. Though I have been monitoring you, Zabrielth, and your progress during lessons, I never took the time to ask you how you felt about all of this. This, being…having a wherguard follow your every move, for example. Or hearing about that ridiculous curse wherever you go. Your thoughts on being the newest Queenrider in this Weyr. Even how you feel about my orders to watch you."

Artemis tilted her head to the side, eyes flashing with surprise as she stared at the Weyrlingmaster. She hadn't expected that, expected him to care.

Zabrielth lifted her head up from the floor, looking at her Rider with whirling eyes. Will you tell him?

Tell him what? That the only thing that kept her from yelling at everybody was Zabrielth's calm presence? That she hated being followed around all day, being confined and limited in what she could do? That everybody's comments got to her, not because they were true, but because they hurt Zabrielth, even if the little Azure wouldn't admit to it?

That she could hear all of them, all of the time, at any point in any day, if she just stopped and listened?

She would be honest. She could guarantee him that.

"I think that my answer may be irrelevant, and that you might want to hear things that aren't true. I think you are hoping I'll spout out some answer about how I understand and will deal with it patiently and all of the things you hope a junior Weyrwoman to an Azure rider would say, because it would make things easier for you and everybody in the Weyr, and Faranth knows we could use a little easy right now."

Zabrielth settled her head back against the ground, looking up at her Rider with adoring eyes. Artemis didn't look away from the gaze of the Weyrlingmaster. "You may be asking for my candor, but considering the amount of things people are whispering and the amount of things people are hiding from me lately, I'm not sure that's what you actually want."

[Moo]

It was the look of complete and utter surprise on her face, that momentary slip of her mask, that intrigued him the most. After all, he had been teaching long enough to know when someone had built up a wall. He wasn't surprised that she had built one up - it must have been difficult to deal with the rumors, the criticism. If he were a betting man, he would have bet she had no other choice but to appear tough in the face of adversity. It was what he would do, were he in her position. Regardless, it was still his job to work with that wall, and that was what he intended to do now.

L'ras listened patiently as Artemis responded, shifting around in his chair to get more comfortable. Leaning forward, he set his chin in his hand and, hiding his growing smile, rest a couple of fingers across his lips. She was cheeky. Brash, too, but very direct and assured. They were good qualities for a junior Weyrwoman. He had known plenty of Weyrwoman who had been just as astute, and they flourished well in their positions when the time came. He hoped Artemis would prove no different.

He lowered his hand from his face and spoke once she had ceased talking. "Listen, Artemis, here's what I think. We're both strangers - there's no way around that. You know nothing about me except for my rank, and I know - well, I know a little more about you than just your rank. Regardless, we aren't familiar in any way. I know trust is something of a rare commodity here. It's something to be earned, as is respect. It is my hope, in time, that you will begin to trust me and my actions."

L'ras paused, letting his words carry appropriate weight, before continuing with what he wanted to say.

"Generally speaking, I'm an honest man. I let people know the things they need to when they need to, and I don't hold back on criticism. It's part of my job. I'm here to make sure you are the best you can be, and when I ask a question or give an order, I expect it to be taken at face value. I cannot perform my job unless I have both trust and honesty with the weyrlings I work with, and that includes you as well. If life here were easy, we might not even need this conversation, or you your guards. But it's not so simple here, Artemis. As such, your answers are not and never will be irrelevant. Not to me. These are important factors to consider, and I can't make things easier for you unless you start talking. So please, I would appreciate your cooperation with this."

He sighed and leaned back, satisfied with his own response. Now it was up to her. He pulled out a fresh sheet of paper and prepared to write down whatever she gave him.

"Whenever you're ready, miss Langaryen."

[Nicole]

Artemis tilted her head to the side and considered his words. It would have been much easier to tell if he meant it if Teth had been talking to him as he spoke, but as the dragon was busy stuffing his face, it was much more difficult.

Perhaps she could tell him - tell him what? Of A'kai's irritating display at the Hatching Feast? About how some of the Riders glared at her? About how the men and women of the wherguard were afraid of her, and afraid of Zabrielth?

But he would write it down, and if somebody who didn't like them got a hold of it, it could end badly for them, for the Weyr, for Rilora. She never thought that becoming Weyrwoman would mean distrusting your own Weyr.

Archith's Mine seems to trust him, Zabrielth offered up. Artemis turned her head down to the Azure on the floor. But if you will tell him, tell him as you wish to tell him. Do not let him dictate the terms. You will be Weyrwoman one day, after all. If you want the Weyr to trust you, you must start trusting them first.

And to counteract her wise advice, the little Azure sneezed and plopped her head back against the dusty ground of the Weyrlingmaster's quarters. But the motion brought a softer smile to Artemis' hard face, and with a resolution to listen to the little Azure's sensible advice - she would be an amazing Queen - she lifted her gaze back towards L'ras.

With a small step, she took the pad from his hand, fingers just brushing his knuckles as she pulled it away from him. "If they are so important, you will be able to remember them without having to write them down, where others - who might not appreciate what I have to say, or who would choose to use anything I saw as a way to get to Zabrielth - can find them."

She placed the paper away from him, on the other side of his desk, and leaned one hand against his desk absently. She was hovering over him, now, and she knew that it was a power thing - that she was taller than him, had taken something from him, ranked him - and though she didn't mean to try to intimidate him in any way, she needed him to agree to those terms. If he couldn't, she couldn't trust him, for all that Rilora did.

"Is that acceptable?"

And brown eyes locked with his, she waited for his response.

[Moo]

L'ras watched her as she mulled over his response, turning eventually to Zabrielth to have a conversation. Once that happened, he looked away - it was not his place to watch them like that. He sat back and waited for her to agree or disagree, and retrieved their lesson plans to review for the five-hundredth time.

But out of the corner of his eye, he saw her rise up from the chair, past Zabrielth, and move over to his side. He kept quiet as he waited for her answer, acutely aware of her position in the room every step she took. But when he felt her fingers brush against his as she deftly removed the paper from his hands, he looked up - and in that instant, knew what she was up to.

She was posturing. Testing the waters of her newfound rank. Might as well try it here, right? She did technically outrank him, and it was no slight to him if she did - but even a Weyrwoman was still a student in her own right, and he would treat Artemis just the same. However, as she leaned against his desk, her question hovering in the air, he figured he would indulge her rank-pulling. At least for that moment.

He matched her steely, brown-eyed gaze with his own, and then smiled.

"Your terms are fair," he acquiesced, and with a slight lift of his eyebrows, tilted his head toward the empty chair behind her. "Take a seat, please, and we can get started."

He was polite about it, of course, when he made his move for the authority she literally held over him. He had agreed to her terms, which he did find valid, and now it was her duty to be polite as well. It was a simple test - one he had no doubt she would pass - but her response either way would speak volumes.

Junior Weyrwoman she may be, but she was still in his office, and he had requested her presence first.

[Nicole]

She stepped backwards as he agreed to her terms, turning on heel and slipping back towards her seat. She settled herself in, pulling her legs up beneath her, leaving the slippers she had been wearing lying on the ground. Barefoot and comfortable, she tucked her elbow against the armrest and wove her hand into her hair.

It was only Zabrielth's tie to her that made her feel like a Weyrwoman. She still had the drive and the want; that hadn't left her. But she had used that drive as her power. And now, since she had power... it was weird on how to direct that drive.

She didn't say that.

Hearing all of the dragons, at every moment of every day, was much easier to control with Zabrielth. She could focus on her, say something to her, and everything else faded away. She loved the Azure, would die for her if she needed to. That wasn't any curse talking - that was just what Artemis felt.

She didn't say that.

Instead, she half-smiled and sighed, and when she spoke, her voice was as soft as Zabrielth's hide.

"You're never going to be in this predicament. I don't envy you for it. I wouldn't trade Zabrielth for anything in the world." The Azure's head stirred at the mention of her name, and Artemis looked away from L'ras to smile at her fondly. "She is... perfect. She's everything a Queen dragon should be, and I'm not just saying that because she's mine. She's patient and sweet and genuinely wants to do well by everybody, and she's so very loyal to me, and to this Weyr, and nobody else can see that."

Artemis swung her head back up towards L'ras, her smile tightening. "I wanted to be Weyrwoman, and still want to be Weyrwoman, and hope that a day will come when I can perform that duty, and do it as well as Zabrielth expects me to, as well as I expect me to because of her expectations. And if you're wondering what that has to do with how I'm handling this - well, it has everything to do with it."

She snorted softly, pulling out the ponytail in her hair. The black ribbon binding her hair back popped and sent her curls spiraling around her face. She didn't know the effect it had - all of the high arches on her face disappeared, the sternness with it, to be replaced by something a little softer, a little more girlish. To her, it was just more comfortable.

"Every Rider that Zabrielth wants to help stares at her as if breathing the same air as her will curse them. Dragons skirt around her, even while their Riders boast that they don't believe in such things as curses. Drudges and Candidates keep a wide berth around us both. The whers, they're clever, from what Zabrielth's told me, and only clever in that they are stupid and don't understand curses. The wherhandlers outside the door? They might be in charge of protecting me, but they fear me, just as much as any of them, and for what? Because she's shinier than a normal Blue? Because she's a Queen who's had the misfortune of being born at the wrong time?"

Her eyes flashed angrily, shoulders straightening, fingers curling around the edges of the chair - and suddenly, the wild hair was less girlish, and more that of a vengeful goddess. "If you want to know how I'm handling it, well, it's a daily chore not to yell at every Rider I come in contact with, and it's a daily chore not to punch some of those that openly flaunt their hatred of Zabrielth, and it's a daily chore to get through the day without wanting to bundle her up and take her someplace safer - but I never could, because she's so loyal to this place, and Shards, so am I."

[Moo]

L'ras sank back into his chair, glad Artemis had chosen to cooperate, and listened while she began to explain the depth of the situation. He kept his eyes fixed on her as she tucked herself into the chair, barefoot and conflicted. She was silent for a while, but when she started to speak, he was surprised - again - by the level sound of her voice. And as she explained her love for Zabrielth, and her dragon's genuine desire for goodwill among their fellows, well…he smiled. A good bond always developed at Impression, for better or worse. But hers, he felt, was the strongest of their group. Their aspirations lined up well. It was a very good sign, developmentally speaking.

Artemis tugged her hair loose as she paused, her wild hair curling around her face, and L'ras was struck - perhaps for the first time - by just how pretty she was. He had briefly seen her around the Weyr as a Candidate, but he hadn't given her much thought then, far too busy with the last wave of Weyrlings. She also appeared a lot younger than she sounded, which was an impressive feat. Impressing to Zabrielth had matured her far beyond her age. She carried herself with as much pride, and as much restraint, as any Weyrwoman would.

Though as she continued to speak, and her voice began to become tinged with sour note, his smile slowly faded. Here we go, he thought to himself. Here's what she's been holding back.

He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Well, that wasn't entirely true - he believed it all had happened in one form or another, but to hear about it from her first-hand account…he hadn't wanted to imagine the Weyr as divided as it sounded. Especially the harassment from other Riders. To put stock in such a dimglow idea as that - just because of Zabrielth's color - was absolutely ridiculous. But what he wanted or thought didn't matter now. He was here for Artemis, and he hoped her knowledge was the key to fixing all of this.

Are you listening in?
I understand what you understand, so yes. It...I had not known it was as bad as this.
I hadn't, either.

L'ras moved to the edge of his seat and leaned across his desk, hands clasped together, rapt with attention. He nodded when appropriate, but otherwise kept as quiet and still as possible. It was very important to let her speak without interruption. Though he knew it was also a cathartic exercise, as she grew more and more animated, more angered - he wouldn't have interrupted her even if he wanted to. She would be a fearsome sight to behold once she was Weyrwoman.

Once she concluded, he let silence hang in the air for a few minutes while he gathered his thoughts. It was a lot to take in. Eventually, however, he knew where he had to begin.

"First of all, Artemis, I want to thank you for your honesty. I appreciate you being so upfront about everything," he said. "It makes my job a lot easier now that I know what needs to be fixed. However, first things first. You are carrying a lot on your shoulders, and that's understandable now that you've explained the situation to me. But I have to stress that that kind of behavior is not healthy. It will put a strain on your relationship with Zabrielth, and though I can tell you love her very much, bottling everything up will not be good for the both of you. I can already think of some possible outlets for you, but when you're ready to discuss that, we will."

He looked down at his hands, cleared his throat, and then glanced over to Zabrielth. "The second issue I would like to discuss is the harassment you're experiencing from those in the Weyr. My job here...besides being your teacher, of course, is to make sure that the Weyr is a safe place for you and your dragon to grow up in. It sounds like I haven't been keeping up with my job, and I apologize again. Are there any people in particular who are harassing you more than normal? I can understand if you don't want to share their names, but it's best to take the biggest aggressors out of the picture. It will make your life here a lot easier, I assure you."

L'ras turned back to Artemis.

"Let me help you in what way I can. As a junior Weyrwoman...what do you recommend be done?"

[Nicole]

That kind of behavior? What behavior? Both Artemis and Zabrielth were handling everything as best they could. If their behavior was not lashing out at people who thought such foolish things, well, she'd happily start doing that if L'ras gave his blessing.

No, she wouldn't. But it was nice to pretend like she could. And it's not like he understood the full scope of the problem; he didn't know that it wasn't just passing comments in halls, but a constant stream of thoughts and feelings that barraged her - and Zabrielth - every moment of the day.

She shifted her bare feet against the edge of the chair as L'ras continued talking, suppressing the need to sigh with a tight smile as he apologized for his failures - failures, that Artemis was tempted to point out, didn't actually exist. None of this was his fault. None of it at all.

"Let me help you in what way I can. As a junior Weyrwoman...what do you recommend be done?"

Artemis tilted her head to the side, looking away from L'ras for the first time since he had started talking to settle her gaze on Zabrielth. The little Azure, who had agreed with Artemis' thoughts fully to that point, stared back at her as if she, too, was considering L'ras' question.

What did she recommend? To remove the guards, who feared her, who slowed her down, who were more of a nuisance than a help - and who, ultimately, were a show of weakness. To stop avoiding the problems, to stop the slow hunting of things that were bothering them, and to go after them with all of the Weyr's assets and abilities. To bring the Weyr fully into the fold. To stop treating the Weyr like it would explode at any second with all the tension. For those in power to say that they supported the Weyr, didn't believe in the curse of Azures, and were there for anybody who needed it.

She could recommend the Weyr work as a team. That they do what she wanted to do in her free time: research into whether or not crimes like this had been committed against the Weyr in the past, and what they had done to fight them. That they host a Weyr games, something that hadn't been done in years, and remind everybody that it was friendship that built the Weyr, loyalty that built the Weyr, not just dragons and Riders living in one building.

She could recommend a lot of things.

"Deny the curse when it comes up. That is the only thing pertinent to what's going on with Zabrielth and I right now, the only thing relevant to this conversation that might make it easier for us. Otherwise, it's not yet my place to question the other things that are going on in the Weyr, or what our Weyrwoman thinks is best."

And then she remembered the other question he had asked, and she smiled.

"There's no sense in me naming names. It would be too long a process. Let's just run with the assumption that those who haven't said something outright have given me a worried look - or several worried looks." Or said things that she didn't think they could hear, his Teth included in that statement.

But that wasn't for him to know.

[Moo]

A wry smile lifted the corners of his mouth as Artemis responded. She held her tongue, but he had the feeling there was more to her response than she allowed.

"That's a very diplomatic answer, though I expect that's easier said than done in your case, denying that curse. As I'm sure you know, that legend is deeply rooted in the history of this Weyr, and people here are not keen on forgetting the past. Particularly when history seems to be repeating itself. You can deny the curse all you want, but that won't stop anyone else from believing in it."

He hesitated, caught between thinking too fast and speaking too slow.

"I think…if you'd like to make a better impression on the people who bother you, it would behoove you to show them that it's simply a legend, and nothing more. You've already shown me you manage well enough on your own, but I'm talking about something more one-on-one. I would recommend constant interaction with people. Make sure Zabrielth is a common sight around the Weyr. Get them used to seeing her, to seeing you, and perhaps they'll stop fearing you. Even though Zabrielth is still young, and will tire quickly from the attention, I think it would be better in the long run."

Now, there was the next matter at hand. L'ras leaned back, his arms crossed against his chest. Though he'd never admit it aloud, her answer to his first question troubled him more than the second. Again, it all tied in with that curse everyone believed in. Since there were so many people that seemed to be sworn against her - and with such heightened security in the Weyr - time felt of the essence.

"Tell you what…I don't normally make exceptions for junior weyrlings, but in your case I might. How would you feel if I took over the sparring aspect of your lessons personally? Make no mistake, you would train at a faster, harder level than that of your classmates, and it would be kept separate from Weyrling lessons. I feel it could be a good outlet for you, and good practice for Zabrielth. And with the Weyr in such a fragile state, knowing hand-to-hand combat and having a knowledge of weaponry might prove valuable. It might also give you a leg-up when the rest of your classmates get to those points in their training. You could use it as a way to help them along."

[Nicole]

If only getting her out there were so easy. There were the guards that didn't let her go places, and those guards who did so on Rilora's orders. Perhaps if she talked to the Weyrwoman, or Archith, about it - but no. They might see it as pushing too fast for power, and Artemis had seen how fragile Rilora was.

It wouldn't have gotten easier with Zabrielth. It wasn't her Azure's fault at all - it was the fault of false curses and seedy superstition - but it still left problems.

L'ras knowing everything would make it a lot easier, but she couldn't trust him. She could barely trust Rilora; how could she trust the Weyrlingmaster she barely knew? He might know about making better impressions, but he didn't know the full picture. Perhaps one day.

So she smiled and nodded at his first suggestion instead, knowing that Zabrielth would be able to handle it - if they ever had the opportunity.

And then he brought up the sparring lessons, something that she had nearly forgotten about in her fuss over Zabrielth's care, and a light sprang into her eyes. That had been one of the things she had been looking forward to most in training before she had Impressed: the physical training, the chance to become physically fit and powerful - and now, it seemed more important than ever, with Zabrielth and the Weyr and her own rank.

She was pretty sure she didn't need to answer that part of the what he had said - she knew that the mask had dropped away had her excitement, with a smile twitching up on her face, eyes dancing back over his face excitedly, fingers finally relaxing against the wood of the arm chair.

And for the first time since they had gotten to the room, Zabrielth closed her eyes contentedly.

"You would be willing to do that? I mean, I know you're busy - I wouldn't want to take you away from your duties to the Weyr." But the formal words were betrayed by the excitement bubbling in her voice, and she leaned forward, hair bouncing as she waited to see if he'd recant his words.

She hoped he wouldn't. Because she needed it. Not just for emotional stress - but because it would actually be helpful to her, and to Zabrielth, and anything that helped them was something she wanted.

And - no lie - it sounded fun. And she needed a little fun.

[Moo]

As soon as Artemis had registered his question, the shift in the air was palpable. The mask she had been wearing, along with any other chip on her shoulders, had fallen away to reveal her complete and utter elation. He didn't even need to look over to Zabrielth for confirmation - the entire room felt charged with energy.

Pleased by her sudden enthusiasm for the idea, he chuckled and nodded in confirmation. "I'd be more than happy to, if you're serious about this training. Like I said before, it won't interfere with the lessons you're taking now, but it will be additional work throughout the day."

You should speak to the Weyrwoman about Artemis' guard. They could interfere with this plan simply by being around.
You're absolutely right, but I'll play this by ear. I'll bring it up with Artemis momentarily.

He pressed on. "Since I would be teaching you one-on-one, it will be harder than what you'll soon experience in our normal classes. I'll push you to the limits of your strength, and you will hate me for it at first. But you will grow stronger, and hopefully, find some peace of mind as well. I cannot ask much of Zabrielth - she's still very delicate, and will be restricted to the main weyrling lessons only, but she can accompany you during these private sessions."

L'ras uncrossed his arms and mirrored her movement by leaning forward against his desk.

"If you're willing to do this, Artemis, there will also be some additional rules you'll have to follow. They're nothing that would hinder you or Zabrielth, but I cannot stress enough the importance of you following them to the letter. Are you interested in hearing them before you accept?"

[Nicole]

Teth's comment kept the smile on her face. If they could get rid of the guard, even for a little while - plus the lessons?

Artemis' eyes glittered as Zabrielth brushed her mind lovingly. This will be good for us both. I have yet to see you excited about anything... that wasn't me, that is. The little dragon's tail twitched happily against the floor.

"Since I would be teaching you one-on-one, it will be harder than what you'll soon experience in our normal classes. I'll push you to the limits of your strength, and you will hate me for it at first. But you will grow stronger, and hopefully, find some peace of mind as well. I cannot ask much of Zabrielth - she's still very delicate, and will be restricted to the main weyrling lessons only, but she can accompany you during these private sessions."

Zabrielth's head shot up from where it had been resting on the ground. Delicate? She stared at L'ras, huffing as it to say that Queens - or at least, this Queen - were not delicate. They were polite and sweet and strong.

Artemis touched the Azure's mind with hers, suppressing the grin that threatened to consume her face. Zabrielth settled her head back on the ground at Artemis' mind, though she still glared at L'ras through half-lidded eyes. Like her Rider, she accepted no insult without challenge.

But insult to her or not, it was true, and both Rider and dragon knew it - so no protests were made on Artemis' part. The challenge excited her. If L'ras thought he would hate her for challenging her, it was proof that he didn't know her yet. She couldn't hate him for testing her. She could only hate him if he defeated her.

And she wasn't going to let that happen.

"If you're willing to do this, Artemis, there will also be some additional rules you'll have to follow. They're nothing that would hinder you or Zabrielth, but I cannot stress enough the importance of you following them to the letter. Are you interested in hearing them before you accept?"

Artemis tilted her head to the side and nodded.

[Moo]

His lips twitched in amusement at Zabrielth's reaction. Little Queens were always ready to prove themselves. He supposed he could not fault her for that. L'ras turned back to Artemis, pleased that she had not shied away.

"Good. Very good," he smiled. "I'll get right down to the heart of it. The first rule, and perhaps the most important one of all, is that you are to do what I say, exactly as I say, when I say it. This is not a light order I'm giving you, Artemis. I say this one first because it involves no small amount of trust from you and Zabrielth, and I'd like you to consider it part of the lessons themselves. It's a two-fold rule, actually. I want you to understand and internalize that you have to follow before you can lead, which will be helpful for someone in your status. I would also like to impress upon you how important this might be in the future, should a situation rise where your safety or your dragon's is at risk. Does that make sense?"

L'ras briefly paused to allow Artemis a moment to think the first rule over. Understandably, she already had some issues with trust, and he knew was asking a lot from her already. But if her reaction to this opportunity was any indicator, he had a feeling she would rise to this challenge as well. Or so he hoped.

He cleared his throat. "Now, for the second rule. As a junior Weyrwoman, your opinion on matters is an important one, and I expect nothing less from you during our lessons together. Once you've shown that you can follow orders, no matter what they are, you are free to begin questioning them. Everything I will be giving to you, whether that's an order or the training itself, will be a test. It's up to you to decide whether or not it's something you want to follow. If you do not, you are required to provide a better solution."

We will be testing you on many different situations, both mentally and physically. It is for you to adapt appropriately to them, added Teth, speaking both to Artemis and Zabrielth in turn.

L'ras nodded, aware of what his dragon had said as well. "If you two have no qualms with either of those rules, then that's everything I wanted to express to you. The remainder of these rules are minor, and ones you'll learn while in the lessons themselves. I just wanted you to understand what you could be getting into."