A Weyrwoman's announcement (open/H'zu/PLOT)

[ShadowReine]

Lyeth was not leaving her eggs. Yseka was not leaving Lyeth.

That was why the bowl of Ista was being treated to a remarkable sight. All of the Weyrwomen of Pern, plus the Weyrleader of High Reaches.

Great gold forms had settled close to the hatching grounds entrance where Yselka stood. Their riders descended to the ground, and the young woman stepped forward.

"As everyone, by now knows...Lyeth has clutched a female." She glanced towards the grounds. "And as you can all see, I have taken precautions against any unfortunate incidents. Before anyone thinks of sneaking in at night, we have hired two wherhandlers to guard the eggs in the hours of darkness. I hate to show such paranoia...but eggs have been stolen before."

She paused, glancing around for H'zu. "Every one of you needs a fertile gold, but there is only one. I will not have Lyeth's daughter taken between in the shell, I will not have her fought over. I will not have her birth be marred."

Another pause, assessing their mood. "Thus, I propose a simple solution. I want everyone's word they will not attempt to steal the egg and will appropriately discipline any of their riders caught in such an attempt. In return, I will allow every Weyr to present their best female candidates to the queen." She smiled. "The queen will thus go to the Weyr of origin or Search of her new rider, whether it be Ista or somewhere else. Naturally, if any of the girls Impress green, those weyrlings will be permitted to transfer home as well."

OOC: So. If anyone is stuck for an origin for a straight female candidate, you can feel free to use this then have a good reason not to go back home .

[phlysolo]

On the outermost ledge of the Hatching Grounds, the great bronze mass that had sired the number of hardening Eggs on Ista's Sands, was surveying the golds of Pern with both distaste and suspicion. Erusth had been feeling the effects of H'zu's heighten alert and generally 'on guard' attitude over the last couple of days had been wearing on his nerves. He had never known H'zu to be wary of any other human he had come into contact with, but when Yselka had discussed with him that she wanted a great meeting with Pern's other leaders, something had clicked inside of the bronze rider.

The bronze's shadow loomed menacingly over the assembled Weyrwomen (and one lone Leader), ominously draping both H'zu and the man's weyrmate in semi-darkness in the bright sunlight. H'zu was standing rigidly at his Weyrwoman's side, glancing from face to face, regarding each of the women with the same calculating gaze of his bronze. Ever since Yselka had suggested it to him, and privately even before, he had been both uneasy and elated at the thought of the gold's Clutching and for mostly the reason why they were all gathered here...

Yselka laid down her terms and his face hardened into what could have been a sneer in a lesser man. He hadn't completely agreed with the proposals the Weyrwoman had laid down, but it was his duty to support them to the best of his ability. If he had any hope of keeping his rank, he must continue to have the woman's favor, her dragon's favor.

"But there will be no secrets, no lies between the likes of us. Your female Candidates will be registered like all the others, they will undergo the same lessons and preparations that our own Candidates are subject to. Until those Eggs Hatch and their loyalties decided, each will be considered our own Candidates. You, nor your dragonriders, shall have any contact with any of your chosen girls. It will be their decision alone whether they choose to return to your Weyrs, or remain here, under the flag of Ista."

H'zu's little speech was given with as much severity as one sentencing another man to death. There was no emotion in his cool, smooth voice and his eyes gave way to none as well. His hands were clasped smartly around his back and he wore every symbol he could have possibly attached to his outfit to proclaim his status in the Weyr: The only Weyrleader on Pern whose dragon had impregnated a queen and produced another reproducer for the world.

"Weyrwoman Yselka and I thank you for your time."