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Post by Spirithawk on Dec 29, 2005 18:42:29 GMT -5
Christae paced the length of the large weyr that was reserved for the Weyrleaders. A situation was rising with several of the holds. There had been too many years without thread for them to be enthusiastic about tithing. She had sent Rhia several times to demand the tithes but the brownrider had been met with limited success. Christae pressed a hand to her forehead and sat down at her desk. Kaith was out sunning herself.
"I don't know what I am going to do. The Weyr needs that food to eat this winter." Christae spoke to the air. She had already called for shorter rations. Not enough to alarm the weyr, but enough so that they could conserve some of their provisions. Christae thought about sending a few trusted riders to the Southern Continent or back a few turns to gather crops but she wasn't sure that was such a wise idea. Sh'iron was out taking care of other business so she didn't have his input but he should be returning soon.
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Post by Tenma on Dec 30, 2005 8:44:54 GMT -5
Nira slowly walked into the quarters, not sure if it was a smart move. "Christae, is something wrong? Is the baby ok?" she asked worridly, looking at the weyrwoman's bulking stomach.
I think that if something was wrong with the baby then Kaith wouldn't be sunning herself like nothing could go wrong. Siarath intervened. I think us dragons would know that something was up if there was something wrong with the baby. The large green dragon pointed out.
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Post by Spirithawk on Dec 30, 2005 12:42:32 GMT -5
Christae looked up when she heard Nira's voice. She hoped that her greenrider friend hadn't heard what she had said a few moments earlier.
"The baby is fine Nira. I still have four months to go and so far, so good. Other than having a bit of morning sickness I am fine and the baby is growing at a normal rate. You should see Rhia. She is twice my size." Christae tried to take the focus off of her worry although she knew that Nira was smarter than that.
Nira thinks that something is wrong with the baby but Siarath told her that we would know if something is wrong. I would know.
~I know love.~
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Post by Kandarra on Jan 12, 2006 21:38:20 GMT -5
Headwoman Uslanee entered the Weyrwoman's quarters to speak with her about the latest changes in kitchen staffing but sensed something else was wrong. Her eyes went to the hides scattered around and back to Christae. Obviously the Weyrwoman was studying up about something, and being the Headwoman, she wanted to know.
"Good morning," said Uslanee politely, opting for her original topic as a starter. "I need to talk with you about some of the new drudges in the kitchens. They're stealing food-- or, at least I think they are-- and hoarding it. We can't just keep shelling out food like that, I thought I'd come to you. They'd most likely listen to you better than they would to me, them being new." Uslanee knew; she'd already tried to talk to all the drudges in the kitchens, but nothing had changed.
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Post by Spirithawk on Jan 13, 2006 16:04:40 GMT -5
Christae looked up. "Morning Uslanee." Christae's face fell when she heard the Headwoman's report. "I won't lie to you Uslanee and Nira this had better not be revealed to the rest of the Weyr. We are running low on rations. Our supplies won't last the winter and a couple of the Holds aren't tithing properly. They are the ones that supply us with food. I am waiting to talk to Sh'iron about the situation but for now the Weyr is on shorter rations. It is not enough to be noticable but it will help us preserve some of our current supplies."
She sighed. She hated being the barer of bad news. "We will be starting Weyr Games. We may even have Inter-Weyr competitions. The Weyrs may compete against each other in the Games to challenge the riders. That will keep the riders busy but we will have to do something about the food. I may have to send out riders to get food. I will speak to the drudges. I should have time before Sh'iron comes back. Do you know which ones are behind the pilfering?"
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Post by Kandarra on Jan 14, 2006 0:15:13 GMT -5
Uslanee nodded gravely at the news. This wasn't good at all. The Weyr was essential to Pern, or would be, and it needed food to survive. That Sh'iron was away didn't help matters.
She named three of the newest drudges. "That's who I suspect. They're from outside "holds" I've never heard of before. I was wary to take them on, but I did pity them. I suppose I made a mistake, but when several bedraggled, starving people come to your door and beg for work, what do you do? Leave them in the cold?" Uslanee shook her head sadly. "I just wish they could be honest. Otherwise, they're good workers."
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Post by Tenma on Jan 14, 2006 7:45:15 GMT -5
((Sorry it has been so long, I forgot I posted in this subject.))
Nira sighed. ~This isn't good news at all. What should we do?~ She asked Siarath with worry.
Why don't we go out and try to get tithes from the holds that are holding back. I can do it, I am strong enough for all of the flying. Siarath boasted.
Nira smiled slightly at Siarath's words. "What if Siarath and I went and interregated the holds that are holding back, or just not tithing at all. I mean we won't act like we are interrigating them, but with Siarath, I am sure I can pursuade them." Nira added hopefully. What would happen if the weyr couldn't survive. Would the riders be sent back home. Nira didn't want to go home; the weyr was her new home. Her NEW family lived inside the weyr. Her family and friends, all lived in the weyr.
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Post by Spirithawk on Jan 15, 2006 22:21:05 GMT -5
Christae sighed. "I will deal with the drudges. Nira, I already sent Rhia and G'han. They won't listen to anyone I send. I was considering going myself but I don't think they will listen to a 18 turn old Weyrwoman. I fear it will be the same with Sh'iron."
"Uslanee, don't turn anyone away but be careful who you hire on. Feed them and then send them on their way. They are probably holdless folk. I will speak with them but if the do not straighten up they will be sent away."
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Post by Kandarra on Jan 16, 2006 0:18:14 GMT -5
"Thank you, very much, Christae," Uslanee said, visibly relieved. "I'm nearly out of my mind with those hooligans." She shifted her weight onto one leg and asked, "Is there anything I can do in the kitchens to preserve food stores?"
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Post by Tenma on Jan 16, 2006 7:54:35 GMT -5
If the holds do not start doing their jobs to keep the weyr alive, I will go and take Nira and we will persuade them. I don't care if you don't think it will work. I have to live here, unlike the dragonriders we dragons are too big to live anywhere but a weyr. Siarath said with determination, to all still in the room.
Nira nodded. "I agree with Siarath. I won't let the dragons die."
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Post by Spirithawk on Jan 16, 2006 11:23:21 GMT -5
"Start slowly shortening rations. Feed everyone, but don't create as much of a surplus. Stick to things that cannot be preserved. Send out drudges to find tubers and fruit. I know that there are some berries that grow at this time of the year. Get a dragonrider to bring them to the warmer parts to harvest any type of crop that they can. Make sure it is not some holder's land though."
Christae smiled at Nira. "We will not let the dragonriders die. If we need to we can appeal to the other Weyrs. They were willing to help us when we needed riders so I really don't see why they won't help us now. I will speak to Sh'iron. If he cannot do something then I will seek your help. For now, do what you can to help Uslanee find food to augment the stores we already have. Uslanee don't let the Weyrbrats into your kitchen as often. They eat more than they should." She nodded to the two women and went to deal with the drudges in question. Shortly after she returned to her weyr.
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Post by Tenma on Jan 16, 2006 13:29:08 GMT -5
"I will do as much as I can to help." Nira replied.
((Short, sorry))
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Post by Spirithawk on Jan 17, 2006 17:32:23 GMT -5
Christae nodded. "Thank you Nira. I will take you up on that some day. Perhaps soon. Just do what you can to help Uslanee. Enlist other trustworthy riders, ones that know how to keep their mouth shut. I would say Rhia since she is already in on it but she can't go /between/ any more than I can. Perhaps G'han if he isn't to busy being an arrogant bronzerider." Christae winked.
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Post by Tenma on Jan 17, 2006 20:26:17 GMT -5
Nira smiled. "It would help a lot if the weyrlings could fly and go between." Nira sighed.
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Post by Kandarra on Jan 18, 2006 10:55:58 GMT -5
Uslanee nodded to the Weyrwoman. "Thank you, both of you, for the help. I can definitely use the help of a rider, that's for sure." She smiled at Nira. "And thanks to you, for being willing. We can use your dragon... Siarath, right? Well, the two of you combined will be more useful to me than twenty drudges."
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Post by Dragon on Jan 18, 2006 16:18:13 GMT -5
G'han was walking to the weyrleaders weyr. He didn't have much to do and figured he would check up on Christae seeing as how she was pregnant too. "Did someone say arrogant bronze rider? Why whoever could they be talking about?", G'han said innocently as if he didn't know. "Oh by the way I thought I would see how you were doing Christae. I know Rhia isn't the only one with child around here", he continued. "Hey Nira. How's it going?", he asked when he noticed her there and smiled at her.
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Post by Tenma on Jan 18, 2006 17:55:26 GMT -5
"Yes we will help" Nira replied. She heard G'hans voice and smiled. "Hello bronzerider."
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Post by Spirithawk on Jan 18, 2006 20:09:25 GMT -5
"The Weyrlings will be going between soon enough. I dread that day." Christae nodded. "I am glad to see that you will be getting the help you need Uslanee and you will be able to help out Nira.
She smiled when G'han came in. "I am doing fine. From what I heard Rhia has it worse than me and is bedridden?" Her statement was more of a question. She had heard that her brownrider friend was confined to her bed by the healers for a few days but rumor wasn't always reliable. "I was talking about you. I was wondering if you and Gerenanth could help Uslanee and Nira in your free time. They are going to be helping gather food for the Weyr."
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Post by Dragon on Jan 18, 2006 20:15:40 GMT -5
"We try to keep her in bed but you know her. She can be more stubborn than me. Sure I would be glad to help out. So Nira and I will be a team eh? Well you couldn't have picked two better riders", he said and looked at Nira and smiled at her when he was talking about her.
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Post by Tenma on Jan 19, 2006 19:03:17 GMT -5
Nira smiled.
((Sorry I don't know what else to post.))
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