Back to Jeniae's Weyrling Days

Jeniae sat in Weyrwoman Tiyanni's office, cradling a glass of crushed ice and fruit juices in her palms. She'd told Tiyanni the whole thing - the shunning, the insults, everything. The Weyrwoman took it all in calmly, spooning up bits of the icy slush as she listened. "And that is why I want you to forbid any more East Rock youths to go there." Jeniae said.

Tiyanni nodded. "I see."

Jeniae was not comforted by this, and stared at her drink. It was starting to get paler around the edges as the ice melted.

"Jeniae, relax. Tiyanni said, sticking her flat wooden spoon into her empty glass, and setting it on a side table. The greenrider did not relax. "Those riders were out of line, and should have been reprimanded. Why didn't you take it to the Weyrleader?"

"They assigned me to his wing." Jeniae said through clenched teeth.

"I'm sure that wouldn't have been all bad." Tiyanni said.

"No, Weyrleader J'tha is a very fair man, and sunset Zenith is simply gorgeous. Phylith adores him... but..." Jeniae finally indulged in her drink, her mouth having gone dray.

"But?" Tiyanni prompted.

"S'rino and I received messages from Im'mel, requesting us for his wing - and they wouldn't let us go!" Jenize's queen firelizard flew in, chittering excitedly at her about something. "Not now, _____." Jeniae said, taking a deep drink from the rapidly melting slush in her glass. The slick liquid ran down her throat.

"Standard Practice." Im'mel drawled from the doorway. "If there's a rider you want for your wing, tap them as soon as they get home." Im'mel crossed the room and put his darkly tanned hands on Jeniae's shoulders. "The competition for you two was so fierce, I had to take the initiative." Im'mel's touch set Jeniae's skin ablaze. While he'd been speaking, his strong hands had been working the knots from her shoulders

"Well then." Tiyanni said, rising. "I'll go have a few words with Yakima and J'tha." The silvering woman slipped into her jacket and out of the weyr.

Phylith awoke from her napping in a fierce mood. Unusually fierce. "Phylith is rising." Jeniae whispered, and started to get up.

"Has she been chewing?" Im'mel asked.

"Yes, she enjoys flaming. What does this have to do with the price of klah in Nerat? Phylith is rising!"

Im'mel laughed softly. "Let her be then. She knows what she's doing."

In a matter of moments it was all over. Jeniae only had eyes for Im'mel. "Nadornth." She breathed.

Im'mel laughed, and kissed her. "Of course."

The next day, Tiyanni sought out Jeniae, and found her snuggled up next to Im'mel in the living cavern. "What's all this?" the Weyrwoman asked, smiling.

"We've decided to become Weyrwmates." Im'mel responded.

"Oh really?"

"Really." Jeniae responded, smiling up at Im'mel.

"How nice." Tiyanni said, hten looked pointedly at Jeniae. "I've spoken with the weyrleaders at Falas. It's all straightened out."

Jeniae looked at the Weyrwoman with wide eyes. "Really?"

"Really." Tiyanni said with a laughing smile. "But..."

"But?" Jeniae prompted.

"But I told Yakima that you would be brinkging three candidates in a few days."

Jeniae gawked. "Phylith isn't a searcher!"

Tiyanni smiled. "Well, you'll have to negotiate with the Searchriders then."

"If you wind up talking to J'lenn..." Im'mel said as Jeniae stood up, "Be sure to tell him how well Phylith can flame."

Jeniae looked at her weyrmate. "He's one of those?"

Im'mel nodded, and Jeniae ran off, her flit trailing behind her.

Tiyanni sat down beside Im'mel, but not nearly as close as Jeniae had been sitting. "Weyrmates with a greenrider? Im'mel, I'd thought better of you." Tiyanni joked.

Im'mel feigned insult, then began to laugh. "Nadornth is happy, and I've always had a 'thing' for Jeniae. Though as Heir to Two River, there wasn't much I could do about it."

Tiyanni smiled knowingly. "Just remember that just because Phylith is sterile doesn't mean Jeniae is."

"Yes mother." Im'mel said.

Tiyanni smiled. "And how does Jeniae feel abuot Nadornth flying other females? Or haven't you asked?"

Im'mel set down his glass. "We discussed that this morning. With so few bronzes with young riders, we browns are eligible to chase when Jeyann's Mezireth and Jazrae's Nynaeveth rise. Or so we've been told." Tiyanni nodded for him to continue. "Jeniae is willing to let Nadornth and I out of their clutches for that - as long as we come back to them. It seems Phylith won't have any other now that Nadornth has won her." Im'mel said.

Tiyanni laughed and rose. "Don't dissapoint her, Wingleader. And don't worry about Phylith. Every girl - human or other wise - is partial to their first love."