The healers had stolen Gwillanth away for a few hours. Her broken leg needed to be tested and massaged, and besides, it would be a chance to refresh her mind from the onus of eggsitting. A whole cadre of dragons watched the eggs in her stead, or rather...
Issrodeth. She’d finally awoken from her deep, protective slumber the previous day. She was still very wobbly, her mind a little foggy and her voice especially dim; but she looked rakish with her head bandage and one remaining headknob. She’d demanded to do something to help her Weyr and eggsitting was healer-approved.
Igith and several other dragons, all colors, lounged nearby. All pretended not to hear Igith’s scathing voice. ... and Valyth has been barking far too many orders. We’re all tired of listening to him and Dei’r, such perfectionists -- why, in all this they’ve only kept up with it instead of letting the Weyr lick its wounds.
Issrodeth huffed. Valyth has been doing a fine job from what I’ve heard, and Dei’r just as well. They are a marvelous team, and work well with Gwill and Shay.
Bossy, Igith countered. When I’m senior, I shall pick better. Let this animalistic Leader’s Flight business die, or simply let Eucath win me.
Issrodeth recognized the name of one of Igith’s green lovers, one of a rotating cast but apparently the current favorite. Good luck with that, dear, she said without malice.
She chuffed at the “insult” anway.
... I’ve taught you better than thinking it’s about love, Igith. Or the Flight. It’s a spectacle, it makes eggs, it makes the holders marvel at the strangeness; no one says you have to like the drake or even let him sire the eggs. ‘Look at Gwillanth’ came the unspoken addition. It’s about accounting for your weaknesses, what the Weyr needs. The Flight has always cleared my head and let me listen to my intuition -- and making the chasers feel special always makes a sweet catch.
Igith seemed unconvinced. Perhaps she wouldn’t have if she wasn’t still recovering, but Issrodeth continued bluntly, Perhaps it is not so for you. I might have chosen differently if I had known this horrible quake would arrive, or if I had known I’d be stuck with him for another turn or more while I heal. I cannot Fly this year, I know it, the healers know it, everyone knows it. The gold put her head on her forepaws and went quiet.
Igith blinked, unsure what to say. An uncomfortable feeling sloshed in her gut at her steady, unflappable mentor’s regret.
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What concepts do Igith and Issrodeth invoke that you know? Which do you not? How do you react to the new information? What emotion is Igith feeling, and why? Did you agree with Igith’s first assertion? Did your perspective change with Issrodeth’s rebuttal? What is a Weyrleader? What do they do, and why are they important? What qualities would you look for in a Weyrleader were you in a position to choose one -- or what qualities would you strive for if you wanted to be one?