To my dearest friend 9-20-16 [Tags Carona]

[Delphirra de Renin]

Sitting at the desk in her room under the open window with the warm fragrant scents of the garden in bloom below was always pleasant. Much more so when it was to do a pleasant task such as writing to a friend as dear as Carona. A sleepy firelizard made quite a good companion as Delphirra's quill made neat and precise strokes on a bit of parchment.



To my dearest friend, I hope this letter finds you and Surperith well.

I haven't seen you in so long and miss you dearly and with how busy I’ve been I haven’t had time to write to you like I should. Mum and I finalized the design for the centerpiece of our winter collection. I finally convinced her to let me make it rose pink and that is exactly what it needed, the saphire blue was really detracting from the sweeping lines and it didn't harmonize well with the greens we are planning for the rest of the collection. I dearly wish that that one weaver apprentice hadn’t left, her silks would have made the collection perfect! We have been hard pressed to find something near the texture and sheen of her work but it’s still not perfect. I can’t wait to start actually making the rest of the designs we’ve drawn up.

We also found this goldsmith out of Nerat who makes the most beautiful, realistic looking metal flower jewelry. Some of his work is what inspired this collection. I am so glad I have apprentices and journeymen to help, the embroidery on the centerpiece alone would have taken me a month. Thankfully two of the journeymen here are super skilled and fast at embroidery so it shouldn’t take them long.

Mum’s queen laid her clutch yesterday, six very pretty eggs. There is one that I am seriously debating asking for the shell of, it’s a beautiful almost iridescent blue with teal and cyan streaks. Could I maybe convince you to take an egg this time? It’d be useful. You too could have a pretty little thing to sit on your papers and hold them down heehee. Mumsie says you can have first pick if you want too.

How is everyone doing there? What have you been up to? Mumsie and Papa say hi. I may or may not have presents for you.

Yours truly,

Delphirra

P.S. My R’dan senses are tingling, will you poke him for me at your earliest convenience? I feel like he needs to be poked rather hard for some reason.




With the last strokes the parchment was left to dry and then rolled carefully and tied to a now awake Dawn’s leg and sent to her friend.

[Lord Herron]

Carona had just returned to her weyr after threadfall practice. She shed her riding gear and shook out her shoulder length black hair while Surperith settled down on her couch. She was hot and sweating, and both she and Surperith needed a bath. She was lamenting how her hair had frizzed out when the gold firelizard appeared. She smiled at the appearance of her oldest friend’s flit and offered her arm for the gold to land on. After removing the parchment, she offered Dawn a treat of dried meat she kept just for such an occasion, then settled back to read the letter. Once she finished, she took out her stationary to write a reply.

Dear Delphirra,

It's so good to hear from you! Surperith and I are doing fine. I figured you were busy, what with the winter collection due to come out. I can’t wait to see what you and your mother have come up with! I’ve been thinking I need a new winter gather gown. My gowns from White Sands don’t keep me as warm as I’d like here. It's taken a while, but I’m adjusting to the cooler Northern weather. Do let me know when the collection debuts and I’ll come see them! You’ve still no word of the girl? I do hope she is alright.

We’ve had a bit of a shake up here at the Weyr. This isn’t common knowledge yet, but I know I can rely on your discretion in the matter. Weyrleader X’cer has stepped down as Weyrleader! We weren’t given a lot of information, only that it was for “personal reasons.” I really don’t understand what has possessed the man, to leave us without a leader with threadfall due again. Ampara isn’t saying anything either, though I’m sure she knows something. We are fortunate to have Bronzerider Ki’van, who has graciously stepped up to take up the role until Dysmeth rises, and we have an official Weyrleader again. R’dan is of course having delusions of grandeur that Voraideth will be able to catch her this time. And you needn’t worry, I give him a good smack upside the head whenever he needs it. And he needs it a lot. But, I’ll be happy to give him one just from you.

I will consider your offer of a firelizard egg. I’ve been thinking about getting one for a while. I know they can be useful for more than just paperweights. Father sends Deesel with letters all the time. And it might be helpful with keeping an eye on R’dan. I swear keeping him out of trouble is a full time job! But I will have to tell you, you and your mother have some competition here. One of the weyrlings, bronzerider J’zeni, is always asking if riders would like an egg from his gold, Starjumper. He even keeps a notebook with a list of people who might be interested! Maybe you should ask Herlin if he would like one. I’m sure he wouldn’t say no to you.

Tell your mother and father I said hi. I know Father is preparing to host a Spring Gather at White Sands Hold. Will you be attending? If we don’t have threadfall, R’dan and I will be popping back for a visit. We can give you a ride if it works out.

Sincerely,

Carona

She blew on the ink gently to get it to dry faster. “Alright Pattern Weight,” she said to the waiting gold. “Take this back to your mistress.” She attached the letter and gave her another treat for good measure before sending her off.

[Delphirra de Renin]

9-27-16

Finally after a long day Delphirra sat at her desk, Dawn had long gone gone to sleep curled up on one of the silk covered pillows that filled her bed and the basket of glows beside her desk providing light in the cool autumn evening. She yawned and stretched, exhasuted from a long day of sewing and designing, but it had been a week since she had gotten Carona's letter and not yet had a chance to reply. This would be one of the few times she would be able to write a letter and send it at a time when Carona would reasonably be awake. This week had been full of late late nights. So with quick strokes of her quil she wrote out a letter quickly.


Dearest Carona,

First of all, I am so sorry it has taken me a week to reply, things got crazy here. I would love to make you a new winter gather gown! I just got in some of the prettiest wool fabric that will match your eyes perfectly. Ooh! And I have a grey fur lined cape you can have that will look really pretty with the wool. I always want to but I never end up wearing it. As for the show, it will be in two months, I hope you can come. It will be so much fun to get to attend a social function with you again.

No word of the girl yet, will you keep an eye out at the weyr? She is young enough to be searched and Dawn seemed to like her. She’s about the same height as me and has frizzy brown hair. I think you’ve met her before, her name is Ilya. She’s really sweet.

I hope all goes well, not having a Weyrleader sounds scary, I’m glad Ki’van has stepped up. He seems a good person from what I've seen. A far better choice than R'dan that's for sure. I fear what Lord Holder Feytolian would do if R'dan became Weyrleader. I'm glad he has you to keep him in line. How's he doing? I find myself missing his silly scowling self. I miss all of your family honestly. I'd love to come see you all at the spring gather.

I do not envy poor J'zeni for a queen that flies so often. Dawn only fies once every couple years and that is bad enough. I'll have to ask Herlin, I bet he would like a baby. They are so fun when they just make these tiny squeaks. I miss my tiny Pattern Weight. I miss when she could sit on my shoulders and hide under my hair. She's a wee bit bigger now and still loves laying across my shoulders. It's so nice in the winer when it's cold to have a little furnace on your neck.

Mumsie says hi back and that you need to come and collect your gift pile before it consumes more furniture in my sitting room. Papa says hi and came back with another box for each of us but we have to open them together. So far only one table and a chair has been consumed. The pile will grow until you come get it. This is a threat.

Love Delphirra

---

Letter done Delphirra stood and stretched again once the ink was dry. Going towards her bed she sat down beside the sleepy firelizard and gently stroked the tiny eye ridges with a finger. Dawn awoke softly with a tiny "Mrrp?" and stretched

"Can you run this to Carona my pretty one?"

Another chirp came from the little flit and Delpirra tied the rolled parchment to the little one's leg who immediately jumpped into the air and disappeared with a tiny pop, only to emerge near Carona with a trumpet of joy.

[Lord Herron]

Corona was not in a good mood when Dawn first arrived. She had just stalked away from her twin, unable to listen to another one of his complaints. But that all changed when the gold flit appeared and announced her arrival. “Dawn!” she exclaimed, a smile growing on her face. She held out her arm for the queen. “Come on, pretty one, let’s go somewhere private.” She ignored R’dan as he called out to her, and hurried back to her weyr. She gave Dawn a treat and took the message from her before flopping down on her bed. Reading what Delphirra was up to made for a good distraction, and by the time she picked up her pen to reply, her mood had lightened.


Dear Delphirra,

You do not ever need to apologize to me. I know how much time and effort you put in when a show is coming up! I will happily defer to your greater expertise on the gown. I know whatever you come up with will be beautiful and I will love it, just like I loved all the other gowns you’ve made for me. It’ll be just like old times when you used to dress me up like a doll!

I will certainly keep an eye out for Ilya. I vaguely remember a girl like that at the hold. I haven’t seen anyone fitting that description, but there are plenty of places I don’t get to. I will pay closer attention to the candidates though, and let you know if I see her.

If you want to see his scowling face, I’ll be glad to ship him off to you. You know how he can be when he thinks someone is trying to pull rank. I’ve been able to keep him from making a complete fool of himself, but it's not easy. Ki’van really is thankfully a patient man. He’s tolerated R’dan’s borderline insolence for now. And Faranth forbid he ever become Weyrleader! He’s about as diplomatic as an angry herdbeast. He’d surely find a way to anger Zebulonar and Lady Niceta. That’s the last thing we need right now!

Herlin would take a rock if you offered it to him. He’s never been able to tell you no. Have you seen Vanech lately? We riders aren’t very popular at Kajono as you know, and he hasn’t been to the Weyr in a while. Though, I hear he’s been spending a lot of time at Three Rivers with Lady Niceta, working on his wher breeding program.

Oh! I am shocked that you would threaten a rider with a good time! I’ll see if I can get down there on the next rest day, if R’dan hasn’t been thrown into solitary confinement. Though I might be able to relax if he was. Thank you father for me, just in case he’s not there when I do make it down. I deeply appreciate his kindness, but he really doesn’t have to keep getting me gifts.

See you soon,

Carona


Carona set her pen down. She truly appreciated the kindness the de Reinins showed her. They were like a second family to her, supporting her and her brothers through their mother’s illness and eventual passing. She wasn’t sure she’d have gotten through it without them.

“Alright Dawn,” she said, giving the gold another treat before tying her reply to Delphirra to the flit’s leg. “Off you go back to your mistress.”