Of positions and expectations

Br'son had noticed the "we".

"That," he said calmly, "is a question that the two of you will help to answer. In order to receive tithes, we have a obligation to provide Thread protection. As of right now, all the area around us is either uninhabited, or protected by other Weyrs. And we don't, truthfully, have the numbers to fly a full Fall. So for now, we rely upon hunting and our good weyrfolk to provide for us."

The Weyrsenior looked at both of them, all trace of a smile gone. "This is the reality. Keeping a Weyr full of dragons fed is not easy, even with a full tithe."

Br'son leaned forward again. "But, that's the key. It will be up to you two. As queenriders, you're now power players in Pernese politics," he said, grimacing a bit at his unintended alliteration. "So, that means that you," he said, pointing at Teagan, "Cannot afford to be a child any longer and that you," he said, moving his finger to indicate E'zen "cannot afford to be angry any longer. At the very least, you'll have to ensure you have a clear mind, unclouded by emotion."

"And that's not even touching on what it takes to control the queen herself."

Teagan's cheeks flushed faintly pink, and she looked down at her feet dangling above the floor. She could mature all they wanted, she thought with a bit of impatience, but it didn't change the fact that she'd be 14 when Ensieth rose to mate.

As someone who had yet to receive her first kiss, it was a very daunting thought. Plenty of other canyon girls had their first children by 15, but putting a clock on it made things very real.

For now, she was glad Ensieth was still little more than a baby. And she responded to her rider's love with more love, despite the simmering anger underneath. One day she would figure that out.

E'zen looked affronted - and was. "Politics? Who's asking us to be part of any of it? They'd all prefer we disappeared," that 'we' again, "so we shouldn't have to deal with any of that at all." The faintest of questions in his tone, because he was, somehow, interested.

Or perhaps that was Aliseth, who had been remarkably quiet in his head during this conversation.