[PLOT] Strategy Meeting

[Arcane]

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The Weyr Council has summoned a small, select gathering of riders and handlers to their chambers, to be briefed on what they have learned.

"Thank you all for gathering here today. Please help yourself to some refreshments," Weyrleader Jae began, as the delegation took their seats. Good food and drink, in her opinion, always helped tense conversations go more smoothly, "You are here at the recommendation of the Council, your wingleaders and your squadleaders, who have vouched for your abilities and your discretion. What you hear today is not to leave this room."

The Council Chamber had been rearranged to make room for a small buffet table, offering warm rolls, fruit and klah- with a conspicuous absence of alcohol, and a round table large enough to seat the entire group. A fire roared in the gates, to keep the winter cold at bay.

An old man in Harper's knots sat besides Jae- the elderly Master Rhuban. He had been at High Reaches since before Golre came to power. Few living remembered where he'd originally come from or why he had come to High Reaches. He had come and he had stayed, through Golre and all that came after. His fingers were no longer quick enough to play the gitar and his eyes were no longer sharp enough to make out musical notes, even through his spectacles, but he still had the respect of the weyr's other harpers and continued to help teach the children their first lessons, as he had for generation of High Reaches weyrbrats before them. Jae had learned to write her first letters at his knee, many turns ago. He was too old to join them, for the work ahead, but for today, he would speak for his craft.

"The task we would set for you will be a delicate one. It may be dangerous. If you are unwilling to participate, you may leave now, with the Council's thank for your cooperation thus far. It will not be held against you."

[Dragon]

Nix could be impulsive, yes, but he was also like a canine with a bone when he got an idea in his head. There was no way he was going to pass on an opportunity like this. He could also be trusted to keep his mouth shut ... which was likely why he'd been chosen for this task.

Quietly, he got himself a steaming mug of klah and a piece of fruit, casually sliding into a place at the table. He'd left Bai under Kyozuth's watchful eye, so hopefully neither dragon nor firelizard would bother him during this meeting. He was painfully curious what this was about, although he had to think it had to be about something to do with the recent poisonings.

Delicate and dangerous, and in some way, it included Master Harper Rhuban? Nix's curiosity only grew. His mind was already twisting toward possibilities, trying to work over the solution, but there was not enough information yet. "Weyrleader," he said evenly, "we look forward to acting for the good of the Weyr."

[Grayson]

Tie'ni had arrived a few minutes early, offering polite greetings to the Weyrleader and Master Rhuban first, then collecting a mug of klah and something to eat before finding herself a seat at the table.

"Right," the big woman said, once the Weyrleader had finished her words. "No talking. Got it."

Have you got that, Russ?

But...

But nothing.

...Aww. Alright! I need to go play jumping with the Dragonhealers anyway.

Off you go, sweetheart. I'll see you later.

And while Russeth bounced off with his usual exuberance, Tie'ni focused on the meeting again.

[Fel]

O'hara wouldn't have turned down this invitation for the world. Recognition for her hard work? Maybe the opportunity for advancement if she did well at whatever exactly this was about? Why in Faranth's name would she ever consider turning her nose up at whatever was asked of her?

It's probably because of our ice-cold demeanors and ability to remain highly logical under pressure. I'd bet we're going to be asked to do something important... like assassinate the Weyr's political enemies, Lassith said, his voice not betraying his eagerness but it didn't need to. O'hara could feel him practically quivering with it. He was ready to fling himself into the air and descend upon his target like an especially angry goose.

Sure. Claws away, Lassith. Somehow I doubt it's anything like that. Maybe advances in Threadfall fighting.

Fine, fine. For now. But when the Weyrleader tells us we're going to have to kill someone for the good of the Weyr... I mean, what have I got teeth and claws for if not to use them?

Hunting, Lassith. They're so you can eat.

The bronze gave a mental sigh, but returned to his vigilance at the edge of his weyr ledge. Something could happen at any moment. He had to be ready. He would be ready.

O'hara returned her attention to the Weyrleader. She didn't know what this was about, but she was able to gather that it was something important. "Held against us or not, whatever this is I don't think it sounds like the sort of thing either Lassith or myself could back out of in good conscience. If the Council believes it's vital enough to go through all of this trouble for, then so do we."

[nineofswords]

Ennis was a little nervous to be asked to the meeting. She was not entirely sure what it was about, and no one seemed willing to say. But she was nothing if not dutiful, so she went to the meeting, giving polite nods and shallow bows of greeting to the council members present. She'd politely taken a mug of klah to sip and was picking at one of the refreshments provided, and then made her way to her seat.

She paled slightly when the Weyrleader said that what would happen would not leave the room. Secrecy like that hit a little too close to home for her. She felt Szensk start to prickle, picking up on her own anxieties, but Ennisk was quick to soothe them both: Jae no sound paranoid, she assured them both. And is not you secret only. Can share with others here. Secret not for us only, easier to carry. Can share load.

Ask me, secret more trouble than worth, Szensk snarled back. No matter who carry. I say leave, Ennis.

But Ennis just swallowed and sat straighter in her chair. The Weyr had taken her in and protected her when she'd had nowhere else to go. Ironically, it had been Szensk they'd been protecting her from, but she believed they were most likely past that difficulty now. Ennis would stay and hear what they needed to share so badly. She listened as the older man spoke, listened as others in the crowd also voiced their willingness, listened to the two voices in her head, one preaching trust, the other suspicion.

"I want to do whatever I can to help the Weyr," she finally said. "But I have no desire to hurt people. And without knowing what you wish to ask of us, I do not know if I can say for certain whether or not I would be unwilling to participate." She really did not enjoy being asked to make decisions without the complete information. She sighed. "I want to believe that whatever you wish to ask of us will have the best intentions of the Weyr at heart, so I will stay and listen. If afterwards, I decide I do not wish to participate, I will consent to house arrest so that there is no risk that I may reveal what has been said here to others. Are these terms agreeable?"

Ooh, very smart! Ennisk praised, even as Szensk hissed Cannot trust! Will never keep word!

If they do not keep their word and we are forced to flee, Ennis told her bond silently, You will be able to show us how best to survive in the wilds. I do not trust blindly, Szensk, but neither am I Szilard. That seemed to placate the older green somewhat, but she still growled and paced back in their weyr.

[Arcane]

"Thank you, Nix, Tie'ni, O'hara," Jae said, with a smile and a nod to the definitely willing, "The Council is grateful for your aid."

She didn't know the more hesitant greenhandler, Ennis, by anything but reputation. She answered honestly, "I cannot say whether or not we will have to turn to violence. The situation is unpredictable and potentially volatile. If that is unacceptable to you, you are free to go. If not, I accept your house arrest compromise- and offer the same to anyone else, who changes their mind upon further detail. This is a duty for volunteers, not conscripts."

Jae waited a beat to give everyone who wanted to back out a chance to leave, before turning to a map on the wall and pointing to the dot that represented a small, minor hold, that had never before drawn particular attention from High Reaches Weyr, "The Council believes we have identified the source of the recent poisonings as Appleton Hold, a minor northern mountain hold, from the fringes of our territory. We do not have any further details at this time and are limiting the spread of this information, to avoid inciting any independent attempts at retaliation. I will be leading a small team to the suspected hold, to investigate further and, Faranth willing, resolve whatever situation we find there. You have all been nominated as delegates to join this team."

She turned to Master Rhuban, "Master Rhuban has been in contact with Harper Hold, who will be sending a diplomatic party of harpers to accompany us and attempt to facilitate negotiations with the holders. We welcome any questions or concerns you wish to raise before we embark."

[Dragon]

Questions? Concerns? The whole thing seemed perfectly straightforward to Nix. Well, mostly at least. "Ah - if they tried to poison us in our Weyr, I assume we'll be carrying our own supplies on this mission?" He'd rather not lay himself open to being murdered by eating what they served ...

Other than that, though, it was easy enough. Go, likely with Harper passengers, to Appleton Hold. Do as directed while there, and generally be a positive example of what a dragonrider was. Keep things from escalating. It didn't seem overly complicated.

[nineofswords]

Ennis listened carefully as Jae answered her question, and with apparent honesty. She nodded. "I am not adverse to assisting the Weyr in a potentially hostile situation, only in initiating hostilities with no provocation. I will stay, and hear what you have to ask of us." She approved of Jae offering the same compromise to the others present; Ennis was certain she was not the only one reticent to agree to an arrangement without knowing all of the terms. It was very even-handed and fair-minded of Jae, she felt.

She leaned forward, though, once Jae began going into details. Of course something like this was kept secret. Too many people would react like Szensk, going straight for blood, and it would only lead to more disaster and pain. "I now perfectly understand the need for secrecy in this matter, and will be honored to accompany you to represent the Weyr in this."

Bringing Harpers was also smart. Having a neutral third party would make the visit seem less overtly aggressive. "I also have some questions about the logistics of this endeavor," Ennis said, nodding in acknowledgement of Nix's question. "But I have been made aware that logistics questions from the 'peanut gallery' as I believe it is known are not terribly constructive during an overall briefing, so I will hold those until later." She would need to know them eventually, of course, such as when they were leaving, what they would need to take, whether the dragonriders were expected to wait until the whers and handles had made the trek or if the dragons were going to transport them, if they were going to send warning of their approach beforehand...

She had dozens more questions, but for now, she was content to trust that Jae would soon provide them with those answers.