This was a trap.
Some small part of her brain told her it was a trap.
“It turns out that our industrious scientist has been busy- he has a new residence being set up at Isla Weyr, and the Empress believes we might need a delegation from the Courts to keep an eye on him.”
“You mean spy on him?”
| Name Yaye | |
| Age Resembles a woman in her mid 30’s | |
| Appearance Yaye is tall and slender, and very fit. She can hold her own in battle and war, and is a skilled fighter. It shows in her muscle tone and the way she carries herself, confident and full of control. Yaye has skin that is slightly darkened by the sun but still on the pale side of the spectrum, and shoulder length black hair often worn in a low braid, or (and only more recently, now that she is out of the battlefield) slicked back away from her face. Her countenance is cold, somewhat lacking in emotion, her dark eyes intense and her expressions grim or bland. It is not that she does not know how to enjoy herself, Yaye is just more serious compared to other residents of the Vella Crean. Yaye is normally dressed in knee high boots, durable trousers, standard shirts, and maybe a jacket. Having seen Philippe’s leather jacket, she has had some made in a similar style, although she will not admit it outright. | |
| Personality Yaye is quiet. Stoic. She was already a young woman when the Vella Crean closed itself off from the rest of the Nexus, and the war was a pivotal event through her young adulthood. She is fiercely protective of those she believes is part of her family, and is an adept leader, capable of bringing together individuals to form high performing teams. She is driven, and ambitious: Yaye believes in peace, and wants to do all she can to strengthen the Vella Crean. Yaye is smart, she is skilled at the art of war, and is suspicious and wary of Shy- and his projects. She does not mind her new role as minder / general at the Residence: she faithfully reports back to the Dark Court on the shenanigans that is Shy, and gains a little bit of pleasure when she can keep him in line. | |
| Ability Yaye has a low level of telepathy: enough to send her thoughts to other telepaths, dragons, but not enough to converse with people of no ability. |
The scientist was back, and the war was not lost.
Yaye’s entire being shook with relief.
The war was not lost.
Falling into a chair, she tuned out the rest of the voices of the council, focusing instead on leveling out her breathing. The scientist was back- he had returned with three projects, THREE, and they had decimated the Death Court dragons in the current battle.
Three projects had managed to do what took a platoon of dragonriders.
And now there were more projects arriving, eyes of the same haunting gold as the few dragonriders she worked with, possessing gifts and powers that went beyond her imagination. A tall man with a day drak who was rebuilding towers, commanding stone and metal to move. Another who seemed to delight in teleporting necessities from around the Nexus.
The ease and simplicity in the way the projects had taken over the city, leading the repairs on the towers, the battle with the dragons- the general in her raged. It was not fair, she had worked ten years as a general of the Dark Court, had mourned the loss of riders and dragons, and here was a man with powerful creatures cutting through the swathes with little effort.
“Yaye?”
Yaye straightened at the call of her name, looking towards Mwvayan, the leader of the dark court. She felt her cheeks heat.
“I’m sorry.” She muttered, standing. “I wasn’t paying attention.”
It irked her. She had swept away by emotion.
The dark haired leader shook her head, amusement evident in her eyes. “It has been quite a day with announcements. We were speaking of the peace keeping delegation being sent to the Death Court.”
Yaye scowled. “Mwvayan, that is one idea I do not agree with.”
“Yes yes, I know. I understand.” There was weight to the second word. “But it is what the Empress wants, and we will obey. You” her lips quirked into a smile. “Will not be interested in joining, I assume.”
Yaye shook her head. “Sending a peace delegation to the Death Court is a foolish idea- but even so, if we want to think about having a chance of success, the delegation will need to be dragons. Unbonded, preferably.”
Mwvayan nodded her head consideringly. “It would make sense. Dragon riders, humans, they would simply antagonize the Death Court. We can do without adding fuel to the fire.”
Yaye nodded. “Exactly.”
“I have another project then, if you would consider it.”
She paused.
This was a trap.
Some small part of her brain told her it was a trap.
“Project?” she asked slowly.
Mwvayna’s lips curved into a smile. “It turns out that our industrious scientist has been busy- he has a new residence being set up at Isla Weyr, and the Empress believes we might need a delegation from the Courts to keep an eye on him.”
“You mean spy on him?” she asked.
“Spy is a… harsh word.” Her lips pursued together. “Just to keep us updated on any projects or decisions he makes on behalf of the Vella Crean.”
Yaye frowned. “But leave, the Vella Crean? Leave my position?”
Yaye continued to stand, her stance strong, her expression unsure. Mwvayan leaned forwards. “We will continue to defend against the Death Court, Yaye.” She answered gently. “We will continue to fight, but the Empress wants us to try for peace. It gives… our squadrans a bit of a conundrum. I am not replacing you, and I am not sending you away. Think of it as… a holiday assignment.” The Dark Court leader brightened. “You have been searched, and although your attempts at our hatching sands have been unsuccessful, that is not to say they will continue to be so at Isla.”
“Am I not too old, for Pernese standards?”
Mwvayan shook her head. “It would not hurt to try. So. Will you go?”
The General nodded. Her movements slow. “I will go to Isla. I will spy on Shy” Mwvayan winced.
 |  |
A second white had turned up his nose to nearly everyone before walking straight to Yaye once the crowd of candidates had thinned enough for the young woman to be spotted. In a move that was all but a salute, Aslath came to a stop and nodded. Sorry…there were too many.
Yaye only nodded, either out of training or overwhelming emotions it was hard to tell, and turned to take her dragon off the hatching sands.
A brown with silver wings plopped down in front of Yaye and Aslath…and waited.
Aslath went forward to sniff the brown who didn’t move but was clearly watching the white before Aslath sighed. You’re late.
I got lost. There is too much going on and I don’t like it.
Aslath snorted then poked Duath with his nose. Yaya blinked a few times, then smiled realizing that she had somehow known that Duath had been looking for her as had Aslath.
 |  |
| Name | Duath |
| Gender | male |
| Species | Pernese |
| Color(s) | clouded brown-silver |
| Size Class | sport |
| Suggested Length | 36′ 1″ |
| Suggested Height | 6′ 7″ |
| Personality Traits | puncutal, courageous |
| Abilities | telepathy: can speak using his/her mind onlyteleportation: can travel to a different location instantlytelekinesis: can move objects with their mindassisted fire breath: can breath fire after digesting firestone |
| Name | Aslath |
| Gender | male |
| Species | Pernese |
| Color(s) | white |
| Size Class | sport |
| Suggested Length | 38′ 3″ |
| Suggested Height | 7′ 7″ |
| Personality Traits | tolerant, assertive |
| Abilities | telepathy: can speak using his/her mind onlyteleportation: can travel to a different location instantlytelekinesis: can move objects with their mindassisted fire breath: can breath fire after digesting firestone |
 |  |