Lies and Consequences [RavenSong]

Q'sis raised his head as the dark blue dragon purposefully circled in and landed before the barracks. Argotath he would always have to look up to, but the angle of his gaze fell steadily as K'var dismounted and approached him. He recognized the shard of cynicism in K'var's blue eyes, and it painted a more complete picture of the Candidatemaster's mood than that managed tone allowed. Q'sis was used to distrust. But he had never commanded one of the Weyr's ranked riders to his purposes before. Where he had planned on the trade being one of words only, K'var sought more solid proof.

Something must have happened. Xiro'el could not have reached the Candidatemaster first...except through Tigreath. Q'sis restricted his scowl: there were plenty of ideas the Cyanrider could have put in the Bluerider's head. Or this might not have been the first time Sebolaren had lured others out of the Weyr for himself. Q'sis could not have cared less, provided they weren't Weyrlings, but K'var certainly would. He had only hoped to stay K'var's knowledge of Xiro'el's involvement. To not pay too much in this trade. Words would have done that. But evidence...

"Yes," he answered, careful not to smile even if he was intent on remaining amicable in the face of K'var's suspicion. As he spoke, he worked on rousing Unath one more time. He would need her assistance. "I saw him returning to the Weyr yesterday morning. He had taken a runnerbeast out onto the island overnight...and one of my fellow Weyrlings."

Unath woke, but remained idle till she heard a noise near her couch. She raised her head and opened her eyes, spying the very two people under discussion. They were in her room. Simultaneously Q'sis began instructing her on how to pass the image-memories needed along to Argotath.

Sebolaren? she asked, sharing her current view of the man with her rider. Xiro'el? She did the same for the Weyrling hovering in the doorway.

Focus, Unath. This is the picture. Q'sis indicated his very precise recollection of Sebolaren's mare returning with her two passengers, Tigreath following. When his Tan hesitated, he commandeered her faculties once again, and communicated the memory to Argotath. The Tanrider narrowed his eyes, substantial concentration required to link his dragon to the Blue "manually." Unath relaxed her own confusion and closed her eyes, laying her head down and ignoring the two strangers in her room.

Once he was sure Argotath had the whole memory, Q'sis' olive eyes trained back on K'var. "The day before this happened, Xiro'el was not present at his chores, which you can check with the stable-hands. I am not certain if the runner is Sebolaren's personal beast, or 'borrowed.' Either way, the workers at the stables will remember its stall being empty. Xiro also did not show up at dinner that night, or in the barracks afterward." Unaware that K'var had already contended with the previous night's Weyrling excursion to the Candidates' barracks, he continued: "I tried to ask Xiro about it last night, but he was missing then too."

After he had explained, he transferred the relevant images to Argotath through his Tan. He could not speak and aim his dragonet's thoughts at the same time; yet another reason he had to practice the unorthodox technique. He shook his head slightly as the final memory of a Weyrling room empty of all but Xiro'el's mutt left him. "That Candidate didn't Impress at the Hatching with the rest of us, and apparently Xiro is having a hard time letting go. Sebolaren may be taking advantage of his ignorance."

Or they were mutually idiotic, but Q'sis would let K'var form his own opinions. Suggesting too many to the Candidatemaster might evidence some sort of personal involvement. As far as pinning Xiro'el's participation, at least that matter would be passed to Chelo. Xiro'el could deal with any of that woman's punitive measures, even if he was a bloodsucking traitorous deadglow.