Fort Weyr - Weyrleaders' Offices
Aged by time, this office has lived through the ages of Fort just as its counterparts have. But unlike the Weyrsecond and Junior Weyrwomen offices, this cavern is spacious and formed in a rough semicircle of three conjoined caves that were carved and modified Turns ago. The middle portion acts as a waiting room of sorts, holding only a few modest chairs and a simple tapestry to otherwise brighten up the plain stone walls. There are no windows here and the only light comes from well placed glow baskets.
To the right, the smaller of the two adjoining caverns has been set aside for the Weyrwoman, a large desk situated in the middle and a bookshelf pressed against the wall. A small hearth allows for some warmth in the colder months and another cabinet rests across the room to hold various supplies, as well as several books, reports and records. More tapestries have been hung there, lending some color to room.
On the left, the larger cavern belongs to the Weyrleader's office and the walls here are littered with a vast array of maps, as well as a tapestry hung behind where he would sit. The desk is large and the wood aged, looking old and a bit worn, but well tended too. Shelves and a bookshelf line one wall, crammed with rolled hides, other maps, books, reports and records and all arranged in an organized chaos. A small hearth has been built in here as well and various well placed glow baskets are hung to offer just the right amount of light in this windowless office.
Both offices have stout wooden doors that have been carefully worked into the stone. They can be closed and locked if privacy is needed but are often left open.

NOTE: This scene is backdated and chronologically happens after Crazed Ideas!


Zuvaleyuth reaches out to Kayeth and Velokraeth the day after the fire, asking if their riders would be available to meet with Dtirae later in the day — for reasons that are unspoken, though her tone of voice is rather disapproving for some reason. When the time comes, Dtirae's entering the office looking like she's had little to no sleep in the last hours. Which, considering the situation, may not be surprising. At least her hair is done, and other grooming necessities.

No rest for the wicked and the Weyrleader has hardly seen his bed for the last night and most of the day. With Kyzen still in the infirmary, he's spending most of his day overseeing as much of the aftermath of the fires from the bowl, council rooms or his office. When he's not there, he's with his son and presumedly Kimmila. Now though? He's making the climb up the stairs once again to get to the offices, on his way back from the Infirmary. Dtirae is likely to beat him there and Nyalle as well, despite Velokraeth being prompt with his message relay. The Weyrleader can only move so fast with a cast on his leg but he'll arrive and look… worn and a little more on the disheveled side. "Sit," he mutters to Dtirae, skipping formality. He's grouchy, okay? Nyalle can nag him later for it.

Nyalle was in her office when the request came, and she had just enough time to make a pot of tea for them all, which is sitting on her desk as they arrive. "Come on into my office," she calls, gesturing for Dtirae to enter. Th'ero too, once he hobbles his gimp self into her nook.

Dtirae gives Th'ero a quick, apologetic look. She wouldn't have called him if it weren't important! Promise. As Nyalle requests them into her office, she nods and makes her way in. There's nothing said quite yet. Though, the woman's jaw works in frustration. She takes a seat, and waits a moment for both Weyrleaders to be situated before she speaks. "I came to report what I saw during the fire. While everyone was hurrying to the galleries, I had began to follow the crowd but noticed someone running away from the scene — before the calls for buckets went out." Zuvaleyuth kept her posted. "I followed. I lost track of them, and didn't find any tracks. But I saw what direction they were going in. And we can narrow down the search based on those directions. Since it's so soon, they're not likely to strike again. And not leave that area." Straight to the point, it seems.

Th'ero takes his sweet gimp time to get over to Nyalle's office and settle himself awkwardly into one of the chairs. His casted leg sticks out and he absentmindedly rubs at it or above it. Is he in pain? Probably. Stubborn man won't TAKE anything for it either so he'll grit his teeth and wait for Dtirae to get the ball rolling. "You did?" he says, suddenly far more alert and fixing the young goldrider with a scowling stare that is next darted to Nyalle. "Why hadn't you come forwards earlier? S'ai… We've got him on a mission right now. You don't think this man… has fled far?" He gestures for the Weyrwoman to grab some maps, one of the interior of the Weyr and another of the surroundings.

Nyalle frowns at Dtirae as she speaks. "Why are you telling us this now?" Instead of earlier? She does fetch the maps, actually moving their cups of tea aside to make room to spread them out.

She does feel bad for calling Th'ero out with that broken leg. Really sorry. But, important matters and all that. The scowling stare is met with a determined frown that is then directed towards both Weyrleaders. "Because, up until a few moments ago, I was still trying to find this person. I don't think they fled far, but they've gotten to where I wasn't able to locate them." The hunter in her is displeased. "And, as to why I didn't have Zuvaleyuth inform you sooner: Would you have let me continue on my own? Or would you have sent more to assist me and also lessen the chances that I would have found whoever did this? Because the moment there is widespread sweeping, they'll run further away. Or, run back inside and blend in with the crowd." Lips press into a thin line for a moment before she considers. "They couldn't have known I was following them, so they think they're safe."

Probably not a good idea to poke fun at Th'ero for his broken leg. If things weren't so tense and troubled, maybe one could get away with it. As it is now? The Weyrleader would lose his temper. He'll listen to Dtirae and while he started with scowling at her by the end of her reasoning and explanation, his expression has smoothed to more of an uneasy and exhausted frown and his eyes bore a hole into Nyalle's desk. Why so sour? Because what Dtirae said makes logical sense and he can't find a way around it. "You've a point," he says reluctantly, glancing sidelong to Nyalle. What does she think? "And no, we'd have likely called you back or sent others to join you. Which ISN'T a bad thing, Dtirae. You could have gone straight into danger…" Look who's talking! Pot calling kettle black?

Nyalle straightens a little bit. "Of course we would have sent people to assist you! I don't know what it is with riders in this weyr thinking they can run headlong into danger without any regard for their duties and their importance. You are not replaceable, Dtirae! You should not have gone after him!" Ahem. Touchy subject for the Senior.

"I know it isn't a bad thing, having others assist me." Dtirae assures Th'ero, straightening up just a bit as he calls her out on something he's entirely guilty for. She bites her tongue for that retort and carefully restrains giving him a look. She looks to Nyalle and frowns as the Senior reprimands her. There's no wince, she stands her ground. "Nyalle, I assure you, I had no intention of getting into a confrontation with him. I would have informed Zuvaleyuth where to send the others if I had actually found where he was hiding. On the chance that he wasn't alone… But, it would have been for nothing if I called for help with no definite proof. We would have lost the only trail." She's looking to Th'ero for support now. "I couldn't sit by and let them do this to the Weyr. I had to do something. I swear, I wouldn't have attacked if I found him."

Th'ero lifts a hand up to deter Nyalle from further chiding Dtirae and for a moment the Weyrleader just regards the younger weyrwoman with an unreadable expression. In the end, he only sighs and shakes his head, scrubbing tiredly at his jaw. "We trust you, Dtriae." He does and he'll look sidelong to Nyalle. Right? "We're just concerned, that's all. It's been a long night and day and you're not the first to come to us about this possible suspect. We all want him caught…" He pauses, giving Dtirae another cryptic look. "… but not at a high cost." NEver mind he just sent S'ai to sleep and in a few hours the bronzerider will time it Between back to the start of the fire. Nope. Not a word of it. "So," Th'ero gestures to the maps Nyalle has found and hopefully spread out on the desk. "Think you can trace his route? Or what you suspect as the likely one?"

Nyalle sits. In silence.

"Thank you," this, is to both as she gaze between the both of them. "I understand… Someone else came to you about him? Someone else saw him?" This, catches Dtirae's interest. But, she doesn't press further. "I have no intention of taking risks that would involve Zuvaleyuth as well." Which means, her life, of course. Fingers twist together for a brief moment before she's looking towards the map. "I can trace it. The most likely route, that is." She does rise to take a better look at the map, frowning down at it. "If he was smart, though, he would have double-backed at some point." She murmurs softly before gesturing towards the potential paths on the map. "If he planned this out beforehand, here's one… But, if he had no plans and is simply assuming he got away? Here's the other possibility." And then a gesture to a larger portion. "This would be the best place to hide, though. Good ground coverage, nice place to hide…"

Th'ero glances sidelong to Nyalle and gives her a 'should we?' sort of quirk of his brow. Dtirae's going to find out eventually anyways so there's no reason to keep the goldrider in the dark. He's going to be SO NICE too and leave it to the Weyrwoman to fill in her own junior. There's a smirk for Dtirae's reassurance of not risking Zuvaleyuth but he doesn't press the issue further. He'll watch her trace out the various paths and scenarios and he mutters under his breath, frowning heavily in thought. "Would it be beneficial then to put lookouts or scouts on these routes? Or, as you said, would that only make this madman nervous…?" He doesn't like the idea of just sitting back and doing NOTHING.

Nyalle watches and listens, but when Dtirae asks, Nyalle just looks back at Th'ero for a long moment. S'ai is /his/ rider. But…sigh. Fine. "S'ai saw him. Will see him. He's going to time it back before the fire to get a look at this person. And you're not to tell /anyone/ of this. Nor are you to go with him." Because that's the sort of thing she thinks Dtirae would do.

As the two look between one another, deciding to tell her or not, Dtirae doesn't press for more, because she knows better. If they think it necessary, they'll tell her. And then Nyalle is giving the answer and the woman frowns just a bit. She doesn't say anything about the danger of it, they know. "I won't say a word." As for going with him, Dtirae bristles just a bit. "I don't want to go." With a shake of her head, she moves on to Th'ero's questions. "If the scouts can remain unseen? I don't think it will be a horrible idea. Not if we… Let it slip that we know where he is, and we'll be descending the guards and riders on him on a certain day. He'll, hopefully, catch wind of the attempt, make to move locations… And be caught."

Th'ero doesn't react beyond quirking a brow when Dtirae bristles but as she calms down, he'll move on. Exhaling heavily, he'll scrub again along his jaw and… look like he just wants to sleep for ten Turns. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he's silent for a considerable amount of time before he speaks up again, "While normally I'd be all for going to Captain Breshir and suggesting he pick some men and women for scouting… I find myself hesitating. Until we know for certain that this man is working alone, I am reluctant to send our people in blind. Though I DO like the idea of trapping him… We'll have to wait on S'ai's mission and report." He looks up, first to Dtirae and then to Nyalle. "What do you both think of that?" Good idea? Bad idea?

Nyalle shakes her head, lifting her tea with a sigh. "I don't know, Th'ero. Obviously you both have far more experience in these sorts of matters than I do. Do what you think is best."

"I don't blame you." Dtirae murmurs softly in agreement to the risk. "I'm sure S'ai's mission will enlighten us." Or, so she hopes. She looks to Nyalle, but the Senior offers no definite answer. A glance back to Th'ero. "That seems to be our best course of action, then." A pause, before she salutes. "I'll await further orders. If I may be dismissed?" Yep. She definitely wants to bail, now. And she'll wait until she has permission to do so.

Th'ero sighs, "Nyalle, as Weyrwoman your input is just as valuable if not needed in time like these. Experience has nothing to do with it." he explains to her and a bit curtly but his patience is wearing thin and he just wants to SLEEP (but will be denied it, as always because his body HATES him). "Then that is what we'll do. We'll wait on S'ai's report and then combine what he has seen with what you have seen and we'll call a council meeting and bring in Captain Breshir and Wingleader Abigail and go from there." It'll take time and Faranth only knows they'll be delayed by this and that and rebuilding the sands but the Weyrleader WILL see it done and see that madman hang (not literally) for his crimes. "You're dismissed, Dtirae. Until the morning." For their routine meetings. Somethings don't change, no matter what disaster befalls them.

Nyalle frowns at Th'ero a little bit. Even her patience is wearing thin. "Experience has everything to do with it." And see? He just made a decision. So nyah.

"Wonderful." Dtirae shifts, glancing between the two. Her mouth opens for commentary, but she wisely shuts her mouth again. She'll let them figure it out. "I will see you in the morning." She promises, and then makes her way out of the offices, and to her bed. For a short rest.