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Yainolith, one of just two junior queens of the Dragon Soul Weyr when she was hatched, was a queen and a half. Almost as big as Ireath, she was a beauty to behold and a fear-inspiring dragon to anyone. Except Qianel, that was.

"Nola, no! No way, that is so not gunna happen!" Qianel exclaimed, hands on her hips. "Not in my lifetime. I love it here, and so do you!"

Yainolith sulked. Have you ever seen a fully-grown golden dragon sulk? It's quite amusing, actually. You're nasty.

The rider rolled her eyes. "Well you're incorrigible. Why would you want to transfer anyway? It's certainly not because of the esteem we hold here, the respect, the love, not even the good eating. So what?"

The golden beauty ducked her head and managed to look a little ashamed of herself, but she didn't reply.

Qianel's expression turned from outrage to suspicion. "Nola, what have you done?"

Nothing, Yainolith replied innocently.

"Okay, you do realise that your eyes go all purply when you're lying, right?"

The queen looked mildly alarmed at this. They do?

"Don't change the subject."

Oh alright! Yainolith conceded. But I maintain that you're nasty.

"I'm hurt," Qianel said dryly, concealing a smile.

The junior queen paused thoughtfully, phrasing her words. I... Well, yesterday... Remember that bronzerider you were flirting with?

The suspicion grew and blossomed with little pink flowers. "Ya-huh. What about him?"

Well, I... I sort of embarrassed him. Just a little.

"What did you do, Nola?" the young rider asked despairingly.

I told him he was unsuitable to be speaking to me. That he was no better than a wherry, the queen said, feeling very sorry for herself.

"Yainolith! I hope he did something to deserve that!"

The queen nodded fervently. He did! He did, I swear it! He told me I was like the sunrise - the sunrise, I tell you! She seemed honestly insulted.

Qianel looked at the golden beauty for a long moment, blinking several times in utter disbelief. How could she think...? She might be beautiful, but not-so-little Yainolith was showing her blonde roots. Well hey, she was technically blonde all over, wasn't she? "I'm just going to ignore you said that, love. He was trying to pay you a compliment, Nola. That's a good thing," she explained very slowly. "But if you think he insulted you, and you gave him what he deserved, why are you so upset about it all?"

Yainolith scuffed her forepaw on the ground of their weyr. Well, I heard him talking to his rider afterwards, and then I figured out that compliment thing, she said this with an accusatory glance to her rider that said something to the effect of 'I'm not that stupid', But I couldn't say anything. I was so embarrassed I thought my hide would turn pink! And now I'm sure they're all talking about me behind my back. I'm sure they are! And laughing, Qian, laughing!

Momentarily speechless, the rider stepped up and gave her beloved queen a dragon-hug. "I love you, Nola. You're ridiculous, and I love you." She stepped back and gave the dragon a stern look. "And tomorrow you will apologise to that bronze for insulting him. And you will thank him for the compliment." She paused, then added with a mischievous smile. "And we will show anyone who laughs at Queen Yainolith. Okay?"

Smiling draconically, the young queen nodded, thankful for the guidance of her chosen rider. Okay. Thank you, Qian.

Qianel grinned, shaking her head. "Any time."

The blue firelizard circled overhead, spotting his mistress almost immediately. She was the pretty one, he recalled. The huge gold dragon she stood next to glanced up with irritation and promptly ignore him.

His mistress, Qianel, looked up then and smiled fondly. "C'mere!" she called, holding out her arm for him to land on.

The young flitter spiralled lazily down towards her and landed softly, nuzzling her cheek affectionately. She was his favourite mistress, he decided. Not that he had any more, but that wasn't the point.

"Whatcha been up to, Lliam?" Qianel asked with a smile.

More mischief, no doubt. Irritating creature, Yainolith announced with disdain.

"Hush, you. He's not so bad, are you, sweet?" the young queenrider asked Lliam.

Love, affection, picture of giant blue firelizard squishing a miniature Yainolith, Lliam sent mightily.

Qianel laughed and ignored Yainolith's protests. "Cute," she commented, shaking her head.