Back from across the Barrier Ridge

Writers: Aaron, Devin
Date Posted: 16th March 2019

Characters: N'vanik, S'kand
Description: S'kand introduces himself to N'vanik, who welcomes him to Dolphin Cove
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 25 of Turn 9

N'vanik

The family was finally settled. S'kand took a deep breath and smiled.
And as soon as the smile faded, his resting scowl returned.

"I'll be on my way to see Weyrleader N'vanik," he said to the
children. "If you need anything before your mother returns from seeing
Headwoman Chaysea, S'tall can help you."

"Yes, Father," the younger children said all together. S'kand smiled
again, and then he turned to walk to N'vanik's office.

On receiving the Weyrleader's permission to enter, S'kand stood before
him and saluted properly.

"S'kand of Bronze Jagobroth reporting, sir," he introduced himself.

"Have a seat." N'vanik gestured to the chair. "So you're moving here
to be with your family?"

"Yes, sir," said S'kand with a nod. "My wife's parents and mine and
our extended families moved here when the weyr opened from a small
hold we had to abandon at the dawn of the Pass," he explained.

"Although Ristalle and I took positions at Rising Moons when it
reopened, I Impressed at Thayan Peak some five Turns or so before
Thread returned." S'kand had asked for anything he should know about
N'vanik's history in order to be prepared to meet him, but he had no
time to find anything more than 'came from Dragonsfall to win the
senior gold's flight'.

"I wouldn't be surprised if you knew some of them," he added. Of
course, some of his cousins were also riders. Those, it would be more
accurate to say he would be surprised if N'vanik did not know them, at
least by name. They were not in his wing.

N'vanik nodded. "I probably do." He wasn't a people person, but being
Weyrleader meant a lot of interaction and if S'kand's family had been
here the whole time he must have run into at least some of them. "Any
riders?"

"Of the children my mother bore to my father, there is only me. Some
of my cousins ride here," said S'kand. He was, though, the only
bronzerider since his great-great-grandfather, who had of course since
passed. "And most of my great-grandfather's children and theirs and so
on who were not riders already moved here when the weyr was reopened."

"You don't have to answer this if you don't want to, but I'm curious:
why did you decide to move here now?" N'vanik asked.

"My wife and I grew up here," said S'kand. "We went away for duty, for
ambition. But we missed our home. We... We wanted our children to have
the chance to know their family before... well, the ones born here
were yet young when we left, and neither my grandparents nor my wife's
are like to have many more Turns left now, are they? The eldest of
them is in their 90s already." S'kand coughed and rubbed his eye with
the back of a hand.

"I hope you'll forgive us the sentimentality."

"No need to forgive. Having a good relationship with your family...
that's a precious thing." N'vanik had lost his mother to birth
complications and fled his abusive father as soon as he was able. But
he'd learned the value of family by building one at the Weyr.

"I thank you for your understanding," said S'kand, his scowl turning
briefly to a smile for another moment. "And even more, I appreciate
you accepting our requests to transfer before you knew the whole of
why we wanted to come home. We mean to bring every bit of ourselves to
bear for the good of Dolphin Cove, I vow to you. Not only to come here
for our own good."

That got a little smile out of the Weyrleader. "We're always happy to
have an experienced bronzerider. And you have a history of weyrling
training. Would you be willing to mentor a few of our young
bronzeriders?" Wingleaders and 'Seconds were often too busy to pair up
with senior weyrlings or young wingriders.

"Of course!" said S'kand with excitement. "As many as you see fit to
entrust to me." He was thrilled to have that opportunity. It was a way
he could contribute and a way to make sure his own skills stayed
sharp.

"Good to hear it." N'vanik made a note to follow up later.

"Yes, sir," S'kand answered. He was still sitting up straight as a
board. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"You can relax a little," N'vanik said mildly. "Take a few days to
settle in and spend some time with your family. You'll be in Rapids
Wing, under K'ran. Check in with him to see if he wants you attending
drills right away, but you won't be on the duty roster for the next
sevenday."

S'kand nodded. He was not going to say he was disappointed to have a
bit of time off to get used to the new place. He hoped Ristalle might
be afforded the same grace period.

"Yes, sir," he said. "I'll be seeing him today."

"Welcome to Dolphin Cove S'kand. Fair skies to you." N'vanik stood and
offered his hand.

"And to you," said S'kand, who stood also and shook N'vanik's hand
firmly, smiling. "Fair skies, sir."

Last updated on the March 19th 2019

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