Can We Speak for a Moment?

Writers: Francesca, Suzee
Date Posted: 26th April 2019

Characters: Arrilon, Cyradis, Kielya
Description: Kielya takes a test while Arrilon and Cyradis talk about her absences.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 4 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: D'hol, K'deren (not by name)

Cyradis

Kielya

"Five more minutes," Arrilon told the girl, looking up for a moment
from a new piece he would be playing in ensemble practice later that
day. As an apprentice, he wasn't put in charge of teaching, but
proctoring a makeup test was an easy task just about anyone could do.

Kielya gave a dramatic sigh and kicked her heel against the chair
front. Then she heard the steps coming and squinched up her face
knowing what was coming.

"Kielya!" Cyradis said as she took in the scene. "What have you done now?"

Arrilon's eyes grew big and his mouth opened slightly in shock at
seeing the Weyrwoman so unexpectedly. It took him a few moments to
connect the dots and realize that the two must be mother and daughter,
and then a few more to compose himself. Luckily, the two were focused
on one another and hopefully hadn't noticed him. Realizing there was
no one else there to take the lead, he donned his teacher persona and
stood to address them. "Weyrwoman, I'm Arrilon. While Kielya finishes
her test, can we speak for a moment?"

"Certainly," Cyradis nodded and walked away toward the hall to put
some distance between them and Kielya. By the time she'd turned back
around the tall young Harper was coming after her he'd lost that
open-mouthed fish look he'd had at first. She looked up into eyes as
dark as her own and smiled. "I'm just a mother today," she reassured
him.

Arrilon nodded in understanding, although it was impossible for him to
just pretend the woman in front of him wasn't the Weyrwoman. Besides,
the Journeyman who normally taught Kielya should be having this
conversation, not him. He was there now though, so he just needed to
do his best. "Kielya is finishing up a makeup test," he explained,
not sure how much the Weyrwoman already knew. "She was out sick
yesterday."

"Oh was she now," Cyradis looked back at her daughter. "I'll have
words with her Foster Mother and make sure she actually brings her to
class. Kielya knows better than this."

"This is the second time I know of that she has missed a math test. It
seems to be her least favorite subject." He glanced in the room for a
moment to see her still working. "She is perfectly good at it when she
applies herself though," he added.

Cyradis sighed. There were times when she felt just a little
overwhelmed **Faranth** she thought and tilted her head to try and
loosen up her neck. "I'm sorry Arrilon. We'll make sure it doesn't
happen again."

He was glad he didn't yet have the responsibility of being a father.
It was easier to teach than to be a parent. Thinking of what might
motivate Kielya to attend all her classes, he asked, "What does she
dream of doing in the future? Are there any crafts you think she might
apprentice to, or will she Stand?"

"She's still in the stage where there are no boundaries." Cyradis
chuckled. "She thinks she'll be a bronzerider like her da and brother
R'nar."

"I guess she finds bronzeriders more interesting at this age than
goldriders." He wondered if that was common among weyrbred girls.
"Well, maybe we can show her some ways Dragonriders use math. That
might get her attention."

Cyradis snorted. "Maybe D'hol can help with that. I know they're
devoted to each other, so I'll talk to him about it."

"That would be helpful. She'll probably believe it more if it comes
straight from a Dragonrider." Knowing Kielya's time was almost up, he
asked, "Is there anything else it would be useful for us to know?
Anything that could help motivate her?"

She grinned at him. "Well at least one that wasn't her _mother_," she
said the words without heat just acknowledging the difficulties
between mothers and daughters at this age.

"Good point. Well, she should be finishing up now. I'll let the
Journeyman know what we talked about, and we'll all keep trying to
motivate her." He hoped they found something that clicked, at least
until Kielya aged out of harper classes.

"Thank you," Cyradis nodded at Arrilon, then smiled at her daughter.
There was no need to stir up trouble in public. There would be plenty
of time for that when she had to explain herself to both her dads.

**Oh oh,** Kielya thought. She knew better than to believe it when her
mother smiled like that. There was a promise of more words than she
wanted to hear all strung together for hours and hours. Momma would
probably still be talking when she woke up in the morning. She lowered
her brows into a scowl and slumped her shoulders as she left the
classroom.

"Well," Cyradis held her hand out to the Harper. "Thank you again."
She followed her daughter out with a roll of her own eyes where Kielya
couldn't see.

Arrilon shook the Weyrwoman's hand and watched mother and daughter
go down the hallway, glad that conversation was over. He hoped his next
encounter with her was for a more positive reason.

Last updated on the May 3rd 2019

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Can We Speak for a Moment?