Three Requirements

Writers: Avery, Heather, Miriah
Date Posted: 27th February 2020

Characters: Saibra, Ninaine, Kapera
Description: Ninaine seeks help from Saibra about a transfer
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 2, day 7 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Teseada, N'call, D'hol, R'enh, J'lor

Saibra

Ninaine

Kapera

Ninaine held the letter from in her hand as she knocked on Saibra's
office door. She swallowed hard and shifted from foot to foot.
Surely Saibra would help her, being a Weyrwoman herself and she'd
understand the situation, wouldn't she? At the permission to enter,
Ninaine stepped in, standing straight. "Weyrwoman, thank you for
seeing me. I hope your day is going well. "

"Ninaine," Saibra said looking up, noting the greenrider's slightly
tense posture. "Come in, have a seat. My day is going," she gestured
toward the smattering of hides on her desk, "about this well." She
grinned, sitting back in her chair to take a break from the hidework.
"What can I do for you today?"

Ninaine quickly moved to sit down, offering a smile that didn't quite
reach her eyes. It was a nervous, but polite thing, and it was
evident as her knuckles tightened around the hide in her hand that she
was finding the expected small talk difficult to continue. "You must
stay very busy. I'm sorry for interrupting your work, but I'm hoping
you can help me with an important matter. Now that I've recovered
from birthing, I applied for a transfer to Barrier Lake, where N'call
went with Teseada. I recieved this in reply. " She handed Saibra the
hide, the edges wrinkled where she'd twisted it in her fingers.

"Ninaine,

I am declining your request for a transfer to Barrier Lake at this
time. We are still understaffed as a Weyr because we are transitioning
from the Weyrhold construction state into a full fighting Weyr status.
The Weyrleader and I have determined the selection criteria for
transfers of needing a Craft or having another valuable skill or
experience to provide is still in place. You and Luneth do not qualify
on any count:
* a young pair with a prior disciplinary history
* a retired pair
* do not possess a Craft

None of this contributes to the Weyr and I cannot see bringing you in
when I could bring in a pair who can fly Fall and contribute their
Craft. Especially when your dragon cannot even/between/ to arrive
here.

I understand that you wish to reunite with your weyrmate. I know how
hard feeling useless can be when your dragon can't fly. I am offering
you the following opportunity: take up a Craft as an apprentice. In
three months, have your Craft Master write recommendation letters
saying that your skills would be an asset to Barrier Lake. Have your
Weyrwoman write one regarding your conduct and Luneth's ability to
/between/. If this happens, I will meet you to approve your transfer.

Kapera, Weyrwoman of Barrier Lake"

Saibra read the letter, which was a rather standard rejection of
transfer statement, one that Saibra had used herself when necessary.
Still, looking at the young woman before her, Saibra knew that the
words 'You and Luneth do not qualify on any count' must have cut her
to the quick. She tried to imagine what it would be like to watch
R'enh trot off with a beautiful goldrider, leaving her behind to fend
for herself. **I'd rip his head off, probably,** Saibra mused to
herself.

"I see," Saibra said, handing the letter back to Ninaine. "You
disagree with Weyrwoman Kapera's assessment?"

Taking the letter back, she folded it along the creases. "I'm not a
weyrling anymore. I did well in the wing I was assigned to until
Luneth got hurt. And I know I don't have a craft and Luneth can't
between yet. But W'ser and I are working on that. I'm seeing him soon
about it. She's flying now without pain. And even if she can't
/between/ well, Haloth and Onnyth could carry her there. Teseada
already offered. I don't have much experience doing anything, I admit
that. I've tried with the weyrlings, teaching them things. I just...I
have to be with my weyrmate. My babies, they need their father. I
need him. "

Ninaine's words resonated with Saibra in perhaps a way they didn't
with Kapera, because Saibra had a weyrmate and children she could
empathize with what the greenrider must be feeling. That didn't,
however, change the rules of transfer that Kapera and D'hol had set
up.

"R'enh and I lived apart for a long time, he at Dolphin Cove, and I
here. It was.... " Saibra trailed off, remembering the night she had
woken in tears and Chioneth had spoken to Mnorath at Dolphin Cove, and
within moments R'enh had been on her ledge. She had needed his
presence in that moment more than she needed air.

Saibra blinked, Ninaine's face coming back into focus. "Incredibly
difficult." She sighed. "But I can't change Kapera's mind. She is
Weyrwoman of Barrier Lake, and she and D'hol have agreed, wisely, that
they can only afford to have people there at the moment that can help
with construction and flying Thread. If Kapera lets you in, then she
has to let in every weyrmate that watched their loved ones fly off to
Barrier Lake."

Ninaine's hope dwindled and her shoulders dropped as she stared down
at the hide in her hands. She didn't want to wait three months. It
had been nearly three already. So she swallowed hard. "So, I have to
choose a Craft, get Luneth to between..." She looked up. "If I do all
that, would you approve it?" She had no idea of what craft she could
join or what skills she could learn in three months time that Kapera
would approve. Surely there had to be_something_ besides embroidery
that she could learn.

"If you choose a craft, and might I suggest dragonhealing since you
already have been working with W'ser and you have your own experiences
with Luneth's recovery, and your craftsmaster gives you a positive
report, and if you are cleared by a mindhealer.... Then I will approve
things on my end and write a letter of recommendation to Kapera."
Saibra said.

Her eyes eyes widened. Dragonhealing? She paled a little, the thought
of dealing with ichor or hurt dragons made her a little ill. It had
been one thing to handle Luneth, she had known how Luneth was feeling,
could feel it. How would she handle working with other riders and
dragons? But then, it clicked what else Saibra had said. "Mindhealer?
Why? I'm fine."

Saibra tilted her head. "A mindhealer's approval will certainly allay
Kapera's concerns about your 'prior disciplinary history,' don't you
think?"

Ninaine sighed, but nodded. "Yes. I suppose it would." She would have
to discuss things further with J'lor.

"Good." Saibra said with a nod, as if that settled things. "Is there
anything else I can do for you in the meantime?"

Ninaine was about to shake her head, then stopped, hesitating over her
next words. "Am I really that bad?"

An eyebrow arched. "What do you mean?"

Ninaine went silent, then shook her head. "Nevermind, Weyrwoman. I'll
do as you ask."

Saibra nodded. "Good luck, then."

Last updated on the May 31st 2020

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Three Requirements