This Wing Needs a Wingsecond

Writers: Francesca, Heather
Date Posted: 5th April 2025

Characters: R'kede, E'ben
Description: R'kede and E'ben talk about Cyclone Wing.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 27 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Cyradis, B'lyse, Ç'pier, A'khal

R'kede

E'ben

It was hard to believe that a fortnight at Dolphin Cove had already
passed, but the small calendar E'ben kept in his weyr assured him that
it was true. He hadn't expected to so quickly settle into a new place,
but the coveside Weyr was quite charming.

The brownrider made quick work of his morning run, his sets of
pushups, and then the cool-down stretches that his healer daughter
insisted were important. He had a meeting with his Wingleader that
morning before drills, and then afterward he hoped to possibly catch a
glimpse of Weyrwoman Cyradis in the Dining Cavern. Just a glimpse
couldn't hurt.

"Wingleader," E'ben greeted R'kede, knocking on the man's open office
door. "You wished to see me, sir?"

"Eben," R'kede said with a wide smile. "Come on in. Grab some klah if
you want and take a seat." He was just starting his second mug. "How
are you and Tirlath settling in?"

"Well, sir, thank you." E'ben inclined his head as he took a mug of
the offered klah and then settled himself in the chair across from his
Wingleader. "The weather here is entirely to our liking."

"Osherith and I agree. We recently visited Dragonsfall Weyr and," he
mock shivered," it wasn't freezing but it was too cold for me. Have
you visited the Dolphin Hall yet? The dolphins seem to love dragons."

"Actually, I visited just yesterday. It was beautiful down there.
Tirlath enjoyed swimming with the dolphins." He brought the cup of
klah up to his lips. "And I hear you on Dragonsfall. When I knew I
wanted to leave Far Island, I couldn't imagine going anywhere that
wasn't a beach. The warmth and the water are a part of me."

"I want to get over there more often," R'kede said. "I manage to go
swimming almost every day, but usually stick close to the Weyr." At
the final comment, he nodded. "I can't agree more."

R'kede shifted slightly forward in his seat, getting to his reason for
meeting with his fellow brownrider. "I've been meeting with everyone
in the Wing to begin getting to know them. However, I've been playing
particular attention to the brown and bronzeriders with a few Turns of
experience. As you know, this Wing needs a Wingsecond, and I'd rather
promote someone from within the Wing. You and Tirlath are a solid
pair. Do you have any interest in leadership?"

**Ah, so that's where this is going,** E'ben thought to himself. He
had wondered why R'kede had called the meeting in the first place.

"I don't seek leadership out," he admitted, "like some riders do, but
I am not opposed to it either. If you decide that the skills and
experience I have would serve this wing best in the capacity of
Wingsecond, then I would absolutely accept. 'For the good of the Wing'
has always been my motto."

R'kede nodded. E'ben's words made him realize there would be
advantages to having a Wingsecond who was content in his position and
wasn't just waiting for an opportunity to lead the Wing. "Are there
aspects of leadership you think you'd be particularly well suited to?
Mediating disputes, or mentoring younger riders, or hidework?"

"I helped raise two children, so mediating disputes and mentoring
younger riders are both things that I feel comfortable with. For a bit
in my twenties I helped out as a Weyrlingmaster's assistant, so I have
some experience there." Even if that was a couple _decades_ ago.
"Hidework, I won't lie, wouldn't be my favorite thing, but I'm no
slouch either. I've a pretty good eye for formations, as well."

"I don't fully trust anyone who says they like hidework," R'kede said
half-jokingly. "And anyone who has worked with weyrlings can handle a
lot." E'ben seemed like a solid choice but he was also eyeing a
handful of other brownriders. "I know you're new to the Wing, but is
there anything you've noticed that you think I should know?" He felt
he had a pretty good sense of the strengths of the Wing and the areas
for improvement but was always interested to hear what others thought.

"From what I've seen so far, it's a pretty solid Wing. The biggest
weakness I see is the new riders out of Weyrlinghood. They could use
the mentorship of the veteran riders on a more consistent basis,"
E'ben answered honestly.

That sounded interesting. R'kede was relieved B'lyse seemed to be
performing well in Threadfall, and having him in the same Wing as
Ç'pier wasn't the disaster he had feared as soon as he had learned
more about the two. He wished he had been in the room when Wing
assignments had been made to argue for something different, but he
didn't have any concrete reason to request a change now. "What in
particular do you think mentorship would help them with?"

"It's easy to feel overlooked in a Wing full of veterans. When you're
young and inexperienced, you're more likely to try the 'fake it till
you make it' method. Which doesn't always work out well when dealing
with Wing relationships, or maybe irate holders who have raised a
signal flag while you're on sweeps," E'ben pointed out.

It was a good answer. In fact, all his answers had been good. And
R'kede liked the brownrider's calm confidence. "If you're up to it,
I'd like you to take the lead on making sure our newest riders are
mentored. And, the Wingsecond knots are yours if you want them. I
think we'd make a good team," he said with a smile.

"You know," E'ben said, surprising himself, "I think we would, too."
And even though he had not been looking for any sort of leadership or
responsibility, the thought of working with the young and new riders
was something he found himself wanting to do.

R'kede opened the top drawer of his desk and took the Wingsecond
knots, offering them to E'ben. "Congratulations, Wingsecond. We'll
announce the promotion at drills today. And, we can meet with A'khal
after drills to discuss how we want to divide duties, at least for
now."

E'ben's smile was a genuine one. "Thank you, sir." He removed his
regular wingrider shoulder knots, replacing it with the Wingsecond
strand instead. "I look forward to it."

Last updated on the April 22nd 2025

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This Wing Needs a Wingsecond