The Best Thing for Him

Writers: Jane
Date Posted: 16th March 2007

Characters: R'haran
Description: R'haran explains to Sahna where he went the day before.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 3 of Turn 4

Because she was the eldest, she was allowed to stay up a little later than the others and when R'haran had them for the evening he sent the middle children off together and then, not much later, he walked Sahna to the door of her foster-mother's rooms.

"You weren't there yesterday," Sahna said as they made their way from the dining cavern into the corridors carved into the rock. "I looked for you when we went to watch the weyrlings." Before he had a chance to reply she amended her statement. "For Evie. She's easier to see."

He couldn't imagine Sahna needed any help in catching sight of him. His eyesight was still good but her eyes seemed sharper than most.
"Sometimes I take classes inside, in the classrooms or the caverns.
When it gets colder we'll be inside all the time."

"When the snow comes," she agreed, looking forward to it despite her disbelief that any such thing existed. "Were you in the classroom yesterday?"

He supposed it wasn't unreasonable that she should be so insistent about knowing where he was. Thus far in her ten Turns of life she had lost two parents and the grandfather who took their place. "Now and then. I also went to River Bluff Weyr. Do you remember where that is?" He had shown them maps but he wasn't sure they understood the scale. The things that interested them most were details of the Sea of Azov – an inland sea was something they found incredible even though they looked out over it every time they were outside.

"A long way away. Did Evie take you?"

The children had all taken to Evielenth with a lack of reservation which underscored their cautiousness with him. "Yes. She can't fly very well, or very far, but if I'm just going there and back she can manage."

"Did somebody tell you to go?"

"I went because I was asked. A friend of mine, an old friend, he's been sick for a long time. He wanted to see me."

"Did he die?"

Sometimes he forgot that Sahna's experiences had made her into a little
10-Turn-old pragmatist. "No, not yet. Soon, perhaps."

"Is he your weyrmate?"

"Ahh." R'haran stopped walking and eyed Sahna. "Is there something you want to ask me about weyrmates?"

The girl shook her head. "They told me greenriders have men-weyrmates, and Evie's green. Is he?"

"No." He wondered who 'they' were and whether he should pursue the issue. However, if Sahna wanted to know something he had the feeling she wouldn't hesitate to ask. "I believe that weyrmates are better if they're at the same Weyr."

"So you won't be going to live with him?"

"No, of course not. This is my home, Sahna, and I'm not leaving it."

The girl shrugged, reminding him that she had been forced by circumstances to leave her home.

"And if I ever left, we'd all go together."

The expression of indifference was one he had already learned meant she was anything but, and that she considered the subject closed.

"Are you sad that he's going to die?"

R'haran remembered the long friendship with the healer bluerider and sighed. "Yes. I am a bit. It's probably for the best, though. He's not very well." Mentally confused and physically unwell.

"Like Granda? He said dying would be the best thing for him."

Rarwen. R'haran wished again that he had known his nephew. Was it possible to miss just the _opportunity_ of knowing somebody? That was certainly how he felt.

But Sahna was waiting for an answer and he nodded. "I think it's just like your Granda."

Last updated on the March 16th 2007

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

The Best Thing for Him