The Possibles

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 4th April 2008

Characters: Ylisahn, Anadela
Description: Andela visits the Headwoman to have the birth of her baby recorded.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 19 of Turn 4

"Ahh, Anadela," Ylisahn said when the woman appeared in the doorway of the office. "Come in. Sit down." She got up from her desk and intercepted the woman, eyeing the babe in her arms. "May I have a cuddle?"

"Of course!" The younger woman offered her newest bairn to the headwoman, glad of a rest for her arms. Anadela sat down, smoothing out her skirt and then pushing hair from her eyes. She was a nicely plump thing, curves in all the right places. She was no great beauty, but there was an attractiveness about her that caught the eye of more than one men. Well, actually, more than several men. "His name is Delitin."

"'Del' for you," Ylisahn said, not taking her eyes from the tiny face inside the light wrap. "And I think he's going to be another one that looks just like you." Anadela made babies that turned into little copies of herself. Ylisahn had to admit it was a very cute look. "And 'itin'?"

"My father." Anadela heaved a sigh. "I wasn't really sure what to name him. I mean, he could be M'sar's, but he could also be harper Jessen's son."

"Well," Ylisahn said, smiling with relief. "That's only two. I can record them both as possible fathers." She smoothed the babe's forehead with her finger. "I miss my babies. It was so long ago!"

"Well, it could also be J'tan." Anadela continued, not really thinking about what Ylisahn had mentioned. She tapped her teeth then added, "Or Carao, or Mishanthan. Or maybe Tristak."

"Oh no," the Headwoman groaned. "Anadela, I told you last time I couldn't write half the Weyr down in the little space in my book for 'father's name'."

"Or maybe S'vas." Anadela muttered. "I'm sorry Ylisahn, but with all these green flights and...well, I mean...dragonriders are so...
irresistible. And crafters, too."

"And lower caverns men ..." Ylisahn noted with a sigh. "I didn't even know Tristak _liked_ women. Are you sure about him?"

"Oh, he does like women. And men." Anadela laughed, "I think he likes anything that moves! Let's see. I think that's it. Oh, wait, no, it could be K'sotin as well. Yeah, I think that about does it."

"I'm going to sit down," Ylisahn announced faintly. "Here, you hang onto him since I'm apparently going to be doing a lot of writing." She unlocked the press beside the desk and pulled out the over-large hide-bound book in which she, and the Headwomen before her, recorded the lineage of the children born in the Weyr. Seating herself at her desk she opened the heavy cover and then flipped over a few pages at a time.
"Do you think, in future, that we should have this talk right away?
As soon as you're sure you're pregnant? Closer to the date might be ...
easier?"

"Oh, I never thought about that!" Anadela patted her son's back and nodded. "That certainly would make things easier all right. I'll try to remember that next time."

"And no need to rush into 'next time' just so we can see if that works,"
Ylisahn added, feeling that she didn't want to be responsible for Anadela rushing into anything. She smiled and started making the entry for the babe.

Birth: Delitin, male, 10th Pass, 4th Turn, 9th Month, 15th Day. Mother:
Andela.

Father: ...

"So, who are the possibles again? M'sar, Jessen, ..."

Anadela rattled off the names again, then exclaimed, "Oh, M'dent...yes, now I think that's it."

"I think," Ylisahn said, finishing the entry and closing the book, "That when he's older we might have to look at fostering him at some other Weyr."

"What?" That admission brought Anadela up short. Some other weyr?
Anadela was grateful that she didn't have to tend to her children all the time, but she did like to have the freedom to see them and not have to travel to do so. "Why?"

"Because when this lad grows up he's going to find himself related to nearly every girl in the Weyr," the Headwoman said, exaggerating a little to make her point. "Best to foster him somewhere he won't have that problem."

"No!" Anadela clutched her child closer to her. "Ylisahn, what's gotten into your head? There are plenty of people in this weyr and that's not a good reason for fostering him elsewhere." The younger woman sniffed and then stood. "Is there any more information I need to give you?"

Ylisahn shook her head. "Not this time. But remember, come back as soon as you think you're pregnant, next time." There would be a next time, as sure as the sun rose every morning.

Anadela would be back.

Last updated on the April 5th 2008

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The Possibles