The Replacement
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Devin, Clancey
Date Posted: 9th October 2008
Series: Proving His Worth
Characters: N'vanik, J'darin
Description: N'vanik goes to visit the former Weyrleader.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 11, day 23 of Turn 4
N'vanik pulled the curtain aside and stepped in, staying as far away from the bed as he could. "I thought it would be ... polite to come say hi." He could only imagine what it must be like, laid up in the infirmary while someone took your Weyr out from under you.
He had been expecting this visit. If the man hadn't come, J'darin would have immediately thought less of him. But he had come. He wanted the best leadership for his Weyr that was available, and presumably, this man was it. He sat up in his bed, as tall and straight as he was able and looked N'vanik in the eyes. He was certainly not standing very close. A quirk of J'darin's lips betrayed the faint humor. "Afraid I'm going to come out of bed and punch you with my good hand, Weyrleader?" The quirk didn't quite broaden into a smile, but he did nod. He only knew his name from Hasaarth, and his dragon was Loseth. He had never met him before, even when he'd gone to Dragonsfall to see Traelyn. Who was this man, now leading Dolphin Cove?
He invited him to the chair most often occupied by Zelle, beside his bed. "Care to sit down? I'd like to talk to you."
**I'll bet you do.** N'vanik decided not to make an issue out of J'darin's punching comment. "Sure." He moved to sit in the chair.
"Congratulations, N'vanik. I just wanted to say that this Weyr is full of wonderful people, and they've had a really rough Turn. We've had more than our share of tragedies in that time. My time as leader of this Weyr was never quiet or normal, and we've never had enough riders. I know that Nyith chose the best for the job, but please... take care of them." He finished quietly.
For about the hundredth time since the Flight, N'vanik wondered if Nyith had made a mistake. "I'll do my best." That was the only promise he could make.
"Thats all anyone can ask." He frowned a moment, then finally went on. "There are a ton of hides on my desk. Traelyn wouldn't bring them to me, nor would Zelle, and the healers supported them. Lousy Healers. I was doing some work with the Weyrlings in addition to normal Weyrleader stuff, along with L'pin, the Weyrlingmaster second, since we don't currently have a Weyrlingmaster. You're going to have to make sure you talk to him, too... " He shook his head and trailed off. Maybe N'vanik didn't want or need his help. Or even his opinion.
"Yeah, I'll talk to him." No Weyrlingmaster, and this guy was sending kids a turn too young into the wings? "Any reason L'pin's not Weyrlingmaster?"
Well, when he'd made the decision, there had been a Weyrlingmaster. And the kids were all graduated, and approved by first Y'sani, then him, to fly. Just not quite 16 turns. "L'pin hasn't been here that long. He came with Y'sani, who was the Weyrlingmaster. L'pin is a bluerider, and while he seems capable, I was looking for a bronze or a brownrider to fill the spot. Y'sani hasn't been gone that long... only around six months, and I was Weyrlingmaster second here for turns before, so it was easy for me to help out with the one Clutch of weyrlings we had, until we could find the right combination of riders." He shrugged. It was history now.
"I'm not sure if you've realized it, or knew it, but we've had a desperate shortage of riders of all kinds, though especially bronzes, in the last two turns, and more than our share of ..tragedy." He though of I'ster and his throat closed up, his face turning away to hide the tears. "We just need more bronzeriders. This was one way to get them here. And one reason Trae threw open Nyith's Flight." He sighed. Again, this was history and perhaps not relevant. He might still be Weyrleader if he hadn't been wounded, but there was no way to know for sure.
And he wasn't any more. Now this stranger was, who didn't know the people here or the things they'd all lived through together over the last turn. It seemed ... wrong ... somehow. How could someone from another Weyr have any idea what had happened at Dolphin Cove? And even more importantly, _care_? Faranth, he had to trust in Nyith. The queens knew. They always knew.
A bluerider. Well, that would explain it. Too bad, that could have been an easy fix. "I know you guys are short on riders. And I know what you've been through. The basics, at least." And he'd offered to help, after the Threadfall tragedy, but U'kaiah had turned him down. He shuddered mentally. He would not be another O'dan. He would _not_.
J'darin nodded in a friendly way. "Thank you." He paused, looking at the bronzerider in front of him. "I'll be here to help, should you ever need or want it." A faint smile curved his lips. "But Nyith chose the best man for the job; she always does." Zelle would have laughed, thinking that his arrogance had returned. It really hadn't, yet, but old habits die hard.
"Thanks for the offer." N'vanik might have to swallow his pride and ask for it. Better that than risk riders' lives. "And thanks for the vote of confidence."
"You're welcome. I've been where you are, too. Waking up wondering what sharding happened...and during the last turn, I thought so many times that Nyith shouldn't have chosen Hasaarth. But she did. And now she chose Loseth, so I know you'll be good. Take care of them and they'll take care of you."
N'vanik nodded. He had doubts about Nyith's choice as well, but he had more doubts about his own choice to participate in the Flight. "I'll do my best. And Faranth willing, I won't let them down."
"You won't, N'vanik." He smiled an actual smile, then nodded. "Thank you again for coming, Weyrleader. I appreciate the visit." He knew the man probably had a thousand details screaming at him to attend to, and J'darin didn't want to hold him up.
N'vanik stood. "You rest and heal up. You're in my wing now, and I want you healthy as soon as possible."
J'darin managed to hide the flinch from N'vanik, but barely. Nothing like yet another reminder. He was going to have some real trouble with this, wasn't he? Outwardly, he just nodded. "Yes, sir. Healers say about two more sevendays and we can fly again. Good luck, hmm?"
"Good luck to you, too."
Last updated on the October 11th 2008
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