No Good Choice
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: Bree, Emma, Yvonne
Date Posted: 7th November 2005
Characters: Tsaera, K'sedel, Abrei
Description: Tsaera and K'sedel meet with Abrei for news regarding Tulyav
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 8, day 19 of Turn 3
The healers came quickly, and just as quickly they moved the collapsed Master Beastcrafter to the Infirmary. Tsaera knew better than to get in their way, but she spent an anxious half a candlemark staring at the hides on her desk before she had news from Abrei.
Master Tulyav had been at the Weyr as long as she had. She couldn't imagine having him gone - he was gruff, unsociable, and often downright rude, but it was because he was more comfortable with the beasts than with other humans. Tsaera realized that she didn't know a thing about him - was he weyrmated? Did he have children? And she also realized that if anything happened to him, there would be no one left who called her 'Lady Weyrholder' without irony or insult.
}:The Infirmary has him, and they will heal him as best they can,:{ Tabanirth whispered in her mind. }:But he is old. All things must die.:{ The Weyrwoman ignored her dragon and went down to the Infirmary instead. She met K'sedel on the stairs. "Did Abrei say anything to you in her note?"
"She didn't, not yet," replied the Weyrleader.
A muscle jumped in Tsaera's jaw, but she didn't say anything else until they were facing Abrei in the Infirmary. Tulyav was nowhere to be seen. "Well? How is he?"
Abrei looked tired. "It's not good, Tsaera. We've done all we can to stabilize him, but I can't promise you he'll make it through the night."
"What do you mean, he might not make it through the night?" Tsaera asked sharply.
"Any idea what caused this?" asked K'sedel, noting Abrei's face.
"I don't know what caused it," Abrei replied in a mild voice, though her eyes were annoyed. "Though I'm afraid this might be what we feared, K'sedel. The symptoms seem to match those I've been watching for... most of them in, any case." Abrei turned to meet Tsaera's eyes. "His heartbeat is irregular, and I can't tell if it's a related symptom or not. But it complicates things. He's already weak... I don't know if he can fight this."
The Weyrwoman frowned. "Symptoms... you mean like the animals?"
Abrei nodded silently. "Every one of the symptoms they sent us from Healer Hall, and a few aside. And considering that he works more closely with the animals than anyone else..." Abrei let her voice trail off, knowing both of them understood. "He's been quarantined away from the rest of the patients. But I don't know what else I can fight this with. None of the usual remedies are working."
"Is there anything that we can send for from the Healer Hall that would help?" asked K'sedel.
"The one thing that would help me is a person--Master Torian. This is his area of expertise." The fact that Torian was also her father's younger brother was something Abrei felt was unnecessary to add.
Tsaera frowned. "We're having a hard enough time recruiting candidates without bringing in Healers from the Hall. Can we send for books, or supplies instead? Do you have access to a firelizard for quick correspondence?"
"Of course," Abrei replied testily. "And under normal circumstances, I might have the time to look up things in a book or spend candlemarks writing back and forth describing obscure symptoms... but these are _not_ normal circumstances. Tulyav doesn't have time for me to find a solution in a book!"
"In that case," K'sedel looked quickly to Tsaera. "We should send word to the man and get him here as soon as we can."
Still, Tsaera hesitated. One man's life was weighed against the good of the Weyr. Damaging rumors meant that dragonets could die on the Sands, but a plague... **The Beastcraft Hall said that it shouldn't _do_ this!** Why was nothing simple?! Both decisions were bad.
Finally, she nodded. "Get one of your riders to pick him up, K'sedel.
Abrei - send me word once he arrives, and keep me updated on Tulyav's condition."
Abrei nodded shortly and glanced impatiently towards the door. "Is there anything else? If not, I should return to my patient."
"No." Tsaera waited until Abrei had turned on her heel before fleeing the Infirmary. She told K'sedel that she had work to do, and went and paced in her office until well into the night.
Last updated on the November 7th 2005