Practical Skills and the Knowledge Behind them

Writers: Eimi, Elaine
Date Posted: 7th December 2005

Characters: Pacham, O'rian
Description: Pacham and Odarian have a chat to discuss his progress
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 13 of Turn 3

"Thank you, Tsulea. I think we're done here." He smiled as he held the door open for the young apprentice. "And remember what I said about studying those herbs."

Pacham felt it was his responsibility as the Weyrhealer to check in on all his apprentices from time to time. Though he was not usually the one put in charge of a young learner, he was in charge of all the Healers in the Weyr, so in a trickle up way, all apprentices were his apprentices. At least, that was how _he_ saw it. "So... Who's next...
Ah, yes, Odarian."

"Yes?" Odarian said, getting up when he heard his name called. Pacham was doing a little check up on his fellow Apprentices. He knew he had nothing to be nervous about, but as a consciences student, he hoped he was making the right impression. He walked over towards the door.

"Hello there, Odarian! How are you today?" the Weyrhealer asked as he gave the young man a clap on the back.

"Happy, hearty and hale sir," he said in fast response.

"Can't ask for more than that, now can we!" Pacham indicated that he should take a seat. "Tell, me, how are your studies going, Odarian?"

Odarian did as he was directed then thought for a moment, letting out a short breath. "Well, mostly well, but admittedly I've been spending most of my study time doing extra turns in the infirmary." He shrugged. "It isn't affecting my studies that much, compared to trying to do my part. But things have been settling down more of late."

"True, true," Pacham nodded. "I can't say how valuable all you apprentices have been since the crisis. I'm sure my predecessor felt the same." It was a shame that the Weyrhealer had been burned out after the tragedy, but who could blame him! "But as things are settling down, it might be time to start hitting the books again. Tell me, have you thought about what you would like to specialize in in the future?"

"No, not that much," he said tentatively. **Who had the time?** "I've thought, looking into a surgeon would certainly be useful, but I'm not sure thats what I'd like to do."

"I understand, there's no rush," the Weyrhealer smiled. "But it's always good to think about these things. You'll be a journeyman before you know. Unless you Impress of course, but I hope you would continue with your studies even if you do. Are you a Candidate as well?" Pacham asked as he flipped open the apprentices file. It was so hard to remember who was Standing and who wasn't sometimes.

"Actually no," he said. Most people were quite surprised by this, but he had no interest in dragons. Well, maybe in healing them, that did appeal to him a bit.

"Perfect! That means we get to keep you then," the Master smiled. "We need good healers almost as much as we need riders. Surgeons are especially important. So many people are still prejudiced against the practice. It really is a shame. I bet we could do wonderful things with surgery if we had the chance. And the know-how of course."

Odarian smiled back at the Pacham. "Yes," a thought just occurred to Odarian, "At the Hall, are there people with the know-how there? Or do we have a long way to research?"

"Certinaly there is always more to learn, Odarian, even for an old Master like me." It always surprised the healer just how much he had left to understand about the human body. "Some of the best minds are at the Healer Hall, although I have to say, with all the Threadfall injures we're seeing, I'd say in many ways the Weyrs have caught up, if not surpassed the Healer Hall in surgery."

Odarian couldn't help beam in pride a bit. It was true, the Weyrs were where the skills of the Healercraft were often needed most. It also reassured him that he could likely continue his studies at home.
"We do certainly see injuries more then most people, except maybe miners?" Odarian wasn't sure, but working under ground had to be almost as dangerous as flying above it.

"True, true," Pacham nodded, "there are hazards in _every_ craft. The injuries our riders suffer are consistantly more severe and traumatic, I should think though."

"Not that I've seen many others, but I completely agree," Odarian responded. He wondered if the Threadfall disaster would ever leave peoples minds.

Pacham was, in a way, happy that he had not been the Weyrhealer at the time of the disaster. The haunted look he saw in some of the healer's eyes when they talked about it... "Come on now, Odarian. Cheer up.
We're getting better every Fall. By the time you're a journeyman, you will be better prepared for Falls than your journeymen and masters are now."

"I won't argue with that assessment," Odarian replied a smile forming on his face.

"Well, Odarian, now it's time to start leaving the wounded to the journeyman and start getting yourself back into studying those hides.
You gained a lot of practical skill these last couple months, now you just need to work on the knowledge behind them. Understand?"

"Perfectly sir," Odarian said nodding enthusiastically.

Pacham nodded and smiled. "I think you are progressing very well, Odarian. I'm proud to have you here."

"Thanks," he said, "As, am I, to be here."

"Good lad. Well, then, I think we are finished here," the Weyrhealer said as he stood to escort the boy to the door. "I would love to talk more, but I have more apprentices to talk to today."

"Of course. Thank you sir," Odarian said on his way out.

Last updated on the December 7th 2005

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Practical Skills and the Knowledge Behind them