Worries

Writers: Chelle, Cymiri
Date Posted: 9th September 2013

Characters: Rhosyn, Reeva
Description: Reeva takes her worries to the Weyrwoman
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 3, day 6 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Bahji, E'rae, K'reyel

Reeva pulled her shirt straight and ran a hand through her hair- not that
*that* made any difference. It was the best she was going to
do in the circumstances. She'd spent the night with a difficult case, and
still had doubts about the patient's tenacity, though he seemed stable now.
All the same, this was as important, and she wasn't going to complain to
find that reports actually *did* get paid due respect and attention.
She knocked crisply on the door. "It's me. Reeva."

With food on the desk, Rhosyn was going through everything. At the sound of
Reeva's voice, though, she knew what the woman had come for and was eager to
discuss the situation. Something had to be done. "Come on in." When the healer
entered and the door was shut, her hazel eyes reached hers. "It seems we have
a problem."

"Rather." Reeva didn't sit, though more from focus on her cause than the
presumption she wouldn't be allowed to. Her next statement was
bald, quiet and matter of fact. "I don't believe the young woman's fall was
accidental."

That was a serious accusation though Rhosyn would never think Reeva would
make it if it were unfounded. "Why?"

That, of course, was the question hardest to answer, even to herself. The
Weyrwoman, however, deserved a better answer than 'because I do',
and Reeva did her best to collect a reasonable answer from the hunch in her
own mind. "The way she was laying... she plunged- well, I believe
she plunged. The damage... is to her face, not her back, as it would be if
her feet slid out from her. The fact her back is relatively undamaged,
her spine intact...." She bit the edge of her lip.

"I realize the first thing you want to say is that she fell down more than
one stair, had enumerable chances to do any and all of such glorious
damage. But I do not believe she slipped. I'd lay my knots that her feet
were pulled backward, not forward. There's no animal to trip her, the
lizard was in the weyr. I dare say she didn't miss her footing, because I
don't see it likely. They are stairs she knows well, and with her disability
that means more than most. Nothing was different from any other night, if
you trust her rider's words. I'm sorry. This sounds ridiculous. But I've
treated many women over the turns who've 'fallen down the stairs' and some
of them even had. Some had some assistance doing it. I can't help
but feel the girl fell with more violence than she should have. And I
realize that's not evidence you can shank someone on, but there it is."

Mulling that over in her head, Rhosyn tried to think about everything Reeva
was saying. "The rider went to his Wingsecond, Reeva. He told him
there was a rope. He had the rope. Why would someone knowingly trip a blind
pregnant girl with a rope?" She was asking a rhetorical question,
she knew. Still it was clear that it was bothering Rhosyn but the Weyrwoman
had needed to know that there was more evidence. If the healer had
come to the same conclusion without the rope-then that was something.
"Someone is hurting pregnant women in my Weyr-one that was defenseless
even. That will not happen." The tone of her voice said that Rhosyn was riled.

That revelation did set one manicured eyebrow climbing. Still, her
ever-unflappable nature raised the logical objection, calm against the
storm she sensed rising in Rhosyn.. "I sincerely doubt the likelihood of her
pregnancy counting the slightest bit, Weyrwoman. All the same, that is news
I wish you had not been able to share." After a slight moment, feeling slightly
depressed at being the one to think it, she never-the-less added, "Are you
very sure that the young man in question can be counted out?"

"He's been a bluerider here for many turns-Impressed here, and has always
been in the Weyrleader's wing. He's had nothing against his record except a
Threadscore that happened when he was very young. He has many friends and even has a
daughter here already born from a Flight so there's nothing to suspect
violence in him." Indeed, the ones that Impressed blue were usually the ones that
didn't get violent. "Which makes this a problem. Now I have to find out who
knows the girl and if anyone has seen anyone that might not wish her well since
there's no one who has a problem with the bluerider. At least a blind girl
doesn't blend in well."

She was not going to like this, but it had to be done. "We don't have this
happen here, do we? I mean...there's nothing in the Records. I looked.
Which means..it might not even be someone here..from here I mean. Newcomers?"
Her brain was making connections.

"She may be able to offer something useful that will assist you. But- and I
mean no offense, Weyrwoman- my own will handle the questioning. She is not
in a state to be upset further at this moment. If there are things you particularly
wish us to try answer, please do let me know what they are, but understand
the answers may not be very clear."

"I'm going to talk to the bluerider. He's the best place to start.
Otherwise...ask the girl if she heard anything. It's a long shot but..maybe
a voice, a laugh, a footfall anything. And if she has come into contact with
anyone who might have been acting strangely recently." Rhosyn scribbled furiously.
"How bad are her injuries?"

"Breaks in the ankle, arm and cheekbone. Damage to the skull. She lost her
pregnancy as well." Reeva shook her head sadly.

Without thinking, Rhosyn put a hand to her belly. "So whoever it was did
murder." Her lips set into a thin line. "Can she have another one though?
Someday?"

"Not really, my lady, though it adds greatly to the sadness. There is no
reason she should not. When she is ready. Provided she pulls through, of
course."

"But if she doesn't, then it is murder-plain and simple." Rhosyn sighed and
thought about it. This was not a part of the job that she liked. However,
she would protect her weyrfolk and if it meant doing something she didn't like,
then that was her duty. "Keep me updated. I'm going to see who she knows,
starting with the bluerider. She doesn't show any other signs of abuse, though
does she?"

"I will, m'am." Reeva nodded a curt nod typical of her and higher
authority. At the second question, she turned back on her heel. "No. She
doesn't." She thought back to her sole interaction with the girl, and the way she had
acted, happy for her friend. "For one with so crippling a disability she
seems remarkably well handled."

"Aye but her father is not." Rhosyn remembered that day and knew she'd
probably have to notify Bahji's parents that the girl was injured. She'd
have to look back in her Records to get the man's name. He was a fisher, if
she remembered correctly, at Sunstone.

"If her father is a troublemaker of the Hold variety, be a dear and lose
that request for a while. I will not have hysterical holder men within five
lengths of her, and I'd prefer them at double the distance to myself, to be
honest. She survived the night." Reeva made the request calmly. "Sadly, I've
another who looks set not to do so, so with your leave, Weyrwoman,
I'll leave you to do the rest of the heavy thinking." She sketched a small
bow.

Rhosyn nodded and let Reeva go. **Why do people have to do things like
this? It's not enough we lose so many to Threadfall, now I have to worry
about my regular Weyrfolk too?**

Last updated on the September 13th 2013

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