Good Bad News

Writers: Devin, Miriah
Date Posted: 29th September 2020

Characters: N'vanik, J'ackt
Description: N'vanik tells Jenackt about the mine incident
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 3, day 25 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Cyradis
Sorry it was so late. I was ill.

N'vanik

J'ackt

"Just in case you were nervous, you're not in trouble," N'vanik said
when J'ackt entered his office. "Close the door and have a seat,
please."

J'ackt cracked a partial smile and sat in the offered chair, leaning
back. "I figured if I was in trouble, I'd be hearing from both you and
Cyradis. What's going on?"

"I thought you might want to hear the news first. There was an
accident at the prison mine. Grevan and Jerinne are both dead." The
Weyrleader's expression betrayed a hint of curiosity. He wondered how
J'ackt might take this.

J'ackt went still, body tensing before he took a breath and slowly
relaxed. It took time to ease the tension around his neck, then his
shoulders and down his spine. He said nothing at first, his lower lip
slightly pursed and his eyes narrowed. His fingers drummed against the
arm of the chair as he considered the news. "Ah. Both?
That's...convenient. Has his mother been informed?"

"I believe the Holder is sending a letter," N'vanik said, watching
J'ackt carefully.

J'ackt seemed to fall quiet again, musing over the news. He wasn't
grieved at the news in the slightest, and in truth, it felt like a
weight was lifted somewhat off of his shoulders. But there was another
worry. Grevan's mother and children, proud and unwilling to return to
the Hold, would starve without the young man's assistance. He nodded.
"Then with your permission, I'll provide support for the family."

He seemed to be taking it well, but J'ackt was adept at hiding his
feelings.... sometimes, at least. "Will they accept it from you?"
N'vanik asked. There was no proof the rest of Grevan's family was
involved in the plot, and therefore no reason to take things out on
them.

J'ackt shrugged. "I don't know. I can offer. His mother may not, but
it's better than the alternative." He couldn't explain why he felt
responsible for the family; it honestly made no sense, but he felt as
if he should at least attempt to care for the family. He looked up at
N'vanik and sighed softly. "It doesn't end things though. With him
dying in the mines...now others will look at him like he's a hero." He
rubbed his temple. "Faranth, I'm going to have to watch my back
constantly."

"Everyone in the Weyr is on guard now J'ackt. You're not alone."
N'vanik couldn't help the stab of guilt. This was the one place J'ackt
should have been completely safe. "If the family won't take your
support directly, we can find a way to get it to them indirectly."

J'ackt nodded, but there was still a remaining tension around his
shoulders. "I guess I can live with that." He sighed, then rubbed the
bridge of his nose. "Thanks for telling me. I wish I could feel some
relief, but I don't."

"It doesn't erase what happened to you, but _I_ feel better knowing he
can never hurt you again." N'vanik had wanted to put Grevan out for
Fall, to make him suffer, but Corowal and Vestian would never have
agreed to it.

He nodded again. "I'm sure Alina will be relieved. She's been
worried." And perhaps Cosani would be relieved. He could never be
certain about what she thought. Both had suffered through his
nightmares, though it had been harder on his weyrmate, especially
recently. "But....I am glad it's mostly over now."

"I wish I could promise no one would ever hurt you again, but I've
already failed on that front."

J'ackt's eyes shot to N'vanik and his brows snapped down. "It's not
your fault and I've never blamed you, N'vanik. You can't have eyes
everywhere, for one, and I was an idiot for not checking through Zith
'bout that sharding note. There's enough blame to go around without
you shouldering it all, yeah?"

N'vanik nodded, but his fingers tightened into a fist. "I want this to
be your home, J'ackt. I want you to feel _safe_ here."

J'ackt's response was even and simple. "It is my home. I'm not going
anywhere unless you and Cyradis decide I need to be somewhere else."
He paused, taking the time to consider his words. "And I'd understand
it if you did. Especially if things get bad again." He rolled his
shoulders. "Weyr comes first."

N'vanik eyed him. "When did you become noble and self-sacrificing?"

That brought an immediate snort. "Are you kidding? Didn't you think I
was listening during those lectures you and Cyradis drilled into my
head." He gave a smirk and shook his head. "It's not about being noble
or self-sacrificing, N'vanik. You're the closest thing to a real Da'
I've ever had." He shrugged. "You trusted me and believed in me when
no one else did. I'd do it for you and you say the Weyr comes first."

It warmed N'vanik's heart to hear those words, and to have J'ackt be
so open about it. "I say that because I'm supposed to. Gotta at least
try to act like a respectable Weyrleader, at least some of the time.
But for you I'd bend the rules. Maybe even break them." There was no
"maybe" about it after what he'd just done.

J'ackt rolled his shoulders just a little, a little embarrassed by the
conversation, but the warmth at hearing N'vanik's words wasn't
unwelcome. His lips quirked in a smirk. "Can't say I blame you. You
know me and rules."

"I'm surprised you haven't given me gray hair." N'vanik shook his
head. "I'd only send you away if I thought it would make you safer.
Short of keeping you out of 'Fall, I'd do anything to keep you safe."
That was where the Weyr, and Pern, really did come first. Much as he
hated knowing J'ackt could die every time they faced Thread, N'vanik
wasn't willing to go so far as to make excuses to ground him. Force
him into the weyrling staff or something like that. But as Weyrleader
he needed every capable rider, and besides, J'ackt and Zith would be
miserable if they couldn't fight.

"Can't keep me safe all the time. That might be boring."J'ackt
chuckled and flashed his teeth in a quick smile. He rose slowly.
"Thanks for telling me, N'vanik. I'll do what I can for his family."He
paused. "Jerinne...she didn't have one, did she?"

"You gonna adopt the family of everyone who tried to hurt you? Talk
about putting a target on your back."

J'ackt blinked in surprise. "Her family? Oh, feck no. I could care
less about her family, to be honest. I know she's weyrbred. They'll be
looked after. "

N'vanik snorted. "I was getting a little worried there." His
expression turned more serious. "I know you probably want to do this
yourself, but I can give you whatever that man's family needs. I'm
responsible for what happens to them now. More responsible than you."

"Get Corowal to provide more for them, or figure out a way to get them
to move back to the Hold. Something like that. I can provide the food
and I'll hunt from the wild with Zith. That shouldn't be a problem."

The Weyrleader nodded. "If the mother is willing to talk to you, ask
if she'd even want to move back to the main Hold. After everything,
maybe she wouldn't feel comfortable there. If she'd rather stay in the
cothold, we can get her help working the land."

"She might not be, but if she is, I'll ask." J'ackt shrugged,
considering it as settled as it could be. "I'll let Alina know I'll be
doing this too. Last time I came back covered in animal blood, she
about ripped me to pieces."

"I imagine that was an unpleasant surprise for her."

"Think about how angry a gold is before rising. Then triple it and
take away the blooding. That'll give you an idea. It scared her."
J'ackt gave a half-smile. "She's seen me get hurt too much I guess."

"So have I." N'vanik couldn't forget the sight of J'ackt lying pale
and bleeding after the attack, not knowing how badly he'd been hurt.

"Can't promise it won't happen again, 'specially with Thread. Haven't
been Threaded badly yet, but it might happen." J'ackt shrugged. "Just
take it as it comes, I guess." He ran a hang through his hair. "I'll
keep you updated on the family though, okay?"

N'vanik nodded. "We'll take care of them, somehow." And maybe keep a
bit of an eye on them, just in case he was wrong about the mother not
being involved in the plot.

Last updated on the October 1st 2020

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