DCW: Searching for Aptitude

Writers: Avery, Heather
Date Posted: 20th February 2015

Characters: L'pin, Saidrene, Hevalda, E'ska
Description: Testing weyrlings for Search skill.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 11, day 11 of Turn 7

Saidrene

The Searchriding etiquette classes were a lecture that he enjoyed
teaching, as well as had a uniquely qualified background for. This
class was going to be a split session. The first part was held indoors
in a cooler classroom, so that the theory could be gone over without
the weyrlings' brains boiling in their skills.

L'pin looked over the assembled green and blue weyrlings as they filed
in. All of them would need to know this information, even if they
didn't have lifemates with the Search skill. There might be cases
where they had to answer questions about Search law while on
sweeprides or responding to assistance calls, after all.

When they were silent, he tapped his hides on the desk and cleared his
throat, the body language he used to get them to pay attention.
"Today's class is about Searchriding. Who wants to give me an
overview?"

Saidrene remained quiet as a hand quickly shot into the air. Even
though she was knowledgeable, partly because of her Weyrwoman mother,
and also because she worked hard at Weyrling classes, Saidrene was
never the first to volunteer information or answers. On most days
Saidrene preferred not to be noticed and if she could get through a
class without the Weyrlingmaster or training staff calling on her then
she would.

"You should always keep in mind the political climate of the area that
you are Searching in, and if you find a suitable Candidate you
should..." Hevalda went on and on, reciting anything that might even
possibly be the right answer to L'pin's question.

Rolling her eyes, Saidrene propped her chin in her hand as she watched
Hevalda talk animatedly and with excitement. **She's enthusiastic,
I'll give her that.** Saidrene thought.

L'pin began to regret having called on the weyrbred girl as she continued
pouring out information. She knew a lot, but not how to present it in a
manner that was sensible, and he could see the rest of the class beginning
to tune out.

Finally he held his hand up. "I see you've been studying," he said dryly.
She smiled and stopped chatting.

"Now, let's break that down into smaller parts. A Search dragon is a
dragon who can determine who has Candidate potential. We'll be testing
your dragons today and tomorrow. We'll also test them again before you
graduate, sometimes it takes almost a Turn to develop," he explained.

"Why is that?" Hevalda asked without raising her hand.

"Some dragons mature a little earlier, or later. Some greens don't rise
until after weyrlinghood, and some Search dragons don't show till then,"
L'pin said.

A bluerider raised his hand to ask, "What if our dragons aren't sensitive?
Why do we need to know?"

"You'll be doing sweeprides and responding to holder calls for assistance.
If someone asks you a Search related question, you'll have to answer it.
Any other questions?"

Saidrene raised her hand, "How do the other dragons test ours to see
whether or not they will be suitable Search dragons?"

"That will be a practical experiment. Your dragons will get to see a
lineup of people and they'll be told to assess them, and tell the
attending dragons if they think any of them have potential. The group
will include some current Candidates, some who aren't suitable, and
some unknowns," he explained.

It sounded like an interesting lesson to Saidrene and she found
herself looking forward to being tested. A part of the Weyrling hoped
that Ashareth would show a talent in picking out Candidates because
the idea of being a Searchrider was something that Saidrene had been
considering in the back of her mind for a while.

"Let's talk about the rules of the Search. What happens when you go
out? Can Holders tell you no?"

L'pin was going to try to keep this section engaging. It could often
be boring to the young ones, so he aimed to make it relevant by
discussing events that had actually happened recently. Discussing the
Search disputes with Emerald Falls Hold a few Turns back usually got
their interest.

After he'd done a basic outline, and given three examples of real
problems the Weyr had faced, he looked over the class. "Any questions
before we go to the practical?"

Saidrene stretched her arms over her head, looking forward to getting
up out of her seat for a bit and moving around. Of course, though,
before they could get anywhere, Hevalda's hand was in the air, "But
master L'pin won't we _know_ some of the Candidates used in the test?
So won't people just tell their dragons to choose them?"

"Good question. However, you riders won't be looking at them," L'pin
replied. "They'll all be lined up along a wall, and you'll be standing
behind your dragons. Some Search dragons say they can see what makes a
Candidate, others say it's a feeling. Try to tap into what your dragon
is perceiving, but don't try to figure out who anyone is. Now, call
your dragons out to the bowl where the crowd is."

He led the weyrlings outside. Along the side of the bowl where the
weyrlings barracks was assembled a group of people in a line. Chaneth
and two other older dragons was standing before them, waiting for the
other dragons to arrive.

The riders walked up to L'pin and the weyrlings. They were holding a
stack of hides and passed them out to the weyrlings. Each hide had 12
boxes on it.

"There are twelve of them, just like you asked," reported E'ska.

L'pin turned to the weyrlings. "Your dragons will get a chance to
inspect the line. Your job is to mark in the box which ones they say
have potential. Leave the box alone if there's nothing, fill it in if
they say yes. Put a question mark or another non-complete fill if
unsure. When your dragon is done, come confer with us."

He stepped to the side and joined the Searchriders. "Begin," he said,
gesturing at the first trio.

Saidrene stood with her back to the Candidates, her right hip leaning
lightly against Ashareth's flank as she glanced down at the sheet of
paper, and the twelve different sets of boxes. Pencil poised between
her fingers, she spoke to Ashareth, **Alright. What do you think of
the first Candidate?**

Ashareth regarded the chubby boy with bright orange hair, and fat
brown freckles for a moment. }:No. Next.:{

Saidrene's lips quirked upwards at the quick dismissal. She did not
know who Ashareth had so quickly dismissed but the green seemed
absolute in her decision. Checking the "No" box, Saidrene's hand moved
down to the next line. **Alright. Next.**

After Ashareth had assessed all twelve Candidates, and Saidrene had
recorded it on the piece of paper, she scribbled her name at the top
and took it to L'pin.

L'pin checked it over, comparing it to his record of who was where.
Five boxes were marked. Two of them were Candidates. The other three
were all weyrbred individuals. E'ska had been told to pick out some
who Leriath thought had potential and some who definitely didn't, to
muddy the waters.

"Ashareth got two of the three confirmed Candidates," he told her.

Saidrene smiled, biting her lip as she looked up at L'pin, "Is that good?"

"I think that's very good for a first test," the Weyrlingmaster's
Third answered. "She missed one of them, but I'll tell you now that
that person was young. And she did noticed three others. I'll give you
more information after everyone else is done."

**L'pin says you did well.** Saidrene reported back to Ashareth who
seemed pleased by the Weyrling trainer's comments. }:I think I would
like Searching Candidates all the time. Traveling to different places,
meeting lots of people...:{ There was a wistful tone to Ashareth's
voice that resonated with what Saidrene was feeling as well. This was
just the first test, of many, she was sure to see who would make a
Searchrider and she hoped that Ashareth proved to be worthy of the
title.

Last updated on the March 6th 2015

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DCW: Searching for Aptitude