If Only He'd Known

Writers: Estelle
Date Posted: 18th February 2018

Characters: R'fal
Description: R'fal worries about his upcoming meeting with the harpers
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 3, day 17 of Turn 9

After returning from the Weyrlingmaster's office, R'fal sat down on his bed in
the barracks and let out a long, shaky breath. The last of the euphoria of the
Hatching and finding Marlath and getting to know the other weyrlings seemed to
drain out of him, leaving him feeling desolate and alone. He wasn't meant to be
here, with the crafters and the clever weyrbred boys. He was just a stupid
herder from the back of beyond.

}: You are not stupid! :{ Marlath said indignantly, raising his head. Swirls of
red appeared in the usually tranquil blue-green depths of his eyes. }: Who says
you are stupid? :{

** The Weyrlingmaster said that I have to go and see the harpers about my work.
** R'fal wondered how he could explain the concept of spelling to a dragon. **
It's not as good as everyone else's. **

}: Then Nikornath's rider is stupid. I think... :{

"Don't say that!" R'fal sat upright in shock, so terrified that Marlath might
decide to share that thought with the other young dragons - or worse, Nikornath
himself - that he didn't realise he'd spoken out loud. A few heads turned, but
outbursts like that weren't unusual as the weyrlings got used to talking to
their dragons mind-to-mind and they looked away again when they saw his
apologetic expression.

** I'm sorry. But he's not stupid, he's right. He was actually quite nice about
it, but I don't know as much as the others, and that's the truth. **

}: I don't know as much as you do. :{ Marlath curled up again and closed his
eyes. }: We will learn together. :{

** I suppose. ** He sighed and lay back on the bed with his hands behind his
head, trying to calm himself and stop fretting for Marlath's sake, but it was
difficult. He'd never felt intimidated by the harpers who'd occasionally visited
the cothold - quite the opposite. For the most part, anyone who had to travel
out as far as their isolated farm was relatively inexperienced or out of favour;
the higher-ranking teachers generally got the cushier assignments at larger
Holds. R'fal and his cousins had seen their classes as little more than a golden
opportunity for mischief and practical jokes at the expense of the outsider,
although some of the more astute ones had worked out that tales of dragons and
adventure could keep the boys quiet for a while.

None of them had ever imagined they'd need to write elegant prose, or sing with
any more skill than was required to keep in time with a work chant or stumble
through a Teaching Ballad. They were destined to be farmers and herdsmen, not
musicians...or dragonriders.

This was different, though. Anyone who got to practice their craft at the Weyr,
R'fal imagined, would be one of the very best, and could hardly fail to view
someone who couldn't even write a short report for weyrling class with contempt.

A dreadful thought suddenly struck him. What if he reported to the harper, only
to come face to face with one of his past victims, now promoted and assigned to
the Weyr? Would he be recognised? He'd grown up and filled out a bit since those
days, but was uncomfortably aware that youthful and innocent looks might not be
such an advantage to him in this situation as they usually were.

Surely he couldn't be that unlucky.

Perhaps he should cut his hair, just in case. Or change his name...

"R'fal, are you okay?" The boy in the neighbouring bed turned over on his side
to look at them. "Gavanth says Marlath said you had to see the Weyrlingmaster."

"Oh! Um - it wasn't important." R'fal's mouth went dry. He _couldn't_ tell the
other weyrlings about his assignment and having to see the harpers. Bad enough
that K'sedel thought he was an illiterate idiot; he didn't want the whole
barracks thinking it as well. "He just wanted to - to check I was settling in
all right, since I haven't been here that long. Scared the life out of me when I
got summoned, though," he added, trying to make light of it. "I thought I was
done for!"

"I don't blame you. You'd better get ready for bed quick though, or you really
will be in trouble. Lights out soon." The other boy turned back and closed his eyes.

R'fal got to his feet with a heavy sigh and began to undress, wishing all over
again that he had been a more diligent student and behaved better when he'd been
back home. If only he'd known what the future held! They could turn the lights
out, but with all the troubles on his mind, sleep would be a long way off.

Last updated on the March 2nd 2018

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If Only He'd Known