The Devious Designs of a Drudge (4)

Writers: Heather, Suzee
Date Posted: 18th February 2019

Characters: Cyradis, R'nar
Description: R'nar seeks out his mother's advice.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 12 of Turn 9

Cyradis

A'vel was one of R'nar's best friends and he didn't want to get him in
trouble, so he spent the entire walk to his mother's office trying to
figure out the best way to phrase the situation so that no one got in
trouble.

"Mom?" he knocked on the door to his mother's office and poked his head inside.

"Come on in sonshine," she called. No one was around so she could use
the term she's always used for her boys.

R'nar smiled, entering the office and closing the door behind him, and
then he went around his mother's desk and dropped a kiss to her cheek.
"I hope I'm not dropping by at a bad time," he'd always been the son
that would ask before showing up.

"Don't worry," Cyradis smiled. She knew her children had realized she
had a big job when they were growing but it seemed as though R'nar
appreciated it more now that he was a rider. She set down the hide
she'd been reading with a welcoming wave. "Want some klah," she asked
as she rose to refresh her own cup.

"Um, no, I'm good," R'nar sank down into a chair, drawing in a deep
breath as he did. "I actually came to ask you for a bit of advice."

"Sure," she smiled as she came back to her desk. "What's up?"

"So I have this friend," he didn't want to bring A'vel's name into it
until he had to, "and he was visiting a Hold, outside of Dolphin Cove
territory. His dragon found a Candidate that seemed suitable to be a
Candidate and... This friend may have brought the Candidate back
here...." He trailed off slowly, trying to gauge his mother's reaction
by her facial expression.

Cyradis sat back in her chair. "That is rather serious," she said
slowly. "Did the Candidate ask specifically to be brought to Dolphin
Cove?"

That was the reaction he'd feared. "No, I don't think so, I think she
was just happy to go, anywhere, to be honest."

So now she had several pieces of information her son didn't realize
he'd given while protecting his friend. The rider in question was a he
and the candidate was a she. This could mean the rider was likely
green or blue and if blue, shenanigans could be underway with which
she definitely have an issue. "Alright," she nodded. "It was a good
idea to let me know. Do you know what area she came from?"

R'nar opened his mouth and then hesitated, "Is my friend going to be
in trouble?"

"Not necessarily," she said seriously. "Well, we do have agreements in
place, that says candidates found should be taken to the Wey in their
territory unless they have personal reasons for going somewhere else.
With me so far?"

"I understand," and he had thought as much, having been raised with a
Weyrleader for a father and a Weyrwoman for a mother, "but you're
friends with the Dragonsfall Weyrwoman, right? You'll be able to work
this out?"

"I'm sure I can talk to her, but so far I don't have any real facts.
Right?" She leaned forward. "You're certain she was searched and not
just picked up?"

"Definitely Searched, not just picked up," R'nar agreed, feeling a bit
better about things. "You'll find out anyway but I wanted to know
first to be able to prepare him if need be, but it was A'vel and
Tsogath who Searched her. They took her to the Dining Cavern to get
her something to eat while I came here."

"But he hasn't searched before has he?" She was concerned still that
the identification had been in error. "I think I'd like the Search
confirmed by another pair before I make any other decisions."
Ultimately the decision about this girl was up to her no matter what a
new search dragon pair might have thought they found.

"No, he has never Searched before." R'nar confirmed.

"Alright," she said and leaned forward. "There are a couple of
problems but we can get it all straightened out. A'vel shouldn't have
gone on Search without training or a partner and especially not in
another Weyr's territory."

"I think he is real nervous about the fallout," he admitted.

"How many times have I told you about that feeling?" She smiled to
take the sting out of her words. "If he's 'real nervous' then he's
feeling guilty and that means he knows he did something he shouldn't
have done. Right?" She lifted a hand palm up in a kind of shrug. "So,
do you think that's why he sent you to me?"

R'nar's brow furrowed and he instantly became defensive of his friend,
"He didn't ask me to come and see you. He only became nervous when I
told him I thought something was wrong, and then I _offered_ to come
and see you because I thought you would know best what to do." Perhaps
that had been a mistake, he realized.

"Alright," she said mildly and sat back in her chair. "Then do you
want my advice as your mother or help as the Weyrwoman?"

**Faranth, do you have to be _two_ people? Can't you just be only my
mother for once?** R'nar thought bitterly, straightening in his chair.
His father was the same way, he was always "The Weyrleader" and never
"Dad."

"I don't suppose I need advice, because this is a situation that needs
the Weyrwoman, and I know you'll do your job." He pushed to his feet.
"Should I send A'vel and the Candidate here?"

"Wrong answer," she said. "Since this is just between you and your
mother, I'd suggest that _you_ suggest he have another search dragon
confirm her status. Once that happens take her to the Headwoman to get
her settled with the candidates. Then talk to your Wingleader. He will
talk to the Weyrleaders. From there they will decide what to do with
her. The longer the news takes to get to the Weyrleaders, the better
her chances of staying."

R'nar gave a little mock salute, "I will get right on it. Hopefully
the Weyrleaders will hear about it by the end of the day." He dreaded
having to tell D'hol, nothing was ever easy with his Wingleader.

"Tomorrow would be better," she smiled.

"I guess that depends on how quickly D'hol handles it once I tell
him," he replied.

"Walk slowly," she suggested.

"And take a nap, perhaps?" he laughed a bit.

"You do look tired sonshine," she chuckled.

Last updated on the February 28th 2019

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The Devious Designs of a Drudge (4)