On the Mend

Writers: Estelle, Miriah
Date Posted: 13th April 2019

Characters: Lorican, Urlene
Description: Lorican has another check-up with Urlene
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 26 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Olwinna

Urlene

***

It had been five days since Lorican had come to the Weyr. In that time,
his bruises had started to fade from purple to yellow, and getting about
was becoming easier. He was able to spend more time at his desk or -
more often - outdoors, drawing, and had been to the smithy to meet his
fellow crafters. He'd even seen the Wings forming up to fight Thread,
and returning afterwards, exhausted. That last had made his own problems
seem insignificant for a while.

But he was also growing restless, knowing that each day that passed
would make it harder to find the man who'd robbed him. He was torn
between leaving early and gaining time, or resting until after the next
Fall to gather his strength. As he waited in the infirmary for his
check-up, he was still undecided.

Urlene looked up from her hides and gave Lorican a brief smile as she
approached the table on which he sat. "Good morning, Lorican." She set
the hides down and studied the fading bruises that still marred his
face. "You're looking much better. Your eyes are clearer today." She
stepped forward to closely examine the healing cut, lifting her hand
to nudge his hair out of the way. "Much better. Any problems with your
eyesight or headaches? Memories returning?"

"No, no problems like that. I just feel sore all down my side, and I
seem to get tired more easily than before. No memories, though." A
slight frown creased his forehead. "I don't know if I should be worried
about that. Not that I mind much, but I'd rather they didn't start
flooding back while I'm in the middle of working with hot iron."

She frowned, then picked up a hide to make quick notes. "The tiredness
isn't surprising, especially since you're still recovering. Your body
will need as much rest as it can get. Head trauma doesn't heal quickly
and you'll probably be feeling tired for a while, Lorican." She studied
him, raving her finger on her lips. "I've discussed you with a Mind
Healer here and you can see Olwinna if you're concerned. According to
her, some memory loss can occur from attacks simply due to the act
itself and not from any injury. Otherwise, we'll just have to wait and
see."

Lorican's eyes widened slightly. He'd never really come across mind
healers before, nor knew much about what they did. The flashes of memory
that had returned, mostly in the late evenings when he was tired and
sleepy, troubled him, but he suspected that talking about them to a
healer with that kind of training would be a bad idea. He didn't want to
tell any more lies than he had to.

"I can wait. If they come back in the next few days it shouldn't matter.
Since I'm not allowed to work," he added, with a hint of half-amused
frustration in his voice.

"As you like, it is of course, up to you." She studied him and then
shook her head. "No, not yet. I'm afraid you'll have to find some
other source of amusement." Her lip curled. "This is the Weyr, I'm
sure you can find something for a few days to occupy your time."

Lorican felt the heat rise to his cheeks. There had been some wild
stories told about the Weyrs, back at his Hall and even in the sea hold,
which he'd only half believed. Now that he'd been here for a few days,
he knew that most of the tales were indeed nonsense, but he'd also seen
a green dragon rising, the way the men clustered around her rider. The
easy and open affection displayed in the dining cavern and on the
beaches. Even the shared bathing rooms.

He wondered, embarrassed, if she thought he'd come to the Weyr to
indulge in the kind of behaviour that was frowned on, back at his home.
Although that hadn't been his intention, it was true that he'd been
looking forward to these check-ups, and not just for the medical care
and advice.

"I'll carry on with my drawing, then," he said. "There's a lot of beauty
here to inspire me... The dragons, of course," he added, suddenly
realising how that could be taken. "And the landscape."

A golden brow arched, but her lips were still lifted in mild amusement,
especially at the flush in his cheeks. She's knew first hand how
someone new to the Weyr was blindsided by the complete openness of some
of the inhabitants. She had been both horrified and amazed when she had
arrived, but had slowly gotten used to many aspects of Weyrlife, even
the nudity to some degree "Yes, well I'm sure you can find something to
draw. Perhaps before you leave, you'll let me see what you've done. "

"Oh, well, of course, if you'd be interested," Lorican said, surprised.
"They're just designs. I'm not a real artist, like a harper." He winced,
mentally kicking himself. Of course he wasn't a harper! He didn't have a
harper's tongue, that much was obvious.

He couldn't help remembering Brennault's suggestion to buy her a drink
before he left, though. He could ask - not now, but just before his
departure, when he showed her the drawings. That way, no matter how
humiliating the rejection, he'd at least be away shortly afterwards. It
was something to consider.

"You don't have to be a Harper to be an artist. " Her reply was simple
as she jotted down notes, then looked up at him, offering him a smile
that was only a bit warmer than her usual polite expression. "I would
indeed like to see what you've drawn while you've been here. " It
would give her some insight into his vision and perceptions, but she
also had to admit a certain curiosity. Many of the Crafters in the
Weyr kept to their own and she had little socialization outside of the
infirmary, excepting Chaysea.

The smile drew an answering one from the smith. "I'd better get back to
work, then, if I'm going to have anything worth showing. Back to
drawing, I mean. No hammering, no forging, no bending metal whatsoever."
He started to slide down from the table, then grimaced as his bruises
reminded him of why he wasn't allowed to do those things. "But
everything's really looking better? I'm on the mend?"

Her brows rose even higher but as he winced, she gave a slight shake
of her head in barely hidden amusement. "Yes, you are. If you're
careful, then you should be able to leave as you planned. "

"Yes. I'll miss it here," Lorican said thoughtfully. Despite the
circumstances, and his injuries - not to mention the numerous and
perplexing differences between life at the Weyr and the sea hold - it
had been an enjoyable few days. He'd be sorry to leave, but it was
necessary. "Still, I can't stay lazing about the place forever. We all
have work to do."

"Well, should you decide to return, I'm sure you'll be welcome. The
Weyr is always in need of experienced Crafters. " She too understood
the drive to work and perform his Craft; she shared it. "Indeed, we
do. But mind you," she held up a finger. "Slowly at first. Don't dive
head in to your duties without a few days of lighter duty. Work up to
it, alright?"

Lorican thought, with a touch of guilt, of his plans for the next few
sevendays, which could not be described as restful. In truth, he didn't
know what he might need to do. Anything, or nothing, could happen. "Yes,
Journeywoman. There's lighter work I can do in the smithy. I'll do my
best not to undo your good work."

"You'd best not. I may not be around when you decide to put yourself
through too much strain." She finished her notes. "Please check in
with me before you plan to leave for a final evaluation. I'll just run
a few tests to make sure that you're healthy enough to travel." She
offered a quick lift of her lips. "I'll see you in a couple of days."

Last updated on the May 3rd 2019

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