Collecting the Weather

Writers: Estelle, Yvonne
Date Posted: 24th August 2020
Series: The Lighthouse Keeper

Characters: M'gan, Alina
Description: Alina gets a new temporary assignment
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 1 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: D'hol, Corowal, Elana

Alina

M'gan put the final touches to the Wing's duty roster for the sevenday, sighed, stretched his back and thought that there was one task he'd not missed in the months since he'd left High Reaches: hidework.

He picked up the next item from the pile. A note from the Infirmary, confirming that J'pil's blue Fenolth was likely to be out of action for some time. They were an older pair, and the blue had strained a wing in drills, diving to flame a practice rope. Though he'd expected it, M'gan felt his heart sink. He hoped they'd not been trying to impress their new Wingleader. At least it hadn't happened in Fall, but who knew if they'd ever rejoin the fighting wings? He'd pay them a visit, once he'd finished here, and perhaps have a quiet word with the healers.

He thought of Isarth, and their time together - forty Turns now - and wondered how long it would be before they, too, began to slow down.

Pushing that gloomy thought aside, he checked J'pil's assignments. The blue pair had been on lighter duties, one watch and a regular trip round the holds to collect weather reports for the starsmiths. That would need doing, or he'd get complaints from the craft, and shells, he knew how important their forecasts were on Threadfall days. M'gan scanned the wing list again, selected a likely candidate, then asked Isarth to send for Imarith's rider.

Shortly afterward there was a soft knock on M'gan's open office door. Alina stood on the threshhold, peering in nervously. "You sent for me, Wingleader?"

"Yes - come on in, Alina." M'gan stood quickly, gestured to a chair. "Please, sit down, and don't look so worried. You're not in trouble." He resumed his seat. "How is Imarith? Doing well, I hope?"

"Yes, thank you Wingleader." Alina sat, pulling her braid over her shoulder as she did so and running the end over her fingertips. It was a nervous habit. "She was a bit tired after today's drills, but she enjoyed the challenge. They were very different from what D'hol used to do but I think that's good for her. Us." She smiled, a bit shyly. "And Isarth?"

"He's very well. Curled up on his ledge, basking in the sun, in fact," M'gan said, his voice warm with affection for his bronze. "I think we were all a bit tired. It'll get easier, though, as we get used to each other. Now, as to what I wanted to see you about..." He glanced down at his notes. "How much do you know about weather forecasting?"

Alina blinked. Back at Nadol Cothold, they'd been able to look up at the sky and tell whether the rain would circle over fields or if it would move on quickly. Or whether a day was likely to be sunny or overcast. It was a common enough skill for a farming community that had to work outside all day but that didn't seem like the answer M'gan was looking for. Alina hoped that the question wasn't a test, because she was about to fail. "Nothing much, sir."

"Never mind. Have a look at this." He pushed one of the regular weather reports across his desk. "The Starsmith craft produces them so that we can plan our tactics in Fall. In order to do this, it seems they need measurements from weather stations all across our territory, and they have to be recent. A runner wouldn't bring them fast enough. So, in return, we assign dragonriders to fly out and gather the reports. Then the starsmiths read them and, ah, think very hard about it, and give us their best guess as to what the weather's going to be like on Threadfall days."

Alina picked up the weather report and studied it for a moment. Neat rows listed things like 'wind' and 'temperature' and something called 'barometric pressure,' and then followed with a prediction for a certain area of the Weyr's territory. "How do they 'think really hard' about it?" she asked curiously.

M'gan had a vague memory of a master starsmith lecturing on the subject to the Wingleaders, some Turns ago. As far as he was concerned, all that mattered was to know the direction of the wind on Threadfall days, so he could choose the right formation. How those predictions came about was Crafter business. "Perhaps they'd be best placed to explain their methods. And you'd have an opportunity to ask, if you're interested. Usually, J'pil and Fenolth collect the reports from the various holds and stations in our territory, but as they're out of action for now, I'd like you to take on that duty."

That would be new! Getting out of the Weyr to visit all the Holds in the territory would be much more exciting than her usual duties. Briefly she wondered if she'd get to go to Emerald Falls Hold as well-- and maybe see her sister. "What about my Sweeps?"

"I'll reassign them, though you might have to pick up one or two later on, here and there. It's important that you and Imarith don't wear yourselves out, jumping /between/ from station to station." M'gan frowned, realizing that this task, while less dull than a long sweepride, had its own challenges. "You'll need to pace yourselves, take time to rest at some of the holds. I expect J'pil will be able to advise you, but you've been in the Wings long enough to know your own strength, and you have a record as a good, sensible rider. I trust you to do this duty well and keep your dragon safe."

The greenrider fairly glowed at the compliments. "I'll do my best, sir. Thank you for thinking of us."

"Not at all. I know you'll do an excellent job." He smiled. "Some riders, myself included, aren't too familiar with the Holds, but you
grew up in one, didn't you? So you'll be used to their customs, and all that."

"A cothold. Nadol Cothold." She was sure that the Wingleader wouldn't have heard of it. M'gan was right, though. For all that they were part of the same landscape, the Weyrs and Holds were very different. It would be nice to spend more time around holders. Even thought she'd been at the Weyr for just over two Turns now, she sometimes still felt homesick.

"I see." He looked baffled. "Forgive me, I've been in the North these last twelve Turns and I'm still learning the territory. Who was your Lord Holder?"

"Lord Corowol at Emerald Falls Hold. Nadol Cothold is about a day's ride from the main Hold, and it's quite small. We're farmers," she said, a little shyly. "Mostly wheat and ovines."

"And you were Searched from there?" M'gan asked. "No other connection to the Weyr?"

"There were five of us Searched when the Searchrider came that day." Alina went quiet, remembering the shock of being Searched while her twin sister was left behind. How callous her father had been, and how quickly her life had changed in every possible way. Old hurts, but the scars didn't ache the way they once had. The greenrider shook her head. "I don't have any other connection to the Weyr."

"Ah. I'm glad to see from your records that you've settled in to life here." M'gan recalled how when he'd been a young wingrider in the South, few holds had permitted Searchriders to visit. These days there were more riders than ever in the wings who'd come from outside the Weyr, and he was aware the transition wasn't always easy. "Well. Thank you, Greenrider Alina. I'll send you your new duty schedule - and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to have Imarith contact Isarth."

"Thank you sir. I will." Alina rose, but hesitated at the door. "May I ask a question, sir?"

"Of course." He looked up at her from the papers that he'd turned back to.

"J'pil... when will he be back on active duty?"

"The dragonhealers say it'll be a month, perhaps, depending on Fenolth's recovery. Longer before they can fight Thread." He thought over the question. "If you like the duty, though, it might not be such a bad thing for you to share it once he's back, so one of you can take over if the other isn't able... Well, we'll see how it goes."

Alia nodded. "Thank you, sir." She closed M'gan's office door quietly behind herself as she left. **Weather duty... might be interesting...**

Last updated on the September 19th 2020

Series: The Lighthouse Keeper [Next: The Weight of Air]

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Collecting the Weather