Getting to Know You
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Devin, Yvonne
Date Posted: 15th February 2021
Characters: R'lor, Reyela
Description: R'lor takes the time to meet one of the candidates.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 6 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: K'sedel, K'reyel
By this time the path to the Weyrlingmasters' offices were familiar to Reyela, even though she had no hatchling to call her own. She'd been there often enough to visit with her grandfather and, more formally, to meet with the other Weyrlingstaff. It was usual for them to want to speak with the Candidates before a Hatching.
This time the summons came from R'lor. Reyela stopped outside his office door and tried to smooth the wrinkles from her tunic and pants, clothing she'd pulled on rather haphazardly after a quick bath to wash the smell of the stables from her skin. She gave it up as a lost cause and knocked on the Weyrlingmaster Third's door.
"Come in!" R'lor called as he set down the hide he'd been reading.
"Weyrlingmaster?" The candidate stepped into the office with a smile. "It's Reyela. You sent for me?"
"I did, please have a seat, Reyela." He gestured toward the chair. "I'm meeting with each of the Candidates, so I can get to know you a little."
"Of course sir," Reyela smiled brightly as she sat, surreptitiously trying to smooth out the most obvious of the tunic wrinkles as she did. "I'm happy to answer any questions you have."
She looked a bit messy, but that wasn't uncommon among Candidates and she may have come straight after duties. "Your record says you're an Apprentice Beasthealer. What made you choose that craft?"
"Well... when I did it was because I wanted to transfer to Dragonhealing after I Impressed. It seemed like a good idea at the
time. I was twelve." Reyela sighed. "But... I like Beasthealing anyway, especially runners and large animals. If I don't... you know."
"Ah, yes, that is a possibility. It's good to have a Craft in case dragonriding doesn't work out. Don't lose heart, though. You still
have a few Turns left to Stand, and with your lineage you have a strong chance." Her father was a Weyrleader, her grandfather had once been Weyrleader and was now Weyrlingmaster, her mother was a rider, and also several of her extended family.
Reyela smiled briefly, because it was polite. Those were the same words she'd been hearing for the last seven Turns and they'd lost their effect some time ago. "I'm thinking of asking to walk the Tables soon, to get my Journeyman's knots."
R'lor smiled. "That's wonderful. I wish you the best of luck." He thought she might be a bit uncomfortable so he decided to change the subject. "What do you do for enjoyment outside of that?"
"Oh... well, riding runners, going swimming..." Reyela paused in thought. What _did_ she do? "Visiting my family and friends."
"So an active life." Different from R'lor himself, who enjoyed quiet time alone.
"I suppose so. I know that I'm lucky to have friends and family to visit," Reyela said simply.
"Yes, having friends and family close is important." He'd left most of them behind at Rising Moons or Far Island. "And in my case, I can easily visit them anywhere on Pern." Or they could come visit him, and he suspected that quite a few would be happy to have an excuse to visit lovely, tropical Dolphin Cove. "Ah, that gives me a thought. Do you find it easy to talk to new arrivals? As you're one of the older Candidates and weyrbred as well, I thought you might assist with helping new Candidates get settled in. We have them arriving daily now thanks to the clutch on the Sands."
Reyela smiled. "I'd be happy to. I know it can be hard for some of them."
"Excellent. This is an informal request on my part. I know the Headwoman assigns someone to show them around the weyr and to instruct them on their chores, but I believe social adjustment is just as important." He wanted to find at least one older male Candidate to help as well, particularly to help those boys likely to Impress green or blue.
"I'm happy to help out if I'm able to. Let me know if there's anyone specific I should keep an eye on."
"I will. Thank you for being so willing, Reyela." He slid a hide over and made a note. "Is there anything that I can help you with?"
"No." She hesitated. "Actually... there is. I know that all candidates need to take the classes, but I've been doing them since I was little. I know the material. I was thinking that maybe I could... stop taking most of them. I mean, I already don't take all of them, but..." She bit her lip. "I didn't want to ask Grandpa, for obvious reasons. And it would give me more time to study my Craft."
"Hmm. Well, I'll have to ask him." He certainly didn't want to overstep the Weyrlingmaster's authority, and definitely not so soon
either. "I could ask on your behalf. I could include the other long-term Candidates as well, so it wouldn't be you singled out."
"I just don't want to give the impression that I'm asking for any favours," Reyela said.
"I understand. You're in a difficult position."
She smiled, a bit sheepishly. "Yeah... people talk when you're grandfather's the Weyrlingmaster and your father a Weyrleader."
"I suspect it's a lot to live up to. People having certain expectations of what you should do and who you should be." R'lor had put pressure on himself and his father was merely a wingrider.
"I think that's the same for everybody, though. Only the expectations are different depending on who your family is." She shrugged a shoulder. "Everyone just wants everyone else to be happy."
"That's a very positive perspective." R'lor smiled. She was someone to keep an eye on, for good reasons. "I think no matter what you're going to do your family, and yourself, proud Reyela."
**That's what everyone says,** Reyela thought. Her smile became a little strained. "Thanks."
"I'm sorry if I touched on a sore subject."
She shook her head. "No. You said a very kind thing, Weyrlingmaster. I appreciate it."
"Well, I'm here if you need anything or if you just want to talk," R'lor said. "I like to think I'm a good listener."
"Thank you. I appreciate that." She hesitated, wondering if it was appropriate for her to ask. "Is there... is there anything else you
needed from me, sir? Any other questions you wanted to ask?"
"No, I just wanted to meet." R'lor smiled. "You're free to go, Reyela. It was a pleasure."
Last updated on the February 19th 2021