Entrance to the Dreaded Weyr

Writers: Estelle, Miriah, Yvonne
Date Posted: 13th June 2022

Characters: Alyena, Urlene, Alina
Description: Alyena and her Daughter are checked out at the Weyr's infirmary
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 19 of Turn 10

Urlene

Alina

Alyena blinked as they entered the infirmary, the bright lights and
sharp scents of herbs and antiseptic an almost dizzying shock after the
warm night of the weyrbowl. Despite the late hour, it was as busy as the
rest of the Weyr, and a few apprentices turned to stare at the new
arrivals. She thought again of what Alina had said about the Weyr being
on high alert, and felt her heart beat faster. Something must have
happened, but what?

A tired Urlene had already been summoned to meet with Alyena and
within a moment she emerged from her small office to greet the woman,
Alina, and the child. "You must be Alyena. I am Urlene, the Weyrhealer
here." Her eyes flicked over the older woman, assessing quickly before
going to the young girl, noting several similarities with what she had
seen with R'ayl. "Alina, can you help this girl and her mother into
the exam room to the right? You both look as though you've seen some
hard times this evening."

"Yes, Weyrhealer," Alina murmured. She smiled reassuringly at Alyena as
she carried Evalya into the exam room.

Alyena's eyes had gone wide at the sight of a woman wearing healer's
knots, but she instinctively recognized Urlene's manner and bearing as
that of someone high born. She was suddenly aware of how disheveled she
and Evalya both looked, their hair tangled and clothes grimy, the
scratches on her legs and the bruise swelling her cheek.

"It's going to be all right," she said softly to Evalya as the
greenrider settled her on an examination table, and touched the little
girl's shoulder. "They'll help us."

Knowing that Alina had spent time in the infirmary during her
Candidacy, Urlene gestured to the cabinet in the small alcove. "Please
get the redwort from the top shelf and pour some hot water in that
basin, Alina." Gently, she also gestured for the woman to sit as well.
Her eyes evaluated the young girl first, eyes searching and evaluating
"What's your name and what hurts the most?"

The girl glanced at her mother, who nodded as if to reassure her.
"Evalya." Her voice was small, but clear. She pointed to one of her
legs. "My ankle hurts."

"We were running..." Alyena said, unsure how to explain why. "She caught
it on something."

Gently, Urlene bent to examine the young girl's ankle, feeling the
swelling and carefully attempting to move the joint. "I don't believe
it's broken. Can you wiggle your toes for me? Move your foot up and
down?" She glanced up at Alyena, studying her. "You're Furayl's
mother, aren't you? And she his sister?"

"Yes, that's right, but..." The woman looked up sharply, her breath
catching. With all that had happened, she'd not even thought of her son,
but if those men had come to the cothold, what if others had gone to the
Weaver Hall? "Have you heard anything about him? Is he safe?"

Urlene glanced at Alina, wondering if she knew what decision had been
made about the young Weyrling, or even if it was her place to discuss
rider matters. "I'm sure you'll have all of your questions answered.
I'll wrap this up." She gestured to the ankle. "Make sure she keeps
her weight off of it for a few days. You both need bathing and a warm,
hearty meal, I think."

Alina nodded in agreement. "He's safe, Alyena. But... didn't you know
that he was Searched?"

"Searched?" Alyena stared at the greenrider in disbelief. "But that's
not possible. Furayl is at the Weaver Hall. He's an apprentice. He
wouldn't have..." The words caught in her throat. She'd made him promise
never to go to the Weyr.

Urlene glanced at Alina and then spoke softly. "He's here and he's
safe. He's healthy as well. Gained weight and..." She exhaled. "He
Impressed this morning. We did not know that you weren't aware." She
began wrapping the young girl's ankle, her hands deft and gentle. She
didn't add that the young man had nearly lost his dragon; it wasn't
her place.

Alyena drew in her breath in a soft gasp that was almost a sob.
Suddenly, it was almost too much to take in. The loss of the cothold,
the man who'd tried to kill her, and now Furayl... Her son was here, in
the Weyr. Her gentle, timid son was a dragonrider. One of them. She felt
herself starting to shake, the panic rising, constricting her throat.

Her daughter seemed to sense it and turned to her with fear in her eyes.
"Mama?"

**He's safe. She said he was safe.** Her fingers gripped the side of the
healer's table as she forced herself to calm. "I... Can I see him?"

"Of course. But I'd like to give you a chance to clean up and eat
before you do. " She turned to Alina. "My official quarters aren't
being used at present and there's a private bathing pool. Would you
mind taking them to get cleaned up? I can ask for food to be sent and
can check on R'ayl to make sure it's not too much of a shock for him."

Alina nodded. "Yes, Weyrhealer. Perhaps, too, a change of clothes? If
it's not too much bother," she added quickly.

"Yes." Urlene agreed. "I'll have some sent. We should have some
clothes that will fit both of you," she replied to Alyena. "The Weyr
will provide you everything you need for now until you make a decision
on what to do next. I'll speak to the Headwoman and she'll handle
that. For now, however, I'd like to see your daughter in a couple of
days so I can check on her ankle."

"Yes - of course." A few days. Time to think, for Evalya's ankle to
heal. To see her son. Alyena breathed deeply as the worst of the fear
began to loosen its grip on her heart, though her unease at being in the
Weyr remained. "Thank you, Weyrhealer." She looked to her daughter, who
was cautiously wriggling her foot in its wrapping. "Evalya?"

The girl looked up. "Thank you, ma'am."

Last updated on the July 15th 2022

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Entrance to the Dreaded Weyr