Apprentice Reports

Writers: Cali, Eimi
Date Posted: 12th November 2006

Characters: Mosler, Supaka
Description: Mosler and Supaka discuss the apprentices in the Hall.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 13, day 19 of Turn 3

Mosler flipped through the stack of apprentice records on his desk. He had a meeting with Supaka anytime now to go over the progress of said apprentices. He sighed as he realized that his son Orlan was no longer in the pile, and briefly wondered how his son was fairing at Dolphin Cove Weyr. Chase, his firelizard, had often popped in and showed Mosler images of Orlan at the Weyr, but it wasn't the same as a letter or conversation with his son. Every day he thought about taking that first step and sending Chase to him with a note, but every day he talked himself out of it. Orlan was the one who left against his father's wishes; Orlan was the one who would have to write _him_. Supaka knocked quietly on the open door, not wanting to disturb the Hallmaster in the middle of his thoughts. "Excuse me, sir, is now a good time?"

"Yes, please." Mosler assured her as he stood up to welcome her in. "Have a seat." "Thank you, Master." She took the offered seat, crossing one leg daintily over the other. "You wished to discuss the apprentices?"

He nodded as he sat back down and grabbed her written report from the table. "It is that time of year again, and I appreciate your concise report." "Thank you, sir. I hoped it was the information you needed." It was the first time she had ever had to evaluate apprentices before. It gave her a new appreciation for what her instructors had done for her.

Mosler chuckled, "It was very good and informative. Much more useful than Trellyn's." He passed over her report which consisted of an apprentice's name and a short comment, "pass, pass, can't swim, pass, pass, is afraid of water, pass, has no sense of direction, pass, pass, journeyman?, pass, doesn't like female crafters, pass". "Well, I did my best, sir." She felt a little embarrassed by the comparison to her friend but tried to except the compliment in the spirit it was intended.

Getting out his lead stick, he brought out the list that he had made notations on already. "There are a few here that I'd like to discuss more thoroughly on, so lets see... Renvaro. Trellyn says he has no sense of direction, but you have noted that he communicates exceptionally well with the dolphins. What do you think of his navigation skills and can he be worked with?"

"Well, not all dolphineers need rely on navigation," Supaka pointed out gently. "I'm sure given enough time he'll get a better grasp on the basics. But I think if we encouraged him towards the healing aspects of dolphineering he would do very well. He's very empathetic towards people, and he does have a good report with the dolphins he had worked with."

Mosler nodded and mumbled a "good good" as he made notes. He was glad his Hallsecond was taking half the files on the apprentices, otherwise this would take all morning. "What do you think of Ednan's progress? Trellyn thinks him about ready to walk the tables and he's had a recommendation from Welnart too." "I agree. He is probably one of the top of my list," the journeyman nodded.

Nice to know the Weyr hasn't captured the interest of _all_ the good dolphineers Mosler thought as he circled Ednan's name. He'd have to have a talk with that one, all he could really remember about the young man was that he was working with a young injured dolphin...

"What about Caljarlyn?" he asked, a bit of a frown forming this time, "He's been here over a turn now and I'm still getting complaints that he's disrespecting the female dolphineers. Have you had any problems with him?" "Well, you have to remember that he didn't start out at the Dolphin Hall," she said with a patient smile. "It's rather hard for him to adjust to female crafters in so short a time when he was raised on an island and never saw a woman who was a crafter or dragonrider in his life. And I'm not so sure the man who trained him prepared him for females in the Hall."

The Hallmaster frowned, didn't she have anything _negative_ to say about her students? "Be that as it may, it is no excuse for snide or dismissive comments towards those of higher rank than him. If you think he can improve, I'm willing to give him some more time, but I'd prefer to cut him loose sooner rather than later so he has the opportunity to seek apprenticeship with another craft before he gets too old."

"He has a talent for navigation that I think none would argue with, sir. It may be a hard adjustment for him, but he would not have been sent here had he not the skills to make it. Perhaps put him on warning, make him believe that if he doesn't at least show the women respect he may be out on his ear. He's where he wants to be. He won't jeopardize that. As much as he's annoying, he's not stupid."

Mosler didn't think the boy deserved another chance himself, but Supaka made some sense, and they did _need_ every last apprentice they could get. He made a note to talk to the Master of Apprentices about giving the boy a good scare and putting him on official notice. They discussed several more students but most of the information he'd needed was in her report so it didn't take too much longer. "Well I think we're about done here. Anything else going on I should be aware of?" "No sir. I think that's it."

He nodded, glad for the quiet calm that seemed to be settling over his Hall again. He preferred it that way, and he hoped it carried over into the new turn. "All right, I'll see you at lunch then, and be careful with your classes this afternoon, with the moons full the tides will be higher the next few days."

"Of course." Supaka wondered if this might be the moment to mention it. "Sir, I was wondering if I might ask you a favor."

Mosler looked up from the papers he had started to stack, "It never hurts to ask." he chuckled. "My husband is coming in for Turns End and I was hoping I could have a couple days off to spend with him and our daughter..."

"Ah yes, I saw True Runner was due in." he nodded. Captain Kessel was a good man, and he had a fine family started. "Go ahead, have fun.
See about getting your classes covered if you have any, and let me know those that you can't, they can probably be rescheduled." "Thank you sir," Supaka smiled. "I could really use the time."

"Family is important." Mosler said, briefly wondering how Orlan was fairing again, "And everyone needs time off now and then." "I appreciate your understanding," the journeyman said as she rose to her feet. "I won't bother you anymore. Thank you again."

Last updated on the November 14th 2006

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Apprentice Reports