Worth Finding Out

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 12th June 2007

Characters: T'mahl, E'naer
Description: T'mahl and his assistant discuss the state of the Candidates
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 4, day 3 of Turn 4

"This is a Searchrider's report?" T'mahl asked, taking the sheets the
greenrider offered him.

"Yes, it is. They are bringing us candidates, but we don't have any eggs
to offer them," E'naer said. Since there was no weyrlingclasses to
teach, or eggs on the Sands, the Weyrlingmaster's Third had actually
spent more
time in dragonhealing than in weyrling wing.

"Perhaps we should start thinking about offering some of our Candidates
on loan to other Weyrs. At least until we have a Clutch of our own."
And he knew more than one Candidate who eyed those golds warily, looking
for any sign they would rise before they were no longer young enough to
Stand. For a couple, unfortunately, that time had already past...

"Perhaps, before they get too much in trouble because of boredom,"
E'naer grinned. "Although I'm sure the Headwoman will find a use for
them."

"That's just it," T'mahl sighed. "I've already recieved one nasty
letter from a parent in a Hold that complained that his child was more a
servant than a candidate." He was sure more were growing impatient.
They had a good point, after all. Why keep them at the Weyr scrubbing
tables and running messages when they could be at home plowing the
fields. Of course, T'mahl had offered the boy the option of returning
home, but the lad had found that drinking and sleeping around suited him
far better then laboring on a farm.

"Hhm, yes, the parents," E'naer rolled his eyes.

"I'm more worried about our wings, to tell the truth," the
Weyrlingmaster said thoughtfully. "We are not producing riders to fill
in for casualties, let alone to fill the ranks. It won't be long before
we really start to feel it."

"We have two full grown golds and one that still hasn't risen," E'naer
counted. "I wonder what keeps the two older queens from rising?" the
greenrider puzzled over the fact. His green kept rising regularily, but
greens didn't clutch. If they did, they would be drowning in eggs.

"The stress of the move, perhaps? Or maybe we have just caught them
both at the start of their cycle? Faranth only knows. But I'm sure
_one_ will rise soon." Or the Weyr is going to be in real bad
straights...

"Who knows? With luck, they rise close to the another and then we are
hid deep in eggs," E'naer grinned. "But not too close," he added with
shudder, remembering some of the legends with fights between queens when
they rose at same time. Golds has been lost that way.

T'mahl's mind conjured a similar image. "Yes. Aren't we lucky greens
aren't so territorial!"

"Yes, we are," E'naer agreed.

The Weyrlingmaster sighed as he looked down at the reports in front of
him. "Five new Candidates. _Five_. I'd hate to turn good Candidates
away, but..." Soon they were going to be overrun with Candidates, and
still have no Eggs for them. "Tell me honestly, E'naer, do you think we
should look into loaning out some of our older Candidates to try their
luck elsewhere? Allow them to Stand at other Hatchings until we have
Eggs on the Sands and then bring them back?"

"Perhaps," E'naer replied. "We know that Dolphin Cove has eggs, and
didn't River Bluff just have a gold flight? Maybe we should ask about
their
candidate situation."

"I'm sure they would welcome more candidates. Its always good to get
new blood into a Weyr." Now he just had to convince his Weyrleader.
T'mahl didn't know D'wrayt well enough to know how he would feel about
that.

"It's a worth of finding out," E'naer replied.

"Well, one thing's for sure. Our assistants will be the best trained
new recruits the wings have ever had." For what else could they do but
drill day after day...

"Yes," E'naer laughed, "and this rate I'll have my master dragonhealer's
knots."

T'mahl snorted. "I've been tinkering a bit myself." His latest project
was stuffed in a box in his drawer for when the minutes proved to be
passing too slowly.

"At least we have craft's to fall back to," E'naer shrugged.

"Hopefully it won't come to that." Especially since T'mahl technically
was fit to fly...

"Hope not," E'naer agreed.

Last updated on the June 19th 2007

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Worth Finding Out