What's The Trick?

Writers: Devin, Eimi
Date Posted: 30th June 2008

Characters: Cosani, T'mahl
Description: Cosani and T'mahl discuss her chances
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 10, day 12 of Turn 4

Cosani

"If there are no more questions, you are dismissed." T'mahl began straightening the sheets of paper into a nice pile in front of him when he noticed a candidate approach out of the corner of his eye. "Yes?" he asked, lifting the pile and gently tapping it on the table to make a uniform edge.

"Um ... sir. You didn't explain what we could do to make a dragonet pick us," Cosani said.

"I'm sorry?" the Weyrlingmaster asked as he turned the stack and tapped again. "What do you mean?"

"There has to be something. Something I can do or say or think. Some ... some trick, or something that makes a dragonet pick you." She'd seen people training young animals, and there were certain things they did to gain the animal's trust. And she'd heard what needed to be done to impress firelizards. Was it the same with dragons? No, it couldn't be that simple.

Ah, the question. At least one candidate had to ask it every time. At _least_ one. "No, I'm afraid there isn't. It's completely up to the dragons. You can think loving thoughts and stay positive, that usually helps the day of the Hatching. But in the end, even people who do everything right are left Standing in some Hatchings. That doesn't mean their chances are any less the next time around. It just means that they didn't suit any of the Eggs that Hatched this time."

"So then how do we suit them?" she asked.

"There's really no way to tell. You can't make yourself suit a dragon any more than you can make yourself suit a person. If it's meant to be, something just clicks. They know you're the one that fits them. It's the dragon's choice. There have been plenty of theories about why a dragon might chose one person over another, but in the end, it's still all a big mystery. I'm sorry I can't be more helpful."

"So there's _nothing_?" This was beyond frustrating.

"Are you afraid you won't Impress?" the Weyrlingmaster asked gently.
Perhaps if they could get to the root of the problem he might be able to relieve her fears at least a little.

Cosani looked at the floor for a long moment before answering, "Yes."
Now he would laugh at her, tell her she was a silly girl. Or worse, tell her she probably wasn't going to Impress.

"You know, most people don't Impress their first time." He knew he had been one of the few lucky exceptions, especially in Impressing one of the rare bronzes. "There's no shame in being left at a Hatching, and nothing to stop you from trying again. Just because you might not Impress the first time doesn't mean your chances are gone. Or are you afraid of something else?"

"No," she lied. "I don't want to look like a fool, left out there all alone."

"Well, I can guarantee you, you won't be alone." Many candidates would be left Standing. Many who had been left many times before. "And no one will think you a fool. You'd have every right to feel disappointed, but no one would blame you or think less of you. You're young yet. You will have plenty of chances and lots of time. Just because a dragon doesn't chose you the first time out doesn't mean that you are not meant to be a rider. It could just mean yours hasn't been Clutched yet.
That's all."

Or it could mean you weren't good enough. "My ... someone told me that having a rider in the family increases your chances. Is that true?"

"It can," he nodded. "It doesn't guarantee it, but it does seem to run in families. It certainly doesn't guarantee it will happen any quicker, though."

So N'vanik hadn't lied to her. "Well, that's something."

"I will tell you what I recommend to all my candidates. Take up a craft or some kind of occupation. Find something you're interested in doing.
It makes passing the time easier, and softens the blow if you don't Impress right away. At least you have something to fall back on in the mean time." And something to fall back on if it never happened for her.
"Is there a craft that you're interested in learning?"

"A ... craft? I never really thought about it." It was an interesting idea, though -- to be able to do something other than proper female duties like sewing and cleaning and taking care of squalling brats.

"You don't have to keep up with it after you Impress if you don't want to, but it certainly would give you something to do until then. And besides, even dragonriders can be crafters. I myself am a journeyman,"
he said, pointing to the knot on his shoulder. "It's more a hobby than anything at the moment, but some riders are still very dedicated to their crafts."

The idea was appealing, in large part because it was supposed to be forbidden. Her grandfather never would have allowed her to craft, even in the few Halls that allowed females. "So how do I do that? How do I become an apprentice?"

"The first step is to decide which craft you are interested in. If you're not sure, we can discuss the options and try to help you make a choice. Once you've decided which one you'd like to try, you go to the Weyrcrafter and request to be considered to be an apprentice."

She nodded. "Ok. I'll ... I'll think about it."

He gave her a small smile and a satisfied nod. "Good then. Now hurry up or you'll be late for your next class."

Last updated on the July 3rd 2008

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

What's The Trick?