Shocking Lessons

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 2nd August 2005

Characters: Renner, Zanyar
Description: Renner and Zanyar have a chat about what has been bothering Zanie.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 7, day 3 of Turn 3

Renner rounded the corner towards the journeymen's sitting room when he noticed a man standing outside. Zanyar was the last man on Pern he wanted to face. Surely he would have noticed Zanie's mood as of late, and just as surely, he would find some way to blame Renner for it.

Zanyar had been about to open the door to the sitting room. He smiled at Renner and pulled the door open, gesturing him inside. "Renner. How are you today?"

"Fine, thank you Zanyar, and you?" Renner asked suspiciously as he slipped into the room past him.

"Oh, I'm not too bad..." Zanyar took a seat next to Renner and stretched his legs out. "A little worried about Zanie... she seems a little unhappy lately."

"Well, the news from Dolphin Cover has been a bit sobering for everyone." Renner replied as he watched the man out of the corner of his eye.

"Sobering indeed," Zanyar replied, shaking his head. "She said Dysali was injured."

Renner just nodded. He actually had not heard that bit of news. It would not be surprising though. So many had been injured and killed. "I think Zanie has had a shocking lesson in the reality of Weyr life."

Zanyar sighed, rubbing at the side of his face. "She's had enough shocking lessons recently... I'd hoped she wouldn't get any more for a while."

"Indeed." Renner conceded as he studied the man for a moment. "Her confidence had been growing recently. She did well out at Topaz Sea Hold."

The look on Zanyar's face changed from worried to proud. "I know. She's a smart girl... I just wish I could keep these things from happening to her."

"I suppose it is the same for every parent." Renner could imagine how Zanyar felt. He too wished he could protect Zanie from the realities of life.

Zanyar shrugged one shoulder. "I suppose it is. It was harder for me... I didn't really know much about raising a girl. Her mother died when she was so young."

"I think she has grown into a fine young woman." It almost galled Renner to admit that at least part of that was due to Zanyar and his raising of her.

"Thank you." Zanyar sighed again and shook his head. "I suppose she's ready to start experiencing these things on her own... she's a grown woman. But I can't help but want to keep her from making mistakes."

"Caring for the well-being of loved ones can surely not be considered a mistake."

"No... but there are other things..." Zanyar sighed. "Well, it's probably not anything I can do anything about."

"Other things?" Renner asked innocently. Did Zanyar _know_?

To Renner's surprise, Zanyar's thoughts were far away from any of his daughter's possible romantic entanglements. "Did she ever tell you about what happened to her during the storm?"

Renner shook his head, both relieved and curious. "Nothing detailed. Just that _something_ had happened."

"A mistake of judgement on her part... something that I couldn't save her from." Zanyar was looking at his hands, twisting his fingers together as he talked. "She nearly died because of it."

"She was trying to rescue someone, was she not?" Renner had talked about what had happened with the girl before, but she had not gone into specifics.

"She disobeyed the order of the Hallmaster as well as my order," Zanyar replied, his voice distant. "Someone else would have taken care of the rescue--but because of her actions, two people needed rescuing instead of one."

He nodded as he already knew as much. "Who was it she was trying to rescue?"

"Javynek. He was disoriented--a bump on the head." Zanyar shook his head. "He's six and a half feet tall and probably twice her weight. She wasn't strong enough--she _knew_ she wasn't strong enough. But they'd been close and she ignored common sense. And almost died."

Renner shook his head. "Her heart was in the right place. But yes, she should have known better. I think I should go over the rules of rescue one more time with my students. I does no one any good to be rescued by a drowning savior."

"Go over them again with Zanie," Zanyar replied a little sourly. Then he shook his head. "No, that's not fair... she knows what she did wrong. She won't do it again. I hope."

"Don't worry, Zanyar, Zanie is not without friends." He gave the man a half-smile. "She will be protected."

Zanyar watched the younger journeyman for a few moments before smiling suddenly. "I believe you might be right, Renner. And for what you've done to protect her... I thank you."

"It was my pleasure." Renner was a little unsettled by Zanyar's sudden change towards him. "Well, I suppose it is getting late."

"Have a good evening, Renner," Zanyar replied automatically. "I think I'll sit up for a little while longer... I suppose I have a lot to think about."

"Yes, well," Renner stood and gave him a polite nod, "good night then, Zanyar."

Last updated on the August 26th 2005

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Shocking Lessons