New Kid on the Block

Writers: Chelle, Paula
Date Posted: 1st May 2013

Characters: Rhosyn, B'jon
Description: The Weyrwoman meets the new candidate.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 1, day 11 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Solieira

Bedjon had been called to the Weyrwoman's office. He had also been told that Goldriders interviewing candidates for their clutch was normal procedure. He still worried when he knocked.

"Who's there?" she called though she had a pretty good idea of who it was. The Weyrwoman had finally gotten herself healed up and back on duty so she was taking care of business. Too much to do.

"Candidate Bedjon, ma'am!" Bedjon replied promptly.

"Come in please," she replied before shifting around the hides that were piled on her desk to find the right one. Since the flight the searchriders had been bringing in new candidates and of course Rhosyn wanted to meet them all.

Bedjon walked in, just hoping he didn't show how he was trembling inside his boots.

"Have a seat, Bedjon. So you're from a farmhold, have 17 turns, and no craft. Why did you come to the Weyr?" She always thought that was a good question to lead with since it answered many more and told her a lot about these young people. Rhosyn also didn't bother introducing herself since the boy obviously knew who she was.

"Cause I was Searched?" Bedjon replied, feeling that it was inadequate answer.

"And what else? Just because you were Searched didn't mean you had to accept it? Why would a holdboy like you come here?" Rhosyn was digging. She didn't know what the answer was, but she might have had a suspicion.

"Because My dad and I agreed that Weyr is better place for me. I'm not the kind of man who marries and produces a horde of children," Bedjon replied. Biting his lip he admitted, "I had a relationship with the man who dad hired to work on the fields. I ended it but he didn't want to leave me alone."

**And so his father sent him here to avoid the shame** Rhosyn put her hand flat on the desk. "Well Bedjon, are you healthy? Have you seen the healers?" She tried to find the right Record, but would rather him tell her so.

"Yes, and yes," Bedjon replied and gave her a smile. He looked younger than his 17 turns and he could only be called cute.

"How's your work ethic?" Hazel eyes watched the boy, looking for muscle. Rhosyn herself had been raised in a farmhold before being fostered. She knew what hard work it meant if one did their duties. Farmers made good riders.

"I'm used to work hard. My main duty was tending the animals, feed them and care for them. That included helping with births or giving them care if they were sick. Of course I did other farm work too," Bedjon replied. He was slender but not a frail looking. He had the leanness of a person who worked physically for his living and ate healthily.

"Mmm any problems with being bossed around?" She didn't think so from speaking to him, but it was worth asking.

"No, ma'am,no problems," Bedjon replied.

"Any irrational fears of anything or previous injuries to note?" Always good to get some of that though it was hard to really delve into the histories of candidates before you got to know them. Most of them were very reticent about offering things up, especially if they had something to hide.

"Nope. Hmm, I broke my leg when I was twelve and had serious fever as a kid, around four turns old," Bedjon replied.

She glanced at his leg, seeing it was straight and seemed to be healed fine. Of course the healers would catch it when they did his physical if he had issues bearing weight. "What do you know about dragonriding?"

"Nothing much. Only what I learned during the harper lessons and what I have managed to learn during the candidate classes," Bedjon replied with a grin.

"Well in many ways it's not a rewarding career. We work many hours, don't get much rest, risk our lives quite often, and generally don't get much appreciation for it. However, bonding with a dragon makes it worth it for most. Then again, you do have to get used to having another being inside your head-able to see your thoughts. And some of us get hurt." The boy needed to know. She hated to put candidates on the Sands, only to find out they were too cowardly.

"Well, mucking out barn and scraping your livelihood out from dirt isn't glorious, appreciated work either, but somebody has to do it if we want to eat. And you can get hurt in farmwork too, my uncle is good example. He managed to swing a hoe to his own foot. It got so badly infected that healers were forced to amputate it. So, that's nothing new to me." Bedjon had no unrealistic expectations from the life.

"Aye but cutting something off and being eaten alive...very different," Rhosyn said quickly, still watching his reaction.

"I've seen a burrow once," Bedjon said and shivered a bit. It was a horrifying thought.

"Good, fear and respect for the enemy is a good thing to have." That was satisfying to see. Rhosyn knew that most had never even seen a burrow before they came. "Allright Bedjon I'll give you your chance. You'll need to do well in your candidate lessons, perform your chores for the Headwoman, and whatever else is required. See the healers for your exam and stay healthy."

"Yes, ma'am," Bedjon replied promptly and respectfully.

Last updated on the May 2nd 2013

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

New Kid on the Block