Here To Stay

Writers: Devin, Heather
Date Posted: 31st January 2014

Characters: Saibra, N'vanik, Ki'ben
Description: Saibra and the Weyrleader have a chat
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 17 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Cyradis, Meledei, R'enh, D'hol

Saibra

N'vanik

Ki'ben

Saibra felt as if she were falling into a nice niche at Dolphin Cove
and that feeling only served to reassure her that moving her family
from Far Island had been a good idea. So far Saibra had found the
people of Dolphin Cove to be helpful and hard working. She enjoyed
working with Cyradis, a Weyrwoman she felt she could work with, and
one who was a good role model. And then there was Meledei, someone
that Saibra could foresee becoming a close friend, or younger sister,
perhaps.

Then there were the bronzeriders of Dolphin Cove, mainly, R'enh and
D'hol. R'enh, the charming bronzerider who Saibra felt an easy
connection with, and no small amount of physical chemistry. He was
nice, unassuming, and sweet. Saibra liked that. And then there was
D'hol. Darker, with a more dry sense of humor, and good sarcastic wit.
Regardless of what the rumor mill said, Saibra felt as if she could
make a friend out of the Wingleader.

That left only one person that Saibra still felt was a mystery- the
Weyrleader. N'vanik had been the least welcoming so far. Not that he
was rude or mean to her, no, just absent really. Saibra wondered if he
had disagreed with her coming to Dolphin Cove for the Weyrwoman's
Second position. No matter, she wanted a good working relationship
with her Weyrleader.

With that in mind, Saibra smiled when she noted the empty chair next
to N'vanik at the breakfast table that morning. It was the perfect
opportunity to have some conversation with the man, whom she guessed
to be about the same age as herself.

"Good morning Weyrleader." Saibra said, taking the seat beside of him
as she motioned to a drudge.

"Morning Saibra," he said, a bit surprised at the unexpected guest.
"How are you settling in?"

"I think things are going well. Everyone has been helpful and
welcoming." She thanked the drudge that brought her the hot cereal
sprinkled with cinnamon.

"Good. We're glad to have you. We've been looking for a good 'Second
for a while." He sipped his klah, wondering what kind of person she
really was. An interview could only give you the sense of a person,
and it wasn't always accurate.

A hint of playfulness came into Saibra's eyes as she glanced sideways
at N'vanik, "Well don't worry, you picked the best one for the job."
There was a tease in her low, throaty drawl. When she looked up it was
to see Kaibren running through the Dining Cavern in her direction. His
foster mother trailed behind, and when she caught sight of Saibra she
waved to the Weyrwoman's Second and then turned and left. It was
Saibra's day with her son and she smiled at the welcome figure of the
sandy-haired boy as he trotted up to the table.

"Mama, can we go swimming today?" Kaibren asked, with that annoying
whiny tone that made Saibra's teeth grate. Some days Kaibren acted
like the boy of ten Turns that he was, and other days he regressed to
more childlike means. It was usually those days that Kaibren was more
clingy as well.

"We'll see, first, mind your manners and say hello to the Weyrleader."
Saibra instructed with raised eyebrows. She believed in etiquette.

Kaibren peered around his mother, a little solemnly at first, before
extending his hand to N'vanik, "Hello, Weyrleader sir."

"Hello." He shook the boy's hand. "What's your name?"

"Kaibren, sir." He said, with the same solemn expression as before.
Then he turned away from the bronzerider and looked at his mother,
"Can we go now, mama? I said hello."

Saibra chuckled out loud, "You go on up to the weyr and get ready,
I'll be right behind you as soon as I am finished."

The boy bobbed his head and scampered off. Saibra looked back at
N'vanik, "My apologies, he's never been quite the same since his
father died."

"I imagine that must be tough." Although if his own father had died,
he might have thrown a party. "Do you think the move might be good for
him?"

"I hope so. He's a good boy in many aspects, but he is just so
dependent on me- clingy even. I want him to gain more independence. As
much as I would love to keep him at my side, I may go in the next
Threadfall, and he needs to be able to continue on without me." Saibra
said.

"That's what foster parents are for." He took a sip of klah.
"Hopefully he'll bond with his fostermother."

Saibra nodded, "I think it will help as well when he is old enough to
have to begin in a craft. That way he will have something to occupy
his time other than me." Although really she hoped that both of her
children Impressed, especially Kaibren. K'fel would have been so proud
to have his son become a dragonrider.

"Does he have any interests yet?"

"He enjoys building things and whittling so I wouldn't be surprised if
he shows an interest in being a woodcrafter." Saibra told the
Weyrleader.

N'vanik smiled. "I was a woodcraft apprentice for a while. Not a very good one."

Saibra's teeth flashed with yet another smile, "Well it is a good
thing you Impressed then, Weyrleader."

"Does your boy have any interest in Impressing?" Sometimes he was
aware of how much better he'd gotten at small talk. Not that he was
great at it, but it came easier now.

"He does," Saibra admitted, "he hopes to be a brownrider just like his
father was and work with the Weyrlings some day." K'fel had been a
great Weyrlingmaster's Second and truly enjoyed being able to instruct
future dragonriders.

The Weyrleader nodded and sipped at his klah. "How long until he can Stand?"

"In two Turns he'll be twelve. I am sure he will want to be a
Candidate as soon as he is able. I don't blame him, it gives him
longer to have the opportunity of Impressing." Saibra knew that it
would be a bitter pill to swallow for Kaibren if he did not find a
lifemate amongst the dragons.

Many of the weyr's children thought the same way. "Ah, so a while
before I can cheer him on the Sands. Your daughter is older, right?"

"Yes, Saidrene is fifteen. She'll be Standing against at the next
Hatching. She's been Standing ever since she was old enough. Hopefully
she will have more luck here at Dolphin Cove. Saidrene has such
potential as a dragonhealer, it would be a shame if she could not
continue her training for lack of a dragon partner." Saibra could
empathize with her daughter's feelings since she was also a
dragonhealer.

"And we can always use more dragonhealers," he said. "So, what do you
do for fun?"

Saibra quirked her eyebrows, "Oh, a bit of this and that. I enjoy
swimming immensely, and getting to know people around the Weyr." The
Weyrwoman's Second found observing other people, and establishing
relationships to be enjoyable and one of her favorite things to do.

"Getting to know people should be easy for a goldrider. Well, easy to
meet them at least." Even easier than it was for a bronzerider.

The woman raised her shoulders, "Not as easy as people think. Most
assume that a goldrider is 'too busy' to talk to them. Unless I
approach people for a conversation I rarely have people approach me...
Unless Chioneth is near rising." She smiled a little at that. Saibra
always enjoyed those few sevendays leading up to Chioneth's flight
because the bronzeriders really came out for that.

N'vanik chuckled. "I could spread the word, if you like. Let people
know you'd love to meet them."

"Oh no, Weyrleader, then I am afraid of who all I might meet. I'll
continue to hang back and pick and choose." Saibra responded with a
chuckle of her own.

"Ah, good point. Well, I hope you find friends here and start thinking
of Dolphin Cove as home." **And not leave.** N'vanik also hoped her
gold rose soon. They'd need a new batch of weyrlings to make up for
Elleth's tiny clutch.

Saibra smiled, "You know, N'vanik, in many ways I already do."

Last updated on the February 1st 2014

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Here To Stay