The Next Step
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Suzee, Yvonne
Date Posted: 10th March 2015
Characters: Cyradis, Ricker
Description: Ricker requests a favour from the Weyrwoman
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 11, day 5 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: N'vanik, Taine
The windmill on the hill was looking more like a windmill. Ricker stepped back to admire his work and wiped his sweaty forehead with the kerchief he'd wrapped around his wrist.
A three-sided structure, this time sturdier after that lesson with hurricanes. It was as tall as a gold dragon, lashed together with iron bands that would probably corrode to nothing within a turn because of the salty air. Nothing to be done for it, although there had to be some rust-proof paint stashed away somewhere... At least this was a demonstration project. Perhaps he'd seek out a Smith later, see if there was an alloy that was as strong as steel and not as likely to rust.
The structure stood out like a middle finger on the top of the small hill he'd chosen, a new beacon in the landscape. The only thing it needed was the whirly on the top. And that was a task he was not looking forward to.
The blades and motor were built but lifting them was going to involve either building a crane, or hopefully a large, patient dragon who could carefully hold a bit of machinery steady and at an odd angle for at least a quarter of a candlemark or so. Assuming nothing went wrong with the installation. Although it was probably sensible to lay the wire first. That meant that once the windmill fan went up, they could show off the results of their work immediately to a flabbergasted Weyr population. Ricker rather liked that idea.
The Weyrwoman had said something about using werylings to dig a trench. That seemed sensible to Ricker, who had no desire to do the work himself if he could avoid it. Ditch digging was hard work, and it would be doubly so under the hot Dolphin Cove sun. He pondered a while longer, then wandered back toward the Weyr.
A quick bath later, and the Technician was trudging up the stairs that led to the Weyrwoman's office. The bath had been a waste; his shirt was sticking to his back by the time he'd reached her level, it was so hot. The Technician paused to catch his breath and fan himself before knocking on the Weyrwoman's office door. Hopefully she was in. He'd seen the flash of Panitath's golden wings in the early morning light as Cyradis had led her Wing in drills, but she could be anywhere by now.
Cyradis opened her door and immediately smiled. "Welcome Ricker," she said and stood aside to let him in then bustled to her sideboard. "Would you like a glass of citronaide? I have some that has been chilling in the back caves." The deeper one got into the Weyr's tunnels the cooler it was in the warmest parts of the day. Hopefully they'd be able to change that for the outside layers soon enough when they had the power.
"Thank you, Weyrwoman, if it's available." Citronaide after that many stairs sounded like bliss.
"Of course," she smiled and poured for them both. "So, what brings you here today?"
For a moment all he could do was watch the liquid fill the glass. Ricker swallowed. "Windmill. The windmill. It's back up after the hurricane, and I'm ready to start laying wire. You'd mentioned lending me some weyrlings to do the digging. I'm hoping the offer still stands? If not, I'd be equally happy assigned a few drudges with strong backs."
"Yes," she smiled and nodded. "I believe there are a few of our weyrlings that could use a little hard labor." She gritted her teeth wondering if maybe N'vanik would let her assign their most recent discipline problem. "But I believe their dragonets might like to do part of the work. Do you have the site marked for them to dig?"
"I should have the trench pegged out within a couple of days, maybe sooner if you know of a surveyor I could borrow. I'd like to run it about a quarter of a dragonlength from the main path running past the windmill hill to the entrance to the Technician's quarters, and from there I'll be talking to Master Taine about running wiring through the walls." He paused. "Until Master Taine has time, though, there may be some wiring run along the base of the hallway. I'll make sure it's tucked out of the way of the clumsy."
"Alright," she nodded. "When I was up in the north one of the technicians there placed fired pottery tubes to protect the wires then when there was an issue he could just take them apart, or break them to get to the problem. Have you ever done anything like that?"
Ricker nodded. "Standard practice. I'm running the specs for the piping to the Smiths after this, so that they can start producing the pipe to lay underground. By the time I've laid out the trench and the trench is dug, it should be ready."
"Excellent," she smiled back. It seemed they already had plans enough without her suggestions and that made her more confident in the outcome. Generations to come at Dolphin Cove would benefit from this project and for that, she was quite proud.
He took a moment to sip the citronaide and somehow half of it disappeared from the glass. "By your leave, then, I'll speak with the Weyrlingmasters to organize a workforce to dig. Maybe tomorrow, if that works well for you."
"It should work just fine," she smiled. "Tell you what," she said standing and walking back to her sideboard. Bringing back a bottle of her Citroncello she handed it to him. "That is much stronger than the juice. Share it with your fellow technicians.
He took the bottle with his eyebrows raised. "That is-- a very generous gift, Weyrwoman. Thank you. From all of us."
She winked and nodded. "Of course."
Last updated on the May 9th 2015