Rights and Responsibilities

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 26th May 2006

Characters: M'galec, Abrei
Description: M'galec confronts Abrei over her interference with Felarin, and it doesn't go well. At all.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 11, day 27 of Turn 3

Abrei

The bronzerider didn't even think about propriety as he stormed in the Weyrhealers office and slammed the door painfully behind him. "Just who in Faranth's name do you imagine you are?!"

Abrei had been expecting such an outburst, though perhaps not quite at this volume. Still, she set her file down and raised an eyebrow at M'galec as if she had no idea what he was talking about. "I'm Master Abrei, Weyrhealer of River Bluff Weyr."

"That is right. You are _just_ a healer!" He planted his fists on her desk and loomed over her. "Just what in that title give you _any_ right at all to believe you have any say in the training of weyrlings or candidates? Or is it that you just think this entire Weyr is your little play thing?"

"I'm not interested in the training of the weyrlings or the candidates,"
Abrei replied, marveling that her voice was still calm. "Just in their health."

"And yet you seem to think that you can tell a candidate to disregard my orders and tell the Headwoman the duties that I _specifically_ assigned him were a _mistake_? Where exactly do you think you have a right to step in?
Was his chores causing him physical strain? Was his health at risk?" He narrowed his eyes and leaned in closer as he growled, "Or is it just that you think that since you screwed me on your office floor you have some sort of prerogative to screw with me everywhere else?"

Abrei ground her teeth together and counted slowly to ten. One hundred might have been a better number for keeping her temper, but ten would get him out of her face faster. "You will speak to me in a rational, mature fashion, or you will leave this infirmary and not come back unless you're a patient."

"The unfortunate thing is, Master Abrei, I _am_ being rational and mature.
That is the only reason I can see for your purposefully undermining my authority in areas where you have absolutely _no_ authority yourself. And you sharding well better explain yourself before I report you for meddling in the training of candidates, which is most definitely not your affair. I very much doubt you can hide behind your masters knots when the lives of dragonriders are involved."

"So Felarin had been given punishment for something to do with his dragonrider training?" Abrei asked in a perfectly pleasant voice. "If so, I'm afraid I was misled. I was informed that he was being punished for not keeping an appointment assigned to him by one of my journeymen."

"The reason he was punished was because he disobeyed a direct order from a Weyrlingmaster Second, something he will have to learn he cannot do as a rider. The respect for rank and authority must be maintained or people die.
You of all people should know that, though I am starting to see that you do not," he added with a sneer. "And he will keep that appointment or I will recommend that he not Stand. It may be just a simple case of hereditary snoring, but we _sharding_ well better be sure. What if its allergies? What if its a constant post-nasal drip that he doesn't know about? A sinus infection? Tonsil infection? What if its a sinus malformality? Do you have _any_ idea what sinus problems can do to you in high altitude flying?"

Abrei ignored most of his reply, folding her hands on his desk. "The Weyrlingmaster Second does not have the authority to make decisions about healing in this Weyr. I'm sure if you ask J'an, he will tell you the same thing." M'galec snorted. "A Weyrlingmaster Second who does not know about healing would not, I agree, but I _do_ know what multiple rapid pressure changes can do to a person's nasal system. And so should you. But this is not even about medicine, and that is the crux of the problem. This is about you stepping _way_ over your bounds without even _discussing_ it with the Weyrlingmaster Second. This is about you acting yet _again_ in a highly unprofessional manner. It seems to be a real problem with your tenure as Weyrhealer here."

Again she did her best to ignore the personal insults, though he was very skilled at figuring out exactly what to say to hurt her the most. But every accusation of unprofessionalism just made her more determined not to lose her temper. "Perhaps it would be wise for us to sit down with J'an and Tsaera and discuss the conflict of interest you seem to be suffering. I'm afraid it's not acceptable for you to spend time in this infirmary as a healer if you're going to use your position as Weyrlingmaster Second to inform me that I have no right to dictate what you do as a healer." "In this infirmary you do have that right. Outside of it, you most certainly have _no_ right to dictate what I do. And is it my imagination, or has the boy's health suddenly dropped out of this conversation all together? You have not said a single word about the point I have made regarding the potential health problems. Are you going to suggest that it would _not_ be wise to know of any potential health problems that his snoring could be a symptom of? Or is this not even about your skills as a healer anymore?"

Frustration took over. "How can you possibly think that you're being professional about this when you haven't managed a single statement yet that didn't have some sort of backhanded insult in it? You can rant until your face turns blue about what a terrible healer and lousy woman and horrible lover I am, but I am _not_ going to let you walk all over me just because you're capable of being cruel." "Then just answer the sharding question," he said as his voice grew ominously quieter. "Is it, or is it not wise to be _sure_ that the candidate's snoring is not a symptom of a potential health problem _before_
he Impresses a fighting dragon?"

"Your assumption that I haven't already done so is insulting," Abrei replied sharply. "The reason I am not discussing Felarin's medical situation is because I have already dealt with it. And disparage my abilities as you like, I gave up everything in my life for twenty turns to earn my knots and my place. I may have a lot to learn about dealing with people outside of my infirmary, but don't you dare _ever_ imply that I would put anyone under my care at risk for any reason." "Good," M'galec nodded, ignoring her rant. "Then I need to see the report of your findings."

"Was that an order from the Weyrlingmaster Second, or the journeyman healer?" Abrei asked in a dangerously quiet voice. "Why, it was not an order at all, Master Abrei," the bronzerider said with a sweet smile. "But if I do not have a record that clears Felarin from you, I will either have to get the specialist to do or, or do it myself."

"Don't worry," Abrei replied with a smile every bit as sweet. "I'll be going over the report with J'an. You're dismissed, journeyman, and I'd advise you to not verbally abuse anyone else in my infirmary the way you did me today.
I won't accept it." "That will be fine. I will check with J'an and make sure that it is done,"
the bronzerider nodded. "And Felarin will be back on his duties in the morning, with an extra essay detailing rank in the Weyr including what rights and responsibilities a Weyrhealer is _supposed_ to be attending to so I can be sure this kind of misunderstanding does not happen again. Do not even think of undermining my authority a second time, Weyrhealer. For the time being, I will forget about this little incident. Good day." He stood up to his full height with a dismissing nod and walked back out the door.

Abrei groaned and let her head fall to her desk, wondering if anyone would come running if she screamed her frustration. Probably... which meant she'd be best off taking her anger outside. A long walk on the beach and a few satisfying curses would hopefully soothe her temper. And then she'd find J'an and tell him _just_ what she thought about his 'second. Politely, of course.

Of course.

Last updated on the May 28th 2006

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