The Start of Hope

Writers: Halyonix, Heather
Date Posted: 2nd September 2024

Characters: W'ser, S'yen
Description: Syerin questions W'ser about joining the dragonhealers.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 12, day 2 of Turn 11

W'ser

S'yen

Notes:
~~~~~~~~

He waited until there came a day when he didn't draw the dirtiest of
Candidate chores in order to seek out the Weyrdragonhealer, who he
assumed kept some sort of office within the Infirmary. He should have
asked. He grumbled internally as he realized how stupid it was of him
not to ask. If this was a waste of his time...

"Is the Weyrdragonhealer in?" Syerin practically barked at a passing
person. Belated, he noticed their knots and realized that they
outranked him. "Sorry," he apologized with a meekness he did not feel.
"I was told to speak with him but I don't know to find him. If you
could help. Please."

"Well, you found him. _I_ am the Weyrdragonhealer, and you are?"
W'ser's eyebrow was arched.

Oh, shells and shards, what a way to begin! Syerin's expression
darkened, upset with himself. He should have asked that greenrider for
more information! "I...I'm Syerin. I was..." He paused, puffed out his
chest angrily, and all of the words suddenly spilled out. "Greenrider
Vaile suggested that I speak with you about becoming a dragonhealer,
since this is my last Turn standing as a Candidate and I will _not_ be
going back to the Holds."

"I see. Come this way, we'll chat." W'ser led the broody Candidate to
his office. On the walls were dragon anatomy drawings he had
commissioned from one of the Weyr's harper-artists. The shelves behind
his desk were lined with books and hides. "Have a seat," the
Weyrdragonhealer urged Syerin. "You say Vaile recommended you? How did
that come about?"

It took a moment for Syerin to answer that question. He had paused to
look at all of the drawings, fascinated. "These are all...real? This
is really what dragons look like, beneath?"

"That's right," W'ser confirmed, smiling a little. "Amazing isn't it?"

"A little bit," Syerin breathed. It was honestly quite amazing but he
didn't want to gawk like a kid. He was old enough to compose himself
better. He'd ask more about the drawings later. "Vaile, she..." he
started to answer, then paused to figure out how best to recount what
had happened. "I...was in the Infirmary after Threadfall and
greenrider Vaile recruited me to help with a dragon that had been
injured. She said that I had good hands." He made a face at himself.
This was going awkwardly. He huffed and blurted out, "I'm a Candidate,
sir, and I'm about to age out. I have no skills. I can't stay at the
Weyr, just hopping from bed to bed, even though I'm good at that, so
I'm looking for a skill that will _keep_ me here, so that I don't have
to go back to the Holds ever again. Vaile...said...suggested that I
talk to you."

"I understand," W'ser said, and truly, he did. Syerin was hardly the
first to be interested in the craft for the sheer need of staying at
Dragonsfall. "Did Vaile tell you that you'd only ever be able to
achieve the status of apprentice dragonhealer if you don't Impress?"

Syerin's scowled. "No. She...conveniently left that part out I guess,"
he said disdainfully. "Then it's stupid of me to even pursue it! No
one wants to be an apprentice all of their life!"

"An apprentice dragonhealer would get to live his entire life at the
Weyr," W'ser reasoned. "If you started as an apprentice dragonhealer
and never Impressed, you could always transfer to the healercraft
later. The beginning skill sets have a lot of crossover."

The Candidate was still scowling, even though W'ser had offered him a
crumb of logic and hope by pointing out that he would be staying at
the Weyr if he stayed on as dragonhealer. "Healer Hall would send me
to a Hold. I don't want that," he countered. Syerin didn't want to
heal people either. Most days he didn't even like people! Unless they
were naked men in his bed.

He raked his fingers through his hair. "I guess I'm screwed either way
if I don't Impress," he grumbled. "I can stay here but I can't get any
higher up the chain. I won't have a dragon so I get to be reminded of
that too. It's a whershite situation all around."

"Actually," W'ser interjected, not at all phased by the young man's
mood. "The Healer Hall doesn't have jurisdiction over sending Weyr
healers anywhere. You would answer to the Weyrhealer here at
Dragonsfall. You would only travel outside the Weyr if you wished.
But, why borrow trouble when there isn't any? Soon Chionth will rise,
a new clutch will be on the Sands, and you'll have another opportunity
for a dragon."

Sourly, Syerin grumbled, "Another chance to be disappointed, you
mean." He made a growling sound, trying to get himself together,
especially in front of someone so important. He pinned W'ser with a
determined and desperate gaze. "You mean that? I could go healer route
too and not be sent back to the Holds?"

"Absolutely," W'ser guaranteed. He opened his desk drawer and withdrew
a pair of apprentice dragonhealer knots. "So? Are you an apprentice
dragonhealer?"

The Candidate's head jerked back. "That's...that's all it takes? I say
I want to and you just...say yes? No test, no trial?"

"That's it," W'ser confirmed. "If you perform poorly or don't have
what it takes, I can always take them back." The corners of his eyes
crinkled. "Just make sure I don't have to take them back."

Syerin started to reach forward for the knots, paused, and then took them from W'ser's hand with such a grip that his knuckles turned white. It was a small hope, this thing he was holding on to. He hoped it didn't screw him over like everything else so far had.

"When do I start?" Syerin asked.

"You can report tomorrow. Journeywoman Rethelle will be expecting you." And from what he could tell, W'ser was certain that Rethelle might have her hands full with this apprentice.

Last updated on the September 5th 2024

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The Start of Hope