Something’s Up With B’lyse

Writers: Aaron, Devin, Len
Date Posted: 14th October 2024

Characters: B'lyse, R'lor, Sh'del
Description: R’lor figures out B’lyse’s secret
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 11, day 28 of Turn 11

R'lor

Even before the boy Impressed, R'lor had noticed there was something off about B'lyse. Quiet, maybe shy, a little slow to respond. The answers he gave were simple, sometimes vague. R'lor had wondered if C'rand was helping him cheat, because B'lyse's written assignments were fine. They _were_ romantically involved -- although paused for weyrlinghood -- and C'rand was helpful, but R'lor found it hard to believe C'rand was the type for cheating. Helping B'lyse, certainly, but not doing the work for him.

There was always a delay when B'lyse was called on in class. Always a delay when a command was given in drills. And yet when they started using hand signals, suddenly there was no delay at all. B'lyse learned the signals faster than anyone in class.

And that was when R'lor's concerns became a suspicion.

As he dismissed the class from drills, R'lor said, "B'lyse, please come speak with me."

When Azureth relayed R'lor's directive, B'lyse began to fret. He hated when he had to speak to the instructors alone, and he already wondered what he had done wrong. But. After having gotten away with pretending to be hearing all this time, he never suspected he had finally been found out.

"Yes, sir?"

Sh’del was speaking with a few lingering weyrlings when he caught the tone of R’lor’s voice. Something was up. “Lads, time to get to your afternoon chores,” he said to three boys, waving them out of the scene. After they left he walked over to R’lor.

R'lor looked at B'lyse for a moment. "You seem to do perfectly well when you can _see_ what you need to do but . . . is there something you need to tell me, B'lyse? Something you failed to mention when you you were Searched?"

Once Azureth had finished relaying what R'lor said, B'lyse turned... well, not pale, exactly. He was born an islander and still lived on the sunny shore. But, ashen, perhaps.

"Was there something you had in mind, sir?"

R'lor's eyes narrowed a fraction. "Honesty would be a good start, Weyrling."

}:I think he already knows,:{ said Azureth.

"Are you going to send me away?" asked B'lyse. Or hit him, maybe. Flog him? They had never flogged Ç'pier. Or sent him away. B'lyse had never lied, exactly. He just had not been fully forthcoming. There was a difference, right? That did not stop the tears from forming.

Sh’del reached over and squeezed the boy on the shoulder in a fatherly motion. “It’s okay lad, just tell us the truth.”

Once Azureth had relayed what Sh'del said, the tears began to fall.

"I'm sorry," he sobbed. Why had he thought he could get away with this? He was a liar, just like Ç'pier, after all. "I had a bad firehead when I was young. It made it hard to hear. I just didn't want you to send me away. My father hit me, and I ran, and I didn't want you to make me go back to him, I'm sorry. I'm sorry." He reflexively signed [[I'm sorry,]] over and over as he cried.

Azureth crooned sadly.

Loranth glided over to stand with the blue. }:It’s okay, it’ll be okay.:{ At the same time Sh’del loosened his grip and wrapped his arm around the much slighter lad’s shoulders. “You’re safe B’lyse.” He looked over to R’lor to speak.

R'lor sighed. B'lyse hadn't been fit to Stand and should never have been a Candidate in the first place. But R'lor couldn't regret that Azureth had found his lifemate and he couldn't blame B'lyse for being scared. "No one is going to send you away. I just wish you had been honest with us before." He glanced over at Azureth. The dragon must be repeating things for his rider, which would explain the delays in B'lyse answering questions or following orders.

"You wouldn't have let me have him..." B'lyse said softly once he had regained his composure. How sorry could he be about that? "But I can do it. I can fight! We won't let you down!"

"I'll have to report this to the Weyrleader." R'lor dreaded having to bring yet another issue to N'vanik. "He'll have the final say on whether you're capable of flying Thread."

“Regardless, you’re safe here, B’lyse” Sh’del empathised safe with another squeeze on B’lyse’s shoulders. What he’d like to do to half these kids’ Holder parents if given a chance… “As you know, here’s more to being a rider than fighting Thread. We’re always in need of a good assistant in the Weyrlingmaster staff, and there’s the crafts. I hear you’re pretty good at the Smithy. Regardless of what N’vanik says, there’s always a role for you here.”

}:They don't think we can...:{ Azureth repeated the weyrlingmasters to B'lyse, and the young man sagged.

"I'll show him. And you. I didn't steal a dragon. I can do it," B'lyse insisted.

"You didn't steal a dragon. Azureth chose you," the Weyrlingmaster said. "But we have to consider your safety and the safety of your future wingmates." Much as he wanted to reassure B'lyse, he needed to be practical. "You use hand signs?"

"Yes... That's the easiest way," said B'lyse. "But up there, in the wind, nobody can hear any better than I can! That's why we're learning the rider hand signals, isn't it?"

"That's right. We use hand signals and communicate through our dragons," R'lor said. "But for now we're doing ground drills, and you have class instructions. Unfortunately I don't have time to learn all the signs, but you can teach me a few of the most common ones. Does C'pier know how to sign?"

B'lyse instinctively scowled at hearing Azureth repeat Ç'pier's name. He did not usually use other people's names, but when he was repeating for B'lyse, he said everything verbatim, including names.

"He knows how to sign," B'lyse confirmed. He almost wished he had never taught him. But then, he never would have made it to the weyr. It was strange to be so averse to the idea of Ç'pier interpreting classes for him openly when he would have been so grateful for it not all that long ago.

}:You don't want to hate him.:{

**Of course, I don't. But how can I not? He tried to kill someone and then blamed it on me.** Not exactly, but close enough.

}:You miss him.:{

**It doesn't matter.** B'lyse missed his father, too, but he was never going back to him, either.

"Tell you what, lad," Sh'del said, "After your afternoon chores why don't you pop over in my office and begin to teach me these hand signs." R'lor was a busy man, in the very least Sh'del could ease some of both the man's and this lad's burden. "I might bring L'fael in too, he can learn them, plus he can speak directly to your blue. Does C'rand know them? Do you have any particular weyrlings you'd like to teach too?"

B'lyse blushed when he heard Azureth repeat C'rand's name.

"I was teaching C'rand before we Impressed, but we haven't had the same kind of time to practice since. He knows some, but not like... like Ç'pier. I'll teach anyone who wants to learn," he said. The thought of being able to really communicate with so many different people was almost overwhelming.

R'lor nodded. "C'pier can interpret for you in class." He filed away the information that C'rand had also been lying by omission. He should probably punish both of them, but he didn't really have the heart. "Would you like to tell your fellow weyrlings about your difficulty hearing, or should I?"

B'lyse squinted at R'lor.

"Whatever you think is best." Did he expect the others to be just as upset with him as he was? Hoping for a little resentment? Did he think he was just a slightly less bad Ç'pier now?

Sh'del sighed at those words from R'lor and from the way the boy's shoulders stiffened under his arm. He too narrowed his eyes slightly at R'lor. Surely there was a kinder way to state that question. Well, there was. "Tell you what lad, come to my office after your chores. I will organise some of the weyrlings to also meet in my office and we will both begin to learn these signs so you are no longer alone in your own thoughts, and of of_them_can inform the rest of the weyrlings of your physical disability, and perhaps we can all have a talk about what makes us different and what makes us similar."

"I think we should discuss this in class so everyone hears it at the same time." R'lor looked between B'lyse and Sh'del. "It's not a punishment, it's information they all need to have. You can teach signing to anyone who wants to learn, but I don't want it interfere with your studying. Training has to be your priority." R'lor didn't want him falling behind. "Once the class is flying and using hand signals regularly, if your performance is strong I'll consider having you lead a trio."

B'lyse's eyes widened. A leader. Him? Perhaps R'lor really was going to give him a chance to show he could do this.

"Ç'pier... could teach, too," he admitted begrudgingly. "If anyone will listen to him." That way B'lyse could keep his focus on his training.

R'lor nodded. "Your fellow Weyrlings also need to focus on their studies. You and C'pier can teach them a few basics, for now." Then he had an idea. "C'pier can teach Assistant R'ayl." The lad was bright and eager.

B'lyse nodded. He wanted to frown. R'ayl was such a good-hearted kid, he would probably even be nice to Ç'pier. But he did not want R'lor to think he was being sour.

"Yes, sir."

"On that note, you've got chores to do and R'lor and I have a weyrleader to talk to." Sh'del gave B'lyse an gentle push towards his dragon.

Last updated on the October 17th 2024

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