Not Limited to Dragon Colour
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: Devin
Date Posted: 26th November 2025
Characters: R'lor, N'vanik
Description: N’vanik talks to R’lor about his plan to tell the green and blueriders about going /between/ times.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 11, day 5 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: M’gan, R’ayl, Z’kim, Sh’del
The Weyrleader looked very serious and R’lor wondered what was going on as he poured them both klah.
“Thanks,” N’vanik muttered as he took the offered mug. He’d rather have something alcoholic but it was still early in the day. After taking a sip, he decided to just plunge into it. “M’gan came back the other night.”
“I’d heard,” R’lor said, though no one seemed to know where he’d been or why.
“He sharding timed it.” N’vanik described what happened the previous evening, and their discussion this morning, including M’gan’s refusal to explain why he’d gone back in time. “I don’t get it. He was so . . . steady and sensible before. It’s like the wrong M’gan came back.” Was that possible?
“That is concerning.” R’lor had long suspected it was possible to go /between/ times, but it wasn’t until he became Weyrlingmaster and N’vanik revealed the truth to him that he’d finally gotten it confirmed. It had been . . . troubling to learn that it wasn’t only the leadership that knew, but that every gold, bronze, and brownrider was taught about timing it in weyrlinghood while the blue and greenriders were left in ignorance. That _he’d_ been left in ignorance even after being promoted to Weyrlingmaster Third.
“I’m so flaming pissed at him. Pulling a stunt like a weyrling with no sense.” N’vanik wanted to wring his stupid neck. “Speaking of weyrlings . . .” he said a little warily. He had a feeling R’lor might not like this. “I think we should start teaching _all_ the weyrlings, including the blue and greenriders, about the ability to go /between/ times. And M’gan can be an example of why you _don’t_ do it.”
The Weyrlingmaster frowned, trying to sort through his thoughts.
“I know that look. You’re not happy about it, are you?” N’vanik said. “You think we should keep it restricted to metallics and browns?” He found that more than a little surprising.
“It’s not that, sir. I don’t think we should be teaching it at all. At least not until they’re older and more mature. Even the oldest weyrlings are just kids and prone to making bad choices.” Every time R’lor taught that class, he was waiting for someone to try it, no matter how many warnings he gave.
“And yet M’gan is in his fifties.” N’vanik still couldn’t believe he’d done something so stupid. “The idea that some riders are more level-headed and responsible because of their dragon’s color is . . .” N’vanik shook his head.
“I agree with you there, sir.”
“The thing is, I’ve wanted to change the rules for a while. But when I first became Weyrleader I decided it wasn’t worth the fight when I had so much else to deal with, and then it just sort of fell off the list.” N’vanik took a sip of klah. “What’s always worried me is that once we start teaching the weyrlings to /between/, all it takes is one really clear visual of something in the past and then whoosh, gone. If they’re lucky, they don’t panic and they can manage to make it back. If not . . .”
R’lor thought of R’ayl picturing his cothold as it had been before it was burned down, and the Weyrlingmaster’s stomach turned to ice. “That’s a very good point, sir.”
“Just like now, we emphasize how dangerous it is. Going /between/ times is an accident they need to avoid, not a neat trick.” For all the stunts he’d pulled as a young rider, N’vanik had never tried to time it. The only things he’d wanted to change were impossible " saving his mother and baby brother, saving himself from a hard life.
“I’m still not sure about this,” R’lor said, though it had also never sat right with him that blue and greenriders were left out.
“I’m gonna tell all the other blue and greenriders, so it makes more sense for you to teach all the kids at the same time.”
R’lor let out a small sigh. He knew how hard it was to change the Weyrleader’s mind once it was made up. “Will you at least give me some time to decide how best to approach this?”
N’vanik nodded. “We can tell the senior weyrlings after they graduate, and the juniors have some time until they get to that lesson.”
“More class materials to update.” The Weyrlingmaster sighed louder this time. “I already have to change the lessons on dragonrider sexuality _again_ thanks to you.” His heart beat faster at daring to make a joke about N’vanik’s relationship with Z’kim.
But the Weyrleader only laughed. “Never expected to break _that_ rule, but here I am.”
“Sir, would I be prying if . . .” R’lor hesitated.
“Go ahead and ask, I don’t mind.” Then N’vanik had a thought. “Actually, how about you come over tonight and we can chat? Sh’del can watch the kids.”
R’lor’s first instinct was to ask if he was sure, but he didn’t want to question such a generous offer. “That . . . sounds good, sir.”
“And you better drop the ‘sir’ when you’re there,” N’vanik said with a smile.
“Yes, si" er, I will.” R’lor had so many questions he might have to write them down to remember it all.
“Good, I’ll see you then.”
Last updated on the December 30th 2025