A Dangerous Ability

Writers: Devin, Estelle
Date Posted: 25th February 2026

Characters: R'lor, R'ayl
Description: R'ayl hears that timing is possible and has questions for R'lor
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 11, day 6 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: M'gan, Grevan, Enali

R'lor

The dining cavern had been buzzing with rumors at the evening meal. Apparently there'd been some kind of announcement at the wing meetings that day, and it had something to do with bronze Isarth and his rider appearing out of the blue. R'ayl had overheard some of the gossip, but if it was true, it seemed so enormous and unbelievable that he didn't know what to make of it. Going back into the past... The possibilities filled him with both fear and longing.

He slipped away early, unsure what he'd say to his mother or sister if he saw them, and went out for a walk by the lake. It was a warm, clear evening and the peace of it calmed him, though he found he wasn't alone. More than one green or bluerider was wandering by the shore or looking out over the water, lost in thought, and he wondered what bygone time they were thinking of.

Eventually, recalling other times when he'd come out here with troubled thoughts, he knew what he should do, and turned back towards the weyrling barracks and the Weyrlingmaster's office.

"R'ayl," R'lor said as the young assistant stepped in. "What can I do for you?"

"Sir." Now he was here, R'ayl's thoughts were so confused he hardly knew where to start. "I've been hearing people saying... Is it really true, that dragons can go /between/ to different times, as well as places?" Now he'd said it, it sounded unbelievable, like a story someone had spread as a prank, and he felt his cheeks flush.

R'lor sighed. He knew people were going to talk and spread this further than it should go. "Yes, it's true. But it's very, very dangerous. I was going to discuss this with the weyrlingstaff but it seems you've gotten this information early."

"Everyone's talking about it. Dragons, too," R'ayl said apologetically. "They're saying that M'gan, the bronzerider who disappeared, has actually done it. He told the Wings today, and the other Wingleaders backed him up. And that all the bronzeriders knew it was possible."

"Yes. Bronze, gold, and brownriders are taught about going /between/ times during weyrlinghood. I only learned about it when I became Weyrlingmaster," R'lor said. "M'gan went to the past, though I don't know where or why, and when he came back, it was months after he intended to. Which is why this ability is so dangerous. You can easily go to the wrong time, or disappear /between/ forever."

"Oh." The young bluerider looked down, and the brief light of hope that had been in his eyes faded. "I was thinking...that time when Delorth and I were practicing going /between/, and we wanted to go back to our cothold, even though it wasn't there any more, perhaps...we could have made it, and I..." Suddenly, his throat felt too tight to speak, to let out all the tumble of thoughts in his head.

"That's why I was so worried when you told me," R'lor said quietly. "I thought you might send Delorth that image, and he would try to get there and . . . I don't want to lose you, R'ayl."

"Maybe back then, we wouldn't have made it. It was our first time going /between/. But now - we can make good images, can't we?" He sounded almost as though he was pleading. "Everyone says so." He wasn't strong, or fast or brave, but he had his imagination.

R'lor's fear grew. "You might get a glimpse of your old home, or you might never come back. Please don't take that risk." He heard the waver in his voice as he thought of R'ayl disappearing /between/ forever.

"But it's not the cothold I want to see. I thought if I went back far enough, I could see..." How could he explain, when no one here but his family could understand his grief for someone who'd done what Grevan had? R'ayl's eyes brimmed with tears. "I could see my brother again. And maybe, if he met Delorth, and knew what my dragon meant to me, he'd make a different choice." His voice was hardly more than a whisper. "I could save him."

"You can't change your past, that's the paradox." R'lor said gently. R'ayl was such a sweet boy, it was easy to forget who his older brother was. "I don't know how it works, but in order for you to be here now, with Delorth, those terrible events had to happen. If you tried to stop any of that from happening, it wouldn't work. Most likely, you would be lost /between/ forever."

"But if there was even a chance?" R'ayl blinked, the tears spilling over and glistening on his cheeks. "Even if it meant that Delorth and I would...disappear...wouldn't I be a coward not to try?"

"Your life is worth more here. To your mother, your sister. To me." R'lor shook his head, fighting back tears. "Do you think the Weyrleader is a coward for not going back and stopping your brother? Do you think _I'm_ a coward for not trying to stop Delorth from being poisoned?"

"No, of course not, but...he was my brother." R'ayl tried to choke down his sobs. "He always looked after me. I loved him. What if it's my purpose to stop him doing what he did? Maybe that's why Delorth chose me. Not because I'd be a strong wingrider, I'll never be that, but because I could do this."

"I don't know why Delorth chose you, but I'm sure it wasn't to throw both your lives away. You can't save him, R'ayl," R'lor said firmly. "If there was a way to save the weyrlings I've lost, if I could save even _one_, I would. But even though dragons can travel to the past, we can't change things that have happened. Your purpose is ahead of you, not in trying to fix your brother's mistakes."

}:I would fly with you anywhere you ask me to go.:{ R'ayl sensed Delorth, curled up on his ledge in the last of the evening sunlight, his eyes glowing. }:But Kularth's rider is right. I don't know how to get to a past that was different from how it was.:{

The young bluerider shivered and tried to brush away the tears with the back of his hand, struggling for control. "I...I'm sorry." He understood now that he'd known, deep down, that Grevan was gone. "I k-know he did a terrible thing, but...I miss him." Maybe the Weyrlingmaster would think he was a terrible person, too, but he couldn't lie about how he felt.

}:You must never go to the past,:{ Kularth told Delorth. }:It is too dangerous.:{

"People are complicated," R'lor said. He hadn't been here when Grevan tried to murder that bronzerider, but the idea of anyone trying to kill a dragonrider was deeply disturbing to him. But to R'ayl, Grevan was the big brother that he'd lost. R'lor couldn't find it in himself to defend Grevan, but R'ayl was obviously hurting. "If you carry the best parts of your brother with you, then you can do the good in the world that he wasn't able to."

"I d-don't know if I can." R'ayl wondered what Grevan would have done, if he'd had the chance. Would he have married Enali, had a family? So much had been lost after what had happened. "He was s-so strong."

"And so are you," R'lor told him gently. "Your strength is in your heart. Your kindness."

The young rider sniffed and rubbed his eyes again. "B-but...since I've come here, I haven't been any use at all. Other people have had to save me. I've never fought Thread. I couldn't even help Delorth when he was sick." He could hardly bring himself to mention the poisoning.

}:Not true!:{ Delorth said staunchly. }:We have flown firestone to the Wings. We have found Candidates for the eggs, and we have helped other weyrlings in their training. Isn't that right, Kularth?:{

}:Yes, you both serve the Weyr well,:{ Kularth agreed.

"You help me all the time, R'ayl," R'lor said. "You help me train the weyrlings. You give them someone closer to their own age that they might feel more comfortable approaching, sharing their worries or fears with. It doesn't need to be some grand heroic thing for it to matter." He leaned closer, meeting the young man's eyes. "You make me proud every day."

R'ayl sniffed again and managed a watery smile. "D-do you mean it?"

"Yes," R'lor said, firmly and without hesitation.

"Thank you." He made an effort and pulled himself together, though he couldn't help feeling ashamed. Dragonriders didn't sniffle like old aunties listening to a tragic ballad. "I'm sorry. It was a stupid idea. I'd never risk Delorth, I only thought..."

R'lor couldn't hold back anymore. He stood and stepped around the desk, opening his arms. "Come here."

The boy stepped into his arms, relief and gratitude filling his heart. Remembering his brother had always made him feel so alone, knowing he couldn't show his grief to anyone. No one but his mother and sister would regret Grevan's loss, and he'd never wanted to bring up painful memories for them by talking about it. But now he'd told the Weyrlingmaster, and he hadn't thought the worse of him. Perhaps he wouldn't always have to keep his secret.

"Thank you for..." He hesitated. "For understanding."

R'lor held him tight. "I'm always here for you."

"Thank you, sir," R'ayl said softly. He was quiet for a while, before eventually he spoke again. "I don't know what I should tell my mother. She's bound to find out."

"We aren't allowed to tell non-riders. I know it's hard to keep a secret like this, trust me." But with her being Headwoman and riders already talking openly enough that R'ayl had found out early, it was likely she'd overhear something. "If she does start asking questions, please tell her to speak with the Weyrwoman."

"Yes, sir." R'ayl didn't feel entirely comfortable about concealing the truth from his mother, but at least he wouldn't have to lie. "There's already a lot of rumors going around about M'gan coming back."

"I know," the Weyrlingmaster said with a sigh. "The Weyrleader believes all riders should know what happened and how dangerous that was. M'gan was very lucky he came back at all."

"I'd have been just as happy not to know," R'ayl said softly. "It makes everything so complicated. But I am glad M'gan made it back."

"So I am I." Even though R'lor had a lot of thoughts about him doing something so reckless in the first place.

"It must have been important..." Had M'gan wanted to save someone he cared about? R'ayl could only wonder. He straightened. "Thank you, Weyrlingmaster. I'm sorry I bothered you."

"Not at all. I enjoy speaking with you." R'lor knew he was too attached to R'ayl but he couldn't help it. "My door is always open."

Last updated on the March 19th 2026

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A Dangerous Ability