My Door is Open

Writers: Estelle, Halyonix
Date Posted: 20th May 2026

Characters: V'karel, I'serin
Description: V'karel meets with former Weyrleader I'serin to get his impressions of the Wings and ask some questions
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 13, day 13 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: K'valdran

I'serin

On his second day at Dragonsfall, V'karel made a start on getting to know the other riders he'd be flying with. By rights he should have started with the Wingleaders, but at the top of his list was the former Weyrleader, I'serin. He couldn't help but be curious about what the man was like. Although they'd never met, he'd heard a lot already and it had provided him with a mixed picture at best, but the diligently kept wing records he'd seen told a different story and anyway, V'karel preferred to make up his own mind.

He asked Novath to find out if Aluneth's rider was free. **But don't have him come to the Weyrsecond's office. Tell them it's still chaotic with unpacking.** That was true enough, but V'karel didn't want him to feel as though he was being summoned, not at first, anyway. **I'll drop by now if it's convenient.**

It was not convenient but I'serin mentally made room. He was still setting up his own new weyr but figured that every new leader would want to come speak with him as part of the transition of leadership so he kept himself available in some regard until he felt he was relieved of all duty.

Aluneth made space as Novath landed, rumbling a civil greeting. "Greetings, Weyrsecond," I'serin said as he came out to the ledge. "How may I be of assistance?"

"Well, I wanted to introduce myself, first." V'karel dismounted lightly and offered a hand in greeting. He had to swiftly hide his surprise on seeing the other bronzerider; he looked young to have been Weyrleader, which could explain a few things. "V'karel, and this is Novath. We arrived yesterday from Fort, but Novath was hatched here, too many Turns ago."

I'serin returned the greeting. "I'serin, Aluneth's rider. Welcome to back to Dragonsfall," he said with formal warmth. It seemed as though a fair many riders were flocking back to Dragonsfall with K'valdran's win. The young bronzerider was certain that if his father had still been alive that he would have had some very loud opinions about that.

"Thank you. I've still got family here and in the territory, so I've visited on and off over the Turns, but it's good to be back permanently. It helps that it's the warmer season." V'karel glanced up at the heavy rain-threatening clouds overhead. He couldn't have said that Dragonsfall's weather was welcoming, precisely, but at least he'd been spared the freezing blizzards of the winter months.

Sensing that Aluneth's rider wasn't one to enjoy small talk, he decided to get to the point. "Of course, it's been non-stop since I got back, with my duties to get familiar with, at the same time as getting used to flying in a new Wing. I expect you know the feeling, so I won't take up too much of your time. Your Records for Summit Wing are admirably clear so I don't have too many questions about those, but I'd hoped to run through the other Wings and get your impressions of them. Strengths, areas for improvement, anything important I should know..." He held up a hand and smiled as the first raindrop splashed onto his upturned palm. "Though perhaps not out here."

This plan seemed to assure I'serin that he was not about to be subjected to another dressing down about his Weyrleadership. "I am at the Weyr's service," he said as he followed V'karel inside. Once they were situated, I'serin gave his assessment of the other Wings, his words edged with uncertainty at first but then gaining confidence as he covered what he had learned about the Wings during the previous Turn. He was not one to know a person very well but he could pick out prevailing traits about people and he knew such things about those who had been his Wingleaders.

V'karel listened, asking a question here and there to clarify a point or ask for more details, but mostly letting I'serin speak. He was impressed by how reasoned his analysis was, which hadn't been what he'd anticipated at all. Some bronzeriders relied more on their instincts and their personal relationships in evaluating their fellow riders - he did himself, to an extent - but to find someone who was so thoughtful about his opinions was less common. Perhaps, he thought, it was something you learned to do if you weren't the gregarious type, as the former Weyrleader clearly wasn't.

When they'd finished with a quick review of the retired riders' Wing, he thanked I'serin. "You've been very generous with your time, Wingthird. I hope you won't mind if I ask you about one more thing." He paused, thinking over the most tactful way to approach the subject, and in the end decided to be straightforward. "I'm sure you've gone over the day in question more times then you care to remember, but I wanted to ask about what happened in that bad Fall. I don't mean about the wrong formation call," he added quickly. "I know about that, or at least what I've read in the Records. I suppose I wanted to know how it came about, and more importantly, if we - as a Weyr - can prevent it from happening again."

Even as gently as V'karel asked, it was apparent that the walls reformed around I'serin once again. His expression became that mask he had worn as Weyrleader. Inwardly, he was so very tired of people asking him about that day. It felt as though they were picking inconsiderately at a wound he was still trying to heal.

No, he did not want to go into why he had a man as a lover.

No, he did not want to explain how his father had hounded him at all hours.

He wanted to move forward from that one moment that seemed to define his entire legacy. Surely, the other bronzeriders, especially those who were Wingleaders, understood the pressure of leadership. Evasively, as politely as he could, I'serin answered, "I have learned that balance is a very important thing to exercise as a Weyrleader. As a leader, you are pulled in multiple directions and a lack of that balance can be...disastrous."

"That's true. We've all had difficult times." As he spoke, V'karel tried to put himself in I'serin's position, but found it hard to imagine. For him, being in Fall had a way of focusing the mind, and after so many Turns, even when he was exhausted or discouraged by his Wing's losses, the formation calls came to him as easily as the names of old friends. But then, he'd never been Weyrleader.

"Perhaps what I'm really asking is whether anything could have been done to help with a - loss of balance, in a general sense. Wrong calls are going to happen; we're all human, after all - even if I have my doubts about K'valdran sometimes," he added, his voice lightening with his mood. "How can we protect ourselves against them? I've got some ideas, but I'd like to know what you think. You're the one who's been there... Well, there's no need to answer now." He gathered up the notes he'd made and stood. "But, when you're ready, if you wanted to give it some thought - and I know it's asking a lot - my door's always open."

But the former Weyrleader did not need to think on it anymore and he did not want the conversation to be shelved for later. So, still evasively but with gravid honesty in his voice, he said, "Ask for help." Had he asked, he had been _honest_ with people who had approached him with good intentions, he would have made better decisions. But he had not. And the Weyr remembered in its scars.

V'karel nodded thoughtfully. "It is important to know when to do that. Though it's easier advice to give than to follow." The conversation had certainly given him a lot to think about. "But if you do find yourself in need of help in the future and could use a perspective from outside your Wing, the offer still stands. My door being open."

I'serin nodded. "I thank you," he replied, though he seriously doubted he would take V'karel up on the offer. Not yet anyway. He had too many other emotions to scour through first. "Is there anything more you wish to ask of me?"

"Nothing just now. And thank you," V'karel replied, with a slight emphasis to acknowledge the discomfort of that last part of their discussion. "I wish you the best in your new role, I'serin. I know you and Aluneth will do your Wing proud." He raised a hand in farewell and headed out to the ledge, where Novath was waiting.

Last updated on the June 4th 2026

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My Door is Open