A Visitor

Writers: Francesca, Jane
Date Posted: 30th June 2009

Characters: G'len, Ylisahn
Description: G'len visits Ylisahn at the Dolphin Hall.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 3, day 15 of Turn 5

"Well hello," Ylisahn said with a smile as she was stopped in her tracks by the presence of friend from the Weyr. She dropped the papers she had been studying back on her desk and abandoned her plans to hunt down one of the apprentices for a little lecture on timeliness in attending to chores and instead waved the dragonrider into one of the chairs in the office. "Have a seat, G'len."

The greenrider smiled at his friend as he settled into a comfortable chair. "I thought I'd check in on you, see how you are settling in." Tobereth had been happy to come along. It had been a long time since they had visited the dolphins, which was a shame since the Hall was practically a glide away.

"Did she? You don't mean you made her _fly_ you here, do you?" Ylisahn laughed. "Have your legs atrophied since you Impressed, that you can't walk for a quarter candlemark?"

"I'm a very busy man," G'len said with no remorse, although he did smile. "Besides, she's as excited as I am to be here."

"_She_ could come here any time," Ylisahn pointed out. "Unless you keep her far too busy with those weyrlings. How _are_ they, by the way."

"Doing well. They recently had their first flights." He smiled at the memory. "And, did you hear? We finally have a Weyrlingmaster."

"I heard. I don't think there's any news that doesn't filter its way down here," Ylisahn admitted, though didn't add that much of it came by way of visitors to her and Wirril. "How's that working out? It's been a while since you two have had somebody telling your what to do."

"It has been an adjustment, especially because he is so young. We're still getting used to everything." He smiled. "But it's mainly a relief to have a third person on the Weyrlingstaff. Especially an experienced rider with a bronze dragon. And," the smiled widened, "I might finally have a chance to slip away to the Tavern at the Vintner Hall. I haven't been there since Turns End celebrations. Several months ago you said you and Wirril would go there with me." He wagged a finger at her. "I haven't forgotten."

"I _had_," Ylisahn admitted. "But we would love to go if you wouldn't mind taking us. I'm enjoying it here but do feel a little -" she framed a small space with her hands, "- grounded. Confined? Just because I've always had dragonriders around to take me places. I'm getting a feel for how things are for Holder folk."

"Just let me know when you both want to go." He grinned, excited at the prospect of returning to the Tavern as well as introducing the place to a friend. "You know, all of us dragonriders are still nearby. You just need to walk to us. Or, wait for us to come to you."

"But it's different," Ylisahn said. "I'm not part of the Weyr any more." For the first time in her life she was on the outside of the group she had been born into and it felt a little like being in exile. Not that there was any hardship - she was enjoying the job and the people - but in ways that were about perception more than distance, she felt cut off.

"It must be strange." As a dragonrider, G'len would always live in a Weyr. And, with Tobereth, he could go anywhere on Pern he wanted, at any time. It was almost impossible to imagine what it must be like for his friend. "And it's so quiet here."

"Not when the apprentices are rushing around, it's not," the Dolphin Hall headwoman protested, though he was right. The level of activity at the Weyr, with its population of many hundreds was far different from life that in the much smaller Hall. And the scale of distance had changed. Instead of the great broken-sided volcanic caldera she had tramped across and around ever since the Weyr had settled there she now had a modest-sized bay - and less than a third of that coastline at the landward side was in use by the dolphineers. Her domain had shrunk considerably but she was enjoying almost every moment of her new life. "What say you come down here for an evening meal, sometime, if your weyrlings can spare you. Wirril and I eat our main meal at midday, here in the Hall, and have a lighter, cold meal in the evening in our new room."

G'len's perpetual smile grew wider at Ylisahn's proposal. "That would be perfect. My duties are generally over by the evening meal so it shouldn't be a problem. Should I come by some time next sevenday? Or do you want more time to settle in?" Although she looked very settled already.

"We're as settled as we're going to be, now. You come along any night - just let us know in the afternoon so we can take extra food home. And you'll see our room. It's the old storage shed near the docks. The one with the herbs growing outside the door."

"Must be nice to have your own place. I look forward to seeing it. And, I'll see what I can raid from the kitchens to bring with me." Maybe they would have bubblies or pastries.

"Don't use my name," Ylisahn said firmly, not wanting to presume on her former position at the Weyr. She was conscious of making a clean break from her old life and committing herself to her new role, and that included not trading on her past as the Weyr's Headwoman.

"I wouldn't dream of it. Besides," he winked, "I have Nandia." It was very convenient having a sister who was an Assistant Headwoman.

"Well, that's all right then," Ylisahn said, mollified. Nandia was well able to tell her brother off if she chose.

G'len grinned. "Then, it's all settled." It would be nice to spend an evening away from the Weyr. "If you aren't busy now, I'm planning to go for a short swim before getting back to work," he offered.

"I am busy, sadly. But go and enjoy the dolphins. They're very curious about newcomers."

"I will. See you soon."

"You certainly will," the Dolphin Hall headwoman replied.

Last updated on the July 4th 2009

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A Visitor