An Early Start

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 11th September 2009

Characters: Ri'len, K'hetah
Description: Ri'len begins his first day shadowing another dragonrider.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 4 of Turn 5

K'hetah had left a message with the Weyrlingmaster that the weyrling assigned to him that day should report to the Wing office as soon as his dragon was cared for and his breakfast was eaten.

And the earlier that was, the better.

K'hetah wasn't disappointed. The young bronzerider showed up fairly early. He knocked upon the door and when given leave, entered. He stood in polite attention to the elder bronzerider, hands clasped behind his back and nodded. "Ri'len sir," He stated by way of introduction, "Reporting as assigned."

The elder bronzerider nodded. "I'd guessed," he admitted. "Have a seat, Ri'len, and let's get this day underway. Do you know why you're here - in the office - so early in the morning?"

"I have been assigned to you for the day." Ri'len took the seat once offered. "Beyond that, I do not."

"You're here at this time of morning because I am. And probably Wingleaders all over Pern are doing a similar thing - catching up with administration before they start their day." K'hetah smiled. "Not exactly how the harpers tell the tale."

Ri'len echoed K'hetah's smile and nodded. "I understand sir - it's part of the job." No, harpers never did harp about the mundane aspects of dragonrider - of which there were quite a few.

"So, pull your chair around this side and I'll talk you through what I'm doing. You might as well see a Wingleader's job in all it's 'glory' before you get attached to the idea of ambition."

"To be honest, sir, the only ambition I hold is taking care of my family." If that included fighting Thread, then so be it. Ri'len stood up and moved the chair around so he could see what K'hetah was doing and sat down once more.

"That may be, but you Impressed a bronze. You might end up as Weyrleader - as our current one has - without ever holding Wing rank. Not a situation anybody should be in."

"I understand that is a possibility." Ri'len's mouth slid into a small smile. "It is not, however, my ambition."

"Good to hear. Now, look over these assignments. I produce them every sevenday - there is a selection of them there ..."

K'hetah showed the weyrling bronzerider more and more papers, pausing only between examples to put each set back in its proper place in the files that filled the back of the room. The final set he placed carefully in the drawer of his desk.

"That's how the first couple of candlemarks goes every day. And the last couple. Sometimes the bits in the middle too," he admitted with a smile.

"I'm assuming that this is done in between drills?" Ri'len asked as he looked over the files.

"Yes. Here - at Dolphin Cove - we drill very early in the morning, if possible, trying to not work during the hottest part of the day. Though we have to do that sometimes, just so we _can_ when it's Threadfall. Other places I've lived we've drilled once the coldest part of the day has passed."

"But some of the wings have afternoon drills too." Ri'len had seen them and not just once or twice. "Consistently."

"Each Wing has a different Wingleader for a reason. I don't think there's any point in drilling people in the heat of the day - exhausting them - when much of the Weyr shuts down during that time anyway. It doesn't build well people, and it's - in my opinion - not useful for sustaining healthy wingriders over a long period."

Ri'len nodded slowly. "I understand." It did make sense, though perhaps there were other reasons why the wingleaders chose to practise during those times. Ri'len thought he might know of one of them.

"And now it's nearly time -" he glanced at the clock in the corner of the room for confirmation, "for us to get out to drills. Will Monilath be able to join us in those?"

"Of course." The bronze was already ready, simply relaxing in the sun while he waited for his rider, but his gear fastened and tightened to be safe but not so much as to be uncomfortable to the young dragon.

"Let's go then. There are some days that hidework is better than drills
- but not many."

"Yes sir." The young man smiled and stood, then waited for K'hetah to lead the way. Ri'len felt like he was learning more working with dragonriders than he ever would simply studying facts. That's why he liked doing it so much.

Last updated on the September 13th 2009

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An Early Start