One Chatty Type

Writers: Ames, Eimi
Date Posted: 19th March 2011

Characters: Roldar, M'galec
Description: Roldar and M'galec talk a bit after seeing to a patient
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 1, day 5 of Turn 6

M'galec laid his head against the sleeping child's forehead and nodded
approvingly. "I think the infection is lossening it's hold, Roldar. We
are not out of danger yet, of course, but I think she will pull
through."

Roldar breathed a sigh of relief as he gazed down on the child. His hand
reaching out to check M'galec's words. Her skin was still warm, but the
child was now sleeping more peacefully. Reaching up to rub his hands
over his face, Roldar actually allowed himself a small smile. "I think
you're right M'galec, but we have to keep a close eye on her. I won't be
happy until I see the child up and about with the other children once
again."

How many times he had sat beside his own children's bedsides, willing
them to get well faster. He could feel that familiar ache in his heart
at the thought of them, but he tried to push it away. Now was not the
time to dwell on the past, but rather to be in the here and now and do for this
child whatever he could to help her.

"That will be a while. We cannot risk internal bleeding on top of the
infection." M'galec always felt a sense of deep frustration when one of
his patients came off his table and developed a complication. Though he
would never second guess his skill, he still always went back over again
and again the whole procedure, wondering if he had misstepped in any
way. Sometimes, he knew, it was just one of those things out of his
control. "Let us leave her to her rest, shall we?"

Roldar looked down at the girl. He hadn't to leave her alone. His heart
ached at the thought that she was about the same age as his youngest
daughter, Biwenna. He wondered what her life was like. She had been just
a babe the last time he'd seen her.

"I think I need a drink," he said as he walked away with M'galec, his
voice a bit hoarse from his own emotional response.

"Sirs, we've had a tray sent up for you for when you were ready," one of
the young apprentices squeaked when he saw them emerge. Roldar nodded at
the young boy and motioned for M'galec to enter the small chamber the
healers often used for dining when they were too busy to leave the
infirmary.

M'galec willingly followed, thinking there wasn't anything he needed
half so much in that moment as a good cup of klah. He would settle for
infirmary klah, though. "Apprentice, tell journeyman Shiban that he can
inform her parents that her condition is improving, and they may see her
if they like," the bronzerider instructed the young man before walking
into the common room. "I am sure they will be grateful for the news."

Roldar had already filled his mug of klah and downed a rather large
portion of it. He actually wished for something a bit stronger, but he
would not risk any of his patients. "You did an amazing job M'galec. I
am glad I did not have to perform the surgery on the girl myself."
Roldar had
never trained in any of the specialties, instead focusing on the more
general medicine needed at the hold and now here at the Weyr. "So is so
young,"
his brows furrowed as he once again wondered about his own young child.

"It does make things much more complicated," M'galec agreed before
blowing steam off of the top of his mug. It was always either too hot
or too cold for him. He preferred the former since it would eventually
cool down. "I think you deserve some credit for seeing the warning
signs early enough."

Roldar nodded his thanks, "I've been around children often enough to
know the difference between a regular stomach-ache and something worse.
I'm just glad we got to it in time." He took one of the seats in the
room
and stretched his shoulders to relieve some of the tension there. "I
couldn't have imagined if I would have had to actually _perform_ that
surgery by myself when I was back at the Hold."

"We are lucky at the Weyr that we have the skill sets at the ready that
are not available to most healers out in the Holds and Halls." After
all, the Weyr was practically a Hall unto itself.

"So true, M'galec. That's one thing I've never regretted about my
decision to come here!" In fact there was very little that Roldar _did_
regret,
except of course the one big one...having to leave his children behind.

"Yes, I probably would have had to remain in the Hall with my skill
set." Very few skilled surgeons were stationed outside the Hall unless
they were sent to major Holds. M'galec, however, was sure he would have
been kept at the Hall to train others with only a short journeyman stint
in a Hold. He would have much preferred the Hall, he was sure.

He and M'galec had worked together over the Turns he'd been here, but in
truth they hadn't talked much about themselves. Normally they were just
too busy. "I don't think I've ever asked why you chose to leave the Hall
to
Stand. I might have considered a stint at the Hall myself, but I found
myself much more comfortable in the smaller Holds, most of the time."

"I felt it was my duty to Pern to Stand," M'galec replied with a shrug.
"Even then, I firmly believed that the dragonriders deserved the respect
and consideration of all the residents of this world to honor their
sacrifices since time began."

"I might have felt that way myself had I ever been searched out to
Stand," Roldar replied. "It's funny how life takes twists and turns we
don't
always expect, isn't it?"

"Indeed." The bronzerider had many unexpected changes in his life over
the turns - Impression, Thread, being Weyrmated and then quickly being
kicked out of Lenala's weyr... Life certainly was unpredictable. "You
came to the Weyr late. Why did you decide to come?"

It had taken Roldar quite awhile after coming to the Weyr to come to
terms with his reasons and be able to talk about them. He still didn't
openly
share them with others, but he no longer felt the intense shame and
horror he had felt about himself much of his life.

"My marriage fell apart." Roldar started, "By my own doing. I'd always
felt things a bit _differently_ than most, but I never acted on my
impulses. Until," he shifted a bit uncomfortably, "Galar moved to the
hold. He was
young and handsome and excited me in ways I had tried most of my life to
ignore. I'm not proud of what I did, but it was almost like the pent up
feelings I'd tried to ignore my whole life exploded in that moment.
There was no going back. When my wife found out, you can imagine that
things went downhill quickly. I _had_ to leave for fear of what would
happen to
my children, her, or myself if the others learned of my preferences." He
sighed, wishing he _could_ go back and fix things, but also knowing that
he would never be true to himself if he had had to continue living that
lie the rest of his life.

"I see," M'galec mumbled before taking a sip of klah. A simple 'for
personal reasons' would have sufficed, he thought. This one was they
chatty type. It was always easier to stick to work related topics when
dealing with those. "How do you find the infirmary, then?"

"It's been to my liking since my arrival. I've never found a problem
with it." Roldar replied. "Is there anything you feel needs seen to? To
make your job easier when we call upon you?" He basically spent all of
his
time in the infirmary, unlike M'galec who had many other duties as well.

"No, everything has been sufficiently prepared for me. I am not one of
those who keeps things inside. If I feel something is lacking, I
promise, you will know about it." Many an apprentice and journeyman had
been on the end of one of his lectures. It was his duty as a healer to
make sure everything worked perfectly. The goal was saving lives, not
being popular.

Roldar raised an eyebrow at that. "I see," he replied finishing off his
drink. At least he knew where the man stood with regard to things.
Roldar settled into a rather companionable silence. So much so that he
closed his eyes to allow himself just a moment's rest. He'd been working
long hours most days tending to all sorts of mishaps and illnesses. He was
actually _glad_ he had been here when the child came in, else he didn't even want
to think about what might have happened.

It took M'galec a moment to realize that his companion had dozed off.
No wonder after such a hard day. Finishing he cup of klah, he gently
lay it down, knowing the apprentice would be in soon to collect it.
Pushing his chair back, he tiptoed quietly to the door and waved the
apprentice over. He gave him strict instructions that the journeyman
was not to be disturbed for a quarter candlemark, at least. "Call me if
you need me. I am off duty now."

Last updated on the April 3rd 2011

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One Chatty Type