From the Mouths of Babes

Writers: Devin, Chelle
Date Posted: 14th July 2011

Characters: N'vanik, Deanname, Nadirm
Description: A child unwittingly shares the gossip with the Weyrleader.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 20 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Qorri, Rhosyn

N'vanik

Deanname the Weyrbrat was running through the tunnels, intent on
getting to her next chore. She, like most of the others, was still awash
with stories of the hatching she had been forced to sleep through the
last of. Coming through, she saw the Weyrleader. Having heard her
brother say something that didn't make sense, she decided to just ask.
So the four turn old walked up to him. "Mizter Whirrlidder sir!" she
said, trying to sound important as she looked up at him. He was _so_ big.

N'vanik arched an eyebrow and looked down at the little girl. "Yes?"

"Are ya gonna leave n go ta River Bluff wid da Horewomanlady?" She
looked so hopeful that he wouldn't do that and leave them. They had
little dragons and everything.

"Um, what?" He couldn't have heard her right.

"I said," she huffed, taking a breath. "Are ya gonna leave an go off wid
da Horewomanlady?" She tried to speak slower so maybe he would get
it.

He squatted down so he was closer to her level. "Where did you hear
that?" He kept his voice neutral. Children didn't come up with words
like that on their own. They picked them up.

"Muh brudder tole me," she supplied easily.

"How old is your brother?" he asked in the same careful tone.

She looked down at her left hand and began to turn fingers, counting softly.
Deanname missed a few turns, and then looked up at him. "Dish many."
She threw up both of her hands.

If the girl was counting right, that was old enough. "Do you know where
your brother is now?"

"Chorz," Deanname replied, hoping she was being helpful.

"What kind of chores?"

"Changes most da time. Da Headwoman tells 'im." She was too young to
understand the differences between turning glows and collecting rushes.

"Well, the next time you see your brother, tell him the Weyrleader
wants to see him. Can you do that?" he asked.

"Uh huh." She nodded and ran off, eager to share the news.
~*~
It was later in the day when a young boy cautiously approached N'vanik's office
door. Nadirm wondered what he wanted him for. "Sir?"

This must be the little one's brother. "Come in and have a seat."

He did so quickly, still wondering. He wasn't old enough to Stand yet, so it
couldn't have anything to do with that.

"Your little sister said some interesting things about me and
Weyrwoman Rhosyn from River Bluff," N'vanik said. "She said she heard
it from you."

"Oh? Well she always says weird things," he shrugged, trying to play it off.
What had Deanname done now?

"Are you saying she didn't pick up the word 'whore' from you?" N'vanik
said in a dangerously calm voice.

"Now that..could be true. I've said it before once or twice. Then again, so
has Da..." Nadirm was trying to understand where he was going. His young
mind was getting there, just not yet.

"So was it you or your father that called Rhosyn a whore?" Still in that calm
tone, but his eyes narrowed a little.

"The goldrider?" He was genuinely confused there. "Sir, everyone knows that
the holder called her one. Is that what you're talking about? Dee must have
heard me and the boys talking about it. We heard some of the riders mention
it." He was trying to be helpful. Everyone knew that Weyrfolk gossiped worse
than old wherries.

N'vanik took a deep breath. It might be a misunderstanding. "So you
were _only_ repeating what the holder said?"

"Yeah, we were talking about the matter. Everyone was." He didn't
think gossiping was a crime, was it? If it was, then everyone was in
big trouble.

"I want you to tell your little sister that 'whore' is a word holders
use to be mean to women, and that she should never, ever call anybody
that." He would have been mad at anybody calling any woman a whore,
but he was especially mad that it had been Rhosyn.

"Yes sir, I will," he replied dutifully.

"And be a little more careful about what you're repeating around your
little sister," N'vanik said.

"Yeah Ma's always telling me that. Problem is, she's always around. I mean
you can't do any big grownup stuff." He sighed.

"Just make sure she doesn't use that word again. I won't have Weyr children
using that word." Especially not at _his_ Weyr.

"I'll tell her sir." How much good that would do, he didn't know. He would try
though.

"You're dismissed, then." And N'vanik better not find out anyone was
using that word as an insult.

Last updated on the August 4th 2011

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