Now I'm Ready to Stand

Writers: Anika, Paula
Date Posted: 29th October 2014

Characters: Yanley, Ilyssia
Description: Ilyssia arrives at the Weyr.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 9, day 15 of Turn 7
Notes: NPC: F'zae
Notes: Precedes "A Little Help From Someone Special"

Yanley

Ilyssia

Ilyssia's first dragon ride was just as awe inspiring as one might
expect. Beith was so majestic and ever so much bigger than a
runner. Her heart was in her throat as they soared above Opal Cove,
but she loved it all the same. The cold nothingness of /between/ was
just as frightening as F'zae had warned, but she was proud of
herself when she did not give into the urge to scream.

After they arrived, Beith circled the Weyr, giving Ilyssia a nice
aerial view of her new home. For that's what it was, she knew. Even
if she did not Impress, she would stay at the Weyr. Never again would
she be forced or beaten into doing what she didn't want to do! The
green bugled and started her descent. Ilyssia supposed that Beith
was just greeting the other dragons on the plateau, but the girl
couldn't help but feel that the dragon was somehow echoing her own
elation. Wouldn't it be incredible if she could find a lifemate such
as this on the Hatching ground?

Accepting F'zae's help to dismount she politely thanked Beith for
transport and was surprised to find a huge head right in front of her.

"She likes to have her eye ridges scratched," the greenrider stated,
modeling for the girl.

Ilyssia reached tentatively and then smiled as her efforts were well received.

"Beith is confident in her choice. She believes you will make a good rider."

Standing taller, Ilyssia inclined her head "Thank you Beith and thank
you for finding me."

"Come," F'zae said, "I need to get you settled with the Assistant
Headwoman so that I can take Beith to the feeding grounds."

She followed the rider, looking wide eyed around her as she did,
trying to take in everything at once. Before long they reached a
large kitchen cavern and the greenrider stalked confidently up to an
attractive woman who seemed rather busy.

"I've brought a new prospect for candidacy,Yanley, but Beith has
suddenly decided that she's famished so may I drop the girl with you?"

"Of course you can, F'zae," Yanley replied. She was getting quite
familiar with all the search riders. "I'll take care of her," she gave
the girl a smile. With Chioneth's eggs hardening on the Sands they
were getting a quite a influx of candidates.

"Thanks. This is Ilyssia. Ilyssia, this is our Assistant Headwoman,
Yanley," the greenrider hurried through introductions and took his
leave.

"It's nice to meet you," Ilyssia said politely, keeping her voice calm
despite the whirlwind of emotions just under the surface. She
couldn't believe she was actually at Dragonsfall Weyr!

"Welcome to Dragonsfall Weyr, Ilyssia," Yanley said. "Come, let's
borrow the Headwoman's office so we can talk in peace. It's crazy
around here," she continued and ducked a busy cook carrying a steaming
hot pot.

Passing by a woman with her hands elbow deep in bread dough and
another chopping tubers while simultaneously scolding a careless young
drudge, Ilyssia had to silently agree. "Must take a lot of people and
work to keep a place as big as this running," the girl commented as
she entered the office behind the woman.

"Yes, it does," Yanley replied and gestured her to sit down. "Let's
start with official business first. I need your personal informations
for the Weyr's records," she sat down too and picked a hide and quill.
"Full name, birth date, birth place, name of your parents, things like
that."

"Well, ah," Ilyssia reddened a little, her mother's injunction about
sharing their past at the forefront of her mind. "My name is
Ilyssia," she spelled that for the Assistent Headwoman, "And my
mother's name was Otyssa and she didn't really speak of my father,
other than to say that he was dead." The girl licked her lips. That
was true enough. "We traveled with a caravan, Dukaard was the leader,
and when my mother died Dyosha took me in and became my foster mother.
I'm fourteen, nearly fifteen turns and was born the twenty fifth day
of month eleven. I cannot say for sure, but I believe that I was born
at Amethyst Cliff Hold." The girl hoped the information would
suffice. Would she be turned out and her hopes dashed? Should she
share what she knew of her past or follow her mother's dying wish and
stay silent?

Yanley didn't comment, just wrote it all down. "Do you know if you
have any dragonrider relatives?" she asked after Ilyssia was done.

Relieved, that there seemed to be no issue with the information that
she had provided, the girl shook her head. "I don't think so."

Yanley nodded and put away the writing equipments. "Now, as a
candidate, you will be taking part of lessons meant to prepare you for
dragonrider's life. You're also expected to do your share of work
around here in exchange for the food, shelter and clothes Wey will
provide you. You will be housed with other candidates in candidate
barracks, on upper level. You probably don't have craft, but do you
have any special skills or job you're good at or would prefer to do?
We can take that into consideration when you're assigned chores. If
you don't Impress now, this is also your change to aply for some craft
if you're so inclined."

Ilyssia's eyes were alight with excitement at the woman's words. Even
if she didn't Impress, she could apprentice to a craft! This was a
dream come true for sure. "I did all kinds of work with the caravan.
Lots of gathering of fruits, tubers, and greens and preparing food.
There was always alot of mending to be done, too. I worked some with
the runners which was really great and I learned how to take care of
the harnesses. We didn't have our own healer so I helped Dyosha out
when she had to tend to people's hurts or illness. I liked that a
lot! She always had me do herb gathering for her, too," Ilyssia
shared. "I really hope I Impress but if I don't I'd love to
apprentice as a healer or beast crafter."

"Yes, that option is open to you. Just talk with the masters of those
crafts. I'll add you to the general rotation -list but add mention
that you would prefer working with beast or infirmary," Yanley said.
"That settled, let's take you to the candidate barrack. Did you bring
much with you? Say now if you need something, and we can do a stop at
the storerooms on the way."

"Ilyssia lifted a pack she'd been carrying. I've a change of clothes,
sleepwear, a jacket, and my boots are in good repair. Is there
anything else I will need straight away?"

"Towel, dress for the Feast, do you have a hair brush? And candidate
robes, of course," Yanley listed. "Oh, and here's the schedule of
candidate classes," Yanley pulled a hide from a pile and gave it to
the girl. The Headwoman had pile of schedules already copied, just to
be given out when new candidates arrived.

The girl accepted the schedule almost reverently. It was like a
written promise of her new life. "I do have a brush and Dyosha made
me a lovely dress just before I was Searched." How pleased she would
be to wear the ocean blue gown at a Weyr feast rather than to meet her
betrothed as it had been intended. "I've no towel nor candidate
robes, though."

"Let's get those then," Yanley got up and gestured her to come along.
"The bathrooms are communal," she warned her.

Ilyssia followed, her eyes widening some in surprise at Yanley's
words, but then she shrugged. The girl had learned to be adaptable
and if it meant not marrying an unknown man three times her age, by
Faranth she'd get used to it. "Though people tried, there really
wasn't much privacy in the caravan. I've seen others and I'm sure
they've seen me. It will seem odd at first, but I suppose I'll get
used to it. Must be hard on Hold girls," she added thoughtfully. The
Hold girls she had met usually seemed very prim and proper, often
quiet and reserved to Ilyssia, but then maybe that was just a show for
outsiders. Many people seemed distrustful of the Caravan Traders.

"Yes, it is. There's sort of unspoken agreement that in certain times
of day the bath caverns are for one gender only. You'll learn them
pretty fast. But there's always some who ignore things like that,"
Yanley felt it was better for her to be prepared. "I'm glad you're not
too upset about it. Most of the time people keep to themself during
baths." They reached the store rooms and Yanley used her keys to open
the door. She picked up a glow basket. The power wasn't yet fully
restored to the Weyr although worst seemed to be over. "Here we are.
Towels, those shelves on the left," she pointed and tried to estimate
her size. "I'll get you the white robe."

Moving to get herself a towel, Ilyssia peered around the storeroom
looking at the different items there. She was sure she had a great
deal to learn about the Weyr. Would she have time? Would her
knowledge or lack of it affect her ability to Impress? Really she knew
nothing about the Weyr, dragons, or how Hatching worked. "How soon do
you think the Hatching will be?"

"Around the end of the month. That gives you only two sevendays to
prepare," Yanley pulled a robe from the stack. "Here, try this on."

Setting her things down, Ilyssia was quick to comply with the
Headwoman's instruction, speaking as she did so. "My that's very
soon! How will I possibly learn all I need to by then?"

"Don't worry about," Yanley reassured her. "I'll do fine. Rest you'll
learn _after_ Hatching. Don't hesitate to ask questions. Either from
one of us from Headwoman's staff or from one of the Weyrlingmaster's
Staff. Remember that we're here to help you. That seems to fit you
nice."

"Yes," Ilyssia agreed beaming. "I guess now I'm ready to Stand."
Well, she certainly hoped she'd be ready by the time of the Hatching,
at least.

Last updated on the November 2nd 2014

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Now I'm Ready to Stand