Good Work

Writers: Aaron, Estelle
Date Posted: 19th April 2019

Characters: R'fal, S'kand
Description: S'kand offers some advice and encouragement to new wingmate R'fal.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 10 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: S'tall, D'hol

***

"Good work today," said S'kand to one of the newest riders once the
day's drills were finished. S'kand was new to the wing himself, though
not new to flying and drills in a fighting wing.

"How are you and Marlath faring so far?" He did his best to soften his
expression even more than usual. Those who did not know him might think
he was angry if he did not.

The young man's serious face brightened for a moment at the praise. His
first month in Rapids Wing had been more demanding than anything he'd
ever done before. Weyrling training had been hard, but at least they'd
all been equally inexperienced. Now, he spent most of his time terrified
of making mistakes in drill - or worse, in Fall.

"We're doing our best, sir," he said politely. "Marlath is glad to be
fighting Thread at last."

"How do you feel about it?" asked S'kand. Most dragons were more than
ready to fight Thread – or thought they were. R'fal was among the better
of the new wingriders from the latest class, if S'kand did say so
himself, but there was always room for improvement. Most of that
improvement would come when R'fal gained enough confidence to overcome
nerves and fear of Fall.

"It's my duty." He did feel a fierce joy in flying Fall with Marlath,
knowing that at last they were making a difference. It was hard to think
about his troubles when they were up there, constantly on the watch for
falling clumps, ready to flame or dart /between/, keeping track of the
firestone so they wouldn't run out. Thread was an enemy he could fight.
It was the times in between that were hard.

"Good lad," said S'kand, smiling much more broadly than before. That was
a perfect answer as far as he was concerned. No one – no man, anyway –
*liked* to fight Thread. But they did their duty.

"How's everything else?" he asked then. A man's private life could also
affect his performance in the sky.

"It's good, thank you, sir. I like flying sweeps with Marlath. It helps
me learn the territory, and practice my writing when I make my report."
There was also the chance of carrying a message or a passenger, and
receiving a tip in return, which he could send back to his mother. R'fal
volunteered for those duties whenever he could. More difficult was
standing watch. When it wasn't busy, there was a lot of time to think,
and those thoughts ended up circling and never getting anywhere. His
family, his father, his duty to the Weyr.

"Very good!" said S'kand, very pleased with R'fal's answer. It seemed
that he had a good head on his shoulders. "If there's anything I can
help you with, you can feel free to come to me. And I've a son about
your age, S'tall – have you met? You lads might make good friends."

"No sir, we haven't." R'fal couldn't recall anyone in the wing by that
name. He'd been slow to make friends, so far, apart from the other
weyrlings who'd been in his class. Partly it was that he'd heard that
there was some tension with the wingriders who'd come from River Bluff
and he wanted to stay well out of that, but mostly, he just hadn't felt
much like going to parties or social events, or even eating together in
the dining cavern. Not since the trial.

Maybe, though, S'tall was in a different wing. He wasn't sure whether
father and son would usually fly together. "Which Wing does he ride with?"

"He rides with D'hol," said S'kand, standing tall with pride. "But he
rides brown, too. I'm sure you two have a lot in common." Of course,
their backgrounds were possibly quite different, but dragonriders tended
to gain experience in common that no one else in the world could
understand, from Impression itself to fighting Thread.

R'fal was not so sure that he had much in common with anyone bred at the
Weyr, or that they would understand him, but he held his tongue. It
wouldn't do to say so, especially not to a bronzerider. And perhaps he
ought to get to know others, if he was going to learn to be a better rider.

"Thank you, sir." He thought for a moment. "I suppose, I really just
want to know what I can do better when I'm flying with the Wing. I don't
want to do anything wrong."

S'kand nodded, stroking his chin. He had been watching, so he offered
his advice on some of the things he had seen R'fal and Marlath doing
during drills and Fall inasmuch as he had time to notice. It seemed that
R'fal might have been a touch uncomfortable speaking of personal matters
and friendships outside of work, so he let the subject of S'tall drop.

"All in all, you're doing a great job, R'fal," he said.

The young brownrider thanked S'kand for his advice, wondering how he was
going to remember all of it. As encouraging as the older bronzerider
was, he knew he still had a lot to learn. He might try to repeat as much
as he could to Marlath while he was giving him his bath. Then, he
thought, he could study until the evening, maybe get some rolls from the
kitchens to keep him going, and check his riding straps again. It wasn't
so easy to fill the hours as it had been when he'd been in weyrling
training, when they had mostly been filled for him.

"I'd better go and look after Marlath," he said. "He needs to be
scrubbed before he falls asleep in the sun."

"Of course, lad, get to it," said S'kand with an encouraging tone. "And
if you or Marlath need anything I can help with, tell him to let
Jagobroth know, yes?"

"Yes, sir. Thank you." A brief but warm smile lit R'fal's face. It was a
relief to know that no matter what else was happening, at least he
wasn't doing badly in the Wing. At least, no worse than could be
expected for a new wingrider. Calling to Marlath, he turned and headed
for the lake.

Last updated on the May 3rd 2019

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Good Work