The Right Decision
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyrhold
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Elsewhere on Pern
NPC Weyr (NPC)
River Bluff Weyr
Seacraft Hall
Writers: Emma, Estelle
Date Posted: 18th July 2005
Characters: T'moran, K'deren
Description: T'moran promotes K'deren to acting Wingleader of Hurricane Wing
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 7, day 4 of Turn 3
T'moran had managed to find enough riders to fill up the gaps in Cyclone Wing enough that they ought to be able to protect the Weyr adequately in the next Fall. He was still, however, without a Wingsecond he trusted. In an ideal world, he'd have moved K'deren back to his Wing - but he needed the brownrider for another purpose.
}: Haldarth? :{ he asked. }: Could you ask Donneth's rider to come and see me, if he's not busy? :{
There was a short pause, then the bronze dragon replied, sounding slightly weary. Like his rider, he'd had little rest in the past few days. }: They come. :{
The grieving process had begun to finally sink in for K'deren, Vonalie was gone. It was hard to believe that all he had left were memories of what once was, of the love they had shared. The only comfort to him was Deralie, and it was her he was holding when the message came. She was too young to know that her mother had gone, all he could do was make sure she knew that her mother had loved her so much.
Leaving the babe with her foster mother, K'deren made his way to find T'moran.
"Thank you for coming so quickly," T'moran said soberly when the brownrider arrived. He looked tired - he'd had little sleep in the past few days between his work and the still-raw memories of the last Fall. "I know this is a hard time for you - my sympathies. I didn't know Vonalie well, but I did know that was a good rider and will be missed by all her wingmates."
A half-smile crossed K'deren's lips briefly. "That isn't why you wanted to see me though, is it?"
"No." The new Weyrleader sat down, only long-ingrained discipline keeping him from slumping in exhaustion. "I know this must be a very difficult time for you, K'deren, but I need you. I need wingriders I can trust - I simply don't have enough experienced bronzeriders to lead the Wings. The other Weyrs have promised to fill in where they can, but...I heard you took over to lead Hurricane in Fall, when the Wingleader was injured?"
"I did what I had to," he said simply. His Wingleader hadn't tried as foolish a move as O'dan, but with the chaos around them, his bronze had taken a nasty scoring across one wing, enough that he'd be grounded for a month or more. With the ease of drilled practice, when Le'dve had dropped out to seek treatment, K'deren had slipped into place, watching, co-ordinating, fighting thread.
"You did a good job," T'moran admitted with the trace of a smile. "I need you to do it for a little longer. Just until I can get a bronzerider transferred in with enough experience to take over Le'dve's Wing while he recovers."
"Are you sure?" asked K'deren. This was an unusual request to say the least.
"I prefer a trusted Wingsecond with leadership experience to a young bronzerider barely out of weyrling training, without the necessary experience. But I'll get a seasoned bronzerider transfer in as soon as I can. After that, it'll be your choice whether you return to being Wingsecond for Hurricane. I'd like you to return to Cyclone Wing as my Wingsecond, of course, but if you prefer your current wing I won't force you to change."
"I understand," if anything, the Weyr needed continuity. When thread fell, you put your personal business aside as best you could. Your dragon and protecting Pern where what mattered then. And Donneth would appreciate the opportunity no doubt.
"Well, I'll let you decide on that when the time comes. Hopefully it won't be more than a couple of Falls before we get a new Wingleader." T'moran stood. "My thanks, K'deren. I know you must be wanting more time to spend with your child, not more duties, and I appreciate all you're doing for the Weyr at this time."
Rising to his feet also, K'deren nodded. "Vonalie would want me to do this," he said. "And if it helps keep Deralie safe...."
"I hope it will." It was not in T'moran's nature to set the ranking system awry by appointing a brownrider to lead, and yet he found himself with no other option he felt safe with. As he watched the brownrider leave, he could only hope that he'd made the right decision.
Last updated on the September 7th 2005