Consequences

Writers: Emma, Estelle
Date Posted: 16th December 2018

Characters: R'fal, K'sedel
Description: K'sedel summons R'fal to explain the events of the party.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 15 of Turn 9

K'sedel

When the summons from the Weyrlingmaster came, R'fal had been expecting
it, but it didn't make it any easier. He was in trouble again - twice in
less than a month - and he sensed this was even worse than telling silly
stories about pirates. It didn't help that he was feeling thoroughly
ill. His head ached, his stomach churned and he felt as exhausted as if
he'd just been on one of the long runs the weyrlings had to do from time
to time.

But it had been his party, in his weyr, and he had to take
responsibility for it. Reluctantly, he knocked at the Weyrlingmaster's door.

This time K'sedel had decided to make the boy wait a few minutes,
knowing he needed to stew a little. He was pretty sure that the weyrling
would pluck up the courage to knock again in a second or two.

R'fal hesitated, uncertain what to do. **Maybe he isn't there. Maybe
he's forgotten?** As tempting as that thought was, though, he didn't
think it likely, and if he went away now he would only be adding
disobedience to his list of sins. He reached up and tapped at the door
again.

"Come in." The Weyrlingmaster was in no doubt this time that this was a
problem that had to be nipped in the bud. As a graduated rider in the
wings, a little drinking and partying could be understood, but for a
weyrling, still developing the bond with his or her dragon, and for
those who were still very young, well it wasn't good for them not to
mention the fact that there would be more than a few sore heads and
visits to the healers this morning.

The brown weyrling entered the room looking like someone who'd been
ordered into the den of a ferocious watchwher, but was determined to
face it as bravely as he could. "You asked to see me, sir?"

"Yes, I did." This time there was no seat offered. "I think you know
why." The events of the previous night demonstrated that something had
spiralled out of control, and that there needed to be a lesson taught
about good judgment, and when to ask for help.

R'fal swallowed. "Yes, sir. Because of what happened at the party."

"Tell me what happened, in your own words."

"I'm not really sure how it happened..." Most of the time towards the
end of the evening had been a blur, but R'fal suspected he'd better
start remembering fast. "I invited everyone to the party in my weyr, and
arranged for food...and I brought some drinks," he admitted. "I gave one
to T'nep at the beginning, but I didn't realise how much he had after
that. I should have kept an eye on him."

"And have you checked up on him yet?" K'sedel knew some of how the boy
was, having had one of his assistants bring him the report from the
healers.

"I asked Marlath to find out how he was from his dragon." R'fal had not
been sure whether his classmate would be feeling up to visitors yet. "He
said he was feeling unwell, but not as bad as last night."

That was something at least, thought K'sedel. It seemed the boy had
managed to think this morning after all. "You do realise that drinking
to excess could have had fatal consequences?"

"Fatal?" The weyrling's voice rose to a squeak of horror. Could T'nep
really have died? Even thinking about it sent an icy chill down his
spine. Meith would have gone /between/ too, and it would have been his
fault.

"For some people," it was rare, but it did happen according to the
healers. "For others it can cause unconsciousness to the point that a
weyrling dragon can think their rider is gone, they could panic and go
/between/ without their rider to guide them." K'sedel was trying to
scare R'fal a little in an attempt to make him realise that actions had
consequences. "Lucky for you T'nep will be fine, healers and
dragonhealers are keeping an eye on him and Meith and making sure that
he understands that his rider is merely sick and will be with him again
soon."

R'fal was all but speechless with remorse. If T'nep had lost his dragon
because of him...it didn't bear thinking about. And yet it might so
easily have happened.

"I - I'm sorry. I didn't know..."

"You do now," K'sedel said softly, realising his words were hitting
home. "So, the next question is what do we do with you?"

"I d-don't know, sir." There was a slight catch in R'fal's voice. He had
no idea what the punishment would be for nearly killing one of his
classmates. Maybe he'd be sent away from the Weyr in disgrace. Or maybe
he'd never be allowed to join the Fighting Wings. He immediately thought
of his lifemate. "But please don't let it be something that would hurt
Marlath. He's a good dragon, and he had nothing to do with this."

Deep breath drawn, K'sedel picked up a pen and began to write a note to
the healers requesting that they find some work for R'fal, preferably
involving cleaning up some of the more 'interesting' incidents over the
next two seven days. "You are to give this to Master Pacham in the
Infirmary and do as he says. Also, you and Marlath are confined to the
Weyr outside of classes and drills for the immediate future."

R'fal took the note cautiously, wondering what it contained. He had
never really had to do duty with the healers outside of classes, since
he had no experience of the craft. He'd heard it could be both
exhausting and messy, but surely he couldn't have got off with only
extra chores?

Then the second part of what the Weyrlingmaster had said hit him. "But
sir...what about visiting my family? I wrote and told them I'd come as
soon as I could go /between/ safely."

"Then you'll just have to write another letter and explain yourself to
them," K'sedel said. "I'm sure all the time you'll have will allow you
to think about things, and how actions have consequences. Now go and
make sure that the note reaches the infirmary within the next
candlemark." Duty with the healers was not going to be exciting at all,
but it would likely hammer home the point of what could happen when bad
decisions were made.

The boy stared at him for a moment with his mouth open, as if he was
considering making a protest. Throughout his weyrling training, R'fal
had been looking forward to nothing so much as the moment when he'd be
able to go home with Marlath. He and his friends had talked about all
the places they'd visit when they were allowed to leave the Weyr, too -
the Holds, the Halls, the Gathers. Now he wouldn't be able to do that
for who knew how long. Compared to that, duty in the infirmary seemed a
minor punishment.

But he knew there was no point in arguing. Shoulders slumped in misery,
R'fal bowed his head to the Weyrlingmaster and trudged out of the room.

K'sedel watched him go, hoping the lesson would be learned.

Last updated on the January 29th 2019

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Consequences