The Weyrdragonhealer's Assistant

Writers: Estelle, Suzee
Date Posted: 20th January 2019

Characters: R'fal, Y'gel
Description: Y'gel checks the injured dragons dressing and R'fal returns to watch
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 20 of Turn 9

Y'gel

Once the day's drills were over, R'fal set to work on the usual chores
of removing Marlath's riding straps, checking them over and making sure
his dragon was comfortably settled in their weyr as fast as he could.
Most days he wasn't in any great hurry to get to his afternoon of
scrubbing floors, making beds and cleaning up messes for the healers,
but today he had something different to look forward to.

**I'm going to see the Weyrdragonhealer helping an injured dragon,** he
explained to Marlath, who was wondering about his sudden enthusiasm for
what was, after all, punishment duty. **A bronze. He hurt himself
yesterday.**

}:Can I come too?:{ the young brown asked, curious.

**I'm not even sure if I'll be allowed to watch yet. But if I am, I'll
ask.**

R'fal tried not to get too excited. It was always possible that he'd be
told he had to stay and work in the infirmary. The Master might not even
remember him. But when he got there, the journeywoman on duty smiled and
told him to go out and help the Master Dragonhealer, but to come
straight back once he was done because she had a few little jobs for him.

He thanked her and hurried out to the weyr bowl, hoping he was not late.

Y'gel was in front of the bronze dragon and leaning against his snout
rubbing his eye ridges until rumbles of contentment flowed from the
young dragon.

}:He will allow you to check the dressing now:{ Aughashyth told his
rider. He was an able assistant to his rider in matters of
Dragonhealing. }:The youngling comes,:{ he added a moment later and
Y'gel turned to smile at R'fal.

"I see you were able to join us this afternoon."

"Yes, sir, the journeywoman said I could as long as I go back to my
chores afterwards." R'fal greeted the bronze dragon with a polite bow
of his head. He looked much calmer than he had the previous day, his
eyes whirling blue-green. "Marlath asked if he could watch as well?
He's my brown."

"Yes, he may. If he stays over there next to Aughashyth," Y'gel nodded
in the direction of his big bronze. "Right now we're going to check
that bandaged area to make sure there is no infection. Are you ready?"

R'fal nodded. Now he was here, he felt a little apprehensive. What if
the dragon's wound had become infected? He hoped all would be well. "Is
there anything I can do to help?"

"Shouldn't be any problems but you handled the rider very well
yesterday. Having you here again today may make a difference in his
nerves," he smiled down at the weyrling. "One thing we always have to
remember is that dragon and rider must remain calm together or someone
might get hurt, right?"

"Yes, sir." R'fal watched as Marlath glided down beside Aughashyth,
taking great care with his landing so as not to look clumsy in front
of the bronze. "Is that why dragonhealers have to be riders? So their
partner can talk to the dragon and keep them calm?"

"Very good R'fal," Y'gel nodded. "That is exactly why any dragonhealer
who wants to move beyond apprentice must also be a rider. It is
neither an easy nor safe craft. Our patients are bigger and stronger
than we can ever be." Of course, Y'gel himself was pretty big for a
person but did not seem so next to the smallest adult green. "We have
to be able to communicate with both the dragon and rider at all times.
And if there is life-threatening damage for either of them, be able to
call a gold for assistance."

The boy's eyes went round. He had never thought of it like that. His
Marlath, who only a few short months ago had been a tiny hatchling,
was now so much larger than him. Large enough to be a danger, if he
got hurt and panicked. No wonder the Master Dragonhealer had been in
such a hurry to treat the bronze, the day before.

He looked up at the young dragon. His whole body was relaxed, from the
curve of his neck to the gently waving tip of his tail, and he was
watching them with what appeared to be mild interest.

}:He is a little bit nervous, in case it is painful,:{ Marlath said in
response to his silent question. }:But he trusts Aughashyth's rider.:{

Reassured, R'fal thanked his dragon.

Y'gel had noticed the unfocused look come over R'fal when he gazed at
his lifemate. "So what did he tell you? Anything more about the bronze?"

"Oh - sorry..." The weyrling looked abashed, and hoped it hadn't
appeared as though he wasn't paying attention. "He said that he - the
bronze - is nervous that having the dressing changed might hurt, but
that he trusts you."

"Good," he nodded, the smile still in his eyes. "Now have Marlath tell
Dareth that we're just checking and there will be no pain."

R'fal passed the message on to Marlath. He was relieved to hear the
other dragon wouldn't be hurt, and sensed that his brown shared his
feelings. "Should I tell the rider, too? I know he'll probably hear it
from his dragon but...maybe it would help?"

"It could," Y'gel nodded. The bronze's rider had seemed less
distressed today than he had the previous day but the lad's instincts
were good. He watched for a moment and then continued his caresses of
the bronze eye ridges. "I'm just going to take a look-see at that
wound to make sure it's healing properly."

R'fal had greeted the young bronzerider politely and repeated the point
that his dragon would not feel any pain. At the Master's words, he
turned to face him. "Should we hold the ladder again?"

"Please," he nodded and the ladder was placed. He climbed and lifted a
corner of the dressing. Nothing stuck and it came off quite easily. He
didn't prod as the edges were clean and there was only a minimum of
ichor dried in the cut. "This is looking very good," he said to both
the dragon and his rider. "May I have my assistant also take a look?"

"Of course." T'res smiled at the weyrling, who had straightened his back
and seemed to grow a few inches in his pride at being referred to as the
Weyrdragonhealer's assistant.

Before climbing the ladder, the young man thought back, remembering what
he'd been told the previous day about the signs of infection. "You said
to look for swelling...and ichor?"

"Yes," he nodded. "Look for puffiness, discoloration, or wet ichor
around the stitches."

Repeating those words under his breath so he wouldn't forget, R'fal
climbed up the ladder. At the top, he rested one hand lightly on the
bronze hide for balance and carefully lifted the same corner of the
dressing that Y'gel had.

}:He says it doesn't hurt,:{ Marlath reassured him.

Although he knew that the master dragonhealer had already said that it
looked good, R'fal carefully checked the wound for the signs he'd been
told to look for. He had been anxious about how he would react - no-one
liked to see an injured dragon - but concentrating on his task helped.
Once he was done, he climbed back down.

"I didn't see any of those," he reported. "It looked clean and dry."

Y'gel nodded at R'fal then turned to the other bronzerider "So you
see, it's healing nicely. The wound is closed and dry and that's a
good thing. You'll let us know if he feels any pain right?"

"Yes, I will." The bronzerider's eyes expressed his gratitude as he
stroked Dareth's snout, and the dragon rumbled in agreement. "Thank you.
Is there anything we need to do, or should he just rest?"

"You let him rest a couple more days then come back and we'll take
another look." On the word "we" Y'gel placed his hand on R'fal's
shoulder. "If it's all closed up nicely then he'll be able to
/between/ again," Y'gel smiled. Then he held up a finger
admonishingly. "But not 'til then, right?"

"Yes, Weyrdragonhealer. We promise," the young man said solemnly. "No
going /between/. And thank you, again." He raised a hand in salute, and
the pair departed, heading in the direction of the beaches where the
dragon could rest in the afternoon's warmth.

R'fal looked up at the taller man. "Do you mean...I can come and watch
again?"

"Of course R'fal," Y'gel nodded. As the younger bronze rider walked
away, he added in a much softer voice. "You can come here anytime you
want R'fal, and if you are interested, you are welcome to learn the
craft." It wasn't often he offered a rider this opportunity without
being asked first but he recognized raw talent when he saw it. If the
interest matched the talent, this young man could go far. "No need to
answer right now," he added. "Think about it."

R'fal was so taken aback by the offer that he wasn't sure he could
speak, let alone answer. A backwoods holder boy like him, learning a
craft? He thought about his struggles in class, and the extra lessons,
and then of the shelves he'd seen in the infirmary, stacked with an
intimidating array of books and records.

}:You are my rider. You can do anything,:{ Marlath said loyally.

**I'm not sure about that...** His dragon had a point, though. He
wasn't a holder any more, he was a dragonrider, which he'd never
thought possible. Maybe he could ask the harpers about it.

"Thank you, sir. I'll talk to Marlath... I suppose it's his decision,
too." Even so, his voice was filled with hope. "I'd really like to
come back and see that Dareth is better."

"Of course," Y'gel smiled. "You let Marlath know he can ask Aughasyth
if he has any questions." He turned and walked back toward his
office.

Last updated on the January 29th 2019

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The Weyrdragonhealer's Assistant