A Fresh Start (2/2)

Writers: Devin, Steel
Date Posted: 7th July 2026

Characters: T'lin, Kuhaji, N'vanik, Gilbek
Description: Kuhaji is interviewed post Search
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 27 of Turn 13

T'lin

N'vanik

"This is the White Hollow guard Calaroth Searched, sir. His name is Kuhaji," T'lin told the Weyrleader.

N'vanik's gaze was a little unfriendly as he looked the young man over. T'lin had been right to check with him first, because he wasn't sure he wanted a White Hollow guard anywhere near the Weyr, much less Standing for Loseth's eggs. "Take a seat. How long have you been a guard there?"

"Weyrleader." Kuhaji greeted, carefully. That was the right address, wasn't it? He obeyed the man, and sat, though he kept his hands relaxed and open.

"I was hired on at sixteen Turns, so... four Turns now." He paused, and then added, "After White Hollow Hold was restored, I was allowed to stay on when others were told to leave. And I'll return there, if the Weyr won't have me. But... I thought, if a dragon says I might be worth it, I'd like to try."

"So you worked for Holder Obriel?" the Weyrleader asked. "So what have you been getting up to there? Beating prisoners? Abusing women?"

"I never _touched_ a woman!" Kuhaji objected sharply, before he forced himself to take a calming breath. "Ask anyone who's at White Hollow now. If I did wrongs they couldn't forgive, they'd never have let me stay."

His shoulders hunched, and his gaze slid away. "I followed every rule the new Holder after Obriel put in place."

N'vanik watched him carefully, weighing his reactions and his words. But he didn't need to figure this out himself or rely on the word of strangers. He looked up at T'lin. "Go get Gil and bring him here."

"Yes, sir." The bluerider nodded and headed off.

Gil was at work out by the herdbeast pens when T'lin found him, filling the feeding troughs. When he heard it was the Weyrleader who wanted him, he couldn't help the jolt of anxiety that ran through him even after so long at the Weyr, but he didn't question the order. He only took a moment to splash water over his face from the barrel near the barn before following the dragonrider.

"Gil, thank you for joining us," the Weyrleader said as T'lin escorted him into the office. "Do you remember Kuhaji from White Hollow?"

"_Gilbek_?!" Kuhaji blurted, and twisted in his seat to stare. "You.. you're _alive_!" He made a motion as if to rise, then thought better of it and stayed where he was.

Gil had come to an abrupt halt a few paces from the door, and was gazing at the young man in equal astonishment. "Kuhaji? How did you..." Recalling the Weyrleader's presence, he gathered his wits. "Yes, of course. I remember him. We served in the guards together." Though his words were respectful, he couldn't entirely conceal his feelings, and an incredulous, relieved smile crossed his face. Even though he was usually reluctant to speak of White Hollow, it was clear that he was glad to see this young man again.

N'vanik looked between them curiously. "And what was he like, as a guard?"

"As a White Hollow guard? Terrible." Gil smiled wryly. "That's a compliment. He wasn't like the others. He was young, and what the Holder ordered us to do, his heart wasn't in it. But he's intelligent and brave and protective. If he'd trained at Emerald Falls with a decent captain he'd have done well. I..." He hesitated. "I tried to keep him out of the worst of it."

Kuhaji's ears turned red, and he ducked his head at the apparent praise, not quite glaring at the floor in embarrassment. "Did only what I had to." he said finally. "... Didn't want to lose my place. But... Gilbek's right. Tried not to hurt anyone."

That was a strong endorsement from Gil. "Calaroth just Searched Kuhaji, and you can understand why I was reluctant to let a White Hollow guard Stand," the Weyrleader said.

"Yes, of course." Most of those men had been violent thugs with worse crimes to their name than the prisoners they'd guarded, but there'd been a few who simply had no other options. Even if the hold had changed hands, he was relieved to see Kuhaji out of it - and not a little surprised to hear how it had happened. "You were Searched?"

"I was." Kuhaji confirmed. "... The rider said his dragon said I was likely, at least." He added, and shifted his weight a little in the chair to glance at Gil. "... If that's what they think, I thought maybe I should try." he continued.

"With Gil vouching for you, we can make the offer official," N'vanik said. He trusted Gil's judgment enough that he no longer had concerns about Kuhaji. "You can become a Candidate, if you'd like."

Kuhaji straightened in the chair, lifted his head higher. "I want to try." He repeated.

Last updated on the August 11th 2026

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A Fresh Start (2/2)