So Tell Me

Writers: Devin, Steel
Date Posted: 6th August 2026

Characters: Kuhaji, R'lor
Description: Dolphin Cove's Weyrlingmaster interviews a Candidate
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 3, day 1 of Turn 13
Notes: Mentioned: Gilbek, N'vanik, H'yazi

R'lor

~~~~

"... Sir. You wanted to see me?" Kuhaji knocked twice on the side of the semi open door, though he didn't enter.

It was a bit of a struggle, working out the ranks of important people in relation to himself in a new place, but he was _pretty_ sure he might be getting it.

At least, he knew that the Weyrlingmaster was important-- obviously. So when he'd been sent for, he'd made sure to hurry.

He hoped he wasn't in trouble. He'd _been_ trying to keep his head down.

"Ah, Kuhaji. Please have a seat," R'lor said. "This is just an informal meeting. I like to meet all the new Candidates." Though he was particularly intrigued by this now-former White Hollow guard. He would be concerned, but the Weyrleader had already sent word that Gil had vouched for him, and R'lor trusted the judgment of both men.

"Yes sir." Kuhaji responded, and sat, though he didn't dare slouch or fidget. He could almost hear old Seelana, lecturing him about Manners, or maybe Gilbek.

Informal or not, he knew how meetings with those of a higher rank were meant to go. "I started Candidate lessons this morning, sir." Kuhaji said carefully.

"That's good. How do you find the Weyr so far?" R'lor asked.

"It's... a lot to learn, sir." Kuhaji offered in response. "But I know my letters and numbers, at least, and I-- I knew Gilbek, so its not like I don't know _anyone_."

The Weyrlingmaster nodded slightly. "Most new arrivals find the Weyr at least a little overwhelming. It's good that you have someone familiar here. Gil, ah Gilbek, is a good man. He saved a young bluerider and I'll always be grateful to him for that."

"He... helped me, too." Kuhaji offered up. "Before, I mean. He's one of the reasons I-- well. He... kept an eye out for me." He gave an awkward sort of shrug. "The Weyr's probably the biggest place I've ever seen."

"We'll help you get settled in, don't worry." "R'lor said. "I'm curious, why did you accept Search?" He liked to hear each Candidate's reasons.

"I was encouraged to, sir." Kuhaji responded, promptly. "That, and... and I wanted to be useful, in a way that really mattered."

"Risking your life against Thread would indeed make you useful to the Weyr, and to Pern." If nothing else, the young man did seem earnest. "I heard that many people at White Hollow have, or at least _had_, a negative view of the Weyr. Since you chose to become a Candidate, I imagine you don't share those views?"

"I wasn't _born_ at White Hollow." Kuhaji responded, with a faint frown. "And dragons fly against Thread, whatever else they do. If I can help, with that, I _want_ to."

Candidate classes would go over the harsh reality of fighting Thread, so R'lor could save that for later. "Where were you born?"

"I... don't know." Kuhaji said, after a long moment. "I mean... Seelana never left Dolphin Cove territory, so she probably found me somewhere here?" He shifted a little bit, uncomfortably. "Do you need to put somewhere official? They didn't at White Hollow, but... normal Holds are different."

R'lor frowned curiously. "Were you part of a caravan? How did you come to be a guard at White Hollow?"

"I was recruited. Well... some of the band I was with were recruited." Kuhaji said, slowly, wary again. "I was 14 Turns. Too young for guard work." He paused, then added, "Seelana never said where I came from, and then the other Holdless after didn't care."

R'lor's eyes widened before he controlled his expression. "Ah, you were Holdless. Well, you aren't the first Holdless to become a Candidate here, and we've even had some Impress." He thought of H'yazi, kind and uncertain.

"I was." Kuhaji said, stiffly. "But I _did_ join a Hold at 14. And I'm 20 Turns now. I can behave myself." If that's what the Weyrlingmaster meant.

"I wasn't judging you," the Weyrlingmaster said gently. "I would, in fact, be more wary of you being a White Hollow guard, but the Weyrleader let me know that Gil speaks well of you. I'm only trying to learn a little more about you."

"... I don't know where I was born." Kuhaji repeated, with a faint frown yet. "I was Holdless, until some of the group I was with got hired on at White Hollow, and Gilbek... he _did_ try to keep me out of what he could."

He paused, then added, "I never laid a _hand_ on a woman or kid, either. Even after Gil... left, before things got better. It's why they let me even stay on, after the Hold got fixed."

R'lor considered that for a moment. "Why did you become a guard, and why did you choose to stay even after the Holder and his supporters were removed? Again, I'm not judging, just trying to understand some of your motivations, your thoughts, your personality. If you do Impress, knowing more about you will help me be a better teacher."

"Why _wouldn't_ I become a guard?" Kuhaji challenged in response. "The Crafters weren't gonna teach me anything, and I wasn't going to just lay around." He added.

A pause, and then he continued. "After the Holder got removed, I didn't want to be Holdless again. And the Headwoman vouched for me."

"Well, you have a chance to craft here, if you like. The Weyr has many opportunities," the Weyrlingmaster said.

Kuhaji considered. "I'll think about it, sir." He responded. "Do I _need_ a Craft to be a Candidate here?"

"No, but I encourage you to at least consider it. Not all Candidates Impress, and you might find something that interests you."

"I'll look into it." Kuhaji said. "But if I don't Impress, I'd... probably just return to White Hollow, sir." He shrugged. "It's as much a home as anywhere else."

White Hollow seemed like a very unpleasant place, but maybe it had changed. Or maybe Kuhaji had never known anything better. "That's certainly your choice," R'lor said. "What do you do for fun?"

"... Fun?" Kuhaji responded, and hesitated a moment. "I like... sparring." He offered up. What else? What else could he say that might impress the Weyrlingmaster? "I... know a little bit about various herbs?"

"Ah." R'lor eagerly seized on that. "I could suggest the Headwoman assigns you to some time in the kitchen gardens."

Kuhaji considered that, and then nodded slowly. "I wouldn't mind that." He said. "Would it be acceptable to just do odd jobs, like Gilbek does, instead of choosing a Craft?"

"That's certainly fine. There's plenty of work to be done and the Weyr values everyone's contributions."

Kuhaji nodded slowly. "I'm not afraid of hard work." He said, simply.

"While we're here, do you have any questions for me?" the Weyrlingmaster asked.

Kuhaji considered, and then nodded once. "I do, sir." He responded, slightly less stiffly. "... How big are baby dragons? And do I need to do or say anything to them when they hatch?"

"We'll get into that during Candidate training, but at Hatching, they're three to four feet long. They grow very fast, so they soon get much bigger than that. When you're out on the Sands, you don't need to say anything but you should think loving, welcoming thoughts," R'lor said. "Many people believe this helps encourage a dragon to choose you, but I think it's also good to create a positive atmosphere. The dragonets should be surrounded by love as they start their lives."

Kuhaji nodded, slowly. "I... guess welcoming them makes sense." He offered up.

R'lor thought a moment. "Have you done any work with animals? Runners or canines?"

"Seelana and me had a canine when I was a kid." Kuhaji responded, after a moment. "Big ugly beast. But it helped guard us. So... yes, I know about canines. There were some belonging to White Hollow guards, too." He added.

"Ah, good." R'lor nodded. "Well, you know how canines can sense your mood and react to it? Dragons are like that, only much, much more attuned. That's why it's so important to be positive and calm at the Hatching."

Kuhaji nodded, solemnly, once again. "That makes sense, sir." He assured. "I'll do my best."

Time would tell if the new Candidate was earnest or just being agreeable. "Don't hesitate to come to me or the Headwoman if you have questions or need some help settling in."

"I will." Kuhaji responded.

Last updated on the August 11th 2026

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So Tell Me