Making Up The Numbers
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Emma, Estelle
Date Posted: 12th September 2005
Characters: K'deren, T'moran
Description: K'deren brings T'moran reports from the healers, and T'moran wonders whether he can persuade them to release his injured wingriders early
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 1 of Turn 3
K'deren knocked on the door of the office used by T'moran. The brownrider held reports from the healers in his hands. Reports that stated the fitness of the riders, and details of those who may or may not return to duty soon.
It was hard for him to go on, he missed Vonalie dearly. She would always have a place in his heart, but she died doing what she and Pylth loved so much. Defending Pern from thread had been their lives, as had the children. Trievan was a little less withdrawn now, and Deralie would know no different.
K'deren knocked again, "T'moran? It's me, K'deren."
"Oh - K'deren, come on in. You should have said that it was you..." T'moran looked up with a rather harried smile. "Sorry. It's been one of those mornings where people have been in and out of my office with questions they could well deal with themselves. How are you today?"
"I'd be a liar if I said I was doing well," said K'deren, a half smile crossing his face as he came into the room. "It's hard going." The brownrider paused, looking to the Weyrleader for a moment, before taking a seat.
"I know." T'moran replied quietly as the brownrider sat down. It would never get any less painful for K'deren - that he understood. "How are your children?"
"Deralie is never going to know any different, she's lucky to be too young to understand this. Trievan, I care for him as though he was my own, and he's going to hurt for a long while. I know what it's like to lose your mother and it is not easy." He sighed as he relaxed back into the chair. "I brought you these from the healers," he said holding out the hides after a moment.
"Thanks." T'moran took them from him and scanned the writing. There was good news - some riders would be able to return to their duties next sevenday - but only a small few. Most others would be out for much longer, and some indefinitely. He would have to rely on the large class of weyrlings that was soon to graduate to make up the numbers, and they were inexperienced.
He sighed. "Did you tell the healers how badly we need these riders back in action?"
"I did, I spoke to the Duty Journeyman, he said that it could be dangerous to push people back into action before they were ready. The gist of what he said was about not risking further injuries." K'deren's expression was resigned to the fact that they would have to rely on help from the other weyrs for the time being.
"I see." T'moran wondered if perhaps he should speak to the journeyman. Though he hated the idea of having to do it, he was running out of options. Faced with a choice between failing to protect the lands entrusted to the Weyr and failing to protect his riders, he was torn as to which way to turn. "Well, thanks for doing this, K'deren. I'll look into it - and we _will_ have enough riders for our Wing next Fall."
"I hope so. Faranth alone knows that we need a bit of luck now. We cannot risk any more losses, not if we want this weyr to hold together."
T'moran knew that, but he had an ominous feeling that the luck they'd had to avoid serious losses since O'dan's last Fall would not last forever. "How are the three riders who rejoined the Wing the other day - the ones who had light injuries? Are they coping well?"
"F'ney came through drills okay, S'olen was tired afterwards, but said he just needed to get back into the rhythm of things. Olara, I think she's not quite ready yet, just as well we have a few days yet before the next fall. We can work on her fitness, and that of her green and see how it goes."
"Good. I'll assume they'll be ready but we'll practice a formation tomorrow that we can use without them." Under any other circumstances T'moran would insisted on them sitting the next Fall out and perhaps the one after that - he took care of his riders - but the more people he had in the air, the better the chances of those who were still unscathed.
K'deren nodded. "Is there anything you need me to do before then?"
"I don't think so. I'll speak to the healers myself - you make sure you get enough rest. Spend some time with your daughter." T'moran smiled briefly. "You deserve it - you've been working hard these last sevendays."
"I only wish it were under different circumstances."
"So do I, K'deren." T'moran had been wishing the same thing that ever since he'd been elected Weyrleader - and even before that, when he'd heard the first keening for the dragons lost in that one terrible Fall. "So do I."
Last updated on the September 12th 2005