A Curiosity

Writers: AJ Kraier, Vix
Date Posted: 10th April 2007

Characters: D'val, Taselm
Description: D'val meets a fairly new arrival to River Bluff Weyr, but when Taselm explains his reasons for being there the greenrider's curiosity in Taselm take on a whole new level of interest.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 3, day 3 of Turn 4

"Aches, pains, sunburn. I always felt as if I worked hard at my family holding, but that was nothing like what I've done today and everyday for the past seven." The laborer sighed and shook his head at the companions who were leaving the dining table. "Go ahead. I'll just stay here until I feel that I can move."

Seated at the neighboring table, with his back to the other man, D'val had been inadvertently listening in on their conversation. He chuckled now at this, and said to himself, "Or until someone in power notices your idle hands."

After taking a sip of his klah - cold and somehow not hitting the spot-Taselm set aside his cup, and shoved against the table, pushing himself upward and away from the table at the same time. As his chair hit that behind him, he turned slightly, wincing at the pain of that movement. "Sorry - didn't mean to disturb you."

"It's okay, you didn't disturb me," said D'val, turning in his chair to look up at the man.

"Glad to hear that." Taselm studied the face of the other man, knew that he should move on and leave the dragonrider to himself, but extended his hand instead. "I'm Taselm. I'm new to the Weyr."

"Nice to meet you, Taselm," he said, clasping the man's hand in his, "I'm D'val. Welcome to River Bluff."

"Thank you, D'val." The laborer glanced at the other man's shoulder knots. "A dragonrider and a crafter? I've mostly met the unskilled and those who give them orders while I've been here, so I've had little contact with either crafters or riders."

"I'm mainly a rider these days, but the healer training comes in handy with all the pains and strains that seem to plague Weyrs on occasion."

"Not just Weyrs - injuries seem to plague any location, particularly when there's much work to be done."

"That what happened to you -- old injury from home? Or have they been working you to the bone since you got here?"

"It's mostly just achiness." Taselm shrugged his shoulders, frowning at the sensation in them. "I'm accustomed to working but have done so under different conditions and what feels like almost continually since arriving."

D'val nodded thoughtfully. Rising from his chair, he said, "Except perhaps for the mines, there's not much work that can prepare you for the work they throw at you here -- and I mean throw in the literal sense. Have you tried tossing a sack full of firestone?"

"Unfortunately, yes. Yesterday I was assigned to help bring more to the Weyr stores. Our work group had to shovel onto and out of the cart as well as filling some sacks - though I know that much of that is done right here. We were expected to toss some sacks down the line to be sure that all of us were ready for Threadfall days. I can't imagine what that would be like while in the air."

"Like trying to catch a young child as if your life depended on it while riding a runnerbeast at a healthy trot. It isn't easy, but you learn -- or you rip your arm out of its socket."

"And I thought I was aching after doing that on the ground." Taselm shook his head. "I didn't realize until moving here just how much work is involved in dragonriding. Holders see the fun part, the soaring through the air, but don't know what else goes on here, the care of your dragons, the stress of preparing for Threadfall. . ." He broke off his words. "But you know all of that."

D'val nodded. "I've seen it my whole life. I was born and raised in a Weyr. Are you here because you were Searched?"

The laborer's expression turned solemn. "No, I'm not the type that's ever attracted a dragon's attention. But we seemed to have a few too many mouths to feed at home and were told that the extra hands were needed here. My uncle - he's the holder we were working for - he said that I'd fit right in at the Weyr. Who knows why he thought that, but it seemed like an adventure, so why not?"

"It can definitely be an adventure," said D'val, "but it can also be a bit of a... culture shock, I think they call it, to someone who has lived their whole life in a Hold."

Taselm shrugged slightly. "The work's a little different but it's not that difficult to adjust to it."

D'val furrowed his brow slightly at this response, but just as quickly shrugged it off. "Still, it's only your first sevenday here, and there's probably much you've not... experienced yet." He paused for a moment, hesitant, and then added, "I could show you around sometime, that is if you'd like me to?"

"Could you? Really?" The laborer grinned, his teeth white against his sun-darkened skin. "I'd like that."

The greenrider smiled warmly. "Then how about we do it this coming restday?"

This brought an eager nod from Taselm. "I've nothing else planned, so I'll gladly meet up with you."

"Great. Let's say... here, at the start of the midday meal?"

"I'll be here. Thanks!"

Last updated on the April 11th 2007

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A Curiosity