Candidate Interviews - The Morning (2)

Writers: Cali, Jane, Kaysea, Patrick, Vix
Date Posted: 27th April 2007

Characters: Ylisahn
Description: Ylisahn interviews the candidates and makes sure she has their details correct in her records.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 3, day 18 of Turn 4

The Headwoman sighed. Another one she didn't recognise. "Are you one of my Candidates?" she asked hopefully of the young woman entering the office.

The girl nodded shyly. "Sorsha, from Green Bend Seahold."

"Have a seat, Sorsha. I'm Ylisahn, the Headwoman now. How long have you been at the Weyr?"

"Um, about two sevenday." Sorsha replied after a moment's thought. "A green dragon was picking up my father and told her rider that she liked me."

Ylisahn smiled. "That's how it happens. Did you report to one of my assistants, then? Nandia?"

Sorsha tried to remember, but couldn't match the name, "Maybe, she had black hair... she was very nice to me."

"That's good to hear, anyway," Ylisahn said, wondering as ever what it was that Searchdragons saw in some people that others didn't. Quiet Sorsha had obviously intrigued the dragon who had found her, and it was possible that she would intrigue one on the Sands in a month's time.
"How old are you, Sorsha?

"Sixteen." She said a bit more easily since she knew the answer. She still wasn't used to all the attention she was getting here at the Weyr.

"Are you married? Do you have children?" Ylisahn suggested, not certain of anything with Holder girls. She thought she was a better judge with weyrfolk who usually had a chance to mature before they got into permanent relationships and families, Sorsha shook her head, "Not yet. I'm to marry at Turn's End."

"But not if you Impress?" Ylisahn suggested cautiously, testing that the girl understood that.

"Oh yes, I mean, if I don't Impress." Sorsha ammended, embarrassed at the slip to an adult. "If I Impress, my sister is to wed Harly instead." Her father had understood his duty to the Weyr and had told her to go and Stand, but she felt completely out of her element and somewhat hoped that she _wouldn't_ Impress so she could go back to the life that she had been preparing herself for.

Ylisahn didn't voice her opinion of such an arrangement and instead nodded. "Quite." No need to ask about a craft, and she would leave the suggestion that the young woman might have an interest in one until she knew her a little better. "And you're settled in the Candidate Barracks all right?"

"Um, yes." the girl said with just a slight hesitation. When she had discovered she was to share a room with many others, including men, she had asked to rent a private room since her father had given her a small amount of marks. She had been told she would have to stay with the other candidates, but almost mentioned it to the headwoman anyways.

"That's all I need then, for now. If you have any problems you can always come and talk to me about them, Sorsha. Is there anything you'd like to ask me now?"

Sorsha shook her head. "No, I'll be fine." She knew enough to know that was more of a retorical question.

Ylisahn wasn't sure, but she would have plenty of time over the next few days to check up on the young woman, and perhaps win her trust a little more.

"It's been a pleasure to meet you, Sorsha."

"You too ma'am." she replied quickly as she stood, thankful the interview and scruitiny was over.

~ ~ ~

"Sorry, I was just out getting a klah," Ylisahn said, apologising when she found the young man near her office. "Would you like one? I can pop back and get you one."

"No thank you," Dargan replied, standing up. He brushed his hands down either side of his trous, nervous as he had been on the two previous occasions he had Stood for Impression. "I'll be fine."

"You're ... Dargan?" she guessed as she rounded her desk and indicated that he should sit down. "Am I right?"

"Yes, ma'am, thanks." He took the seat offered, glancing around the room as he did so. He still couldn't get over the difference in the Weyr compared with the runner station where he had been situated. He had only been back here two days, and had to adjust once again to life in the Weyr. "You're right. Dargan, I am... err... was, well I guess I still am a runner, until Hatching, maybe.."

"A runner?" Ylisahn smiled. "We don't get _very_ many of those." She opened the book on the desk and found his entry. "And you're nineteen?
Is that right?"

"Yes, almost too old to Impress. I guess this will be the last time I Stand." He shrugged his shoulders, trying to give the impression he really didn't care, but he did - more than he cared to admit, even to himself. Twice he'd walked the Sands, and twice he'd left disheartened as he watched the other Candidates leave as Weyrlings. He wouldn't be back, this was it for him, and he had to accept that fact.

"There's sure to be another clutch before you're twenty-one," Ylisahn said mildly. Some people didn't want to keep Standing, though, and she could understand that from her own time as a Candidate. "But perhaps this one will be last one you need. Are you living in the Weyr?"

"I doubt I'll want to Stand again, three times is enough." he inhaled deeply, as though clearing his head of all negative thoughts and concentrated on the interview. "Er, yes, yes I am here now. For as long as I'm needed."

"Good. And are you in the Candidate Barracks?" He was a bit old for that, and had Stood twice before. It was possible that he had been assigned other rooms and the records not updated.

"Yes, I'm down there again. It's beginning to feel a lot like home to me." He gave a small chuckle and a smile briefly split his face.
"They'll be naming one of the cots in honour of me!"

"Cot Dargan? Dargan was here, fourth Turn of the Pass? That sort of thing? What about classes? Do you think you need many more of them?
Some refreshers, of course, that everyone has to do. But otherwise?
History of the Weyr sunk in the last two times, do you think?"

"If they think it'll help me Impress, I'm willing to take every class again, but no, I think I have it all in here," he said tapping his head.
"And yes, I quite like the idea of 'Dargan Slept Here', but I'd prefer it to read D'gan Slept Here." he gave another laugh, his eyes shining as he mentioned his name as it would be, if elided.

"Quite right. It's why you're here, after all. Thank you for helping me update my records, Dargan," Ylisahn said getting to her feet. "And I wish you luck at this Hatching."

"Is that all, Headwoman?" He was a little surprised, but then again, he shouldn't be, he'd been here often enough now they must know what he ate for breakfast each day. He pushed himself up from the seat. "So it's just duties until Hatching, then?"

"I'll be overhauling the roster with all the information I'm getting, but yes, just a few meetings and refresher classes for you."

"Thank you, Headwoman." With a quick smile and a small salute, Dargan excused himself. In a few sevendays he'd know one way or the other.
He'd either be moving his things to the Weyrling barracks: his heart sped up at the thought; or he'd be sent packing back to the runner station where life would carry on as normal.

Last updated on the April 30th 2007

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Candidate Interviews - The Morning (2)