Into Consideration

Writers: Bree, Estelle
Date Posted: 12th October 2005

Characters: T'moran, Dantial
Description: T'moran asks Dantial to release riders early to help fill the wings up.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 1 of Turn 3

T'moran was becoming familiar with the Infirmary, though he wished it could have been otherwise. In what few spare moments he had, he visited his injured wingriders, doing what he could to raise their spirits with news of Cyclone Wing and their friends, and so when he arrived the journeyman healer on duty merely nodded at him as if his presence was nothing unusual.

This time, however, he had come with a different purpose, and he knew it would be harder even than talking with the most badly damaged wingrider.

"Journeyman?" he asked. "May I speak with you for a moment?"

Dantial studied T'moran for a few moments before coming to the conclusion that this might be a conversation they needed private for. He nodded shortly and lead the Weyrleader to one of the side offices where they could talk in peace. "What can I do for you, Weyrleader?"

"K'deren has just brought me these reports on the health of the riders in my Wing." Now he was here, T'moran felt even worse about what he was about to ask, and wondered if going back to the other Weyrleaders to ask for more help wouldn't be a better idea. "I don't know if you realise this, but my Wing is very short of riders. I'd like to get some of the riders who were injured at the beginning of last month back to active duty as soon as possible."

"I understand that," Dantial replied slowly, his voice low and even. "Of course you need riders, but you need riders who can perform their duties, I imagine."

"I do. But some of these riders are described as simply recovering from their wounds. Surely they're not incapable of an early return to the Wing?"

The silence stretched out as Dantial turned over several answers in his head, trying to find the most diplomatic way to phrase his response. "Those who are recovering are doing just that, Weyrleader. Doing too much too early could reinjure them... or worse, make the damage permanent."

"I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation, Journeyman,"
T'moran replied stiffly. "We are in a Pass and no longer have the time for long periods of convalescence. If I do not have enough riders for a full Wing, then some of those who are as yet unscathed will suffer injuries -
maybe even lose their lives. Believe me, I don't like doing this, but I must have more riders on active duty somehow."

"Then I suggest you find them elsewhere," Dantial replied, his voice still steady and polite. Even the look in his eyes was perfectly acceptable, but there was a tenseness about the way he held himself that spoke of temper.
"If I release riders back to you early, all you will do is perhaps lose them forever."

T'moran didn't point out that there was no 'elsewhere' left to him - the healer would never understand that. "Then we have nothing more to talk about, Journeyman. I hope you'll reconsider your judgement, however."

Dantial nodded shortly. "I will, of course, take your needs into consideration. But I'm sure that you value the health of your riders above all else, just like I do."

With no answer to that, T'moran merely bowed his head and departed from the Infirmary, wishing with all his heart that the burden of the Weyrleadership had fallen on someone else. If only there was any other bronzerider he could trust to lead in his place!

Last updated on the October 13th 2005

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Into Consideration