Banishment

Writers: Cali, Eimi
Date Posted: 7th March 2009

Characters: F'gol, Almonteo
Description: F'gol goes to Almonteo to ask to be a harper again.
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 1, day 16 of Turn 5

Almonteo

F'gol adjusted the gitar case slung across his back as he knocked on the Hallmaster's door. He'd been putting off coming here, one excuse after another, but he knew he'd eventually come. He had to find out. _Could_ he still be a harper _and_ a dragonrider? He'd gone by the instrument room first and picked up the gitar he'd made last turn. It had been too painful when he'd gone to retrieve his belongings after the hatching to claim it then; but he'd need it now if he was to continue his harpering.

"Come in," the Hallmaster called, setting his letter aside, grateful for the distraction.

"Good evening Master." F'gol greeted him with a smile. He'd been in his office enough over the turns that he wasn't intimidated by the Hallmaster, but he did respect him immensely.

"What brings you here, F'gol?" Almonteo was careful to use the boy's new name. It was taking some getting used to, for both of them he was sure.

F'gol shrugged and pointed to the gitar across his back. He couldn't quite bring himself to the _real_ reason he was there, still afraid he'd be refused. "I came to pick up my gitar. And uh, I've got something you might want to give to someone." He dug out the worn hide from his pocket and passed it over to Almonteo. "It's a teaching song I'd been working on before I Impressed. It's not very good yet, but maybe if someone in one of the composition classes wanted a crack at it..."

"Keep it," the Hallmaster said, offering the hide back. "Never hand your creation off to someone else to claim as their own. It will be good practice for you, and I'd certainly be interested in hearing it when you're closer to finishing it."

His comment bolstered F'gol, the Hallmaster thought he'd be capable of finishing it. "That brings me to another reason for being here. I was told by a journeyman at the Weyr that I could continue my crafting even though I'd Impressed... and I'd very much like to."

"I think you should," Almonteo nodded. "I would be sorry to see so much talent not put to good use. Especially since you will need something to fall back on after the Pass is finished."

F'gol didn't have any illusions on surviving long enough to see the end of Pass, but even if he did, he'd be an old man and couldn't imagine that sort of life either. He couldn't help but grin though at what Almonteo had said. The Harper Hallmaster wanted him to continue his harpering! He spoke faster now, excited that his hopes had been confirmed. "So what sort of schedule do you think we could set up? I only have restdays right now, but after I'm out of weyrling training, I'll have more time..."

The Hallmaster raised his hand to stop him. "Schedule what, F'gol?"

"My harper classes of course." F'gol didn't understand the Hallmaster's confusion.

"Son," Almonteo said gently, "You are never going to be a Harper Hall apprentice again."

The grin on F'gol's face fell and he started to breathe faster, like there wasn't enough air in the room. "But you just said..."

The Hallmaster gave him an understanding smile. "I said I hope you continue to be a harper. The Hall isn't the only place on Pern where Harpers are produced, F'gol. You will be a _Weyr_ Harper now."

"But how can I study, learn, practice, without a journeyman or master to teach me, help me?" F'gol felt like he was being cast out, refused the sanctuary of the Hall. "I can't become better on my own!"

"What rank do you think the Weyrharper holds?" Of course, F'gol had been raised outside the Weyr, where a Weyr-trained Harper's rank was rarely recognized as being legitimate, but that was an attitude the boy quickly had to learn to forget. "There are many talented harpers in the Weyr. You just have to open your eyes and see. Your own Weyrlingmaster Second, L'pin, is a harper. I met a Wingleader from Dragonsfall who is a journeyman archivist. You are _surrounded_ by Masters and Journeymen at the Weyr."

It wasn't the same though, was it? Asking a rider for an opinion on something harper related sounded okay, but as a mentor and Master? "Why can't I take classes at the Hall though? Surely some sort of part time curriculum could be arraigned. The Hall is a much more proper place to work on my studies."

"The Hall will not stay at the Weyr forever." In fact, they might be moving sooner than the boy knew. "You cannot rely on us. You cannot follow us. You are a _Weyr_ man now, F'gol. You can no longer afford to be loyal to the Hall. You will find many qualified, gifted harpers here. Some of whom were, like you, trained at the Hall for a time and then moved to the Weyr. Some female Masters actually _taught_ at the Hall before the craftban. Many of them have incredible talent, like you yourself."

F'gol shook off the compliment like he hadn't even heard it. Only one thing Almonteo said to him had stuck, and it was reverberating through his head like a large chamber bell. He was a _weyrman_, no longer loyal to the Hall. It was a rejection like no other, to be banished from a place he'd thought could always and _would_ always be his home. He didn't even remember leaving the Hallmaster's office, nor entering the weyrling barracks. The only thing he remembered was Tealth's soft hide as he buried his face into it and cried.

Last updated on the March 14th 2009

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Banishment