A Tough Job

Writers: Jane, Rochelle
Date Posted: 31st August 2009

Characters: R'syl, Zharesti
Description: R'syl introduces himself to Zharesti by the feeding pens.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 4, day 11 of Turn 5

"Good afternoon, weyrwoman." R'syl said politely, nodding as the goldrider came to stand by the feeding pens. He hadn't had a chance to formally meet her yet, but a new gold in the weyr was going to attract any bronzerider's interest -and seeing as he was the weyrlingmaster and gold Veyeth was still young enough to rise, he had more than enough reason to greet Zharesti.

"Good afternoon, R'syl," she said, a little smug that names and faces were easy for her. Moving to a new Weyr meant a lot of new faces but her habit of sketching them and labelling the sketches with the name of the subject meant that she seldom needed to be introduced more than once.

"How's Veyeth today" He asked, watching Usaeth lift his head from his own kill to watch the gold circle above the pens. He dropped his head back to the herdbest in his claws when she dove, but continued his meal in a much neater manner than before. **Show off.** R'syl thought fondly.

"She's in fine form. Perfectly well." No matter how many times she told herself that she didn't need to be defensive about Veyeth's health the nearly two-Turn long illness had made her over-sensitive to even the most general inquiries about her lifemate. "She's settled in marvelously," Zharesti added, turning the conversation slightly. "As if she hasn't spent most of her recent Turns in a cold mountain Weyr."

R'syl nodded. "Cold really doesn't bother them at all, not like their riders." He observed with a small smile. "We transferred here from a 'cold mountain weyr' too, and I'm not sure the oversized fishing rod even noticed except he thinks the basking is better."

}:I noticed. I like the dolphins.:{ Usaeth added haughtily, still working his way through his kill as neatly as possible for the bronze.

"He says he noticed the dolphins." He relayed with a laugh.

"What about you, Veyeth?" Zharesti asked, following her usual habit of speaking aloud to her gold.

}:Busy,:{ the gold said, choosing a herdbeast and killing it with the quick efficiency she knew her rider preferred.

"Er - she says she's busy," the weyrwoman said with a laugh. "I think I'm being told not to bother her while she's on such an important mission. I've been put in my place, I think."

"Looks like a fair assessment to me." R'syl agreed with a smile. "It's generally a good idea not to get between a dragon and their meal - I should know." He chuckled, remembering the excited rush of newly hatched dragonets on buckets of meat.

"You've learnt a lot in the job, then? Were you Weyrlingmaster of your 'cold mountain weyr' too?"

"No. Just a 'Second." He felt his smile falter as he thought about his last appointment. Sohhen had written to tell him that his daughter had been scored, but not enough to prevent her from flying Fall. He wondered if Sairros or Thorom had been to see her, or if he was the only one who'd known Sairyl had been scored at all.

"It's a tough job as a 'Second and still you wanted to try being the boss?" Along with the Wingleaders of the fighting wings, she thought the Weyrlingmasters had to deal with the losses of the people they were responsible for. It was true for the wingleader of the Queens' Wing, too, but not on the same scale.

"I work well with weyrlings, and Usaeth adores children. My old boss felt it would be in my best interest to advance."

"Hmm." Zharesti's attention was momentarily distracted by the glee with which her dragon helped herself to another herdbeast and she wondered ... It wouldn't be too long now before Veyeth rose - something she never took for granted since the illness that had taken away her gold's urge to mate for over two Turns. "I'm glad it's not a job goldriders are called on to undertake."

There was an interesting sentiment. It wasn't a job for everyone, but most goldriders had to deal with candidates regularly enough that he could see a few of them working well with weyrlings. "Why not?"

"Because undoubtedly I'd get roped into it sometime in my lifetime, and I don't think I could handle the - don't tell anybody -," she cautioned with a laugh, "- I don't think I could handle all the responsibility."

"If you say so." R'syl settled a little more comfortably against the fence. "I've been told it's about the same as being a wingleader or even a Weyrleader but I wouldn't know. I've been working with weyrlings almost since Thread returned."

"Well _I've_ been a Wingleader of sorts, and I think your job must be harder. Those first flights, first /between/ ... At least by the time young riders arrive in the Wings those hurdles are over."

"I may have them to start, but what they do after that is entirely their responsibility." He countered, then sighed. "But I will admit it isn't always easy."

"What do you for relaxation?" Zharesti asked, wondering how the Weyrlingmaster wound down from his responsibilities.

"Sleep." R'syl offered a wry smile. "And spend time with Usaeth. There generally isn't much time for me to do anything else."

"No hobbies?"

"With forty or more weyrlings, who has the time?" He shrugged. "I admit I'm a bit of a workaholic, but it's not a job you can just put down. To be honest, I prefer it that way. It's like parenting..." He paused for a moment, feeling the familiar twinges of loss and despair rising in him as Usaeth finished his meal. "... You don't stop being one just because the kids aren't there any more."

"Ahh," Zharesti said with a nod. "That I can agree with." She gave another nod in the direction of the bronze. "All done?"

The bronze was about to drop off his ledge, having reluctantly come to the conclusion that Veyeth was not interested in anything other than food at the moment. "Yes." R'syl pushed himself off the fence and gave a respectful nod to the goldrider. "I'd better get going. Have a good day, weyrwoman. I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot of each other at one point or another."

"No doubt about it, Weyrlingmaster," she agreed.

Last updated on the September 21st 2009

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A Tough Job