Proving Them Wrong

Writers: Devin
Date Posted: 31st May 2010

Characters: N'vanik, A'ver
Description: N'vanik talks to a brownrider about his progress
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 16 of Turn 5

N'vanik

"N'vanik? You wanted to see me?" A'ver asked.

The Weyrleader glanced up at the brownrider. "Yeah, have a seat."

A'ver was starting to get used to all the strange things about his new
Weyrleader, including how he used this spot under the trees as a
secondary office. He sat down on the cool sand.

"How's Tereneth?" N'vanik asked.

"He's good."

N'vanik nodded. "I wanted to check in with you, see how things are going."

A'ver shrugged. "Okay."

N'vanik scratched at his cheek and hid a smile behind his hand. It was
like listening to a younger version of himself. "Having any problems?
Anything you want to talk to me about?"

The brownrider shook his head.

"Didn't think so." Now it was time to get serious. "Do you know why
you were sent to Dolphin Cove?"

A'ver's jaw tightened, but he gave the safe answer. "Because you need
riders, and we had a few we could spare."

"That's true enough, but why you?"

His jaw tightened more. "I don't know."

"Yes, you do. Want me to tell you? Because you were trouble, and they
saw a way to get rid of you and make themselves look good for being
helpful at the same time."

That got a reaction. A'ver shot him a glare. "So what? You agreed to
take me because you're desperate?"

"No, I agreed to take you 'cause I'm _smart_." N'vanik smiled. "They
saw trouble, I see potential. I don't just need bodies in the air, I
need good riders."

"What are you talking about?" Was this some kind of joke? A game?
A'ver had barely made it through Weyrling training without being held
back, and in the wing he was always in trouble. They'd finally had
enough of him and sent him to Dolphin Cove so they wouldn't have to
deal with him anymore. He wasn't anybody's idea of "potential".

"I think you've got yourself and everyone around you convinced that
you're a troublemaker. But you're not fooling me. You fly well, and I
think you're a lot smarter than you let on. I think that if you
channel all that fight inside you in the right direction, you could be
Wingsecond in two or three Turns." N'vanik watched him consider the
idea before the defenses came up again.

"You're just saying that."

"No, I mean it. It might not be noble, but do you know what one of the
best things about being Weyrleader is?" N'vanik smiled. "Proving them
wrong."

He gave A'ver a few moments to let that sink in.

Last updated on the June 12th 2010

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Proving Them Wrong