I'll Show You the Way

Writers: Ames, Clancey
Date Posted: 2nd August 2010

Characters: J'darin, Cardella
Description: J'darin finds Cardella in the corridors in need of direction, and helps her along her way, with a stop to chat.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 9, day 24 of Turn 5

J'darin

Cardella

Since J'darin had returned to Dragonsfall as the Weyrlingmaster, his
awareness of the younglings running about the Weyr had intensified.
So, he often found them in the corridors and stopped to chat with
them, or direct them on their way if they seemed to be getting into
mischief. Mischief was all too often the cause of his 'interest', but
it made him smile anyway.

On this day, he was headed down to the dining cavern for a snack while
Hasaarth napped in the sun. There was a class in a candlemark, but
he had time now.

Ahead of him he saw a young woman pausing to consider turning left or
right, and he paused next to her with a welcoming smile. "Hello,
lass. Can I help you on your way somewhere? You must be new, since I
don't recognize you."
Cardella had stood amid the mass of tunnels, utterly lost. She had been
given two jobs. One, make her way to the kitchens to help with the
baking and two, report to the Weyrlingmaster to find out what
exactly she was supposed to be doing with her time. At this point she
didn't think she was going to succeed at either task. She felt
hopelessly lost and close to tears over the whole matter. Why had she
gone off on her own through this maze of caverns without asking
someone for directions first?

It was in that exact moment that she heard the voice behind her.
Turning, Cardella sighed with relief. Someone to help her. Squelching
down her nerves at meeting someone new, she managed to find her voice.
"I'm looking for the kitchens. I was supposed to be there already, I
thought," She bit her bottom lip as she worried over what he would
think of her. "I'm Cardella. I only arrived a short time ago. I'm
supposed to help in the kitchens this morning until I find the
Weyrlingmaster. But, I honestly don't know where I can find either
right now,"

Cardella sighed in frustration.

J'darin looked closer at her and placed her. One of the new
Candidates. He remembered now. He hadn't met with her yet, so this
was a good chance to get to know her. " Hello Cardella. I am
J'darin, rider of bronze Hasaarth. And I'm the Weyrlingmaster here.
Come with me, I'll show you the way. Do you have time to come by my
office first, and take a look at your class schedule?"

Her eyes opened a bit wider, "You're J'darin, the Weyrlingmaster?" She
almost breathed a sigh of relief. At least she'd accomplish one of her
tasks today. "Yes, yes, of course, I can come with you." Cardella was
anxious to find out more about what her life as a candidate in the
Weyr would entail.

He thought only that she was new, and needed a helping hand. And
that was what he was here for, more than anything. He smiled at her
and nodded, turning to the right. "This way then, hmm? The Headwoman
will understand if you are a bit late this first time, and I'll go
with you to make certain."

As they walked he filled her in on what being a Candidate meant, and
added, "The Headwoman mostly looks after you as far as assigning
chores and general care and well-being. She is who you would go to
first with any concerns. But, I look after you, along with E'naer, my
'Third, for classes and training, and on Hatching day. We should have
a Clutch very soon, actually, so if you need any help getting used to
the Weyr way of life, or about what it means to be a dragonrider, let
E'naer or myself know right away." The implication was that there
wouldn't be much time to learn all she would need to learn.

His blue eyes went a bit misty as he talked about Impressing. "I

Impressed Hasaarth here, you know. And there is nothing like that
instant of Impression. And to be ..responsible... for another life so
intimately... well, its a gift, is what it is." He trailed off as
they arrived at his office.

It was neat, really, except for the desk. The desk was a disaster.
He had never, ever developed a fondness for hidework. And it showed.

"Have a seat, lass. Do you have any questions for now?" He asked
her, while he dug for her schedule. He had made it out when he'd been
told there were some new Candidates arriving.

Cardella settled herself into the chair he offered. She thought his
desk could use a spot of tidying, and her fingers were almost itching
to do the task for him. Instead, she folded them into her lap and held
them together.

Questions? Well, she had questions galore, but didn't know where to start.

"How will I know if I'm chosen?" She asked. She'd heard of
Impressions, but didn't really understand what happened. "Will I have
to leave if I'm not chosen?" Another of her fears. Bad enough to learn
to adjust to this new home, but what if then they turned her out and
she had to start fresh again.

"The dragon will choose you, and you will hear their voice in your
mind." He tapped his forehead. "You will KNOW." Again, his blue
eyes went misty as he recalled his Impression to Hasaarth.

}:You are mine. And I am yours. Always. :{ Hasaarth sent.

Eavesdropping again, his dragon was. But he basked in that love for a
long moment.

Coming back to his guest, he focused on her again. "And no, of course
you will not have to leave. You may stay on and Stand for as many
Hatchings as you can until you are of age, and while you are here, you
may study a Craft if you choose. You do not even have to leave the
Weyr once you are no longer eligible to Stand. You may stay on and
live right here." he smiled at her. "Most of our Candidates do not
leave, though some return to Hold and/or home."

"I can openly study my craft?" Cardella asked, surprised. "I've
studied under Master Hariton at the Bakercraft Hall for years, but
have never been anything more than a _student_. I could do what all
his apprentices and journeymen could do, but..." Cardella, whose eyes
had flickered with a hidden fire at the thought of injustice of not
being _permitted_ to study a craft because she was a female, had
returned to their normal shade. She stopped speaking, feeling as
though she had somehow disrespected her master. He had been good to
her, and in her heart, she knew he would have loved to call her and
the others Apprentice or Journeymen, but it was not to be. "I didn't
mean to be so bold," she spoke quietly. Cardella would have to get
over her shyness, she knew that, but it was not easy to do. J'darin
had given her hope though. She could stay here, even openly study her
craft if she did not Impress a dragon. It was almost more than she
could fathom.

J'darin's smile widened at her obvious emotions. He was watching her
face carefully and found he liked what he saw. "No, in Southern,
outside of the Weyrs, and in most Crafts, women are not allowed to
study. Your father was a good man to have allowed you even to _learn_
anything. You were lucky. Many would not do so much. " He spoke
from personal experience, as his father would have never let Jarie go
study, even where it was 'nominally' accepted, like at Bakercraft
Hall.

It was so funny to hear _him_ say those things, if only Cardella KNEW
who he was! His father was one of the men who had believed just like
that, and even he, J'darin, had believed that way when he had arrived
at the Weyr. Although, his prejudices had not long outlasted his
relationships with fiery, tough goldriders, and even a few greenriders
like Zelle. They had taught him a few things, not the least of which
was that women made sharding fine riders or Crafters. Though in his
mind, they still made better lovers and mothers than anything else, it
was not a prejudiced statement. He merely appreciated women that way,
and had great respect for mothers, and lovers who could put up with
big, bronze egos... time and time again.

'And, lass, practice that boldness. If you're to make a rider, it
will require many things, not the least of which is boldness."

Cardella nodded her head slightly as he spoke. She knew she'd been
lucky to get to study at the Bakerhall. It had been a dream come true,
in fact, to feel needed and useful. Having been one of the middle
children, she often felt like she was not noticed as much at the Hold.

"I can be bold," Cardella said, still a bit quietly. Then, realizing
she didn't sound that way, she tried again, firmer this time. "I can
be bold." She giggled a bit at her own...well...boldness. It was not
something she often put to use, though she had found some gumption
back at the Bakercraft Hall. Hopefully, she'd find some here as well.

"What else do I need to know to be a good candidate?" She asked, still
curious what was going to be expected of her while she was here in the
Weyr.

J'darin smiled warmly at her second attempt at boldness. "Much
better." His smiled turned to a slow grin, then he went on in a more
serious tone. "You're already looking like you'll be a fine
Candidate, Cardella. Just go to your classes, and learn to adjust to
the Weyr way of life. Its quite... different... than Holds. Remember
not to be afraid of the dragons, and start being around as many as you
can. Many of the riders enjoy having Candidates help bathe and oil
their lifemates. And of course, the lifemates enjoy it as well. The
more hands, the better, if you ask them!" He laughed, thinking of his
own bronze idiot. The fool would have half the Candidates washing him
if J'darin allowed it. "Remember, too, you wouldn't be here if the
dragon that Searched you hadn't thought you would make a wonderful
partner for a dragon."

Cardella thought she must look a fool as her face broke into an even
larger smile at his kind praise of her efforts. She listened to
everything he told her, tucking it away for future reference. One
thing, however, had left her a bit puzzled from what J'darin had
shared.

"May I ask...um," she paused, her brow furrowing a bit, "how is life
in the Weyr different? Is it just the dragons that make things
different?" Cardella had occasionally heard tales about Weyrlife, but
it was not something she'd ever dwelt on. Now, she wished she had paid
a bit more attention.

J'darin was thoughtful for a long moment, considering how best to
answer her question.

"The dragons are the main reason for the differences, but there are
many variations caused by living in close proximity to dragons that
causes our own customs, and practices, to spring up. Mating flights
drive alot of the differences in behavior. Also women being able to
Craft. But dragonriders during a Pass often expect to have short
lives, so they can sometimes ... enjoy.. the time they do have quite a
bit more than you might be used to. Perhaps." He paused, hoping he
wasn't giving her the wrong impression. "Part of what makes the Weyr
different are those things. How those things will affect you - like
during mating flights, bathing habits, dining habits.. etc... - will
be explained in detail in your classes. I don't want to spoil all
the fun now!" He smiled again.

Cardella pondered everything he had told her, nodding her head at his
final statement.

"Thank you J'darin. I really appreciated you taking the time to help
me get settled. I think perhaps I'd best get to the kitchens before
they think I've truly gotten lost for good!" Cardella smiled a bit.
She already liked her new home. She couldn't wait to learn more about
it.

Last updated on the August 4th 2010

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

I'll Show You the Way