Rejected

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 11th November 2010

Characters: Hygalia, Birigundi, Jessmyr
Description: Jessmyr approaches Hygalia with the hopes of being allowed to Stand.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 26 of Turn 5

Birigundi

Things were starting to come around and look brighter. Jessmyr had been
accepted as Weyr resident, he had been assigned quarters and duties.
Problem was that his training as a runner was pretty useless in Weyr, so
he was doing whatever odd jobs there was. Unless it was too heavy for
him. A boy who fell breathless after flight of stairs was not going to
unload a tithe wagon. What Jessmyr really wanted was to Impress a dragon,
to become a dragonrider. Now that he was weyr resident, he could simply
ask
permission to Stand. He was within the age, sixteen. The only thing
that he had no courage to approach the Weyrwoman. He begged his cousin
Birigundi to arrange it.

"I heard that the Gold is really cranky and protective of her eggs,"
Jessmyr said nervously.

"Extremely," Birigundi agreed as they rounded the corner. "I've never
heard of a gold acting up this badly, though."

"Yikes, I hope she doesn't eat us," that didn't make him feel any less
nervous.

"We're not actually going in. She's meeting us at the door." The sound
of a rather angry bugle could be heard echoing through the halls up
ahead. "And thank Faranth we _don't_ have to face her!"

"Okay, _that_ was scary," Jessmyr tried to laugh it off, although his
pale face have turned even more pale.

"She can't get through the door," Birigundi laughed, finding his
cousin's reaction rather amusing.

"Is one of your Jessmyr?" a woman asked, peeking her head out of door
that lead to the Sands.

"That would be me, Ma'am" the frail-looking youngster replied.

She smiled kindly at him before looking at his companion. "And you
are..."

He took the hint. "Birigundi, ma'am. I'm Jessmyr's cousin. I'm
already a candidate."

"It's a pleasure to meet you both." Hygalia looked over her shoulder
before stepping out into the corridor. "I'm sorry, I would invite you
in, but Genith is in a bit of a mood." One that was not improving.
"I'm afraid we'll have to talk out here."

"No problems, Ma'am. I'm asking permission to Stand for Genith's
clutch," Jessmyr said, swallowing nervously. His heart pace was speeding
up and he felt the first signs of running out of breath. Stress could do
that to him. He hoped she didn't notice it.

"Yes," she nodded, though her face suddenly turn a bit more serious. "I
saw that you had made the request, and the healers have sent their
evaluation after your check-up."

Jessmyr nodded and his mood started to sink. That didn't sound very
promising.

"You know that dragonriding is strenuous work, and only those whose
bodies can handle the stress of it can Stand as Candidates," she said
gently, understanding that life had dealt this boy an unlucky hand.

"Ma'am, he's a runner," Birigundi said with slight disbelief. How could
he _not_ be fit enough to take the physical strain?

Hygalia nodded, having read that in her report. "It's amazing that
you've managed _this_ long with your heart problem. You must have known
that something was wrong."

"What heart problem?" Jessmyr asked, although he had know there was
something wrong with him. He just never (or anybody else) connected it
to his heart.

Shrugging a shoulder helplessly, her smile sad, she said, "I can't say
for sure. There were a lot of healer words that I haven't been trained
to really understand, except that they recommend that you _not_ Stand.
And that you go in for further testing immediately. It's serious,
Jessmyr."

Birigundi felt like he had been slapped in the face. How could this be
possible. Looking at his cousin he asked softly, "Jessmyr? Is this
true?"

Jessmyr looked at his cousin. Biri had never seen him collapse, and
whenever he had suggested running together, Jessmyr had had some excuse
to refuse. "I can't run, Biri," he said. "After few miles I collapse to
a gasping heap. The harder I train the faster I collapse. That's why my
parents sent me here. I can't be runner and they didn't know what else to do
with me," he looked utterly dejected and unshed tears shone in his eyes. "I
thought it wouldn't matter here, it wouldn't prevent me being a
dragonrider, that you just sit on dragon's back.." Of course, now that he
had seen dragons and their riders he knew better. It was anything but
sitting down.

"And no one thought to _tell_ me that fact?" Birigundi asked, feeling
rather used, though he could understand their reasoning.

Jessmyr didn't replied, just looked utterly ashamed and lost.

Hygalia looked at each of the two young men, knowing that they would
have a lot to work out between them. It was not her place to become
involved in a family argument. "It does not matter to the Weyr,
Jessmyr, why you have come to us. We of course will not turn you away,
and we will find something for you to do that will better suit your
condition. However, our first priority is finding out exactly what the
condition is, and what can be done about it, if anything."

"You better believe, ma'am, that I will be hauling him straight back to
the healers as soon as we're finished here," Birigundi assured her,
still annoyed that he had not been told but more angry that his uncle
would think to dump his son off here without getting him the proper help
in the first place!

"Yes, ma'am," Jessmyr replied. He was somewhat relieved he didn't have
to leave.

"I wish you the very best of luck, Jessmyr. This is your home, and you
are welcome here as long as you like." Feeling her queen's growing
impatience, she gave them each an encouraging smile. "Right, well, now
I must get back to my duties. Go to the healers. They are some of the
best on Pern. Good day to you both."

"My duty to you, ma'am," Jessmyr said and bowed.

As they walked back down the way they had come, Birigundi put his arm
around his cousin's shoulder. "Come on, wherry brain, let's get you to
the healers." There was no anger in his voice. Now that the initial
shock had worn off, he was more concerned about his cousin's well-being
than anything. "No more secrets, all right?"

"No more secrets," Jessmyr agreed and forced a smile to his face.

Last updated on the November 20th 2010

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