Untried

Writers: Clancey, Elaine
Date Posted: 5th January 2006

Characters: J'darin, M'kel
Description: M'kel returns to full duty ...J'darin promotes M'kel, untried, to Wingleader of Cyclone Wing
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 3 of Turn 3

J'darin

The latest round of healer reports had been brought to him this morning.
With a weary sigh, he stared at the stack for a time before daring to flip through it. Each sevenday he received these reports on who was returning to duty, light duty, or who was still unable to function except to heal. There were still more of the last category than he liked, although the first two were increasing in number.

Many riders had returned to duty in last month, and the Wings were beginning to look a little fuller. But what they couldn't replace were the ones for whom the dragons had keened.
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}: My Queen will lay many eggs! :{ Hasaarth chimed in and J'darin cracked a smile at that. As usual, his dragon was right.

Given that strength of heart, he flipped to the first hide and found much more good news than he'd hoped.

13 riders returned to full duty
5 riders returned to light duty
6 riders removed from the Infirmary to their Weyrs for further healing Their names and dragons were listed below this, along with a statement that the Infirmary was cleared of all patients from the accident in month 7, including O'dan, and he and Dyaera had been among the worst wounded, if not the worst.

A sigh of relief was let go as he put the stack down. There had been another name on the list that had leaped out at him. How could he have forgotten about M'kel and Ragorath? The pair were older than he and Hasaarth, yet they had been injured badly in the accident, and had only just returned to full duty. It was his name that leaped off the page.
Bronzerider. Older. Traditional? He thought so.

Did he want to make him Wingleader? He should ask K'deren. But first, to send for M'kel himself, see if he is truly fit and had been doing drills with Cyclone.

Oak was sent off with a note, the brown flit chittering happily as went to find one of the great bronze ones. He liked bronzes.

~*~

M'kel and Ragorath landed together. M'kel was so glad to be returned to full duty, and had just spent some additional time in the air, making sure he was ready. Even though he had used the time constructively he missed being in the air, him and Ragorath working
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together. **You've kept in shape I see friend. Showing off a bit up there?**

}: Yes, I must remind them we are strong, and fly together again! :{ M'kel chuckled. But he shared his dragons sentiments some what. He had fun reading through the archives, and even had a few new ideas from some of the charts he'd been pondering, but he felt like he'd been out of the flow. His previous hall, moving here. A _complete_ change in leadership. A lot had been happening while he had been stuck in bed.

}: Over there, :{ he head Ragorath say, so he turned to see a flit coming his way. He lifted his arm. "Hello there, is that for me?" The lizard chittered as he extended his leg. He read the note, then turned to Ragorath. **I have to check in with J'darin** He said as he alighted and the pair spiraled down to the ground level.

He wondered what J'darin wanted. Actually M'kel was still not used to thinking of him as Weyrleader. **Things have been changing fast around here** he thought as he stood at the door to J'darin's office. He gave it two precise knocks.

Prompt, anyway. J'darin moved aside the stack of hides he'd been looking at, and called out, "Come in!" Time to reacquaint himself with M'kel.

"Good morning sir," M'kel said as he entered, "May I ask what it was you wanted to see me for?"

"Ahh, you're looking well, M'kel. Feeling better?" At the nod, J'darin waved him to a chair. "Have a seat. I wanted to talk to you about assuming a greater role in fighting Thread. How is Ragorath, by the way?"

"Thanks J'darin. Yes, everything seems to be in working order again.
Ragorath?" he gave a quick laugh, "Hes fine, ego's a little hurt, having been grounded, but I'm sure he'll make up for that in no time."
He took a seat and then asked, "What do you mean by greater role exactly?" He tried not to get excited, but mentally began running through the winglists. **Shards, I'm sure its changed lately though**
he thought, but from what he could recall there were some Wingsecond positions open. It would be easier to implement some of the ideas he had gotten, while studying in bed, in a position of authority.

"Hasaarth says both of you are in fine shape." The Weyrleader paused, considering the man across from him. "As you know, M'kel, we were left with many holes in our ranks after the accident. We lost a lot of good riders that day, but we also lost more bronzeriders than is safe to run a Weyr. We've had a few transfers, and a few of the younger ones are stepping up, but we are sorely lacking." Another pause.

His fingers steepled as he gazed at M'kel again, measuring him and waiting for Hasaarth to do the same. "I have asked Br'nick to be my Wingsecond in Hurricane, and he has accepted. There is already an able Wingsecond in Cyclone. But he is sorely lacking a Wingleader. I had thought to offer it to you. But you are untried. Not even Wingsecond time. Do you think you are capable?"

"Wing_leader_?" he said, thinking. As much as he wanted to immediately accept, he thought for a moment. **Ragorath?** he asked his bronze.

}: We are able! The others will follow my lead. :{ "If you give me a chance sir, I'm positive I can show you I'm more then capable," M'kel finally responded.

J'darin looked at him a moment, fearing he may have made a mistake putting an untried bronzerider in charge of a whole wing. But his dragon.. and his instincts .. said he was right. And they were badly in need of able leadership. "Remember this... K'deren is a very good Wingsecond, though if you tell him I said so, he won't believe you." A wry smile twisted his mouth. He cared no more for the brownrider than he ever had, but Wingsecond was a brownrider's place, and he was a good one. "Work with him, and you should do fine as long as Ragorath can lead the dragons, and you can lead the riders."

"I'm placing a great deal of trust in the two of you. Please do not make me regret it." He said finally, his blue eyes steely in determination.

"Yes, K'deren is a very steady fellow. I would be a deadglow to ignore such an excellent source of knowledge and support. And the trust you have given me Weyrleader," his tone modulated to something even more solemn, "I will return more then ten fold in honest work and effort to lead Cyclone. I will _not_ let you down, I shall lift you up. You shall not regret this sir."

Although M'kel's resolve outwardly was absolute, the inner monologue of his mind was running quite fast. _Wingleader_, when only a few days ago he was feeling the confines of limited duty while recovering. A chance to step up, and commit even more of his energies to the fight.

"I had better not, M'kel. I'm going a little against traditions, and that is disturbing to someone as hidebound as I." He smiled to take the sting from it. "Would you like some time to think it over, or shall we announce it today?"

"My mind is made, I need no time," M'kel replied with a sweep of his hand. "The sooner it is known, the more time people can, get used to the idea. Yes, announce it today J'darin."

J'darin nodded once. "Very well, it shall be done. There are stacks in the Wingleader's office that give details of all the riders in your wing, I'm sure many of which you know. Familiarize yourself with them today and you begin tomorrow." He rose to his feet and nodded. "Come to me if you have any problems or questions, M'kel, and the best of luck to you and Ragorath."

"Thank you Weyrleader," M'kel said, standing up and giving a crisp salute. As he walked to the Wingleader's offce **_My_ Office** he spoke to Ragorath. **I'll be a while looking at hides**

}: You're _always_ looking at hides! :{
**Now its different. I have to be studied, prepared. Not just for me, and you, but for our wing.**

}: I shall prepare by sunning :{ Such remarks still made M'kel laugh, even after years of being together.
**It is settled, we shall each prepare, in our own fashion.**

Last updated on the January 5th 2006

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Untried