A Matter of Importance

Writers: Arale, Heather K
Date Posted: 8th July 2012

Characters: E'ril, Salrae
Description: E'ril examines the work of one of the weyrlings.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 15 of Turn 6

Salrae looked up from her work and noticed the Weyrlingmaster Third
watching her work. Feeling like one of the Weyrling staff was watching
her in particular made the young greenrider feel quite nervous about her
straps.

It wasn't that E'ril was watching Salrae in particular she just
happened to be the next Weyrling he noticed. He watched as she
carefully checked the quality of the strap and matched it to another
strip. "You're a very detailed worker, Salrae. Do you maybe have some
Weaver training?" Admittedly he didn't know this young greenrider as
well as he ought and now seemed a good time to remedy that.

Feeling her cheeks heat up from the compliment, Salrae shook her head
and answered with a shy smile. "No sir. My mother just always said
that it was better to pay attention to what you're doing while you're
doing it than to notice after you're done that you made a mistake."
The idea of her having any sort of crafter training was amusing,
really. Her mother was the quintessential wife and mother and her
father was a Minor Holder of a minor holding so small that it barely
counted as such. He had ambitions though and the last thing he'd need
was a daughter with any sort of an education.

"That's sound advice. Do you enjoy this sort of work? Making things I
mean." He asked, curious about where her interests lie.

The girl considered the question, "It's alright. I mean, I don't
dislike it." Feeling that this answer wasn't very satisfactory, she
elaborated, "What I like about this," she lifted the strap she was
measuring a bit, "is that it's important. I've never done anything
important before I came here," she finished quietly.

A picture of the girl's past began to form in the bluerider's mind. It
seemed that she didn't have the best support system. Come to think of
it, he hadn't met either of her parents at the hatching. "Oh this is
important. These straps could save your life someday. I know mine
have."

She nodded in reply, knowing that was important too. But it wasn't
exactly what she'd meant. She just wasn't sure how to explain what she
did mean. How do you tell someone that your life had been going no
where, the only usefulness you were credited with was how many babies
you could squeeze out and how pleasing the man your father picked for
you to marry found you. That you had never mattered for yourself any
more than a crafter might value an individual tool for more than the
function it could perform.

And then suddenly a Search and your life was changed forever and then
a very special egg cracked open and it changed again and every change
meant that you were someone. That you mattered - you - and now, you
would never be alone and you could help to Save Pern and who
could ever expect that the youngest daughter of a minor holder who had
delusions of grandeur, only a few turns from being married off would
ever be so important? But she couldn't say all of that, so she just
smiled and replied, "Yes."

E'ril watched as the intense expression flashed across the young
girl's face. Obviously there was more to Salrae than met the eye.
"Listen, Salrae," he started, moving closer to her,"if there's
anything you every need to talk about, I'm here. You may be a student
but you're still a person."

She offered another shy smile, "Thank you, sir." And wasn't it just
refreshing that people cared what she might have to say? It was still
new and different to the young girl and she felt the joy of it dance
around inside her, stirring up the attention of her sleepy lifemate.

}:What you say always matters to me,:{ Nimneth's voice drowsed through
her mind before she felt the green drift back to sleep.

Salrae couldn't help the fondly amused expression that crossed her
face as she added, "I think Nimneth agrees with you sir, except I'd
have to compete with her naptimes."

"Oh of course. That shouldn't be too hard I suspect," E'ril replied
alluding to the fact that the green was still young and sleeping was
still one of her primary hobbies.

The weyrling rider nodded amicably.. "She does take her naps very
seriously. It makes me a bit jealous at times, I'll admit," she added
with an amused grin. She felt more at ease discussing her dragon than
herself, and her dragon was a never-ending source of amusement
sometimes.

**Yeah, me too.** The Weyrlingmaster third thought to himself. When he
reached out to his own lifemate's mind he found it to be drowsy.

}: I've still got one eye open.:{ The blue said defensively.

Focusing back on the conversation at hand E'ril replied, "I'll bet
it does and trust me that doesn't change. Salrae, you're doing a
fine job. I've got to be moving on down the line as it were so keep
it up, ok?"

She couldn't help but feel pleased by the compliment, "Yes, sir. Thank
you." She returned her attention to her straps, even more determined
to see them done properly.

Last updated on the August 3rd 2012

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

A Matter of Importance