Just In Time (2/2)

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 1st April 2019
Series: The Wingleader's Surgery

Characters: Cyradis, D'hol, Y'gel, Urlene
Description: A farewell letter arrives early and stops a plan.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 24 of Turn 9

Cyradis

D'hol

Y'gel

Urlene

The blow turned his head with its force and he went utterly still, his
hands clenching into fists. He slowly turned back to her, eyes hot
with anger, but he didn't raise a hand to her in response. Instead, he
grabbed her wrist and began to drag her out of the middle of the
Weyrbowl away from the prying eyes, gaping mouths, and titters of
laughter. The moment they were alone and in a darkened side corridor
near the entrance of the Lower Caverns, he released her and turned on
her with his own angry intensity. "Don't ever hit me, Cyradis. You have no
idea what you stopped. This was our choice and we were ready! Do you
hate me so fecking much that you want me to die sick in some bed or in
even more pain? Do you want me to suffer that much?"

"I _do_ know what I stopped," she replied hotly. "I just didn't know
it was _you_ until today." She turned away from for a moment to try
and calm down enough to become civil. She paced for a moment before
rounding on him again this time with tears in her eyes. "My office...
now." she said and stalked away, summoning Y'gel and asking him to
bring Urlene as well.

Biting the inside of his cheek and cursing, D'hol was half a mind to
tell her to go shove her order down Panitath's throat. He was singed,
filthy with char, and frustrated by the denial of what he had planned.
Instead, he glared at her retreating back, clenched his fists and
followed her into her office. At his arrival, his arms crossed over
his chest as he glowered at her, waiting for her to continue.

"Urlene and Y'gel are on their way," she said. "They have something to
tell you about your condition. The Healer who gave you your original
diagnosis was in error yet kept your details private as you
requested."

A knock sounded on the door. "Come in," she called. Urlene slipped in
followed by Y'gel. "This is our mystery bronzerider," she said with a
glare at D'hol.

D'hol's eyes narrowed as they stepped in, but didn't budge. The fact
that they'd been informed at all wasn't what he had wanted, but a
least his name was kept private. Still, he fully planned on having
words with Master Luvin. His eyes moved to Y'gel and then Urlene and
he arched a brow, biting out an angry, "Well?"

Urlene wasn't cowed in the slightest, though she did glance at Y'gel
before speaking. "We can remove the mass. I'm better at surgery than
Master Luvin; and that's why he sent me the notes about your illness.
His estimate of a ten percent chance of survival was if _he_ did the
surgery. I'm convinced that if Y'gel and I work together, the chances
increase to as much as forty-five percent. It _is_ still high-risk,
especially from shock and infection, but I can request certain
medicines from Healer Hall that will lessen those risks to a small
degree."

D'hol's jaw pulsed as he took in the information. "I was made to
understand that even if I was to have the surgery, if it was a wasting
illness, then I would still most likely die."

Y'gel could feel the anger in the room but said mildly. "The key word
there is _if_. There are other things it could be including a fatty
mass. If it were around your bowels that could be what is causing your
pain." He saw the doubt and confusion. "Yes I am a Master
Dragonhealer, but I was already a Journeyman Healer when I Impressed.
I do keep up on my people skills." His lips tilted at the implied
joke. "If it's a fatty deposit, then removing it will mean a long
life ahead of you without further complications. We can't know unless
we see it."

D'hol's lips thinned, not responding to the humor that Y'gel offered.
"That is a lot of 'if's." He looked at the pair, growing even more
irritated and angry." So, you both are wanting to cut me open, risk
infection, shock, and death on some shaffing infirmary bed base on
you both assuming there's an off-chance that it might be some fatty
mass and not what a Master Healer had told me it likely is." He looked
at Cyradis, his anger not lessened.
"Kindly explain to me how that's better than my choice. " He held up a
hand. "No, don't bother. My answer is no. It's not worth it and I
won't do it." Jaw set, he spun on his heel and left the office,
slamming the door behind him.

"Well that went well," Cyradis said mildly. But she also signaled
Panitath that Yumath was not allowed to leave the weyr for any reason
and D'hol could just muck out his lifemate's couch until the end of
this argument. Because, no matter what _he_ thought, this conversation
wasn't over.

Urlene hissed with frustration, glanced at Y'gel and then spoke to
Cyradis. "I can't do it unless he agrees, Weyrwoman. Not at the risk.
All I need to do is send someone to Healer Hall for what we need and
we can perform the surgery. Even tomorrow. But he has to agree."

Cyradis nodded. "I understand and agree," she said. "But I want you
prepared. Bring whatever you want from the Healer Hall including more
Masters if necessary. This man is a Wingleader and Pern needs him
whole and healthy. I'll do what's needed to get him to agree to the
surgery."

Last updated on the April 12th 2019

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