A Dreadful Mistake

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 2nd July 2019

Characters: Cyradis, Bilna, Afalna
Description: Two drudges approach Cyradis about a fake note that caused so much trouble.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 11, day 5 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: J'ackt, N'vanik, Jerinne

Cyradis

"It'll be okay. I promise." The drudge pulled the other young woman
towards the office with a gentle hand. "You didn't know, Afalna. You
couldn't have. You don't have to be scared."

The younger drudge thrust her thumb into her mouth, a habit she'd
developed as a child but had never broken. She allowed herself to be
led, trembling, into the office to face Cyradis. She half-hid behind
the older drudge, unwilling to face the Weyrwoman on her own.

"Weyrwoman? It's Bilna, may we speak to you? It's very important."

Cyradis was admittedly puzzled by their behavior but waved them in.
"Come on in," she said. "Is there a problem?"

"Yes, Weyrwoman. This is my sister, Afalna." Gently, she pulled the
younger woman to her side. "She told me that she carried the message
to J'ackt when he was attacked. Jerinne told her it was from you and
it was very important." She looked at get sister and spoke gently.
"Weyrwoman, Afalna's...well, Jerinne knows that she's slow. She
has the mind of a child. She didn't know to ask."

"Hi Afalna," Cyradis said kindly. She waved an invitation for the
women to sit. "How are you today? Are you scared?" She could kind of
tell by the girls body language that it was true but she asked the
question anyway to try and put her at ease.

Guided by her elder sister, the younger woman was urged into a seat.
She nodded at Cyradis' question. She didn't answer until her sister
gently removed her thumb from her mouth. "Yes. I'm really scared."
Dark eyes watered. "I didn't mean to get J'ackt hurt. He's pretty and
he's nice. He even gives me sweets sometimes cause he don't like them.
I didn't know the note was bad."

"I see," she nodded. "Well you're not in trouble alright?" She looked
kindly at the drudge and looked at the other sister. "How did you find
out about this?"

Nodding, Afalna wiped her face with the heels of her hands, sniffling.
"I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry...She said it was from you."

"Shhh... It's not your fault." Bilna stroked her hand gently over her
sister's hair, then wrapped her arm around the trembling young woman.
She looked up at Cyradis and sighed softly. "I found her in her
closet, Weyrwoman, crying. I guess someone told her about Jerinne.
That's when she told me about the note Jerinne had given her. She
thought J'ackt getting hurt was all her fault. I don't think she
connected it all before then."

Cyradis nodded to Bilna with a sad smile. "Afalna?" she said to get
the woman's attention. "When you work in the kitchens and someone cuts
themselves, do they blame the knife?" She shook her head to cue the
girl the right answer. "And so, I don't blame you for doing what you
were told to do by someone who knew better. Alright?"

Afalna peered at Cyradis over her hands and then slowly nodded, slowly
grasping what Cyradis meant. Her thumb was thrust nervously back in
her mouth as she leaned against her sister, who sighed and left it
alone for the time. "I normally keep a closer eye on her, Weyrwoman. I
wish I had known earlier and I would have told you. Jerinne used my
sister, Weyrwoman. She took advantage." She stroked her sister's hair
again. "Can you explain to the Weyrleader as well? She really didn't
know better."

"Yes," Cyradis nodded. "I will speak to N'vanik. What are your
sister's normal duties? The things she does well?"

"Thank you, Weyrwoman." Afalna laid her head on her sister's shoulder
with a muffled sniffle, and Bilna stroked the sleek hair. "She works
with me in the kitchens and Dining Hall. She sweeps and wipes tables,
or helps with the cleaning and dishes. She's a hard worker, Weyrwoman.
She'll try to do anything she's told to, really. Which is why I try to
keep an eye on her. She's been...well, she'd been taken advantage of
before if you get my meaning, so I try to stay close. I think Jerinne
must have pulled her away during meal time, so I was so busy I didn't
notice. That's my fault."

"Not to worry," Cyradis said to Bilna. "Let's have Afalna come work
for me. She can clean my office and my weyr. She can also run messages
for me and that way can't be used like this again. She'll know to do
it if _I_ give it to her. You can check on her periodically but she'll
be in a safe place the majority of the time. How does she do with
dragons?"

Bilna's eyes widened at the offer and she looked down at her sister.
"Are you sure? That would be...it would be good for her."

Afalna withrew her thumb from her mouth. "I like dragons. They're
pretty and they smell nice. Except after Fall. Then they stink."

Cyradis nodded. She was going to speak to Chaysea herself about the
girl but for now this would keep her out of harms way. "You bring her
tomorrow and I'll Instruct you with what I want done, You can teach
her and once she has it down, you can let her come on her own. How
does that sound?"

Bilna breathed out softly, and unrealized tension she carried in her
shoulders visibly eased. "Thank you, Weyrwoman. I'll do that. Thank
you so much. She'll work hard for you, I promise." She kissed the top
of her sister's head and hugged her. "See? It'll be okay."

Afalna responded by nodding and at a soft reminder from Bilna, turned
to Cyradis. "Thank you, Weyrwoman."

"You're welcome," she smiled and watched them leave.

Last updated on the July 22nd 2019

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A Dreadful Mistake