A Chance for a New Life

Writers: Devin, Estelle
Date Posted: 29th June 2020

Characters: N'vanik, Terren
Description: N'vanik has a quiet word with a new arrival at the Weyr
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 18 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: R'fal, Corowal, Y'gel (not by name)

N'vanik

Terren leaned back from his empty plate and patted his full belly with a
sigh of satisfaction. After months of surviving on thin stew and stale
bread, being able to eat as much as he wished, with no guards, no work
to go to and the sunny beaches of the Weyr awaiting him outside was
bliss. This was the life he'd always been meant for.

He could even feel more kindly towards his son for wanting to come here,
though the boy didn't appear to enjoy it much. R'fal seemed to have
endless duties, spent his free time poring over healer texts, and he'd
become absurdly cautious about following rules. Meanwhile, as much as he
was enjoying the luxuries of weyr life, Terren itched for excitement. He
looked over and saw a group gathered around a table where a game of
cards was going on. Should he join them? He pushed the plate away and
started to get to his feet.

"Terren? R'fal's father?"

"Yes -" Terren looked up at the man who was speaking to him and nearly
choked. "Weyrleader." A sudden jolt of panic gripped him, which he
barely managed to conceal. Why would the Weyrleader want to speak to
him? How did he even know his name? He smiled, weakly. "Uh - how can I
help?"

"Do you have a few minutes to talk? You're not in any kind of
trouble." N'vanik didn't want the man to think he was in danger so
soon after being released from prison.

"Yes, of course." The former cotholder gestured to the seat opposite him
and pasted a polite and attentive on his face. He wondered how much the
dragonrider knew about him. Until he found out, he'd have to be cautious.

"How about we chat outside? More private that way." There were already
people glancing in their direction.

Terren nodded, got to his feet and followed the Weyrleader out, still
wondering what this was about. He hoped it wasn't going to mean the end
of his life of leisure.

"I wanted to thank you for how the Weyr's taken care of my son these
last months, when I, uh, couldn't," he said. "I hope he's been behaving
well."

They stepped out into the warm sun and N'vanik headed for his favorite
spot high up the beach, under a group of shady trees. "Aside from the
time he snuck out to the prison mine where you were being kept,"
N'vanik said dryly.

Terren winced. "Yes, he told me." The boy might as well have stayed in
the Weyr, for all the good he'd done. It was something to know he'd
tried, he supposed. However, he was wise enough not to mention that he'd
played any part in encouraging the rescue attempt. "I hope he didn't
cause you any trouble with the Lord Holder."

"The Lord Holder doesn't know about it." N'vanik moved into the cool
shadows and leaned against a trunk. "I'd like to keep it that way." He
studied Terren for a moment, wondering what kind of man he really was.

"That's all right with me. I've no intention of telling him or his
people anything." There was a note of resentment in the former
cotholder's voice. He still remembered the moment when Lord Corowal had
sentenced him, unjustly in his view, to the mines.

The Weyrleader nodded. "I heard about your case, and to be honest, I
think you did what you were accused of." He held up a hand to stop
Terren from interrupting. "But I'm not going to shame you for it. I
want you to know that you're welcome here."

"I'm grateful. If it wasn't for R'fal and the Weyr, I'd be holdless."
Terren decided not to waste breath protesting his innocence. "Everything
I did was done to protect my family, but - well, my wife's relatives
wouldn't accept me back." He looked down, took a breath as if to control
his grief. "All I want now is the chance to lead a quiet, honest life."

"For R'fal's sake, I hope you mean that," N'vanik said. "The Weyr can
be your chance to start over and be anything you like. You can take up
a Craft if you want. We've had apprentices older than you, so don't
let age stop you if it's something you're interested in."

Terren nodded, cautiously. He'd never even considered joining a Craft,
but he supposed it stood to reason that he'd have to look as though he
was contributing, eventually. "Thank you, Weyrleader. I'll consider it.
Before...what happened, I ran a farm, herded ovines."

"We could always use help with our livestock, and you could look into
beastcrafting. Or try something completely different."

"Yes. Well, I'll think about it. Talk it over with R'fal." Terren
figured that this would be a good time to show some pride in his son.
"He's started an apprenticeship, healing dragons. I've never seen the
boy work so hard."

N'vanik smiled. "Yes, our Weyrdragonhealer has taken a shine to him. I
hear R'fal is doing well. He's a good one, your kid. I don't know if
that's from you, his ma, or just who he is, but he's got a good
heart."

"I know it. He's the only one who hasn't abandoned me." The man sighed
and looked out towards the sea. "I wish it could have been different.
But now I'm here, I'm determined to start again. You won't regret taking
me in."

**I hope not.** It could all be an act, just lies meant to appease
him. Or Terren could intend to follow through but then forget it all
next sevenday. "We take all kinds here. This can be a home for you
Terren, if you let it be."

"I'd like that. It's a very beautiful place." Terren smiled, with all
the warmth and easy charm that came naturally to him when he tried.
"Well. Thank you, once again, Weyrleader."

"It was nice meeting you, Terren. Welcome to Dolphin Cove."

Last updated on the August 17th 2020

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A Chance for a New Life