Interviewing Irrkali

Writers: Avery, Estelle
Date Posted: 30th November 2020

Characters: M'gan, Irrkali
Description: M'gan speaks to Irrkali about his open Wingthird position
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 16 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: K'sedel, K'deren

M'gan hadn't rushed to appoint a Wingthird, preferring to take his time
and get the feel of the position, work out what sort of person would be
a good fit for Cyclone. He'd had the more senior riders take turns in
the role and they'd all done an excellent job, and perhaps it would be
wise to promote from within the Wing. On the other hand, it was a
relatively young Wing, and there were advantages to an experienced rider
who could bring an outsider's perspective.

With that in mind, he had Isarth ask green Jeath if her rider would be
able to see him whenever it was convenient. Her record had
interested him; she'd been a wingthird at her last Weyr, and had spent
time on the weyrlingstaff, which might be helpful with training up the
younger riders. Glancing over her record, he looked up as he heard the
knock at the door. "Come in."

"Sir, Irrkali and Jeath reporting," she said, striding in and pausing in
front of his desk with a crisp salute.

M'gan saw a dark-haired woman with a graceful bearing and a confident,
firm manner enter the room. It was a favourable first impression, and he
rose to greet her. "Thank you for coming, Irrkali." He gestured to a
chair. "Please, sit. Jeath is well, I hope?"

"She's very well. And your Isarth?"

"In excellent health, thank you." M'gan sat down. "Well, as I expect you
know, I have a vacancy for a wingthird I'm looking to fill. Cyclone's
had a few transfers in and out these last few months - including myself
- and so my preference is for an experienced rider who can help us
settle in together as a Wing. I understand you've served in that rank
before, at your last Weyr?"

"Yes. We rather enjoyed that role and had no complaints. Only Threadfall
got in the way of it."

"Ah, yes. Your green's injury." It was a long time to be out of the
Wings, and M'gan sympathized. "But she's recovered now, and you're
working with the Weyrlingmaster?"

"Yes. Without a permanent Third in the position right now,
Weyrlingmaster K'sedel appreciates having some older riders available to
substitute in."

"I see." That might be a difficulty, M'gan thought. He didn't want to
antagonize the Weyrlingmaster by poaching his staff. "Have you thought
of returning to flying in a Wing, though? I suppose the dragonhealers
have cleared you?"

She nodded. "I've been fully cleared and in fact helped lead some
weyrlings on the lower level for firestone delivery and light mop-up
sweeps when requested. I was hoping when this class graduated that when
the Weyrleader and others were moving folks around, he'd make a decision
about placement."

"I'm hoping for some new riders myself. The Wing lost a few to transfers
to Barrier Lake," M'gan said. "And with so many changes, I'd like to get
a strong leadership together to give the riders some stability." He
paused. "You've got the experience, but would you be prepared to go back
into the role of Wingthird right away, or would you want some time to
get used to flying with a wing again?"

"Get used to flying with a wing again. It's been over a Turn and while I
know I have the experience under my belt, every wing has its own
patterns to get used to. I'm sure you felt the same upon arriving here."

"I did, and I flew with one of the lower wings for a while, learning the
conditions in this territory. It took some getting used to, after the
North. Weather's very different up there, and the formations go with
that." He thought for a moment. "I'd have to speak to the
Weyrlingmaster, of course, but what would you think of flying a few
Falls in my Wing, and taking the Wingthird's place in a drill or two? I
understand if you don't feel ready for the rank yet yourself, but I'd
appreciate your thoughts on the other green and blueriders. K'deren was
an obvious choice for Wingsecond but I'm taking care with my third. It's
as important, in many ways."

"I agree about the weather. Warm tropic sand and jungle don't fly
anything like the chill hills and mountain of Dragonsfall. That sounds
like an eminently reasonable way to ease me into remembering what a
proper wing is like. Please let me know if it's approved, I find the
idea exciting."

"Then I'll speak with the Weyrleader and the Weyrlingmaster, and let you
know. Thank you." M'gan paused, a slight frown creasing his brow as he
considered something. He'd been impressed with her efficiency, not being
a man to waste words himself, but he felt he was missing something that
he wasn't sure how to get at in an interview.

"Look - even if it doesn't work out, I'd still be interested to hear
what you think of the senior weyrlings over a mug of klah. Having just
taken over the Wing, I've not spent as much time watching them as I
usually would. It'd be less formal than this. Though if you prefer it
formal, I understand." Shells, he told himself, you're a Wingleader, not
a weyrling asking a girl to go flying with him. Not that she wasn't a
rather striking woman...

She paused, studying his face. Since she _wasn't_ anything higher than
regular staff, of course it was going to be unofficial - she couldn't
speak in the way the true leaders of the weyrlings would - but she did
like the idea of talking to him about them, and then maybe finding out a
little more about him.

"A mug of klah, maybe somewhere with a good view?"

"I like that idea. There's some empty weyrs up on the cliff heights,
overlooking the sea, that only dragons can get to. Perhaps in the
evening, when it's cooler?"

"That sounds lovely to me," she confirmed. "just let Jeath know."

"I will." He stood, offered a hand. "Thank you, Irrkali, and my best
regards to Jeath."

"Thank you, sir," she said, offering him a solid handshake. "I look
forward to our dinner later."

Last updated on the December 1st 2020

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Interviewing Irrkali