Shifting Wings

Writers: Avery, Devin
Date Posted: 7th December 2020

Characters: N'vanik, A'kades
Description: The Weyrleader and Wingsecond discuss the state of wing staffing.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 3, day 4 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: M'gan, K'deren, K'ran

N'vanik

The two bronzeriders sat down to their regular Wing discussion and
N'vanik set down a roster. "Lots of shuffling going on, now that
Barrier Lake is building up numbers."

"We're losing a surprising number. But we're not in danger of being
under-staffed at least," he said. Taping his chin, he added,
"A lot of Rapids folk who want to return to home ground. It's not a
surprise, but it's giving me thoughts on breaking it up and shifting
people around to fill out the current wings to be larger, rather than
thin them to fill more." He knew that whether to go with smaller and
more numerous wings or larger but fewer was frequently a personal one
by Weyrleader.

"We've lost two Wingleaders. Rapids was intended to stay with us until
River Bluff was rebuilt. But with Barrier Lake taking its place, maybe
it is time to disband," N'vanik said.

"If that's the case, we'll have to coordinate the distribution of the
riders into the wings that remain. I don't mind the idea of filling
out our wing numbers," he said. "Anyone you'd want to keep your eye
on, or prefer to coordinate that with the other Wingleaders?"

"I think we should all discuss color needs so we can keep the Wings
balanced. We don't need more bronzes for example." The Weyrleader's
Wing was understandably a popular one for bronzeriders.

A'kades nodded. "Let the young bucks season themselves out in the
other wings. I'd never say no to more good greenriders, we need their
agility to cover the larger dragons, and with the way the weather's
going to change as the autumn is coming up, we might need to rotate
them out a little more."

N'vanik nodded. "I'd like a blue pair or two also. And we've got a
graduating weyrling class to consider. Let's set some time aside at
the next Wingleader meeting to discuss this."

A'kades took a couple notes. "We'll talk color needs with them, see
where weyrlings might fit in, then discuss transfers of the Rapids
remnants and any other reshufflings. For the graduating weyrlings, do
you want to observe them yourself or have me do that?"

The Weyrleader thought for a moment. "I'd like to watch them at drills
for at least a candlemark or so, but I'd also like you to observe them
a couple times yourself." N'vanik tried to carve out time for each
weyrling class near their graduation to watch them at work in the
skies, even if that time was brief.

A'kades nodded and had a genuine smile. "Just like old times for me. I
like assessments."

"Your experience comes in particularly handy for this." N'vanik
sometimes wondered if his Wingsecond might want to go back to training
weyrlings, but A'kades hadn't said anything.

"This is the part I like about wings is trying to balance everything
out for formations," he admitted, scratching the back of his head and
looking a bit sheepish.

"Not the bossing people around part?" N'vanik smiled.

"Is there any bronzerider who _doesn't_ like that part?" A'kades
asked. "I can't think of one."

"When J'ackt hears the word 'leadership' he looks like he wants to run
to the Northern continent." N'vanik chuckled. "But he doesn't seem to
have any trouble telling people what to do in defense class."

A'kades laughed at the image. "He'll learn eventually. I'm glad that
those parts give him confidence."

"You should've seen me when I first became Weyrleader. I was
terrified." N'vanik hadn't expected to win; Loseth had never even
caught a gold before.

"I can imagine. I felt ready as a Wingsecond, but if I'd caught a
Weyrwoman's gold right after I'd recovered from Threadscore or while
I'd been teaching, it would have been unexpected and I would have been
nervous." A'kades wouldn't normally admit to that.

"Good thing you've got a great track record of not being injured on
the job so I won't have to step in for you any time soon, huh?"

N'vanik thought for a short moment. "I have been lucky. Nothing really
serious except a concussion a while back."

"That's extremely fortunate," A'kades said.

"Hope that doesn't mean I'm due for something," the Weyrleader said.
"Though at least I know things would be in good hands if I was down
with an injury for a while."

"I'm sure Dolphin Cove isn't due for anything," A'kades said.
"Speaking of good hands, tell me about that M'gan."

"Ah, M'gan. I was surprised when I got his transfer request. We were
at Vista Point together and I can only imagine what he thinks of me."
Even after being a capable Weyrleader for Turns, N'vanik had more than
earned his previous reputation

"He must not be completely turned off from you or he wouldn't have put
in the application. Your modern reputation as Weyrleader is very
solid," A'kades pointed out. "What was he like at Vista Point?"

"I didn't know him well, but he seemed a serious sort. He was a
Wingsecond then, had a good reputation from what I remember. I ran in,
uh, different circles let's say." N'vanik chuckled. He'd avoided any
authority figures aside from the leaders of his own Wing, and even
then he stayed away as much as possible.

"That makes him sound like a good addition. Do you have long-term
plans for him, if he fits in well?"

"I'm thinking of giving him Cyclone. He's got plenty of leadership
experience, and as much as I'd like to promote K'deren I don't think
he actually wants the job." The brownrider had been doing a very
capable job leading since D'hol left but N'vanik thought he'd be
relieved to go back to his Wingsecond duties.

"I admire that in K'deren, knowing what he's good at. Sometimes you
can do an excellent job stepping up when you have to, but you're
better as the support backbone than the one in front," A'kades said.
"And if M'gan is a better choice than any of the current bronzeriders
there, he deserves the chance."

"I thought it was a bit strange that he gave up wingrank to come here
as a wingrider," N'vanik said. "So I asked around a bit. Seems he was
thought likely to replace the previous Weyrleader, but M'gan's own
'Second won instead. And then I wondered-- jealousy maybe? But it
sounds like M'gan just wanted to get out of the way."

"I can understand that impulse." A'kades thought about how frustrated
he'd felt when K'ran had won at River Bluff, a not-native bronzerider
sweeping out the chance for a local one to lead. It had turned out all
right, but still. Being supplanted wasn't easy to take.

"Any other Wing or Weyr business you can think of?"

N'vanik thought for a moment. "Nothing immediate. I'll drop some more
hidework on your desk later," he said with a smile.

"I'll make sure to make space for it."

Last updated on the January 13th 2021

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Shifting Wings