Offering a New Life

Writers: Devin, Yvonne
Date Posted: 11th December 2021
Series: The Lighthouse Keeper

Characters: N'vanik
Description: N'vanik visits the Weyrs newest resident.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 6 of Turn 10

N'vanik

Four walls, made of stone. A glow lamp. A blanket and cot, a rug on
the floor, a chair in one corner and a locked door. He wasn't wanting
for food or other necessities, but time passed slowly and the confines
of the room made him long for the open sky and touch of wind.

Prison, no matter how comfortable, was still prison.

It still surprised him that the Weyrleader hadn't just dumped him
/between/. He'd nearly cried when they'd come out into blue skies and
fresh air after the horror of emptiness. But other horrors awaited,
most likely. Promises of freedom were easily broken.

The lock turned, and he sat up to face the door as it opened.

The Weyrleader stepped in. "Sorry about keeping you in here. We had to
make sure your story checked out. The healer said Master Rehaan died
of injuries due to fall. I suppose you could have pushed him, but
there's no way to prove that." N'vanik shrugged. "So you're free to go."

The man stood, then sat back down again. "What's the catch."

"Not a catch, a suggestion. Why not stay here?" N'vanik said. "You'll
get a roof over your head, food, clothes, anything you need. What will
you get out there?"

He shook his head. "I... haven't lived in a Hold-- Weyr I mean, for a
very long time."

"So you'd rather go back to living rough and running from the guards?"

The man stared at him for a moment, clearly unsure how to respond.
Finally he sighed and rubbed a hand over his eyes. "I step out of this
room and... then what? I don't know this place. I don't know what to
do here. I don't know how to _be_ here. I don't know what you want me
to do, or what you expect of me. I'm grateful that you're not sending
me back to the prison mines, but... I don't know what to do."

"Everyone at the Weyr is expected to contribute, but you can choose
how to do it. You could do drudge work, or like I said before you
could try Crafting. Your weather reports were sharding good for
someone with only a little training." N'vanik shrugged. "If nothing
else, it might be worth a try. You don't need to decide right away
either. Take some time to figure out who you are and what you want
when you aren't worrying about where your next meal is coming from or
how to find shelter before the next 'Fall."

He hesitated. "All right."

"And I'd like to know what to call you. 'Holdless Lighthouse Guy'
probably isn't what you want us to put in the records."

The man paused by the door. "You can call me Ree," he said finally.

N'vanik nodded. "After the man who took you in. I like it."

Ree nodded, then stepped through the door and into a new life.

Last updated on the February 10th 2022

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Offering a New Life