The Truth Emerges

Writers: Miriah
Date Posted: 13th February 2022

Characters: Enali, Bertin
Description: Bertin gets Enali to talk
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 10 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: R'ayl (not by name), N'vanik, Corowal, Cyradis

"That's not true!" Enali had tears running down her cheeks as the
unflappable Mindhealer looked at her with a gentle expression. "I knew
exactly what was going on!"

The reply was soft. "Enali, they sent you, a young girl, who was
grieving the loss of someone she loved, to a place where her loved one
was hurt. To do something they would not. Why do you think they did
that?"

Enali's lower lip trembled. "So I could help! So I could get revenge!"

Bertin continued to speak gently. "And you already said they spoke to
Grevan. Who also grieved. They made him angry, didn't they? Just like
they made you. What did you or your betrothed gain? What would you
have? Even if Grevan would have been successful, what would have been
the gain for him? The dragonriders would have scoured all of Pern for
him. He was never going to be successful, Enali." He gestured to her.
"And what of you when you returned to the Hold? Carrying a child of
the Weyr with a sire you say you despise.. Unwed. What would they have
done then, the other holders?"

"I...I would be a hero!" Enali struggled to maintain her fervor. "They
would have taken care of me..."

"How?"

"I..." Enali then faltered. She hadn't thought that far. She'd planned
for the child to be the Weyrleader's, but even then...she wouldn't
have been accepted. Even with support, she would have been an outcast
from her family. It began to sink in; if the rest of the Hold didn't
know what they were planning, how could she be a hero? How would she
be celebrated?

Bertin crouched to look at Enali in the eye. "You were used, Enali.
Brave men, real men, would have done deeds themselves, not hidden
behind a grieving boy and a grieving girl. Or a little, sickly boy
from the Hold. Those are actions of cowards."

Enali's eyes squeezed shut and she gave a soft wail of anger mixed
with grief. "I loved him!"

"I know. You would have had to do fight so hard for him."

"I wanted his babies...not...this THING inside of me!" Enali covered
her face as wracking sobs hit her hard and she fell to her knees, half
bent over her extended belly.

"He would not have wanted this for you Enali." Bertin's voice was
empathetic to her pain and he felt his own eyes stinging from the
intensity of the emotions. "His grief and the men who took advantage
of both of your pain are at fault. They did this."

"But they said..." Enali struggled to find more reasoning, but failed.

"The Weyr had to pay, right? But what harm did the Weyr do to these
men? Do you know?"

Enali shook her head and words erupted from her mouth as she sobbed.
"That the Weyr controlled the Holds and it was wrong. That the Weyr
gets their way and Lord Corowal is weak. "

"Listen to yourself, Enali. To what they said. Are they angry at the
Weyr, or Corowal?"

"I...I don't know!" The last was said with a whimper and a sniffle.
Slowly, wearily, she lifted her head to stare at the Mindhealer. "I
don't want to die." The voice was soft, terrified, and childlike. "I'm
scared. I'm sorry! I'm so so sorry!"

Berin laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I know, Enali. I know. Who
did this to you?" The voice was pleading, soft, soothing.

Her lower lip trembled, "Three guards at Emerald Falls. One was ranked
right under the guard captain. His name is Vendak." She looked down,
shoulder's slumped. "He was going to train Grevan and he spoke to
Grevan before he came here. Two of the other guards were on the tithe
train. They're Vendak's brother and cousin. And..." she wiped her
eyes. "There's more of them, but I don't know their names."

Her shoulder was gently squeezed. "Thank you, Enali. I'll speak to the
Weyrwoman and Weyrleader for you. I'll do what I can." He offered her
a drink of fresh water.

"You're going to leave me alone?" Enali's eyes no longer held any hint
of malice, just a young fear.

"I'll come and speak to you again. Just for you."

Last updated on the July 15th 2022

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The Truth Emerges