A New Assignment
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 21st March 2024
Characters: X'eri, Saibra
Description: Saibra assigns X'eri to be Yasmeane's mentor. He's less than pleased.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 13 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: D'kere, Yasmeane
Introducing X'eri! He'd love coposts!
}:The Weyrwoman has assigned us a partner.:{ Kohath's words popped in unexpectedly as X'eri was carefully shading in the shadow of the mountain on his latest sketch.
**A partner?** X'eri repeated in confusion.
}:Yes, she wishes for you to come to her office so she may discuss it with you.:{
X'eri's lips pursed in displeasure as he set aside his piece of charcoal. Even though he had been in Sienna Wing for nearly two Turns, he still hadn't become accustomed to it. He would never say it out loud, of course, but having a woman as a Wingleader was just... _different_. The goldriders just did things differently than the bronzeriders who led the fighting Wings.
}:You're not going to be impolite are you?:{
This made X'eri chuckle to himself as he washed his hands in his basin. **Now, why would you think that?**
}:You've got that... _feeling_.. about you. The one that you usually get before you become impertinent.:{ Kohath said decidedly.
Well, his dragon had a point there. He did _feel_ a little like being impertinent. He'd felt like that a lot since his illness.
**I'll be as polite as possible.**
}:See that you are. Chioneth is looking positively radiant today and I would like to try and claim a spot beside her to sun on the cliff.:{
Priorities.
--
"Thanks for coming up on short notice," Saibra said to Ueryllen.
"Oh, it's no problem, Weyrwoman," the healer assured her.
There was a knock at the door and after a pause, a bronzerider entered, his eyes wary as they roved over Saibra and Ueryllen.
He saw Saibra's lips moving, and then Ueryllen's hands signed, [Thanks for coming on short notice. Please, have a seat.]
He was still working on lip reading. Some people's mouths were easier to follow than others.
After he was settled in a chair, X'eri glanced from Saibra and then to Ueryllen. His brow was furrowed as his hands made their best efforts to ask, [What's this about a 'partner'?]
"One of your wingmates needs a little extra support," Saibra said, pausing as Ueryllen translated.
The bronzerider's facial expression became even more guarded. [Who and why?]
"Yasmeane."
Saibra waited as Ueryllen painstakingly spelled out each letter in the greenrider's name.
It was clear the moment the name registered with X'eri as the bronzerider threw his head back and then held up both hands in frustration. [No, no, no,] he signed, his right hand repeating the gesture without ceasing.
He remembered exactly what that greenrider's accusations had done to D'kere and he wanted no part of it. She couldn't be trusted and he didn't want to be responsible for anyone else's problems but his own.
Saibra continued on as if X'eri's hand wasn't still signing, [No, no, no.]
"She has a very emotionally intellectual green who may be a great Search dragon one day, but not if Yasmeane's past keeps interfering. Your former Wingleaders gave you excellent reviews on your disposition, your interactions with non-Weyrfolk, and on your abilities to mentor new Wingriders from Weyrlinghood. That's what I want you to do with Yasmeane."
X'eri's mouth moved as if to try and speak, but he clamped it shut, his lips tightening as he shook his head.
**How can I very well mentor someone when we'll have no way of communicating? Or does she expect me to have to _write everything down_ for Crazy Yasmeane?** X'eri asked his dragon. He could feel Kohath's reluctance. **Go on. Ask her.** He was too annoyed to be able to think of all of the hand signs he needed to express himself.
}:Dearest Chioneth, my rider would like to express to yours a sense of anxiety over communicating with someone on a regular basis who does not speak his hand language.:{ Kohath said sweetly to the senior queen.
Saibra's eyebrow raised as Chioneth delivered the message.
"I understand your concern," she said while Ueryellen's hands made graceful signs. "Yasmeane is a fellow harper, she trained before Impression, so I'm sure she'll be able to pick up the hand signs quickly. Actually, this is just another benefit of your partnership. It would be most useful to have someone else in the Wing who you can communicate with without us needing to bring a healer up from the infirmary."
X'eri's face became deadpan as he watched Ueryllen's signs.
"She needs a friend and a mentor, X'eri," Saibra reiterated.
**Ask her if she picked me because I'm deaf and won't be able to hear all of Yasmeane's annoying complaining.**
Again there was hesitation on Kohath's part.
}:Lovely queen, my rider thanks the Weyrwoman for entrusting him with such a ... delicate ... task.:{ Kohath purred.
Saibra had to suppress a laugh when Chioneth sent her the message. From the glare in X'eri's eyes, she doubted very much that the message was _exactly_ as X'eri had intended.
**Kohath!**
}:I believe that was what you _intended_ was it not?:{ Kohath said slyly.
**You know very well that is _not_ what I said.** X'eri wanted to break something. Why did communicating have to be so difficult?
"She needs this, X'eri. She is on her last chance." Saibra said, and after Ueryllen was finished translating, Saibra signed one word herself. [Please.]
A heavy silence descended in the room as X'eri stared at Saibra and Ueryllen.
[Fine,] he signed, although there was no less annoyance on his face than before.
Saibra inclined her head, letting the bronzerider know that he was dismissed.
"Thank you, Ueryllen."
"Of course, Weyrwoman." Ueryllen left then, picking up her pace a little to catch X'eri in the hallway.
X'eri turned when he felt a hand on his shoulder. His scowl lessened a little when he turned to see it was the healer.
[Your signing is rusty,] Ueryllen mouthed and signed the words simultaneously. [You're making me look bad as your teacher.]
**Tell her I haven't been using it a lot late-**
Ueryllen whacked X'eri on the arm and signed, [Stop that! I can tell when you're talking to your dragon. Your eyes go all misty and stuff.]
X'eri rolled his eyes. [They do not,] he signed, taking his hands out of his pockets.
[Remember, if you don't use your signing enough you'll forget it. It's just like any other muscle,] Ueryllen insisted.
[I know,] he signed in return, although he looked like a petulant child.
[Come to my weyr tonight. You haven't been in a while. I'll cheer you up.] Ueryllen's hands promised more than just conversation.
This brought a spark to X'eri's eyes.
[After evening meal?]
Ueryllen smiled. [Perfect.] Going up on her tiptoes, she pressed a kiss to his cheek before departing.
X'eri felt himself emitting a sigh as he shoved his hands back into his pockets and struck off again. Maybe he would get to finish his landscape sketch before anything else happened.
Last updated on the March 24th 2024