You've Earned It
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: Devin
Date Posted: 2nd April 2024
Characters: N'vanik, R'lor
Description: R’lor gets a very unexpected promotion.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 25 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: K’sedel, Naradis, Sh’del
R’lor took the offered seat in the Weyrleader’s office. The summons
from Loseth had been calm and N’vanik himself didn’t seem upset, so
R’lor didn’t think this was anything negative. Thank Faranth, they’d
had far more than enough of that. With the Senior Queen now egg-heavy
and K’sedel leaving, this was likely something to do with the upcoming
Hatching. Maybe the Weyrleader had already found a replacement.
“I’ve seen how hard you’ve been working, and how well you’ve done
training the Weyrlings,” N’vanik said. He was itching to get to the
point, but he shouldn’t rush this. R’lor deserved to hear the praise.
“You’ve dealt with things far beyond normal. The poisoning and being
left to wrangle all the weyrlings. The whole incident with Naradis.
Having to take on extra work pretty much as soon as you got here with
K’sedel leading the Queens’ Wing. That poor Candidate Saedyna and . .
.” N’vanik frowned, anger spiking. He shook it off with an effort.
“Anyway, that’s on top of all the typical weyrling issues. And you’ve
handled everything well.”
R’lor’s heart beat faster. Was this . . . a promotion? “Thank you,
sir. I’ve done my best.” Was Sh’del leaving too? Or maybe he was
getting a promotion as well. That would make the most sense, with
K’sedel transferring to another Weyr.
}:We deserve it.:{ Kularth sounded so smug it made R’lor’s lips twitch
as he held back a smile.
N’vanik was fighting a smile for a different reason. “So I was
wondering, how would you like to be Weyrlingmaster?”
This _was_ a promotion. R’lor’s chest swelled with pride. After
waiting Turns at Rising Moons for a rank that never came, he was
getting a promotion after only a Turn at Dolphin Cove. “I would be
honored, sir. I hadn’t really dreamed of being a Weyrlingmaster
Second, but thank you for having faith in me.”
At that, N’vanik’s smile broke through. “I don’t think you heard me.”
He pulled a set of knots from a drawer and laid them on his desk. “I
said, _Weyrlingmaster_”
“You . . .” R’lor stared at the rank insignia, feeling lightheaded. He
looked up at the Weyrleader. “But I’m a bluerider.”
N’vanik laughed. “I’m aware of that. But you’ve been doing the work.
Never been much for tradition and restriction myself. So with K’sedel
leaving, I thought why go searching for a new Weyrlingmaster when I’ve
got someone capable right in front of me?”
“Sir, I don’t . . . I don’t know what to say.” _Weyrlingmaster_.
N’vanik was actually serious.
N’vanik’s smile faded. “You can say no, if it’s too much. I won’t be
mad. Disappointed, but not mad.”
R’lor bit his lip against a hysterical laugh. The Weyrleader was going
to be _disappointed_ not to have a bluerider for Weyrlingmaster.
}:You had _better_ say yes!:{ Kularth certainly didn’t have any reservations.
“You don’t have to decide right now,” N’vanik said. “You can take some
time to think about it.” Going from Third to lead Weyrlingmaster would
be a big jump even for a bronzerider. Maybe R’lor didn’t want that
much responsibility, or to have attention focused on him for being
such an unusual choice.
}:Say yes now!:{ Kularth was often easy-going, but there were times he
could exert an immense mental pressure. It made R’lor shudder to think
what goldriders had to endure.
R’lor tried to push him back. **Let me think!** This wasn’t a decision
to make lightly.
Kularth gave a mental huff, but relented. R’lor looked back down at
the Weyrlingmaster knots, threaded through with the azure and sky blue
of Dolphin Cove. The blood pounded in his ears. Full responsibility
for the weyrlings’ training, and all eyes watching to see if he’d
fail.
“R’lor?”
His head snapped up and he realized he’d been silent for a long time.
He _should_ ask for time to think. A few days. A candlemark at least.
But what if he waited too long and N’vanik changed his mind? The sense
of loss that filled him made R’lor realize how much he wanted this. An
impossible opportunity was being handed to him. If he said no, if he
hesitated too long and was passed over, he’d regret it for the rest of
his life.
“I accept.” R’lor straightened his back, looking the Weyrleader
directly in the eye. “It would be my honor and privilege to be
Weyrlingmaster for Dolphin Cove.”
Kularth bugled, radiating so much pride R’lor thought his hide might
turn bronze.
“Are you sure?” N’vanik was mostly teasing. From the moment he started
considering the idea, he’d liked it more and more. If R’lor had been a
bronze or brownrider, no one would question that he deserved the
promotion. He was doing the work, it shouldn’t matter what color his
dragon was. Back when N’vanik had first become Weyrleader, the
Weyrlingmaster spot had been vacant and he’d wanted to promote the
current Weyrlingmaster Second, but the man was a bluerider and N’vanik
had been worried that it wouldn’t go over well. Now he had no
reservations about choosing whoever he wanted.
“Yes.” R’lor nodded. “I’m sorry for my hesitation, it’s just . . .
It’s very shocking. It’s not something I ever expected.”
“I know most other people would limit your potential, but you really
are the best choice. You care so much for those kids and their
dragons, and I know you’ll train them to be strong fighters.”
“Thank you, sir.” R’lor was afraid he might cry in front of the Weyrleader.
“Take the knots. And go celebrate. You’ve earned it.”
Last updated on the April 7th 2024