Coming Home

Writers: Heather, Yvonne
Date Posted: 6th April 2024

Characters: Oselle, Saibra
Description: Saibra interviews Oselle for the Headwoman position.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 2 of Turn 11
Notes: Oselle is now available for coposts. :)

Saibra

Oselle wasn't surprised when she heard that Dragonsfall Weyr was looking for a Headwoman-- not because the previous Headwoman hadn't been able to handle the demands of running a Weyr, but rather because it took a certain sort to bear the stresses of it for any length of time.

And she should know. She'd borne those burdens herself, in the past. She too had moved on or stepped down, depending on where on Pern she was. It was simply the way of things.

Still, she'd written a lengthy letter to the current Weyrwoman of Dragonsfall Weyr that outlined her experience and ability, and her desire to return to Dragonsfall Weyr.

The return letter, inviting her to the Weyr to meet the Weyrwoman, had come in a timely manner, which pleased Oselle. She'd heard that Weyrwoman Saibra was decisive, and she approved of that trait. That, and the Weyrwoman had been sensible enough to see that she was the best person for the position based on her letter, which Oselle also approved of.

Coming from /between/ over Dragonsfall Weyr stole her breath away. It had been so many Turns since she'd seen these cliffs and snow-capped mountains... Oselle pressed a hand to her chest to quell the unruly sense of nostalgia that gripped her. The skyline was so familiar, the curve of the cliffs, the glitter of the upper weyrlake... it felt like home, and oh, how she wanted the Headwoman's knots all of a sudden.

The brownrider escorting her landed on a ledge and helped her alight with a gentle hand. She followed him to the Weyrwoman's office even though she remembered the route, thanked him for his escort and knocked smartly on the Weyrwoman's door.

"Oselle," Saibra greeted with a polite smile as she opened the door to her office. "Thank you for coming all this way. I hope your flight was smooth." The task of finding a new Headwoman was not an easy one. A good Headwoman was an extension of the Weyrwoman's own body, her right hand in every way possible. Saibra needed someone who could fill that role as adequately as the previous one had. So far the search had turned up a handful of qualified applicants, but Oselle's experience had intrigued her the most.

"It was, thank you for asking. It's been a while since I've ridden dragonback." Oselle gave the Weyrwoman and her office a quick once-over. Mostly tidy desk, a few books out of place on the shelves, but well kept and clearly used. The wood gleamed with polish and the carpet on the floor was well brushed and clean. "I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss the Headwoman's position here."

"Please," the Weyrwoman gestured, "have a seat." Saibra circled around her desk and took her seat. At first glance, Saibra was already pleased with Oselle. The woman had a buttoned-up, orderly appearance. She seemed a little stiff and proper, but that was the kind of authority Saibra wanted her Headwoman to command. The job of a Headwoman was a demanding one and it required directing multiple strong personalities. "Tell me about your experience here at Dragonsfall before you went to Dream's End."

"Oh, that was... twenty, thirty Turns ago?" Her daughter was thirty seven now... Oselle reined in her wandering thoughts. "I came here when I was quite young and started working as a drudge, then was assigned specifically to the laundry. By the time I left I was an Assistant Headwoman and running the laundry. The Weyr at that time was not as large as it is now, though I was in charge of a staff of ten permanent placements and a rotating staff of another twenty or so, depending on who was assigned to laundry duties."

Saibra made little notes to herself on her ledger. "And you left Dragonsfall for the Headwoman's position at Dreams End?"

"Second to the Headwoman. I wasn't quite seasoned enough for the Headwoman's position yet, but there was no room for advancement for me here at that time. I remained in that position until just after the Pass started. My weyrmate was..." She looked down at her hands, then up again with a tight smile. "I needed a change of scenery, so I took the Headwoman's position at Ember Mountain Hold. It's in Coral Bay territory."

"I see," Saibra jotted something down. "What difficulties do you expect if you were to transition from the Headwoman of a Hold versus the Weyr?"

Difficulties? Oselle wondered what the Weyrwoman was trying to get at-- that she was too Holdbred for the position? That she didn't have the experience to run a Weyr, and run it well? "Few. The Weyr is larger, of course, and the tithes are coming in rather than going out. There's also the matter of managing the livestock herds which isn't done by the Headwoman in a Hold, but I have done that before with success. The biggest difficulty is managing the transition when there are women here at the Weyr who have also applied for the knots but weren't promoted, although that is true of both Weyr and Hold. The other is change. In my experience, dragonriders tend to run amok over the Lower Caverns staff, which affects the ability of the Lower Caverns to function as smoothly as it should. That issue is taken care of when the Headwoman and Weyrwoman are able to respect and support each others' management."

The corner of the Weyrwoman's mouth tipped upward. She liked Oselle's answer and was glad to hear that the woman saw few obstacles. Saibra wanted someone with confidence and clear vision.

"Should you become Dragonsfall's Headwoman, I can promise you complete support to your authority in the Lower Caverns. Dragonriders know proper etiquette and should be held to it."

Her eyes met Oselle's. "Others who have interviewed for this position have requested a month-long trial run before fully committing. What do you think of that?"

"I know exactly what I am getting into, Weyrwoman. I don't need a trial to see if running a Weyr is to my taste or within my abilities. Unless it is you yourself who is unsure." Oselle managed a small smile. "I am, after all, a stranger to you. All you have to go on are my letters of reference."

Saibra allowed her full smile to show. "You have excellent letters of reference and I've also asked around Dragonsfall to those who remember you from before. I was mostly interested to see if you found a 'trial run' as ridiculous as I did. I like people who know their minds and aren't afraid to commit." The Weyrwoman opened the drawer on the left side of her desk. "I would be grateful if you would accept the position of Dragonsfall's Headwoman." She withdrew a ring of keys and the rank knots of a Headwoman and offered them to Oselle.

**Good.** It was sensible of Saibra to recognize the right woman when she was sitting in front of her, Oselle thought. She accepted the knots and keys with a small smile that belied the way her heart leapt and her fingers curled possessively around the key ring. She was coming home! "Thank you, Weyrwoman. I can make the transfer three days from now. It will take me that long to pack, tidy my affairs and arrange for someone to take my place now that I am moving here."

"I'll make sure your quarters and office here are in tip-top shape for your arrival," Saibra said, standing and walking Oselle back to the ledge where the brownrider had been patiently waiting.

"Thank you. In the intervening days, if you need anything or have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me." Oselle held out her hand. "I look forward to working with you, Weyrwoman. I've heard good things about you."

Saibra shook Oselle's hand with a smile, liking that the other woman had done her own scouting as well. She had the feeling that this was the beginning of a beautiful partnership.

Last updated on the April 7th 2024

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