The Terren Problem

Writers: Devin, Suzee
Date Posted: 12th May 2024

Characters: N'vanik, Cyradis
Description: N'vanik goes to Cyradis to discuss what they should do with Terren.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 15 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: R'fal, Terren (NPC), Aviday
Follows "I Didn't Do Anything!"

N'vanik

Cyradis

After getting permission to enter, N'vanik stepped into Cyradis's
office. "I've got a bit of a problem, which is technically _your_
problem."

“Oh,” she said with a puzzled frown. “What kind of problem?”

"R'fal's father, Terren. He's back. And since he's not a rider, that
means he falls under the Weyrwoman's responsibility." N'vanik dropped
into a chair. "And besides, I don't know what to do with him."

She laughed. "Yes, well our real concern is R'fal. How is he dealing
with this? Does he want us to take his father back in again?"

"I'm not sure. Terren's whining and excuses pissed me off so much I
needed him out of my sight." N'vanik sighed. "The trouble is I don't
trust him. He was selling sweepride schedules to thieves, Cyradis. He
probably wasn't involved in the poisoning, but he fled the Weyr and
he's been gone for months. Who knows who he's been in contact with. If
I--we-- throw him out, what if he's bitter enough to join the
conspirators?" The last thing they needed was to have more of those
tunnelsnakes around.

"I don't know who said it but Aivas told us something like 'Keep your
friends close, but your enemies closer.' Seems some ancient was quite
philosophical about it. Sounds like wisdom to me. I'm going to have
to think about it," she said.

"My worry is, if they _have_ gotten to him, do we want Terren around
where he can poison food and attack Candidates in storerooms?" There
were too many unpleasant possibilities. "Or where he can gather
information and slip it to his new friends?"

"Well I think we need to find out how R'fal feels about it before any
other decisions are made," she said thoughtfully. "I don't want to go
to all the effort of deciding how to handle him, just to realize his
son doesn't want him here."

"I suppose that makes sense." N'vanik didn't want Terren here, but he
also didn't know where to send him.

"So has he said why he's chosen to come back now?" She couldn't help
but feel, like N'vanik, that there was something else going on.

N'vanik snorted. "Oh, he didn't _choose_ to. Aviday found him and
dragged him back."

"Well good for her," Cyradis grinned. That said something very
positive about the greenrider. "Did Kobeth help?"

N'vanik ran a hand through his hair. "Ah, I didn't ask for details. I
was focused on trying to get Terren to explain himself."

"No problem," she waved a hand. "I can talk to her." She thought a
moment. "You know? I could have Shadow watch him. He'd send me
pictures of what he was doing or not doing at least until we can be
sure he means no harm and is just a lazy wherry."

The corner of N'vanik's mouth turned up. "You'd make your poor
firelizard work all day spying?"

She laughed. "He does it all day anyway, just spying on me most of the
time." She smirked at him. "You know he was watching us in the flight
room?"

N'vanik groaned and put a hand to his head. "I hope he didn't send
images to anyone. Or maybe I do?" He laughed. "I can't decide if that
idea is terrible or hilarious."

"A bit of both," she grinned up at him. "But seriously, it seems the
man is a schemer and always has been. Perhaps he just needs to realize
that here all he has to do is a job and all his needs, other than
scheming, will be met. Perhaps he and I should have a conversation."

N'vanik snorted. "Have fun with that." Then he sighed and shook his
head. "I'm so sharding angry I gave him a chance. I really thought he
might just need a place to start over."

"I know," she said. Her eyes darkened as the memory of Shuvan rose up
in her mind. "You can't fix people, you just give them a chance.
That's all you _can_ do. Even great leaders can't fix stupid."

"True enough. But you can take a shot and see if you can at least get
Terren to work and not stab us in the back." N'vanik still wondered if
it might be better just to toss him into the ocean.

"Mmhmm," she mused. "I can try."

Last updated on the May 13th 2024

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