What They Don't Tell You About Leadership

Writers: Devin, Halyonix
Date Posted: 27th September 2024

Characters: N'vanik, I'serin
Description: N'vanik gives some advice to I'serin about being a Weyrleader
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 1, day 6 of Turn 12

N'vanik

I'serin

Notes:
Mentioned: Cyradis, Saibra, R'enh

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

N'vanik had heard about the new Dragonsfall Weyrleader's first Fall, and while a death and a few injuries were a sadly common reality for every Weyrleader, N'vanik had learned that I'serin hadn't even been Wingsecond before his surprising win. N'vanik had a lot to do, and if he wanted to enjoy the upcoming restday he should be getting as much done as possible. But on the other hand, there hadn't been any major issues with the anti-Weyr conspirators in months and it might be nice to talk about someone else's problems for a while.

So here he was at Dragonsfall, Loseth calling a greeting to the watchdragon. }:Aluneth, does yours have time to meet?:{

}: As you wish, :{ Aluneth returned with a jovial warble at the other leading bronze. }: Mine is within. Join him. :{ With a quick warning to his rider about their visitor, Aluneth made room for Loseth to land on the Weyrleader's ledge.

In his office, I'serin found himself immediately switching gears. He had been engrossed in reviewing Wing injury lists, intending to meet with several Wingleaders that afternoon about their Wing balance needs, but he could not ignore the visit of another Weyrleader. It was both a diplomatic opportunity, despite Weyr autonomy, and a chance for I'serin to speak with a veteran peer. The young Weyrleader arranged his notes in quick order so that he was ready to receive.

"Sorry for barging in like this," N'vanik said as he stepped in. "Congratulations, I'serin." It should have been R'enh, but with Mnoranth being injured, of course someone else had claimed the Senior Queen.

I'serin's smile was as polite as wan could be. "Thank you. Welcome to Dragonsfall Weyr, Weyrleader." It felt odd to be greeting the other bronzerider as an equal in rank but here I'serin was. "I apologize that I have not made it out to Dolphin Cove just yet to pay my respects. This...elevation was unexpected. I have had a lot to learn in a short time."

N'vanik waved a hand. "Don't worry about it. You've only had the job a few days and well . . . I heard you had a rough time in Fall yesterday so I thought I'd come check on you." He set a bottle of rum on the desk and took a seat. "I know it's only midday here, so if it's too early for you to drink you could save it for later."

It was indeed far earlier than I'serin liked to begin imbibing alcohol and his head threatened to resume its pounding again but it would be poor form to set aside such a gift. He retrieved two glasses. "A small drink, to enjoy the visit together," he explained. "Far be it from me to dismiss a gift from Dolphin Cove." He poured two finger-widths and handed one glass to N'vanik. "To our Weyrs' successes?" he suggested as a toast.

"Yeah." N'vanik clicked his glass against I'serin's and then took a generous sip of the spiced rum. "I heard you didn't have wingrank before this. Is that right?"

I'serin smiled ruefully. "Correct," he confirmed. "As many survivors that came over from River Bluff integrating into Dragonsfall, there simply was not enough rank to go around. I...studied everything that I could about it but we all know that theory is quite different from application."

"Well, I was in the same boat, except I was enough of a dimglow to want the job." N'vanik smiled. "I know yesterday must've been hard for you, but it probably wasn't your fault. And even if it was, we all make mistakes. Even the most experienced Weyrleaders have bad Falls. Not sure if it would make you feel better to say it could've been much worse, but well . . . it could have." O'dan had lost almost an entire Wing to death and injury and Dolphin Cove had still been reeling from it over a Turn later when N'vanik became Weyrleader.

I'serin nearly choked on his sip as N'vanik declared himself a dimglow. It was not a term that I'serin would have used to describe the other Weyrleader. As he composed himself quickly, it soothed some of his internal anguish to hear that even the most experienced Weyrleaders had bad Threadfalls. And it prompted a thought within him. A first step to how true leadership worked.

"I suppose then," he postulated, "that while one can do one's best to prepare and plan, so as to mitigate the risks, the truer test comes after tragedy happens in how one deals with it."

"Wise words," N'vanik said with a little chuckle. "And don't be afraid to lean on others who have more experience. I know some people think we're supposed to be ready for this the moment the shiny bronze picks us . . . but it's a lot to wrap your head around."

I'serin nodded, agreeing. "We are always told to be ready but rarely taught how. I...naively hoped that it would never be me, I suppose. I have not the ambition of other bronzeriders but I would be a selfish fool to take Aluneth away." He took another small sip, tasting the rum, then looked at the liquid. "Citron?" he queried.

"A hint, yeah. Dolphin Cove gets a variety of good rums with the tithe."

"I would not be adverse to a bit of trading if you are. Our nearby Vintner Hall makes a white wine that works well on hot days," I'serin offered.

"I might be up for that." N'vanik chuckled. "Though Cyradis is our resident alcohol expert. I might need to consult with her."

"An outing perhaps?" I'serin suggested. "Not now, of course. Another time." He thought to invite Saibra but was not certain of how R'enh would perceive that. I'serin had promised to keep theirs a professional relationship but did not know how the rules applied to a casual event between ranking colleagues.

"Sure." Provided N'vanik wasn't dealing with murder and mayhem. "But back to leadership, do you have folks here you can trust to help you without undermining you? You're keeping R'enh as Weyrsecond, right?"

I'serin's expression fell. "I offered him the position but he...declined. He requested to be made Wingleader of Cobalt Wing."

N'vanik wanted to bristle at his friend losing the rank, but that was R'enh's choice. Maybe staying on as Weyrsecond was too close to what he'd almost had. "Well, shards. I hope there isn't any bad blood between you. He's a solid leader and a good one to lean on." It probably wasn't personal, at least I'serin didn't seem the type to have issues with R'enh. There was no ego or arrogance as far as N'vanik could tell.

"I had hoped to lean on his experience, truth be told," I'serin admitted. "But I do...understand the need for distance. Another man might see this as an opportunity to come between R'enh and his weyrmate." And despite the assurances made, I'serin knew that his was a precarious position, a thin line to navigate between developing a professional and close relationship with Saibra but still maintaining a friendly distance so that nothing was misunderstood.

"Neither of them had a problem with K'reyel, so they shouldn't have an issue with you. Unless you want to make it an issue?" N'vanik arched an eyebrow.

"No," I'serin said quickly, swallowing his latest sip faster than he had intended. "No. I have no desire to come between them. I am neither pretentious nor ambitious enough to attempt to such a thing, not with the success of the Weyr looming over my head." In truth, I'serin could think of a few bronzeriders who _would_ try such a thing, his father chiefly among them, but he held his tongue.

"Then I can't see why he'd have a problem with you. He can't blame you for winning after Mnoranth was injured," N'vanik said.

The Dragonsfall Weyrleader grimaced briefly. "I did not expect Chioneth to be so...aggressive on that front."

"Senior gold Flights are . . ." N'vanik shrugged while he tried to tamp down on his anger. Queens in mating lust sometimes got violent, and he really didn't need to cause another issue between Dolphin Cove and Dragonsfall. And more importantly, R'enh wouldn't appreciate N'vanik going to yell at his weyrmate, so he had to let it go. Selfishly he hoped it would cause a rift between them and R'enh would come back to Dolphin Cove.

"My father used to say that a Weyrleader _leads_ the Weyr but a Weyrwoman _rules_ it," I'serin offered delicately as an explanation. A poor one, he quickly thought afterward. "Hopefully Chioneth beseeches Mnoranth's forgiveness." He took another small sip and asked, "Besides a strong Weyrsecond support, what other advice would you give me? I will gladly take it into consideration."

N'vanik stared down at his glass as he thought for a moment. "Listen to advice, but you have to find your own way of leading. Some are loud and flashy, others are quiet and competent. Remember your bronze chose you for a reason." N'vanik's win had been a shock and he'd been terrified of failure, but his confidence had grown with each Fall. Slowly, things had fallen into place until he realized leading a Weyr was where he was meant to be.

}:I always knew,:{ Loseth said with quiet confidence.

}: Wise words, :{ Aluneth remarked quietly, support and love infusing his tone. Between N'vanik and Aluneth, I'serin felt both humbled and honored, standing on a bare ledge of belief that maybe, just maybe he could do this, given enough time and experience.

"Your words are sound advice," he said sincerely. "I thank you." He raised his glass in toast towards N'vanik.

N'vanik lifted his own glass. "Clear skies, I'serin."

Last updated on the October 11th 2024

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What They Don't Tell You About Leadership