Sounding Board

Writers: Halyonix, Sia
Date Posted: 26th February 2025

Characters: E'kavas, I'serin
Description: E'kavas and I'serin chat about leadership
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 2, day 4 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: M'kayre, K'yerel, T'gyrlan, N'vanik, Chioneth

E'kavas

I'serin

Notes:
~~~~~~~

"This need not be formal," I'serin remarked as E'kavas entered. Internally, he hoped it was not. Every day, there was a new problem added to I'serin's desk, some of them worth his time and within the scope of Weyrleadership, some of them boiling down to people who just needed to grow up.

"Oh, sure." E'kavas said. He didn't know how to relax, really, but he hesitated pulling out the wing report he'd brought. "What's on your mind?"

"The more accurate question to ask is 'what is _not_ on my mind?'" the bronzerider replied as he passed a glass of redfruit juice to E'kavas. "Tradition has always made being Weyrleader appear as though it is more prestige and profile, hopping from place to place to solve problems, public appearances with plenty of waving and smiles. They do not speak of....everything else." He scratched the back of his head briefly. "I cannot thank you enough for handling so many Wing matters for me while I...learn how to do this." I'serin waved at the Weyrleader's office, indicating the rank that came with the space.

E'kavas waved a hand in dismissal. "Unfortunately the dragons don't consider qualifications nor inclination when they decide to chase a queen. And I know that Roquath doesn't think at all." He said dryly, "There's a reason why the Wingleader's Wing has a Weyrsecond and a Wingsecond, as silly as it sounds to people not in the know. It's a lot of work. Is there anything else I can take from you? A wingsecond won't do at special appearances, but I can help with records or something."

I'serin seemed to ponder this. He swirled his juice like it was a wine, like a vintner testing a vintage for its properties, as he thought. "I had M'kayre draft up a list of promising Wingseconds. And bronzeriders who show need of extra leadership training," he said aloud, letting E'kavas in on his mind. His conversation with A'len still bothered him, as though something was gathering that I'serin just could not put his finger on yet. Or perhaps was afraid to name in case doing so summoned it. "There were...quite a few former River Bluff riders on those lists. And I wonder...am I missing something? Was K'yerel ignoring promising leaders in favor of others?"

"I don't know K'reyel's mind." E'kavas said easily. "When all the River Bluff riders were sent to other Weyrs, I don't think there was much plan on how. Some wings moved together or riders were placed in the same wing, but many of us filled gaps in the current wing structure. Our Wingleaders weren't intentionally ignored, but the changing of rank usually happens with a new Weyrleader. Why would K'reyel move his trusted leaders out?"

The Weyrleader was silent for a long moment while he thought further. It made sense. Why would a leader move others from their position, especially if they were performing up to standard? Those same Wingleaders that K'reyel trusted to lead were the ones who had saved I'serin's inexperienced self during that first Threadfall. And continued to give him valuable insight and support as he learned.

"Perhaps I am seeing shadows where there are none," he eventually muttered. He rubbed a hand across his face, cognitive fatigue looming. "There is so much for me to learn, E'kavas. I am fearful of making a grand mistake because of it, if I am to be honest. You know how particular I can be about doing not messing up."

"I don't know how it's perceived- K'reyel, I mean- but I don't think there was any malicious intent." E'kavas added, though his mind drifted to his brother. T'gyrlan had been a Wingleader once, and a good one, and he knew his own promotion would have rankled if Hanassath had been flying.

The brownrider frowned, considering. "Is this about that first casualty?"

"I'lon," I'serin said automatically. He refused to think of any of the riders he lost as statistics, even if it haunted him. "Yes and no. While my inexperience with leading the Wings through Fall is at the forefront of many minds, with a change in leadership often comes desired other changes that were previously left unspoken. Some of them...may have merit...but I cannot simply take the advice that everyone heaps upon me." He drummed his fingers on his desk softly. "I think that some of the bronzeriders resent being just Wingriders still. Especially when we have Wingthirds that ride green. You know how particular the metallics can be about taking orders from a chromatic." He stopped drumming. "And yet, why change it? Those riders have earned their position. Just because a rider has a need to be seen as an authority does not mean I should grant it."

"And it's a problem with the riders if their dragon won't answer to a chromatic." E'kavas said with a little more forcefulness than necessary. He ran a hand through his greying hair, looking rueful. "Circulating 'leaders out of ranks has some merit, but you need to be careful of those 'leaders choosing other colours for 'seconds and 'thirds. Topping up the leadership with all bronzes makes the Wing inflexible."

That brought a wry smirk to the Weyrleader's lips. "We bronzeriders _do_ tend to be a bit full of ourselves," he teased darkly. "I am honestly surprised that the Weyr tradition of letting the rider whose dragon catches the senior queen be the leader has remained for so long. It has certainly had enough Turns to be challenged by far more ambitious men."

"Ah yes, but the bronzeriders also tend to think the ambition bleeds into the dragon." E'kavas said, "And by extension, I assume half the Weyr thinks I'm a power-hungry brownrider. The ambitious men have winning dragons, of course."

I'serin chuckled. "Say but the word and I will hand over the knots," he joked.

"Faranth, no. I've had nightmares about that." E'kavas deadpanned.

That got another chuckle out of I'serin. "What bronzeriders dream of doing brings nightmares to others, is what I am hearing. I do not blame you though. Now that I am Weyrleader, I do question my own sanity from time to time about why anyone would want this position. Weyrleader N'vanik himself told me that -- and I quote -- 'I was enough of a dimglow to want it'. That should have told me what I needed to know."

"I know a handful of riders that purposely take their dragons out of the Weyr when Chioneth starts to get proddier than usual." E'kavas said, "Or when Vilarth rose, back at River Bluff. At least Roquath is all bluster."

"A strategy I may need to employ next time," I'serin considered. He smiled out of the left side of his mouth as he said it because once Aluneth heard him say that, the bronze dragon had a plethora of opinions about said strategy and none of them agreed with him. "Speaking of eggs, I hear that your oldest is now a Candidate."

E'kavas exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "Yeah," he said. "Jevikas is standing. He's old enough, according to the Weyr, but the longer he stays a candidate the better for my nerves."

I'serin could not fathom being a father, especially a dragonrider father. His own father had always treated his two sons as means to an end, with very little warmth. All of that had come from their mother. Since E'kavas was nothing like A'len, I'serin could only imagine the worries that kept him up at night. "It is said that the reward of Impressing a dragon is worth the risk but I can understand the argument for otherwise," he said with empathy. "Hopefully, he has Turns yet until his dragon hatches."

"That's the hope." E'kavas agreed, "I was too young. His dragon can take their time."

The bronzerider chuckled, remembering how Aluneth had taken his own time. I'serin had been eighteen and had watched multiple friends Impress already. "Well, here is to waiting for the perfect time," he said with a raise of his cup. There was a soft exhalation from him after he sipped. "Thank you."

E'kavas didn't have a cup, but tipped an imaginary hat at the toast, "Anytime. Now, in more mundane news, here's the wing report. I know you'll read it anyway, but the main thing is..."

Last updated on the March 4th 2025

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