Can We Trade?

Writers: Devin, Halyonix
Date Posted: 29th April 2025

Characters: N'vanik, I'serin
Description: The two Weyrleaders discuss various matters.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 15 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: E'tariax, Saibra, Nidre, Meledei, Cosani, H'run, Z'kim, Talryne

N'vanik

I'serin

Notes:
~*~

I'serin gave himself a few moments to regain his composure after his
latest session with E'tariax before relaying via Aluneth that he was
there to see N'vanik as well.

}:He will be glad to speak with you,:{ Loseth told Aluneth. }:He is at
the beach.:{ He sent the image of N'vanik sitting beneath a group of
trees well above the high tide line.

When Aluneth reappeared over the seaside view, I'serin immediately
thought, **Saibra would be so jealous.** The bronze dragon circled for
a landing on the sand nearby. I'serin slid from Aluneth's shoulder,
calling out in greeting, "I can see why you would prefer to work
here."

The other Weyrleader grinned. "Hope you don't mind me being informal.
Thought you might enjoy joining me out here since you're from the
frozen wasteland." A small wooden board and a pile of hidework weighed
down with a rock sat beside him.

"Frozen wasteland indeed," I'serin agreed as he took a seat. "There
seems to be no end to the snow. Even the Weyrwoman and I took an
afternoon away recently just for a change of scenery."

"I really, really don't miss it." N'vanik laughed.

"It has its beauty," I'serin said. Shifting the conversation, he said
lightly, "I suppose congratulations are in order for keeping your
job."

N'vanik chuckled. "Thanks. I do like it, despite everything." There
were days he wanted to walk away, but he knew he wouldn't be happy
doing anything else.

"Despite everything," I'serin echoed in a faraway tone. He looked out
over the ocean. "Does it become easier, N'vanik? I know that I am only
a few months still into my leadership but it still feels vastly
overwhelming at times, if I am to be honest with you. I did not
imagine that a Weyrleader had so many meetings."

"Yeah, the meetings aren't fun. I try to keep them to a minimum.
Sometimes I have them out here." N'vanik gestured toward the beach.
"It did get easier, at least for me. With practice, with time, with
building confidence that no, I wasn't going to be a terrible failure
and get everyone killed. I was meant for this, and I know that sounds
like bronzerider arrogance, but it's true. Thread fighting was the
only thing I was ever really good at, and leading 'Fall feels . . .
natural."

For I'serin, it was the opposite. He shook his head slowly.
"Threadfall as Weyrleader feels...I struggle to keep up with all of
the decisions to be made so quickly." He waved his hand at the
hidework under the rock. "I am far better at handling that than
directing the Wings. I would appreciate any advice you have there."

"Shards, can we trade? You do all my hidework and I'll lead 'Fall for
you," N'vanik said.

That brought a left-sided smile out of the younger Weyrleader. "If
only we could make that trade." Inspiration nibbled at the edge of his
mind. "What if...you came to visit Dragonsfall one day during drills
and give me a critique of how to improve." I'serin certainly trusted
N'vanik's assessment of the situation over any advice that A'len tried
to stuff down his throat.

N'vanik blinked. "Huh. Yeah, I can do that." He'd offered to help,
afterall, and I'serin was struggling with his new role. "The time
difference is a challenge, but we can make it work."

"I would greatly appreciate that," I'serin said gratefully. Turning
the conversation to more pleasant things, he inquired, "I heard that
one of your golds returned to you recently. Elleth and her rider, if I
recall?"

"Yes, Meledei," N'vanik said with a smile. "We're close, and I'm glad
to have her back."

"Close?" I'serin prompted, hoping for a story.

"She Impressed her gold at Loseth's Hatching, his first Hatching,"
N'vanik said. "She's a good friend, and friends with my daughter too."

I'serin's brow furrowed. "Your daughter Cosani?" he asked, thinking
that he remembered correctly.

N'vanik nodded. "Yeah, my oldest. Her and Meledei are clutchmates and
friends, despite their different personalities."

"A small but wonderful little world," I'serin remarked. "I am glad for
you that they get along. I could not imagine trying to run a Weyr with
fractious goldriders also."

"Oh yeah. Meledei and Cyradis get along well, and I can't see Meledei
causing any problems with Nidre either," N'vanik said. "Shouldn't be
any ruffled feathers. Oh, hey, speaking of riders moving, we seem to
have one of yours. A bluerider showed up and said he's staying for a
while. I'm not prying into details because it's for mental health
reasons, but I just wanted to make sure you're aware and okay with
it."

"H'run," I'serin said instantly. He was aware of the temporary stay.
He was also aware of why. Or, at least, had a decent idea as to it.
I'serin could not decide if he should shoulder some of the
responsibility in that since he was involved with K'mai. "Is he well?"
He quickly waved a dismissive hand. "I do not wish to know the details
of his treatment. I am merely asking if his presence is causing undue
stress, to himself or others. I do not wish to saddle your Weyr with a
concern from mine."

"He's been placed in the Queen's Wing, and seems to be doing okay. Did
he cause some trouble at Dragonsfall? H'run can be . . . kind of
dramatic." N'vanik said. They'd been at Dream's End together for a
while, though Z'kim knew the bluerider better than N'vanik did.

I'serin shook his head. "He needs time, I believe. A different
perspective. Or someone, like a mindhealer, to guide him there. But I
am limited in my knowledge about the details. I leave it to him to
find what he needs."

"All right. Well, I hope he gets better, whatever it is," N'vanik
said. "I don't mind having an extra rider around. And I hope your
appointments are helping you, too." The corner of his mouth turned up.
"I used to hate mindhealers, fought tooth and nail not to talk to one.
But I saw how much they helped Tal, and I realized they weren't so
bad."

It was still a little unsettling for I'serin, who was supposed to
project this image of unassailable leadership (according to the
stereotypes), to admit that he was speaking with a mindhealer but at
least N'vanik did not make him feel any _less_ for doing so. "Thank
you. I believe they are," he said sincerely. Some days it was easier
to see the progress being made than other days. "I should not take up
more of your time though. I do appreciate our visits. They
are...pleasant. Encouraging." After them, I'serin felt less alone as a
leader.

"You sure you don't want to hide out here a little longer and take a
nap?" N'vanik smiled. "I'll tell everyone we had very serious
Weyrleader business."

That earned him an open laugh from the young Weyrleader. "How I wish.
Duty calls and it unfortunately does not nap." He rose from his seat
to offer N'vanik that one armed grip between equals. "I thank you, as
always, for your time."

Last updated on the April 30th 2025

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Can We Trade?