Grounds for Mistrust
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Aaron, Halyonix
Date Posted: 13th May 2025
Characters: I'serin, R'bharra
Description: R'bharra is more than a little offended at I'serin's lack of trust in his Searchriders.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 5, day 12 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned Saibra
Since Reveroth had told him what Aluneth said, R'bharra had practically been standing guard at I'serin's office door, waiting for him to return. And when he did, the greenrider folded his arms and stood up straight.
"Sir. I need to speak with you." He was not going to soften it with 'whenever you have the time' or 'if you don't mind'. This was important, and he was going to talk about it now.
That seemed to be the introductory phrase for many a person nowadays, I'serin mused darkly.
"Come in," he answered, waving the greenrider into his office. As he motioned for R'bharra to sit, he went through the normal pleasantries -- "Can I get you anything to drink?" -- before seating himself. "What can I do for you?"
"That won't be necessary." R'bharra was too worked up to sit, so he remained standing. "Have I done something wrong? Are you punishing me?"
It took I'serin far too long to catch the background reasoning for that question. "I am sorry - have I done something incorrect?" he eventually asked, thoroughly baffled.
"You're the boss, boss," said R'bharra. "But it sure looks like you don't trust your Searchriders very much."
It took I'serin a few moments to connect the dots. And then another moment to see how his decision to use two Searchriders could be seen as an insult. He closed his eyes, quietly damning his lack of forethought. "I...apologize," he said softly, humbly. "I...see now how erring on the side of caution brought about a possible rift in our relationships." He motioned to the seat again. "Please. Sit down and let us work through this. I would like to hear your thoughts."
R'bharra probably should have expected this. It was not an intentional slight, just something he had not considered, and then he had actually _apologized_.
Then again. Perhaps this whole penitent bit was just that-- a bit. Something to disarm him with while he made excuses.
He sat down.
"My thoughts? You want me to think up a better way to prove that I'm good enough at Searching?"
"You and your dragon's _skill_ at Searching were not intended to be in question," I'serin said carefully. When he realized what _was_ being questioned, it made his decision sound even worse. He sighed, wondering how to escape this corner he had painted himself into. "If I may give context. A few Turns ago, rumors spread that a Searchrider was taking marks in lieu of truly Searching. We are currently housing Holdless, a category of people who are known to show the same lack of integrity as the aforementioned Searchrider. So, if I were a Weyrleader, and I wanted to prove to my concerned Weyr that a Holdless Candidates was being true to their word and had not stolen the Search token somehow, is there a better way that you can see how I should proceed?" His tone invited critique, practically begged R'bharra to find a better way, because he believed he had come up with a good course but was willing to be convinced otherwise.
"Oh, we Holdless lack integrity, do we?" R'bharra folded his arms and narrowed his eyes. Of course, he would not admit that he _had_ been fully prepared to give each and every one of the Holdless kids a token if they asked for one. After Turns of success at Searching, he hardly should have been impeachable on the subject.
"You could always ask them who gave it to them, and then check with the Searcher. That's what I would have said, before I knew you'd think I was lying anyway."
"You are not the _only_ Searchrider we have," I'serin pointed out gently, trying to get R'bharra to see how complicated the situation was.
"Couldn't possibly be two among us willing to pair up to take a bribe, eh? And where are these Holdless kids going to get the marks to pay us, anyway?" R'bharra was doing his best to moderate his tone, but his aggravation was still plain.
"I was not suggesting that they pay you. I was -- never mind," I'serin said with a long sigh. He rubbed his forehead. "What would you have me do, R'bharra? How do we maintain the inherent trust of a Search when people are questioning if it is indeed true?"
R'bharra refrained from rolling his eyes, as it seemed I'serin missed his point, anyway. Even if bribery among Searchers were a problem, people with no marks were not going to be the ones purchasing that service. It would be little lordling brats who wanted out of whatever passed for their own responsibilities.
"Who's people? Who's questioning us? You're in charge here-- what's it matter what people say? If you think we're not worth trusting, then dismiss us all and choose someone you do trust."
I'serin felt further trapped by this line of questioning. And further frustrated that R'bharra was not seeing his side of the problem either. The young Weyrleader knew exactly which people were questioning the decision and he hated himself for catering to those biased fears. But, as R'bharra said, he was in charge, and with it came the burden of hard decisions. He and Saibra had discussed this and he would not go back on their decision. It would fracture their unity as leaders.
"R'bharra, this is complicated and no answer that I give you will properly soothe the concerns of all involved," he said in a resigned voice. "I trust in Reveroth's ability and integrity -- it is the Holdless that I do not trust and it is the safety of the Weyr that I must think about first. This is a temporary injunction, for this extenuating circumstance. Please, bear with the Weyrwoman and I as we try to do our best."
"Hm," R'bharra grunted, arms folded. Again with the mistrust of the Holdless. As if they were untrustworthy by nature. It seemed to him the only complication was making excuses for his decision. "We could do with a little less trying and a lot more doing. A lot of folks looked at me with this kind of suspicion when the Searcher brought me here. But not the Weyrleader."
I'serin felt a flash of both guilt and anger. He closed his eyes as he tried to rein both in. "One Holdless Candidate is one thing. Multiple is another," he tried to explain, knowing that it was fruitless. R'bharra had made up his mind and I'serin could not change that. "And I am not the same Weyrleader as you had," he added with regret in his tone.
"No, you sure aren't," said R'bharra. "I'm sorry to have wasted your time, sir." He was just going to have to find another rider to pair with who understood better than I'serin did.
Last updated on the May 19th 2025