Validation

Writers: Halyonix, Yvonne
Date Posted: 31st July 2025

Characters: Tsaera, I'serin
Description: I'serin asks Tsaera for her thoughts on something
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 11 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Chioneth

I'serin

Notes:
~*~

"Good afternoon, Tabanirth," I'serin greeted with warm formality as he and a drudge bearing a tray approached the ledge with the venerable dragon. "Is your rider receiving company?"

Tabanirth swung her great golden head around to examine I'serin with glittering eyes. She nodded, then turned her attention back to the Weyrbowl, where she was clearly following an epic snowball fight between some of the Weyr's children.

As I'serin stepped into the cozy weyr, he called lightly, "Weyrwoman Tsaera?" though he was certain that Tabanirth had already announced him.

"Weyrleader." Tsaera set aside the letter she'd been reading from the Mining Hall and stood to greet I'serin. "This is a welcome visit. How are you?"

"That is not a question I care to answer honestly lately," I'serin said as he squeezed her hands gently in greeting. "May I speak candidly with you? If you have a few moments to spare."

Tsaera gestured to the nearest seat. "Of course. And thank you for bringing something with you. I'm afraid all I have is whiskey... although perhaps you have the palate for it?"

Getting comfortably numb sounded tempting but I'serin had so many duties to attend that it was out of the question until much later. "Tea," he answered, motioning for the drudge to leave the tray on the table. "And berry scones." As the drudge left, I'serin busied himself with serving. "I would like your...insight, please. About a situation. Have you ever had to transfer out a rider involuntarily?"

"Mmm. Yes, a few times. It's... never easy, although every time it was the right decision in the long run." Tsaera sighed and picked up a cup. "The hardest was a bluerider I sent to the North for beating his weyrmate. This was before the Pass began, mind you. His two sons never forgave me for it. I think a third of his wingmates also thought it was too harsh and that I should have found a different way to manage him, one that kept the Wing and his family together. But... it did solve the problem, and I suspect saved her life."

I'serin considered this scenario. He realized that it had little in common with his own dilemma, except that it was not a decision to be made lightly. And he was not. He looked down at his own cup. He was twelve again, answering Tsaera's questions about his studies. He was thirty-four, coming to seek her counsel. The only difference he felt was now he had Aluneth and knew the weight of his decisions.

"I am intending to transfer A'len to another Weyr," he abruptly said. He did not need Tsaera's permission, he knew, but he was still seeking...validation. Yes, validation.

Tsaera let the words lie between them for a moment as she studied I'serin. He was growing into his knots, she decided. "Tell me more about that."

He had practiced this conversation. I'serin was not certain that he was ready to admit his sexuality to Tsaera but he had intended to come as close to the truth as comfortably possible. "A'len, as my father, has not respected many of my decisions as both Weyrleader and son since I became Weyrleader. He has...pushed...to have his concerns placed ahead of the Weyr's. After my...error...with the Threadfall a few sevendays ago, it was made clear to me, both through my own thoughts and the feedback from others, that if he were any other rider, he would have been transferred to another Weyr already. The only reason I have not done so is because he is my father."

The goldrider nodded. A'len had said that I'serin was not listening to council, but he clearly had been listening-- just not to his father. "Family can make wearing knots very hard, but A'len has been unsettling the Weyr. Transferring him elsewhere will help in the long run, but it will also probably stir up resentment and mistrust with other riders who might be listening to him. Do you have a plan for that?"

"That...is where I could use your advice," the Weyrleader answered. "You are familiar with the plight of River Bluff riders and how A'len has garnered such loyalty based on that. How would you advise me?"

The goldrider paused to choose her words. "Well... there's no one, singular solution that will bring the Weyrs together. This is a process, I'serin. Processes take time, and it may be that this isn't something that is possible to fully 'solve' by the time Chioneth rises again. What happened at River Bluff is... it's still painful. People are still grieving even if they won't admit it. For now, though... you need to act to show that sowing discord in the Weyr that took us in is unacceptable. Announce A'len's transfer publicly, in a place and time chosen by you in front of people you know will back you-- and some dissenters. Chances are A'len will lash out, but if you have the Wingleaders and 'Seconds with you to support your decision as a group, it'll be seen by the Weyr as a decision with mass support instead of a decision you made alone. It might also provoke others to show their colours so that you can offer them the option of transfer too."

She could see in his expression that he was considering her words heavily. His fingers lightly tapped against the cup as his mind rifled through outcomes and risks. "It is indeed a decision that comes with more support than I thought," he admitted to her. "Though it will certainly come as a surprise to him either way."

"It will," she said softly. "Being banished to a new Weyr is a hard adjustment both professionally and personally. Some bonds might not survive it."

I'serin's eyes darkened, saddened. "I...am aware," he answered quietly. He looked down at the cup between his hands. "But...a friend informed me that sometimes holding on to a chain hurts more than letting it go."

"Both still hurt." She studied him for a moment, surprised at how much he'd grown from the weyrbrat she remembered to the Weyrleader before her. "The Weyr will ask a lot of us, but at the end of the day it's about the _Weyr's_ survival, and Pern's. One bad 'Fall, a weyrling lost between, or you and I and our wants or needs are... incidental, at the end. Our purpose as dragonriders is bigger than ourselves. But it still hurts."

The bronzerider was quiet for a contemplative moment as the weight of that purpose was felt heavily on his shoulders. "It does," he agreed. "But you are correct. We are dragonriders. We cannot shirk our duties simply because it is difficult."

He exhaled slowly, his mind made up. "I thank you, Tsaera. You have confirmed a great many things in my mind."

"You're welcome." Whatever he did would make someone unhappy. That was the curse of being a Weyrleader. "And thank you for the tea. It's certainly the day for it, isn't it?"

"Certainly. I am glad that you like it. It comes from a place Citrus Bay..."

Last updated on the August 1st 2025

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