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

Elsewhere on Pern
NPC Weyr
River Bluff Weyr
Seacraft Hall

Story Listing
Series Listing

Weyrling Training

Writers: Erin
Date Posted: 7th February 2007

Characters: Dananie
Description: Dananie tries to convince her father to apply for a Mastery
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 2, day 1 of Turn 4

Dananie shifted the the dinner tray to her hip before she rapped softly on the partially-open door. "Papa?" She pushed the door open and poked her head inside. Her father sat on his small cot, a large medical text open on front of him. He looked up when the door creaked and smiled broadly at his daughter.

"I would say come in, but you've anticipated me," he said, putting a leather marker between the pages before closing the book.

"If I didn't anticipate you, I'd still be standing in the hallway." She entered fully and set the tray on the tiny round table. "I know you're in the Infirmary overnight tonight, so I thought I'd save you the time waiting in line in the kitchens."

He pushed himself off the bed and set the book on the bedside stand, then joined her at the table. They sat nearly at the same time and Dananie put his plate in front of him. "What a nice surprise," he said, cutting into to rare roasted herdbeast. "I had planned on cold meatrolls on the run."

"You plan on that far too often," she scolded. She gestured, knife in hand, toward the book. "You spend so much time studying things you already know that you don't take proper care of yourself." She had said as much so often that he didn't even flinch, but he _did_ look up at her next words.
"You ought to at least get some kind of a fair trade-off for starving yourself and apply for a Mastery."

"Don't be silly, girl," he said through a mouthful of tubers.

"Why am I silly? To think that someone who has a background like yours isn't capable of getting or doesn't deserve a Master's knots?"

Niefren set his fork and knife down and leaned back, watching his daughter thoughtfully. He pointed to her plate. "_You_ haven't touched _your_
dinner."

"Are you trying to change the subject?" She folded her arms and raised her eyebrows.

"No, just pointing out that you can't yell at me about not eating right if you don't do the same. It's hypocritical." She opened her mouth indignantly, but he cut her off. "And before you tell me that you _do_
take care of yourself, I _know_ you stayed up all night a couple sevendays ago to keep an eye on that green with the infection. And I know that's not the first time you've done something like that."

"Well, look who taught me," she replied, relaxing her aggressive stance and accepting the admonition. She leaned forward, putting her elbows on the table on either side of her plate. "Really, Papa. You have the experience, the knowledge and the passion to be a Master."

He waved his hand as if he were brushing away a vtol. "Perhaps, but do I have the desire to do so?" He shook his head. "No, Dananie, I don't. I like the healing part of being a Healer. I have no patience for the administration and the paperwork."

"But you don't have to be a Hallmaster or a Weyrhealer. You could just have the knots."

Niefren leaned forward to mirror her posture. "And what would that get me, hmm? Respect? People respect me for my skill and knowledge already, and I'm glad of that. I have nothing to prove. A gaggle of junior apprentices, half of them getting sick at their first sight of blood? I _have_ that already, thank you. A bigger room, maybe? I'm quite happy here. Now, if your mother was still alive and we were crammed in here, then I'd consider it for her comfort. But it's just Red and I, and we're quite cozy." The old medium-sized canine had lifted his head at the mention of his name, saw that Niefren hadn't addressed him directly, and closed his eyes again.

Dananie smiled lopsidedly at the canine. "I suppose that's an acceptable answer."

Niefren chuckled. "I think sometimes you forget who the parent is, Dananie."

Her smile sobered a little, slipping into an expression of deep fondness.
"No, Papa. I don't forget." She picked up her flatware and started to eat, though the food was well on its way to cold. She tapped the edge of his plate with her knife. "Finish up. You have to be at the Infirmary in half a candlemark."

Last updated on the February 9th 2007