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: AmajoS, Emma
Date Posted: 1st August 2007

Characters: Narrala, Thanja
Description: Narrala loses track of time and says more than she means to when found.
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 5, day 6 of Turn 4

Narrala glanced up, startled by the voice that broke the quiet of what had been a completely empty room. She'd been studying for an exam in her Introduction to Charter Law class and had apparently let time slip up on her. It was quite late, judging by the candles.

"I'm sorry, Hallsecond?" she blushed as she closed her notes and fidgeted in her seat.

"Did you forget the time?" asked Thanja gently.

"I guess," Narrala answered, blushing and feeling foolish. She should have been in bed candlemarks ago! How did she miss everyone else who'd been in the study room leaving? Intro to Charter Law wasn't all -that-
interesting. Dreadfully dull, as a matter of fact. Maybe the boring material had dulled her senses or something...

"What had you so engrossed that you missed the curfew?" asked Thanja curiously. Some of the Harper apprentices seemed so studious compared to the printers, but that might just be she didn't know them as well.

She wanted to reply that the subject wasn't so much engrossing as mind-numbing, but thought better of it. "Oh, it's just Intro to Charter Law... There are so many by-laws... But I can't believe I didn't notice how late it is." She began gathering up her notes and pages nervously, sure she was going to be in trouble.

"Is it really that inspiring?" asked the Master Printer.

Narrala tried very hard to come up with a more politic way of describing the subject than 'a mind-numbing, life-crushing quagmire' and finally settled for, "It's awful actually." She sighed, leaning back in her chair a bit, realizing all of a sudden just how tired she was.

"Boring. But it's so complicated you kind of get lost in it. Or at least, I did," she finished with a rueful grin and a blush. The worst part was this was just an introductory class, for Junior Apprentices who were getting close to advancing to Senior status. The subject would probably only get more onerous later on.

"It's a required subject for Harpers, and I'm sure that there are some that the Printers find just as tough."

"Oh, I didn't mean to... I understand it's a necessary class. I just,"
Narrala was dismayed. She'd known better than to complain about the class. She hurried to try to repair the damage, "I'm just tired, that's all. And I'm sure it's a facinating subject, really. Once, you know, you get into it..." The apprentice trailed off lamely, feeling wretched for giving the Hallsecond the impression she was whiney or ungrateful or anything less than a hard-working, studious apprentice eager to learn. She wanted to make Senior rank this Turn.

"Perhaps it is the teacher that doesn't help," suggested Thanja gently as she made a mental note to speak to Almonteo about it. "A good teacher can do wonders with any subject."

"I suppose," Narrala agreed reluctantly. The Master who taught the class wasn't one of the ones who was awful - even if subtly - to her.
He mostly just ignored her. But then, he ignored most everyone and spent a great deal of the class lecturing. Still, she much preferred it to the barely concealed disdain she put up with in other classes.

"If you aren't happy in this class, you need to tell someone, we can move your schedule so that you are in classes that bring out the best in you."

"Oh, no, Hallsecond!" Narrala was so horrified by that idea that she dropped the armful of notes and text that she'd been gathering.

"Please, I know it's not a big deal. Not every class can be amazingly interesting, and it is really important, like you said..." she trailed off and began picking up her notes again to hide her distress. How would getting pulled from the class affect her ability to prove herself and advance? She didn't even want to think of it.

"Just so long as you are aware of the options. And, perhaps you should go to bed now."

"Yes, Hallsecond, of course." Narrala quickly finished picking up her belongings and with a final nod towards the older woman, hurried out of the room. She resolved to work hard to undo whatever damage she'd just done.

Last updated on the August 2nd 2007