On behalf of my son

Writers: Eimi, Emma
Date Posted: 28th December 2007

Characters: Thanja, Pacham
Description: Thanja discusses the possibility of her son apprenticing in the Weyr's Infirmary
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 7, day 13 of Turn 4

Thanja strode through the Weyrbowl. She'd never really noticed before quite how much activity there was there, but she supposed that was down to never really looking before.

She soon reached her destination; the infirmary. Querying an apprentice led to her being shown to the Weyrhealer's office, where she knocked on the door.

"Yes, come on in," Pacham called as he closed the folder he had been flipping through. A break was welcome, and good for the eyes, he reconned.

"Might I have a moment of your time?" asked the Master Printer as she entered the office.

"Ah, Master Thanja! How is your son's arm?" The Weyrhealer remember they had met when her son had an unfortunate accident.

"Nicely healed now, you wouldn't know he'd ever done any damage to it at all," she replied.

"Isn't it amazing how these young ones heal?" Pacham grinned underneath his bushy mustache.

"Indeed it is, and it's him I'd like to talk to you about," was the Hallsecond's reply as she got the point.

"Oh?" the healer asked, nodding her to continue.

"I think that perhaps you and your colleagues have inspired him," Thanja said with a smile. "He wants to apprentice as a healer."

Ah yes, her son would be about the right age. "Does he now? Here at the Weyr?"

"Here if he could, he accepts that he may have to go away to study."

"Oh, well, we will teach anyone at the Weyr, Master Thanja. He would be more than welcome!" In fact Pacham was pleased the boy liked his adopted home so much that he would chose to stay! "However, he should be warned that not all Holds will accept a crafter educated at the Weyr, as I'm sure you realize. Our training is on the same level as the Halls, of course, but some Holds still are rather hidebound when it comes to the Weyr."

"I think he knows that, but he likes it here and I think he's rather fascinated by the dragons as well. I think if you speak to him yourself you'll see that."

"You have family members who are dragonriders, do you not?" Pacham was pretty sure he had heard that was the case at least.

"Two of my children, so no matter what, we have ties to the Weyr and dragonkind."

"Well, then he should fit right in then! Now, does he intend to petition the Weyrwoman to stand?"

"You'd have to ask him."

"Not a problem," the Weyrhealer assured her. "We have a lot of Candidates apprenticed to us, and many who never Stand. I was just asking to satisfy my own curiosity. With so many riders in the family and all he could stand a good chance at Impressing, though no guarentees of course. My daughter Pagodine didn't Impress and both her parents were dragonriders."

"Of course, he needs to speak to his father first, then he'll come and ask you himself."

Pacham nodded. It was only right the boy should come and speak for himself in person. "That sounds just fine! I will make a note to expect him. We can hash out the final details once it is all official.
How does that sound?"

"It sounds good," she said. "I have to admit, now he's made a decision, I can see him here." "Well, rest assured we will do everything we can to make certain he feels right at home. And it will be good for him to know he has the support of his loved ones at home too. Healing is not an easy craft."

"Nor is printing," replied the Hallsecond. "Nor are any of the crafts."

"Oh, of course, of course," the Weyrhealer nodded, not wanting to offend the Hallsecond. However, he was fairly sure the pressure of holding a person's life in their hands was slightly different from the pressures faced by apprentice printers. Some could not take it. Only time would tell how Thanja's son would fair, but there was no sense worrying about an unseeable future.

"I'll send him over to talk to you, once he has his father's consent."

Last updated on the January 1st 2008

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On behalf of my son