What We Know
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: Emma, Yvonne
Date Posted: 7th November 2005
Characters: K'sedel, Tsaera, Tulyav
Description: There is news from the Beastcraft Hall, and news from Master Tulyav
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 8, day 19 of Turn 3
When the blue flit appeared in his office, K'sedel looked up from the fitness reports he was ploughing through. If nothing else, hidework was forever replenishing itself. "Agate?" he said hopefully. The blue gave a chirp on hearing his name, cocking his head to one side, then extending a leg, which had a thin scrap of hide attached to it.
On reading it, he got to his feet, and headed to Tsaera's office.
Agate had beaten him there and was curled up on the Weyrwoman's lap, crooning contentedly as she scratched his eyeridges. Tsaera looked up as he entered. "Well? What did they say?"
"The beasthealers, they think it could be serious, but not likely to jump to people or dragons," said K'sedel, giving her the gist of the note. He handed it over to her, letting her see for herself. "That is a real relief."
The Weyrwoman quickly read it over. She rubbed her tired eyes and let the relief make rubber of her knees. "Good. I was worried -
especially about the eggs on the Sands. Although I'm not too sure what to do about Searches since it's so contagious to beasts. We've got fewer Candidates then we have during previous turns at this time."
"I don't know what we can do," he said simply. "People have the right to refuse search, we can't compel them to come to us. But I hate to think of the alternative..."
"Well." Tsaera glanced back down at the note. "Hopefully news from the Beastcraft Hall will help soothe any fears there might be. We might as well speak with Tulyav and Abrei and let them know the news, and send word to the Holds."
"That would be good. If nothing else it would stop rumours spreading that we can't control."
"Mmm." Tsaera's attention had already drifted. She'd picked up a pen and was drafting a quick summons for both Tulyav. "I wanted to speak with Tulyav anyway regarding his projections for our livestock, and whether we need to increase our tithe." The notes were attached to Agate and the little blue disappeared /between/. "I'll go talk to Abrei this afternoon in the Infirmary myself."
"Good, I'd like to hear her thoughts on this."
Agate came back with a note scrawled on the back of Tsaera's original message, and preened happily as the Weyrwoman read it. "He says he'll be here in a candlemark. Shall we reconvene then?"
The Weyrleader nodded. "I'll speak to Solieira and get some refreshments organized."
Tsaera shrugged. "If you wish, but I don't think that it will take that long."
*****
Tulyav stopped at the top of the flight of stairs to catch his breath. He was too old to be climbing up from the bottom of the Weyr, and his joints hurt, and his chest ached. Once he was satisfied that he wasn't gasping like a fish he limped over to the Weyrwoman's office door and knocked.
"Come in!"
Tulyav obeyed, and sat in the chair across from Tsaera's own. She handed him a sheet of thin paper. "This just came from the Beastcraft Hall. They think that they've identified what our animals have, and the gist of it is that while it's contagious to animals, it shouldn't affect people or dragons. Although I still want disease-free animals for the dragonets."
K'sedel had re-entered the room slightly before Tulyav, and was leaning against the wall. "I'm with you there, I dread to think what might happen if we can't feed new weyrlings."
Tulyav nodded, then coughed discretely behind his hand. "There will be no problem with that, Lady Weyrholder. But we are still short on animals."
"I'll be increasing the tithe on livestock this coming turn to make up for it." Tsaera looked up as Tulyav coughed again. "Are you all right, Master?"
"Fine." The room swam and he felt short of breath. He didn't hear Tsaera's oath as he toppled slowly off his chair, and closed his eyes.
"Master Tulyav!" called K'sedel in an effort to see if there was any response. The Weyrleader bent down to one knee, swiftly checking that the master crafter was indeed breathing, before trying to make him a little more comfortable.
"We need Abrei," he said.
Last updated on the November 7th 2005