Knowledge is Power

Writers: Chelle, Jane
Date Posted: 17th January 2010

Characters: E'rae, Zharesti
Description: E'rae and Zharesti meet, discussing his daughter Werenn.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 7, day 2 of Turn 5

The bluerider looked up and judged the time by the sky. Knowing he wouldn't be late, he made his way to where he'd find the Weyrwoman. This was his first encounter with her and after hearing so many things, E'rae was hesitant. Better to get it over with, though, he thought to himself. Reaching the hide flap, he stood outside and waited. "Weyrwoman?"

"Come in!" Zharesti called from where she was sitting in the now shady window seat with her drawing pad still in the sunlight.

He pushed the hide flap aside and walked in, looking to see where she was. After locating her, E'rae nodded and waited to be told to sit before he did. "My duty to you and yours."

"Thank you. E'rae, isn't it? The hunter? Come in." She had heard a greenrider bemoaning his adventures out hunting with E'rae and had somebody point him out to her. She had also drawn a series of sketches to illustrate the greenrider's story, but that wasn't something she cared to share with either of the people concerned.

"Aye," he advanced the remaining distance and then sat down, adjusting so that he was comfortable. Looking at her without making it obvious, he could see now why some of the ranking riders were glad there was a younger Weyrwoman around.

"Good." Always nice to have the right person. "Now, tell me about your situation at River Bluff. Whether you're a local, when you Impressed, if you have a family, that sort of thing."

"Well, I was a holder from Garnet Valley. Came here, Impressed 13 turns ago. I have a daughter and my sister is her fostermother. She works in the Lower Caverns. Everyone else is back at the Hold." He watched her, picking up on those subtle cues that people forgot they made as they spoke.

"No weyrmate? No mother of your daughter?"

"Ah no..She perished in a fall." Not that he and the greenrider had been particularly close anyway. "Recently?" Zharesti asked, committing the details to memory in a series of mental sketches. "And how old is your daughter?"

"No, it's been a few turns back. Werenn is 9 turns now." So far so good, he thought to himself.

"Nine Turns is a good age," Zharesti commented, rather surprised because she had thought the bluerider somewhat younger than he must be. "Did you always have responsibility for her?"

"At first the Weyr gave her a fostermother. Then, when my sister never Impressed, she took her so she'd be with family." The bluerider had made sure Werenn was provided for. That had been the holder in him.

"Hmm. So you _and_ your sister were both Searched?" To Zharesti's mind it indicated a very good bloodline - and one to keep an eye on.

"Aye Weyrwoman." E'rae didn't know what that meant since sis had never become a rider.

"Hmm. And your daughter can Stand in a few Turns." The Weyrwoman nodded, pleased with the prospect.

"She can if she wants." E'rae would never force Werenn into anything. For all he knew, she might want to become a crafter somewhere.

"Well, don't let her get too settled with those Holder folk. She's Weyrbred, after all."

"Beg your pardon, Weyrwoman, but my sister lives here at the Weyr." E'rae was confused by her statement and slightly angry. Who was she to talk about holders as if they were inferior?

"But neither of you were born here, or born elsewhere of dragonrider or Searched parents."

"No, and perhaps neither was her mother." Beginning to see which path she might take, E'rae would have no part of it, goldrider or not. His daughter, like him, would be proud of her heritage.

"But her mother was a dragonrider, didn't you say? She died in 'Fall?"

"Aye. Doesn't mean she was born here. Might have came and impressed as I did." Times like this, he wished he had found out more about the woman.

"You don't _know_?" Zharesti was surprised.

E'rae shook his head. "It was a flight. She told me after that she was pregnant. Werenn was born. She was given to a fostermother so her mother could go back to her duties. Then, when the time came, my sister took her after she never Impressed."

"Hmm. Was it here? Do you want to know? I can have the records checked."

"Aye, that would be good to know I suppose." E'rae thought about it. He was sure Werenn would want to know. What if she had other family out there somewhere?

"I shall find out for you," Zharesti said, pleased to have something to sort out for this young man - for anybody. "Just give me the details you do know and I'll get back to you with what the records tell us."

"Sure. Thank you Weyrwoman." E'rae wondered if perhaps Werenn was half Weyrbrat. Or maybe her mother had been craftbred? The bluerider was becoming more curious by the moment. He gave Zharesti the details he had, then left her office, wondering how long it might take.

Last updated on the January 19th 2010

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Knowledge is Power