DCW: Your Father

Writers: Emma, Jane
Date Posted: 28th May 2007

Characters: K'deren, O'rian
Description: K'deren talks to Odarian after a Candidate class.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 3, day 27 of Turn 4
Notes: Mentioned: O'dan, K'sedel, R'sedel

K'deren

Odarian sighed as the class ended and got to his feet as the riders who had taken the class left the room. He rolled his notepaper and slipped the pencil into the pocket of his shirt before heading for the door. This particular class had been interesting but unsatisfying to a young man who loved to learn. He always wanted to know _more_ but there seemed to be a conspiracy among those who taught the Candidates to move forward at the rate of the newest addition to the class.

Invariably, it seemed, the newest addition was completely new to the
Weyr and dragons.

He walked down the corridor and out to the Weyrbowl. He stepped to one side so others could move past him and just looked around, wondering how long it would be before all traces of the storm were gone.

"One moment please candidate," called out the Wingsecond, a slate in his hand. "Did you forget this?"

Odarian never lugged the things anywhere if he could help it, but he
took it from the brownrider with a nod. "Thanks, sir."

"You're welcome." He studied the lad for a moment. "You're O'dan's son, aren't you?"

"Yes." Odarian's chin lifted a little. His father had made a _mistake_ but that was _all_. "And now a Candidate," he added.

"If you don't mind me asking, why did you choose to stand now?"

The young man's expression lost its mutinous look at the question. "I'm never sure from one day to the next. I think ... I think it's about not everybody being suitable. I can be a healer if I'm not wanted by a hatchling, but if I don't make myself available ... I don't know. It just seemed more logical, this way."

"I see." It could not have been an easy decision, if it hadn't been for his father's mistake, his weyrmate would still be here. "Does your
father approve of your decision?"

"He wants me to be happy," Odarian said, avoiding admitting that he
hadn't actually talked to his father about it. "Did your father want
you to Stand?" Though when the Wingsecond had Impressed there had been no Thread to worry about.

"I was encouraged to do so. My older brother had impressed, and like
you my father rides bronze." He didn't drop names; after all what would he get from the 'My Da's a Weyrleader'. "Several of my siblings
impressed as well, so it seems that it can run in families."

"It's supposed to, isn't it? Suitability for dragons? That's why the
weyrbred don't need Searching."

"So they say. But that also applies to any resident of the weyr who's
of age. There may be something about being around dragons that draws out any ability to relate to dragons."

"Really?" Odarian tried to think if he had been around dragons all that much. Since he had apprenticed most of his time had been spent
studying, something he loved. "I don't know that I have much to draw
out, but I suppose that's for the dragons to decide. Did you worry?
About what your family would think if you didn't Impress?"

"My Da insisted we all took up a craft just in case. He said he always
knew though, that most of us would impress, and impress well."

"Well?" the healer apprentice repeated thoughtfully. "Does it matter to him what colour you Impressed?"

"No, my older brother is a greenrider, my younger brother rides bronze."

"Mmm." Odarian knew he wouldn't be Impressing a greren dragon but
wasn't sure what O'dan's reaction would be to a son riding blue. Happy as happy, though, and his father had said that was all he wanted for his son. He wasn't sure he was blue-inclined, anyway.

"R'sedel is a very talented searchrider and well thought of." K'deren
thought that might reassure the lad if he thought that things might be
going in that direction.

"That would be a wonderful talent in a dragon - and rewarding - but I
don't know that it'll be in my future," the young man said with a grin. "Though who knows? There might be no interested dragons and I'll end up some senior journeyman healer in some isolated minor Hold, telling everybody about my younger days at the Weyr. They won't believe a word I say."

"Let the dragons decide, they will know."

"I hope so." Odarian raised the slate and nodded at the wingsecond.
"Thanks for this, sir."

"You're welcome."

Last updated on the May 30th 2007

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DCW: Your Father