Logs:Will You Come?
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| RL Date: 8 August, 2008 |
| Who: Delifa, Madilla |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr, Healer Hall |
| Type: Vignette |
| What: Delifa is posted to High Reaches Weyr. She asks Madilla to go with her. |
| Where: Healer Hall |
| When: Early Summer, Turn 17 |
| It seemed to Madilla as if it had been only yesterday that the semester had begun after turnover, and yet exams were already finished, and the Hall was settled into the quieter summer period - no actual classes, just rotations, shifts in the infirmary, chores, leaving plenty of free time for enjoying the sunshine, swimming in the lake, even climbing trees - whatever took your fancy. Except for formal dinners, the apprentices often took their meals outside in the evening, where the air was cooler, and you could sit on the ground and chat. It made the formal dinners harder: it was hot in the dining hall, no matter what they did, and even when served cool soups, it felt unbearable. Even Madilla, who strove to listen to everything, was beginning to zone out when the announcement was made that Journeywoman Delifa, who had for some turns now taken many of the Pharmacy classes, had accepted a posting to High Reaches Weyr, and would be leaving within the seven. It was enough to shake her out of her lethargy. True, she was still not exactly content with the Pharmacy subcraft she'd been pushed into, but... Delifa was her mentor. She'd taken an interest - she'd listened (well: to most things, anyway). Madilla fretted. She fretted throughout the rest of dinner, barely even touching the treat they were served - fruity ices - and completely failing to notice her share being spooned away by the apprentice sitting next to her. No one else really seemed to notice that something was wrong - it was too hot, and there was too much else to chat about. After dinner, she headed straight for Delifa's office, only to run into the Journeywoman on the stairs. "I was just coming to find you," Delifa told her, grinning broadly (how could she grin like that? Madilla realised she was being dramatic, not a trait she tended towards, usually, but...). "It's cooler in my office; I left the window open. Come on." It was cooler in the office, and Delifa had pulled the chairs towards the window to take further advantage of the breeze. "I can't believe you're going," Madilla ventured, staring at her feet, once settled in her chair. "I thought..." "That I was going to teach forever. I intended to, at one point. But... it's a good opportunity. My family comes from the 'reaches, did I tell you that?" Madilla shook her head: no, she hadn't. "It's like going home. I'm glad to. My mother is getting on." "I'm glad for you, then," said Madilla, after a deep breath, forcing herself to smile. "If it's what you want." "It is. But that's not what I wanted to speak to you about, Madilla. I've already talked to the Masters, and they've given their approval. I'd like to take you with me. I think you'd benefit from a more hands-on training." Madilla stared. Of all the possibilities, this was not one she had considered. "You... really?" "Really. You're motivated enough to do your own book learning. You don't need classes. You do need the hands-on. Besides," Delifa grinned at her, "I tend to think we work well together. So it would be good for me, too. Will you come?" So many thoughts. Madilla hesitated, trying to sort them into some kind of order. "I-- if that's what the Hall has decided. Of course." It may not have been the answer Delifa was looking for as such, but it was the right gist, and the Journeywoman looked pleased. "Wonderful! We're leaving next sevenday; I have a few things to tidy up here, first. We're going to have a wonderful time." Madilla walked, alone, for a long time that night. True, she was grateful for the opportunity, which was a good one, and grateful, too, to not be losing her mentor entirely. But... Weyrs. Living in a weyr. Leaving the Hall, which had, she realised, become her home over the past turn and a half. It wasn't really what she'd ever intended. It terrified her. But her duty was to the Hall, and if this is what the Hall had decided. Well. There wasn't any other way about it, was there? |
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