Difference between revisions of "Logs:Spring"

Madilla hears about Berit's Impression at dinner, the day after the hatching. "Didn't you know her?" one of the other girls asks, and Madilla says yes.

"She's got her grand and romantic life, now, I guess," she says, laughing, though she's both surprised and a little intimidated at the idea of her friend, the dragonrider. The Weyrwoman-to-be. And there's Aeriste, from the Harpers, who she met before, and he's now a bronzerider; all so strange.

But Madilla has classes to study for, and patients to attend to, and so while she files away a mental note to herself to write to Berit to congratulate her, she doesn't pay much more attention to the news.

Spring is coming, and there's weeding and planting to do in the garden - particularly for the pharmacy students, of which she is now very much one - and some of the early blooming plants can even be harvested in small quantities, allowing the use of fresh ingredients instead of just dried. Madilla likes working in the garden, in the outdoors, with the sun overhead, and even the mud - dirty, but fresh, too.

One of the boys throws mud at her, and Kesyin, whose bed is next to Madilla's, and whose long, fine hair Madilla helps brush and plait each morning, says that that means he likes her. It's all knowingly said, wink and a nod, with lots of encouragement for Madilla, who is seen as a younger sister, an innocent, someone who must be educated in the ways of the world.

Madilla has never mentioned the fact that she has kissed a boy before, and may never do so: she doesn't especially like the idea of being gossiped about.

For the first time, Madilla needs to wear a garment to support her changing body, that spring, and then her courses begin, though with little fanfare; she barely notices until one of the other apprentices shuffles her out of class to let her know, and shows her how to deal with it. Madilla is embarrassed, but no one else seems to notice, and the herbal tea she makes soothes the bellyache in short order. They arrive like clockwork after that, until it seems like there was never a time before.

She's working harder than ever, in her classes. In pharmacy, where she is still above average, despite being new to the advanced class, but in the others, too. She's taken Leova's advice, and tries to answer questions in her head, when they tour the infirmary, tries desperately to work out what decisions she would make. Sometimes, she's right. Sometimes, she's not. It's hard work: she doesn't really know if she's making progress, sometimes.

There have still been no letters from home. She doesn't think about that. Much.

She visits Bitra Hold, and South Boll, and Benden Weyr, and the Minecraft on study visits. Journeyman Kandos, once posted to Peyton, and the first healer Madilla ever worked with, three or four turns ago, is posted to the Minecraft, now, and he remembers her, and even seems pleased to see her. He shows her around, and invites her to dinner with his new wife, Alyse. He gives her a good report, and says she'll go far, but she still freezes when asked to take charge of situations in the infirmary, even controlled ones.

She studies harder still, cramming knowledge into her brain, writing it down in handwriting that improves by leaps and bounds, though her composition is still stilted, and she reads very slowly.

Kesyin invites her home to meet her family, who live in the next valley, and introduces her as "My friend, Dilla." Her brother, Randon, insists on walking them home, and seems to watch Madilla the entire way. Kesyin says he likes her, too, and that maybe he'd be a good husband - and then they'd be sisters! Kesa has, to Madilla's mind, almost as many romantic ideas as Berit - but she's flattered at having been asked at all, and at the nickname, and it is nice to feel like maybe she does belong, even with the other girls.

Spring moves steadily along.