A/N: Welcome back everyone. Here is the next chapter. Reviews are appreciated and missed when absent.
Disclaimer: The Dragonriders of Pern is a trademark registered to and copyrighted by Anne McCaffrey. This is fan fiction which garners NO MONEY WHATSOEVER for the author
Chapter Nine
Wing business kept D'vid busy for the next few days and he had no opportunity to brief his wing second on the new situation. He finally found a chance to talk to the man alone four days later.
D'vid landed on B'stol's ledge and dismounted. B'stol emerged from the weyr to meet him.
"You wanted to see me, sir?"
"Yes," D'vid said. "I wanted to tell you there is a very good chance I'll be leaving Benden within six months. As you know, Ellen and Saylath have been transferred to Ista. Corsira is retiring."
"And Sulanth is going to participate in the mating flight. Congratulations, sir."
"I've recommended you for promotion to wing leader after I leave."
B'stol's mouth fell open. "Thanks. I appreciate that; a lot. If F'lar will go for it."
"A wing leader's recommendation on his successor is always taken very seriously; unless the weyrleader is a fool, which F'lar is deefinitely not. I chose you as my wing second because you were a team player. You followed orders and I took a chance that you could give them as well. The fact that you were chosen by a bronze made that a very low risk."
"Wait, you chose me?" B'stol was amazed. "I thought wing seconds are assigned by the weyrleader."
"Depends on the weyr," D'vid told him. "F'lar has his wing leaders choose their own. Anyway, next fall, you will be leading. I'll be in the wing second position. I'll be there if you get into trouble, but you need some experience at actually leading the wing in combat."
"I'm not sure if the other riders will go for that," B'stol said thoughtfully.
"They'll go for it," D'vid told him. "They'll follow your lead or will answer to me."
B'stol couldn't argue with that. D'vid was a tough wingleader who didn't take guff off anyone. He was fair, asking no one to do what he himself would not do, but he expected his orders to be followed. And he wasn't afraid of doling out the discipline when it was necessary. B'stol actually felt sorry for those Istan riders who questioned his competence and/and his origins.
"I'll see you tomorrow at formation drill," D'vid told him. "You'll lead that as well. Choose the time."
"Well, it's usually somewhere between the eighth and tenth hour. What would you suggest"
"I have no suggestion, bronze rider. You're leading the drill. You pick the time and the maneuvers. Just remember that the wing must always be ready to fly in short order."
"The sixth hour?"
"Is that a question or a directive?" D'vid gave his second a telling look.
"A directive," B'stol said, halfway expecting his leader to say that was too early.
D'vid nodded. "The sixth hour it is. They'll be ready to fly. See you then."
He mounted Sulanth and nodded to B'stol just before Sulanth launched himself.
Ellen was busy signing off on requisitions. She had never realized there was this much work in being a senior weyrwoman. Corsira had officially retired. She was there to answer questions, of course, but domestic command had been transferred to Ellen. She was about to sign the last requisition when she really looked at it. She shook her head, picked up the requisition and headed out to find L'trol.
She found him in the dining cavern. "What is the meaning of this?" she asked, holding out the requisition.
"I think it speaks for itself, ma'am."
"The request is clear enough," Ellen agreed. "It's the motivations I question. Why would anyone need that much fellis juice. We're not talking a case or three of vials. I know you're the weyrhealer, and I wouldn't dream of questioning your medical judgment, but I can't see why anyone would need 10 kegs of fellis juice. Do you know something you're not telling the weyrleader or me?"
"Congratulations, weyrwoman." L'trol smiled warmly. "You passed with flying colors."
Ellen was confused. "Excuse me, rider?"
"This was a test." The voice came from behind her. It was Corsira speaking. "I am now officially retired."
"You told me you retired two days ago," Ellen said.
"I did," she said. "From what I saw of you at Benden, you looked extremely competent. More so than any of the others. And I know you knew everything you needed to know. Actually being in charge is a different matter. I had to know how you would actually handle it. So I had L'trol put in the requisition for 10 kegs of fellis juice as a test. If you had signed off on it and approved it without questioning it, I would have been very concerned."
"So glad I finally meet your approval," Ellen said acidly. "How many more tests will there be?"
"That was the first and the last," Corsira told her.
"Good. I hope so," Ellen said bitingly. "Because if there are any more, you can find yourself another patsy."
Corsira looked confused. "Patsy? What's that."
"Some one to kick around and disrespect," Ellen informed her stiffly.
Corsira smiled. "I chose well. You will make a great weyrwoman. Keep up that attitude when some one challenges your authority. And as someone not born on Pern, that will most likely happen."
"So my reaction to this little test was another test?" Ellen threw up her hands. "If you'll excuse me, I need to go cool off before I say something we'll both regret." She stomped off without another word.
Corsira just smiled. "I did indeed choose well," she said to L'trol.
He nodded. "She's a good one alright. She won't take nonsense from anyone."
Ellen stomped out into the bowl and was met my Saylath, her eyes whirling yellow, ready to defend her rider. Ellen saw her and vaulted into riding position. Let's fly! she told her dragon.
I said let's fly, she said when Saylath landed on her ledge.
I need my harness, Saylath told her. I don't want to worry about you falling off.
Ellen smiled ruefully. She had been so angry she had forgotten all about the harness to which she could secure her belt.
As Ellen was fitting the harness into place, Saylath said, You're angry. Is it something I did? The last was asked in a rather plaintive tone.
Never, Love, Ellen assured her. You could never make me angry. It's that woman. She reverted to the dragon practice of refusing to name an irritant, showing Saylath a picture of Corsira instead.
She actually had the audacity to question my authority after she retired. The last word was said sarcastically. And then my reaction was another test. I actually wanted to slap her. Still do, truth be told.
Then it's a good thing you walked off, Saylath said as Ellen resumed riding position and secured her belt to the harness.
Ellen told Saylath she was ready and the golden dragon launched herself into the air and strove for altitude.
They flew for an hour. By the time Saylath began descending for a landing, Ellen had cooled down and admitted to herself that Corsira had been right to test her. What the woman had said was correct. It was impossible to know how someone could handle the responsibilities of leadership until it was actually thrust upon them.
She had Saylath divert and land on Corsira's ledge.
After dismounting, she entered the weyr and nodded respectfully to Caylith. She approached the opening to the living quarters and announced herself.
"Come in, weyrwoman," she heard from inside.
She stepped in and Corsira motioned her to sit.
After taking a seat, Ellen said, "I think I've come to realize why you did what you did."
"So you're here to offer an apology for your outburst?"
Ellen stared at the woman. "No," she said with a slight shake of her head. "I understand why you did it. I also believe my reaction, at the time, was appropriate. You did what you had to do, but if you are waiting for an apology for my being angry and storming off, you'll wait for a long, long time." This last was said with in a tone that said she would not back down.
"Keep up that attitude, girl," Corsira said approvingly. "The last thing Ista needs, or any other weyr, for that matter, is a weak weyrwoman. I've heard the stories about Jora. She was nearly the ruin of all Pern. Simply because she was weak and wouldn't control her dragon."
Ellen had heard of Jora. Lessa had cursed her name, using her as an example of what not to do.
D'vid woke at a quarter past the fifth hour. He got up, prepared himself and was in the kitchen at half past the hour. He drank some Klah as he woke Sulanth.
What's going on? Sulanth asked sleepily. It's barely light outside.
Formation drill, love. B'stol and Danarth are leading, D'vid informed his dragon.
We've never had drill this early, Sulanth complained.
The leader chooses the time and the sixth hour is the time he chose.
I don't know why you always want surprise drills.
Yes you do, love, D'vid said. The Weyrs were caught unawares seven turns into the pass. I don't care about any other wing. My wing, or my Weyr, if I'm weyrleader will be ready to go with very short notice.
Danarth is waking the others. He says it's time to get ready for formation drill, Sulanth informed his rider. He seemed almost apologetic."
I hope it was only to you. You are the senior dragon of the wing. Tell him there is no need to apologize. He is going to be leading the wing after all.
D'vid walked out into the bowl to see the wing getting ready. They saw him and stopped their conversation.
Tell the others that B'stol and Danarth are leading the drill this morning, D'vid told Sulanth. We'll be in the wing second position.
Upon hearing this the other riders looked startled, but knew their wing leader expected to be obeyed and they weren't willing to risk his disapproval. One, however, looked sullen. D'vid walked over to him.
"Is there a problem, K'tarn?" D'vid asked pleasantly.
"I follow the orders of the wing leader, not a lackey," the rider said.
"Well then, here is an order you can follow, rider. I have appointed B'stol the leader of this drill. You will follow his orders and directives as if they were coming from me. Or maybe you'd like two sevendays of night watch."
K'tarn looked stricken. "Night watch?
"Or the next five falls with the senior weyrlings. Sulanth will be listening," D'vid informed him curtly. "I suggest you follow the orders of the designated drill leader."
D'vid walked off an mounted Sulanth who deposited him on his ledge so his rider could harness him.
Shortly they were back in the bowl with the rest of the wing.
Tell the others to have their riders mount, D'vid thought to his dragon. No need to wake the whole Weyr.
The other riders mounted and with B'stol looking at him, D'vid stabbed a finger at him indicating his wing second was to take the lead and begin the drill.
Two months later
D'vid was waiting with F'lar in the weyrwoman's weyr. B'stol announced himself and was told by F'lar to enter. He saw D'vid and suddenly became very nervous. D'vid had praised his work on the drills and leading the wing in the three falls he had been in the lead position.
F'lar began speaking. "I've heard good things about you, young man. Your performance as leader during the three falls you've led Third Wing have been exemplary."
"Even though two of my riders were scored during the last one?"
F'lar waved that off. "That's what happens when it clumps and the wind changes. There was nothing you could have done to prevent those injuries. Your concern about the riders and taking responsibility for it shows you are leadership material.
"Ellen reports that Saylath should rise within a sevenday. As you know, Sulanth will participate in that flight. I fully expect him to win. When that happens, Third wing will be without a wing leader."
"I'll fill in for him until you choose a new wing leader, sir," B'stol said.
F'lar shook his head. "I don't want you to fill in for him. I want you to replace him. If you're willing and think you're ready."
"I'm ready, sir," B'stol said earnestly. "But what about K'tarn? He's a year older than me."
"He also impressed his dragon a year after you did. So you have seniority as a rider," D'vid told him. "And just between the three of us, I don't think he's ready to lead a wing. He'll get there, I'm sure, but right now he isn't ready. You are."
F'lar spoke up. "I'd like to offer you the position of wing leader of Third Wing, on the condition that Sulanth wins the Ista weyrleadership mating flight.
"It would be an honor to lead Third Wing, sir," B'stol said. "I accept."
"Good. Just make sure that the readiness reports from the wing continue in their current form," F'lar told him.
After he left, D'vid relaxed and said. "He'll do great. Might not be as stiff as me, but everyone has their own command style."
"I've noticed that," F'lar returned. "You know who you remind me of when dealing with your riders? T'ring. No nonsense, get the job done and follow orders."
"Probably comes from my time in the Navy," D'vid reasoned. "My captain was much the same way. Don't expect anything of a subordinate you aren't willing to do yourself, but don't take any nonsense or insubordination."
"I've also noticed that the riders of Third Wing don't seem to be as nervous as some of the others. Comes from knowing where their leader stands, I'm sure. I'm also sure, you'll be glad to be with Ellen again. I don't know what I'd do if I had to be separated from Lessa for this long."
"You've been with her a lot longer than I've been with Ellen," D'vid said. "But it will be nice to be back with her on a regular basis. If that's all, I want to turn in early. We have drill at the seventh hour tomorrow."
"You're going to do Ista proud," F'lar told him. "Go on and get your rest.
A/N: Well that's it for this chapter. One more and it should be done. But then again, you never know. And I do have other ideas in the percolator. Don't forget to review.
