Chapter 14
Jessenia discussed some exercises with Bannoria; and gave her a rundown on the girls already present.
It has to be said that her summation was rather pithy, albeit managing to avoid the downright slanderous.
"I wish you'd take care of the Healer girl for me," said Jessenia. "I can't be everywhere, and she needs someone prepared to be outspoken as her friend! You could maybe let her think she's able to help with Healer knowledge with your hump – and who knows, perhaps she can! She seems a nice kid, and she never gushed over Leealla's foot, just noted the means we've taken, and visibly approved, so I don't think she'd maunder at you."
"How did you know that Healers maunder?" asked Bannoria.
"Why would you be defensive otherwise? Masterhealer Oldive has a hump back you know; they say his parents dumped him on the Healer Hall. You don't have to live with being unwanted, I should think that would hurt more than anything."
"My parents are good. It's other people."
"Well, they're the ones that count – and your dragon if you Impress, and your new Weyr family. They might have turned you down as a candidater, you know – so the dragonmen believe you've got what it takes, 'cos medical grounds IS a reason to turn down a candidate."
"Is it? I didn't know. And I guess I was expecting someone to baby me and pity me, but here you are asking ME to look after someone?"
"Give the kid a chance to find herself more than look after – I want you to look OUT for her," said Jessenia. "Babying people, as you know, is no answer. One bone of contention you have with your parents, I wager?"
"Yes," said Bannoria.
"Well, they mean well… that's nice. I think Melvi's been bullied, perhaps you can find out who, and what over. Then she can put it behind her. Oh, and if you ever feel like being self pitying, go talk to Leealla and ask for her story. It's not my place to tell it: but I reckon it should stop anyone thinking they've ever been hard done by. C'mon; I'll introduce you, it's almost bedtime."
The girls were getting ready for bed; and in the flurry of preparations it has to be said that no-one but Melvi noticed Bannoria's hump. The Healer girl smiled timidly.
"Would you like to share with me?" and do you prefer top or bottom for ease?"
Bannoria shot her a look.
"I'll take top, please… if that's all right by you, I like to sit up and stretch at night."
Melvi nodded.
"Oh, actually, I prefer the bottom… but I guess I wouldn't fall out really," she added.
"Well, we're both happy then," said Bannoria brightly. "What do they call this – cosy, or cramped?"
"We like the term 'cosy'," said Jessenia. "Just 'ware elbows!"
oOoOo
Bannoria was not sure what to make of Jessenia; she was like no other girl she had ever met! Some of the things she had said were close to being unkind: yet they were not careful sneers formed with malice, but blunt home truths. Bannoria was not used to home truths: though her father had told her often enough that her shoulder was only obviously humped when she shrugged it up to show it off. Only Melvi had noticed it in the half dark with some of the glows covered; so perhaps it was not so awful as she had always thought. And was she too keen to label herself 'the hunchback'? Perhaps there might `be people who knew about it who could still like her… Dragonfolk were supposed to be extraordinary.
Bannoria had not yet realised that her very defensiveness made her act in an unlikeable fashion, pushing people from her; Jessenia had not given her a chance to push her away, nor had she acted warily as though afraid of upsetting 'the cripple'. Another label. In fact, Jessenia had been as tactless as it was possible to be.
And yet…
And yet, Bannoria had a sneaking liking for the tiny whirlwind acrobat.
She went to sleep with the good intention of looking out for Melvi as Jessenia had asked; the first time she had put another's feelings before her own in a very long time!
oOoOo
The last girl to arrive came while the others were at breakfast. She was called Luaysa, from Igen, who was darker skinned even than Carya, with a wild mop of black hair and flashing black eyes.
"Isn't this fun?" she declared. "I do hope I Impress, dragons are gorgeous, and I don't see why girls can't fight Thread as well as boys, at least we've got a few more thoughts to rub together than half the men I know!"
"Good lungs," said Jessenia.
"You said what?" queried Luaysa.
"You got all that out without drawing breath," grinned Jessenia.
Luaysa chuckled.
"Reckon I do talk too much," she said, unabashed, "just shout at me if I go on too much!"
"Oh we will!" Jessenia agreed, cheerfully, making introduction all round.
This one seemed friendly enough; she should be no trouble!
oOoOo
It was at the firestone bagging that Silaya noticed Bannoria's hump.
"Oh shells, not ANOTHER cripple!" she said in disgust.
Bannoria went up to her.
"You object to me being what you label as a cripple?" she said.
"The incapable are SO ugly," said Silaya.
"Quite true," said Bannoria. "I'm glad that of the two of us, I'm not incapable."
As Bannoria had been bagging firestone with more dexterity and skill – and, it is to be said, rugged determination and gritted teeth – than Silaya, the comment was quite fair.
"Don't mind Silaya, Bannoria!" called Geetta. "She can't HELP being mentally retarded – be kind to her, it's wrong to mock the afflicted, and she's the most afflicted girl in this group. With Nilis and Tragarra carrying second and third."
Bannoria shot Geetta a look; and the Harpercraft girl gave her a cheeky wink.
"Huh," said Dessa, "Silaya's problem is that she doesn't want the WORK of having a dragon – reckon a carved wooden Queen would suit her, with a spike to put her on to hold her on, 'cos it's going to be the closest she gets to being…"
"Dessa, that's enough!" said Nadeena, hastily, seeing Falinn's outraged look at such crudity and the confused looks of two of the three younger girls.
"Oh! you mean a dildo!" said Jessenia, suddenly catching on. "Like Woodcrafters sell under the counter for ladies who can't get pregnant. I never could see how they'd work, myself."
Nadeena spluttered.
"I'll explain later, Jess," she managed.
Luaysa, Telara, Dessa and Geetta had given up pretence at work and were holding on to each other laughing themselves silly.
"You beasts! You'll be sorry when I'm riding a Golden Queen!" shouted Silaya, "and I'm still working, so it's you who will get sent home!"
V'sheren came over.
"She brought on herself – again," said Nadeena, not even troubling to indicate which 'she' was meant. "Another mean comment. I can't fault them for making game of her under the circumstances; and Jess is such an innocent who just blurts things out."
"Oh?" said V'sheren.
"Weyrlingmaster, do YOU want to explain what a dildo is to her?" asked Nadeena, tartly.
V'sheren flushed.
"Er… no. I'll leave that in your capable hands, Nadeena," he said.
oOoOo
Nadeena had a frank and earthy talk with Jessenia; and Carya and Leealla elected to listen too. None of them had any idea that there might be ladies who wanted sex without men.
"Well, that's a load of lies that woodcrafter told me then, when I asked!" said Jessenia, indignantly.
"I expect he was trying to protect your innocence, my dear," said Nadeena. "Oh dear, I'd better have a long chat with Bretine at the Turnover holiday, and see what rubbish SHE has picked up from other Weavercraft apprentices!"
"Is sex nice if it's with someone nice?" asked Leealla.
"Yes, dear. And I'm told it's even better if your dragon is involved," said Nadeena. "But even without a dragon, it is very nice with the right man. Or indeed men: your Master Artist Gerianna has three boyfriends, though I THINK Morvith's Rider is a homosexual Greenrider. But they have all chosen their lovers; and so they are happy to enjoy anything they do together," she added diplomatically. Geriana's four-way love nest often confused people, even other dragonriders, with bisexual S'net and S'negen sharing her and B'kas impartially.
"They touch her face, and put arms round her, and just cuddle lots," said Leealla. "Do the right men always do that?"
"It's a good way to discover if he IS the right man – if he wants to hold your hand, and just be with you before suggesting bed," said Nadeena, dryly. "A man who is interested in YOU not your body is a good catch. He needs to desire you too; but it's not everything in a good relationship."
Nadeena had often had the task of reassuring girls who had escaped to the Weyr for lower cavern duties, and explaining to the weyrbred girls too. At least these girls were ready with questions, and were not coy; Jessenia and Carya were truly innocent rather than sheltered and ignorant, Jessenia more so than Carya. But then, Carya had older sisters! Leealla knew more than a girl her age should have to, in some respects; and nothing hitherto of the right things!
oOoOo
Press-ups as part of the warm-up process were not popular. Bannoria grimly did her best; Silaya stuck her elbows and buttocks up at an odd angle, failed to get anywhere, and collapsed in a heap.
"Oh this is IMPOSSIBLE!" she wailed. "Girls can't do this – not unless they are unnatural!"
"Nonsense!" snapped Jessenia. "Lots of the others are managing – and they are all trying, at least!"
Even Nilis was trying; she had been apprised by Carya of Jessenia's position as endorsed by the Weyrlingmaster, and Carya had also told her, rather maliciously, V'sheren's comments on how unattractive dragonmen found unfit women. Nilis despised Carya for not trying to get rid of an acrobat stepmother; but she accepted her word at least and planned to outdo Silaya, whom she loathed out of envy for her higher Rank as much as for her better looks.
"I can't!" wailed Silaya.
"You aren't even attempting to, how can you say you can't? I can't believe you're so feeble!" said Jessenia in exasperation.
"FEEBLE? FEEBLE?" Silaya screeched.
"You can't even manage what those with the disabilities you despise so much can manage," said Jessenia, "what am I to think but that you are feeble? Do you WANT to fail a dragonet by not being able to care for her, or not catch and throw firestone when you're being blooded? Turn your hands inward, push back with your toes, and just push!"
Silaya rather sulkily managed two press-ups before losing balance and collapsing again.
"Good, it was a good effort," said Jessenia. "Rest a moment; and see if you can then manage three. Then you may sit up and rest, I'm not unreasonable. Anyone manage more then five – other than Carya and Leealla of course?"
"I did a dozen," said Telara of Keroon, "'s all good, but of course I do exercise a lot; I do chin ups on the stable door."
"Then Carya will take you to one side with Lealla, and you may show her what exercises you know, like headstands and such. I'll bring you on when I know what you can do," said Jessenia.
"I did seven," said Tragarra.
"Lying toe-rag," said Geetta, without rancour. "You collapsed after two, then you looked to see if Jessenia was looking, and you wriggled round so your front faced her, and you put your knees down to go up and down. That's cheating."
"It is a valid build-up exercise for those who are incapable of the real thing," said Jessenia, "but it does not count. Well done Falinn and Lineta, try to do one more each day. Most of you did reasonably well if you've never done it before; it's knack as well as strength. You'll need to build up to twenty five to have any hope of developing strong enough muscles to toss firestone sacks."
"Excuse me," said Nilis, "fascinating as that information might be for those hoping to Impress Green dragons, what relevance will that have to those of us standing for the Gold egg?"
"Queenriders will still expect to be blooded by carrying firestone to replenish the fighting wings as soon as they are trusted to go Between. Ask Queenrider L'issa; she's just learned to go Between and she's expecting to carry firestone next Fall," Jessenia explained with an apparent patience she was having trouble feeling.
L'issa had found visualisations easy once she had started drawing her own, as well as studying Leealla's pictures of the Weyr for her return; soon memorising details had become second nature!
Jessenia beckoned L'issa over; L'issa joined in the exercises for her own age group, coached by J'ton, and she performed well enough not to need manhandling, even though she would never have the level of skill of an acrobat.
"Tell this lot about throwing firestone, please, Queenrider," said Jessenia, being careful with the honorific to her friend in front of the other candidates.
"It's tough," said L'issa. "You HAVE to get it to the receiving Rider; a dropped bag is lost flame and may be a dead dragon. They give us a lot of trust in carrying firestone. Crysoreth is big, fast and strong; I'll be throwing to Bronze Riders up at the front, and we'll have to keep a fair distance not to foul wings, so I'll really have to toss it and GOOD!"
Nilis and Silaya were both aghast.
"But – aren't Queen dragons protected?" protested Nilis.
"We're not a breeding pair, yet; it won't upset the other dragons QUITE as much if we die," said L'issa, "and it makes sense to use Crysoreth's strength rather than risk a smaller dragon tiring."
It was an arrangement the girl had put to G'narish ; she pointed out that High Reaches had queens and to spare; and would readily spare one if she was stupid enough to die. And her point about Crysoreth's strength was not lost on G'narish, who had seen too, many young weyrlings horribly hurt or killed in Thread when struggling to take firestone to those dragons flying the leading edge.
The female candidates were sobered by L'issa's matter-of-fact acceptance of the risks.
That Silaya strongly believed that L'issa was making it up on the say so of Jessenia showed how little the girl appreciated L'issa's own strength of character, and the strength of character it took to be a Queenrider!