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T'rel was delighted when he spotted Ashlyn. He had been made aware--er, made sure that the girl had had a free day. He waved to her. "Ashlyn!" He called her over, leaning against Zelith's soft hide. The bronze had been complaining of an itch for over a day, now, and while T'rel wasn't known for neglecting his dragon, the man felt responsible. He had been fretting over his weyrmate every spare moment since he'd found out about her condition: tending to pace their weyr when he wasn't making final preperations for the senior weyrlings' graduation.

He felt this would double as Ashlyn's interview. He was supposed to interview each weyrling before they graduated, making sure they were ready to join a fighting wing. He had high expectations for Ashlyn, and indeed, all of his Weyrlings! He was proud of them. "Gyafrith looks well," he complimented her, as he veered his gaze to the blue. Yes, they had come a long way. "I called one of the newer candidates to help wash Zellie. Join us?"

"Of course, Gyafrith," T'rel addressed the blue directly, after Ashlyn relayed his words. "You've grown into a fine fellow, yes indeed." He moved to stroke the blue's eye ridges. He paused in doing so, glancing at Ashlyn. He studied her for a long moment. "You'll serve just fine," he assured her. "From what R'yn tells me, the girl was neglected as a child and has a difficult shell to get through. Almost as if she's built a Weyr with no doors or ledges around herself." T'rel couldn't imagine. He'd been harper bred, and though his only remaining relations had cared very little for him, they raised him comfortably. "He said she has two brothers. I didn't ask them here. I thought maybe she would open up better to us if they weren't around."

He removed his hand from Gyafrith's eye ridges and placed it on her shoulder. He gave her shoulder a squeeze and smiled at her. "Get to know the candidates, they're the next generation of riders. I'm sure Lavi is doing a fine job of teaching them; but it'll be my job to keep them alive when they Impress."

"It's Zellie's favorite too," T'rel smiled, glancing, briefly, towards his bronze. "Yes, I was sorry too. But we mustn't let on that we know," he shook his finger playfully at the weyrling. "No embarrassing her! We're here to make friends." Making friends, he mused, was something he was good at. He seemed to get on with just about anyone. He was sure if he shared his background, which was by no means as unhappy as Astri's must have been to make her close herself off like that, she would feel more comfortable around him. Maybe she would come to realize that there were others, outside of her brothers, that she could relate to.

He flashed Ashlyn a bright smile at the compliment. "I do my best," he said, modestly. "It hasn't been hard. This group has been marvelous compared to the last. Er, not saying that they were bad riders--er--" He scratched the back of his head, searching for the right words. "Aurelien and Pelias weren't in your group."

T'rel nodded in thanks; lost in thought as he considered the hoops Aurelien had put him through in order to gain the prankster's respect. He had enjoyed a number of them on a personal level, but as Weyrlingmaster, he was to put a stop to any misbehavior. He didn't know what had gone on with Pelias. The boy had seemed content for a while, especially enjoying Ionan's company; then he had asked to live in the hold. The concept had baffled T'rel. After all the Weyr had done for him, room, board, food, allowing him to attempt impression, training him to survive-- the weyrlingmaster had viewed it as betrayal. He had refused.

Dragonriders belong in the Weyr, he remembered saying. They hadn't gotten along since. He shook himselr out of his thoughts when he heard Astri. He flashed her a warm smile. "Do you think you can help me wash Zelith? He's so big, I couldn't hope to do it myself!" He gestured at the bronze. "I heard you're good with animals," he added, "Zellie's had an itch since yesterday, and I can't seem to find it."

Was the girl dimglowed? T'rel had a verbal barb itching to be free of his tongue, when he seemed to think better of it. He had thought harpers were making sure harpers were educating all Pern on the nuances of change. In the ninth pass, it certainly would have been rare--perhaps even unheard of, for a blue to have Impressed to a female. He flashed her a gentle smile. "That's Gyafrith, Ashlyn's dragon. I have asked her here," he stressed Ashlyn's gender gently, "to talk. She's about to graduate, and as weyrlingmaster, I'm required to inquire about her goals and what she plans on focusing on after graduation." He sent a smile Ashlyn's way. He hoped Gyafrith wouldn't be too upset.

"It is a good suggestion, though. Ashlyn, Gyagrith is more than welcome to join Zellie in his bath."

"Hey!" Called a voice, a small figure racing towards them. "I want to help! 'Rel, no fair! I'm the best scrubber on all Pern!"

Huh. Who would tell Astri such a thing? Certainly not Lavi? The candidatemaster knew better than that! No, it couldn't have been a drsgonrider. There were many female blue riders residing in Ista Weyr. He studied Astri for a long moment, for granting the girl a reassuring smile. "Listen, whatever you heard about the Weyr from those outside the Weyr--it may be untrue. For thousands of turns, the holders have failed to understand our lifestyle. Blues and greens impress to anyone, as long as they fit the dragon." He lifted his hand to scratch the back of his head, baffled. Huh. So holders still didn't understand Weyrlife.

"Its alright though," he added, "You're here now. You'll learn! R'yn told me you're good with animals. While Zellie would probably be offended if you compared him to a runnerbeast, I don't think he'll mind being scrubbed--" He grinned, glancing about as he heard his younger brother's voice. "You are," He laughed, "I'm glad you're here, Ionan. You can show Astri how to scrub a dragon."

Ionan glanced towards Astri. "Hi! I'm Ionan! C'mon, I'll show you how to scrub Zellie! He's the second best bronze in the whole Weyr! But he's fourth best dragon. Calith's the best, then Torvarth, then Gereth and Zellie!"

"Nice to meet you, Astriana," Ionan beamed up at her, "You have a pretty name. You know, you don't have to worry about being so polite to T'rel. He's just the Weyrlingmaster, and he can't do anything to you till you Impress. And he's a softie! I know, because Aurelien, one of the weyrlings from the clutch before last, he did something really awful, and T'rel just thought it was funny!" The eight turn old shook his head solomnly, then grinned. "Its okay though, Aurelien didn't hurt anyone." He took the candidate's hand, leading her towards Zelith.

"I normally don't scrub Zellie," he admitted, "Normally I just scrub Calith if Ticene says its okay. But they all seem to like the same places itched! If you scratch over his eyes, he'll be your best friend forever." He demonstrated by reaching up to the bronze, who politely lowered his head to be within the boy's reach, and scratched at his eye ridges. "See? T'rel has done a pretty good job already, scrubbing him."

"Ionan likes all dragons," T'rel said, grinning at Ashlyn. "His favorites change as often as the color he says he's going to Impress." He paused, studying her. "Ashlyn, what do you think a dragonrider does? Don't tell me what I think: or what you think other Weyrlings think. I want to know your thoughts. What's a dragonrider's job, after all this to-do about Impression and lessons? Will you accept that job?"