Erdric Reports to R'sul

Xanadu Weyr - Weyrleaders' Office

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Office and retreat, this is the domain of Xanadu's Weyrleaders. The door is in the eastern wall, quite close to the southern end while the northern wall is dominated by big, expansive windows, framed by sumptuous deep blue drapes edged with a brilliant gold braid and tied back with a thick rope of braided gold and blue cord. In between, the eastern wall is covered floor to ceiling with shelves that house all sorts of records, manuals and supplies that are used on a day-to-day basis. The southern wall has the Weyrleader's desk — plain fellis wood, well polished and masculine. From behind his desk, the Weyrleader can look straight through the windows and out onto the main airspace of Xanadu. The western wall is where the Weyrwoman's desk resides: a lovely piece of furniture made of warm cherry wood. From her seat, a glance sideways gives her an equally good prospect out the window. There are a few other seats, some comfortably arranged around a low round table for small, informal meetings while there also some that can be drawn up to one of the desks.
On the south side of the door, the space is occupied by a low oblong table where refreshments can be set without someone needing to intrude. There is also an 'incoming' tray where incoming correspondence or similar items can be left.


Erdric knocks gently on the door, waiting for an answer before opening it slightly.

Early mornings are not usually busy times, though with all the work that has been occurring around Xanadu it is pretty much the only time that the weyrleaders can catch up on paperwork. R'sul is the one in the office this morning, though it's Niva's desk he is searching through, looking for a lost message from Eastern. At the knock he shouts, "Come in!" though doesn't look up.

Erdric pokes his head in through the door, "Good morning Sir." At the site of the Weyrleader rummaging intently through paperwork apparently searching for something the young boy flushes momentarily. "Excuse me Sir. I hate to interrupt you. I can come back at other time if this is not good, but I do have something I think requires your somewhat immediate attention."

"Just leave it on the desk, I'll get to it in… a…." R'sul's voice trails off as he looks up and doesn't find someone bringing him his early morning klah. "Um… good morning. Sorry, I thought you were…." Another pause, then he stands up properly and motions for Erdric to come in, "Come in, come in, sorry. What can I do for you?"

Erdric stands in the doorway for a moment, still a little hesitant to bring this matter to the Weyrleader. "Good morning Sir. I hate to bug you this early in the morning but I have something I think you would be interested in seeing and hearing." He pauses for a moment as he comes all the way into the office, making a point to close the door behind him. "I guess I will not beat around the bush. I have received two letters in the past few days that are somewhat unsettling." He pulls the two letters from his pouch and extends his hand to offer them to R'sul. "I will let you read them before I continue."

R'sul watches Erdric closely, his expression only getting more concerned as the door is shut. "Letters?" A need for details fights with the urge to read, and it's the reading that takes precedence. The notes are taken, spread out on the desk and studied. He reads carefully, then reads again to make sure he's not missing anything or reading them wrong. When he looks up at Erdric his face is blank, emotionless. "When did you receive these?"

The look on the Weyrleader's face, and tone to his question indicates to Erdric that maybe he should have come to R'sul with the first note, rather than wait. "I didn't know what do Sir. I received the first one a few days ago and the second just yesterday." The look on his face changes to worry now, despite the fact he believes this to be just a hoax. "I thought someone was just playing a prank on me, and well to be honest I think that could still be the case. However, I also received a message via someone running into me on my way to the caverns yesterday afternoon to be on the beach today. With the talk of danger and now a possible meeting I wanted to make sure you knew what was going on." He carefully studies the expression of R'sul as he divulges the information. "I believe I have deciphered the meaning of the letters, but…" he trails off.

R'sul stares at the letters for a moment, then back at Erdric. His gaze makes that journey three more time before he finally speaks again, "You're the second we know about for sure, but I would imagine there're more." He folds the notes carefully, asking "You don't mind if I keep these?" even as he putting them into a pocket. "If you have a theory then you're already doing better than I am. Seat?" He nods to one that's free, "Tell me everything you know. Even things you only think you know."

Erdric takes a seat, nodding to R'sul. "Of course, I expected you would want to keep them possible so I made copies if you don't mind." He pulls those out of his pouch. The boy takes a deep breath and sighs, calming his nerves. "As you may know I tend to spend most my waking hours pouring through old skins and hides. Well in the old records there was mention of similar danger and the need to look to the skies." He shakes his head, the thought of even saying such a ridiculous thing to R'sul difficult. "I know that our great, great, great grandfathers fought a menance from the sky called Thread. I have read the stories hundreds of times. I also know that it was eradicated for good once and for all as the stories are told to all children in the words of Harpers song." He pauses to gauge the reaction of R'sul before going on. "These notes seem to play on that same vein, of the fear of the ancient enemy. 'Look to the skies', 'Danger is coming', 'The end is coming'."

R'sul has apparently been working on expressions, or rather remaining expressionless — there's a nerve that jumps under his left eye but other than that he seems to remain completely neutral as he listens. "Thread's long gone, even people who don't have our love for the old days know that. Though I can see…." There's a pause and he shakes his head, "Another enemy perhaps? I doubt anyone would even consider believing that." A shame he doesn't entirely sound convinced that such a possibility could never happen.

Erdric gets nothing to indicate any reaction other than the words from R'sul, which isn't helpful to the young boy. "I honestly don't think that Thread could or would return Sir. That is why I believe it is simply a hoax." He looks down at the letters. "I did some poking around after I got the first one and discovered that only one other person had been carrying a note around, but I did not approach them or ask them anything about it. At least not yet. That too leads me to believe someone is playing a prank on us. I normally wouldn't have bothered you with something like this except if it did turn out to be something…" He looks squarely at the Weyrleader. "I couldn't have lived with myself having known something was possible and not altering you. Then there's the beach today."

R'sul nods slowly. "Who was it you found out about? I'd be happy to think that it's just a prank, but if this is three people now and who know how many more… well let's just say it's something I'd like stopped before it goes too much further. Last thing we need is people panicking about nothing." He sits down on the edge of the desk, fingers drumming against the surface as he thinks. "Who knows you're here? With me I mean? Did you tell anyone about any of this?"

Erdric shakes his head. "No one Sir. I have told no one until you just now what the letters said. Some people know I received a letter, but that is it, and they think it was a secret admirer letter so have no clue what they said." He puts the copies he has back into his pouch carefully. "Keziah was the other person I was told had also received a letter and was poking around trying to find who sent it. Whether or not her letters are the same as mine or if she told anyone of their contents I do not know."

R'sul repeats Keziah's name quietly, then nods. "So we have a definite three then." There's a time of silence, and it's only then that his perfectly schooled neutrality falters and there's a definite look of concern for a moment. "I have no right to ask this of you, and you've every right in the world to say no." Another pause follows and he looks down, "Will you go to the beach? See if this nonsense is just an attempt to make people look foolish by waiting there for no reason?"

Erdric's heart is pounding in his chest now. His eyes dart from spot to spot around the room before settling on R'sul. "I think someone has to go to find out. And if it is merely to make a fool of me then so be it." He mamages a weak half smile. "Unfortunately they did not give a specific time. How long should I stay down there?"

R'sul frowns, looking up at last. "I suppose they would expect a few hours at least. I would be tempted to say at night, but that leaves far too many options for them. I think it's safe to say if this is real in some way then someone will be watching you. If it's not then nothing will happen. I just wish…." There's another pause and he shakes his head, "Do you have a firelizard that looks to you?"

Erdric nods, "I do although both are still quite young. My bronze is about 2 1/2 months though so is able to control himself so long as he doesn't get into any altercations along the way.

R'sul nods, "Do you think he could remember here? I don't think anything will happen, but just in case? Either that or I could have one of mine come with you. It would… well it would make me feel better about it all, really."

Erdric looks to little Ori who has appeared from somewhere within his large tunic. He pauses for a moment while looking at ori then turns back to R'sul. "He can remember here. I can send him back to you here if there is any danger or need for you." Ori lands on the boys shoulder and Erdric strokes the little bronzes head gently. "I will spend as much time as needed out there and will poke around some as well." As an almost afterthought the adds, "Could you please make sure my daily chores with the records are taken care of this afternoon?"

R'sul nods almost immediately, "Don't worry about that as far as their concerned you'll be doing something for me. As far as everyone else… well tell them I gave you the day off or something." R'sul's definitely still not too happy about asking Erdric to do this, and for a time he lets it show. "It'll be nothing, I'm sure. But best to check, eh? Best to check." He nods after this, but still doesn’t seem too convinced.

Erdric nods agreement to the Weyrleader, sensing his discomfort. "I am sure it will turn out to be nothing too, but you are right it is best to make sure. Which is why I came to you in the first place. As for asking me to go to the bearch, do not worry. I had planned to go all along unless you had known what this was about and told me not to." He looks at R'sul before rising to his feet. "If there isn't anything else I will make my way and see what arises and how this plays out. I will report to you directly with anything I discover."

"I'll need to tell Niva." R'sul replies after a moment, "But definitely come back afterwards, even if it's nothing. We can… well we can decide what to do afterwards if anything needs done at all." He rises as well, adding quietly, "Just be careful, okay?"

Erdric nods and flashes a smile. "Of course and I understand."


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