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1. [DL-C] A Meeting of Minds
From: "Arlene" <wondermom@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
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Message: 1
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 03:18:09 -0400
From: "Arlene" <wondermom@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [DL-C] A Meeting of Minds
Day 7
Early Morning
Warton woke Eth'n up as the sun began to rise, much to the trainer's
distress.
<You are missing the best part of the day,> the dragon stated firmly.
<The Nomads know the way of this land. Toil in the cool of the day
and
rest in the afternoons!>
Eth'n had to agree that it was much more pleasant outside at that hour
than during the middle of the day's heat, when the sun was so bright
it
hurt your eyes to look anywhere that wasn't in shadow, not that there
was much shadow in the middle of the day.
He didn't make the same mistake of stepping outside in the early
morning
without dressing first, though he had come to appreciate the light to
non-existent clothing that the Nomads wore. He hadn't quite moved to
loinclothes, but, unless he were going on a night patrol, he didn't
wear
his leather riding jacket. He had come to prefer the looser fabrics
and
light cloth ****rts and the softer, more breathable leather pants, and
found he had no end of women offering to make him clothing.
Only now was he beginning to see that this wasn't the generosity of
the
nomads, but something quite else, since he'd heard some of the gossip
concerning Andahar's silent clothing maker. Now he understood why
some
of the brothers and fathers of those girls that had made him some
clothing had been trying to get him to go hunting with them, or
drinking
with them, and he began to worry that he'd made a very big mistake in
accepting the gifts.
<You should hurry up,> Warton impatiently reminded his rider, <You
have
to meet with Wingleader Rowan, and you haven't yet eaten!>
Eth'n hurriedly dressed and came out onto the ledge where Warton was
waiting. The sunrise was spectacular, as always, and Eth'n wondered
if
one day it would stop impressing him.
He grabbed a quick cup of coffee and a small round bread that the
Nomad
women ingeniously baked eggs and meat into the middle. He walked out
into the morning and strolled along the dusty lower field, watching
the
many colored dragons take off and land. It was only a short walk to
the
office of the Alpha Wing's new wingleader.
He hadn't met the wingleader to his knowledge, but Warton had told him
that she had wished to see him first thing in the morning. He went to
the wingleader's office and waited outside, since she was not yet
there.
He was surprised to see one of the women who had been hanging about
watching him while he worked with the trainees approaching him as he
waited.
The woman flashed him a very pretty smile, and Eth'n sighed, wondering
if he had mistakenly indicated some interest to her. The nomads had
such
odd customs! He nodded back, hoping she'd continue on her way on
whatever mission she was on.
She continued directly toward him. "Good morning, Eth'n."
"Umm...'morning."
"I didn't get to watch training for too long yesterday, how did it
go?"
"Umm... fine...." He really wished she'd go on her way, or that the
wingleader would arrive.
"Good. It must be hard getting all of them to work together. So many
different tribes...."
"Among the trainees? Yes, especially since some of them don't
understand me."
She chuckled and nodded, "But many of them do, but only pretend they
do
not."
"Really?" He had speculated that this was true but he wonder how he
could tell the difference between those that really understood but
pretended not to and those that really did not understand him.
"Thankfully all the dragons understand each other."
"And you?" She asked, having heard that he was a telepath.
"Yes, I can talk directly with the dragons, though not as easily as
they
talk with each other, I'm afraid." Eth'n stated. He looked around
again, hoping to see someone of authority headed their way.
"Then perhaps you should try a different approach to training?" Rowan
suggested.
"Really?" Eth'n really didn't want to hear what this woman thought,
but
how to get rid of her?
"In order to avoid miscommunication from verbal instruction to the
trainees, you could give telepathic instruction through their
dragons."
"Uh huh," Eth'n sighed. As if he hadn't thought of that already.
"But
that takes time and for the dragon it takes a lot of training to pass
on
information to their rider. It starts with their rider knowing what
the
dragon is going to attempt to pass on to them, so they'll be able to
interpret the images the dragon sends. That is something they will
have
to learn together. I know it's very im****tant. It isn't likely that
their wingleaders will be shouting at them during a wraith battle."
"Exactly! Though, if we do have to shout, we have the advantage of
knowing both languages."
Eth'n blinked. Did she just say 'we'? She couldn't mean that she was
a
wingleader.... "Excuse me?"
"What I mean is that they shouldn't be allowed to get away with
pretending not to understand so they don't have to do any work.
They're
not going to be able to play that game when they get into a wing."
"Yes, of course."
"So, if you would like, I will talk with them and set them straight."
She nodded as if he'd already agreed, "And I can check in on you from
time to time to make sure that things are going well."
"Umm.. really, I... I think training is already going rather well,
actually." Eth'n suddenly felt as if a rug had been pulled out from
under his feet. Just who did this woman think she was, interferring
with
training?
"Oh? I just don't want the riders having to unlearn any bad habits, if
you know what I mean. And I'm afraid that a number of them are just
playing you, because they can."
"Not now, at least, not anymore. Not when Andahar is there..." Eth'n
began.
"Ah, Andahar! Yes, now that he's back from that trip, I suppose he'll
get them back in line," she nodded in approval.
Eth'n felt his anger begin to rise, "So, you think only a nomad can
train other nomads?"
She looked a bit surprised, "No. I just thought you might need some
help."
"I have enough help, thank you very much," Eth'n frowned. "And my
training plan came from one of the greatest trainers in all of
DragonLands, T'rell of Daere, who was my trainer when we were in
Falagand."
"Oh? Good," Rowan nodded. "So they aren't your original ideas. Then
you
certainly won't mind modifying them."
Eth'n opened his mouth and shut it again. He let his breath out in a
soft snort. Somehow he had lost this argument and he wasn't even sure
how it had even begun.
"I'll speak with Andahar, and maybe we can come up with some plans to
help improve your training sessions." Rowan went past him into the
wingleader's office. "Come back and talk with me anytime you need
to."
He saw the door shut behind her and he smacked his palm onto his
forehead. What a dunce! He hadn't even known she was the wingleader.
Rowan didn't sound like a nomad name. Who could have guessed?
He took his time going to the trainee's barracks for the morning
lecture
before the start of the exercises. They'd be starting gliding
practice
today. As he walked he pondered Rowan's words. Did the nomads play
him
for a fool, as she had suggested? It hurt to think that they would.
Yet, when Andahar had been gone he'd cancelled the training lectures
because too much confusion had ensued. Had they really understood him
and only pretended they didn't?
Andahar was there waiting for him when he arrived and he greeted the
young nomad chief. He wanted to ask him what he thought, but couldn't
bring himself to do so. Instead he launched into his lecture about
gliding. He wanted to stress dragon safety first and foremost. No
flapping. Only gliding. Landing should be in the soft sands at the
end
of the training field.
He watched as the young dragons climbed up the low rise that
overlooked
the lower green. He hoped the training session went well that day.
[TAG: All trainees. Dragons are learning to glide now. Set up is a
small hillock at the end of the training field. Landing area is a
sandy
patch further away. There is also the river not too far away... have
fun with it!]
---
Summary:
Day 7
Early Morning
Eth'n is reminded by Warton that the new Alpha Wingleader, Rowan, has
asked him to come by and see her. After grabbing a quick breakfast he
hurries to her office. He is greeted by a nomad woman whom he'd
observed watching training. The woman tells Eth'n that a lot of the
nomad trainees are playing him for a fool, understanding the speech of
the DragonLands, but pretending they don't, so they have to do less
work. She also hints that his methods of training aren't all that
effective. Eth'n takes affront. He tells her that he and Andahar have
it all under control. Slowly it dawns on Eth'n that this woman must
be
Rowan, the Wingleader whom he was to meet. Leaving, disgusted with
himself, Eth'n goes to begin the day's training session.
---
Respectfully submitted by:
Arlene Jacobs
AKA
Eth'n rider of Warton
With thanks for a great idea to Carys Murray (aka Rowan)
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