It is a lovely spring morning at Jerdan Weyr. You wake and dress before the sun rises remembering the promise you made to Weyrwoman Carah to talk to Master Robinton about some new songs that Journeywoman Menolly has recently composed. You walk down to the Lower Caverns where you are suppose to meet the brown rider L'van who is going on Search at the Harperhall for the two latest clutches on the Sands. You sit down at one of the many empty tables and have a cup of klah. Headwoman Lorin brings you a bowl of hot cereal, and you quickly consume it. You wait a little while longer, and then, you ask Lorin if she's seen L'van this morning.
"No, I haven't," she responds and goes back to her work.
"Thanks anyway," you say half-heartedly. You notice that the sun has risen and that more people are starting to come in to eat. You start to worry that L'van has forgotten you, but then you spot your good friend Laurilyn.
"By any chance have you seen L'van this morning," you ask her. "We are suppose to go to the Harperhall."
"No, I haven't. I am sorry," she says noticing that you look distressed. Then she gives you a warm smile. "But, I can have Reamith ask Potuth where he is."
"Reamith can talk to other dragons at such a young age," you ask amazed at all the many things dragons can do.
"Of course, she can talk to other dragons. Dragons are born with that ability. They don't develop it," she says amazed that everyone didn't know that. You both laugh at each other's amazement. Then you see Laurilyn get a far off look.
"Reamith, we need to know where L'van is. Can you get in touch with Potuth," she asks her dragon aloud.
"Yes, I can. Wait just a minute," she tells her rider kindly. "Potuth says that L'van is still asleep, but that he will wake him," she informs Laurilyn.
Laurilyn suddenly bursts out laughing. Once she has calmed down, she sees the bewildered look on your face and explains. "Potuth says that the forgetful dolt is still asleep," she says chuckling again.
You get up to start walking toward L'van's weyr when you see him running across the Bowl red-faced and still trying to get on his shirt and wherhide jacket. He runs in, grabs a cup of klah, and gulps it down as fast as he can. He fixes his clothes and starts to walk back out where Potuth is waiting with what can only be a draconic smile. Headwomen Lorin stops him.
"Where do you think you are going without a proper breakfast," she asks staring at him.
He turns around to face the woman. "Lorin, I don't have time for breakfast this morning. I am running extremely late," he says annoyed.
"Well, if you are already running late, it won't matter if you're even later," she says pushing him into a chair and setting down a bowl of cereal. He sits there glaring at her for a little while, and she glares right back. "It is my job to make sure that all the dragonriders are kept healthy, and breakfast is the most important meal of the day," she says closing the subject and walking away.
"She's right, L'van. You need to eat. I can always time it," Potuth says rumbling.
"Alright, I will eat," he says surrendering to Potuth and Lorin. He eats faster than anyone you have ever seen. He gets up and walks out with you following close behind. He jumps onto Potuth and is about to take off when you ask him is he ever going to help you up.
"Oh yeah, I'm terribly sorry," he says giving you a hand up. Potuth leaps up into the air with great strength. He hovers for a second as L'van warns you that he is going to time it. Suddenly you feel nothing, and you are surrounded by nothingness. You are between for what seems like an eternity.
Just as you have given up hope of ever seeing anything again, you come out above Fort Hold. It is midday here, and the sun is shining brightly on the Harperhall. Potuth circles the gather area and lands with little trouble. You thank Potuth and L'van and walk into the Harperhall.
You walk down the main hall and up a flight of steps. You walk into what you remember as Menolly's room. You see a red headed young lady bent over a piece of hide. She has a bronze fire-lizard wrapped around her neck. You automatically assume that it is Menolly and one of her bronzes.
"Hello, Menolly," you say cheerfully.
The young lady whirls around with lightning speed and stands up in the same motion. She is about 5'10, and you can tell before she speaks that she is really irritated.
"I am not Menolly," she says with controlled fury while her dark green eyes seem to whirl like her fire-lizard's. "My name is Zaeralis." She glares at you for a moment, but then she gets control over herself. "I am sorry. It's just that I am mistaken for her at least twice a day. I mean, I like Menolly but for once I would like some one to remember my name."
You finally recover from your shock and look at her puzzled. "Isn't this Menolly's room?"
"Yes, it is. I am her roommate since I am one of the few girls here at the Harperhall. Can I help you with anything after biting your head off," she asks smiling.
"I came here for a copy of the new dragon song Menolly wrote," you say smiling back at her.
"Oh, I love that song. I have been copying it for days. Can't get it out of my head now," she says humming a joyful tune. She hands you a copy. "I guess you'll be on your way," she asks sadly.
"Actually, I would like to get to know you better," you say truthfully.
"Really," she asks sarcastically. "Well, how are you planning to do that?"
"I am planning on asking you a few simple questions," you say chuckling.
"Like what," she asks suspiciously.
"Like, who is your bronze friend there," you ask no longer joking but truly interested in this young lady.
"This," she says taking the bronze from her shoulder and putting him on her forearm so you can see him more clearly,"is Treble."
"Cool name. How did you and Treble come to be here," you ask her kindly.
She launches into her life story with great enthusiasm. "I was born in Athal Hold which is just outside Southern Weyr. I lived there with my brother Blazin, my mother Susair, and my father Jamas. A sevenday after I turned 14, I was sent here to study under Master Domick. My mother was pregnant when I left, so it was no surprise when several sevendays later, my parents sent me a message saying that I now had a little sister named Emelsa.
"I studied really hard with Master Domick learning the ins and outs of composing. I was really surprised when two turns after I came here, I walked the tables and became a journeywoman. I have been here ever since," she finishes smiling at the memory.
"Have any of your compositions ever been sent out of here," you ask not wanting to hurt her feelings if the answer was no.
"Sort of," she says mumbling.
"What do you mean," you ask encouraging her to talk.
"I helped Menolly a tiny tiny bit on the song you came for today. She knew how I was feeling about not really accomplishing anything, and she put my name on the song when she showed it to Master Robinton. I told him that I hadn't written it and that I had only helped fix a few chords. No one would believe me. I volunteered to copy the song, and I have been putting her name on the song like it should be," she says sadly.
"Why do you stay here then," you ask.
"I love it here; however, I don't think I quite belong here," she says with a sigh.
"What exactly do you mean," you ask hoping you aren't pushing her too far.
"My brother Blazin was Searched just before I came here. He was seventeen turns then, and he Impressed a beautiful brown. Ever since that day, I have wanted to be a dragonrider," she says her eyes starting to water. Treble rubs his triangular head against her cheek encouraging her to continue. She takes a deep breath and continues. "I told my parents about my dreams. My mother was supportive, but my father said I would be lucky to make it into the Haperhall. I came here convinced that I would never be a dragonrider, so I decided to write songs about them," she says her confidence returning.
"I think you will make a great rider one day," you say comfortingly. Then L'van walks into the room.
"Are you ready to go," he asks.
"Yes, I am. Did you find anyone on Search," you ask curiously.
"Drat I forgot. I spent the whole time talking to Master Robinton," he says hitting his thigh. "I'll ask Potuth quickly." His face has a far off look as he talks to his dragon. Unexpectedly, L'van turns to Zaeralis.
"Have you ever thought of being a dragonrider," he asks her kindly. "Potuth is standing right on the other side of that wall, and he says that he senses someone with the ability in this room. Since he didn't say anything when we were flying in, it must be you, Zaeralis."
She bursts into joyful tears. "That's all I've ever wanted," she manages to say. You give her time to calm down and explain to L'van the conversation you have just had. Once she is calm again, Zaeralis puts on her wherhide, and then she, L'van,and you climb onto Potuth and go back to Jerdan Weyr.
You arrive at Jerdan Weyr just as the midday meal is being served. L'van goes to talk to Werywoman Carah while you and Zaeralis go eat. After you have both eaten, L'van comes back and takes Zaeralis to talk to Weyrwoman Carah. You wait for them to come back. After a few minutes you see them walking toward you. Zaeralis is beaming with pleasure. She comes over and tells you the great news.
"I am going to stand on the Sands for Gold Isabeth's clutch," she says laughing.
You congratulate her, and then you both go help L'van wash Potuth. That evening, all three of you have a long conversation about the future hatchings. Hours after the sun has set, you decide that you should really get to sleep, so you go up to your room. You are asleep as soon as your head hits the rush pillow. It has been an exhausting day.
Stats
Name: Zaeralis
Age: 17 turns
Job: Journeywoman Harper
Parents: Jamas and Susair
Siblings: Blazin brown dragonrider, Emelsa
Birthplace: Athal Hold outside of Southern Weyr
Links
