"Dagan! Dagan get down here you scamp," a strong male voice calls from below. Dagan jumps out of bed and throws on a green tunic and trous of the same color neverminding the old superstition about the color. Then he runs down stairs to answer his master's call. His strong, muscular legs carrying him faster than a runner. Sometimes he joked that being a fast runner was a prerequisite to being an apprentice in the Healer Hall. Dagan was the newest apprentice having only been at the hall for half a turn. He was kind of shy around people, but Master Oldive was very kind to him and taught him everything he needed to know.
Dagan reached the last few steps huffing and puffing. He had sixteen turns and should have more energy than this. His late nights were catching up with him. He looked at the last steps and gave an almighty leap pushing his 5' 9" frame to it's limits over the last three to land with a loud thud on the hard stone floor. He bent over double then took a deep breath before launching himself forward again. Master Oldive's room was just down the hall.
He reached the door to the Masterhealer's room and threw it open without even knocking. The master turned to look at his pupil. "Dagan, it's about time. What took you so long?" With that Dagan collapses to a chair opposite his master.
"I came as fast as I could. I even jumped the last three stairs. I could've broken my leg," Dagan says with mock indignation. "Now what was so important?"
"What were you doing last night? You were supposed to be taking the inventory of the store rooms."
"Last night..... I was .. . um. I had to go see someone. I promise I wasn't getting into any trouble this time."
"Who?"
"Master Oldive, it's really difficult to explain and you probably wouldn't believe me anyway."
"Maybe, but only because of all the trouble you get into. Tell me anyway. Then I can decide if it is the truth, the product of your imagination, or the symptom of a fevered brain."
"Yes sir. It started just after dinner last night. I was sitting at the table still. I was daydreaming about my life back at Alba Hold in Igen. You know just thinking of my mother, Dasora, and my father, Ranagan. I was wondering what they were doing without me ,being the oldest of the five of us and the only boy, to help them run the hold."
"Yes, I understand that people get homesick. Please continue."
"Yes sir. I was pulled out of my melancholy dream when some knocked on the table to get my attention. It was a journeyman harper. I think his name was Piemur. He had come to give me a message. There was someone out in the forecourt of Fort waiting to see me. I jumped up right away thinking that it was my family because the journeyman had said it was urgent. You won't believe the rest, so I might as well not even tell you."
"I am with you so far. I think that as your master I deserve an explanation as to why you shirked your duties last night."
"You're perfectly right, sir. But how can I tell you something that I have trouble believing myself," the boy says with growing excitement and nervousness as he brushes a lock of blonde-brown hair from his green eyes.
"Just tell me."
"Okay. I got out to the forecourt as quick as my legs could carry me. When I got there, I saw the most amazing thing. A woman was sitting on the back of a sapphire blue dragon. She motioned for me to come to her. 'Are you Dagan,' she asked me. I of course replied that I was. I started to get worried. I thought that maybe I had been caught in one of my pranks. I mean why else would a dragonrider come to see me if not for punishment," he says with a huge sigh.
"That could have been the reason. Anyway tell me the rest."
"The rider dismounted her dragon, sir, and walked up to me. She circled me as if taking my measure. I still didn't know why she had come. Then she looked at her blue dragon. 'What do you think, Solath?' Then the blue dragon turned his huge iridescent eyes on me. The were huge globes in the dimming light. He snuffled at me. Then he talked to the rider."
"How could you tell, Dagan," Master Oldive asked.
"She kind of got this far away look in her eyes."
"Hmmmm, interesting. Please continue."
"She turned back to me with a knowing smirk on her face. I still had figured out why she wanted to talk to me. I thought it might be part of a joke one of the boys was pulling on me, so I just stood there immobile. Then she said the weirdest thing."
"What did she say?"
"Master Oldive, she asked me if I wanted to be a dragonrider. She was on search from Jerdan Weyr. I told her that I'd have to talk to you about it. She then explained to me all of the candidate requirements and what life would be like in a weyr. I think they really need candidates. She said something about two clutches being on the Sands."
"Did she tell you her name?"
"She said she was Analyssa rider of Blue Solath. She's supposed to come back here this morning to ask me again."
"If this is what happened, why did you think I wouldn't believe you?"
"Because it just seems so unreal."
As if on cue, a loud bugle issues from the forecourt. This is followed by a loud thump as the dragon landed. Dagan still didn't know how she had singled him out. It was something he was going to ask her about.
Master Oldive struggled from the chair and signaled Dagan to go ahead of him. Not meaning to be disrespectful but being caught up in the excitement, the young man rushes out of the room eager to get to the dragon. His master following behind him at length.
The sun shines brightly on the forecourt where people have gathered around to stare at the dragon. His rider is standing in front of the big blue patiently waiting for Dagan to arrive. As she sees the boy heading through the crowd, she prepares herself to make the formal announcement that she is just getting used to saying. "Dagan, there you are. What kept you?"
"I was just explaining to Master Oldive about last night. Can I ask you a question Searchrider Analyssa?"
"Sure, I am prepared to answer any of your questions?"
"Why did you come here last night looking specifically for me? I know that there are several other boys who would be much better for the weyr than me," Dagan says his green eyes betraying his want of that life that is so unique to the weyr and dragonriders.
"Do you remember when you were conveyed here to the Healer Hall half a turn ago?"
"Of course I do. It was one of the happiest days of my life. I love to help people. "
"I understand. Well, the rider that conveyed you was Impressed with how you handled being adragonback and going between. He told me that his dragon liked you too, so when the second clutch was laid on the Sands I decided to come see if you would make a good candidate."
"Oh really," Dagan says with hope in his eyes.
"Yes. So without further ado, Master Oldive of the Healer Hall, Jerdan Weyr would like your permission to search your apprentice Dagan. Do you permit?"
"As Master Healer, I would not hold back this boy from the weyr. He is a good boy and deserves a chance," was Oldive's reply. Dagan just stood there dumbstruck. He was going to the weyr. He, the first son of the Lord and Lady Holders of Alba Hold. This was surely the happiest day of his life.
Name: Dagan
Age: 16 Turns
Job: Apprentice Healer
Parents: Dasora and Ranagan
Birthplace: Alba Hold
