Jordin and his four friends walked onto the Hatching Grounds, their faces striken. M'iki, the Weyrleader, had summoned them, and they didn't know why. Jordin was able to spy him sitting and talking to the slightly under-sized queen, Lorith. Her mate, Kuzalth, sat watching them with his multi-faceted eyes. He bugled, catching the attention of rider and dragon. M'iki turned and stood, bowing to each of them, which Jordin found to be quite unsettling--it was an honor to have the Weyrleader bow to you, but not while he was grinning like a dumbstruck wherry. He turned and said something to Lorith that neither boy caught.
You have my approval.
At first, Jordin didn't know who said that, but then his eyes widened as he realized Lorith had spoken to him! "M...me?" he stammered, surprised at how weak his voice sounded.
Yes. You and your friends. You will stand as a candidate for my eggs.
M'iki still stood there, grinning. "Told you so, Lorith. And Kuzalth, quit growling at them, it's quite disconcerting." He peered up at the huge blue, who had been growling at Jordin's friends, but he hadn't noticied.
If Lorith says they may be candidates, then I will allow them. But only him and him! Kuzalth poked his great head at the two boys, one of which was Jordin. Jordin's eyes nearly popped out of his head. The dragons were speaking to him! Very rarely could anyone hear a dragon talk! And then all those thoughts washed out of his head when he realized--They had said he could be a dragonrider. He blinked.
"This... this isn't a joke...?" he asked hopefully.
M'iki raised one eyebrow. "Dragons don't lie. I'll see you at the Hatching." He waved his hand to indicate they should leave, and Kuzalth started growling again. "Kuzal, please stop that racket, I can't hear Lorith..."
Jordin stared at the ceiling from his bed, pondering about the day. He had been chosen as a candidate for Lorith's clutch of 17 eggs, and Kylia had stopped glaring at him whenever he passed. But maybe that was attributed to the fact he hadn't teased her all day, so awe-struck was he. Maybe, just maybe, he could get a bronze...
Note that I have NO intention of giving Jordin the bronze. ::grins:: He's getting either a green or a blue. Probably a blue.
