Lord Renor was adament, but eventually succumbed to his daughter's pleas. Sighing in resignation, he turned to the runner's handler, a young man with short brown hair and tanned skin. "How much for the brown colt?" He asked, pointing to the runner that his daughter was eagerly fawning over.
"That one's from the Tiynarea Stables, sir." The man said proudly. "Name is Cedyn, fine runner, he is."
"How much?" Lord Renor repeated.
"Fifty marks." The man finally admitted.
Lord Renor frowned, looking over to where his daughter was happily stroking the colt, and sighed. "Alright then. Fifty marks for the brown colt."
Seras squeeled with glee. "Hear that, Cedyn? You're mine now!"
Cedyn soon proved to be much more than they had bargained for. He had a fiery spirit, and was ornery, often biting people who came too close. Seras, however, adored him.
Lord Renor remained adament about his only daughter's choice of runner. He often remarked that a young lady should have a quieter, more docile runner. Seras mostly ignored her father then.
Until one day, when her father got too close. Cedyn suddenly rose up, striking at the Lord Holder with his hooves. The Lord Holder quickly backed away, but was dealt a heavy blow by the runner's hoof.
Later, as he nursed the stinging bruise on his head, he talked to Seras. "The runner has to go, Seras. He's too dangerous!"
"No!" Seras cried. "He's my runner, you can't take him away!"
Her father glared at her. "The runner will be sold tomorrow."
Seras ran to her room, slamming the door, and stayed there the rest of the night. Lord Renor sighed as he stared after his daughter.
Seras raced about her room, gathering together anything she needed. She'd have to sneak down to the kitchens for some food later. She stashed it all under her bed, and lay down, feigning sleep until the rest of the Hold was asleep.
She wouldn't stay here anymore, not without Cedyn. She'd run away to another Hold, or maybe even a Weyr. She wouldn't get searched, but they could always use more people in the lower caverns...She shook her head, the Weyrs would probably be the first places her father would look, and then he'd just drag her back to the Hold. She wouldn't let that happen.
Once she guessed it was late enough, she crept silently out of her room. Sure enough, the halls were deserted, and everyone was asleep. She crept cautiously down to the kitchens, grabbing enough food to last her a few days on her own. Then she went out to the stables where they kept the horses. She quietly lifted a saddle and bridle, carrying them to Cedyn's stall.
The brown runner greeted her with a nicker. She quickly hushed him, not wanting to wake anyone. She led him out of the stall and put the saddle and bridle on. Then she led the colt out, where they silently made their escape.
It happened that the first person they met, early the next morning, was a dragonrider. The woman stood beside her brown dragon, looking curiously at them. "What are you doing out here so early?" The brownrider asked.
Seras hid a guilty look. "Nothing, I- That is, we're-"
The woman smiled. "Let me guess, you've just run away from your parents and are planning to go to either a Hold or a Weyr. Am I correct?"
Seras blushed, looking guilty again. The woman nodded. "That's what I thought." She began to converse with her dragon. After a pause, she said, "Bonlith says you can come with us to the Blue Sky Weyr."
Seras brightened. "Oh, really? Thank you so much-"
"My name's Zandy, rider of brown Bonlith." The rider supplied.
"Seras, from Beim Hold." Bonlith snorted impatiently.
"Blue Sky Weyr is just down the road." Zandy said. "Bonlith and I will fly low, you and your runner can follow us."
Seras nodded, shouted thankes again as Bonlith took off, and turned back to Cedyn. She stroked the colt's head happily before climbing onto his back. They continued down the road, now with a brown dragon leading the way.