Candidates at Talor Cliff
Kidder, on the left, takes strongly after their father Kiddel, being tall and usually active. Konder is quiet and smaller like their mother. Both have leafy-green golden eyes, and yellowish "asian" skin. Keeping their hair short is not something that their brothers and sisters enjoy doing: but their brothers and sisters aren't in the building business, and they need to keep their hair out of it!
Both trained at an early age in the arts of brick laying and stone cutting, neither of them has the physical build to heft large weights around -- they're not slackers, but they aren't very burly either! And, both prefer the lighter work of designing, to actually sweating and effort!
Kidder is 18 turns old, Konder is 16, their siblings range in age from 25 to 12.
Neither of the brothers have a regular girlfriend, though they are quite popular among the crafters. Kidder is much more serious about a girl than his brother, though if they are upon dragon back, they may get their chance to shine with others!
The craft hall had brought in experts from Alabaster to make sure they were getting the stones down properly, and the Uplifted Spirits wing from the Protectorate was on hand just in case the work got too heavy for human hands. The dragons watched, with interest, as the foundation of the building was plumbed down into the ground.
Then, as the stone walls were erected up into the sky, three stories, the whole Hold held its breath. Would this unusual method of construction actually work?
And more... Would the young creators of the building itself be made Journeymen at the same time, for it? The craft hall was abuzz with activity, but also with conversation about it.
"I heard Kidder plotted out the stones," said one student.
"And Konder is the one getting the metals and wood working set in... It'll look beautiful when it's done!"
"Have you seen it? It's more than halfway finished!"
The other students rushed to the side of the craft hall, to watch from their slightly higher vantage point as the dragons assisted. One sturdy brown kept his forehand on the east side of the marble slab, while another blue on the north end prevented his wall from falling into the pit below.
"Get the flooring in now! Bring it on in!" Kidder yelled, and the hefty men with their thick leather gear and tackle drew stone slabs up into the air, and then placed them carefully into the grooves which had been made in the walls. With a satisfying sound, tons of stone balanced upon itself perfectly. The three-piece stone floor at ground level held the four walls of the building in place flawlessly, as expected by the brothers.
Grinning broadly, Konder slapped his brother on the shoulder. "Let's get the base shored up, brother. Don't want rains weakening the ground around it, and having it fall outward!"
The stone base of the exterior of the building went up, before the second story floor was put in. Days went by, as the large group worked. Finally, with decorative white and black stones dotting the steps all the way around the building's base, the third floor and roofing were put on. The dragons and their riders were given to pause with pleasure at this new building.
It was narrow, but tall, and would house visiting dignitaries from other Holds and Weyrs, as well as a staff of local crafters. The marvel of the building was more in its construction and design, than its actual appearance once they were all finished. The sloped, metal roof top was burnished in a dark shade, and would not reflect too much light overhead, the pale stone walls contrasted with it, and had two large ledge windows on the third and second floors, while the ground floor had only one smallish window to it. All of those had requisite metal shutters, to keep Thread from entering on the wind. The path leading up to the building was done in white stones, and the basement of the place was an effective cold-storage area.
Eyeing their work with more happiness than criticism, was their Craft Master. "This is some good work for men as young as yourselves," he said. "I'm proud to have you as the latest Journeymen of Dawnlight!"
Their knots were awarded, and everyone present applauded. Proudest of all were their parents, and siblings.
"Now if only that building doesn't collapse overnight," laughed Kidell. "I'm sure that your work will last!" He amended when the pair gasped at him.
One of the dragons remained, a blue. Kyani, Yrainth's rider, strode up to the pair and congratulated them again. "It's been a pleasure working with you on this... Oh, look, search riders..." Everone looked up, as a Search meant new changes everywhere...
It meant a clutch! That was always cause for celebration somewhere, if not here in the Hold. Kyani tugged on Kidder and Konder's sleeves, keeping them near her. "Don't go off just yet." She said. Confused, both brothers did as she bid, but they were more interested in getting inside and seeing about a nice bath. All the dust raised by putting the finishing touches on that building was simply everywhere, including in their hair, on everyone's clothes...
A blue dragon dropped into the clearing near the new building, and let his rider off. Another female blue rider, the brothers saw.
"Sweetie!" Kyani said, "Nora, this is Konder and Kidder, sons of the Mulina craft family. They just had us put that up!" She pointed to the newest addition to the Hold, and Nora, the rider of blue Mitanth, nodded.
"It looks nice... we'll have to update our riders 'images' for the Hold." Nora seemed to bespeak her dragon, who seemed more interested in smelling at the new building than its creators. But when he was shown those two, his eyes whirled an excited shade of yellow-green. "Ah!" Nora said, swaying a bit when her dragon announced to her boldly that the pair of young men were good for the newest clutch on the sands at Talor Cliff.
"I think... they've had enough excitement for today," Nora said, and Kidder looked at his brother with some doubt.
"What do you mean, Nora, was it?" Konder asked, sidling up to the blue rider with curiosity. "I mean, we've just been made Journeymen. We--"
"We can't be dragon riders too, can we?" Kidder asked, almost shocked. His narrow eyes grew oddly wide, with that.
"You can," Kyani said, grinning from ear to ear. "Especially in the Protectorate of course! We've enough fighting dragons to spare a few for construction like this project of yours, can't you see that?"
"And...." Nora pondered aloud, "They'd obviously have a place in the Wing there," she thumbed back at the Uplift wing. "Okay, Mitanth, I'll let them come along..."
"Let them come," Kyani snickered. "As if you've a choice. And if you didn't bring them, your companion would," she pointed to the green rider she hadn't met yet, another search rider. But that one already had a girl in tow, so Kyani laughed.
"Oh, I'll take them all right. Once they're cleaned up and ready. And besides," Nora said, leaning up against Kyani in a girlish-conspiratorial way, "they've partying to do to celebrate their new rank, eh? That means wine will flow, and an endless supply of good food!"
"You haven't had Dawnlight food in a while, have you," muttered Kidder, "we're known for the dyes in the cloth we make, and the starcrafters we train, not our food..."
Laughing, the group went in to celebrate!
"I'm a bronze rider," K'idd laughed in reply, "whether I'm responsible or not has yet to be seen."
"Sure..." K'on cut down on the heavy meat, and smiled. "They don't pick men lightly, you know."
"Don't be jealous," K'idd said, defensively.
"I'm not hardly jealous! Blue Feryuth is just my size and speed. I couldn't handle that big guy you've got. I'm glad you can."
There was a pause, while K'idd slid his own slices of meat into a clay bowl. "That remains to be seen as well. I mean... A bronze..." His eyes got misty. Thanoryth bespoke.
I love you, you are exactly right for me. I want to see what we will build. The things in your mind need a strong big dragon and I will be big and strong, won't I?
Laughing, K'idd relayed what his dragon had said, and K'on told him that blue Feryuth had informed him of exactly the same thing, only slightly in reverse.
"He wants to stay small so he can help me with the rope work and tackle. Have you ever heard of such a thing!?"
Laughing together, the brothers found their hungry hatchlings among the others in the barracks, and gave them their well-deserved meals.
