Impressed at Dark Moon Weyr
At the age of 14 turns, Phong became a senior apprentice in the starcraft. He is good at it, though his skills in administrative duties are far better suited to a Harper. He does not have the charm that most Harpers must have, nor does he sing -- ever. So his harpering ended quite a long while before his Starcraft training began.
Now, at the age of 18 turns, Phong is ready -- he believes -- to walk the tables and become a Journeyman Starcrafter. He does think however that to properly understand Threadfall and its patterns, he must become a dragonrider, or at least live in a weyr.
He can have his chance at both, one each of his sisters and brothers has impressed already, so he will not be the only rider in the family should one choose him!
Phong is abrasive at times, and never holds back when he thinks he is right. Though he is sneaky, he is not remarkably clever about maintaining secrecy, so his occasional "spying" trips into the lower areas of Dawnlight society are often nipped short because he can't resist telling someone about it.
The Lord Holders truly love this boy. They believe and with good reason, that he will represent their interests should he Impress.
If Phong does ride, is has no opinion about what color he ought to be on. Any dragon is a good dragon, and he truly respects those who fight Thread. He will elide his name to P'ng, pronounced peng -- or Ping, similar to Kitty...
"Oh, er, no. No. Take it away." He told the drudge, and barely noticed when the plate and its contents vanished.
Halfway into the speech, some idiot holder brat spoke up with, "but Thread never falls over Dawnlight! Why do we have to have all this panic over nothing?"
"Your parents never taught you manners, or any of the learning ballads, did they boy?" The Starcrafter asked, eyes narrow. He walked slowly, with a limp from threadscore. "Why don't you go live outside in the wilderness for a while and tell me that Thread doesn't fall over Dawnlight Hold. It most certainly does! Have you not heard a word I've been saying?"
"Sir," Phong tactfully put in, "He's obviously under the illusion that since Thread rarely actually HITS Dawnlight, it must mean that it does not fall over it." Phong glanced over at the younger apprentice, who looked back at him with angry, glaring eyes.
"That might be true," the Master said, "but it is a poor illusion to be under. Now..." He turned back to the large slate board behind him, and began scribbling things with pale colored chalk.
The lesson went on. For more than another candlemark, every aspect of the Craft from what kinds of lenses should be asked for, to who to contact if you suspect Thread was going to fall out of sequence were covered.
But when all was said and done, the Master was still the master and the boys and girls still only Apprentices and a scattered few Journeymen.
Phong got up to leave, and noticed a couple of riders standing near the exit of the large craft room. Other people breezed by them, but their intense look directly at Phong alerted him somehow.
"Phong, right?" Asked one of them. "Could you come with us? We're searchriders. He's from Dark Moon Weyr, and I'm local, of course." They bowed, and Phong paled a bit.
"...Yes! Of course. Let me just --"
"We need you out in the courtyard soon. Our dragons are there. You don't need to bring anything, just you would be fine." Said the Dark Moon representitive.
"Ah. Well. Then, let us go. I can speak with the master crafter tomorrow."
They walked to the courtyard where two smallish dragons, both browns, rested. V'yan's Nauphith stirred when they arrived.
He likes the thought of even seeing us, the dragon bespoke his rider. He will be all right.
"You like heights?" Asked V'yan. "Because if you do impress, you'll have to get used to them!"
Phong laughed. "Heights are all I have ever wanted!"
When the hatching did start, Phong wasn't sure what to do! He and the others raced to the sands, bowed frantically to the riders and their dragons, and then -- then the eggs just burst open! Well, two of them!
And beyond belief for the young starcrafter, the second to open but the first to decide what to do with his floppy self was the blue, who shook himself over to Phong and waited for him to remove the remnants of the shells off his skin.
Suddenly Phong was aware of something, in his mind!
I am Leetoth. Is it always this hot? Can I sleep now? Are you hungry too? Did I tell you my name is Leetoth?
Phong announced this loudly and with tears in his eyes! "Leetoth! He says his name is Leetoth!"
