jaralnador

Nador reached up to feel the bandages on his face; they felt thick and starchy, if such a thing was possible. He ran his fingers all along the sides of head, hoping he�d find one spot to slip his hand underneath the bandages and take an inventory of the damage. No such luck, the cloth was tight against his head, wrapped all the way around to prevent anyone without a pair of cutters from getting in. Nador sighed and bounced his heel on the soft mattress of the cot. How long would it be before he could see his face?
The Healers had assured him that all was going well, that his face would be nearly as good as new. Something in the tone of their voices led Nador to believe that they were lying. Ever since the glass mixture had exploded and his face chopped up by the bits of it, he was wary to believe anyone. People felt sorry for him, and that made him feel worse. Everyone knew now that Nador was incapable of doing anything with his life, this had been his last chance, and he had ruined it by ruining his face.
Oh his face! The only thing he�d ever taken pride in, the only thing he felt he �did well�. But that was gone, as was everything else. His earliest days in the Harper Hall were wasted, just because his parents possessed musical ability didn�t mean he would. He hadn�t exactly excelled at Starcraft or at Trading, and his heart had been missing in the Beast Craft Hall. When he�d been invited to try his luck at making wine, he had messed up before he even became an apprentice, and offered to leave before he got thrown out. After that he tried to become a Healer. For a while it had looked like he might make that; he spent nearly a turn with the Healers, but that failed when he panicked during his first major emergency. Thoroughly disgraced, Nador traveled to the glassmakers, hoping at last to find a place where he could work for a living. He was nineteen when the end came to him there, and glass exploded into his unprotected face.
Nador thought he�d made peace with losing his good looks, but what would become of him? Assuming he could see properly after this (the Healers had said that no glass got into his eyes, but he had trouble believing them), where could he go? He was a known bumbler; he couldn�t succeed at anything he tried. He�d be best just forgetting about it, just hiring himself out for odd jobs around the continent. He might make a halfway decent living doing that, and perhaps his characteristic bad luck would fail him then.
Then he thought of his half-brother, Jaral, who had stayed in the Harper Hall with their mother, applying himself to the Harper Craft with a passion. He was their mother�s pride and joy, and Jaral had gifts that Nador would never have. Jaral had talent, and he had no bad luck, and now Jaral�s once plain face would be a sparkling beacon compared to Nador�s. Nador kicked the cot once again and tried to force himself to go sleep.

The next morning Jaral arrived. Jaral slowly entered the room where they were keeping his brother . He didn�t know Nador well enough to gage how the older boy would react. He already knew this had been Nador�s �last chance� so to speak, and also knew that his mother was ashamed of her son. Jaral thought his mother a silly wherry for that one; how was it Nador�s fault if he hadn�t found his talent yet? She should be racking her brain for a solution for Nador, the way Jaral was, and Jaral was sure he�d come up with one.
It was well known to anybody that knew him that Jaral was the �sensitive guy�. He went through his life trying to make everybody else happy and fulfilled, and didn�t think twice about it. Any music he composed was sad and sweet, full of love and emotion. Girls adored him, although Jaral would prefer it if boys adored him. Jaral made no bones about his preferences when it came to romance, but he didn�t exactly advertise either.
But as Jaral slunk around the corner, dropping his pack by the cot and sitting down, he knew something more than the obvious was wrong with his half brother. It was as if Nador didn�t even know he was there. Of course it was hard to tell what Nador was aware of, with all those hideous bandages around his face.
�Nador?� Jaral asked hesitantly, hoping that his brother wouldn�t be angry that he was there. Nador wouldn�t be the type of person to appreciate being bothered and being felt sorry for. But Jaral was surprised when Nador didn�t answer him, didn�t even stir to acknowledge his brother�s presence. Jaral leaned forward from the hard wooden chair that he was sitting in, and tapped Nador�s shoulder gently. Nador still ignored him, and Jaral started to get worried. Was Nador okay? Was he sicker than the Healers let on? Healers made such a mess of everything��..
�What kind of fool must I be now Jaral? What must Mother think of me. And my father? What would he do if he knew his only son was a failure? It was a simple assignment Jaral! Make a mixture, and then pour it over the frame, and I messed that up.� Nador�s voice was low and angry. Jaral would have thought to hug and comfort his brother, except for Nador�s voice also carried a warning. What would he say to a broken man? There was nothing he could say to make Nador feel whole again.
Jaral sat in silence, watching his brother toss and turn and trying not to tell him it�d be all right, because he wouldn�t lie to his brother and Nador would never forgive him if he did. But it was obvious Nador had let his spirit falter this time. That spark of life that had always made Jaral think that Nador was the successful one, the vibrant, alive one, was gone from Nador�s eyes. No, there was nothing he could say to make Nador better. But then Jaral got a hint of an idea, and thought to himself. But there is something I can do.

Nador woke the next morning feeling apprehensive. The Healers were removing his bandages today, and today he would find out how ugly he truly was now. It didn�t help that Jaral was still here. Stupid boy didn�t know when he wasn�t wanted. Well, Nador reflected, maybe I do want here. He quickly persuaded himself he didn�t need or want Jaral ever, and schooled his hidden face into a more sullen look. It didn�t matter if no one could see it; he knew it was there.

Meanwhile Jaral was visiting with the resident drummer, trying to convince the girl to send a message to the nearest Weyr. It was urgent to him that they be there today, as soon as possible after Nador�s bandages were taken off. He knew Nador would be angry about it, but that wasn�t his concern. His job was to make sure that Nador met a dragonrider before the day was out.

A few hours later��..
Nador sat on his cot, fingering the light gashes on his cheeks and the one on his forehead. By the feel of them they were healing well. He hadn�t expected this. He�d expected deep cuts all over his face, hundreds of them causing swelling and ugliness. Instead he had light cuts, the type that would close up with hardly a trace they were there, and some of them wouldn�t even leave that.
�Hey Nador�Wow! How did�� Jaral came in, talking hesitantly at first but after seeing Nador�s face he was as amazed as his brother was. Jaral was equally amazed when Nador beamed at him and flashed a toothy, mock sneer.
�Disappointed that I may still be the better looking of the pair again brother?� Jaral forced a laugh.
�You? Ha. I was always cuter, but drown yourself in any illusion you wish.� The two smiled at one another, and then Nador got suddenly shy, embarrassed by the closeness of their �moment�. Jaral just grinned at his brother and went to sit by the cot. For reasons he couldn�t fathom, the Healers had ordered Nador to stay bedridden for at least another two days.
After a moment Jaral smiled and looked down at Nador. Nador seemed to be preoccupied feeling his face, but after a few moments he realized that Jaral seemed very interested in him. Turning wide eyes to his half brother, Nador shrugged.
�Something wrong Jaral?� Nador�s voice was empty when he said that, and Jaral reinforced the feeling he�d had before: Nador was a broken man, and needed something to mellow him out and make him whole.
�Wrong? Nothings wrong brother mine, except that the Healers have you here when you should be up and doing things, going where you need to be.� Jaral stared blankly at Nador, who in turn glared quizzically back.
�Where I need to be? And where, may I ask, is that?�
�Why, outside of course. In the courtyards. There�re dragons here, and they�ve come to look at you, and take you to the Weyr to apprentice yourself to the dragon healers there. They need someone like you.�
For several moments Nador just sat blinking. Him? A dragon healer? Why, he�d always loved dragons, thought them beautiful, intelligent creatures. But a healer? What would happen if he made a mistake and ruined two lives? He expressed this fear to Jaral.
�What you need Nador, is some confidence. Its no wonder you think you have bad luck. You have no confidence in your own abilities, so you mess up just to reinforce your own beliefs.� Jaral knew this was a harsh thing to say, but true. Nador got quiet as he mulled that over.
�Confidence? How can I even think about that at a time like this? My face is scarred, my reputation, or what was left of it, tramped on and my family thinks I�m a disgrace.� But the humor in Nador�s voice confused Jaral. But Nador smiled and looked up from his lap, where his eyes had been previously resting. �Who can think of confidence when I�m going to the Weyr! Com�on Jaral, let�s go see that dragon.� Jaral laughed outright and tugged his brother out of bed

�He�s huge!� Nador remarked as they stared at the blue that was sunning himself in the courtyard. Jaral shrugged it off.
�He�s not that big. You just haven�t seen too many dragons before.�
The boys were skulking in the shadows. Jaral knew what would happen if it got out that he�d summoned the dragonrider. The Masters and Journeyman would be mortified, and send him and Nador packing. No, it was better to let the Masters and such muddle through introductions and he then he could bring Nador out, and secretly reveal himself to the dragonrider.

Nador was in awe of the huge creature. The blue was quite definitely the most elegant being his eyes had ever beheld. He didn�t understand why Jaral didn�t seem to think so.
But then again Jaral lives at the Harper Hall, and he�s probably used to seeing dragons all the time.
But as a few more minutes past, and Masters came stumbling out to greet the dragon�s rider, Nador realized something was out of place. No one seemed to know why the dragonrider was here. But by the look on Jaral�s face, he knew he�d better not reveal anything in front of the Masters.
Good idea. Nador looked around, but he couldn�t figure out who said that.

�We ride on Search. Binerth has informed me of suitable Candidates in the crafthall.� Several of the Masters looked at each other, exchanged private glances, and motioned the dragonrider forward.
�We welcome your Search, and are honored by your interest in our humble Hall.� The dragonrider bowed to the Masters, and headed straight towards Nador and Jaral.
The boys tried to hide behind each other; nervous by the dragonrider and the looks his dragon kept tossing their way. But as the man stopped a few feet in front of them, Nador lost all hints of fear and stepped bravely forward and bowed.
�Greeting dragonrider, I am Nador. This is my brother, the Harper Jaral.� Jaral nodded his head, and looked at Nador as if his brother were crazy. The dragonrider grinned and bowed with equal severity.
�Greeting Nador, Jaral. I am K�ral, rider of blue Binerth.� The dragon rustled from his place on the pavement, and Jaral gulped. �Binerth has told me it was you, young Jaral, who called us here.� Jaral didn�t know what to think, especially with the Masters and Journeyman watching.
�Sir?� He asked meakly and Kr'al laughed.
�No need to fear, Binerth has also informed me of your intentions. He didn�t think you�d mind a little �mind reading�. But I don�t think Nador would make a good dragon healer.� K�ral frowned as he looked at Nador, and Nador wished he could crawl into the ground. He shouldn�t have gotten his confidence up. He shouldn�t have��.
�But sir!� Jaral cried out, so forcefully that the dragon crooned comfortingly. K�ral turned his frown into a very serious blank look.
�No! Nador would not make a good dragon healer, but Binerth informs me that he�ll make a decent dragonrider, what do you say Nador?� Nador felt joy running through him, and as he looked to the blue dragon he felt a very happy, encouraging feeling coming from that direction. He was actually feeling Binerth! How could he say no? It wasn�t as if he had anything better to do, and maybe a dragon would scare away his bad luck.
You�ve never had bad luck Nador, you just thought you did. And this time Nador knew it was Binerth he was hearing. But he didn�t notice the sad look on Jaral�s face until he told dragonrider K�ral that he would go to the Weyr and stand Candidate. K�ral saw the worried look on Nador�s face, and then turned to Jaral. The younger lad was obviously confused, sad, and maybe a little jealous? Ah well, the boy was good at showing his happiness for his brother at any rate. And after a quick conversation with Binerth, he spoke to Jaral.
�Harper Jaral? Binerth also tells me that you�d make a fine Candidate for the clutch we�ve got on the Sands. How about it? Would you give up your music for a dragon?� Not even Binerth�s triumphant call could drown out Jaral�s shouting of joy and affirmation.

J'ral's stats
Name- Jaral
Age- 16
Rank- he's an apprenitce Harper, about to make Journeyman.
Appearence- looks a lot like his older half brother, except Jaral's skin is darker, and his eyes are brown instead of grey. Jaral also has very plain features. .
Personality- Jaral is outgoing and pleasing. He can't stand not to see people happy and his personality is such that he will help anyone he can. Jaral is very sensative and sympathic, and his preferences drift towards other males.
Best Trait- His eagerness to make people happy, and his ability to sense what's going on and react instinctively to it.
Worst Trait- He's a pleaser. Sometimes the fact that he doesn't really have a thought for himself intereferes in his personal life and makes the people around him (and himself) somewhat frusrated.
Pets- none
Dragon- blue Piloth