| Saluvmen paused to watch the tiny green fire-lizard going off to sleep before heading out of the weyrling barracks. The tiny green flit was his, a present to him from one of the older riders who�s gold had lain eggs. She�d taken a liking to the daring young Saluvmen, and had gifted him with his choice out of the clutch. Saluvmen took the largest one, hoping for a queen, or a bronze, and got green Shana instead. Not that it mattered much to him once she�d hatched, he loved her now and wouldn�t trade her for two little queens. But aside from the hatchling, life in the Weyr bored Saluvmen. He had thought coming to the Weyr would be all adventures and challenges, and instead it was lounging around, doing the occasional simple chore for the Headwoman or Weyrlingmaster. How did the other Candidates stand it? Oh sure, the few who were already in Weyrling practice had a good enough time, but Saluvmen wouldn�t be joining the classes until he�d been here for another sevenday. How much longer could he last like this? If only I hadn�t come. Is this what life is always like in a Weyr? How dull. I should have stayed home, finished becoming a tanner like Pa wanted; at least then I�d have something to do during the day! Even the weyrbrats here don�t have any fun. The young ones played games, and the older ones had their set of work that occupied them. How was a stranger like him to manage? There were no parties, no hunting on the rest days, no stealing runners from the stables to go camping, no doing anything risky. Or, if there was, Saluvmen had not yet made friends with the right people to introduce him to the activity. But Saluvmen thought if he hadn�t met the right people yet, he wasn�t likely too. He�d already become amassed in most of the social groups at the Weyr, except for the other Candidates, but they wouldn�t know where to find some action any more than he himself did. So far, the most daring group of people he�d met were the older lads who had hopes of Impressing. They grew up in the Weyr, but couldn�t stand unless they were Searched. Saluvmen didn�t particularly understand why it was so important for them, if the dragons didn�t want them, wouldn�t they rather just do something else? Take Aummery for example..... Aummery. Saluvmen still had mixed feelings when he thought about his �best� friend. Right before he�d left with C�san to the Weyr, he and Aummery had gotten into a big fight about stupid things. Saluvmen wanted to badly to apologize to his friend, but he also knew Aummery was acting childish, and would probably refute an apology. Aummery had never gotten aggressive or angry with Saluvmen, and Saluvmen always assumed it was because he and Aummery got along so well. Sure there had been times when he himself exploded on his friend, but Aummery was loving and forgiving, and never held a grudge. Aummery endured everyone else�s grief stoically. Saluvmen grunted, and slumped along the stairs. Maybe when Shana was old enough to take messages, he�d send one to his friend, with an apology. Maybe by that time I�ll have a dragon, and could just as easily do it myself. Saluvmen thought, and then decided no. A dragonet took time to grow, and And why do I care so much about apologizing to Aummery? He should be apologizing to me! I didn�t egg him on; I didn�t keep the fight going. Why should I have to deal with his problems? And Saluvmen made up his mind that he wouldn�t bother doing anything about Aummery. After all, he wouldn�t suffer; he had new friends here, and a future away from Beraft Hold. Aummery was stuck there, all alone in his mind, for Aummery had never bothered to make other friends. Saluvmen supposed Aummery felt he was too good for others, which was mostly ego inflation on Saluvmen�s part. �Saluvmen, I need to talk to you.� A woman�s voice said from the bottom of the stairwell, and as Saluvmen rounded the turn and entered the kitchens he saw Brenna standing there. He smiled at her, and she nodded her head absently, pulling Saluvmen aside. �What the�?� Saluvmen exclaimed as she kept her fingers digging into his arm. She seemed not to notice, but let go of him just the same. �Listen, this isn�t really your place�� Saluvmen didn�t wait for her to finish. She couldn�t kick him out of the Weyr, just because her official Search dragon hadn�t brought him here! Any dragon could bring in Candidates, and that was withstanding here at Beach Shards. �I belong here as much as anyone else does!� Saluvmen spat back, and lifted his chin. �I know my rights, and just because a Searchdragon didn�t find me, doesn�t mean I won�t Impress!� And Saluvmen started to walk away, before Brenna grabbed his arm again and pulled him back. She was remarkably strong for a woman, but then again, Saluvmen hadn�t been using much resistance to her. She was intoxicating to be around, and Saluvmen had developed a crush on the greenrider, he just didn�t want her to know it. The sound of her laughter made the boy angry, and he was about to walk away again when Brenna schooled her features into a more serious look and patted his shoulder affectionately. �I�m so sorry Saluvmen, (more laughter),� Brenna pursed her lips shut, forced a sigh, and then continued. �No, forgive me, I didn�t mean to laugh. You�re just so defensive Sal, relax will you? There�s nothing to be so afraid of here, especially not from me. Do I honestly look like I could hurt you?� Brenna put her hands on her hips and looked up at Saluvmen, who shrugged and looked away. �I didn�t think you were going to hurt me.� He replied. Brenna nodded. �Not quite what I meant, but let�s skip the boring stuff and get to the point. Saluvmen, the clutch will be hatching soon, and for the first time we�re slow on getting Candidates. I know it�s not a Candidates place to Search, but Beraft Hold had been often overlooked, and it�s difficult to get to anyway. We�re trying to visit the more outlaying Holds and Halls, the ones we don�t usually go to, and we need Candidates desperately.� �What does this have to do with me?� Saluvmen asked, wary of her. Although he�d already guessed she was probably going to ask him for recommendations for more Candidates. �Well, like I was saying before, I know it�s not your place, but is there anyone you know of who could come here? Honestly now, don�t just go naming your pals. You�ve been here nearly two sevendays; you should know what us dragoners looks for. Empathy of course, strong minds, they should be at least physically capable, but Saluvmen, dragonriders should also have a sort of spark to them. That�s what really gets them to Impress. Any one of the other things can be overlooked if the right person has the right kind of life in them to Impress a dragon.� Saluvmen scowled. She wanted him to name off people? Wasn�t it her job to bring in Candidates? How would he know anyway, who had this �spark� and who didn�t? Aummery has it. A voice from inside said quickly, and Saluvmen ignored it. He didn�t even bother to go over the �checklist� and realize Aummery was also a strong, empathetic, and physically fit person. As far as Saluvmen was concerned, Aummery could have gotten himself Search two sevenday ago if he hadn�t been acting like a child and looked himself away in his room. But Aummery deserves to come here. His conscience persisted. Aummery deserves a dragon much more than you do, look at how he loved that old watch-wher! You don�t even want a dragon; you just want something exciting to do with your life. Tell Brenna about Aummery, have her go take a look at him. It couldn�t hurt, and surely Aummery has forgiven you by now, there�s nothing to be afraid of. Saluvmen boiled at his mind�s suggestion. Aummery had no right to come here, and take away Saluvmen�s glory. Aummery had no right to forgive Saluvmen either, for that matter. It should be Saluvmen forgiving Aummery, not the other way around. �Well?� Brenna asked, her eyes hopeful and searching. Saluvmen hoped he�d get out of this infatuation with her soon; she was beginning to tempt his control. She was so beautiful, and smart. Get over it. Another mind-voice, this one feminine and tart, said lazily. It sounded almost exactly like Brenna, except for some minor differences, and Saluvmen somehow knew it had been Brenna�s Nikath. Saluvmen scowled again. �No. I don�t know anyone back home who is like that.� And seeing Brenna�s disheartened look, Saluvmen stamped away to make some action if he couldn�t find any. continue...... |