Eunan opened his eyes. He was in a white room, with plastered walls. "He's awake!" He heard someone shout and a great deal of bussel. "Eunan?" A voice said, calling him. He opened his eyes to see the face of his little sister looking down on him.
"Eunan." Saura said, "There was a structure collapse. Thank the first egg that they were able to pull you out! Here." She said, taking a flask, open your mouth. Eunan nodded and obeyed like a kitten. The water felt good to his parched throat. He drank greedily and she laughed. "I rmember you doing the same thing to me when I was sick." Eunan sighed and settled back in his pillow.
"Was anyone else hurt?" He said.
"It was pretty isolated the area you were. You should have had someone with you. You shouldn't have gone off on your own like that!" She was clearly angry and he decided that it might be best just to let her rant. "You could have been killed! You are lucky that you only broke your leg in 2 places and have a few cuts and bruises andthat a healer was near!
Eunan nodded. He was being stupid, going that far in the mines. "Father is furious you know." She said, after a long pause. "He's drinking again."
Eunan groaned. "Oh Saura, I'm sorry." She shushed him, but he went on, "I shouldn't have been that stupid, can you stay out of the house for as long as you can?"
"Yes, the healers are letting me stay here."
"Good."
Three days passed. The hole craft hold was in an uproar. Not only was there a collapse to repair, but Search riders had come! None of them could believe it. To much to do and too little time. The gem that Eunan had brought back made it so none of them wanted to delay but they all wanted to make a good impression on the riders. No one was more surprised the Eunan when a rider insisted on coming to see him.
"I'm Kasta." She told him matter-of-factly. She was an older woman with streaks of gray in her hair. He smiled from his place on the bed. He was a little num from the numweed they had used on him. It was a powerful drug. She looked him up and down and he felt the color rise to his cheeks.
"I guess that you may have heard that Jerdan is short on candidates?" When he nodded she continuted. "Well, would you like to be a candidate here? I heard that your injuries have pervented you from continuing your career here."
"My father-" Eunan started.
"The Weyr will deal with him."
"What about my sister Saura, I can't leave her alone with him!"
"I understand your concern." Kasta said. "But we do not have spaces open at the moment for any female candidates." Seeing the look on Eunan's face she smiled. "Don't worry, we will look into seeing if your father is fit to care for her and if he is not there are always possitions open for people at the weyr who are not candidates." This cleared up Eunan's doubts and it finally set in upon him that he was searched!
