Mikellen sat in the Weyrwoman's meeting room, waiting for Magika to show up. She finally entered, saw him, and sighed. "Shards' sake Mikellen! You spend more time in here than I do!"
Mikellen would normally have laughed at such a comment, but Magika was mad. He knew, better than most people, that it took a lot to make Magika mad. He smiled, but stayed quiet.
Magika flung herself into her desk, put her head in her hands and glared at Mikellen. "What am I supposed to do with you?"
He looked through his bangs to the Weyrwoman. This was serious. Gamble, realizing this, kept quiet when he would normally have chirped a greeting to Magika.
"Do you know what Media suggested? She suggested I let her boil you in oil!!" Magika was fed up.
"She over-reacts." Mikellen added quietly.
Magika gave him a 'get-serious' look. "You cheated her son out of 50 marks!!! I'd react that was too!!!"
Mikellen cringed. Somehow it was easier to get caught here at Adanuk. He used to be able to get away with anything, but now.... He sighed. He'd been caught more times in the last turn here at Adanuk then he had for the last 10 turns. Maybe he was losing it...
Magika studied him, much like she had a turn ago, when she'd first decided he could stay. Would she change her mind now? Would he be kicked out? The fact that those options bothered him so much made him mad. What do I care about this stupid weyr anyways?
Magika reached a decision. Mikellen fully expected to be told to pack his bags. That's what made Magika's statement that much more astonishing. "You need a craft. Something to keep you busy, out of trouble, out of my hair." She sat thinking for a moment. "What would you like to do around here?"
Mikellen didn't want a craft, so he thought of the most preposterous thing he could. "I want to be a dragonrider."
Magika looked at him, smiled and recognized the challenge. "So, if you were a dragonrider you'd stop stealing and cheating?" She obviously didn't believe him.
"No." He smiled. "I'd have less time to steal and cheat. Besides, it'll never happen."Magika smiled. "Fifty marks says it will."
Mikellen looked interested. He looked at this bet from all angles. If he was never searched he got 50 marks. If he was searched he was a dragonrider, but short 50 marks. He smiled. "You're on."
Mikellen sighed. Another day, another searching. Gamble cheeped and nipped at his ear playfully. "At least you're in a good mood." He looked around the Weyrbowl at all the other young hopefuls. Mikellen was now 21 turns and didn't consider himself either young or hopeful. Over 30 searchs had been made at Adanuk since his bet with Magika and he was still here. If this one didn't work out, he was planning on getting Magika to pay up.
He looked to the front of the Weyrbowl where Magika was standing with the Searchriders. She looked worn out and tired. He smiled. The only comfort he took from this was that she was losing every time he wasn't searched.
He had been amazed to discover how nervous he was the first time he was at a searching. Even the second time. Those times he really believed he would be chosen. He'd looked forward to becoming a rider. He'd even decided that he would give up gambling and cheating to become a rider, but no such luck. No one wanted him. He'd eventually gotten used to the disappointment. That's why he was so mad at himself when he found his heart skipping beats and his breath coming short. Calm down, you idiot He commanded himself. Don't get excited. Nothing's gonna happen here that didn't happen at the last searching. You're just not rider material. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, knocked Gamble of his shoulder and reluctantly went to stand with the others.
Reth noticed Mikellen as soon as he stepped into view. Beka. What about him? The green bespoke her rider. Beka looked to the young man through Reth's eyes. She saw into him, into his heart...
"You've got to be crazy Reth. He's a thief and a lier." Beka dismissed him.
But he really wants this Beka. It'll change him. I can tell. Some dragon will bond to him.
Beka sighed. "If you're sure Reth." The green nodded. "I'll bring it up with Nora."
Beka managed to convince Nora to talk to the Weyrwoman about the boy/theif. "Weyrwoman?" She approached Magika.
"Hmmm?"
Magika turned her attention away from whatever or whoever she was watching."The young man. On the end. Who is he?"
Magika looked surprised. "Mikellen."
"From?"
Magika smiled. "Only Faranth knows."
Nora didn't look impressed. "Has he been searched before?"
Magika shoke her head no.
"Has he caused...trouble?"
Magika's smile faded. "A little."
Nora was planning on dismissing him, when Beka spoke out. "Oh Nora. Take him. Please." Reth had convinced her that Mikellen should at least be able to try to impress. She had Nora's attention, so she continued quickly. "We can't keep judging people on their pasts. That's behind them. People change Nora."
Nora sighed and looked from Reth, to Beka, to her own Mitanith who had just sided with Beka. She threw her arms up in defeat. "Alright. We'll take him. But if he causes any trouble, it's your head."
Beka smiled. Somehow she knew that was an empty threat. "Can I go get him?"
Nora gave a half-smile. "If you insist."
Beka walked up to him as Nora and J'gen continued the search. "Hello. I'm Searchrider Beka for Talor Cliff Weyr. We've decided we'd like you to come to stand on our sands." Beka had done this many times before. She'd seen people jump with joy, smile, laugh, shake her hand, she thought she'd seen everything. But Mikellen surprised her.
He swore beneath his breath.
Beka raised an eyebrow. "You don't want to come?"
The young man looked up quickly. "No! I mean, yes! I want to come it's just..." He looked to Magika who was smiling smugly. "I just lost 50 marks." He smiled quietly.
Gamble is from Blue Star Weyr.
Mikellen is a candidate at Talor Cliff Weyr.
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