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 Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 8:30 pm
‘Last one.’ ‘Rish grunted balancing the last of the raw materials for the glass smith over his shoulder. Shards, it was hot today. Well every time they had a shipment come in it seemed nastier then usual. As the cart and runner beasts started off, he set the last sack of fuel down, brushing dusk from his hands. “Done.”
He joined his fellow apprentices around the water barrel, sipping the cool water and drying the sweat off with scraps of stained cloth. “So what is next on our agenda?” He questioned feeling at least cleaner. His muscles still ache but it was settling down to a dull burn with a slight high of accomplishment. ‘Rish spilled some water in his hands, running it back to cool down his scalp and attempt to control the curls.
“We have a short break, then a lesson.”
“Mm…I’m going to get a snack then.” Physical work always gave him an appetite. “Be back in ten.”
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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:04 am
E'rik wasn't sure whether he ought to be pleased or annoyed to have been given duty riding Search. It wasn't that the duty itself annoyed him. It was a testament to the possibility of Dara's sensitivity that they were asking a brown dragon to ride Search, after all, and it did get him out of the Weyr, which was full past capacity. But that was the problem. The Weyr was full past capacity, and suffering a number of problems that may or may not be coming from the inside in terms of bad food and stingy tithes and missing items. They had more Candidates than they could actually formulate work rosters for, he'd heard. Why would they send him on Search? Unless, it occurred to him, they didn't think Dara was sensitive enough to find anyone, and it was just an exercise for the pair of them, part of their training so that they could go through the process of Searching. He didn't really like that thought, since he resented busywork.
It is good to fly, Daramulath reminded him, breaking through E'rik's thoughts.
Yes, E'rik was forced to agree. It is good to fly. It's once we get to the ground that everything's going to be less fun.
Why? Dara asked. He was dimly aware of the Weyr's troubles because E'rik brooded over them sometimes, but he didn't see what that had to do with their riding Search. This is exciting. We've never done this before.
E'rik smiled and thumped the large brown affectionately on the shoulder as they landed. He sprung nimbly from his dragon's back and waited. He'd seen people take note of his approach and run to find the Holder, so all he had to do was wait. He was certainly not going to bring a dragon as large as Dara into the Hold and as a Brownrider he really wasn't supposed to go chasing down Holders. As he'd anticipated, the Holder arrived promptly, looking only somewhat irritated at the interruption E'rik posed.
They spoke for a while and the Holder eventually agreed to allow E'rik to Search the youths between twelve and twenty one. A bell rang to summon them and once more E'rik waited. While he waited he put some of the other skills he'd acquired while training as a Harper to use, working the Holder over so that by the time the potential Candidates had assembled - which was remarkably quickly considering they must have come from all corners of the Hold - the Holder didn't mind that E'rik might be taking away even more useful folk.
Maybe that's why they sent you here, Daramulath suggested as he held very still in a regal pose. Because you're good with people.
Maybe. Let's try not to mess this up, all right?
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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 12:48 pm
‘What was with all the yelling...ahh, a dragon most likely a brown or a very dark bronze judging by the size and color.’ 'Rish shrugged turning back to eyeing the food before deciding on fruit for his snack since who could anyone mess up fruit? Wash, perhaps peel and cut it and it was ready to be devoured. The citrus was tart and juicy, perfect. Wait…
‘Was that a bell? Why was a bell ringing? Wasn’t it only supposed to ring for a search?’ ‘Rish walked slowly munching on his snack not at all in a hurry. He was eighteen turns and quite settled in working with glass blowing the molten liquid into smooth if slightly flawed vessels. A part of him had wished to be a candidate but the more logical part grumbled not to be hopeful. “Besides…isn’t the weyr more crowded then the hold?” He was sharing a room meant for two with a third and since he actually had a wool mattress ‘Rish was sleeping on the floor.
He slowly joined the group, staying near the back of the crowd of youths. He finished the slices, glazing up at the rather handsome looking brown dragon then turned his eyes to the rider. Young adult with dirty blond hair very light tanned. He shrugged licking the remaining juice from his fingers. “Do browns even search?” He had seen two searches before but never had been able to join. Once because of sickness and the other he had seen just the tail end having been at the beach. ‘But none of them had been browns.’
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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 2:55 pm
"Is that everyone?" E'rik asked the Holder and teased him: "You're not holding back the best and the brightest, are you?"
"These are the ones who came. Surely you wouldn't want a reluctant Candidate?" the Holder replied imperturbably. E'rik got the impression that there were others who had been forbidden to come, and he considered forcing the issue, but decided against it. He would be in trouble if he managed to antagonize a Holder who had not previously been hostile toward the Weyr.
"Some are," E'rik said evenly. "But I've never met a Candidate who remained reluctant after their first Hatching, even if they don't Impress."
"And you know this from your vast personal experience, I'm sure. How long have you been a Dragonrider?"
"Long enough," E'rik answered evasively. "If you'll excuse me, I would like to begin, so that things may return to order around here as quickly as possible. I know what a disruption Searchriders can be."
He turned briefly to look at Daramulath and make sure the brown dragon was ready before he turned his gaze to the assemblage. It occurred to him that a little over a year ago he wouldn't have been able to do what he was about to do. Stand in front of a group, that is, and perform a rehearsed task. Impressing Dara had eradicated his stage fright, but it had come too late. He could never be a Harper now. Not with a dragon in tow.
"My name is E'rik, and this is my dragon, Daramulath," he announced. His equisitely-trained baritone was clear and piercing, cutting through any of the anxious chatter from the youths before him. "We come in Search from Ista Weyr." Mentally he said to Dara, Let's get this over with.
He stood aside with the Holder so that Dara could move closer to the people who had mustered for closer inspection. Dara would know what to look for, they had learned in their lessons. If he found someone there could be no mistaking it. The recognition wasn't as intense as Impression, since the dragon was only recognizing potential, and not seeking a bondmate, and thus the exploration was less profound. E'rik could remember being on the receiving end of a Search when L'mel and Dimeth brought him to Ista. It was a queer feeling, and utterly unlike the mental invasion Daramulath posed.
Daramulath brought his enormous head down to a human level and stared piercingly at each person. With some he lingered and others he barely seemed to glance at them before moving on to the next person in the line. E'rik felt a little bad for those people, to be dismissed so quickly. It was a very good thing the Holder didn't feel like speaking to him as Dara Searched, as Dara was keeping up a running commentary on the people he examined which was proving very distracting. Once Dara made a speculative "hmm" that was actually audible to the crowd and caused a number of those nearest to him to draw back. E'rik wanted to laugh: dragons never intentionally hurt human beings, but human beings never seemed to remember that.
What? E'rik asked of the one that had peaked Dara's interest. Is he what we're looking for?
Wait.
The dragon moved closer, creeping forward with his foreclaws but otherwise not moving very much. He was obviously making an effort not to be intimidating, which was considerate, but not terrifically effective, which was hardly a surprise since Dara was large for a brown, edging in on the size of a bronze. He looked for a long time at a man only a little younger than E'rik who, he told E'rik, smelled of fire and fruit, which made E'rik smile a little.
Yes, Daramulath said at last. And I think he is the only one, but let me finish.
E'rik waited while Dara basically went through the motions of Searching the remaining youths. It amused him that Dara had already decided the boy who smelled of fire and fruit was the only one worth bothering with, and yet Dara went to the trouble of pausing in front of others still to give the illusion of interest.
I don't want them to feel that they are not special, Dara said, justifying himself as he finished up. You may tell him now.
"Thank you," E'rik said, projecting his voice to the crowd and then repeating himself more quietly to the Holder. Speaking to the Holder he added very softly, "Daramulath did find someone he thinks will make a Candidate, and that is why I won't mention to anyone that you didn't present every eligible youth, but in the future don't think you can get away with it. A dragon knows when there is a suitable person, even if they are concealed, and even though they don't hurt humans intentionally, sometimes they become very determined."
The Holder shook himself slightly and took a step back even as E'rik turned away from him and walked over to the young man Daramulath had singled out.
"My dragon says you smell like fire and fruit," he said. "How do you fancy a ride to Ista?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 3:23 pm
'Daramulath,' 'Rish glazed at the dragon, his lips slightly curled in amusement. A long strong name for such a handsome fellow even if it did sound a little femine and quite a mouthful. His rider had to shorten it up somehow but Dara just seemed a bit odd.
His smile cracked a bit before going oddly thoughtful at the strange slinky feeling of something touching him in his head. He blinked before glazing straight at the dragon, swearing the creature had actually hmm like a person. He snorted as the people nearest to him started to draw back as Dara inched closer and took a step forward. Dragon do not harm people...unless they where hatchlings and then they where clumsy little things.
'It's kind of like a staring match with my cousin.' He had to admitted. 'Cept his cousin didn't have huge eyes and teeth but that was beside the point. His heart swelled slight as his stomach dropped causing a slight dizzy stray thought of 'Does this mean he searched me?'
‘Rish glazed at the rider. ‘Not bad looking but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t swing both ways.’ He smiled, giving a warm chuckle. “Not surprising, I work with glass and just finished off some fruit.” He ran hand though his hair, trying to control the urge to bellow his glee. “Just let me grab my stuff…and tell my boss. Be back in about…ten, fifteen minutes?”
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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 3:57 pm
"Are you apprenticed?" E'rik asked conversationally.
He had been one of those who had a craft when he was Searched, and even now he had difficulties coming to terms with the idea that he would never be a Harper, even though that had been his dream for much of his life. He felt a twinge of guilt that he would possibly be depriving someone else of a chance to make of his life what he had planned it to be. And yet it was every young man's dream to be a Dragonrider, wasn't it? E'rik had wanted it until he realized that he found joy in music. Now, of course, he had Daramulath, who he loved more than life itself.
"No matter," he said. "I'm glad you mean to tell him of this."
He realized that he had not yet asked the young man's name, nor had the young man volunteered the information. He had also made no mention of his family. E'rik wouldn't press it. E'rik's relationship with his family was strained. At least his relationship with his father was. He'd written the man a terse note informing him that he'd Impressed. To his eldest sister he'd written a more detailed missive, but their correspondence had tapered off in a matter of months. He didn't miss them, hadn't missed them since he was a boy going off to Harper Hall for his apprenticeship.
"Take as long as you need. Sometimes goodbyes take longer than you anticipate, and I'd rather not have to make multiple trips if you find you've forgotten to pack anything."
Of course, the longer the young man took to get ready, the longer E'rik had to make conversation with the Holder, but he could do that well enough. Perhaps he could see what there was to be done about undoing some of the fear he'd invoked with his warning.
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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 4:38 pm
‘Rish nodded replying “Glass smith apprentice for three years.” He was going to miss his craft, the way the solid powder turned into moldable molten liquid. The way the building smell of heat and faint lingering smoke not matter how hard they scrubbed the furnaces clean. The solid feels of the tools. His teacher, not really the other apprentices despite getting along with them they had never really bounded.
“Have to; he’s sort of the closest thing to a father to me.” ‘Specially of late with his grandmothers health collapse. Even if it had been just for these last few weeks that he stepped up to fill long empty shoes, even if he hadn’t, ‘Rish had to say good bye. It was only polite.
“See you when I see you then,” He said and took off at a full run, feet barely touching the ground with each stride. ‘Packing should be easy enough.’ Having shared a room with two others had curbed him of just throwing his possessions around. Instead he had taken to storing them in the heavy trunk his grandmother and mother had sent down last turn. It was a sturdy thing and it made him wonder what his parents had traded for it. ‘It’s saying good bye to teach that going to be a difficult.’
He stuck his head in the building bellowing out, “I got Searched!” before disappearing into the apprentice hall to start his packing. The mattress was thin and flat designed to be easily folded into segments and then tied for easy carrying then maximum comfort. His new turn gifts all clothing carefully folded and packed along with the rather worn and some what stained garments used for work. A quick search to find his seldom worn boots still slightly large on him and packing was finished.
The wonderful thing about working with glass was after moving raw materials for three years a trunk was rather easy to tote about. ‘Question…how was this going to fit on Daramulth? …We will think of something.’
The good bye wasn’t long in the making. It was rather cheerfully done with a promise extracted if he hadn’t impressed in the three years left he would return to keep learning. A quick hug and he was back off to find E’rik and brown Daramulth.
Who were where he had left them. No surprise really.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 3:22 pm
E'rik could think of other reasons why a person would be bound to tell their master that they'd been Searched, but this young man's closeness to his master was something the ex-Harper preferred, in truth. He had been closer to his masters at the Hall and the Harper who had sent him there than he'd ever been to his real father. Still, it was generally better for people to fulfill their duties because they wanted to, rather than because they were required to. Dragonriding was like that for most people: a new joy every day simply because it was another day with a dragon bondmate.
The Brownrider waited where he was until the new Candidate returned carrying a trunk that E'rik despaired at. Dara would have no difficulty transporting it, but the process of tying it in place would be onerous. E'rik had never really developed much in the way of an impressively bulging musculature. He was, for the most part, still lean with a wiry strength that lent itself more to speed than strength, which was somewhat unusual in a Brownrider, he knew, since the dragons were known for their endurance and stamina. Still, he supposed he could heft the trunk long enough to fasten it to Dara's harness and then unfasten it at Ista. Maybe he'd be lucky and it would be mostly empty, but he doubted it. No one lived for as long as this new Candidate had without accumulating a wealth of useless and indispensible objects.
"Is that everything?" he asked. It had better be. Again, Dara would have no difficulties with it, but the human half of the pair would have to work to manage it. Besides, Dara didn't have to find creative ways to make sure everything was securely strapped to him. He just had to get them into the air and then back to Ista.
E'rik climbed effortlessly onto Dara's back and grasped the coil of rope that had hung in short, thick loops from his riding harnesses in preparation for securing any hypothetical Candidates' belongings. From his perch he said, "Pass it up to me and I'll tie it in place."
As he waited for the Candidate to comply he asked, "What's your name anyway, Glass Smith?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 4:46 pm
'Rish lift a brow glancing at E'rik and then Dara before snorting. “It is, but you sure you can keep a hold of it?” He wasn’t really worried about it dropping; the trunk was solid and contained nothing breakable. He rather not have the chest dropping on the dragon’s foot or damage the wiry looking rider. “Fine,” he held up the trunk, length wise to E’rik could grasp the handles.
“Fully it’s Brishen, mom says it fitting but I prefer ‘Rish.”
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Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:53 am
"I'll manage, but thanks for your concern," he replied drily.
E'rik grasped the handles and did some very quick readjustments of his balance before pulling it all the way onto Dara's back. From there it was fairly simple to secure it, though to be safe he slid off his dragon and had Dara do some experimental moving. As a finale, Daramulath stood on his hind legs and fanned the air with his wings. The trunk stayed where it was tied and E'rik was satisfied. Tying knots was not actually something he remembered his lessons in Dragonriding covering, though it was possible he had simply been paying insufficient attention, and so it was a pleasant surprise that his nasty-looking knots had held. He'd worry about untying them later.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, 'Rish," E'rik said, extending his hand to shake. "I don't know if you know how to get onto a dragon, but Daramulath's going to lower himself to the ground and you can just climb up his foreleg and sit at the ridge of his neck, all right? If you need help, ask. I'll make sure you're harnessed all right once you're situated."
Dara complied, crouching low to the ground and then very deliberately extending one foreleg so that it would be easier to scale. His human enjoyed simply swinging up onto him using the riding harnesses, but for people who weren't accustomed to riding dragons this was was safer. He didn't want any harm to befall the human he'd just Searched, and so he was being very careful. He'd never Searchd anyone before, and he wanted to be able to tell Astarteth about his experiences. Maybe she would be impressed.
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Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:53 pm
'Rish snicked, eyes gleaming in amusement. "Not my fault you're a wiry thing. Though I'm sure you are quite fast and quite likely agile." He hummed making a face at the nasty knots. After two years of weaving, knitting, and various lessons he knew how to tie a decent knot. If E'rik didn't break a finger nail trying to get his trunk down, let alone end up just sawing though the rope, he would be surprised. The knots would hold, he wasn't worried about that.
He shook the offer hand, grip firm. "You know, if you made him do that earlier I could have gave you a few tips how to tied a knot that wouldn't break your nails." 'Rish let go of the hand, nodding. "I can do that."
He smiled at the Brown, giving a small bow. "Thank you Dara...hope you don't mind but your full name is a mouthfull." Kicking off his sandals, tieing them together to dangle from his chest, shoes had to be uncomfortable and if he didn't he was sure to loose them durning the flight, he scaled the offered leg and set himself comfortably at the ridge.
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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 3:23 pm
"I am," E'rik replied. He wasn't sure how he felt about a Candidate presuming to evaluate the strengths of a Dragonrider. Or his weaknesses.
E'rik bit the inside of his cheek and reminded himself that the Candidate - Brishen - was just trying to be helpful. He was not used to people telling him how things ought to be done anymore. His lessons were mostly finished now that Daramulath was fully grown and as a Harper he'd been near enough to walking the tables that it hurt to think about it betimes. Whether or not his knots were perfect he was not inclined to accept aid or advice from this former Glass Smith. But manners had been drilled into him from an early age, first by his parents and then by the masters at the Hall.
"My nails are hardly my first concern, though your concern for their health is touching." He was beginning to have an inkling about 'Rish, that his preference might not lean towards girls. E'rik had gotten to know a number of men like that, and women whose inclination was likewise different from the norm. In the past he had dealt with that sort of thing with minimal awkwardness, but he simply wasn't in the mood. He was feeling very much like this whole Search business had been busywork and it would surprise people when he came back with a Candidate. His mood was not black, but it was definitely a darker shade of grey.
E'rik's mood went to straight-out irked when Brishen shortened Dara's name. Not that Dara would mind. The large brown was much too easy-going to care, but E'rik minded. That sort of familiarity was reserved for close friends and E'rik himself. E'rik's ire did tend to filter through to Daramulath when he let it, however, and in this case he made no effort to stop his bondmate from feeling his irritation with Brishen's informality.
"It is a mouthful, but it is the name he was born with. Shortening a dragon's name is generally only done by invitation," E'rik said with a measure of censure in his voice as he climbed onto Dara's back with practiced ease.
He resisted the urge to show off as he went quickly and efficiently through the process of securing the harnesses around Brishen before stepping carefully around him to settle himself in front of their passenger. He deftly slid the last of the straps into place and gave Daramulath the signal to take off. Daramulath was considerate enough to make his skyward leap as smooth as possible, but E'rik would almost have preferred that he didn't. Brishen rubbed him the wrong way, and it wasn't because of the suspicions E'rik had about his sexuality.
"Let me give you the same advice I was given by the Rider who Searched me," he called over his shoulder to Brishen. "Hold on tight and don't piss yourself. It's eight seconds."
And then Daramulath winked between. Eight seconds later they appeared over Ista Weyr.
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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 5:41 pm
'I think he's mad at me,' 'Rish thought, eyes gleaming in amusement. Really he was just trying to be helpful. Not to mention tearing a nail down to the quick hurt like a b***h. They where so awkwardly made as well and such a waste of good rope. Really, after two long years of trying to sit still and count stitches one learned to appreciate things, even common things.
Though he was sure it was shorting the dragon's name was the problem. 'But I do that a lot. E'rik is short enough most rider names are but when I meet the candidates well...the dragon's aren't the only ones who are going to end up with abbreviations.’ Which made him shift slightly after the harness with attached just to make sure it was secure. ‘I really doubt he would do anything dangerous. Better safe then sorry.’
Then it was wind whipping in his face, the stomach dropping feeling of falling but he was rising which was a rather dizzying and then silence, lack of sound, freezing.
“Son of a b***h that was cold.” He was shaken but like always he swallowed it down, till it clunked and settled low in his stomach. “You don’t like me do you,” he called voice amused and smile on his face. Mask the fear, strength was needed not weakness.
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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 6:29 pm
E'rik was not terribly interested in why Brishen shortened names. If he wanted to do that, he could go ahead, but not with E'rik's dragon. Dragonriders' names were shortened to an honorific form of their given name, but they were abbreviations of the Riders' own devising, so some of them could get quite long and difficult to pronounce. There was a Bluerider whose name began with an M that had too many unusual consonants. E'rik had a good ear and a quick talent for mimicry, but he hated having to use that Rider's name. It was one of those names he felt he was bound to mispronounce. As far as touchiness about names went, E'rik wasn't nearly so unpleasant as some Dragonriders could be.
"I wouldn't recommend shortening any dragons' names without permission," E'rik advised drily. "Daramulath's pretty easy-going about it, but Ista has more than its fair share of foul-tempered dragons with sharp-tongued Riders."
Brishen's remark on the cold of between passed unnoticed. E'rik remembered screaming and nearly panicking when he couldn't hear his own screams the first time he went between. If the worst Brishen did was swear, E'rik was relieved. Mid-air hysterics would have been a bit much for him to deal with, and he was truly glad he wouldn't have to clean vomit or urine off his leathers later. They were already inclined to have their own special smell if he wasn't religious about cleaning them. The question about E'rik's opinion of his passenger did not pass unnoticed.
"My dragon thinks you might have a chance of Impressing, and even though the Weyr is practically bursting with Candidates I have to bring you back and see that you get your chance. Should you Impress I will be happy for you and your dragon."
Daramulath was making a slow, spiraling descent, once more considerate of his passenger. E'rik preferred when Dara dove and fanned his wings at the last minute before they collided with something, but making that sort of entrance in the Bowl would only get him in trouble. Besides which it really would be cruel to do that to Brishen, and though E'rik did have a streak of cruelty Daramulath did not, and that was not one of the traits E'rik wanted his dragon to pick up from him. On the ground Daramulath's wings stirred up some dust but he landed neatly and immediately crouched so that he would be easier to dismount from. E'rik set about unfastening his and Brishen's restraints and then stepped around Brishen once more to see what could be done about the ropes securing the trunk.
In the end it became apparent that he could sit there and untie each of the knots individually, which could take some time, or he could cut through the main ones and hope to salvage the rest of the rope. The decision was simple. He waited until Brishen was occupied with dismounting before drawing a belt knife and cutting quickly through the fibers, keeping a careful grip on the trunk so that it wouldn't slide to the ground when he had finished. He waited for Brishen to get his legs under him before passing the trunk down.
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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 6:47 pm
'Rish just gave a quite mmm sound, giving himself a shake or as close to a full body shake he could manage strapped in the harness, to a dragon, in the air. Needless to say not much but he warmed slightly, and became a bit more interested in his surroundings then the feel of nothingness.
He wiggled his toes, then his fingers. "Mmm. If you say so but if it makes you feel any better. You're not my type." He turned his head watching the clouds as Daramulath descended not caring to look down and vomit from sheer dizziness. When his restraints where off he slid done, landing on the ground in a graceless sprawl of limbs and decided he was going to stay there for a few moments.
'Trunk.' 'Rish sighed, getting to his feet to take the trunk and then sat on it, head tilted back. "Thanks."
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