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 Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 1:53 pm
L'thor raised his eyebrows, surprised rather than disdainful. Then he smiled a little and shrugged, somewhat gratified that Veyes had spoken up for his mount. "Yes, Raith is the greatest dragon in the world... It's a little complex I suppose. Bronzes are the ones that get rank, so their riders are the ones we riders of smaller dragons get to call sir. Childish though it sounds, I don't want anything to do with titles they have." He didn't plan to explain his reasons for that, not right now at any rate, not ever if he despised Veyes again tomorrow. He didn't think he would; he'd probably, certainly, still think the boy was a sharding idiot but he doubted he'd hate him. They'd both calmed down somewhat now it seemed, even if that was only the case on his part because he'd lost the will to care just now.
Moving closer to the runner, L'thor gave the powerful beast a pat and hooked one foot into the makeshift riding strap before swinging astride. It had been a long time since he'd bestridden anything save Raith, and longer still since he'd sat on a runner. The feeling of strangeness he got from it was only compounded by the riding straps. It seemed that for now at least they would hold though, which was the main thing.
"Wait over there with Raith, while I take your beast back then," L'thor instructed. "One I've done that she'll come and pick me up, and then we'll return for you... How will I know your house to leave him there, and will your mother be home to speak to?" If she was he hoped she wouldn't get emotional; he wouldn't be able to deal with that. The ideal from his point of view would be that she was not there, and that he had Dusk or River come and find him with supplies for Veyes to write her a note. This escape from life of his was not turning out as planned at all. Well. No changing it. Once he got Veyes to the Weyr he could dump him on some other Candidate and then go to find V'kain.
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Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 2:53 pm
Veyes took in every word the man said and let it stir within him as a distraction from the rest of the disastrous day. It was hard to imagine that one great dragon might be considered less than another. From Veyes' perspective, they did the same job when it came right down to it. He wanted to ask the man many more questions because boyish curiosity was demanding answers however, he was sensible enough...now that the calm from the storm had encompassed them to realize it wasn't the time for asking. He'd wait until he could witness what the other had experienced at the Weyr itself.
His lips couldn't help but curl into a small smile as L'thor slipped a foot into the straps he made and swung astride the draft. He covered his lips with a hand so the other couldn't see the amusement there. He had never imagined anyone else attempting to ride with his creation. "They'll hold you well enough; I double stitched them myself."
A tiny impish thought crossed his mind knowing the man's rump might be sore later but for the most part, he really appreciated what the rider was doing for him. He'd have to pay him back he thought as he tapped the note into a corner of his mind. Maybe L'thor wouldn't want that, but Veyes would pay back the debt if he could in some way.
"Ok...I'll stay with her." Veyes nodded and looked from L'thor back to Raith having the sudden realization that he would be alone with a dragon for the first time in his entire life! His heart pounded for a few moments excited by the prospect.
His fingers reached into his pocket pulling out the worn map he had managed to obtain from his father's foot locker. "Here, this will help you. See, here's about where we are." He pointed to the hill side field and and then ran his finger along the hide.
"This here...is my family's farm. Once you get close enough the Draft knows the way. Just give him a little freedom and he will take you to the barn and want to be fed."
He fingered his braid for a moment then considered the map again, "There's a path up the hill that the Traders take. I was sort of following it before I would have worked my way down along the river's edge." At least, he had taken some time to plan out his journey but he never thought he'd be giving directions back to his house. "My mother...she will probably be at the Hold working with the laundry now but I cannot say if my father will be there or not.
He placed the rough hide into the man's hands and backed away from the draft turning towards Raith walking slowly in her direction. He had no idea what it would be like to be this close to a dragon. And when he got closer he didn't think she was very small at all.
In fact, to him she was huge! He waved cautiously identifying himself as he approached and chose to sit down upon a rock close by. A glowing smile formed upon his lips as he enjoyed the view in silence. It was the best thing that had happened to him all day. He wasn't afraid as most might have been because he knew the creature was intelligent and as long as he wasn't stupid and tried to approach her without L'thor around there wasn't any reason to feel anything but safe.
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Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 3:24 pm
Raith dipped her head in a gesture of acknowledgment she knew he would recognize. It seemed as though he was quite content to admire her while Hers was gone, and why shouldn't he be? The sleek dragon settled herself down more comfortably to wait for L'thor's call. She was still convinced that the boy was rather short on brains, but a dragon could help with that. She wouldn't exactly say she liked him, but she didn't dislike him either.
At best she liked his respectfulness towards her and his appreciation of her beauty, and at worst his foolishness at running off as he had frustrated her. At a later date, she decided, she would come to a proper conclusion; for now she would just relax and wait. She didn't want to be too long arriving for Hers when he called, just in case he got into trouble.
*****
L'thor dismounted and stretched with a sigh. He really was not used to the jolting rhythm of a runner anymore. There didn't seem to be anybody around... Well, that was probably for the best, he decided as he absentmindedly removed the 'riding straps' from the runner and let him into the stall he seemed to want to go to. This done, he hauled some water for the beast and found some hay too. Odd that he so easily slipped back into the habit of taking good care of a runner, he considered distantly as he checked the beast's hooves and gave him a quick wipe down with a convenient rag. Their runners had been the lifeblood of his family.
He remembered a white one they'd had when he was very young, a huge gentle creature. He remembered being put up on the great runner's back when his small legs had got too tired to walk, but when he'd been vehemently against riding inside one of the wagons. Such a long time ago that had been. He had loved that runner.
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Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:17 pm
Veyes leaned forward over the rock and studied the dragon's straps from his stomach as he peered up at her. "Shards, I really missed a couple things in my design didn't I? Well, at least I got part of it right I suppose it wouldn't have fit the draft had I gotten just exactly like a dragon's."
He tilted his head and then grabbed a stick considering his previous design with his finger tapping lightly on his lip. He looked up at Raith then at the dirt drawing then back up at her..and back down at the dirt yet again. "You pose really well, Raith...Thank you." He smiled brightly at her and then drew the new design back into the dirt. "So, the straps should have been more like this."
He could have been content like this all day just noodling out his ideas in the soft dirt considering how to make those straps even more comfortable or effective even though they probably had years...centuries of testing already. At least, here...things were peaceful and he was quite thankful that Raith provided that with just her presence alone.
+++++++++++
The draft beast nickered happily as L'thor tended to him; the large runner beast leaning its thick head into the man with a heavy thud appreciating the food, water and the tender care to its wide hooves. The draft seemed to be the docile pleasant sort that most farm folks would prize. By the end of L'thor's ministrations, the beast seemed very content chewing on the man's shirt looking for a treat.
However, just as L'thor was reminiscing and opening the back door to wander out, the draft laid it's ears back; the whites of its deep brown eyes had started to show . It's tail swished restlessly as it stomped its foot; nose snorting as it turned its head.
Animals had far better hearing than men but soon even L'thor just leaving could not mistake the sound of someone's storming approach and the loud crash of the other door flinging wide into the barn.
Without warning, the urgent cries of a young boy's voice became wild and quick filling the barn with his wailing fear; "Father! I don't know where Veyes is. I don't know where our draft runner is! I didn't see him go! I swear!!!" The frightened child tried run but his father's hands were so much faster; violently grabbing up the boy and shoving him like a sack of grain at stall wall.
The stall rattled on the impact causing the animals to squeal and stomp heightening with the intensity of the threat in the barn. Veyes' father - Havel had a reason to be feared around the farm; an intimidating, hidebound man at 6'5"covered with the scar-crossed muscles and callouses of a hard won living plus a terrible temper to match. Maybe there was a reason that no one ever asked what went on in Veyes' home; Havel was not a man to be trifled with.
The brutal man lunged at his his petrified son with the studded leather belt, hot and sweaty in his thick hand. The whipping speed of the leather flew back and forward with deft precision striking boy across his chest. The child crumpled in a low howl begging for mercy and finding none.
"Don't lie to me, Hally! You are just as bad as your idiot mother! You think you can protect him?! Just wait till he gets home! I'll rip him from shard to shells! NOW WHERE THE BLAST IS VEYES!??"
The child cowered covering his head with trembling hands and pressing his body into the wall to protect whatever he could. "I...don't....know..." he whimpered. "Please...believe me....."
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 4:19 am
For a moment shock held him petrified beside the disturbed runner. At the sound of the belt's crack however, the slim rider slammed the stall door open and stepped out. As the belt flicked back towards him ready to crack down again, L'thor caught it firmly and lent his weight back to avoid being pulled over by the larger man's great strength. How dare he. How dare he? L'thor had never liked children, in fact it would be more accurate to say that he couldn't stand them, but that didn't mean he would tolerate seeing one beaten.
"Your runner is in its stall," L'thor heard himself say with a calm he didn't feel, "and Veyes will not be returning. I am L'thor, rider of green Raith, and I am taking him to Ista Weyr." Emotion was returning to him now. Oh yes. Feeling was coming back. His muscles knotted ready for action, his heart pounded, his mind whirled. How dare he? This man would pay, he would pay dear! L'thor was no longer completely capable of reason, and as such he didn't realize that he was smaller and far, far lighter than his adversary. He forgot too, as he always seemed to when his temper snapped, that he couldn't actually fight very well. He was fury given flesh, his sharp mind smothered by the inferno of rage. Compared to this, he had been mildly annoyed by Veyes earlier on.
*****
Raith had dozed off a while after L'thor's departure, and slept on through her rider's fury. Perhaps she was a little aware of it, perhaps her dreams took a more sinister or violent turn but she didn't wake.
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:20 am
Veyes noticed Raith had started to dose so he finally sat up and pulled off his loose shirt to adjust the wraps underneath. He really didn't want anyone seen what had been hidden there but maybe if L'thor would have looked a little close he might have guessed that any chance meeting with Veyes' father should not be done alone.
He winced just a little as he unwrapped the bandage trying to look over his shoulder enough to see his back. The sores on his front side were far easier to tend. So he opened his "flight pack" and took out the small amount of cloth strips he had gathered and reapplied the wraps figuring he might get a bath later. He had planned on taking one down by the river but that idea abruptly changed with the coming of L'thor and Raith.
Once his shirt was back over his shoulders, he couldn't help but feel a little sleepy. It was probably brought on by the big snoozing dragon and the profound quiet and who was he not to take advantage of the moment. So in the end, he sprawled out over the rock with this flight pack under his face hoping he could take what he thought was a well deserved nap.
However, even in the best of conditions, Veyes' thoughts drifted back to the farm. And in that he stared off to the horizon trying to figure out how long the man had been gone. Was L'thor alright? He'd certainly call for Raith if he wasn't...Right?
++++++++++++
Inside the barn, if Veyes only knew; he probably have had a different idea all together....
There weren't many that had ever tried to stop Havel when he was angry. Not many were willing to stand in his path except the small woman that Veyes called Mother. Most people that knew him preferred just to conduct their business and be well on their way. So when the man felt his hand grasped and drawn back there was only one person he assumed would try to stop him.
"Woman!" he hissed as he spun around with his left hand and punched "her" square in the jaw even as L'thor completed his answer. The impact would have sent L'thor flying and broken his nose had it not been for his solid grip upon the man's thick arm and his quick reflexes.
What the man had in mass, L'thor had in speed although, L'thor knew right away as his jaw blossomed into a painful throb that any direct hit by this "monster" could be devastating.
Hally, Veyes' younger brother screamed; covering his ears as L'thor took the hit, "Father, stop!"
"That's not the right answer, Wo...man!!" As he drew his fist back, it was then the vicious man's eyes took in what clutched at his other arm. It was not Veyes' idiot mother but rather what he saw as a scrawny man.
With that sudden realization, he used his meaty right arm that L'thor held and flung him aside up against the barn wall. Obviously, the scowling man re-evaluated L'thor but not as L'thor intended, "Did my woman set you up to come here, boy!? You don't look like much of a Dragon Rider to me! " He spat at the ground beside him; his foul breath upon L'thor's face, "Bet your bedding my woman...Aren't you, pretty boy!? Is that what got you off? She seduced you're a** and you come here to save her??"
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:56 am
Slamming against the wall knocked the breath out of him, and he couldn't immediately respond. Shards. This man was muscled like a watchwher! Managing to draw a little air back into his lungs, L'thor hissed like an angry feline. "Mark my shoulder knots you lumbering deadglow!" he snarled, and indeed he wore the marks of a green rider of Ista Weyr. Of course, this brute of a man might not know what they were. Certainly he didn't care. His face contorted with fury and, keeping L'thor pinned, he swung another punch; the blow slammed against L'thor's cheek, splitting his lip.
Well this wasn't going quite to plan. L'thor hissed again and writhed against the grip on his, clawing at the muscular arm that held him pinned. Another blow cracked against his temple, and then the massive hand closed about his throat. He really ought to have stayed in the Weyr today. Realizing that he wasn't going to do any good with his hands, the rider lashed out viciously with one booted foot and succeed in striking the huge man's knee. Havel roared in pain, distracted for long enough for L'thor to struggle out of his grasp and get a couple of punches in. One of them - perhaps well aimed, perhaps just lucky - set Havel's nose out of joint. This, however, only had the effect of making him angrier.
Now free to dodge, L'thor was taking fewer and less severe hits than before but the ripostes he got in hardly seemed to do anything at all. Then, weaving away from a nasty uppercut, he stumbled on an uneven patch of ground and went sprawling. Havel wasted no time.
"You are bedding her, aren't you?" he demanded as he kicked L'thor savagely in the ribs. "How long for, you little girl? You think I'll let you get away with it?"
Something had definitely gone crack with that first kick, and the man wasn't letting up. This was not his day. L'thor managed to roll aside and come to his feet, but the wave of pain and nausea that washed over him as he did so made him stagger, and allowed Havel to slam him against the wall again and slam another hammer blow against his temple. He was not going to win. Actually he was probably going to get beaten to death if he didn't come up with something creative fairly soon.
"Raith!" There, he thought dazedly as he continued to struggle against the man-mountain, that ought to do it.
*****
Raith had twitched and moaned in her sleep at the first blow against her rider, and she continued to writhe and twitch in some dark nightmare until he cried out to her. The dragon was on her feet in a moment. "Mine! Roaring in rage and distress, eyes whirling ruddy yellow with fear and the anticipation of battle, Raith flung herself into the air and shot like a comet towards the Hold. Her rider's mind was too confused to give her any chance of finding him by coming between, but she would soon reach him in any case.
Screeching again as she felt another bolt of pain run through her lifemate, the green dragon tore on towards the Hold. Whoever was hurting Hers was going to pay!
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:48 am
Veyes shot up in a flash as the dragon roared; literally leaping to his feet as Raith howled. His eyes widened with emotions ranging from concern to a sudden fearful notion that something terrible had occurred; and what it could be Veyes' had this undeniably scary thought that swelled from the pit of his stomach. L'thor had met up with...his father.
He couldn't help...there was nothing he could do as the angry dragon took off to the open skies leaving him behind like a speck of dust on the ground below.
He shouldn't have let L'thor go there alone! It was his fault...yet again. Even though his mother had told him so many times he wasn't to blame, he couldn't help but feel that sharp pain of guilt. If something bad happened to the L'thor...He hung his heavy head and covered his eyes trying to stop the wet flow of tears that threated to run over his cheeks. He should have gone instead...
++++++++++
The crushing weight of the Havel's hands slide upon L'thor's slim throat determined to drive the breath and spirit out of his desperate victim. In Havel's head, it would be an easy death and he'd bury the limp body out in the pit where he planned to make a rich compost for the herd. Such a fool, this pretty boy to think that he'd get away with taking away any one of his possessions!
"I'm gonna to grind you up and feed you to the herd beasts, you little whelp!" he growled as the sweaty calloused thumbs pushed harder upon L'thor's neck.
Hally's fearful face watched on in terror as his father brutalized the man before him. His screams had gone unnoticed except by the animals in the barn that were agitated. "NOOOoo! Stop! Please!" Hally couldn't let his father kill the man so he grabbed a wooden stool that was close by and swung as hard as he could against his father's wide back. The young child's swing didn't do enough to hurt the man except for maybe a bruise later, however, it did catch Havel's attention as he glanced over his shoulder; releasing some of the intense pressure on L'thor's throat.
"Hally!" the man bellowed and kicked backwards into the boy's soft stomach sending child soaring through the air and into the water trough. The resounding crack split the trough; water escaping...the boy gasping for air.
The kick was enough to put the man off balance allowing L'thor shaking body to slide down from under the death grip and drag himself a small breath away from his attacker. However, this wouldn't be enough once the man turned on him again.
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:26 am
Another punch as he tried to get away, staggering back against the wall. A fist swinging, he swerved and it slammed into the wall instead of his face. Apparently no more than bruised, Havel grabbed L'thor by the front of his riding jacket and slammed him against the barn wall. By now only semi-conscious, L'thor tried for another kick and by some miracle caught Havel in the crotch. He was dropped as Havel gasped and folded over himself.
Do something. His vision was fuzzy, blurred more when he turned his head but he made out a pitchfork leaning against the wall not far off. As Havel began to recover himself, L'thor stumbled over to it, grasped it and then staggered to face the huge man. "One more step," he panted, "and I run you through." He wasn't entirely sure which one of Havel he would attack if the man did move, but... Oh great, seeing double. Not his day. Havel moved too fast for him, grasped the pitchfork, yanked it out of his hands and drove the butt end into his stomach. L'thor stumbled backwards and collapsed once more in front of the barn doors. Then the man was walking over to him, turning the pitchfork points down and snarling down at him with savage satisfaction.
"End of the road, boy."
Before he could bring his weapon down however, a bellow of rage sounded from outside the barn, and then the doors splintered inwards. Green Raith stepped over her rider and screamed at Havel, who suddenly didn't look quite so big anymore. For a moment he stared up at the green, and then the pitchfork dropped from his hands. He turned, trying to flee, but only got a few paces before he stumbled. His head connected with the edge of the water trough with a sickening cracks, and Havel lay still.
Bleeding, agonized and struggling to remain conscious, L'thor pushed himself to his hands and knees and retched. Having taken nothing but klah for breakfast, all he was left to do was spit out the vile mixture of bile and stimulant drink that had fouled his mouth. Now he was tasting recycled klah, stomach juices and blood. What a lovely day. Groaning, he sank into a sitting position and slumped back against Raith, who had lowered herself down beside him for that purpose.
"Boy?" the battered rider managed to gasp, peering around for Veyes' brother. "You... you hurt?" Well, people would be along to investigate soon, and whoever was in charge of this hold would not be able to ignore Havel any longer, if indeed they had been ignoring rather than ignorant in the first place. Attacking a dragonrider was not a smart move. Not a smart move at all.
"Mine?" Raith lowered her head to nudge her rider gently. "Will you be alright Mine? L'thor managed to nod, and only a moment later two blue flits appeared in the air before him chittering in panic. L'thor blinked dazedly at them. Humm. Veyes would probably be a bit worried too. He could do with a piece of slate and some charcoal. The flitts vanished for only a few heartbeats before reappearing with the desired materials.
L'thor let them put the slate on his knee and, after a few attempts, managed to get a decent grip on the charcoal. Breathing shallowly and raggedly, he was sure his ribs were at least cracked, he scrawled a note and passed it to the flitts. "Raith, show them where to find Veyes." This was a horrible, horrible, horrible day. He just hoped the boy could read, that was all.
*****
New place! The big-one had told them where to find it. Gripping one side of the slate each the flitts scanned for the one they were to find. On spotting him, they chattered excitedly at their success and dropped the slate before him. It read;
"Met your father. Don't like him. Will come back for you as soon as poss. All under control.
L'thor."
The writing was just about legible despite the uneven, scrappily formed letters and the bloody fingerprints on it. Unsure of quite what to do now, the two flitts who had brought the message landed on the ground in front of Veyes and watched him curiously. The big-one had told them not to come back just yet, so they might as well stay where they'd been sent.
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:51 am
Havel remained unmoving on the floor but there was a sure sign he was not getting up anytime soon as the blood spread winding its way through the twigs of hay and dirt like little rivulets.
Hally coughed and leaned forward as the rider came to him. He was covered with welts and had shards of wood splinters all along his back from where he impacted with the trough. "I hurt!" he cried then clung quickly to the L'thor bawling his eyes out in the man's sweat and blood coated shirt.
He might not have calmed had he not been distracted. The sudden arrival of the flits caused the small boy's head to turn and choke back the tears in favor of the friendly sight. He wanted to touch them and hold them for comfort but understood that L'thor had work for them to do. The child probably was no more than 9 or 10 in L'thor's estimation and both of them could use a healer.
After the flits had vanished, it wasn't long before he could hear the sound of a thunder clap as the skies were darker above, soon it was pouring rain but that didn't stop the other men and a couple Hold Guards close by from coming to investigate the Green Dragon's presence.
"Hello in there! Havel? You ok?" called out one of the men. "Dragon rider?" another said a bit louder. Most of them stopping well away from the green dragon because she blocked the view inside the barn. "Is everything alright?!"
++++++++++++
Veyes paced over the design he had drawn and kept looking back the way he came; sick with worry about what was going on back at the farm. The dragon's reaction had been very telling. He wiped away the sweat from his brow as the sun started to beat down on the rocks. Maybe if...Maybe if he ran he could get back to the farm...Now that was the worst idea he had ever had and he knew it. If the Raith was there, L'thor would be ok. Wouldn't he??
That thought vexed him but...he had told L'thor he would wait here for him. If he left there was no telling what the rider would do when he returned, if he returned. He clenched his fist against his sides feeling like an utter failure again when suddenly he heard noise; a chattering tiny noise that demanded his attention.
He quickly spun around to see two flits in the air in front of him with a slate that they dropped. Reaching forward quickly, he grabbed the slate before it hit the rocks. "Whoa!" The flits would have normally brought joy to the boy but the desperate desire to know about L'thor's condition left him little opportunity to consider the playful thought.
His hand flipped over the slate to reveal the quickly scrawled message upon it rough surface. Luckily, he could read because the Hold demanded that children have a basic education. Even his father didn't deny him that because it would have been useful for bartering herd animals.
He gasped as he read the worrisome news and saw the thumb-pressed bloody prints; "Met your father. Don't like him. Will come back for you as soon as poss. All under control. L'thor.", then shivered because he instinctively knew that things had not gone well.
He looked up to the skies as the fast moving clouds started to build plopping drops of rain upon the dusty ground beneath him. As the heavy downpour started, it washed away the words and blood off the slate while soaking his dirty covered skin. He weakly smiled at the flits. The rain didn't bother him so much as the wait to come...it was going to be awhile and he knew it.
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:20 am
L'thor bit back a cry of pain as the child clutched him. Sharding shards and... shards. He tried to summon a bit more coherency as the voices called out up him. "Not in so many words, no," he managed eventually, not certain if his voice would be heard or not. "That brute tried to kill me..." He wasn't in any state to being leaving in a hurry, certainly not in any state to ride. He'd have to stay here for a while. Shards.
"Raith. Go find Veyes. Talk to him. Bring him here if he'll come, if not fly him back to the Weyr. These people will look after me. They'd bloody well better look after him. "Call River and Dusk back, they can keep an eye on me while you're gone if you have to take him back to the Weyr." He didn't want to be apart from his dragon, and he knew she didn't want to be apart from him either but he was going to be taken to wherever their healing wing was no doubt so she'd have to be away from him anyway. Couldn't just leave Veyes out alone.
"...Very well Mine, I shall speak to him," Raith said reluctantly, rising slowly to her feet and backing out of the mess she'd made of the barn doors.
"Thank you." Raith, like any other dragon, seldom bothered to speak to any human save him. She saw it was necessary in this case though, and he was thankful for that.
Once she was free of the barn, Raith moved carefully around the milling people, who were all too wiling to get out of her way, and once she was a safe distance away she sprung into the air before vanishing between. Just as she winked out, the blue flitts reappeared and zoomed down to flutter around L'thor with concerned creels.
With the dragon gone, people were beginning to creep into the barn. L'thor, now slumped with his back against a stall door, tried to focus on them. "If it's not too much trouble," he managed between shallow painful breaths, "I think I could do with seeing a healer. Boy here too could. Don't give a flitt-tail what you do with the brute." He was glad River and Dusk were here. They'd look after him. Shards this was a horrible day.
*****
She hadn't wanted to leave Hers, but what choice was there really? Couldn't leave their Candidate out in the storm after all the trouble they'd gone to. Raith appeared above the rain-drenched countryside, huge fat drops pounding down on her. She quite liked to fly in the rain normally, but today was not a normal day and she felt no pleasure. Hers was hurt, and she couldn't be with him. They'd keep him away from her, in a room that was too small for her, and while she knew it was so they could help him she still didn't like it.
The green dragon landed not far from Veyes - the flitts had already gone - and regarded him steadily, her eyes still yellowish with fear for her rider. "Veyes," she said eventually, "Mine has sent me to see you safe. I am either to take you back to your hold, or to the Weyr. Your father will not be an issue. Your small brother is a little hurt but he will be alright... Mine says that he will also recover." She did believe him, sort of, but it was hard not to fear for him. She could feel his pain, could tell how he struggled to keep his mind from drifting. He had to be alright though. Had to be. Together they were going to fight the Thread when it came. They had promised that to... to someone very, very important. The name escaped her, but the significance remained. They were going to fight the Thread. He had to be alright.
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:51 pm
Veyes sat there staring at the mud upon his large rock. The rain kept pouring and at least he felt a bit cleaner but his bandages were now soaked and they slide down off his sores becoming quite useless. It might have been better to just get naked and let the rain do its job but he never knew when the rider would return and preferred not to be embarrassed beyond the other pressing feelings he felt.
As he tilted his head back to let the rain rush over his face and through his dark chestnut hair, he noticed a minuet speck in the sky that was getting larger with each passing moment. He stood up on the rock hoping to see L'thor and Raith but what he saw...was only Raith. His eyes widened at the site of the riderless dragon and he bit his bottom lip wondering what she would do when she finally was upon him.
He couldn't help but think he deserved what he had coming if she was angry at him. However, instead she landed a little ways away and stared at him with her large eyes. But his jaw slightly dropped when he hear words inside his head speaking him. It was the strangest thing he had encounterd in all his life. The voice was fairly feminine so he knew it had to be hers but still the tones in his head were so surprising. He listened carefully taking in all she said and nodded quite slowly.
"L'thor and Hally are...hurt?" he thought back and then said out loud just to make sure some how she understood...Inside he felt quite terrible for this was something he never wanted to have happen and felt responsible for getting the rider in to this mess. His shoulders slumped as he struggled with his own feelings trying to decide what he should do.
"Mm...if L'thor is hurt. You should be with him, Raith...not worrying about me. I'll...go with you to the Hold because I don't know how far away your Weyr is and I want you to be able to be with him." he again thought and spoke out loud.
He got off the rock and trudged through the mud stopping not far from her side waiting for her to make the next move. If he had to ride a dragon, he was going to let the dragon give him guidance. For the most part he understood the mechanics of the riding straps from his makeshift ones; however, these were the real thing.
While being upset with the situation at hand, the dreamer in him was down right excited with the prospect. He took a breath though and tried to calm that sensation. While he was thrilled with the opportunity, he never had wanted it to happen in quite this way.
+++++++++++++++
The men carried off L'thor and Hally while others took away Havel in another direction entirely. It wasn't hard to see once they took one look at L'thor and the boy that Havel was the main aggressor. L'thor was right, that those of the Hold may have been waiting for proof in order to take care of this one. It was a terrrible way of discovering it but...now the deed was done.
L'thor was placed into a clean bed within the Healing Hall of Ruatha Hold. He was undressed and cleansed as a blond handsome journeyman tended to his wounds with salve and other healing herbs. L'thor could hear the many mutterings on the way to the hall about the incident on the farm. Some words that they "knew" something had been going on with that family. Others saying they had "no idea" that anything like this was occurring there. More than likely even in L'thor's drifting mind, Havel probably never beat the boys or his wife in the open...and since the family never talked; the matter was never dealt with.
Soon Veyes' mother arrived upon the scene and L'thor could hear her crying and talking to Hally in another curtained off section of the room. It wasn't long before the woman stepped in to where he was and looked down upon his bed.
She was petite and could have been pretty had it not been for the years that Havel had taken from her. However, her hair and eyes could easily remind you of Veyes. She seemed very nervous when she saw L'thor and his injuries; her hand clasping just above her elbow holding herself. But then she took a breath and spoke softly..."Thank you for saving my boys. "They tell me Havel is dead."
She stared down at the floor and shifted her feet slightly, "Hally...." she coughed a little quickly covering her mouth, "Hally said that you're taking Veyes away to the Weyr?" She smiled a little at that even though a small tear tugged at the corner of her eye feeling the first stabs of grief starting to grip at her chest.
She didn't wait for L'thor to answer but continued, "He has such big dreams, my boy...Thank you for...giving him the chance to grasp them." She took a deep breath to keep herself from the tears.
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 1:21 pm
Raith lowered her stance just as she did for HerL'thor. His mind was possibly more distant now, but he felt far less pain. They had given him something for it. Good. "Step onto my arm and grasp one of my neck-ridges, she instructed Veyes. "Swing yourself astride my neck, and fasten yourself in place with the straps. Then lean forward over my neck and hold on while I take off. I shall fly us there rather than going between." She wouldn't be able to actually be with her rider, but she could stay at the Hold and at least be close. She wished suddenly that, just for a while, she could be the size of a flitt so that she could go to him. Her poor rider. She should have arrived sooner to save him.
"I come L'thorMine," she said as she waited for Veyes to mount, "I will be with you soon."
*****
L'thor just about managed to focus on the woman. This was dear old mother then. Poor wretch. Shells. He was so tired, and had that odd sensation of knowing he hurt without feeling any pain. "Least I could do," he murmured once he managed to summon the energy to speak, "I hate bullies... Don't know if he died. Didn't check... I'll... I'll take Veyes to Ista once I can ride again. Or I can... I can send to... Umm... Yes, I can send to the Weyr for someone else to collect him if he wants to go sooner." No need to mention that he and Veyes hadn't exactly got off to a good start. Didn't matter now anyway; he was not prepared to hate someone he'd got beaten to pulp over; he'd feel sharding foolish if he did.
"...Will you and," umm, "Hally be alright?" Havel might have been their main, or only source of income. If that was so then... then... He'd have to do something about it. Oh yes, and he was definitely not going to be making it to drills today. Well, not his fault, nobody needed to know he hadn't intended to show up had he not been injured.
...Raith was coming. L'thor smile weakly, not caring that the expression made his split lip bleed anew. "My dragon comes," he said softly, turning his eyes back onto the small woman, "Veyes is with her. They will be here very soon... I have told Raith where we are, she will tell Veyes."
River and Dusk, who had been sitting politely on the end of L'thor's bed, crooned happily as the dragon informed them too that she was coming. She couldn't come inside, of course, so they would have to keep looking after their human for her. They could do that!
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 2:13 pm
Veyes listened to her words and scratched his head then approached, "Ok, I can do this." All he had to do was follow the instruction to the letter and everything would be alright. What a way to get his first flying lesson!
He stepped up to her arm rather gingerly then realized that she probably was used L'thor mounting this way and so he reached over and grabbed a neck ridge and slid himself up into place. Glancing from side to side he saw the familiar riding straps and worked to get them fastened. He tested his seat several times to makes sure that they were secure because goodness knows he didn't want to fall off. Maybe some good had come with the draft's riding straps, this didn't seem as bad as he thought.
As he leaned forward over her neck he thought back to her, "Ok, I'm strapped in securely, Raith. This is my first time flying but don't worry about me. I'll be ok. I'm ready when you are." His hands gripped at her neck knowing that once she sprung to the air there would be some sort of drag. He'd seen the messenger riders act as if some sort of weight were on them at take off so he had to be prepared for something.
+++++++++++
Tavla, Veyes' mother nodded slow as he spoke. "Your dragon did what...I could not. At one point...I did love the man and...I thought...well that is neither here nor there now. He is gone." She bowed her head and took a breath. Speaking about this was very difficult for her, there were many rough days ahead.
"Ah...I've already had a few offers from the neighbors in the Hold who are willing to help us. The Hold can't afford to lose a herd farm and I've been a good worker in the Lord Holder's house. We've got a few other hands in the field and well...umm.. the Master Herder is training my eldest boy. I think we will be alright. Maybe better than we have ever been." She smiled a little even though it was very hard to do.
"Umm.. if your dragon needs to feed...it can have one of the herd beast at the farm. I don't know what else I can do to...thank you." she said quietly. "Oh...Veyes will be here?" Her face perked up at the thought of seeing her middle boy again.
The healer journeyman returned and gently asked the woman to leave the room while he checked on L'thor's reaction to the salves. Once Tavla was out of the room, the journeyman checked each injury. "It might be a couple days before you'll feel like getting out of this bed. You've got a broken rib but fortunately it didn't puncture anything so mostly what you need is rest." he paused and with gentle hands re-covered the rider with a light cotton sheet over his naked body. "Hally is going to be fine but they had to pluck out a lot of splinters so he's going to be a sore boy for awhile. Is there anything we need to do for you, Rider? Do you need us to send a messenger to your Weyr?"
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 2:35 pm
Raith rumbled her assent and sprung into the air. It was very strange to have someone other than L'thor riding her, but desperate times called for desperate measures. She knew that the boy had to be taken somewhere dry, she knew Hers wanted this done as well, so it would be done. "Mine is at the healing hall," she said to Veyes as they flew through the driving rain. "He says that your mother is there also, and so is your brother... Your brother has splinters and will be sore for a time. Your father is dead." Perhaps that had been a blunt way to put it, she didn't really know; it was strange to her that humans didn't just know when one of their kin died close by. Still, she hoped it had not been too cruel a way to put it. She had no wish to hurt the boy.
...That the man was dead was her doing. She hadn't intended for the man to die but she could not regret it. All she had cared about at the time was keeping Hers safe, and that was still all she cared about. Anyone who attacked a rider should be prepared for the consequences.
Before too long, they were circling down towards the Hold. Raith landed neatly in a large square which, thanks to the rain, was devoid of people. She lent down in order to allow Veyes to dismount before reaching out to Hers again. "We are here. I shall find a place close by to shelter. You rest... Is there anything you need of me, L'thorMine?" She couldn't be with him, but if there was something useful she could do that would be a comfort.
*****
L'thor nodded to the woman's words; speaking again seemed like too great an effort right away. He nodded along too with the healer. Rest sounded fine to him; he felt like he could sleep for a turn... A messenger? "I..." he frowned thoughtfully. "If someone could write a note explaining what has happened that would be... that would be helpful. I'll send it off to the Weyr with one of my flitts. Leave it until Veyes arrives though. Need to find out if he wants to wait for me, or if he wants another rider to come for him..."
And they had arrived. The rider gave a contented sigh as tension he hadn't been aware of faded away. Raith was close by now. That was good. "No. Just be near, somewhere dry. Woman says you can have one of her herdbeasts if you want."
"I am not hungry at present," Raith told him, "but I might accept the offer tomorrow or the day after. I do not wish to return to the Weyr until you are with me, Mine."
L'thor smiled and nodded. That was good. He didn't want her to leave either, or he would have asked her to hop over there and pass the message on. No. He needed her close by, even if he couldn't actually see her. He knew she wasn't far. That was good.
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