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 Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 1:05 pm
Veyes woke up early before the crack of the dawn knowing his mother was about to leave for her own work. He scooted into his overworn pants that already needed a few stitches but he had actually been to lazy to sew them up last night. His head had been consumed with the magnitude of his future decisions. The most dangerous but the only one that offered him an escape from his father for good was to leave the Hold.
For most this might not have been the brightest of plans but in all honesty, he didn't feel like he had many options. His mother, she would always love him but she would never leave. He didn't want to end up like her and with the will there had to be a way so in the end he would figure out a plan.
But even as his heart was heavy with these ideas, the boy wandered into the kitchen and planted a soft kiss to his mother's cheek. She didn't look well today but he knew that wouldn't stop her from going in. Today...was like any other normal morning. Fortunately, his father was already with the other men so he wouldn't have to listen to his grouchy voice.
"I'll be in the field most of the morning, Ma...and then..." he glanced at her. "Why don't I check up on you at the hold..mmm....when you are washing...you don't feel well do you?" He felt the pains in his heart knowing that soon he'd strike out on his own and leave her behind so each moment was important but then again with out words they both knew that it had to happen for him to be free; these unspoken words always mingling in their eyes but never upon the lips.
"Oh...if you must Veyes but you know I will be alright. Why don't you take a little time for yourself." Another subtle hint she gave him, trying to push him along. Maybe she was right...maybe he shouldn't prolong it any further.
"Ok..maybe I shall but mother, you know I love you, and...well I always miss you when you are away."
"I know." she responded with a quiet tender voice and she stroked his cheek gently peering up into his eyes then suddenly she smiled. "But...off with you! Don't keep the animals waiting -some need milking others need shearing." He nodded quickly and with hurried out the door glancing back once to see her standing in the open doorway. He couldn't express the profound feelings that stung his beating heart ...words would never be enough.
Maybe she knew he needed to get his things first. The items he had been collecting for his journey in the past few weeks; a crude map, traveling food...etc plus a hunting knife because the journey wasn't going to be easy.
Or maybe she knew he needed to see his friends in the barn before leaving either way, he would say his good byes and make his way out of the hold. He knew Fort Hold was two days away by runner beast which might make it 3 or 4 for him. He figured that he could create some sort of story upon arrival and maybe manage to get someone to take him in for a short time until he could prove himself. Either way he needed to be gone before his father came back from the fields.
He found his way into the barn and performed all his various duties for his long time friends. In the end, he stood staring at the draft runner beast and gave in to his dreams once more. Underneath the hay he dragged out the rider rig and tossed it upon the creature. "Well my fierce friend...one last flight over the mountains together?" He drew the beast out and mounted him and looked up to the skies... his imagination saw what it willed...from blue skies to dark red...and the storms of battle to save the world from disasters. He nudge the beast forward all hooked into his makeshift riding straps and laughed once more...even if it was only in his dreams.
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Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 3:00 pm
It was better up here. The wind was forgetfulness, the speed and grace with which his beloved dragon flew soothed him. He might go back in time for drills with his wing or he might not; he hadn't decided yet. Dereliction of duty wasn't at all like him, but today... well, he didn't feel like his mind would be on task and with firestone drills that was a recipe for disaster. He could have begged leave for the day, either with the truth or some cleverly contrived lie but he hadn't felt like it. He was only a green rider - pah! - so a few smuts on his record essentially amounted to nothing. A few punishment duties were all that would come of playing truant today, and he was used to those thanks to his quick temper and quicker tongue.
"A boy rides below us," Raith said a moment later, waking L'thor from his vaguely drifting thoughts. "Strange," she added as her keen eyes focused on the small figure, "he's no messenger."
L'thor frowned and used his lifemate's sharp vision to peer at the boy and runnerbeast. Not a fast one; that was the kind his family had used to pull their wagons. "Damn bloody fool," L'thor hissed aloud, his voice whipped away by the wind. "Circle above them will you Raith?" he added as he continued to gaze down through her faceted eyes.
By the looks of it, the boy had just left that Hold over there. Sharding idiot. What did he think he was playing at?... Unless he was Holdless, fleeing from the scene of a theft. Well, if he hadn't been before it looked as though he was now; the runnerbeast had a pack on it. What could be so bad that he would leave his hold? Nobody would take a Holdless one in, nobody in all of Pern. Fool and fool again... Unless he actually was on some urgent mission or other. What could be so terrible that a lone youth took it upon himself to ride out on a pulling runnerbeast?
At L'thor's direction, Raith looked over at the not so distant Hold. It looked as though life was going on as normal there. A secret mission? Did someone at the Hold have a message that just had to be delivered somewhere fast, and in secret? Well, there was only one way to find out.
"Take us down Raith," he instructed grimly. "Land some way before him, if we spook the runnerbeast he might be thrown and hurt. Not that the sharding fool doesn't have it coming, but still."
Raith gave a rumble of amusement and broke off her circling to swoop gracefully towards the ground. She landed well within sight of the rider, directly in his path. "Do try not to be too vitriolic straight away. He might have good reason to be out here."
L'thor gave a disgusted snort and freed himself from his riding straps before leaping to the ground. "Right," he sent, "and I might stand again on the Sands and Impress a queen. Sharding deadglow." Today of all days he was not in the mood to suffer fools. Unless that boy had a really really good excuse for gallivanting out of his Hold, he was in for a severe tongue lashing.
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Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 4:03 pm
Veyes took the draft beast, "his dragon" out far and wide so he might be able to make the river before night fall hoping he should be able to travel a route that would lead him to Fort Hold eventually. He patted his bag, "his flight pack" and trusted his beast to pick the steadiest of paths..."air streams". He had no fear of what lie ahead because there was never a reason to fear anything with your fiery dragon beneath you. But his perceptions were slightly taken back when he noticed a great shadow that had passed above them.
His eyes shot upwards to the sky barely taking in the glimpse of Green that briefly blocked the sun. In the distance, he could see the magnificent creature landing and could barely make out someone sliding of the back.
He pulled up on the draft beast mane and clicked him around with the riding straps. Veyes was a little confused by the sudden appearance of a dragon and his rider. Why should they even been landing here? He thought about his map and was sure that he had chosen a path that wouldn't bring him in contact with other travelers not that there were many out here except the traders. But he hadn't expected a dragon to actually notice.
"Oh...shard." he whispered to himself as a brief terrifying thought crossed his mind. He'll take me back home...Oh no... He couldn't...wouldn't allow that. No way...He WASN'T going back and have his dreams stripped away. He glanced left.. and then right looking at the options even as the rider approached.
Ok, now Veyes. Just keep enough distance between us and him maybe you can talk your way out of it. Just remember, the draft beast is faster than the man. The dragon...he thought still has to take wing and that would be at least a few seconds to get lift. If the draft runner could make it to the trees, they might manage to make it too tough on the dragon follow. It was a lean plan at best but Veyes was running on desperation and dreams quite willing to risk it all.
"Umm.. Hello Dragon Rider." He said trying to keep a respectful calm to his voice as he backed the draft up just a little while sliding his hands tighter in the mane trusting his makeshift "riding straps" would hold during dead run. He could feel his legs tensing as they adjusted slightly in the straps. "Can I help you?"
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Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 4:25 pm
L'thor, lips pursed, looked up at the boy on the runner. Didn't even have the common courtesy to dismount in order to speak. Well, the intimidation tactic - if it was that rather than more boneheadedness - wasn't working. It would take more than the extra height of a runner to put him off balance. "I believe you can, boy," L'thor said in clipped tones. "Tell me, what takes you away from your Hold in such a great rush?" Closer too it was clear that he was no Holdless one; he was well fed and fit at least even if his clothes were ugly, ill-fitting and in need of repair...
Oh that was just too funny.
L'thor's eyes caught on the harness the boy was using to ride, and he raised his brows. Well, that was only going to get painful. A saddle would serve the boy much better, but by now L'thor was coming to realise that expecting any degree of sense from this one was pointless. Sharding fool. He should just go back to Raith and leave him to the mercy of the Holdless. Well, those that had been Holdless for some time in any case. This soft, wherry-headed lad would be torn to shreds and if he was not, well, he'd starve before long. Why today of all days had he come across this brainless little dragon-dreamer? Foolish, deluded and shifty. Why was he backing up?... Humm.
"Raith, if he tries anything just give a nice loud shout to spook the runner will you? L'thor asked with savage satisfaction. "He's not going anywhere until he gives me answers that satisfy me. D'los would have been kind and understanding. He would have approached gently, asking if the boy needed help rather than demanding what he was up to. Too soft by half, D'los had been.
"Well... alright," Raith replied eventually, reluctantly. "It's for his own good that you... humm..." The green trailed off, and L'thor felt her focus more intently on the deadglow on the runner.
"What is it?" the rider asked, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the boy rather than glancing back at his beast.
"I'm... not certain," Raith said after some moments. "I think he might have potential."
L'thor groaned internally. Oh no. No no. Not such a fool as this boy. Surely not. Oh shards and shells and falling Thread. "I sincerely hope you are incorrect," he informed his dragon as he continued to glower up at the stupid boy with his stupid straps. Those things would come to pieces the moment he tried anything athletic; the boy had no idea of how to construct such a thing at all. Even if he had, he would still have done better with a saddle.
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Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 5:05 pm
Veyes looked towards the man and he could see the disdain in his face already. There wasn't much hiding what the man thought of him with those clipped tones and scowl upon his face. But Veyes wasn't going to let himself get intimidated by this one.
A small part of him could have even felt the pains of jealousy had he the time to consider the notion but another feeling crested the boy's mind as he watched the man and thought of the dragon behind him. His fingers tensing further..feeling a bit of anger bite at his sensibilities.
How dare that rider give him a look as if he were a just a small bug on his dragon's eyelid! The man probably never had to tough out anything in his life! Probably never had a father that beat him senseless just for talking about following his dreams!
Of course, after the previous thoughts, it did take him a short moment to realize that the Rider eyes had shifted to his draft beast and probably was groaning inwardly at his homemade riding straps and more than likely presumed he was a loon for using them. By the look on the man's face he knew it to be the dreadful fact. This didn't sit well in the boy's stomach considering he had tried so hard with what little he had to make those straps. This rider probably never worked a day in his life except washing the back side of his dragon!
He bit back the temptation to tell the man where he could shoves his shells and went back to the original plan. Although at this point, he sincerely doubted that his words would be believed by any stretch of the imagination; maybe he shouldn't even try. He shouldn't have stuck around to talk that had been his big mistake.
He took a breath and pulled his composure from the constant unspoken words... Leave here.. don't come back.
"I'm on a personal mission... and I am sorry to have taken you and your dragon away from things you surely find more important." He paused for a brief moment before continuing, however, his words became daring and sharper as he went on unable to hold back some of the anger that had built up over the years while he had kept quiet at home, "Why don't you continue on your journey...sir.... You can mock me all you want to your weyrmates later assuming your so inclined. "
His lips pressed together tightly as he stopped himself realizing that wasn't the smartest of paths to follow. It was never wise to provoke a Dragon Rider; especially not with his big dragon buddy in the distance. But in one small corner of his desperate mind he could almost rationalize that whatever happened, it could not be worse than the years of bruises up and down his back. In the end, he was determined that he would not return home even if he had to go through this Rider and the Dragon to do so. He would find a way - this one dream would come true.
An opportune retreat might be the safer road he decided; before the Rider got any other ideas. "I apologize for my... misspoken words. They weren't meant for you. I won't keep you any longer. Have a safe journey...It was...a pleasure to meet you, sir." The last lines he forced from his lips because it was hardly the case but he wasn't stupid enough not close the conversation without common courtesy.
He backed the draft runner further away from the contemptuous Dragonrider with the intention of leaving him far behind.....at least that was his hoped.
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Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 4:42 am
L'thor shook his head slowly and gave a low chuckle that was completely devoid of mirth once the boy had spoken his piece. "Well, you've a spine at any rate," he said with a smirk. "I do hope you realize that by running away you are giving yourself a death sentence. If you've lucky you might manage to join up with a band of Holdless and live out a short brutal life... By the way, you needn't lie to me. You're not sorry a bit, and you'd be considerably happier if you'd never laid eyes on me. Believe you me, boy, the feeling is very much mutual but I think it would be better if you didn't run off right away. Much to my disgust, I think my dragon has something she wants me to tell you..."
By the first egg he hoped Raith would pipe up and tell him she had been mistaken. A boy like this would only be bad news for the Weyr. Fools never did last long, and as such L'thor just hoped he didn't Impress. He highly doubted this one would make it through weyrling training alive. The boy himself was no loss, but L'thor hated to think of a young dragon dying because of him.
"...He is suitable," Raith said eventually, reluctantly. "I didn't see it before because I was so busy wondering about what he was doing out here. He could Impress if the right dragon came along, L'thorMine. It is our duty to bring him in no matter what we might think of him. A dragon could be the making of him you know. We always do improve Ours."
L'thor groaned and rubbed his face wearily. Why today? It was all too much. He wanted to scream in frustration, he wanted to leave this fool to the fate he had laid out for himself but no, no he had to do him the honor of taking him to the Weyr. He didn't deserve a dragon. A dragon might improve him, but in the end you couldn't polish s**t. A dragon might slightly improve the smell, but it wouldn't change the basic nature of the boy.
"Just perfect," L'thor muttered, turning his sharp grey eyes back onto the foolish dragon-dreamer. "What's your name, boy? Mine is L'thor, rider of green Raith." If the idiot decided to gallop off now, well, there was nothing he could really do about that now was there? Shame to lose a Candidate - harhar - but there were plenty more in the world, plenty still at the Weyr who hadn't Impressed in the last clutch. Losing this one wouldn't be the most terrible thing ever. Why today? He didn't want to deal with this. He just wanted to be back up in the air, forgetting.
"D'los would have brought him in, Mine." Raith said gently. "I remember that, because you're thinking it. He would have told you to make sure the boy made it safely to the Weyr too; you're thinking that as well."
L'thor clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. "Not helpful Raith. Not helpful at all." He knew that. He knew he had to. A distasteful task, but it had to be done.
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Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 7:59 am
Veyes sighed slowly as the Rider spoke; the man probably had every right to think of him as stupid if he were to view himself from the other's perspective not knowing how he lived his days. The Rider probably knew a lot more about the outside world than Veyes but he'd rather take his chances with that. At least, he would live and die knowing these choses where his own.
"Well, sometimes it's better to lie than to make matters worse with the truth. But at least we have an understanding now I suppose. You know...I thought about that before I came out here long and hard. I know that it wont' be easy..." he returned with a thoughtful gaze even though frustrated by the smirk before him. "...but in the end I realized that any life I made myself would be far better than the one I had. I'm not willing to give up the last shred of my soul like my mother has. At least, I will be free to follow my dreams."
He paused for a moment wonder what a dragon might have to say to him but it was more than likely more scolding words considering the Rider's own unpleasant nature, "I know that my dreams don't mean anything to you, Rider...you've got your dragon and the entire world beneath the dragon's wings. To you, I am just another stupid holder brat...a bug on your Dragon's eyelid that will be flicked away in one blink." He shifted his weight uncomfortably with this conversation along the draft's back and allowed his legs to adjust against the straps as his hands re-gripped the draft's mane.
"I can't say I don't envy that world you live and I am not asking for it....but please have a shred of decency let me find a way to make my small lot in life just a little better for me." He should have run off then...because the pain that ached within pounded against his own chest and looking at the man's disdainful face only made matters worse. It hurt horribly to try to view the other man's world and place his own in perspective to that.
He bit his lip as the man offered his name and that of his dragon. Courtesy would mean he had to answer and he hadn't sunk so low as to lose everything his mother had taught him. "It's Veyes." he responded as he braced himself for another round but in the end his anger had come full circle needing release even if it was this damned Rider. "If I disgust you so much, L'thor...please just fly away and forget you ever landed here! If your Dragon's words are only an amplification of your own inflated ego then I don't want to hear it! You go back to your cushy life in the Weyr. I doubt you've ever had to fight for anything...your dreams handed to you on a silver plater. Well one day, I'll make a name for myself and we'll meet again. When that happens, pray I'm more empathetic of your needs than you are of mine. "
He could have cursed his own tongue because it was rare that Veyes had ever lashed out at an adult like he had this one. But the man rankled the very fiber of his being and all he wanted to do was prove to him that he wasn't worthless.
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Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 8:57 am
He wanted to kill him then, just tear him apart. He clenched his fists tighter, felt himself begin to shake with rage. It wasn't all the boy, he knew that, he knew this Veyes was just amplifying an already terrible, horrible, unbearable day. Silver platter. Inflated ego. He hadn't been egotistical in the slightest, for once in his life, he'd just told the boy a few uncomfortable truths. He felt sick with rage and hate, and all he could think of was how much better D'los would have handled this situation. Why today?
"You," L'thor hissed, his voice trembling along with his tensed body, "are a very stupid little boy." He couldn't bear to take him back to Ista! He couldn't stand it! Here the brat was, talking of inflated egos, and then going on to say how he'd make a name for himself, shooting off thinly veiled threats! The idea of a boy like this one impressing made his blood boil, made him feel sick. What dragon would choose such a piece of filth?
"Mine," Raith murmured inside his head, "oh Mine. We have to. We have to take him in. What we think doesn't matter, we have to do it. I wish I had not felt potential in him but I cannot change what is there. We have to take him."
"I can't! How could I stand to let him anywhere near you? Anywhere near any dragon? He is Holdless now, surely we could not be expected to bring in a Holdless!" A turn ago today. Why? It shouldn't have happened, and this shouldn't be happening either! Oh to turn away and leave him to his death. He would starve, or be attacked, and in his last agonizing moments he would remember claiming he would make a name for himself, and he would cry bitter tears. But that would not happen. He had to take the boy in and, yes, hand him his dreams on a silver platter.
"Well I... He's hardly been Holdless long Mine," Raith said heavily. "He probably only left today. I don't think we could excuse it so. We have to bring him in; let hatchlings be the judge of him. He might not be so bad at the Weyr, before he even gets a chance to become a rider. You might find him more bearable tomorrow."
He did have to. Shards. He should have accepted V'kain's offer of companionship for the day instead of creeping out before first light. If he'd stayed with his friend and got disgustingly drunk none of this would be happening, and the brat would have died before anyone else could have seen his potential to Impress. Shards. Short and neat though his nails were, he could feel them pressing painfully into his palms. He didn't relax. Couldn't have done if he'd wanted to. No. Why should he take the boy? He'd shown himself to be unreliable by fleeing his Hold, and Holdless for any length of time was still Holdless. Yet he had to. Couldn't. Had to. Couldn't. He felt as though he would go mad with the impossible choice. He couldn't do either. Shard it all.
"Her words might interest you actually," L'thor went on, his voice still shaking, his face gone near white with rage. "She tells me that you have the potential to Impress... Seen as you want me to fly away though, perhaps I shall. Let you go off and make a name for yourself, shall I?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 9:56 am
"I am not STUPID!" he let loose vehemently as he clenched his fists tight in the mane to the point he could feel his jagged work torn nails digging in the calloused flesh. "I won't sit here and let you drag me into the abyss you've created for me. You don't know me! You wouldn't even care to know what I've endured...what my mother will continue to endure for me! She's tried so hard to protect me but that isn't working anymore...she wanted me to get out...anywhere is better!" He sucked in air along his dry mouth as his muscled tensed over the fresh welts and bruises that hid under his clothes; the harsh reminders that everything he did now was well worth the price he'd pay.
His body shook with a fierce temper that he wanted nothing more than to unleash upon the man before him even the far back of his mind screamed to use better judgement. But when L'thor spoke his next words they impacted upon him like a targeted strike to a heavy shield that had been well worn from years of use.
"What??" The man had to be kidding him; trying to take him off guard. He was just using the words from Veyes obvious interest in dragons from the straps he wore but to what end?
"How could she...know something like that?" He felt like the man had stuck a rock in the road and he stumbled right over it. He glanced up over L'thor's shoulder off into the distance staring at the dragon and the small spark of boyish wonderment tempted his thoughts with a tiny tinge of hope. Wasn't that always something he had wanting more than anything...to be a dragon rider? But then the harsh reality hit like a thunderclap to his waking mind. "You're just trying to fool me...thinking I am going to drop my guard and make it easy to take me home. Stupid child might be so awe struck that he'll give up...right?"
"Well..." he shook his head feeling the hateful words of his father stirring through him like an icy wind. "...sir...as much as I'd want that to be real rather than a wistful dream, I don't think I can take another round with my father...and...I...won't let my mother to take the belt for me again just to discover that you never had any intention of making me into a rider."
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Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 10:20 am
L'thor sighed. Suddenly his fire was gone. The rage. The hate. All gone. He felt as though between had just opened up inside him. What a sharding horrible day. "No," he said, rubbing his face wearily and shaking his head, "I don't know anything about you, and you don't know anything about me either. As for your situation, what do you want from me? A sharding medal for running away? Personally I feel that if he's so bad you should have done something about him by now, either by reporting him to a higher authority or by dealing with him yourself, but that's just what I would have done." Things were different for traders he supposed. There was no room for brutal men who lashed out at their families on the open road. One way or another, such people were dealt with.
"As to Raith," he went on, "well, how did you think new riders were found? Dragons can tell who has the ability to make a bond the same way you could smell fresh bread as you walk by a bakery. If you want to think I'm just trying to take you in, that's fine; we never force anyone to come to the Weyr so you're perfectly free to ride off now if you so wish. I won't stop you." He just wanted to leave this stupid child behind and go back to the Weyr. There was still hate and disdain for the stupid brat somewhere but it wasn't really his right now, it was far away, distant, put aside until he had the energy to feel it again.
"Don't worry Mine, Raith said to him with a chilly air of calm about her words. "I'm quite capable of feeling it for both of us for now; almost everything he has said so far has been an insult to us. Pray he is empathic to our needs indeed. What could we two ever need from a creature such as he?... You'll excuse me if I don't show it though, you'd only have to deal with him fainting and or soiling himself."
Well, that was true at any rate. L'thor nodded distractedly to his dragon before turning his mind back to the matter in hand. "If you do want to come to the Weyr though, it is my duty to take you," L'thor said, meeting the boy's eyes again. "Even if you don't care to come however, I might head on to your Hold now and see your father is taught a few manners. Bullies disgust me."
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Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 10:54 am
The words stung as his world felt a little more shattered by the man before him. What could he have done? What could any child have done? Who would have believed his words? The man made it sound like it was so easy. If his own mother never could get out, how could he have done any different? She kept him as safe as she could so they wouldn't get ostracized. These secrets were the ones that most families never talked about leaving the darkest of stains hidden under masked smiles.
His shoulders slumped as he listened to L'thor words, "I didn't know...dragons could do that." He returned quietly wishing he had not been born. What could he have done to have spared his mother the pain she went through? Was it his fault they had suffered for so long? It seemed the rider thought so.
"So...it is...my choice to come to the Weyr?" he said carefully, slowly looked up from the mane he had tangled in his hands meeting the man's gaze. His eye's stared for a moment into the Rider as if trying to seek out the truth; something more than the venom they had spat at each other so easily.
But he had to look away as L'thor spoke of his father, "He won't act like that with you, sir...He'll be respectful as the next man."
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Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 11:16 am
L'thor shrugged. Perhaps it wasn't really his place to intervene anyway. Perhaps he should go there and kick the crap out of the man no matter how respectful he was... or try to. L'thor knew very well he was far from the world's best fighter. Still, if things went sour he knew Raith would happily drop out of the sky and rescue him. It was all a bit much to deal with right now. He'd put the thought on hold, maybe come back to it another day, maybe not.
"Well, fine then. Do you want to come or not? You can't bring the runner with you, so if you do want to you'll either need to turn it loose or take it back. Needn't worry about being trapped, I might not like you but I intend to see my duty through. If anyone tries to stop you leaving, Raith and I shall intervene."
Should he offer to let the boy bring his dear old mother with him? Egh. She could work as a drudge or something in the lower caverns he supposed but he really had no authority to allow it. A mere green rider would probably be reprimanded for bringing an unnecessary person into an already crowded Weyr. Ha. He was to be reprimanded for missing his drills today anyway, he supposed he could compound it. He didn't really have the energy though. If the boy suggested it, fine, if not he wasn't up to it today. Another day perhaps, but not today.
"Mere green rider indeed, Raith scoffed gently, trying to lift her rider's mood. "Such fools they are for seeing my colour and thinking that means we two are not as fit as a gold and her rider to lead. I think we could do a lovely job of it given the chance. We could refuse to let idiots in, and arrogant bronze riders would be made into couriers."
L'thor twitched an almost-smile at his dear dragon's jest but offered no more response than that to her. He still had idiot-face to deal with. "So then. What's it to be? Will you ride off and make your name, or would you like a serving of dreams on a silver platter?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 11:56 am
"I want..." he paused as his lips parted in the most strangest of thoughts.. He was being offered to make his own choice for a change. Was this what freedom felt like? He had no idea what the man was thinking beside the fact that he might be hoping that Veyes would say no.
However, even the boy knew better than to look the other way if a chance for a new life might be standing right before him; even if it was packaged in an arrogant Rider that had a multitude of creatively foul names for him. However, he had several names for this rider too and none of them were L'thor. So maybe they were even on that account.
But when he continued to think about his situation he had to ask this question of himself; Why would the man have continued talking about these things if there wasn't a shred of truth to it? He could have already brought the dragon forward and taken him down at this point.
Although, the "serving of dreams on a silver platter" had the feeling of a healthy slap attached soundly to it and he probably deserved that one considering how he had lashed out at the man. "I want to go to the weyr." he said slowly as his eyes met the man's filled with a bit of determination mixed with the shreds of hope that mingling in the depths of his soul.
He had a feeling he would get a roll of the man's eyes for sure or any number of other expressions that showed the true contempt the other felt for him. But, maybe that wouldn't matter, he had lived with far worse, what could the man do other than drop him from the skies from the dragon's back. Maybe his last thought would be, "At least I got to fly?" He actually smiled...he had nothing to lose.
He unhooked his feet from the "riding straps" and slipped off the draft; the slide tugging at his loose shirt revealing many of the red welts and purple bruises. Some covered with loose wraps to absorb the blood; others scared over from years gone by.
Turning he quickly, he pushed his shirt back into place then removed the straps from the draft. "I should take him home...but I don't want to be anywhere near there, sir." He felt bad for his draft...his first real steed. However, he was uncertain of what to do for him.
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Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 12:45 pm
L'thor nodded; he hadn't expected any other answer even from such a daft boy as this one. He took in the marks of the boys hard life in silence. Had he happened upon Veyes at his Hold, he knew he would have been outraged at the youth's father. He still was but... Oh, he didn't know. He still had that feeling of between inside him. He could hardly even feel love for Raith, but he knew tomorrow would be better... and Veyes' father would be dealt with. He couldn't just leave that alone.
"The boy might be a fool, but perhaps he was just rude to you because he was afraid. You didn't exactly start out kindly Mine, Raith pointed out thoughtfully. "I find myself inclined to be kinder to him in light of what we know of him now. Frightened injured animals do lash out Mine."
L'thor groaned and tried to push his fingers through his hair, but was foiled by the tangles that the wind had made in it. He freed himself with a sigh and nodded distractedly to his dragon's words. "Yes. You're right. I know..." He should feel for the boy, but he feared to begin that. It would be best to get through the rest of today in numbness, lest he break down and make a fool of himself. Tomorrow would be better, and tonight he would get drunk.
"If you want, I'll take him back to your Hold," L'thor said eventually, wondering at the hollow sound of his usually vibrant voice. "I can explain the situation to your mother if I find her..." Should he? Should he not? He should. He knew he should. He'd never minded being in trouble in any case. what was the worst they could do to him? "If she'd be willing to leave her home behind I could bring her along. Ista is cramped at the moment, but one more person wouldn't make a huge difference, especially one who would work." Well now. He was being nice. Was that because Raith's hate for Veyes was fading? Would he himself still hate the boy tomorrow when he had the energy to feel such things again? Who knew? Not him for sure.
"Oh," he turned the corners of his mouth up with a great effort, "and I'm not a sir of any kind. I'd rather you called me dung-face than sir. Bronze riders are sirs, not greens." That had almost been humor. Perhaps slightly bitter humor, reflecting his dislike of almost all who rode the largest males but he'd tried, and he felt that Raith appreciated that. Veyes probably wouldn't, but he still didn't give a flitt's tailfork what Veyes thought. Today he would just do his duty; tomorrow he would work out whether or not he despised the foolish child.
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Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 1:36 pm
His eyes kept glancing towards the draft as he weighed the options but he owed it to the creature, who had been his best and only real friend outside of his mother. Veyes knew he'd probably be hungry and wanting his grain soon enough. So he wasn't going to let the draft down if he could help it. "That would be great. He's a pretty good stead; a good friend too." His hand warmly patted the draft who nickered at the boy as if answering him.
"My mother works as a drudge in the Lord Holder's household but I doubt she will come; my little brother still...is at home and she wouldn't want to burden you." He wished he could have told the man that she would just pick up and go. It would have made him felt better but he knew she'd not leave his younger brother with his father.
Although the man's next words brought a questioning and perplexed look back to his strained face, It was impossible not to have that "did he just hear him right?" look as he spoke, "Dung-face? Uhhhhh... But why??? You're a dragon rider...aren't your proud of your dragon? She's just as good as any other dragon. Calling you dung-face seems like I'm telling her that she's made a bad choice. I can call you by your name if you wish but I wont' call you that."
Maybe he should have taken that more as a joke but he wasn't an idiot. He'd rather have a rider angry at him than a dragon. And today had just been too stressful for him to take anything easily. He felt like a wilted flower, who's petals had been scorched by an angry sun. He just wanted a cool bath and to adjust the bandages around his back because the sores itched.
"I guess I am ready when you are, si...L'thor." He grabbed up his "flight pack" with all the things he had prepared for his journey and waited for what he needed to do next.
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