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 Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 8:43 am
The day was much like any other at the small cothold that was beholden to Ista Hold. The grove of fruit trees was the main center of activity, with most of the family there. It was picking time and men were among the branches, picking the ripe fruit and placing it in baskets.
One girl was in charge of the cart, a young beast harnessed to it. Basket after basket was placed in the cart, slowly filling up for the trip to the small hold for storage.
Reign's mother and a few of her older brothers' wives and small children were the only ones at the hold. Everyone else had been recruited into helping with the harvest. The older grandchildren were doing whatever chores could be handled. The women at the hold were in charge of storing what was being brought in.
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 9:04 am
The day was about to get rather more interesting. After having brought in a couple of Candidates of late, and with so many clutches being laid, L'thor and Raith had been subtly encouraged to keep their eyes open, as it were. Why they didn't just go ahead and make him a Search rider L'thor had no idea, but he relished the excuse to soar over new ground with Raith nevertheless.
"I think it's probably because you have all the patience of a prody green," his green dragon commented. "Official Search riders probably need a deal less temper than you, Mine."
L'thor shrugged; she probably had a point. "There's some people down there," he pointed out after a moment, peering through his mount's keen eyes. "Couple look like they might be the right age. Shall we go down and take a look?"
Raith sent him a feeling of assent. "That is what we're out here to do," she said as she spiraled gracefully towards the ground. "This is the only thing I don't like about Searching," she sighed, "we have to make such staid landings."
L'thor sighed his agreement. "I know, I'd much rather be diving at breakneck pace too, but we can have some fun later; for now let's just do our unofficial job, shall we?"
"Yes," Raith agreed as they drew nearer to the ground, "let us see what we can see."
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 9:18 am
It was one of the younger children who first spotted the dragon coming in to land. "Dragon, dragon!" The shout was taken up by all the young ones, who rushed to where the green was making her landing. Reign's father, Kulnan, frowned. He was assuming that this rider was coming to take some of their fruit, fruit that was to go to Ista Hold as part of their tithe. Then Ista Hold would tithe to the Weyr. That was how things worked. Not that they really should be tithing to the Weyr anymore. Why were dragonriders needed? There was no Thread!
Kulnan slowly made his way to intercept the rider, motioning for his children to continue. Reign had her hands full with the beast harnessed to the cart as it spotted the green coming in. She managed to wrestle it to where it couldn't see the dragon and spoke soothingly to it.
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 9:30 am
Raith touched down lightly and tucked her wings neatly by her sides before stooping to allow her rider to hop to the ground. "Well then?" L'thor inspected their surroundings, taking in the approaching holder carefully. Didn't look like much of a welcoming comity. "You sense anyone, or shall we be off again."
The sleek green rumbled thoughtfully to herself. "A moment... Yes. There's someone here. I suppose you shall have to speak with that man; I need to go closer to the younger ones to be sure which it is... I think it's that girl with the beast - can I have a heardbeast when we get back to the Weyr? - but I'm not certain."
L'thor nodded, laying a hand on his dragon's shoulder as the holder approached them. "Yes, you can have a heardbeast when we return RaithLove." The man looked none to friendly. Ah well, you couldn't be universally adored, he supposed. "Greetings," he said with a nod as the holder came within decent earshot, "I am L'thor, rider of green Raith."
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 9:42 am
The younger children were excited and watched in awe as the man dismounted from his green. They exchanged giggles and glances, each daring the other to get even closer to the green.
Kulnan returned the nod, a slight frown still on his face. "Kulnan. What can we do for you, dragonrider?"
Reign had managed to calm the beast and tied it to one of the trees before sneaking closer to see what was going on. Curiosity had gotten the best of her. She'd probably endure a lashing later for not continuing working like her father had said, but oh well.
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 10:06 am
L'thor nodded to the man's name; seemed polite for now at any rate. "We are here on a Search; my dragon tells me that there is one here who is suitable for Candidacy..." As his eyes ran over the crowd, he spotted the girl Raith had been talking about drawing nearer. "Well Raith? Is it her?"
The slender dragon turned calm blue eyes onto the short-haired young woman. As she drew a little closer, the blue grew bright, stronger and Raith rumbled softly. "Yes," her eyes never left the girl, "it is she."
L'thor looked up at his dragon and gave a slight nod. "Good. Well, let us see what Kulnan has to say for himself before we pick on her, shall we? He's not being rude or anything but it strikes me that he doesn't like us all that much. I want to have a better measure of him before I name anyone."
Raith looked down at her rider and sent him a feeling of assent. "As you wish, Mine. We shall wait."
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