"Anyway. So there I was, shivering, all alone, lost in the woods. When this dragon comes down from the sky. The rider wrapped me up, and took me to his Weyr. The Healers fixed me up- I had been in the cold for a really long time, ya know. But of course, once I was better, there wasn't anywhere for me to go. So I did what I had to do. I stole some food, and some clothes, and I ran away. They didn't even look for me," he said, full of spite. The woman's face never softened.
"I wandered for turns, alone, just travelling from place to place. And then I came to this Weyr. And I've been here for a while. Now, what seems to be the problem?" He removed his boots from the table, and they made a horrifically loud sound as they hit the floor. He propped his elbows on his knees, holding his chin in his large hands.
"Well, Mr. Kendelin. Ever since you have arrived, things have gone missing. First, it was just food from the kitchens. And then, it came to be things like candlesticks, and books. But now, the Weyrwoman's necklace is missing. It has a diamond charm. Now, where could it have gone?" Kendelin appeared to have no idea what she was talking about.
"I have no idea what you are talking about." The woman behind the desk rose to her feet.
"If you turn it over, all will be forgiven and you may continue with your life here, as long as nothing else goes missing. But if you don't confess, then you must leave this place immediately." Kendelin rose to his feet too.
"Well, considering I have no idea what you're talking about, I can't quite produce this 'necklace' you speak of. So I guess I'll be going." With that, he spun on his heel and walked from the room.
Snow began to fall. He crunched through it, hands in his pockets. He hadn't needed to get any of his things, for he really had nothing at all that he owned. Except for the clothes on his back. And his boots. He had seventeen turns, and had been on his own for five. The people he met never cared whether he came or went. That was how he survived. He came to a Weyr or Hold or Hall, he would stay until he was unwelcome (the longest that had been was for nearly a whole turn), and then he would move on. He really had no place of his own, and no family. He had a mother, but where, he did not know. And he had a father. Or, he used to. His father had kicked him out of the house one night for walking in on him and his current whore. Stunned, the young boy had just stood there, watching nature...take its course. The woman had seen him first, and shrieked. She lept from the bed with the sheet, leaving his father stark naked on the bed. He had run from the room, wishing it had never happened. His father had found him, and beat him, still not wearing a stitch. The woman ran away, screaming that she would not have "boys" watching her do her business. For that, for the fact that his father had not finished his business, young Kendelin had been banished from his home.
He stood at an entrance. It was Cathair Fionabhiann, according to a nearby drudge. He shrugged. Whatever. Cathair, or Weyr. It was a place to be. A place to try and start over.
He entered, and the people stared. He was aware of his appearance, dark and dirty with bronze skin, long black hair and ice blue eyes. The black hide jacket and breeches, anlong with his black boots did not make him appear welcoming- more like trouble.
He looked around for a while, trying to see what was going on around him. At first the people stared, but then they went about their business. He did notice that they held their marks pouches closer to their bodies as he passed. He shook his head, grinning. People were so quick to jump to conclusions.
"Hey!" shouted a voice from behind Kendelin. Here it comes, he thought. Someone telling him to get away, they don't need any "trouble". As if he had some kind of sign around him, "I Am Trouble!". He sighed, and turned.
"Are you new here? I've never seen you before..." The man who spoke had greenrider knots, and there was a green behind him, looking curiously at Kendelin.
"Yeah, I am. Just got here today, as a matter of fact. I was just looking around. If you want me to leave, I'll go, no problem. I don't mean any trouble." He emphasized the last word, and turned to leave. But the man grabbed his arm.
"Where did you come from? And where are you going?" Kendelin was slightly annoyed. This man was getting personal.
"I came from a Weyr, and another Weyr before that, and a Hold before that, and then another Weyr... And where am I going? Nowhere in particular. I'm just...going." He turned agian to leave, and again the man pulled him back. Kendelin's jaw clenched, but he held back his temper.
"You have nowhere to go? No family or friends?"
"No, I don't. I'm all alone, thank you for pointing it out," he growled, his patience completely gone.
"Then, would you mind holding this for me?" asked the peculiar man. Kendelin grumbled, but took the stone anyway, making a face. It was glowing, and then all of a sudden...it stopped. He gave the stone back, and then shaking his head, turned away.
"Wait! Don't you want to Stand?" kendelin called back without turning around.
"I am Standing!" The man shook his head, exhasperated.
"No! Stand on the Sands, where there is a clutch. So you can Imprint a Dragon." Kendelin turned slowly then, and the man grinned to himself.
"Me. A dragonrider? Are you sure?" He was truly shocked. He who came from a dirty place, who was dirty himself, marked as trouble by everyone, who had some small encounters with rules... a Dragonrider?
"That stone is Findstone, which is imbedded bacteria that glow. When someone capable of Impressing touches it, the bacteria stop glowing. It stopped glowing when you held it. Therefore, you are a suitable candidate. Did any of that make sense?" Kendelin nodded slowly.
I think so. You mean that that...stone thinks I will be a good candidate?"
"No, not the stone. The bacteria on the stone. It's all very simple, really. By the way, I am R'tiel, and that beautiful green over there is Mrussith. Isn't she wonderful with her one wingsail lighter than the other?" The dragon perked up at hearing her name. Kendelin's mind was still spinning, but he followed R'tiel to the candidate barracks.