Zhick stood at Jerdan Weyr!
Zhick is excited, obviously, about the whole hatching business. "And Lord Darkhanis was really nice about letting me go, he told me that it was good that kids like me have a shot at being dragon riders too!"
"Kids like you?" You ask.
"Yeah, I was working on the Hold's farmland. It's hard work but then the search rider who found me said that he wished he'd had the chance to do that kind of work when he was my age, so his muscles weren't so sore when he DID impress and had to learn all about fire stone catching and stuff."
"You seem to know a lot about riding," you say, smiling.
"Well..." Zhick runs his big hand through his messy hair. "I have been wandering around a lot, looking at the riders and weyrs. It's a real big job, taking care of a dragon. I'm lucky I found my little Bobby there to help me scratch and oil if I do impress."
"Bobby?" You look around, wondering what he's talking about, and then a small brown fire lizard swoops over your head, lands on Zhick's, and bobs his head up and down.
"See? Bobby! I found him on the beach nearby!" Zhick laughs, his voice cracks, and he looks about ready to melt into the ground because of it.
"You'll be old enough -- and you'll grow up a Dragon rider, Zhick!" You tell him, purely for the beaming smile he offers you in return.
"Thanks! Hey, did you want to see my collection of trundlebug wings?"
"Your.... Uh, no, thanks. All the same... I'll be headed off now!"
"Okay... No body ever wants to see 'em!"
It all went so quickly! We were barely inside the large hot cavern when three eggs busted open at once! A brown, a bronze and a green! How I wanted one of those, but of course, EVERYONE wanted them! That's why we were here!
But right after the three hatchlings found their bonds, and Impressed, four more eggs cracked open! My heart leapt... And of course, now I knew why! The snooty gold who came from her shell kept looking at the girls and turning away, like she was looking for more candidates. I didn't think it was very polite, after all, there were lots of girls! One of the blue hatchlings that came from the shells went to a boy beside me! Then, the green went to one of the cute girls. About then, was when something changed inside me. All I could think about was how hunrgy I was -- and I had every right to be, too, because we hadn't had any lunch! But it wasn't even me! I watched as the second blue from this bunch went right up to the Gold, and made some very rude noises at her. The Gold was all ready to fight, it looked like it anyway, so I had to jump in! I couldn't just stand there and watch this! But... I didn't have any choice, either!
I went right up there, even though we're not really supposed to get into the eggs -- It's supposed to be the dragons coming to us, right? -- but I knew that there was going to be trouble. I looked at that gold, she was really angry, I think. But I pointed at the girls, because they were all getting really worried that none of them would Impress! Could you imagine? It would be terrible! If a dragon was so picky and snooty that she didn't ever find a rider among her candidates?! Well! I put her on the right direction I guess, but she didn't choose immediately.
I had been chosen, though, and I knew it! Because that hungry growl in my stomach was echoed in the little blue hatchling I'd defended! He looked at me, and I smiled. "You okay now? Y'know, you should't tell a Gold what to do." Then I heard his voice for the first time!
It was very quiet, though! I practically didn't hear him, he sounded like... Well, he sounded like he said Fertath. "Say it again?" Yep, I was sure now! "Fertath? Fertath!" I was all grinning and happy, now! He was in my heart as well as my stomach! I went to his neck and rubbed his head, and he looked like he was grinning, just like me! I turned to everyone and told them, "his name's Fertath!" But I bet they'd guessed that.
I really didn't look back, because even though there were lots more dragons hatching, right after mine, everything just dimmed in comparison to my beautiful blue Fertath! With him, I was going to be able to fly far and wide! Maybe even be a Search rider myself!
That will be great fun, Fertath said to me, in my mind. His voice is still all soft, and almost like a harpers reed flute! When you've fed me, maybe you can tell me what a search is, and why we need to go all wide!
Not me and Fertath.
Well perhaps not 'you' Fertath bespoke me. It is still dark outside! And did you see the snow yesterday? You know that it is cold when your skin matches mine!
I rolled my eyes, but he was right! The snow had come suddenly, early and with fierce gales. I'd never seen a winter like this, at home in the South!