Do you really think there's a good one or two in the bunch, Oskerth? D'run asked his proud blue as they landed down beside their fellow Searchers R'lan and his own blue Ancith. Do you really think I would say yes there is when truly no there isn't? the blue responded to his Bonded, letting his swirling eyes look over the line up. Six boys and four girls stood before the two dragons. They were dressed in their best daily clothes, watching the riders dismount their dragons with both awe and respect flashing in their eyes. "It's a shame we can't even look at the girls for this one," R'lan commented quietly to D'run as they met to compare quick notes. "I know...but Alinth doesn't want any," D'run said, glancing down the line of boys. "Welcome to Versus Hold, gentlemen," Lady Holder Nuri said pleasantly to the two as she curtsied. "I hope your trip was a pleasant one?" Both men bowed politely to the woman before D'run answered her with a grin. "Quick as a blink, Lady Nuri." "These are your potential candidates?" asked R'lan, getting right to the point. "That they are. Though, I thought we had..." Nuri began, glancing to Journywoman Pomale. She felt for sure the weaver's son and nephew would be down here. After all, had not Tobias's father been a rider? The young man breathed the dreams of following in his sire's footsteps. Pomale only smiled at her Lady, glancing to the door which led up to her family's rooms. Sure enough, as if on cue, two boys came rushing onto the scene, quickly taking a place at the end. They tried to look nonchalant as they stood in line, chests heaving as they quietly gasped for air. Nuri grinned, then turned her attention back to the riders. "Yes, this is all of them." D'run's head snapped to look at the two young men who came rushing into the court. Both were considerably older than the other potentials, looking to be somewhere between 18 or 19 turns. That one... both dragons practically shouted to their riders. D'run and R'lan quickly looked up at their Bonds before returning their attention to the young man whose place was at the very end of the line. His brown hair barely grazed the upper tips of his ears, and his skin wasn't quite as dark as his running mates', but nothing that either of the SearchRiders hadn't seen before. While most of the other potentials stood closer to 5'5" , the one on the end towered above them at close to 5 foot 9 inches. He also stood differently then the others...even his friend. He stood, almost at attention. It seemed with him, the awe of being Searched wasn't there. He seemed to respect them, and their dragons, more than he was amazed by them. R'lan looked to D'run, then headed for the boy. He went slowly, looking over all the candidates...stopping when Ancith gave him comments about the others. D'run soon took up going over the potentials as well, wanting to find at least another one in case R'lan didn't agree with their dragons (at which point he'd have to be considered insane). Upon reaching the dark haired boy, he stopped and looked him over, really considering him. "What's your name?" he asked. The young man glanced at him, and for a moment a flicker of helplessness appeared in his gray eyes. "It's Tobias, Sir," said the boy next to him. R'lan blinked at the black haired potential, then looked back to...Tobias was his name? "Can't you speak?" he asked, holding back a frown as the boy before him shook his head. "My brother was born mute, but that doesn't mean he won't make a great DragonRider!" Pacal said from behind his mother. "Pacal, hush!" the Weaver woman scolded her son, offering both R'lan and D'run apologetic looks. "The boy worships his brother," she shrugged, smiling slightly. "And their father was one," Nuri said quietly, slipping up beside R'lan. "Was?" D'run questioned, as he joined their group. "Taken by Thread fall," the Lady Holder replied, glancing to Tobias, who had yet to take his eyes off the Riders. R'lan glanced back at the boy, then to the dragons. Both of the great blues stared at him, ready to bite his head off if he did not bring this boy. Turning his gaze to D'run, he asked "Is there another good one?" D'run grinned, and nodded, going back down the line to a younger candidate. "Pack your bags once you're dismissed." he stated firmly. The young man squealed, but quickly composed himself and nodded, a wide grin on his face. "That goes for you too," R'lan said, shifting a glance to Tobias. For a moment the boy seemed as if he would burst with joy, but hid that behind a smile and a nod. "You can go..." R'lan announced, quickly walking to his dragon. He hated seeing that disappointed look upon those not chosen. "Don't be too upset," Lady Nuri said to the others as they started filing away, trying to comfort them. The other boy chosen, one named Lanston, went off with his family to celebrate. Tobias's own kin came over and gave him warm hugs and hand shakes and pats on the back. "Your father would be so proud of you, Tobias!" his mother said, near tears. Tobias smiled, hugging her warmly. "I knew it, Tobias! I knew you'd get Searched!" Pacal said triumphantly. Kasak came up, slinging his arm around his cousin's shoulders. "Congratulations, Cousin," he said with a wide grin. Tobias gave his friend and family a worried glance, which made Kasak laugh. "Don't look at me like that! You know I'm perfectly fine with this! You've always wanted this a little more than I did, anyway!" Tobias beamed, glad his cousin wasn't upset about not being chosen, and the two exchanged warm hugs as another wave of family members bombarded them. |