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Arinza
“Come,” she said, wondering who it could be. Her mother pushed open the door just as Fril yawned and stretched, chirping happily as she saw Lady Arinda. “Arinza,” said Lady Arinda with a smile, “how are you today, dear?” “Fine, mother,” Arinza replied, not sure why her mother would have come looking for her. “That’s good, dear,” replied her mother, taking a seat beside Arinza on the bed and reaching over to idly pet Fril’s head. “I wonder if you could do me a big favor. There are some dragonriders coming for a visit and I’m going to be quite busy making sure the hold is in order. Could you perhaps meet them out front and help them find what they need?” “Of course, mother,” replied Arinza, frowning at such an odd request. Since when did her mother not have time to meet dragonriders? Her mother usually loved being the first out the doors when a dragonrider came to visit and Arinza secretly believed her mother had always hoped to be Searched before she got married and started having children. “That’s a good girl,” replied Lady Arinda getting up to leave. “They should be arriving this afternoon so I’m excusing you from your chores for the day. Just be sure you’re ready when they come!” And with that her mother swept from the room, her skirts billowing behind her as she went. Arinza shook her head, perplexed by her mother’s behavior yet relieved that she wouldn’t have to think of what to say to Kirfon anymore. Fril chirruped questioningly at her mother’s departing back then crooned softly at Arinza. Arinza smiled at her silly little green-white fire lizard and scratched Fril’s eye ridges. That afternoon Arinza watched as the dragons landed in the courtyard. She had instructed Fril to stay in her room and the flit had eventually agreed. Arinza flashed a pleasant smile and felt her heart beating rapidly in her chest. She always felt that way when forced to greet people she didn’t know. She tried to ignore it and cleared her throat hastily as the dragonriders approached. “Welcome to Pillok Hold, dragonriders,” she said, smiling warmly. “I am Arinza, daughter of Lord Danza and Lady Arinda. My mother is indisposed at the moment and asked me to greet you and help you to find what you need.” “Thank you Arinza,” replied one of the men in the group, smiling at her. “Perhaps you could assemble the young people of this Hold for us. We ride on Search!” Arinza gasped and nodded her head in acquiescence, not sure what to say. Instead of saying anything she turned and darted back into the hold, pausing only a moment to collect herself before dashing off to the kitchens where she found Kirfon standing with his hands in a sink full of soapy water. “Kirfon,” she exclaimed as she dashed through the door, “there are dragonriders outside on Search! This could be your chance!” “I told you Arinza,” he replied, his tone anything but friendly, “I’ve been turned down before. I’m just not dragonrider material.” “But maybe it just wasn’t your time yet!” “No, I’ve been turned down too many times. Those dragons won’t even look at me,” he said, keeping his back to her as he spoke. “You’re not even going to try?” she demanded, unbelieving that he would be that unmotivated to take a chance on realizing his dream. “Why should I? Just so I can be disappointed again?” Arinza scowled, “You don’t deserve it if that’s the way you’re going to be about it!” She stormed from the room and headed to find her mother. Fortunately her mother found her first. Arinza was rounding a corner when she heard someone call out her name. “Arinza, dear, there you are!” said her mother from the other end of the corridor. “I’ve been looking all over for you. It seems you abandoned the dragonriders in the courtyard!” “Forgive me, mother,” Arinza said through gritted teeth. “I was told to go inform the other fosterlings and headed to the kitchens to inform Kirfon. But apparently he’s not interested in becoming a dragonrider.” “I should hope not,” replied her mother, “ has just informed me that he carries a message for Kirfon from his father. He’s to go with one of the dragonriders to be taken back to his home as soon as he can pack his things. Why ever would you have run to him first? You should have headed to the laundry, it was on the way to the kitchens.” Arinza did not reply simply rushing past her mother and out into the courtyard. She ran straight past the dragonriders and would have headed out of the hold entirely if one of the dragons, a blue, had not moved into her path and begun crooning at her. She stopped; blinking away tears that had been forming in her brown eyes, and looked up at the magnificent blue beast in surprise. “What?” she started and turned to find the dragonriders striding up behind her. “Arinza, isn’t it?” said one of them, walking over and laying a hand on the shoulder of the blue. Arinza only nodded her head, quite in shock and not sure what was going on. At that moment her mother strode up, looking very upset, until she saw the dragonriders clustered around her and heard the continuous crooning of the blue dragon. Then her expression changed and she looked questioningly between the two dragonriders. “What’s going on here?” “Your daughter seems to have peeked the interest of Barahirth here, Lady Arinda,” said the man standing beside the dragon. “Me?” squeaked Arinza, not sure she’d heard him right. “Yes, you!” said the dragonrider with a laugh. “Do you object to being Searched?” “No!” Arinza cried then bit her lip nervously. She turned a worried look to her mother. “Arinza dear,” said her mother, smiling as she wrapped her arms around her daughter and whispering in her ear. “I knew this family had potential, I was just never Searched!” “Mother?” Arinza said, pulling away to look at her mother in surprise. “Of course you have my permission to go and will have your father’s as well when I’m through with him,” Lady Arinda smiled proudly at her daughter. “Do us all proud dear!” “Don’t worry, mother, I’ve never let you down before.” Before long Arinza was on the back of the dragon launching itself into the air. They circled above the courtyard twice and just before they went between Arinza looked back down to see a dejected looking young man watching her fly away. She knew instantly who it was and heaved a heavy sigh. Her only friend and they’d parted on bad terms, she doubted they’d meet again though and so turned her gaze away from him and held on tight as the dragon transferred between. Find out what happens to Arinza at the Weyr. Find out what happens to Kirfon when he returns home. |