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Pohril
“No, Kiki, listen,” he said, reclaiming her attention and humming one note. Kiki tried to hum it but missed it entirely. “Nope, here try again, listen.” He continued humming the same note, and eventually Kiki got it. She heard it right away and stopped humming to chirp happily and congratulate herself. Pohril just laughed and went back to humming the music before him. Kiki again attempted to join in but was off key for all but the note she’d just learned. He just shook his head with a smile and tried to tune her out as he finished up the song. He then decided to try singing it. He opened his mouth to sing and before he had gotten two words out his voice cracked loudly and somewhat painfully to his ears. Kiki squawked and regarded him questioningly, but Pohril just stood there, eyes wide for quite some time. He shook his head then, shrugged it off and began again. But once again before he’d managed two words of the song his voice cracked. This time he took off running Kiki like a dart chasing him and neither of them stopped until he was in Master Dardolf’s office and attempting to catch his breath. Master Dardolf arched his eyebrows at the way Pohril had come barging in then his expression changed to one of slight bemusement. “Don’t tell me, Mr. Pohril,” he said, returning his gaze to the composition before him, “you’ve managed to get yourself into some sort of trouble that you couldn’t sweet talk your way out of?” “I wish it were that simple, Sir,” Pohril replied, trying to catch his breath and focus on keeping his voice as steady as possible. “Well then, son, spit it out. I haven’t got all day,” replied the Master, still regarding the composition as if it were all he cared about in the world at that moment. “Sir, I well, that is to saAY,” Pohril stopped as his voice broke over that final word and watched Master Dardolf’s reaction with wide eyes. “Well, so it’s happened at last, has it, Mr. Pohril?” said the master, looking up at him briefly before returning to his work. “I can’t say I’m surprised, I never thought you should be promoted to Journeyman on the basis of a voice you were bound to lose someday.” “But Sir, what am I to do?” cried Pohril, relieved that his voice stayed steady. “What are you to do? Well, you’ll simply have to wait until your voice finishes changing and learn to sing in your new range. It’s not that hard, though you won’t be given your Journeyman assignment until you’ve mastered your new range, you understand.” “But, what if I can’t?” cried Pohril, Kiki chittering nervously on his shoulder. “What if I can’t master it? Will I be forced to leave the Harper Hall?” “Well, we’ll find something for you to do unless you have any reason for wanting to leave.” “Thank you Master Dardolf!” sighed Pohril in relief and turned to leave. He walked down the hall, much calmer now but began to ponder what Master Dardolf had meant by “any reason for wanting to leave.” He certainly couldn’t think of any reason off the top of his head but he began to think more about it as he walked along. What if there was something out there for him other than the Harper Hall? What if this was his sign that he should find it? What if...? He was so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he walked around a corner and walked right into a man walking in the opposite direction. “Oh!” he exclaimed and stepped back, looking the man up and down. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attENtion.” “That’s alright,” replied the man who was obviously a dragonrider from his garb. He smiled at Pohril’s embarrassed look. “Voice breaking, huh? How old are you?” “Sixteen, sir,” he replied, concentrating really hard on keeping his voice level. He shrugged, “I know I’m a little old, but I guess I’m just maturing late.” “I’ll say,” replied the dragonrider with a frown. “Did you just come from Master Dardolf? What did he say about it?” “Oh, well, he says we’ll have to wait and see,” replied Pohril with another shrug, “but I’m kind of worried I won’t make a good Harper anymore.” “With good reason, well good luck to you, son. What did you say your name was?” “Oh, I didn’t, but it’s Pohril, sir.” “Pohril, right. I’m M’lar, maybe I’ll see you around,” and with that the dragonrider turned and headed down the way Pohril had just come. Pohril stood there for a moment watching him, M’lar smiled and waved as he was admitted into Master Dardolf’s office. Pohril shook his head and started walking back to his room. Kiki fluttered about his head and flew circles in front of him until he opened a window they passed and she darted outside with a happy chirp. He watched with a bemused smile as a fair of male flits appeared and began flying about in front of Kiki’s perch in the tree. He chuckled and headed off to his room, still not understanding the complexities of his fire lizard’s moods. When Pohril had been back in his room long enough to begin lamenting over the work he would never be able to perform he was shocked by a loud knock on the door. He frowned, but sat up straight and answered, “Come!” “Hey there, Pohril,” said M’lar as he pushed the door open and stepped through. “I’ve just finished talking to Master Dardolf about you.” “About me?” asked Pohril in shock, having no idea the dragonrider would even know who he was before their meeting in the hallway. “Yes, you,” smiled M’lar. “You caught my eye in the hallway there so I asked Master Dardolf about you and he gave me permission to take you with me to Fire Ridge Weyr if you choose to accept my Search.” “Search! What? You want ME?” Pohril just stood there with his mouth open in shock until he realized that M’lar was chuckling softly under his breath. He closed his mouth and pulled himself up tall saying with a smile in a dignified manner which was quite ruined by his voice cracking yet again, “I accEPT the Search, sir, when do we go?” M’lar just laughed and slapped him on the back. “As soon as you can pack your things. Ralenth and I will be waiting in the courtyard. And don’t forget to collect your fire lizard, I have a feeling that feisty little thing wouldn’t take too kindly to you abandoning her here.” “Actually,” replied Pohril with a laugh, “she might enjoy it. She’s due to rise soon and gets very mad at me for taking her away from her suitors!” “Well, at least tell her where she might join you when she comes back to her senses,” laughed M’lar good-naturedly. “I will, sir,” said Pohril, unable to remove the smile from his face. “I’ll be packed and ready to leave in no time.” M’lar smiled and left the room and Pohril just stood there for a moment in awe. He was going to Fire Ridge Weyr to have a chance at being a dragonrider! His mind whirled with thoughts of how this must have been his intended path since his voice broke the very day M’lar came on Search. He shook such time-consuming thoughts from his head and flew about the room trying to get all his things packed so he could be at the Weyr that much sooner. Continue... |