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Nalira and Malta
“Ugh!” cried Nalira in frustration slapping her palm against the side of the fountain and looking around expectantly. “Where is everyone? Lorik usually comes out to talk to us when we’re in the gardens and sometimes the other guys do too. Where are they? Do you think I didn’t make it clear enough that I was coming to the gardens today?” “No, Na,” said Malta shaking her head, “I’m quite sure they all knew where you were going. Perhaps they’re just all busy. Mother does ask the boys to help out around the house from time to time.” “Oh, that’s right,” replied Nalira, looking a bit crestfallen, “I’d forgotten your mother did that.” “Don’t worry, Na,” said Malta quickly as she heard her friend heave a sigh, “I’m sure someone will be along before too long.” “Of course they will!” exclaimed Nalira happily, for just then she noticed Lorik running up the path towards them. “Nali, Malta!” he cried as he ran up out of breath. “Well, hello Lorik,” smiled Nalira, her face positioned in the perfect, wrinkle-free, sweet smile, “why have you been running? Were you anxious to get here?” “No, I just wanted to be sure you knew,” said Lorik between gasps for air. “It can wait until you’ve got your breath back, Lorik, can’t it?” put in Malta, getting up from the bench she’d been occupying and walking over with a frown on her face. “K, hang on,” said Lorik taking several deep breaths before sighing happily. “Ah! Okay, now I feel better.” “Okay, so spit it out!” cried Nalira, who had scowled fiercely at her friend when she told Lorik to take the time to catch his breath. “What is it we should know?” “There’s a Searchrider here from Falas!” he exclaimed exultantly. “A Searchrider!” declared Malta and Nalira in unison. They turned to look at each other for a moment then Nalira turned back to Lorik. “What are you waiting for? Take us to him!” “But, it’s,” started Lorik but he was cut off by Nalira who was quite impatient. “No, buts just take us!” she cried and he turned tail and started running. “Slower! I can’t run!” He slowed to a fast walk and the two girls followed close behind him. Nalira worked on smoothing her skirts and practicing the perfect sweet smile all the way out into the courtyard. But when they got there she was to be quite disappointed to find that the Searchrider was a woman. She stopped as soon as she saw the woman and her dragon looking over the hopeful candidates and her mouth fell open in dismay. Lorik however didn’t let her stand there like that for long. He grabbed her arm and hustled her over to one end of the line. Malta followed much more slowly and got in line at the other end. The dragonrider kept looking between the candidates and her dragon but the dragon just continued to sweep the line with her large eyes, never really letting her gaze settle anywhere. Malta watched as the dragonrider walked past Nalira and Lorik without giving them so much as a passing glance and her heart fell. She could see from where she was that Nalira was ready to give the woman a talking to and was glad to see that Lorik was whispering fiercely to her and had a hand firmly about her arm so she couldn’t go anywhere. And then the dragonrider was standing in front of Malta and Malta gulped as she looked up at the strong looking woman. The rider smiled at her and Malta’s expression changed to one of surprise. “Hello,” said the dragonrider. “I’m Blizska, and my green there is Phaysath. What’s your name?” “Malta,” she replied, her eyes still quite wide. “Well, Malta, you look about the right age, you’re what, about seventeen?” Malta just nodded and Blizska smiled. “Well, then, how’d you like to come to Falas and be a candidate for Flynnth’s clutch?” “Oh! I- well, that is. I’d love to!” exclaimed Malta then winced as Blizska smiled and started to say something. “But I can’t...” “What?” asked Blizska, confused. “Why not?” “Well, you passed over my best friend and I certainly couldn’t leave her behind,” said Malta all in a rush. “I mean she’d get into all sorts of trouble without me here, and I’d have no idea what to do with myself in a strange place without my friend.” “Well,” said Blizska in surprise, turning to look back and forth between Malta and Nalira. “Your friend is the one who looks like she’d like to jump out of line and throttle me if not for the young man beside her holding her back?” Malta nodded and smiled sheepishly. “She kind of has a fiery temper and was quite disappointed that you weren’t a man. I’m sure she thinks that’s why you passed her up. She’s incredibly vain and without me here to bring her down to size she’d probably drive everyone insane.” “Really?” exclaimed Blizska with a smile and a laugh, “Well, Phaysath doesn’t object to her coming so I suppose we can take her with us.” “Great!” exclaimed Malta then her eyes widened. “Oh, but don’t let her know that I had to talk you into it, please?” Blizska just smiled and nodded then turned away and walked back down the row like she was still considering who to take with her. Before long though, both Nalira and Malta were mounted on Phaysath’s back and on their way to Falas Weyr. Both girls were grinning; Nalira for once not concerned with making sure she had no unpleasing wrinkle lines. Continue... |