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Raity
Raity immediately set about getting acquainted with all the other candidates, and as many of the dragonriders as she could manage. Her chores kept her more in the company of candidates though and so she made sure to tempt every young man there. She also managed to become better friends with Valesson. She felt sure she was slowly getting to him, though he still didn’t respond to any of her teasing. One day they were seated at lunch with several other candidates and she started pointing out dragonriders to him. Her ploy was to make him jealous, and though it seemed to work on one or two of the other candidates Valesson usually agreed with her. “Oh, look at that rider over there,” she said, nudging Valesson on the arm and pointing to a particularly handsome man who’d just walked in. She knew more about the shoulder knots than Valesson did so she smiled and continued with, “He’s a bronzerider for sure, and so handsome.” “He is indeed,” said Valesson and Raity frowned as her ploy failed miserably again. She turned to find him hunched over his food and scowled at him. He smiled simply and she laughed, shoving him playfully into the person next to him. She looked up then, putting her attention on the other people around them and whispering to Valesson all the little details she’d heard about each. She soon realized she’d gotten no responses from him and knocked him on the arm. “Valesson! You’re ignoring me!” she cried, offended that he wasn’t paying attention. He seemed to look around before turning to her and before long he’d gotten up and left. Shocked at this odd behavior she looked about the table in stunned silence for a moment before returning to her meal and remarking to no one in particular. “I wonder what got into him.” “What are you, daft, Raity?” remarked one of the nearby young men and she turned to regard him with a confused look. “I’m not daft, why would you say such a thing?” “Because, you insist on pursuing Valesson when it’s completely obvious that-” he cut off as the person beside him nudged him hard in the ribs. “What?” “It’s completely obvious that, what?” insisted Raity, looking between him and his neighbor in confusion. “Nothing, forget I said anything,” said the young man, returning to his meal. He gave her a significant look though and she nodded her head very subtly. She would get the information she wanted later. Later that evening Raity headed for the beach on the outskirts of the Weyr. She often met young men out there to tease them and had known exactly what the other candidate had meant by his significant look. She walked out onto the sand to find him already waiting and she flashed him one of her smiles as he walked toward her. “Well?” she asked, arching a brow at him. “What was it you couldn’t tell me with the others around?” “Surely you’ve noticed and just choose not to take notice of it,” he said, obviously hoping he wouldn’t have to tell her. “What is it? I’m not sure what you’re talking about and I want to know.” “Oh, come on, Raity,” he said, “it’s so obvious.” “What is?” “Let’s put it this way. Your friend Valesson isn’t likely to let his dragon chase yours, should the two of you impress. Nor any other female greenriders’ for that matter.” “What?” cried Raity in shock and immediately shook her head. “Do I need to explain it further?” “No, I know what you mean,” she said, still shaking her head. Surely it couldn’t be true, she thought to herself, shaking her head all the while. Why hadn’t he just told her? And then it hit her; he didn’t even know himself! The poor young man just knew he wasn’t interested in her and was trying to get her to just be his friend. And he needed friends, she realized. She could do that; she could be just his friend, as much as it vexed her to give up that ultimate challenge she would, because he would need her friendship. |