Taleran
:Story::Search::Candidate::Hatching::Weyrling::Adult:
:Dark Moon Weyr::Tripaldi Weyr

That evening Taleran didn’t go to bed when he usually did. Instead he stayed up; hiding in the kitchens while his foster mother finished everything up for the night. He had a suspicion he desperately wanted to prove wrong, though his heart thumped in his chest, as he feared he might actually be proving himself right. He watched his foster mother’s every move, trying to keep his courage up. Just when he was about to give up, to go back to bed and be content with not knowing his suspicions were confirmed. The Weyrleader strode into the kitchen and wrapped his arm about Piliana’s waist, kissing her soundly before she had a moment to protest.

Taleran watched from his hiding place as Piliana danced out of F’rol’s embrace with a teasing smile. F’rol tried to catch hold of her again but she eluded him. Taleran winced at the youthful happy look on his foster mother’s face. He should report their behavior to Xalia, but he couldn’t, he couldn’t bear to hurt his foster mother that way. She was obviously happy, and perhaps this would work out for the best. If she kept F’rol occupied perhaps he could convince the lovely young candidate that F’rol wasn’t worth having.

He sneaked silently from his hiding spot, heading for his room. Tomorrow perhaps he would try to find out who the candidate was and perhaps approach her. That was it, tomorrow he would start making himself her friend and winning her confidence so that when it came time to tell her that F’rol was not where her affections should be she’d be more apt to listen. Taleran fell asleep with a smile on his face, dreaming of the day when the beautiful girl would fall into his arms and say, “I was so wrong to want him, it’s you I want Taleran!”

Continue...