Whoops defend the ears of the disappointed spectators whom were sure their pick would win. Bets were being paid off as the victor released his hold. He was a tall man with a huge muscle mass that made him look quite imposing yet also fairly handsome. His pale blue eyes shot about the room, looking to see if another challenger would approach him. Finding none at the time, he ran his fingers through his light, tightly curled, brown hair.
As the wrestler relaxed, his latest challenger, equally well muscled walked off to mope. It was then that the young 18 turn old was set upon by a number of the girls of Kutou Hold; his “fan club” as some would call them.
“Talcin, you were wonderful!”
“That big bully could never defeat you!”
“He never had a chance against you, Talc’!”
Talcin smiled, loving the attention he was getting. A number of them were about as bright as a nearly burnt out glow, in his opinion, while there were a few bright ones. The first were likely ones that he’d bed every few sevendays while the smarter ones didn’t totally intrigued him enough to try and bed more than every month or so; even then though he had his few turn downs.
“Leave the stringy old wherry alone,” a voice growled from behind, causing Talcin’s harem to scatter. The young man turned to find a woman, two turns his senior and nearly a foot and a half shorter than himself, standing behind him, “Step up, Sr. Apprentice of the Beastcraft. Your next match lies with me.”
Murmurs ran through a small portion of the spectators. This slip of a woman wants to take on Talcin? Was she crazy? As the woman entered the center of the circle a slight groan was winced from a few people. Yep, the woman was thoroughly mad.
Surprisingly, Talcin silently accepted, walking back into the ring with a grim look to him. Bets started to fly as the duo settled into their starting stances. Oddly, a number of those who’d bet on Talcin last time put their bets high on the woman.
Without waiting for their referee, the duo dove into the match, nearly literally. Shoulders locked together, low to the ground, bets were furiously thrown from spectator to spectator as well as yells for their favorites. To the surprise of a number of onlookers, Talcin was wrestling at least ten times harder with the woman. Before those who realized this could change their bets, the woman flipped Talcin, pinning him.
Only a few whom had bet on Talcin winning weren’t flabbergasted by his loss. They’d seen the two wrestle many times before, this time they’d thought Talcin had a chance.
“You’re getting better, little brother,” the woman smiled warmly, helping the taller man up. Talcin sighed.
“That may be, Roki,” he chuckled, “but I’m still not up to my standards.”
“Best wrestler in Kutou?” she chuckled as Talcin put an arm around her shoulder, “Sugar, you were taught by me how to wrestle. It’s only logical that you won’t be able to beat me without extra training from someone else.” As Talcin and Roki left the wrestling fans who were now paying off their latest depts., Talcin’s fan club started to approach to comfort him. A glare from Roki set the girls off on imaginary duties or to answer silent calls for their presences.
“I know you’re right there, sister,” he sighed, slightly annoyed that Roki had scared off the girls yet at the same time relieved, “I just haven’t had time to ask father to transfer me to another Hold to finish my apprenticeship. I don’t know why but I can’t learn from a person who’s not able to knock me down.”
“Explains why you learned wrestling so well,” Roki giggled, “I’m able to knock your muscled arse over.”
“Being head of the self defense classes for the Hold helps you out there though, Roki,” Talcin pointed out. Roki humbly didn’t answer her brothers statement yet went on to another topic.
“Tokin was watching the match, you know?” Roki smiled.
“Wonder how much our little sister made this time,” Talcin chuckled, “There were a few new faces in that group.”
“Eight to be exact, bro,” a voice seemed to smile yet somehow had no humor in it, “Making my winnings today from those five matches fifty marks.”
“You have no morals about betting,” Roki stated; Talcin chuckled in agreement.
“And your point, Roki?” Takin asked in all seriousness.
“You love marks a bit too much,” Talcin teased.
“You just figured that out?” she replied in her emotionless voice.
It was obvious to the elder siblings that their oldest younger sister was drunk. The funny thing about Takin was that when she was drunk she was exactly the opposite of the normal drunk. She thought clearly, could easily walk a straight line and her voice never slired. The draw backs were that she was completely serious when she was drunk and, with the moves Roki had taught her whole family, she would knock out a man who would try to hit on her.
When Takin was sober though, most would mistake her for a flirtatious drunk! She was liable to run into things, hit on men—one time on a woman—, horribly slur her words, and could hardly remember what she had been doing one minute to the next.
“Nah, knew that long before you started drinking,” Talcin replied. Takin glared at her oldest brother, she didn’t like people picking on her about her drinking habits.
“Let’s take a trip up to the Aunties’ rooms,” Roki suggested, keeping Takin from trying to deck their brother, “See how Zayin, Cyrin, and Riktojan are doing and help search out Jayz; I could have sworn I saw that trouble making sister of our’s just before I challenged you.” Roki emphasized this by taking a swipe at her brother.
“I don’t think so,” Takin quickly piped up, “Master Farwin’s wants me down in the winery in about ten minutes to help rotate the whole of last turns wine.” That said, Takin hurried down the hall. Talcin watched his winecrafter sister sadly.
“She still can’t stand being around Riktojan,” he sighed, “Though I think she’s forgiven him for what he could not help.”
“Sugar, it’s a sad thing to see her greave more than our Pop over Mama,” Roki agreed, “She was real close to our dam before her death two turns back… Hopefully, someday, Takin will be able to get to know our youngest brother.” Talcin nodded in agreement, longingly looking after his oldest younger sister’s path of escape, then followed Roki up the spiral staircase.
“PIN!”
Talcin’s father shook his head as he looked at his tall son from across his desk. The young man was getting into trouble with his Journeymen and Women again; flirting with the women and not paying attention to either Journeyer. Being late like usual didn’t help either.
“Talcin, what am I going to do with you?” the Master Beastcrafter asked in all seriousness. Talcin tried not to crack a smile that threatened to break through his solemn features. His father sighed for the fifth time in as many minutes, “Son, I know you’re a bright lad in this field but you need to learn from Journeymen just like everybody else… Perhaps if I sent you to another Master in another Hold.” It was then that Talcin realized what he could do.
“Pop,” he started but a glare from his father corrected him; his father didn’t want to seem like he was playing favorites when actually performing his craft so had even his son call him by name, “Er, Master Lintem, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that too.” Lintem raised his eyebrows as if not quite believing his eldest son, “I’ve thought that perhaps I’ve need of new scenery and, with your permission, would like to finish my training under another Master.”
Lintem looked a bit surprised but then chuckled, “You mean you want to find a place that might have a Journeyer who might challenge you, eh lad?… not to mention a person who could help you best your sister finally.”
Talcin smiled at his father, Lintem always seemed to know things before they were stated. That’s what Talcin really admired about his father, his senses for feeling out people. There were those who said that Lintem was sort of like a Searchdragon only for humans whom he thought might be good in his craft. Most of the time the Master was right on target. He finally nodded with a chuckle much like his father’s. Lintem started to search through his piles of papers and writing hides. He grumbled as he searched and carefully read a well rumpled piece of thin, nearly transparent hide.
“Ah, here we go, my boy,” Lintem smiled fondly at his first son, “Turasake Hold has a fairly large Beastcraft Hall and is the closest one to us. The head Master at the hall is Master Helxic, good man if my mind serves me well. Strict at times but quite a good man. Willing to try anything if it might help with the craft. He’s been looking for a few new or transfer apprentices having just had a few walk the tables.”
“I think it’s worth a try,” Talcin replied as he looked at the letter he’d been handed, “You sure he’ll still have openings, this is from a month back you know?” Lintem took the note and examined it before nodded.
“I’ll send this with Mig then,” Lintem stated and gave a short, low, whistle, moments later a night colored green fire lizard popped out of between chirping curiously at the older man. She seemed to brake her gaze from her Master to the younger man and whistled a quick greeting before returning her attention to Lintem and landing on the Master Beastcrafter’s shoulder. As all this was happening, Lintem was quickly scribing a note on the back of the original hide. Rolling the hide he carefully tied it about the Mig’s waiting foreleg. He then held the well trained green’s head and stared into her exited whirling rainbow eyes.
“Listen to me carefully, Mig m’dear,” Lintem commanded of the dark colored green, “Take this to Master Helxic of Turasake Hold. This is very important. Do not leave him until you receive the reply attached to your leg. Do you understand?” Talcin watched, amusement in his eyes at the show being played before him. Greens normally weren’t the brightest of creatures but Mig seemed to be the exception to her species. Talcin knew of how the green managed to make sure she got it right. She’d show images and feelings of what she was to do and would be corrected on any errors if she’d produce any. Slowly Talcin’s father smiled and let go of the green’s head gently.
“That’s right,” he nodded as the green preened in pride, “Now go and deliver the message. Come back speedily, my dark gem.” The green chittered, jumped into the air and once again disappeared. Lintem now looked over his desk at his son, “Now we wait.” Talcin nodded.
Talcin marveled as Turasake Hold dominated his vision. It was a about two generations old like Kutou Hold and so still had a fresh look to her. The apprentice took in the people of the Hold then, the girls weren’t half bad looking in the surrounding area but then he’d be staying in the main hold. It had taken nearly two seven days to travel to Turasake with a group of traders led by an old woman called Latema.
“Nice Hold ain’t she,” the caravan leader smiled, “You know, I once took on a young man from this hold, now he’s a brown rider at Harana Weyr; S’qual, brown Fargrinth’s rider. Ever heard of the lad?” Talcin blinked at the woman and shook his head. Latema sighed, “He’s got a good heart, maybe you’ll meet him some day when he comes for a visit… Then again he only impressed a turn back.”
Talcin just blinked at the woman and continued to watch as the Hold came closer. The beating of a drum caused a small crowd to appear outside. The young man looked over the faces of the crowd though it was the old woman who spotted the one Talcin was looking for.
“That one there, the one in the middle of the group and to the left,” Latema stated with a chuckle, still holding onto the reigns of her runner beast who pulled her wagon, “That man is Master Helxic. He’ll be in charge of you now.”
“Before I forget, Latema,” Talcin smiled, “Thanks for the ride, I appreciate it and my father will also be grateful that I arrived safely.” Latema smiled still keeping her old eyes looking ahead of her modestly excepting the thanks. It was a few minutes after that the caravan stopped in the courtyard of Turasake Hold. The Master Beastcrafter of Turasake Hold found Talcin seemingly much quicker than the young man.
“If I’m right, you’re Talcin, Master Lintem’s son,” Helxic stated.
“How did you know?” Talcin asked baffled by the man’s quick decision.
“He must have told you about my decisiveness,” Helxic stated raising his eyebrows. Talcin made and o with is mouth as he remembered his father stated that fact. The Beastcrafter looked up at the sky, “I’m sorry I can’t help you get settled at this time; I’m on my way to check on how a young man is doing on his own tasks. Just enter the Hold and ask the first person you see how to get to the apprentice room hall that is kept in line by Journeyman Roctamen. If anything goes wrong just report it to me for now.” With a tip of his head, Master Helxic sheepishly walked off quickly towards what looked to be the stables.
Talcin looked after the man a bit amazed. He could tell that Master Helxic was a fairly kind man but if he’d been talking with a different voice at that time it would have seemed like the Sr. Apprentice had received the cold shoulder from his superior. Shrugging it off, Talcin threw his large bag over his shoulder and walked through the large metal doors of the Hold.
“You must be hungry,” a voice stopped Talcin as he entered the dinning hall of Turasake Hold. A young lad who stood about 5’7” he had a youthful face and looked to be one of the holdbrats. The lad once again repeated himself, “You are hungry aren’t you? After all you just arrived from a long trip. By the by, my name’s Kaoten. Some call me Kao though.”
“Talcin,” replied the transfer Beastcrafter, “my friends sometimes call me Talc’.” The two shook hands.
“So you’re the transfer apprentice Master Helxic’s been speaking of,” he smiled leading Talcin towards one of the tables and motioning a drudge to serve them a mid morning snack, “You look as if the ladies will be after you tonight at the dance.”
“A dance? Ah they shouldn’t have,” Talcin joked sounding egotistical, “not just for me arriving. I’m a mere Sr. Apprentice.”
“Ha ha, very funny. Do you do any other tricks?” Kaoten chuckled.
“Oi, con change me ack’sen’, sah,” Talcin chuckled.
“Dat oi cin do to, laddie,” Kaoten smiled back. Talcin however didn’t quite notice the young man now as movement beyond him caused him to focus on what was coming into the hall. Talcin was dumbfounded as he watched a young woman whom was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen in his life. She was well pronounce in her womanly whiles and curves that could never be duplicated in this generation. Her hair was a dark, stormy brown that went down to her shoulder blades complementing her light brown skin.
“Would’cha look at ‘er?” Talcin whistled still using his altered accent. His breath caught when he finally saw her eyes, they were a stormy, dark blue color. A polite smile fluttered onto her lips but her eyes did not show the same courtesy.
“Keep ya’r voice down, dimglow,” Kaoten hissed back still playing with his own accent, “That gel may look sweet and innocent, ripe for pluckin’, but she’s not one ya’ wanna go near. That’s the Steward’s daughter, Gemtia, and there isn’t anything she hates more than being hit on because of her looks. I’d stay away from her,” here the holdbrat looked at Talcin’s well muscled form, “No matter how strong ya’ are.”
Was he saying that he was weak? Talcin was quickly insulted by the young man’s words. Gemtia stopped causing Talcin’s attention to be taken by her full again. Those stormy eyes glared at the two young men though her smile was polite. She’d be one worth catching! Talcin thought smugly. Then the young woman looked at his friend and nodded before walking on. Neither talked again till the woman was out of sight.
“She seems to like you enough to nod to you,” Talcin replied finding the rare feeling of jealousy creep into his being and slightly into his voice.
“She only just stands me as I deliver a warning to those I hear talking of her that way,” Kaoten gave a slight snort as he watched Gemtia disappear from sight He sure looks after her a lot for some one who’s learned not to come after her, Talcin thought as his jealousy well up, She must not be as dangerous as he keeps on saying. I bet I could brake her so called violent streak. Talcin’s thoughts were cut off as Kaoten continued on, “She hates to use force but when push comes to shove, and for her she believes it comes quickly, you’ll end up in pain.”
“Bah, that’s just a story, I bet I could brake her, and have her for my own this night,” Talcin snorted confidently. He’d had most of his harem back at Kutou Hold within the day he met them. What difference would this Gemtia be from them other than perhaps a bit wilder than his former lovers?
“Good luck to you, I take no responsibility for you here after,” Kaoten sighed shaking his head. He really didn’t believe he could do it. Well I’ll show him! Talcin grunted as he got up and heading out with his bag . He headed towards the hallway Gemtia had come from before he realized that he’d not found out where those rooms Master Helxic had been talking about. He opened his mouth as he turned about to ask Kaoten but the holdbrat was gone.
“Shells!” Talcin sighed looking up at the ceiling in annoyance.
Taclin was feeling much better by the last meal of the day. It had taken him another fifteen minutes to find a person who knew where the apprentice hallway was so he could drop off his stuff and then another hour to get settled. He’d then spent the better part of the day trying to navigate around the Hold receiving a tour from an overly eager young woman. He now sat at a table with other apprentices of his craft and various others that were based at the Hold. He’d come to find that the food of Turasake Hold was some of the best he’d ever tasted but at this time his mind was on other things. Namely the shapely Gemtia who sat at a table across the room and next to Kaoten. What is he, her boyfriend or something? He must be closer than others that’s why he’s trying to throw me off, Talcin thought irritably.
The meal was over quicker than Talcin had expected as the tables were starting to be pulled back closer to the walls leaving a large dance circle made in the front of the room. The Holder, and those at the head table left their spots to allow the Hold’s Harper take center stage. She had a few residents of Turasake Hold join her with insterments and their own voices. Talcin quirked his eye at the female Harper, she was quite the sight, not as lovely as Gemtia but would be a nice body to warm one night.
Soon Talcin’s pale eyes darted about Where’d she go? he thought to himself, Hadn’t she just been right by the front talking with the Harper. As he looked about a hand was on his shoulder startling him for a moment. Turning the 18 turn old found Kaoten smirking.
“Don’t even bother,” Kaoten chuckled softly, “She rarely stays long for dances and manages to slip away without many see her do so. Would be surprised if she’s back in her room right now.” Talcin sighed, Kaoten was able to read him fairly well… maybe that’s why he thought of Kaoten as a friend even though he was sure that the young man liked Gemtia as well. A movement near the edge of the crowd cause the apprentices attention to change.
“Sure, whatever, Kao,” Talcin replied and walked towards the stormy person who was known as Gemtia. Talcin smiled confidently as he walked up behind the woman as she watched the beginnings of the dance. Just as she started to turn to go the Apprentice Beastcrafter was in front of her.
“Hi!” he smiled giving her a winning smile not even noticing the anger that was already welling up in the beautiful young woman’s face. To his surprise, Gemtia nodded and walked off. The young man though baffled followed her up quickly.
“What’s a handsome lad like me gotta do to get ya’ ta dance wit’ me out there,” Talcin smiled once again winningly after racing ahead of her and leaning on the wall to ask her the question. Gemtia slowly rolled her neck before walking past him.
“Get out of my face, Apprentice,” Gemtia replied coolly walking farther away from the dance, “I have never gotten along with a man who sees me as a bubble headed easy beauty. Listen to what Kaoten told you earlier, he may be young but he knows what he’s talking about.” Talcin blinked he didn’t think that of her and his pride started showing itself from the rest of the remark, he’d never been turned down so coldly.
“Hey! Don’t brush me off like that, you hardly even know me!” Talcin growled stopping her from going any further by putting his hands on her shoulder while looking down at the shorter person; in the back of him mind Talcin wondered vaguely why he was being so forceful on this woman when he’d never done so when turned down before. He carefully hid his surprise at the venom that showed in her eyes as Gemtia tilted her head slightly to look him in the eye.
“I know enough of you, Sr. Apprentice, that the first thing you saw in me was my body,” Gemtia replied coldly ducking under his arms at the same time as shrugging them off her shoulders, “Now leave me be before I brake your nose at the least.” Without thinking clearly Talcin gave a low growl and reached out to stop her again, catching her arm this time.
SMACK!
Talcin found himself on the ground, his cheek stinging and Gemtia standing over him her hand still held out where it had connected with him. Something warm, coupled with the metallic smell of iron, trickled down his cheek causing Talcin to bring his hand up to cradle his sore cheek, she’d hit him so hard that his cheek had split in the process as well as knocked him over. That just threw Talcin into a fit, nobody had the right to do that except a Journeyman or woman, a Master, a guardian, or a person’s parent. If anything goes wrong just report to me for now Talcin quickly remembered what Master Helxic had told him.
“Master Helxic will hear of this,” Talcin hissed in his true anger.
“Go ahead, Talcin,” Gemtia replied confidently. How’d she know my name? he thought as he looked at her flabbergasted and she continued on, , “You have come here to learn from his Journymen and Women. Well all things considering, that was your first lesson here from you Journeywoman, don’t try to hit on me in public or otherwise. You are here to learn about your craft not to get into the sack with those you think are pretty. Now leave my sights and I expect to see you in my class on time tomorrow!”
Talcin watched, mouth a gap, as Gemtia stormed off. She’s a Journeywoman Beastcrafter? And my teacher for tomorrow?!?! Talcin thought; why hadn’t Kaoten told him? His bleeding cheek brought him back to other duties. After calling one of the drudges over to ask for a towel to whip the blood away he quickly cleaned his face but could still feel it was sore from the slicing smack.
Finally Talcin returned to the dance but the thoughts that Gemtia had just done something that no other person, save his eldest sister had done; she’d knocked him down with just a slap, something even Roki had never been able to do. His mind was brought back to the present as his eyes focused on a bemused Kaoten.
“It’s not funny,” Talcin grumbled, his pride taking over for a moment, as Kaoten snickered, “Why didn’t you tell me that Gemtia was a Sr. Journeywoman and my teacher for tomorrow?”
“Since when does a Sr. Journeyman have to tell a Sr. Apprentice anything but what he’s supposed to learn?” Kaoten replied putting his booted feet up on the table he sat at. He’s a Journeyman too? Cheee! “Look, Talc,” Kaoten continued, a small smirk on his lips though he sounded serious, “I warned you about what Gemtia does, she’s not easy to get close to. When somebody does try to she’ll take it the wrong way more likely than not, even if you didn’t mean it, and clobber you.”
“She only slapped me,” Talcin replied sourly to the unmoved Kaoten. The Journeyman however did mumble something to himself.
“I hate to say it but I told ya’ so,” Kaoten replied finally, “you’re the lucky one though to get away with just a hard slap on the face. Binotal over there is the result of the last one who tried to seduce her.” Talcin raised an eyebrow and looked to where the Journeyman had pointed, what he found there surprised him. This man called Binotal had his left arm up in a sling and his right leg was placed between two straight boards, obviously to reset the broken bone. His crutch was right next to his right arm as well.
“What’d he do to deserve that?” Talcin asked, surprising his voice from going higher than normal.
“He continually tired to put his arm over her shoulder,” Kaoten chuckled grimly, “The last time he tried it by the stairs and without thinking Gemtia grabbed the arm around her shoulder and flipped him down the stairs, hence his leg was broken on the fall and his arm fractured.” She did that?!?! Shells, I was the lucky one! Talcin thought to himself as he looked at Binotal wide-eyed and he could feel the color go from his skin.
“Have you legs to dance, Talcin?” Kaoten startled the apprentice back to the world once more.
“Huh?” Talcin blinked at the other man, he knew he had a thing for Gemtia, why would he ask that sort of question of him?
“Come now I’m sure you’ve danced with many a lass,” Kaoten replied as he eyed a girl passing by reassuring Talcin that he meant the question not to ask him to dance but if he did back at his home Hold.
“Yes, I was alright back at Kutou Hold,” the apprentice replied proudly, “woman both young and old would wait in line for hours just to dance with me.”
“Well I sure don’t see them lining up right now for you, Talc’,” Kaoten replied with a roll of his eyes and a chuckle. Talcin blinked again, Kaoten sure has a way of making backhanded remarks… or in this case straight up punches to the gut! “Ah, don’t worry, you’re new here,” the Journeyman continued on as he nodded at something behind Talcin, “You’ll have many around you again once they get to know you. But I’ll tell you now, you best not stay up too late, Gemtia will like you even less if you’re late to her class on your first day.”
Talcin nodded, couldn’t have Gemtia more mad at him… he’d try his best to make him like her, every chance he got. That thought he walked over to the other side of the room, passing a young woman who was a fair sight. Kaoten was right though, after a time of standing by the wall watching the dances taking place, a few brave women got up the nerve to ask him to dance. Well, I might as well have some sort of fun with the women of this hold tonight, the tall wrestler thought with a smile before excepting. That night was long and filled with dancing and drinking, however Talcin did not bed a women that night.
The brightness of the sun coming through recently opened steel shutters was what woke Talcin finally in the morning. Talcin grumbled as he sat up and found only a drudge in the room. The young man looked startled at an apprentice still being in the room. Talcin stared hard back at the unfamiliar drudge.
“Excuse me, sir,” the drudge finally spoke, “I’m not the brightest of people here at Turasake but don’t most apprentices have lessons to learn at this hour?”
“Wha-?” Talcin started then remembered where he was. Gemtia’s class! Shard it, this is not how I wanted to make my third impression on her! This is just getting worse and worse! With a few quick words to the drudge Talcin rushed through dressing himself. Class would be half way through most likely when he’d arrive. At least I’d come; she’ll have to admit that, I mean she slapped me last night. Most probably wouldn’t like to face her in a class the next day… but I will.
Giving a grim nod to the drudge, Talcin headed towards his class… now where was it again? It took Talcin some time and a questioning from one of the Journeymen to find the class which was only accessible from outside. He heard the sweet voice that he recognized to be Gemtia’s. He glanced in and while her back was turned tried to take a seat near the back.
“Talcin, it’s nice of you to make it to my class this after noon,” Gemtia smiled yet her voice held her annoyance at his late arrival, causing Talcin to have the urge to make a face, “We were just starting our talk on oddities in species. Would you mind enlightening the class an oddity in a species?”
“The white dragons, Sr. Journeywoman Gemtia,” Talcin replied sharply. He’d always been interested in dragons and felt that whites seemed to be the oddity in the species. He didn’t think them so odd as to they shouldn’t exist he just, well, thought it would be odd to meet a white rider one day, whites were smaller after all. It seemed the class agreed with him as there where murmurs of approval from the other students.
“That’s correct, Talcin,” Gemtia replied giving a half smile. Well at least I got her approval for… Talcin’s thoughts dwindled as he saw the Journeywoman’s eyes narrow, “Or at least it would have been correct at the beginning of the last interval. Whites aren’t really the oddity in dragons anymore, they have become an essential part of the Weyr and are rarer than queens but not the oddity. Care to try your luck again?”
“Uh…” he hesitatedThink Talc! Think!. The presence of a fuzzy thing colored white orange and a dark gray brought an idea to the young man’s mind, “Calico felines?” Surprisingly Gemtia’s hardened features towards him softened as she turned about. A mew caused the class to stir in slight confusion.
“Now that is a correct answer,” the Journeywoman replied turning to show the calico feline kitten who was situated in her hands, “If you wanted to be more exact a calico male who isn’t sterile is a huge oddity. Iggy is more of what you might call a feline mutt. You see a feline calico is about 99% of the time female and the small percent that is male of the calicos are usually sterile. Iggy here, is one of the few who is not, hence the kittens who will more than likely over run the stable areas in the near future.”
Talcin chuckled at the kitten, it was quite cute with a the lower half of his body being white and there being a color of white fur around his neck other wise he was patched with orangish and dark gray splotches on the top and half of his head. He mewed loudly looking at everyone in the room, his bright golden eyes eating up everything especially the attention.
“He sure likes to talk,” someone commented sending the class into chuckles.
“Yes Iggy does,” Gemtia smiled as she looked at the kitten in her hands, “Iggy here is known as a muted calico, but as you can tell he’s not all that mute.” Snickers emanated from some of the students while Talcin groaned inwardly yet chuckled as well, Bad pun, bad pun.
Suddenly Iggy leapt from Gemtia’s hands and onto the nearest desk to get closer to the students. Talcin watched Gemtia in concern as he saw more than heard her hiss in pain. The claws of the tiny feline had dug into her hands and now he could see the slash marks he’d left. Had it been last night right after she’d slapped him he would have said she deserved it but now was different, she’d been very gentle to the kitten and just because of its adventurous nature, Iggy had hurt his owner’s hands.
He felt better as he watched Gemtia laugh while find some bandages and wrapped her wounds. Turning back to the kitten he found the reason for her amusement, Iggy had stolen a feather pen and was now racing around with it. The feline seemed to dance and Talcin could swear that as the paws of the little troublemaker hit the ground the sent out a drum beat.
“All right everyone, that’s all for this afternoon,” Gemtia started but was interrupted by a roar from outside.
“Dragons are here!”
“Wonder what they want…” Talcin thought outloud.
“Who cares, let’s go see them!” the girl next to him replied. Talcin followed the students out taking one last glance to see if Journeywoman Gemtia was going to join them. He smiled as Gemtia didn’t seem to notice him watching as she captured the irrepressible Iggy who immediately started batting at her hair playfully. Shrugging, Talcin finally followed the rest of the Hold out to the dragons. There were three of them, a bronze, a blue and a green.
“Everybody out here, the riders come on Search!” a voice boomed out which Talcin quickly identified as the Lord Holder though he couldn’t remember the man’s name for the life of him. The young wrestler in the Beastcraft quickly took a place near the end of the line. Talk of dragons one minute and then they come to the hold, Gemtia might have called this an oddity, Talcin chuckled. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Gemtia finally arrive, Well she can’t be too old if she’s able to still stand in a search line, he thought with bemusement.
“We are here on search for Firestone Weyr if you don’t already know,” the bronze rider’s loud voice quieted all present as he held his nose in the air in a high and mighty way, “I am Head Searcherider B’tal, bronze Neverenth’s rider. And these two are A’sal, blue Heaveneth’ rider and Nerkila, green Racath’s rider.” Talcin couldn’t see the other riders but could tell from the names that Nerkila was more than likely the female of the group and not just because she road green.
Talcin couldn’t help but watch as the searchdragons and their riders walked down the line. He was slightly annoyed as the bronze rider passed Gemtia. Talk about disrespect! what does he think that he’s better than us? He sighed and watched as the blue rider stopped near the Journeywoman Beastcrafter. He had to chuckle as a small bickering session was then held between the green and blue riders. It was almost no surprise to Talcin when the green finally shoved her rider towards the girls before her. Again the green and blue riders discussed something.
B’tal and his bronze Neverenth were now only about ten people away from him when a shout for him was heard.
“Hey, B’tal!” came the happy shout from the blue rider, A’sal, “We found a candidate here!”
“If you think she’ll impress take her,” B’tal replied looking over the man before him, not even bothering to look at the blue rider, “Personaly I skipped over her because she doesn’t’ look like she could handle it.” Neverenth snorted startling Talcin. To the young man’s amusement the rider scowled and the dragon gave a low rumble to which B’tal ignored. Talcin withheld balls of laughter as he watched the bronze pick his rider up by his shirt in his teeth and carried him over to the other riders.
The rest of the conversation Talcin could only make out grumbles from the bronze rider. Yet as the bronze and his rider head back to where they left off he smiled joyously as Gemtia held Iggy at bay and walked off. She’ll probably be happier at the Weyr, he thought. Talcin sighed and stood at attention.
“How’s it going, Talcin?” the voice of Kaoten suddenly came from next to him. The shorter man smiled cheekily at the younger man, “Have a good day in my s-er, Gemtia’s class today?”
“Very funny, Journeyman Kaoten,” Talcin replied slightly embarrassed by the fact that the Journeyman already could hit his soft point at this time, “I won’t have to deal with her anymore now though, she was just searched about three minutes ago.”
“So, Master Helxic was correct,” Kaoten stated slyly, “They think that my sister has the makings of a dragonrider.” Talcin nodded then blinked, Sister?
“You’re sister?” he shouted in disbelief. Talcin felt like shrinking as people looked at them and so continued on in a whisper, “Why didn’t you tell me you were her brother?”
“Talc’, if I’d done that you would have immediately hounded me to find out how you could get her easier,” Kaoten replied with a slight chuckle, “And don’t deny it either, that’s the idea in every man’s mind who finds out that she’s my sister. Not many know that fact these days except those who’ve stopped chasing after her or the girls of the hold. The most that most men think is that possibly I’m her boyfriend.”
You’re not kiddin’, Talcin thought to himself yet remained quiet. Reality was brought crashing back to him as the muzzle of a bronze was two people away from them.
“Good luck being searched, Talcin,” Kaoten smiled putting out his hand to shake Talcin’s. The young man hesitated and then smiled completing the gesture in a bit of a challenging way.
“Good luck to you as well, Kao,” Talcin replied. He didn’t know why but he was sure that Kaoten would be a good friend of his from this day forward.
A sharp bellow split the air just after their handshake. Looking up both men saw a white form circling towards the ground. To Talcin’s amusement the white landed in a playful way and trilled happily despite the bronze and his rider who glared at the white dragon and his rider.
“Excuse our interruption,” the white rider stated as he met the bronze rider, “We had no idea there was a search going on here, Head Searchrider B’tal, bronze Neverenth.”
“Then what brings you here, B’nir, white Pikceth’s rider?” B’tal replied in a testy tone yet used his manners when talking to a rider from another Weyr. Talcin watched with great interest.
“I came at the request of a few of Vella Crean’s candidates,” he replied looking a bit at who was in the line up, “They wanted me to inform their brother of their search a sevenday back but we were not able to tell which caravan he’d been in so we waited till he was supposed to arrive; he was to arrive yesterday or today.” Yesterday or today? Talcin blinked, as far as he knew he was the only new arrival.
“Huh, White Rider?” Talcin asked interrupting any further discussion, suddenly all eyes were on him, “would you happen to be looking for a Talcin?”
“That I am,” B’nir replied with a blink and tilted his head at the apprentice, “I take it you’re him?”
“I am,” Talcin replied and was immediately cut off as his vision was filled with white and bronze. The bronze’s muzzle was on him while the white was on Kaoten.
“WHOA!” Kaoten shouted and for the first time Talcin noticed that the man had a blue fire lizard as it squawked in alarm, “Kind of close aren’t ya’, boys?”
“You’re tellin’ me!” Talcin agreed chuckling along with his friend. Moments later Kaoten suddenly stopped laughing and looked ahead in startlement.
“Talc’, did you hear what I just heard?” Kaoten asked out of the corner of his mouth in an unsure way.
“Hear what?” Talcin asked finally getting a hold on his laughter.
“Pikceth, let me through if you want me to have a look at him,” the voice of B’nir suddenly found it’s way over the two dragons. Talcin didn’t hear the rest of the conversation curtsy of the bronze who still sniffed at him. The next thing he knew Kaoten was pounding him on the back.
“Looks like my sister’s not the only one going to stand for a dragon,” Kaoten laughed, “I’m off to Vella Crean!”
“Congratulations, Kao!” Talcin smiled still eyeing the bronze in front of him.
“Talcin,” B’nir continued, “before I forget, the message from your family is that Roki and Tokin have been searched for Vella Crean.” Talcin smiled brightly then turned to Kaoten and held a whispered conversation.
“Kao,” Talcin started, “I’m sure you’ll meet my sisters when you get there. Congratulate them for me, but be warned, if I hear you’ve mistreated them in some way your sisters punches will not compare to what I do to you.” Kaoten looked a bit baffled until the young wrestling Beastcrafter winked at him. Kaoten nodded and looked at the bronze that still hovered over Talcin and then rushing off towards the Hold to gather his things. When Talcin turned back the bronze’s head was now higher and before him stood the snooty bronze rider, B’tal.
“How many turns do you have, boy?” B’tal asked not all that kindly.
“Eighteen, bronze rider,” Talcin replied just as coldly, he really didn’t like this man.
“Name and rank?”
“Sr. Apprentice Talcin of the Beastcraft,” Talcin replied and snapped out the rest to his own surprised, “would you like to know my Hold of birth, my sire and dam as well?!?!”
“Easy there, lad,” A’sal suddenly appeared beside B’tal, “He may be a jerk to you but don’t anger him or he won’t tell you his secret.” Talcin looked at the blue rider confused for a moment and then annoyed as B’tal smirked.
“You are invited to stand at Firestone’s first clutch, boy,” he stated, “though you most likely won’t impress at all. You don’t look the part.”
“I’m more than what I seem bronze rider,” Talcin tried desperately to keep his temper in check, “I’ll stand, and I’ll impress sooner than you did.”
B’tal growled and turned on his heals. A’sal on the other hand gave a sigh of relief as the bronze rider left in a huff. The blue rider then started to chuckle.
“You might want to refrain from saying that to him, Talcin wasn’t it?” A’sal smiled as Talcin nodded, “you have no idea how many times it took him to stand, you just happened to hit him bellow the belt there.”
“A’sal, you’ll be taking the cocky, boy,” B’tal’s annoyed voice stated as he mounted his bronze, “Everyone else is free to go, we have the candidates we came for. Nerkila, A’sal, I’ll see you back at the Weyr.” With that bronze Neverenth leapt into the air and after circling high enough dissappeard between. Talcin watched the dragon depart with a bit of anger, I’ll show him, I’ll impress a dragon and Gemtia will too! He didn’t even realize that he’d thought of Gemtia in that equation. Either way, life would be interesting to say the least for the dragon candidate.
| Name | Talcin |
| Age | 18 |
| Height | 6’7” |
| Hair | light brown/tightly curled |
| Eyes | pale blue |
| Rank | Sr. Apprentice Beastcrafter |
| Dragon | N/A |
| Born | Kutou Hold |
| Current Residence | Turasake Hold |