Her sense of duty had brought her this far - her willingness to do what had to be done. Her hunting skills had never failed her, though she felt like an animal caught in a hunter’s blinding light (an unsportsmanlike way to hunt) as she faced the biggest test of her young life. Would a dragon choose her? Egg after egg hatched, Impressions made all around her. The queen had already Impressed...

Jazrae looked and saw a dainty golden dragon bursting from her shell. Could it be? Two queens? The golden dragonet surveyed her options, and with a trill, charged. Jazrae sunk down into a crouch, and found herself toppled by the queen. Nynaeveth.

She was a queenrider. Jazrae was thunderstruck. She’d never even thought of being searched, let alone impressing, and now, the second queen of the clutch had chosen her.

Only you had the wisdom to be my rider. The gleaming gold dragonet told her rider.

Jazrae smiled, and led her queen from the sands. Weyrwoman Tiyanni of Ryslen, and a few other riders had come to the hatching. Tiyanni beamed at Jazrae, and came over to her as she fed her new bond. “Congratulations, Goldrider.” She said.

“Thank you, Weyrwoman Tiyanni.” Jazrae responded, “I never dreamt of becoming a dragonrider... but Impressing a queen...”

Tiyanni patted Jazrae’s shoulder. “They chose who they will.” She said, she looked at Nynaeveth, then continued. “There’s a place for you at Ryslen, if you want it.”

Jazrae considered, still smiling lovingly at her bond. “First, Nynaeveth had to grow up. Then we’ll decide together.”

Yes, Together.

Jazrae perched atop Nynaeveth’s golden shoulders as the fledgling gold soared on shining wings.

It was much like riding a stallion, except Nynaeveth was infinitely more intelligent.

Coming to Lasair had changed her life – but she still had regrets – one was named Silvin.

Jazrae fingered the new patches on the sleeve of her jacket. Ryslen’s crest, and the badge of the Queen’s Wing – The Sunrise Wing, as it had been recently dubbed. Nynaeveth stood regally on her ledge as Jazrae looked over their weyr – it was an odd one, with the rider’s apartment half a level above the dragons’ weyr, like a hayloft. Jazrae adored it, and was starting to unpack when Nynaeveth spoke.

There is a man here who wishes to see you.