L'ran, in his weyr, was busy packing his things into carrisacks. He and his brown Dulveth weren't staying at Blackstone.
They'd enjoyed the past two turns as Dulveth grew, learned how to chew firestone, make riding straps, and go Between.
As L'ran finished packing, someone stopped past his door. "So you are leaving us then, L'ran?"
The brownrider nodded. It'd taken quite a bit of thought to come to that very conclusion. Blackstone Weyr was nice, but going "home" to East Rock Territory seemed to be a much more pleasant option.
"I'm transferring to Ryslen. Thier wings are looking a bit shabby these days."
Behind him, the other man nodded. "It was nice having you with us, lad. Keep up the good work, and you may just reach Journeyman as well." With that, the man was gone.
A pleased smile on his face, L'ran left Dulveth to sleep while he went to say his goodbyes.
When L'ran returned to his weyr, he checked to make sure everything was packed, then woke his big brown friend.
Is it time to go, L'ran? the brown rumbled, eyes whirling excitedly.
"It most certainly is, Dulveth." L'ran said, lifting the riding straps from their pegs. He could almost see Dulveth grinning before he turned around. With a practiced toss, the straps were over the big dragon's neck, and settled into place. L'ran buckled them on, and began tying the packs to them. The straps were a deep rusty-red-brown color, which contrasted nicely with Dulveth's hide.
The days passed, and soon Kagamith's clutch was all grown up. The day before, they'd all officially graduated from Weyrling classes, and would soon be assigned to Wings, either here at Blackstone, or at other weyrs around Pern.
Dulveth as
Weyrlings
They were ordinary riding straps, so the slight weakening of the leathers due to the dying process wouldn't have too much of an effect. Their Fighting straps, on the other hand, were undyed, and very strong.
Donning his gear, L'ran took one last look around the weyr. It was empty, and ready for someone new to take his place in it. He mounted his big brown friend, and together they left the weyr.
Dulveth winged his way up into the sky, roaring a farewell to the other dragons before they winked Between
Ryslen's watchdragon, Green Sxoith, bugled a welcome to them as they appeared over the bowl. Dulveth roared back, and they decended to the floor of the bowl in a lazy spiral.
The Weyrleader himself, J'kosh, was there to meet them. "It's nice to have you joining us, L'ran." The man said. He was easily in his late forties, but probably was set to lead Ryslen for another two or three decades, if his Bronze could handle it.
"It's an honor to come, Sir." L'ran said, standing before the Weyrleader, cap in hand. "Dulveth and I are glad to finally be home to East Rock."
The Weyrleader grinned. "I'd forgotten that you were at Kielac before you went to Blackstone."
L'ran nodded, wondering just how the Weyrleader knew that, until he remembered that his younger brother had been posted here as Drummer for a while. "How's Sylarn these days?" L'ran asked, honestly curious.
J'kosh grinned. "I'm sure he'll tell you himself, when you see him. If you're ready to get a weyr..."
L'ran nodded. "A weyr would be great, Sir." The brownrider said.
J'kosh laughed. "No need for the formality, L'ran. Just call me J'kosh, like everyone else."
"If you insist, J'kosh." L'ran said, fighting the urge to look around.
J'kosh smiled absently. His dragon was bespeaking him. "Sorry to cut things short, L'ran, but I've things to take care of. R'lan will help you and Dulveth get settled." The Weyrleader looked up at Dulveth as he turned to go. "They sure grow some big dragons at Blackstone."
J'kosh is nice. Dulveth said, eyes whirling a mellow greenish-blue. We will like it here.
R'lan wanted to ask Dulveth how he was so sure, but a moment later, the sandy-brown haired R'lan appeared, his usual grin plastered across his face. "You're L'ran?"
"The only one I know of." L'ran said, laughing.
R'lan chuckled. "You remind me of someone..." he said, trying to think of who.
L'ran raised an eyebrow, curious.
"I can't think of who though. I'm sure I'll remember later." the bluerider said. "Let's get you and Dulveth here settled into a weyr."
Later on, when L'ran was scrubbing Dulveth in the weyr lake, Greenrider Kerli appeared from seemingly nowhere and came over to them.
"J'kosh wants to see you in his office." she said, eyeing him warily. "You do know where that is, right?"
"Yes, I do, Greenrider." L'ran said, keeping his anger in check. "If you're going that direction, please tell the Weyrleader that I'll be there shortly."
Watchrider Kerli strode off, leaving L'ran to wonder what J'kosh wanted while he finished up.
J'kosh was sitting behind his desk when the broadshouldered brownrider came in. "Ah, L'ran. just the person I wanted to see." he said, rising. "Please, have a seat."
When L'ran sat down, J'kosh did too. Oddly polite was this older rider. "I suppose you're wondering why I wanted to see you." J'kosh began, and L'ran nodded. "I know you've been training in tannercraft, and I assume you'd like to continue?"
L'ran nodded dumbly, then spoke. "I'm a bit old to be studying with apprentices now, aren't I?"
J'kosh smiled warmly. "You're a dragonrider now. You've an excuse for being older and still an apprentice, so no worries. The Tannercraft Masters at Two River Hold have tutored our riders in the past. If you want to continue, you can go and talk to them."
L'ran was astonished. "You're kidding!"
J'kosh shook his head, mouth puckered slightly in a laughing smile. "Not kidding, L'ran. If your desire is to learn more, We at Ryslen won't stop you."
L'ran smiled. "I'd like to continue my studies, Weyrleader."
"Glad to hear it, L'ran." J'kosh said. "You've clearance to take the day tomorrow to arrange it, on one condition."
L'ran frowned, his brow creasing. "Condition?"
J'kosh nodded, and slid a parchment across the desk to him. "Here's a list of a few weyrs that we'd like to form friendships with. I think you'd recognise a few from your time at Blackstone..."
L'ran looked over the list, nodding as he recognised a few of the more well-known names. "And what's this got to do with me?" he asked, looking up.
"We want you go go there, and take thier Searchriders to visit. They haven't got the visuals, and can't go there otehrwise, except by flying straight."
L'ran nodded again. "I'll stop by and gather up a few Searchriders before I go to Two River Hold in the morning. You can count on me, J'kosh."
J'kosh smiled as the brownrider left. A good addition to any Weyr.
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