I still think he's a nice man. Alivirth remarked, and A'ndo did his best not to smirk.
| Read Alonndo's Story from the beginning |
Come on! Come on! the bronze weyrling said to his rider, his tone urgent.
A'ndo picked up his riding jacket as he passed by, walking quickly, but not hurriedly. I'm coming, Alivirth, what's the rush? he sent, reaching the entrance to the weyrbowl.
The Weyrlingmaster! He's already out there! Alivirth said, and A'ndo could feel the bronze weyrling shifting his weight from side to side impatiently.
"Let's go then, Alivirth. It wouldn't do to be late..." A'ndo said, shrugging into the lightweight jacket as he walked. The bronze was quick to join him, and A'ndo gave his bonded's shoulder a loving pat.
A few of the weyrlings straggled in after A'ndo and Alivirth took thier place in the circle. The Weyrlingmaster looked at each well-scrubbed and well-oiled weyrling dragon, and didn't find fault anywhere... this time.
"Glad you all could make it." The Weyrlingmaster boomed out, "Let's work on PUNCTUALITY for next time, hmm?"
I still think he's a nice man. Alivirth remarked, and A'ndo did his best not to smirk.
"Today," the Weyrlingmaster continued, "you'll spend until midday meal picking and bagging Firestone. Now hop to it!"
The weyrlings scattered, hurrying towards the mounds of stone brought in from the mines. Some of it was softer, some harder, some brighter some darker... 'picking firestone' meant sorting by what grade of stone it was, then bagging chunks about the size of a large citrus. Donning their heavy leather gloves, they got to work, guy and gal alike.
A'ndo ended up on the bagging end of things this time, because he could still lift more weight than some of the others. They could all heft and toss a full sack of 'stone.. not perfectly yet, but that would come in time... but several hours of lifting and hauling was too much for the green dragons' girls... right now, at least. A'ndo smiled to himself as he hefted another sackful of stone to his shoulder. He wasn't insulting his fellow 'lings, just being observant.
Let me help, A'ndo! his bronze said, rising up from where he'd layed down to watch.
Is that okay? A'ndo thought, worried that hauling around firestone would hurt his bronze. Better ask. A'ndo looked around for the Weyrlingmaster, but didn't see him.
Alivirth, on the other hand, didn't need to see him, and queried the Weyrlingmaster's dragon. His eyes whirled excitedly when he got the answer. He says I can help! But no more than three sacks at once. The bronze trotted over, and crouched down so his rider could lay the sacks between his neckridges.
Seeing this, other weyrlings called in their dragons to assist. Dragonriding is a partnership, after all.
Things got done much faster with a bit of dragonpower. Seeing this made the Weyrlingmaster very happy...
| Background from Boogie Jack's Web Depot. |  |