It would be nothing for either of them, like most riders Sh'mai caught on quickly to the tack and harnesses, it was the size of his dragon that caught him off guard!
"You're growing so quickly, Azlith, I'm always amazed!"
Do I displease you, my rider?
"No no! Of course not! Our friends at Paveh hold will be so happy when they see you! We'll fly there soon, I promise."
But I must eat, the dragon insisted. I am not done getting big. How can I make your friends happy like you if I am not big!?
"You don't need to be big to make anyone happy, even me," Sh'mai told his lifemate. "Especially me."
Then you want me to stay small?
Sh'mai laughed, and snugged the riding harness he was fixing up onto his still-growing dragon.
"I'll keep feeding you and oiling you as long as you want, and you can get as big or stay as little as you will be. As long as you're fast!"
I will go fast, then! Faster than the wind!
Azlith proves himself fastest all the time, by flying circles around the big hulky bronzes and browns. He doesn't dare do tricks like that when the weyrling master is around or some gold is watching... But he does get others to talk about him. Azlith brags about his speed, kept in check by his rider's sensible explanation that the blue is certainly right -- No one argues with him, at least not when Sh'mai is around!
