Naoth’s clutch grew harder by the day, and the weather grew hotter. As unpopular as the short shirt-like robes had been at the last hatching, some of the candidates were muttering among themselves about the chances of using them again. Carefully folded robes had been delivered to the candidate’s barracks, but no one had the heart to look if they were the full-length wool or not.
A stickily humid day grew to a slow close, but the heat hasn’t dropped off much. A storm was brewing on the horizon, but the rains wouldn’t reach Ryslen until well after sunset.
It was widely debated among Ryslen’s Weyrfolk that the clutch of 15 that Naoth zealously guarded weren’t all laid by her. Speculation ran wild; if it was a double clutch, which green had lain her eggs and abandoned them? Were the rumors of two dragoness’ laying true?
Darkness descended on Ryslen Weyr, and glows within were brightened. Petapipa sat winthin the Hatching Grounds with her dragon, waiting patiently despite the heat. Naoth rumbled happily as she began to move her eggs for one last time.
A flurry of activity outside in the bowl startled Petapipa. "Naoth!" she exclaimed, "When...?"
Now. The dragoness said, coming to her rider’s side.
Within a span of a few heartbeats, the first guests, both human and draconic, began to arrive. Sab’re and Faloritoth had come, and the black dragon perched rather close to Sxoith, the green Watchdragon. Kerli chatted amiably with Sab’re in the stands.
Finally, the canidates came in, all dressed in the short shirt-like robes. Whether these were the ones given to the candidates, or this was an act of rebellion, no one knew – except whoever delivered the candidate’s robes.
The eggs rocked silently, and the humming of the dragons echoed melodiously throughout the cavern. Thunder crashed and lightning flashed with the coming storm, but no one paid it any heed as the first egg cracked open. The hatchling within the mottled egg was a bit disoriented, and wobbled like a newborn colt for a moment until he got his balance. A deep, dark brown, with splendid large wings. Naoth looked proud. He walked towards the male candidates. He never paused, walking straight to the ex-jockey Nikolai. I am Janciasolath. He said, You are brave, and we will ride together.
A second egg shattered, spilling forth a glistening blue dragon. He too was sturdy of limb and broad of wing. He would be a fine, strong dragon, and nearly as large as a small brown. He stamped up to Quiten. "Uraocth!" he said, "you found me!"
A larger egg rocked violently, and split dramatically in two. There among the shards stood a deep blue dragon, so dark he was nearly black. No; he was black. Just like the Light dragons who had come before. Murmurs ran through the crowd. Who? What? I am Lunirith, and my rider is Midnight. The black-blue dragon said. Only one non-dragon heard him. Larasamnisianalla stepped forward to claim her dragonet.
The rain poured down outside, preventing anyone from leaving as another half-black dragon burst from her shell. Deep green blended with black; she stepped forward as gracefully as a dancer. Morwenna, I am Ioeth, and I am for you. She sent, lovingly.
An average sized egg cracked open, revealing a mid-sized brown who was neither light nor dark. He was very stock, and looked strong. It was no surprize when he chose the one dubbed "the Wher." Garez met Nowyrth, and seemed to be happy, though his weather-worn face betrayed no emotion.
The smallest egg on the sands shook itself open, and a small green tumbled out into the soft red sands. Asien silently came forward and helped the green to her feet. "Quith..."
Another egg shattered, revealing a second black-green dragon. Eyes turned from her to Sxoith, who must be the dam – after all, she had been flown by the black. "They know, Sxoith. Take the sands." Kerli said. The Watchdragon didn’t move. Faloritoth lept from the ledge, and landed in the Sand with a soft thud. Naoth snapped at him, and he snapped back, clearing space for his mate. Sxoith shyly made her way down. Now she was in the spotlight. No wonder she’d let Naoth mother her eggs. Brown Iveth, not to be outdone, joined Naoth on the sands.
Meanwhile, the Night green had found her bond. Regene... she said softly, I am Zaraith.
A very large brown dragon had wormed his way out of his shell. The strongest lads tried to attract his eye, but none could. You have doubted; you have shown love and mercy; you know forgiveness. You have proved yourself worthy. Come to Helmuth, M'sey.
A smooth egg rolled over, and then split. A blue like the morning’s first light on the ocean slipped forth and began to examine the candidates. "I believe you’re looking for me. " Killaria said, and the blue whirled around. I am Liosliath.
Another egg cracked, revealing a small, dark blue dragonet. No, another black-blue. He walked boldly up to Ederyn. "Galeth, you’re wonderful."
A larger egg, paces away from the last to hatch split silently, and it’s occupant moved stealhily along the sands. He was the size of a blue, but blue he was not. Black as midnight and a deep, warm brown graced the dragonet’s hide. He crept nearer his bondmate... "Zujirth." Avery said, stopping the Night brown in his tracks. What did this mean?
Minaeya smiled at the odd girl. She’d known all along... sortof. She looked at the eggs, swirling with color that only she could see. One lost it’s color as the shell cracked open, revealing a green head and forepaws. She stepped from the shell. She too was half black. Suddenly, Minaeya saw herself bathed in a green-and-black aura. Her eyes met the dragon’s as the colors vanished and their minds met. "Who is she?" someone whispered. "Auspexeth." Min said, stepping forward.
Another egg hatched, and a perfect, pure green came forth into the world. She pranced across the sands to a young woman with a brown firelizard on her shoulder. Ananda chirruped questioningly at the green. I am Tolath. She said, and Ramya is my rider.
The posture of Sxoith and Naoth indicate that all the eggs were accounted for – the last two stood alone. The rain began to let up, so as soon as these two hatched...
One split into four good-sized pieces, revealing a blue dragonet, deep, almost purple, but definitely blue. Everyone looked to Ivo, except for the dragon. He went straight to Taesha. I am Cervezath, and I like grapes... I think.
The last egg wobbled once or twice, but mainly was still. The last candidate on the sands was Ivo... who was quite obviously not normal. Perhaps this egg would Impress from the stands?
"Are you coming or not?" Ivo growled, ignoring Shezumi and her weyrling Light dragon nearby.
Not. The egg responded darkly.
This was too much for Ivo. Snarling, he charged the egg, and pounced on it with more ferocity than any had seen from a candidate in ages. The shell snapped, falling to pieces, leaving the dark Ivo face to face with a bronze muzzle. The draognet put two dark bronze forepaws on Ivo’s chest, and two nearly black hindpaws on Ivo’s chest. Get off, Ivo! He said, attempting to shove the large man. Ivo moved. "Zkoth," he said, his voice almost purring. "You did that on purpose."
Prove it.
The storm died down, and a wide double rainbow graced the sky. Fifteen new riders – eight with normal-colored dragonets, and seven with half-black dragons; Night in contrast to the half-white Lights.
"You could have told us you were still fertile, Sxoith." Weyrleader J’kosh said. "We could have arranged for some other dragon...."
Kerli... Tell him that Watching is my duty... and that Naoth was perfectly willing to tend them. Besides, look at all the praise she got for laying fifteen...
J’kosh laughed when he heard this.
Naoth didn’t seem to be too angry for Sxoith stealing her spotlight... or was she?
Faloritoth seemed pleased too. Did bronze offspring mean he was bronze under that black hide?