Kaoten shooks his head as one of the transfer apprentices ogled over Gemtia. Sure he’d agree with the man that his sister was one of the most beautiful woman in the hold but he still half didn’t understand why, even when warned the men still tried to go after her. As Talcin moved away, obviously planning how to get Kaoten’s sister, the young man sighed and walked over to the passage the stormy haired woman had traveled down.
“You must be in a bad mood to have glared at me like that,” Kaoten chuckled as he found his sister waiting for him.
“I wasn’t glaring at you, Kao,” Gemtia let out a heavy sigh, “I heard the whistle loud and clear from where I was. It took all my control to not walk over there and break his nose.”
“Ooo, sounds like the terror of Turasake’s Beastcraft has a soft spot after all,” Kaoten chuckled impishly as he dodged his nearly foot taller sister’s swing, “For your information he’s that new transfer apprentice for Kutou Hold. Master Helxic said he’s to be in your classes starting tomorrow. From what he gives off, I think he’s one who might be late even after he find out you’re the teacher.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, brother,” Gemtia sighed, “I bet he tries to pull something tonight during the dance.”
“More than likely,” her brother chuckled, “He may be strongly built but by far I think he might be one of those that you need to brake more than their nose… least it could do would be to make me laugh and say I told ya’ so.” Gemtia couldn’t help but crack a smile at her brother’s seemingly happy go lucky words. Oh, Kaoten did have his serious times but when talking of the men who wished to bed his twin sister just because of her looks, it was priceless to watch them go down in flames.
“Wonder if he’ll transfer out the moment he gets beat down by you and told that you’re his teacher,” the 19 turn old man commented, “If he doesn’t it will be interesting how he reacts around you after your ‘lesson,’ huh?”
“You know,” Gemtia replied shaking her head as they walked down the hall together, “the way you talk about my teaching skills makes me think I should cut down or even quit with being physical when confronted with them.”
“Truthfuly, dear sister, I think you shouldn’t,” Kaoten replied in a more serious tone, “Perhaps tone down the braking of somebody’s nose to a slap on the cheek but if you were to bring down that barrier then how would you know if perhaps they were for you.”
“You’re logic’s a bit twisted, little big brother, ya’ know that,” Gemtia stated. Kaoten opened his mouth to reply but was quickly interrupted as a blue fire lizard screeched from the closest window. Images of the stables and a slightly peeved man in his fourth or fifth decade entered Kaoten’s mind and the boy grinned sheepishly.
“Thanks, Chaos,” he smiled as the blue fire lizard flew from his perch to Kaoten’s shoulder, “Master Helxic seems to be looking for me. I’ll talk to you later, big little sister.” With a sort of two-fingered wave/salute to his beautiful sister the young man checked what was bellow the window. With a grin he dropped down into the hay that had been set there earlier in the day, glad that no one was there to scold him for doing such a thing. Chaos chirped loving the adventure as well. Getting up the man of 5’ 7” dusted the extra hay off himself while dashing towards the stables. Chaos tried his best to help by plucking the stray pieces of hay in his master’s hair out, leaving only one piece when he was dislodged from his perch because of Kaoten’s speed.
Kaoten straightened some as he approached the runnerbeasts’ stables and slowed his pace so as not to startle the beasts. Master Helxic found him picking the rebellious last piece of hay out of his hair and shook his head.
“Kaoten, where have you been?” the Master Beastcrafter asked, “You were to have at least the Lord and Lady Holder’s runners brushed and tacked for them an hour ago. I hope you have a good excuse.”
“Acttually, sir,” Kaoten started just as Chaos landed on his shoulder again, “I was greeting that transfer from Kutou Hold.”
“Yes, I’m sure,” Helxic replied as a small smile turned up the corners of the mans lips, “As I’m sure you also had the chance to inform him to keep away from your sister?”
“It’s what any man would do in his right mind,” he chuckled, “Don’t be surprised if you have another apprentice with a broken nose or something in the morning.”
“She’s in her right to do that, we can’t be having student teacher relationships,” Helxic replied, “Even if they are close in age. Now tell the truth lad, you do it for more than the health of the men in this hold.”
“Gemtia may be taller than me but she’s still younger…”
“Bah, by only five whole minutes, Kaoten.”
“Still, I’m her older brother, and so she’s sort of like my baby sister…”
“Gemtia’s not even close to being compared to a baby and you know it.”
“OK, fine, I do worry about my sister a bit,” Kaoten finally stated to his Master and watched as Helxic’s face softened, “Mom was only able to have us by that one dragonrider. She admits that it was a one night stand for them, ya’ know.”
“I know,” Helxic replied with a sigh, “I saw your father at that time. He was depressed after loosing his brown riding weyrmate to Thread a few days earlier. He said your mother had looked like his wife.”
“And he didn’t leave a name, nor find out my mother’s name,” Kaoten sighed, “But then who would have suspected after a one night stand that one would be with child. Mother doesn’t scorn the green rider either, she some how understood him.”
Helxic looked at the sun in the silence that followed the younger man’s thoughts. After a time he remembered what he’d been talking about before.
“Enough wondering about the past now, lad,” he chuckled and continued on sternly, “Get to work on those runners for Lord Ronagin and his wife.”
“Yes sir,” he smiled. Helxic had been like a father to Gemtia and Kaoten nearly from the day they were born. The man was in no way related to them but was a good friend of the family. He’d been the one to give him the egg Chaos came out of which at the worst of times Kaoten really wish he hadn’t. Chaos had a tendency to, well, be chaotic. The blue had cause such a ruckus when he hatched that Ronagin had assigned the duo to stay in the drum heights for a week. Kaoten had been a bit annoyed at the situation but did learn enough from being up there that he knew what the signal for “Dragons” and “Search” was as well as a few others.
Kaoten seemed to waltz into the stables always happy to work there. Chaos left his perch to find the brushes his master needed while Kaoten located the tack for the runners he was to prepare for riding. The pair worked quickly, making sure the silver mare and stunning chestnut gelding gleamed in the nearly midday sun. It was just as the runnerbeasts were getting the last bit of their meals that their riders appeared at the entrance to the stables.
“Where are those runners of ours?” the distinct voice of Lord Ronagin traveled down the corridor to Kaoten. The young man quickly straightened up and made sure he looked suitable to talk to his Lord Holder before quickly leading the elegant steeds out to the Lord and Lady holder.
“My apologies for the wait, m’lord,” Kaoten spoke up with a slight bow to Ronagin and his wife. The Lord holder smiled at the young man and then at the two runnerbeasts.
“As long as they look to be in order, well groomed and feed,” Ronagin replied, gently taking a hold of the reigns of the gelding, “They look to be in much better order than the apprentices usually do.”
“I always enjoy the ride better when they’re properly kept,” the Lady holder agreed.
“It is my pleasure, Lady Atona,” Kaoten smiled to the woman whom was about the same size as himself.
“We’ll take it from here, lad,” Ronagin nodded taking the mare’s reigns as well.
“As you wish, m’lord,” Kaoten smiled, “you’ll forgive me, but I must attend to the other runners of the stables.”
“Very well, give Master Helxic my regards, Kaoten,” Ronagin nodded surprising Kaoten that he knew his name, “And your sister as well. Tell her to not do too much damage to the men tonight at the dance.”
“I will, Lord Ronagin,” Kaoten chuckled, “But I doubt my sister will listen to me. Clear skies and good riding.” Proudly Kaoten matched down the stalls to finish his work.
Kaoten suppressed a chuckled as Talcin approached with a large red welt upon his cheek. Talcin on the other hand oddly looked intrigued yet unsure by what ever had happened. The young man finally spotted Kaoten grinning smartly at him.
“It’s not funny,” Talcin stated finally letting his pride burn for what happened to him. Kaoten snickered and Talcin continued in annoyance at the older boy, “Why didn’t you tell me that Gemtia was a Sr. Journeywoman and my teacher for tomorrow.”
“Since when does a Sr. Journeyman have to tell a Sr. Apprentice anything but what he’s supposed to learn?” Kaoten stated putting his booted feet on the table. Talcin blinked, this man was also a Sr. Journeyer? “Look, Talc,” the Journeyman continued, “I warned you about what Gemtia does, she’s not easy to get close to. When somebody does try to she’ll take it the wrong way more likely than not, even if you didn’t mean it, and clobber you.”
“She only slapped me,” Talcin stated causing Kaoten to inwardly stiffen.
“Looks like she finally listened to me,” the young man mumbled to himself, and then continued so Talcin could hear him, “I hate to say it but I told ya’ so, you’re the lucky one though to get away with just a hard slap on the face. Binotal over there is the result of the last one who tried to seduce her.” Here Kaoten pointed to a young man over near the corner who wore his left arm in a sling, while two boards to heal his broken leg, stabilized his right leg and a crutch was lain next to his good arm.
“What’d he do to deserve that?” Talcin asked in amazement.
“He continually tired to put his arm over her shoulder,” Kaoten chuckled, “The last time he tried it by the stairs and without thinking Gemtia grabbed the arm around her shoulder and flipped him down the stairs, hence his leg was broken on the fall and his arm fractured.” Kaoten couldn’t help but chuckle at the way the other man went pale when he realized how lucky he’d been. The Journeyman finally sighed as he felt sorry for the now seemingly frightened apprentice.
“Have you legs to dance, Talcin?” Kaoten asked finally placing his chair in its proper possion.
“Huh?” Talcin asked, obviously thinking the Beastcrafter was asking him for one.
“Come now I’m sure you’ve danced with many a lass,” Kaoten stated eyeing a young woman she walked by.
“Yes, I was alright back at Kutou Hold,” Talcin stated and puffed out his chest as he continued, “woman both young and old would wait in line for hours just to dance with me.” Kaoten rolled his eyes.
“Well I sure don’t see them lining up right now for you, Talc’,” the Journeyman chuckled. Talcin looked a bit flabbergasted at the statement.
“Ah, don’t worry, you’re new here,” Kaoten stated as he caught a young lady’s eye and nodded her over, “You’ll have many around you again once they get to know you. But I’ll tell you now, you best not stay up too late, Gemtia will like you even less if you’re late to her class on your first day.”
Talcin nodded seeming to blush for some reason and finally walked off to the other side of the room. Kaoten smiled as the woman he’d nodded to walked up.
“Seems overly confident doesn’t he, Kao?” the woman stated offering her hand for him to rise and dance with her.
“Yes he does, Tendo,” Kaoten replied with a smirk, “and truthfully, by the look he gave when he walked back in after the incident with Gem, I think he might actually try to go after her still… and he might actually do it the smart way.” Tendo chuckled at the man’s thoughts and soon the dance went on with the duo talking of other things.
Kaoten let the last runnerbeast loose into the gated off field. This time he’d managed to get to his duties on time and now the runners were being allowed their own free time, so to speak. He chuckled as the colts and fillies kicked up their heal, playing a runnerbeast’s version of tag among them. The mares watched their children with their mild manners, while a few Kaoten could swear were chuckling at the play. In a few paddock parallel to them Stallions watched also, but more so watched the mares. Oddly it was the gelding and the paddock on the other side of the mares who set up pawing and woofing nervously.
“What’s the matter, fellas? ” Kaoten cooed to the geldings as he started to walk towards their pen. Just as he was at the divider suddenly the fillies and colts set up with high pitched whinnies of fear. They were followed quickly by the snorts and stamping of hooves of both the mares and the stallions.
“What the…?” Kaoten started but was cut off by the rolling of drums and a mighty roar. Dragons? On Search here? “Easy lads and lasses,” Kaoten continued aloud to the runners whom were barely held back from stampeding in their pens, “They’re not here to hurt you. Just to search out some good souls who might one day ride one of those beasts up there.” Kaoten wasn’t the least bit surprised that his words didn’t calm the beasts as one of the stallions nickered fearfully while throwing his glossy head in a fit.
Chaos was quick to appear out of between chittering at his master with images of the three dragons who were landing in the courtyard of Turasake Hold. Kaoten on the other hand was now not for looking and the noble beasts. “Quit chittering, Chaos and help me try to calm the runners!” Kaoten growled and the fire lizard obeyed.
Ten minutes into his fit of trying to keep the runners sane, Master Helxic appeared with a grin.
“You see those fine specimens of dragons from Firestone Weyr up there, lad?” he asked only to frown at the hysteria reigning in the pens, “What’s going on here, Kaoten? The runnerbeasts are libel to run themselves into next turn at this rate.”
“I was thinking next decade, Master,” Kaoten joked dryly, as Chaos returned to him landing on his shoulder, “They sensed the dragons coming and have been like this ever sense their arrival.”
“Ah, forget that now,” Helxic stated with a mixture of a scowl and a grin, “I’ll take care of them, you get to that search line, Gem’s already there and last I heard she was talking it up with a couple of the riders. I think she won’t be here much longer.”
“My sister searched?” Kaoten stated with a chuckle, “I fear for Firestone Weyr in that case. Thanks, Master Helxic, I’ll see you after the search is over with.” With that, the Sr. Journeyman jogged off towards the large forms that dominated his view.
“I don’t believe it will be to go back to work though, lad,” Helxic smiled as he tried to sooth the runners, “I believe you won’t be here much long as well.”
Kaoten found the line yet there was no sign of his sister. He did however find Talcin at the far end of the line watching the bronze, blue, and green dragons. He smiled and quickly settled himself next to the younger man.
“How’s it going, Talcin?” Kaoten grinned, “Have a good day in my s-er, Gemtia’s class today?”
“Very funny, Journeyman Kaoten,” Talcin stated with a slight blush, “I won’t have to deal with her anymore now though, she was just searched about three minutes ago.”
“So, Master Helxic was correct,” Kaoten stated with a sly smile, “They think that my sister has the makings of a dragonrider.” Talcin nodded and did a double take at Kaoten.
“You’re sister?” he yelped. With a few stares from those others waiting for the dragons he continued on in a whisper to his first friend at Turasake Hold, “Why didn’t you tell me you were her brother?”
“Talc’, if I’d done that,” Kaoten stated, “You would have immediately hounded me to find out how you could get her easier. And don’t deny it either, that’s the idea in every man’s mind who finds out that she’s my sister. Not many know that fact these days except those who’ve stopped chasing after her or the girls of the hold. The most that most men think is that possibly I’m her boyfriend.”
Talcin stayed quiet and Kaoten was sure that the other man was considering what he’d said. Soon the bronze was near them and Kaoten smiled turning to Talcin once more.
“Good luck being searched, Talcin,” Kaoten smiled putting out his hand. Talcin hesitated for a moment then finally grasped Kaoten’s hand.
“Good luck to you as well, Kao,” Talcin smiled gripping Kaoten’s had firmly, seemingly a bit challenging.
A sharp bellow suddenly hit the air and to the surprise of those who were still being checked a white dragon circled to the ground. The white landed with a hop skip and trilled happily despite the hard looks from both the bronze and his rider. The white rider soon had his helmet off to show he was indeed a man. He seemed to look much more mature than his little white whom was dwarfed even by the green.
“Excuse our interruption,” he stated as he met the bronze rider, “We had no idea there was a search going on here, Head Searchrider B’tal, bronze Neverenth.”
“Then what brings you here, B’nir, white Pikceth’s rider?” B’tal replied testily yet formally, meanwhile his bronze continued his duty, bored with his rider’s annoyance.
“I came at the request of a few of Vella Crean’s candidates. They wanted me to inform their brother of their search a sevenday back but we were not able to tell which caravan he’d been in so we waited till he was supposed to arrive; he was to arrive yesterday or today.”
“Huh, White Rider?” Talcin suddenly piped up beside Kaoten, the two riders and the Sr. Journeyman looked at the teen, “would you happen to be looking for a Talcin?”
“That I am,” B’nir blinked, “I take it you’re him?”
“I am,” he replied but all other conversation was cut off as both a white and a bronze muzzle cut off the two men’s view of the dragonriders before them.
“WHOA!” Kaoten shouted with a start, Chaos squawking in startlemeant as well, “Kind of close aren’t ya’, boys?”
“You’re tellin’ me!” Talcin agreed with a slight chuckle which Kaoten joined in.
Well what have we here? B’nir! B’nir! Come look at this one, he’s ripe for the clutch on Vella Crean! Tell him he’s a candidate… ah, you’re too slow as usual. Young man you are to be a candidate at Vella Crean! Kaoten stopped in mid laugh and looked at the dragon before him, he was too startled to notice that Talcin was still chuckling at the bronze’s breath upon him.
“Talc’, did you hear what I just heard?” Kaoten asked out of the corner of his mouth.
“Hear what?” the other man replied.
“Pikceth, let me through if you want me to have a look at him,” B’nir’s voice traveled over the massive dragon necks. The immature acting white side stepped his rider but still kept his snout close to Kaoten, his eyes whirling a pleasant blue-green. B’nir looked at Kaoten with raised eyebrows, “Something tells me you like him because he’s small like those two girls you searched a sevenday back.” The white’s eyes continued to whirl happily and his rider sighed with a chuckle of defeat before turning back to the Beastcrafter, “Looks like you’ll be coming with us… that is if you want a chance to impress.”
Kaoten was speechless for a time; him a dragonrider? His mother, a steward of Turasake Hold, might have a fit with her only children leaving to become riders but then it was in their blood…
“I’d be honored, dragonrider,” Kaoten stated with a bow. Look out Vella Crean, here I come! Kaoten smiled happily.
| Name | Kaoten |
| Age | 19 |
| Height | 5' 7" |
| Hair | Light brown |
| Eyes | deep stormy blue |
| Rank | Sr. Journeyman Beastcrafter/Stable hand |
| Dragon | N/A |
| Born | Turasake Hold |
| Pets | blue fire lizard, Chaos |
| Current Residence | Turasake Hold |
| Name | Chaos |
| Gender | male |
| Species | fire lizard (blue) |
| Age | adult |
| Egg from | Healing Den |
| Hatched at | Turasake Hold |
| Mate | N/A |
| Children | N/A |
| Current Residence | Turasake Hold |