 “Cenfre get up!” A voice yelled into his ear. The boy rolled over and pulled the pillow over his head. Someone pulled it off and shook him. He opened his eyes slightly and saw his sister Freanna. “What do you want?” He heard her sigh and then her light, airy voice say, “Dragonriders are coming again.” Cenfre sat straight up. “When?” He asked excitedly. His sister shrugged. “I don’t know, I heard they were coming today. But dad says you have to help on the boat before you can go to town and see if you’ll be Searched.” Cenfre nodded and jumped out of bed. He grabbed some clothes from his drawer and then made his sister leave so he could change. When he was dressed he walked into the other room and grabbed some fruit off the table and then walked out the door, running right into his girlfriend. “Oh gosh Tilly I’m sorry but I’ve just heard…” She put her hand up and cut him off. “That the dragons are coming today. Yes I’ve heard also but I don’t think you should go.” Cenfre looked at her searchingly but couldn’t decide what she was hiding. He took her by the hand and led her slowly towards the docks. As they walked, her silence really started to get to him. He knew there was something she didn’t want to tell him but he couldn’t put a finger on it. “So why shouldn’t I go and get Searched?” He asked her softly. She smiled weekly and then replied, “I don’t want to lose you Cenfre, like Gendrae lost Ranevin.” “R’nevin actually,” Cenfre corrected. “Whatever. Where did he go, Falas Weyr? That’s far away Cenfre, I wouldn’t be able to see you anymore and I know how those mating flights work. What if your dragon catches another female’s dragon? What then, where do I stand?” Cenfre shook his head, he wasn’t going to loose her either over something like getting Searched. “Tilly I’m not loosing you either but I’m going to go to the Weyr if the dragonriders think I’m fit for candidacy. And when I Impress I could always fly back here to see you, which wouldn’t be a problem since I’d be a-dragonback. And for the mating flights, I wouldn’t leave you for someone at the Weyr, I love you too much.” Tilly smiled sadly and shook her head. Uh oh here it comes, he thought to himself. “Cenfre, you’re a fisherman, you belong in a fishing hold, with me. If you can’t see this and you leave for the Weyr, you’re going to loose me forever. There’s plenty of other men here Cen.” Cenfre looked at her coldly. “What are you saying?” Tilly looked deeply into Cenfre’s eyes and then said, “If you pick that stupid Weyr over me, its over.” He couldn’t believe she was doing this to him. Pick between her and having a dragon? She was being insane! She said herself she could find another guy, which he didn’t doubt, but… “Tilly, you’re asking me to choose between you, the love of my life, and my life’s dream! I can’t do that.” He ran a hand through his light brown hair and then shook his head. “No I’m still going, I’m sorry.” Tilly’s eyes flashed and brought a hand up, as if to slap him but then she brought it back down again. “I can’t believe you just did that. You’re going to be sorry Cenfre, really sorry when you’re at that dusty old Weyr with those smelly beasts. Goodbye.” She said this and then walked away but Cenfre could tell she was crying. He sighed but didn’t go after her, like he normally would have. Instead he ran the rest of the way to the docks so he could help his dad and then go get Searched! When he reached his boat his dad looked up from his work and waved happily. Cenfre waved back and stepped over the lifelines and squatted down next to his father. “What do you need help with?” he asked as he watched his dad refinish the teakwood. “I need help with this and getting that new sail on, then you can go and play with the dragons.” Cenfre nodded and stuck a brush into the finishing wax, dropping a glob on the teak and then brushing it in evenly. As they worked, his dad made conversation. “So how’s Tilly?” He asked. Cenfre groaned. “Oh that good huh?” Cenfre took a deep breath and then told him what happened. His dad looked at him proudly and then said, “You did the right thing Cenfre. You’ve wanted to become a dragonrider for so long, and why you weren’t Searched the last time I don’t know, maybe we were out on the boat, anyway you can’t let her get in the way. There will be other women in your life Cenfre, but this may be your last chance to become a dragonrider.” Cenfre nodded and kept spreading the wax on the teak. Two hours later they stood back and looked over their work. The teak now gleamed through the finish and his dad smiled. “We make a great team, now lets work on that sail.” Cenfre smiled and helped his dad get it out from one of the compartments below. They brought it back out and unfurled it, making sure it was still in good condition. After his dad approved it they brought the old one down, which took awhile for all the lines were tangled. However, when they finally got it down, they stuffed it below and pulled the lines through the holes along the length of the sail. As they brought it up Cenfre heard the distant sounds of drums. His dad must have heard it to for he was facing the same direction. Cenfre looked to his dad and he nodded slowly. Cenfre hugged him briefly and then jumped over the lifelines and almost tumbled over the other side of the narrow dock before running off. When he finally reached the hold square he was sweaty and out of breath. About two hundred feet away were two green dragons. They were looking around the growing crowd of people, occasionally rumbling their happiness. Their riders were around here too obviously, but where he didn’t know. He walked farther into the crowd, pushing to get closer. He had almost reached the clearing in which the dragons where when someone placed their hand firmly on his shoulder. He whirled about and looked at the woman behind him. She had flowing blonde hair and from her shoulder knot he could tell she was a dragonrider. She was smiling widely looking over Cenfre carefully. “Hello, I’m Serzona, rider of Aphorath,” she said as she pointed to the slightly smaller green. “Who are you?” Cenfre looked up and saw that the dragon was looking intently at him. He smiled and then said, “Cenfre.” The greenrider nodded and led him towards her dragon. “Well Cenfre my dragon here seems to think you’d make a good candidate at Falas Weyr. How would you like to go with me and try your luck on the sands?” Cenfre nodded and Serzona helped him to her dragon’s back. “Is there anyone you need to tell before we go?” Cenfre shook his head, knowing his dad would figure it out if he didn’t come back for dinner. “Alright then, hold on and be ready to go between.” Cenfre placed his hands around her waist and smiled happily as the green dragon lept into the air and then went between, towards Falas Weyr. | Journal | Search Story | Stats | |