Candidate

Comadra slid down from Merrenth’s back and helped her sister down after her. K’var un-strapped their bags and then said, “Welcome to Dark Moon Weyr. If you walk in there,” he said as he pointed to a wide opening. “And walk down a hallway to your left you’ll arrive at the hatching sands. You’ll sign up there and then be assigned to a weyr on one of the lower levels. If you need anything, I’m sure a helpful dragonrider will be or service. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some more candidates to search. Clear Skies!” The watched as he climbed skillfully back to Merrenth’s withers and then take off, leaving them in a storm of whirling dust. Comadra brushed her hair back after everything settled and then turned to Halvarn. “Ready to go?” She asked. Halvarn nodded, and smiled for once. Comadra walked into the Weyr then turned left as K’var had instructed. They walked down the long, dark hallway until in opened up into the hatching sands. Comadra

blinked as her eyes adjusted to the change in light and then she made her way to a wall that had a few hides pinned to a board. She looked them over and found that there were currently two clutches on the sands, gold Kikanath and green/blue Cesiyath. The gold’s clutch was full thought some spots were reserved and Cesiyath had a few spots left open. She picked up a quill and signed her name into a space under Cesiyath’s name. She put the quill down, stroked Sauri as he shifted his weight and then turned back to Halvarn. “Let’s go see what weyr we’re assigned to.”

The two sisters walked back down the hallway and stopped at a desk where an old woman was sitting. “Excuse me, but I’ve just signed up for the clutch and now I’ve been told to get my weyr assignment.” The woman nodded and leafed through some hides before saying, “You’re going to be in weyr number thirty-four on the first level. Just walk out the hall and turn left. Walk straight until you get to the dining hall and then turn right until you reach your weyr.” Comadra nodded and thanked her and then followed her directions. Comadra expected what would be in a holder’s cavern but when she walked into her weyr she was a bit disappointed. The weyr was sparsely furnished, and extremely dusty. Comadra walked in and dropped her bags. She looked around at the faded tapestries and worn in furniture. As she walked around she found that there were three rooms which were a main room, bedroom and a bathroom. “How is a dragon going to live her as well?” Halvarn asked. Comadra brushed her hair back again and said, “I think, I hope we get a different weyr. Because you’re right, a dragon wouldn’t fit along with us.” Halvarn scratched her head and then sat in an armchair. “Do you think they’ve ever cleaned this place?” Comadra shrugged. “I don’t know, but we won’t be living her for very long anyway. You saw the clutch candidates, she’s only in need of a few more. I’m sure the dragon weyrs are nicer then the candidate weyrs.”

Comadra spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the Weyr. She was trying to find where she could get some paints. She had left hers at the Hold but she was sure they would have some here. She walked down a long flight of stairs and then turned left. “Can I help you?” A voice said. Comadra turned around quickly and Sauri squawked as he was almost dislodged from her shoulder. There was a young woman sitting in a chair near a glow with a thick book in her lap. “Umm, I’m looking for some painting things.” The woman nodded and stood up. “What exactly are you looking for?” Comadra scratched her head and said, “Well I don’t. I need a canvas, as well as a few brushes, probably a thin, thick, and a fan, as well as basic colors.” The woman nodded and got Comadra’s things in about fifteen minutes. “Are these the colors you need?” She asked after she brought a set of paints back. Comadra looked them over and then nodded. “Yes I think these are the ones I had before.” The woman nodded and brought everything a desk where Comadra paid for them and walked back towards her weyr.

As she walked into her weyr she was surprised to see Halvarn with a young boy, probably about the age of seventeen. She looked up as Comadra walked in and said, “Oh hey Com,” which made Comadra cock her eyebrows for she hadn’t called her that name for a very long time. “This is Talir, a candidate for Kikanath’s clutch. He helped me unpack my things.” Comadra nodded and said, “Nice to meet you Talir. Look what I found in the lower caverns, Hal.” She smiled and was about to say something when Talir got up and walked up to Comadra. “Let me help you with that,” he said as took some things from Comadra. She smiled and walked to a corner of the room where she set up her new things. She thanked Talir and then walked into the bedchamber to unpack.

As she unpacked she heard laughing from the other room. She shook her head and smiled. Sauri

sat by his owner, watching her unpack her many items. She folded all her shirts and pants over again and made sure the socks she brought actually matched for once. She was notorious for matching socks that ended up being two different pairs of socks. After she paired them up she pushed the pile towards Sauri, who liked to do acrobatics over the dresser, seeing if he could drop them in while doing his tricks. She put the rest of the clothes into the drawers and then picked up the socks that didn’t quite make it into the upper drawer. She closed it and then walked into the bathing room. “What do you think the odds are of us having sweet sand?” She asked Sauri as she looked around for it. Sauri warbled and then flew to the sink. “That good huh? Well I don’t need it know, but it would be nice to have some in the morning.” Sauri chirped his agreement and flew to the other side of the room, where he landed on a small brown bag. “Ah there it is,” she said as she waved Sauri off of it and picked the bag up. She walked back to the sink and placed it under it. “I think she’ll be more likely to find it there huh?” She asked. The blue chirped again and she walked from the bathing room, Sauri clinging to her shirt.

She walked back into the main room but didn’t see Halvarn anywhere. She debated looking for her for a moment but Sauri warbled a warning and Comadra stroked him, knowing he was right. She sat down in one of the armchairs and was about to pick up a book that had been left there where there was a knock on the weyr door. She got up and quickly walked to the door. She opened it and came face to face with the weathered face of a middle-aged man. “Hello, Comadra?” She nodded and he continued. “You are a candidate for Cesiyath’s clutch correct?” She nodded again and he said. “All right, well I’m T’nelt, the weyrlingmaster, I’m here to let you know that training will begin the day after the clutch hatches. I’m not keen on people who come late of don’t show up at all for a month, so I let people know ahead of time so they can’t say that I didn’t tell them. Although, I’m sure I won’t have those problems with you.” Comadra shook her head vigorously. “Alright, well good day and good luck on the sands.” Comadra said good-bye and then closed the door. Sauri chirped and then flew back to the chair, landing on the book. Comadra smiled and nodded. She walked back to the chair and settled in, ready for a few hours of good reading on the epics of Jervani, savior of the 10th Turn.