Sarilyn shaded her eyes and looked down towards the racetrack. “Do you think he’ll do alright today?” She asked her dragon as she stood up and walked farther out on the ledge.

Kandrith rolled over so that she could also see and said, I would assume so. He’s done fairly well in all of his other races. I still do not understand the point of this though rider-mine.

Sarilyn shrugged and said, “It’s entertainment dear. I would love it if he would place this time though. He’s always been so close but something always goes wrong at the last minute.”

The gold snorted and said, I believe you need a new jockey for your stallion. I think that he is making him run his hardest too early so then he doesn’t have enough energy to push past in the homestretch.

The weyrwoman pondered over this for a moment and then asked, “Do you think so? You think he’s being run too early?”

The dragon shifted her gaze to her rider and asked, Would you like me to tell K’laf not to urge him on so early?

Sarilyn smiled and said, “Yes that would help I think.”

Kandrith gave the jockey her rider’s message and then said, Isn’t that him down there now? She asked as she looked down and watched a bright palomino prance into the warm-up ring.

Sarilyn smiled and said, “Yes that’s him. No other runner here carries his tail like that.” She watched as he whipped his long tail around him and tossed his head in anticipation. “No other runner seems to be as high strung like him either,” she added as an after-thought.

Kandrith sort of shrugged and said, He is a good runner besides that though isn’t he? I mean, you’ve said that all of his progeny are very well mannered.

The goldrider sighed and said, “Yes he’s a very good runner but he needs to chill out a little I think, if that’s even possible for him. I’m deciding whether or not to geld him actually.”

Kandrith snorted and said, His booking fees are your only source of income rider-mine. If you were to geld him you would lose an awful lot of marks.

Sarilyn nodded and then turned to face her dragon. Smiling she asked, “Since when did you know so much about the runner business?”

Kandrith warbled and said, You think I’m actually sleeping every time you’re talking about Flijne? The large gold watched as her rider whistled to K’laf and then waved happily. Do you wish to go down to the track and watch the race? Kandrith asked.

Sarilyn turned around and said, “No unfortunately I don’t have time to go down there. I have a lot of records to write up right now. Especially since we’ve just had two females rise. Those flight stories have to be written and then placed in the books.”

Would you like me to go down and then let you know if Flijne placed? Kandrith asked as she watched her rider walk to the nearby table and spread her sheets of hide out.

Sarilyn shook her head and said, “No that won’t be necessary. I’ll be able to hear the announcer from here. Why do you think I had the track built just to the west of us?”

Kandrith warbled and said, I never thought of that before. I forgot that we usually only get drafts out of the west this time of the year.

Sarilyn nodded and picked up her quill. “Yep, during racing season those announcements blow right towards our weyr.”

Kandrith crooned and rested her head on her front legs, closing her eyes and planning on going to sleep until dinnertime. However, an hour later the announcer’s voice drifted up from the tracks.

Kandrith lifted her head and tilted her head so she could hear him better. Flijne is in 6th place right now, she commented to her rider as she continued to listen. They’re rounding the last turn and coming into the homestretch.

Sarilyn put her quill down and said, “Tell him to make his move now before it’s too late.”

Kandrith crooned and said, There is no need. He’s already moved him up. The announcer says he’s making a determined run.

Sarilyn smiled and twisted around in her chair. “Is he moving him up?”

The gold tilted her head a little more and said, Yes, he’s moved into fourth and he’s a heads length behind the runner in third.

Sarilyn bit her lip in her excitement and asked, “Where are they?”

Kandrith listened to the announcer and then said, They’ve just crossed the finished line. Flijne pushed forward and came in third.

Sarilyn cried out and said, “You’re sure?”

The gold snorted and said, Of course I’m sure.

The weyrwoman got up from her chair and walked over to her dragon. “Come on, let’s go down there and congratulate K’laf on a great race.”

Kandrith got up once her rider had mounted and walked out towards the ledge. You never congratulate me on my good flights, she said as she looked down at the track.

“What are you talking about Kandrith? Of course I do,” She wiped the hair out of her face and then asked, “What’s gotten into you? Are you getting proddy?”

Kandrith snorted and spread her wings, falling gracefully into the air. Well you don’t right after it’s happened. You always tell me the day after. And I am /not/ getting proddy, She said testily.

Sarilyn rolled her eyes and asked, “Are you sure you’re not about to rise?”

Kandrith rumbled and said, Yes, I am sure! I will not rise for at least another seven day. She folded her wings and dove down to the racetrack, pulling up the last minute and landing lightly.

“Ok whatever you say dear,” Sarilyn said as she slid down from her mount’s neck, not believing one of her dragon’s words.