Trinari looked up from her book as her friend Roewl cantered up on his black mare. “Morning, Trin,” he said as he dismounted and tossed the reins over one of the branches of the tree that she was sitting under.

“Morning Roewl. It’s kind of early for you isn’t it? What did you have to get up for?” She asked as she marked her page in the book and closed it.

He shrugged and said, “I don’t know really. I just had this urge to get up early today. You know, do something I’ve never done before.”

She laughed and asked, “And what is that? Wake up before mid-day?”

He shook his head and patted his mare’s shoulder. “Nope, I’m going to enter Ecko here in tomorrow’s three-day trials and the deadline was an hour after mid-day, so I had to be up.”

Trinari raised an eyebrow at him and asked, “You’re entering her into the three-day? Are you sure she can handle it, I mean, I know she’s in shape but I think this would be tiring even for her.”

Roewl nodded and said, “Yes I know but the three races are increased in distance and the last one is the mile and a half and we’ve run that, true, not sprinted but we’ve made the distance.”

Trinari shook her head and said, “You’re insane. Ecko is going to be half dead halfway through the second day and you know it.”

He nodded, smiling slightly. “Yeah I know, but we’ll be lucky to make it to the second day anyway. We’ll probably be eliminated after the first race anyway, and if we’re not the second one will get us for sure, but I want to see if she can handle it.”

Trinari stood up and brushed the grass off her legs. “Did you already sign her up?”

He shook his head and said, “No I thought I’d talk to you before I did.”

She smiled and said, “Well you did, so let’s go sign her up for her death run.”

Roewl laughed and flipped the reins over Ecko’s head, swinging up and then pulling Trinari up behind him. Ecko snorted as the extra weight hit her back and then trotted off towards the village center when Roewl urged her on.

When they reached the sign-up booth they dismounted and Roewl wrote his mares’ name down on the sheet. “Well that’s done,” he said. “Now I’ve got to get her to the farrier, get her through a vet check and such. I’ve got a long day today for sure.”

Trinari nodded and was about to say something when her bronze caer flit flew up and landed on her shoulder, warbling incoherently about something. Trinari sighed and said, “He’s been like this for almost two days, babbling on so quickly and melding his images together so I have no idea what he’s talking about.”

Roewl laughed and said, “Maybe he found a mate and he’s trying to tell you about it or something.”

Trinari shook her head and stroked Leiner’s neck, trying to calm him. “Doubtful, whenever a female shows up he usually ducks out as quickly as possible.” The little bronze crooned and cocked his head in one direction, becoming silent for a short moment and then taking off, flying in excited circles around his owner’s head. Trinari rolled her eyes and said, “Honestly, you’d think that a bunch of dragons would be about to land or a nearby volcano was about to erupt judging by his condition.” As she said this Leiner flew back to her shoulder and warbled loudly and looking out towards the west.

Roewl scratched his head and said, “Yeah I don’t know what to tell you besides the fact that maybe you should take him home and keep him locked in so he can’t bother the entire village.”

She shook her head and said, “No, he’d just make more noise, believe me I’ve tried that approach. I think I am going to take him home though.”

Roewl nodded and asked, “You want me to give you a ride?”

Trinari shook her head and said, “No, you go get her feet checked and your other things done. It’s not that far to my house anyway.”

He nodded and waved as he climbed back up to Ecko’s back and walked off towards the farrier’s building.

Trinari was about halfway home when she heard pounding hooves coming up behind her. She turned around and crossed her arms as Roewl and Ecko came galloping towards her. “You’re going to wear her out before the races even begin,” she said.

Roewl nodded and put his hand out, “I know, I know. Here get on, I’ve got to get you back to the town center. I know why Leiner has been acting all crazy lately.”

Trinari raised an eyebrow in question and asked, “What? How do you know what’s been bugging him?”

Roewl rolled his eyes and said, “You’ll find out, now no more questions. Get on!”

Trinari sensed his tone of urgency so she took his hand and swung up onto the mares’ back again. Roewl whirled her around and took off towards the town center again.

When they reached the town center Trinari’s mouth dropped open and she slipped from Ecko’s back and rubbed her eyes, not really believing what she saw. In the back field of the town center two dragons, a blue and a green, were standing and looking at the people in the center as the ran by. “Oh, no way!” She cried out as she started to walk towards the dragons. She had almost reached them when a strong hand gripped her shoulder. She stopped and turned around, ready to yell at whoever it was for grabbing her so roughly. However, when she saw whom it was her anger instantly died away.

“Morning miss. You wouldn’t be interested in standing for a clutch would you?”

Trinari didn’t answer for a moment and then asked, “Are you serious? I could bond a dragon?”

The man nodded and said, “Yes If you want to. There’s a clutch at Caer Brynmor that’s in need of bonders and my dragon here thinks that you would make a good one. Interested?”

Trinari hesitated for a moment and then said, “I would, but the three-day racing trial is tomorrow and I have to watch my friend’s horse.”

The dragonrider laughed and said, “Don’t worry you’ll be able to see the races. Just come to the Caer with us first so we can sign you up. I can have a rider transfer you back here tomorrow so you can see the races.”

Trinari smiled and said, “That would be wonderful!”

The rider smiled back and led her to his blue, “Ok then, let’s head back. Oh and what’s your name?”

Trinari laughed as she climbed to the blue’s back and said, “Yes I’m sorry, I’m Trinari.”

The bluerider swung up in front of her and said, “Well Trinari, you’re going to have the chance to become a dragoner!”