Wervan clucked the horse on and sighed as he kicked out and bolted. He leaned back, trying not to be dragged by the large stallion. “Whoa boy, whoa,” he said as calmly as he could. The stallion snorted and charged around him in circles. “Dad this beast is impossible, he’d be better off as canine chow,” he said as he started to pull the lunge line in. His father, Harban, was leaning over the paddock fence and he said, “Yeah I know, he’s not the brightest one we’ve had. He’ll get better though, most of them do anyway. Just keep him running, he’ll tire himself out eventually.” Wervan sighed and clucked softly, hoping it wouldn’t have as much effect. “Hey where’s Souban? He’s better with these stupid animals.” His dad shrugged and said, “You know your brother, he could be anywhere.”

Wervan ran the chestnut stallion for another half hour and then he said, “Dad I’m gonna turn him out now. I can’t get anywhere else with him today, he’s being stubborn and I don’t want him to run himself down.” His father nodded and said, “Alright that’s fine. I’ve got another mare I want you to get on today anyway.” Wervan frowned as he pulled the lunge line in a little at a time. “Dad, I was going to go down to the creek with the guys later today.” Harban shrugged and said, “You can go after you give that mare a workout.” Wervan nodded and grabbed the stallion’s halter when he got him close enough. The animal whinnied and backed away, trying to rear up and kick Wervan. He jumped to the side quickly and unhooked the lunge line, stepping back as the chestnut whirled around and ran to the opposite side of the paddock. He stopped and watched Wervan for a moment and then snorted loudly, lowering his head to graze.

After rolling up the remaining section of lunge line he climbed over the fence and jumped down lightly onto the grass. His father looked at him and said, “I think that beast gave you more of a workout then you gave him.” Wervan looked down at himself and smiled, dusting his clothes off. “Yeah I guess he did. I think he’d make a good race horse if we get him settled a little, well maybe more then a little.” His father nodded and said, “Yeah maybe. Go home and change your clothes and then get back here, I need that bay mare ridden today before she kills herself out of boredom.” Wervan smiled and said, “Which bay mare? We’ve got about five.” His father scratched his head and said, “The one with the wide blaze and four socks.” Wervan nodded and said, “Alright, let me get Solluz and Arbol first and then I’ll go home.” Harban nodded and walked towards the fence again, watching the stallion.

Wervan walked into the barn and started whistling softly, knowing his two alis gryphs would come once they heard him. Solluz, his orange colored alis, raised her head slightly and made a warbling noise as she got up and stretched. “Hey Solluz, sleep well on that hay?” She purred softly and climbed to her owner’s shoulder when he picked her up. “Where’s Arbol?” He asked her, not really expecting an answer. She crooned and curled around his neck, falling asleep. He smiled and said, “Well a great help you are, you lazy orange beast.” Wervan stroked her head as he walked around the barn, trying to find his other gryph. After a few minutes he sighed and said, “Well he’ll be ok for awhile, I’m not going to be gone that long.” He turned around and walked from the barn, heading home so he could change his clothes.

He opened the front door and walked into their front hall. After taking his boots off he walked into the kitchen and was about to sit down at the table when his mother said, “Don’t you dare sit down on my chair with those dirty clothes. You can go right upstairs and change before you even think about having anything to eat, and while you’re at it, wash your face.” Wervan smiled and ran up the stairs and into his bedroom, setting Solluz on the bed and quickly changing into some clean clothes. He started to walk out of the room when Solluz’s pitiful crooning made him go back and pick her up, setting her back on his shoulder. He walked into the bathroom, turned on the light and took a washcloth from the cabinet, wetting it and then washing the dirt from his face. When he thought he looked alright he walked back down the stairs and into the kitchen, allowed to sit in the chair now.

"How was that stallion your dad was talking about?” She asked him as she set a plate of fruit and bread in front of him. He shrugged and said, “Alright I suppose. I mean, he’s better then before but he’s no where near being close to ride.” His mother nodded and sat down across from him. “You’ve been working with that horse for almost three months and he’s not even calm enough to saddle? I think he’d be better just turned out and left as a stud.” Wervan nodded and said, “Yeah maybe but then if his offspring get his temperament we’d have to go through the same thing again, and it’s not worth it.” She nodded again and said, “Werva, take that alis off your shoulder. She can’t sit there while you’re eating.” He grabbed Solluz and set her down on the floor, patting her head absently. “Can you get her something to eat mom? I don’t think she went hunting today.” His mother nodded and went to the pantry, trying to find something for the little gryph.

Hey you haven’t seen Arbol have you?” He asked when his mother had gotten Solluz something to eat. She nodded and said, “Yes I did. About an hour after you left for the barn he came back and I gave him some meat. After that I think he went into the living room and curled up somewhere but I’m not sure.” Wervan nodded and drank some water that his mom had just gotten him. “Alright good, I was getting worried when he didn’t come.” His mother nodded and said, “Well he’s fine so don’t worry.” Wervan picked his plate up and put it on the counter. As he walked back to pick up the glass he almost stepped on Solluz and she cried out, darting away. “I’m sorry Solluz,” he said as he kneeled down and picked her up. She crooned and tried to get away but when he started stroking under her chin she relaxed and started to purr. “Let’s go find Arbol,” he said as he placed her on his shoulder.

He walked into the living room and checked in the spots where Arbol usually slept. After awhile he set Solluz on one of the chairs and continued to look. Solluz watched him and after a moment she warbled and he looked over. “What is it?” He asked. She crooned in response and looked down at the chair. Wervan smiled and said, “Good girl.” He walked over to the chair and picked Arbol up, who had been sleeping on one of their green pillows. He crooned irritably and climbed up to Wervan’s shoulder, falling asleep. Solluz crooned in confusion, obviously wondering where she was going to sit. He smiled and picked her up, setting her on the other shoulder. When they were both happy he said, “Ok time to go back to the barn.”

Wervan was about to run out the door when his younger sister Jelia ran in, panting and smiling widely. “Mom! Mom! Guess what?” Her mother looked over from her seat at the table and asked, “What dear?” Jelia smiled and said, “I said guess.” Her mother rolled her eyes and said, “Jelia I don’t have the patience for guessing games today. Just tell me what happened.” Jelia frowned slightly and then said, “There are dragons in the courtyard.” Wervan looked at his sister doubtfully and his mother said, “Jelia it’s not nice to lie. What really happened?” Jelia frowned and said, “Mom there really ARE dragons in the courtyard, honest. They’re on search from Caer Tol-eressëa. Can I go see if I’ll be searched?” Wervan smiled and said, “Mom I don’t think she’s making this up. I highly doubt she would make up a name like that.” His mother nodded and said, “Well go ahead then, both of you. See if you can get yourself searched.”

Wervan and Jelia ran out the door and towards the courtyard. One the way Jelia said, “I don’t think she believes me still.” Wervan shrugged, almost sending Arbol sliding off and then said, “I don’t really care. She’ll have to believe us when we come back and say that we’ve been searched.” They didn’t talk the rest of the way, saying their breath for the run. When they reached the courtyard Wervan stopped and looked around. There were three dragons standing calmly, a blue, purple and a white. Wervan looked at each for a moment and then walked forward, dragging his sister behind. There was a large group already formed around the dragons and Wervan was having a hard time getting close enough to see where their rider’s were. “I can’t see anything Wervan,” Jelia said as she jumped up and down, trying to see over everyone’s head. “Don’t worry about it, we’ll get to the front eventually.” Solluz purred and looked to her right. Wervan followed her gaze and saw a dragonrider, talking to a young girl. He walked over slightly and when he had finished with her he looked up, focusing on Wervan.

He smiled widely when he reached Wervan and said, “Good afternoon son, I’m Corik, rider of blue Avarik. He seems to think that you would make a good bonder on our dunes. I mean, if you’re interested.” Wervan nodded and said, “Of course I’m interested, are you crazy? I would love to stand for your Caer.” Corik smiled again and said, “Avarik sys that you are good with animals?” Wervan nodded and said, “That’s good, we may have a job for you until the eggs hatch.” Wervan raised an eyebrow and scratched Arbol’s head as he shifted his weight. “What kind of job sir?” Corik winced and said, “Corik please, I hate being called sir. The job, we’ve got a couple of horses who need basic training. It should take you about four months, which is when the eggs are scheduled to hatch, so you’ll be kept busy.” Wervan nodded and said, “Alright, that’s fine. When do we go?” Corik smiled again and said, “Anxious are we? Well we can leave as soon as you’re ready, I’ve gone through most of the crowd already.” Wervan thanked him and then walked away, heading back home.

On the way his sister kept pulling on his sleeve and he batted her away repeatedly. After a while though he got fed up and finally yelled, “What?” She jumped and said softly, “What about me? Why don’t I get to go too?” Wervan shrugged and said, “I don’t know. Maybe it just wasn’t your time to be searched. They’ll be back next year though I bet so try again then.” Jelia sighed and said, “All the good things always happen to you. I’ll probably be stuck with the horses for eight more years.” Wervan laughed and said, “Well the horses aren’t that bad, and besides, I’ll be dealing with horses at the Caer too so I’m not exactly thrilled either.” She shook her head and said, “Well you’re at least good with them. I don’t get along with any of the horses that dad has.” Wervan rolled his eyes and said, “Well some day you’ll you might be like me.” Jelia laughed. “Like you? I’m going to become a moron?” Wervan sighed and said, “No you idiot, a dragoner.”