Kenver

:Stats::Story::Search:
:Hatching::Weyrling::Adult:
:Ryslen::Tripaldi Weyr:

Several days later Kenver was once again meeting with the magic-master. She had had several more ‘accidents’ when her unblocked gift had gone wild on her, and in the past two days they had become more frequent. The magic-master, who had been very angry with Farron for what he’d done, was even baffled by Kenver’s situation, but he had finally come to a regretful conclusion.

“Kenver,” he said as she sat in his office, looking miserable and forlorn, “I think I have a solution for you, but it will not be easy.”

Kenver looked up expectantly and the magic-master firmed his resolve. He saw nothing in the girl’s eyes that told him the solution would be impossible.

“The magic we wield is from the earth. It lives in the very soil beneath us. There are other places where this is not the case.”

Kenver gasped involuntarily. “You mean to send me away?”

“You will never learn to trust with a gift as wild as yours, Kenver. It would be better if you spent some time in another place, among other people, where magic cannot affect you. I know it’s hard to think of leaving your family and friend-”

“It’s not a problem, I’ll go wherever you want to send me,” said Kenver; her face expressionless though the look in her eyes almost bespoke relief.

The magic-master squinted at her for a long moment before replying, “Very well, I’ll give you a day to say good-bye. Meet me here tomorrow at this same time.”

“I have no one worth saying good-bye to. Let’s get this over with.”

“Farron-”

“Will understand when you explain it to him. I don’t want to have to say good-bye.”

“Very well,” replied the magic-master, understanding the girl’s desire not to deal with sad farewells.

Kenver held her breath as she watched the magic-master prepare for the spell. She had no idea where she was going or what she would do when she got there but part of her was very excited. She felt magic tendrils start to wrap around her and closed her eyes. She felt the world spin around her and finally, when she felt she could take no more spinning it slowed, and then stopped. Kenver opened her eyes and found herself standing in the middle of a large structure of some sort. In one hand she had a suitcase and in the other a note. She grinned as she realized that the magic-master had not dropped her here empty-handed, wherever ‘here’ was.

As the dizziness wore off Kenver finally focussed on her surroundings. No one seemed to bat an eye at her appearing apparently out of nowhere but she did bat an eye when she really saw what she was surrounded by. Huge beasts with wings and tails with humans on their backs. Kenver gasped, eyes wide in startlement and fear. What had the magic-master been thinking sending her to such a place? These creatures were large enough to swallow her in a single gulp!

“Can I help you?” said a voice from behind her and Kenver whirled around to come face to face with one of those large creatures. She gulped, unable to respond, had that creature just spoken to her? The creature turned his big blue head then to watch as a man climbed off his back. The man walked over to her and arched an eyebrow at her undoubtedly bewildered and frightened look. “Can I help you?”

“I, oh! It was you who spoke!” said Kenver silently berating herself for sounding like such a half-wit.

“Yes, who did you think it was?”

Kenver blushed, her eyes darting toward the beast, which was looking at her in a most disturbing fashion.

The man laughed and patted the beast affectionately on the head. “No, it was me, not Amitath here. I’m J’rin by the way.”

“K-Kenver,” she stuttered, still keeping a wary eye on the winged-beast, who really seemed to be far too interested in her. Words flew from her lips before she could stop them, “Is it going to eat me?”

J’rin burst into laughter then and even the creature looked rather amused and Kenver took an involuntary step backwards, wondering if perhaps this man had lost his mind. “Well, you never know, if he got hungry enough.”

Kenver squeaked and looked about for a place to hide when J’rin laid a steadying hand on her arm. She immediately shook him off and though he gave her an odd look he didn’t try to keep her there. He also finally seemed to see how nervous and uncomfortable she was and sobered a bit.

“Amitath won’t eat you, you don’t have to worry about that. And how is it, you don’t know that dragons don’t eat people?”

“D-dragons? Is that what he is, a dragon?” Kenver turned wide eyes on the big blue beast. “But, dragons aren’t real.”

“Where are you from, Kenver? Of course dragons are real, you’re looking at one.”

“B-but…”

“I think we need to start from the top here. And Amitath is obviously making you very nervous so perhaps we should head to the kitchens. Are you hungry?”

J’rin motioned her toward an opening to the large structure she’d gotten a vague impression of before she became overwhelmed by all the beasts, or, dragons, and Kenver was thankful that he didn’t try to touch her as they walked. Amitath stayed behind though the occasional glance behind her showed that he was still watching her and Kenver shivered at what he might be thinking.

Once in the warmth and liveliness of the kitchens J’rin ordered them some food and proceeded to try to open her up. Kenver resisted his efforts, though his lively, joking manner was irresistible and she found herself telling him snippets of her story. Once she’d eaten a bit and was obviously done J’rin stood.

“Well, now that you’re a little more relaxed I’ve got a proposition for you. Come back out to the Weyrbowl with me for a moment?” he asked, putting out a hand to help her to her feet.

Kenver nodded, ignoring the hand and standing on her own. She followed him back out to the Weyrbowl, her guard back up again as she came back into the presence of all those huge dragons. The blue beast, Amitath, was waiting for them just outside the entrance and his eyes whirled when he saw her. J’rin seemed focussed on the dragon, his eyes having an almost dazed quality, but when they refocused on her he smiled.

“Amitath says he thinks you could use a dragon.”

“What?” said Kenver, obviously not understanding what he meant. “He just told you that?”

“Yes he did, and he’s never wrong about these things,” said J’rin his joking manner from before subdued to show he was serious.

“What does that mean?”

“It means you’ve got a lot to learn, but if you’re willing you’ll stand at the next clutch and perhaps walk away with a dragon.”

Kenver shook her head in bewilderment but then caught sight of Amitath moving toward her, the expression on his face seeming rather…determined and she quickly changed the shake to a nod.

“Then you’ll stand?” asked J’rin, a pleased smile spreading across his face.

Kenver kept her gaze on Amitath who snorted at her and she jumped, nodding her head emphatically to avoid upsetting the dragon again.

“Wonderful! I’ll go get the paperwork in order and you can find yourself a bed in the candidate barracks. Might not be a bad idea for you to do some reading on dragons in the meantime too,” J’rin winked and laughed as he headed off and Kenver, suddenly all alone with the intimidating Amitath, squeaked and scuttled back towards the entrance to the kitchens. She wasn’t sure what she had just agreed to, but hoped it didn’t involve spending a great deal of time around that huge dragon who so intimidated her.