It was all Resule could do not to crush the cup of klah he was holding in his palm. He had always been large in size, and strong. Many thought he would do better being a smith than being a journeyman weaver, he certainly had the build for it. He was tall and big, but not fat, just large all over, with shaggy brown hair and deep brown eyes. As well as being large, he was teased for being slow-witted, simply because he was quiet, and liked to think things out fully. There were many taunts about that, but having endured the taunts all his life, they did not bother Resule anymore.
    The rumors had spread across the hall quickly, dragonriders had arrived! Such news had set the hall into a buzz, everyone whispering excitedly and scurrying about to ready the hall for the arrival of the weyrfolk. The reason of their coming was to receive the grand tapestry the masterweaver and a few of his journeyman, Resule included, had been creating especially for the Dragon Star Weyr. It was a large and colorfull weaving, depicting a wing of dragons, gold bronze brown blue and green, soaring in the sky and destroying silver thread.
    Unlike the others, dragonriders in the hall did not make Resule excited, for they brought back memories of a time only a few turns ago when Searchriders from a nearby Weyr had come in Search of candidates. He had been of age of coarse, and who on Pern didn't dream of impressing one of those magestic dragons? It wasn't him they fancied though, it was his best friend Eawin. He and Eawin had always been the mischevious pair, filching pies from the kitchens and playing pranks on the girls, but the weyrfolk had seen a dragonrider in Eawin, and off he went to impress a Brown and become E'win, leaving Resule at the weaverhall. He had been happy for his friend, and also jealous, but only two turns later, E'win had been killed by thread, and his dragon went between. Dragonriders at the weaverhall came as a painful reminder to Resule.
    Now, sitting in his chair with the other journeymen who had helped with the tapestry, Resule put the cup of klah down just as the door opened to admit the masterweiver and two dragonmen.
    "Welcome, welcome." Masterweaver Yanis said, offering each klah and a chair. "I know you have traveled far, though i suppose by going between it doesn't really matter how far, but sit down and rest. Resule, Horag, if you would help me bring out what these men have come so far to see?" Resule rose to follow Yanis into another room and help bring out the tapestry. They set it on a table and unrolled it carefully for the guests to see. One gasped, and the other had an amased look on his face.
    "Truly, you honor us masterweaver." The first said, and the other added his agreement.
    They stayed awhile, resting and talking of things, Pern, and threadfall and such. Resule returned to his seat slowly, aware that one of the dragonmen was watching him. He took a drink from his cup, and saw that he had dented it by accident. He could imagine what the others would say to that. The man was no longer watching him, but every now and then he would cast a glance in Resule's direction.
    After a while, the guests rose to depart, the tapestry with them. "We thank you for this, weavers, when you began this project we had no idea of the beauty it would become." Yanis followed them out of the room, and after speaking with them, gave Resule a start  by motioning him alone to follow.
    "It seems that there is a clutch at Dragon Star Weyr." Yanis said. The man was smiling at him this time, and suddenly Resule realised what they were about. Shards, could it be?
    "There is, and we were wondering if you would like to stand, you seem a strong boy. We hadn't meant to come here for Search, but being a Searchrider, I suppose I will always be seeking out candidates." The man said. "So howbout it?"
    Resule recalled E'win, who had died as a dragonrider, died fighting thread. Resule had dreamed of a dragonriders life, and now it was offered him when he had least expected it. He too could fight thread, he could continue E'win's cause against Pern's ancient enemy! He could have a dragon, a soulmate bonded to him for life! He could...his throut felt dry. He could do all that, but he doubted he could speak for the excitement.
    "Yes, of coarse!" he managed to croak enthusastically.