One Lump or Two
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Aaron, Paula
Date Posted: 5th December 2017
Characters: K'don, Aishara
Description: Kedon makes sure that Aishara's mare doesn't have something stuck in her food
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 9 of Turn 9
Aishara often spend her freetime at the Beasthold. Riding was her favourite hobby. Ayumith didn't really understand her passion for beastcraft, to her all four-legged ones were food.
Aishara was returning from a long and hard riding trip. Dismounting the runner, she started to remove the saddle. The mare was covered with sweat but looked like she had actually enjoyed the exercise.
"Apprentice!" the greenrider called out.
Kedon looked to the other couple of apprentices he was breaking with, but neither of them met his gaze. He waited a moment longer for either of them to answer, but when they did not, he sighed and jumped up to run to grab a curry brush.
"Did you have a good ride, ma'am?" he asked as he began to wipe the mare down.
"Yes, we did and she deserves an extra treat for it. I did took her thru some rough country," Aishara replied. She put the saddle where it belong and took off the tack. "Could you check her back hooves? She seemed to limp a bit after we crossed a rocky brook."
Kedon tried his best not to wince at hearing that the poor dear might have hurt her hoof. If there was anything significantly wrong, he would have to fetch a journeyman. He patted the mare's haunch gently.
"Yes, ma'am," he answered the rider. Kedon fished in his pocket and pulled out a sugar lump for the runner. He let her smell him and then carefully walked back to check her hooves, taking special care not to spook her. He was not in the mood to be kicked.
"You don't have to call me ma'am," Aishara said. "I'm Aishara and you've seen me around here often enough," she smiled kindly.
To her the stable and beasthold was a place of solace and comfort. She didn't hesitate to grap a showel and help out on her free time.
Kedon looked up from attending the runnerbeast for a moment to smile at Aishara. "Just habit, I guess," he said. He always wanted to afford everyone the respect they were due. "I think her hoof is going to be OK," he said. "I don't see anything wedged in it, but I'll keep an eye on her, and if she keeps favoring it, I'll have a journeyman take a look. Is that OK?"
"Yes, that's fine," Aishara replied. She ran her hand along the mare's neck. "I'll check her tomorrow too, after drills."
Kedon stood and gently patted the mare again, moving back to give her another sugar lump. "You're just the sweetest girl, aren't you?" he praised her.
"OK," he said to Aishara as he went back to brushing. "Is there anything else I can help you with?"
"Just took her to the stall and let her rest," Aishara replied and spead the blanket to the mare's back. "Are you going to Stand at the next Hatching?" she asked the boy curiously. If she remember correctly, he was old enough.
"I am!" said Kedon with some measure of excitement. It was not too much longer now until the Hatching, and it was getting harder and harder to wait.
"Good luck with that, I'll be cheering on you," Aishara said. She thought that his excitement was so cute.
Kedon beamed all the brighter. "The waiting the the hardest part! It seems like I've been waiting forever. But I know a lot of other people have waited a lot longer."
"Yes, most seem to Impress when they bit older, like over fifteen," Aishara replied.
"I could be fifteen," said Kedon. He could have passed for older than his true age in some ways. "Do I look like I could be fifteen?" He tried to stand up taller.
In her eyes, he looked barely old enough to be out of his harper classes and she was not the kind of person to tell lies, even white lies to make someone feel better. "I'm sorry, you look like your age," she said gently.
Kedon grinned and blushed a bit. Well, it was worth a try. "Oh, no need to be sorry." He appreciated the gentle tone, even if he would have appreciated agreement more. "Were you fifteen when you Impressed?" he wondered.
"I was eighteen when I Impressed," Aishara replied. Had it only been five Turns ago? It felt longer, so much had happened to her.
It was such a long time to wait. A long time to wait, but he was waiting for more than a dragon to share his life with. He was waiting to enter difficult, dangerous training. He was waiting to fly into the sky to burn death itself raining from the heavens. The eggs on the Sands made it hard to remember all of the things that came along with riding that maybe he was not really ready for.
"It's not so long to wait, really. It just seems longer when there are eggs."
"That's a very good attitude. The eggs should hatch soon and then we'll see," Aishara said. This Clutch generated more excitement than normally, thanks to the gold egg. Even dragonriders were eagerly expecting the Hatching. And taking bets who would Impress the Gold.
"Thanks!" Kedon perked up. He finished up brushing off the mare and hung the brush back where it came from. "Can I help you with anything else?" he asked.
"No, thanks. It was nice chatting with you," the greenrider replied.
"And with you, ma'am – er. Sorry." Kedon blushed and smiled. She asked him not to call her that, but it was habit. "Take care, and have a good rest of the day."
"Likewise, Kedon," Aishara said with a wave for goodbye and headed back towards her weyr.
Last updated on the December 10th 2017