A New Life (5 of 8)

Writers: Len, Miriah
Date Posted: 20th May 2019

Characters: L'fael, Lanniya, S'vin
Description: The Weyr's resident HAD meets the new HAD
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 5, day 10 of Turn 9
Notes: Part five of eight
Mentioned: E'naer, Jaylene, Bryvin (not by name), Loella (not by name), Yriadha (not by name)

Lanniya

Lafael watched E'naer and Jaylene leave in a dazzled silence. So he
was now not only rescued from what he had thought was going to be an
entire life of abuse, but now he was getting a chance to Impress a
dragon? The swiftness of his turn of fortune literally took the breath
from the young man. He didn't even realise he was leaning against
Kadeth's foreleg at first.

}:It's okay, I don't mind:{ the slender blue said and nuzzled his shoulder.

Lafael giggled and stroked the soft nose, still amazed at the softness
of the dragon's hide. Kadeth's colour was particularly pretty, Lafael
thought. It was blue like a crisp winter's day. And his body was lean
like a fast runnerbeast. Lafael was so engrossed in admiring his new
friend that he didn't notice his new visitors.

"There you are. They're all just buzzing about you. " Lanniya
approached with a warm smile. "Hello, Kadeth. You're looking very well
today." She gave the blue a fond pat before looking back at the new
arrival. "I'm Lanniya."

Lafael blinked at the girl. "Everyone is buzzing about me? Me? Why?"
Had he done something wrong? "No one ever talks about me," he muttered
aloud. "I mean there was the time I spilled food all down the Lord
Holder's lap, but that was different. And then there was the time I
dropped all his food outside his rooms, but..." He realised he was
speaking his thoughts out loud and clamped his mouth shut, looking
slightly mortified. His face turned a bright red once it registered
her knots and who she was. "I beg your pardon, weyrwoman."

For his part, Kadeth just thanked Lanniya and gave her an wry glance
before nudging his new friend on the shoulder.

A bright bubble of laughter emerged from Lanniya's mouth and she shook
her head, eyes dancing merrily. "Oh, don't worry about all that. I'm
about the least formal person here." She offered her hand. "Not
people, silly. The dragons." She tapped her head. " I hear them too.
And they're always excited when someone like us is around. Just be
careful, once some get to talking, they'll tell you much more than
you ever wanted to know."

"Really? Like Weyr gossip?" Lafael looked from her to Kadeth and back.
"I bet it's better gossip than Sunstone gossip. All we ever heard
about what all the shady things the Head and the Lord were always up
to when they didn't think anyone of any importance was looking.
Unlucky for them, us drudges saw everything." His smile slipped and
his eyes darkened for a moment. He didn't want to remember that place.

}:It's okay, you're safe with us now:{ Kadeth pressed his face against
Lafael's shoulder.

"Lots of gossip," Lanniya agreed." But sometimes it's better _not_ to
know some things about people or what they get up to privately, so I
just learned to tune most of it out. It can be really uncomfortable
being around someone new if you know private details about them that
you really shouldn't. Especially around green dragonriders. Their
dragons talk about anything and everything."

Lanniya's eyes softened as she heard Kadeth, then noticed the change
in his expression. "Yeah, you're safe now." Wanting to cheer up that
sad face, she offered a hand. "Would you like to meet Anaeryth?"

"Really? She wouldn't mind?" Already forgetting about the girl's
rank--she had that sort of kind presence about her--Lafael took the
offered hand and let her lead him to the queen. A real gold dragon! He
was going to meet one!

Behind the two, Kadeth followed, snorting in amusement at Lafael's
loud thoughts.

"Nope. She's right over there. She's curious about you. " Lanniya led
him by the hand and as they approached, the great gold head turned
towards them, her eyes whirling a soft blue as they grew near.

}: Hello. :{ Anaeryth lowered her head to peer at Lafael closely,
studying him. }: You my scratch my eye ridges if you wish.:{

"Can I?" Lafael said rather faintly. It was hard not to be intimidated
by her sheer size. Poor Kadeth was tiny compared to her. He reached up
to touch her--he admitted only privately to himself--slightly crooked
headknobs.

}: I said you could. :{ The reply was calm. }: So you may. :{ She
lowered her head and turned it, directing his searching fingers to the
spot that she desired.

"She can be a bit demanding." Lanniya said with a smile. "But over
all, she's usually very pleasant."

}: I am always pleasant. :{ The gold replied, sniffling at Lafael, the
exhaling softly over him. }: There is a good heart here, I think. :{

Lafael shivered as her breath flowed over him like a warm breeze.
"Never....never ever ever had I ever thought I'd be on the ground with
a gold, let alone touching her! Thank you Anaeryth!" His hand shook a
bit as he stroked her headknobs, but it was more out of shyness than
out of fear. "Have you grown up in the Weyr then?" he asked Lanniya,
sure her answer was going to be yes.

}: You are very welcome. Eyeridges. Scratch please. :{

Lanniya chuckled softly; even using courtesy, the gold demanded. "No.
My family are Traders. I was Searched and Impressed at Riverbluff
Weyr. It was a relief, really. Everyone thought I was touched in the
head." She looked over at Lafael and her eyes warmed. He looked older
than she was, but seemed so much younger. "Would you like to help next
time she gets a bath and oiling? She's a lot to handle without help
and I'd really appreciate it."

"Really? I could?" Lafael blinked at her and grinned. "I was with
traders too, once. Deep in the jungle below Sunstone." Ignoring the
way that still tugged on his heart, that feeling of being abandoned,
he went on. "Where did you travel?"

"Sure you can. It'd really be helpful and she doesn't mind a bit as
long as you scrub her good." She shrugged. "Mostly along the coast
between Riverbluff and Dolphin's cove, then to Jade Harbor. We were
always traveling. But they don't come here at all, so I have to find
them when I want to visit."

"I used to hear the Riversbuff dragons but thought I must be going
mad." Lafael giggled. "Or at least all the other drudges thought I was
touched in the head." He carefully scratched the gold's eyeridges as
he talked. "Are there any others here like us?" He would have assumed
there were but by the way she talked, maybe there wasn't.

"No, there's just us here. And you aren't crazy." She patted his
shoulder while Anaeryth crooned as an especially itchy spot was found
and scratched. "Maybe you'll Impress or something yourself next time
there's eggs on the Sands."

"Oh, I don't know, I think I'd just be overwhelmed right now." Lafael
rocked back on his heels. "So much has happened in just a day. My head
is spinning from it all."

"I can definitely understand that. Just take some time before you make
any decisions or do anything. Relax if you can, for just a bit. You'll
get centered, I promise."

"Well, if centered means a life like the one I just left I'd happily stay uncentered!" Lafael laughed and took in the sight of the Weyr. "I think I'm going to love it here."

Last updated on the June 3rd 2019

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A New Life (5 of 8)