Is my Blood Worthy?

Writers: Devin, Chelle, Suzee
Date Posted: 30th March 2015

Characters: J'kri, K'ale, R'gelen, Clovente
Description: The young apprentice changes his life.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 11, day 13 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Corofel, Rhosyn, L'cor, Symion

K'ale

}:Today I will find those worthy of dragons.:{ Rademerth practically
vibrated with excitement as J'kri finished putting on his straps.

**They'll be the best in the whole lot.** J'kri gave him a hearty pat.
No one would be double-checking Rademerth's choices. It was their
first time as the only search pair, but they weren't going alone.

K'ale was already mounted and waiting in the bowl for his search
escort duty. He was on a rotation with the other trained escorts and
this was the first time he'd pulled J'kri. "Just about ready?"

"Yep." J'kri climbed up onto his dragon and got himself settled.
**It's my lucky day.** J'kri was happy for any reason to spend more
time with the handsome rider. Obviously he wasn't going to get
anywhere with K'ale, but he could still enjoy the view. The bluerider
turned to him with a smile and gave the signal to take flight.

In a short while, they were spiraling down over the Vintner Hall. What
an honor, to Search such an important place.

In the classroom with some of the other apprentices, Rohagelen took
awhile to hear the undercurrent of murmurings. Apparently someone
had spotted dragons landing in the courtyard. Whispers started. It didn't
take too long before someone was asking children of the right turns to be
presented in the courtyard. They were on Search!

**Search? But what if? I mean...I guess there's rider blood in the family,
right?** He'd never been a part of a Search and he had to wonder. If he
was chosen, what would he do? **Will I be okay at a Weyr? It's very
different.
What if Da wouldn't like it? I mean I guess Rhosyn brought shame on Ma's
family.
What if I don't Impress the right color? What if I'm a failure and a
shame?**
Chewing his lip, he followed the rest of the boys out to the courtyard.

Clovente looked up from the text he'd had the apprentices studying,
Then he shook his head knowing they wouldn't be able to concentrate
properly until they'd seen the dragons. "Off with you then," he shoo'd
them toward the door. "Just come back when the dragons are gone."

**Be patient. More people are coming,** J'kri told his dragon.
Rademerth was already studying the young men and women.

"Do you do this often?" J'kri asked K'ale. "Accompany Searchriders?"
Any excuse to talk to him. Shards, he was handsome.

Lining up, he jostled for his own space. Rohagelen saw the boys around him
and
wondered who would be picked. He was young-he knew that. He saw the dragons
and realized it was the first time he had ever even been close to one.
Fascinated,
he looked at the brown, examining his scales and wings. **Amazing!** And for
the
first time, he wondered if maybe his Aunt hadn't been the one that had
got it right.

K'ale smiled at the bluerider, "I've had my turns on escort.
Especially after Imalkyth flew gold," he nodded. "Is this your first
solo?" By solo he had meant as the prime search dragon. He'd
dismounted and gone toward the front to stand near J'kri with a smile
for the crafters though his eyes roamed the crowd for any who appeared
unhappy by their appearance.

"Yes. Rademerth is thrilled." J'kri grinned at the brownrider. "I know
people weren't too happy with Imalkyth's clutch size, but he made a
very handsome blue."

**Okay, you can start now. You can get close but don't push them.**
Rademerth had almost knocked a poor girl over last time.

Rademerth went to one end of the line. He'd already felt potential
from someone in the crowd but his rider wanted him to do this properly.

His eyes followed the blue, seeing his whirling eyes. Then it came closer
and he
sucked in his gut without thinking. **I'm so scrawny! There's no way. But
maybe
someday!** He looked over at another boy who was almost waving at the
dragon.
Sighing to himself, he looked down at his toes instead, aware he might be
getting
his hopes up for nothing-pinning them on a long lost relation he didn't
know.

}:This one is worthy.:{ Rademerth stopped by a young boy with curly hair.

**Are you sure?**

The blue huffed. }:I am always sure:{

J'kri smiled to himself and approached Rohagelen. "Congratulations.
Rademerth thinks you have the potential to be a dragonrider."

**Potential? That means I still might not ever Impress. What if I go
to the Weyr and never Impress? Will they let me go back home or come
here? Or what if I do Impress?** He thought about how his parents had
never let on that there was rider Blood in the family. What if they
would be shamed by him too? Still, as he looked into the face of the
dragon and then saw the rider's smile he decided maybe it would be
worth it. "Really?"

Clovente had been watching from the back of the crowd and now stepped
forward. The other hall residents made room for him in deference to
his rank. "Did I hear correctly," he asked the dragonriders. "Did you
say our Rohagelen here has potential?" He put his hand on the young
man's shoulder.

K'ale was alert and watched the Master's body language for any hint of
threat. "That's right," he nodded.

"You can accept or decline," the bluerider told Rohagelen. "But you
don't have to decide right now."

**I'm being Searched. I'm being Searched. It's real. Do I want it? Do
I want to put myself at risk?** Thousands of thoughts went through his
mind, including whether or not his parents would be happy about it.
He'd have to send them a letter. **From where? Here or the Weyr? What
if I go? What if I don't?** His eyes went back and forth from the
rider to the Master. He could be leaving his entire life behind. It
had been so hard to learn to live at the Hall. A Weyr would be so much
different. **But what if it's my duty to Pern? What if I'm needed?**
He thought of Corofel and Symion. Symion had always said you had to
take what was yours. And he could protect Corofel and the people here.

Looking down at his feet as he reasoned all of it, he remembered one
thing. "Master, if I want to, may I go?" His life wasn't his own. He
belonged to the vintners, after all.

"Of course," Clovente smiled. As much as he might hate losing an
apprentice, they all did their part to support the Weyr. "If that's
what you want."

It was a hard decision to make. He felt as if he should think about
it. Still, though, what if this was his chance? **Ma won't be too
happy probably.** His mother couldn't always control his life, though.
As he gained turns, he would have to make his own decisions. Seeing
Rademerth again and wondering if perhaps he was meant to be bonded to
one of those beautiful creatures, he considered it again. He had the
Blood. **Why not? And if I don't Impress I can vintner again.** He
knew Corofel would jump at the chance if he wasn't the Heir-like his
brother. "I will go."

Last updated on the April 1st 2015

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Is my Blood Worthy?