Trading Places

Writers: Emma, Jane
Date Posted: 25th January 2007

Characters: I'lan, O'rian
Description: I'lan and Odarian swap their evening's tasks.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 4 of Turn 4

"Odarian!" The bronzerider called out to the tall lad as he walked past.
"What's new?"

Odarian actually took a moment to think. "Sadly, nothing's new. How about with you and Naath?"

"Nothing either, which is bad. We should do something about that fact."

"Well, you could always do my study for me," Odarian suggested with a grin. "That would be different for you."

"Only if you want to spend the next three candlemarks scrubbing that big bronze layabout of mine," teased back I'lan. "But there must be more interesting things to do on a sunny day."

"No. Not really. Could I really scrub Naath?" He had helped scrub his father's dragon when he was young but Naath was different. The young bronze was the right age - the sort of dragon he would have if he had made different decisions about Standing a couple of Turns ago.

"If you're sure you don't mind?" I'lan gave him a grin. "It's a splashy business, and Bubbly might get in the way, he needs a scrub too."

"I'd like it. If I get one of my texts, could you sit on the shore and read to me?"

"I might just be able to manage that," the bronzerider grinned. This might prove to be an interesting trade off. "So long as it isn't like studying a recipe book, or planning nutritious meals."

"Worse, trust me. Internal parasites. But you don't need to _learn_
it, just read it to me. Look, I'll get the text and meet you by the lake. Do I need to bring anything to wash - scrub - with?"

"I have everything you need, except you might want to bring a towel, and a clean shirt for after."

"Clean everything, probably. Do you have hat? I've got a spare if you need one since you'll just be sitting in the sun."

"In my weyr, along with some salve to prevent sunburn."

"Good." The healer training in him made him even more aware of how important it was not to get burned than he had been as a child when he had had his first bad experiences with the tropical sun at Dolphin Cove.
"See you soon," he called as he jogged off across the sandy Bowl.

"You will."

~*~

It didn't take long for the bronzerider to gather together all the things he needed, and get back to where he'd said he'd meet Odarian. His canine hadn't liked being held for the short flight down, but was more than happy to run about, then roll on the ground.

"Here," Odarian said, arriving beside the bronze dragon, rider, and canine. "Text. Don't get it wet. Towel, clothes." He was already kicking off his sandals. "Are you sure Naath won't mind?"

"He said he'll manage for once."

"I don't want to hurt him, or anything." His shirt and shorts landed on top of his sandals and then he fastened the cord on his hat under his chin. "I'm ready."

"Okay, you need to grab that brush, and work up some sweetsand into a lather, and then scrub. He'll tell me if it's not hard enough."

"Good enough." The young healer apprentice reach down for a brush and hefted it in his hand and stepped out into the lake. "Ready for this, Naath?" he asked the bronze dragon, glancing at I'lan for a reply.

"He says he is," I'lan said as he picked up the book and began to thumb through it to the bookmark.

After a couple of tentative touches on to the warm bronze hide Odarian got to work with the sweetsand and brush. I'lan's voice, the sun, the movement of the water around his thighs, all became background to his concentration on the dragon's unexpectedly smooth and supple hide.

Last updated on the January 29th 2007

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