Precious, Live Cargo

Writers: Jane, Paula
Date Posted: 27th October 2009

Characters: Aivorn, Lineal
Description: Aivorn and Lineal talk about the runner beasts he's following along.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 5, day 17 of Turn 5
Notes: Riverboat Sungazer

"Not that I know much about them, runners, but the cargo handlers assuring me they're managing the journey all right." Lineal leaned against the rail where the Master Beastcrafter stood. "Are you happy with their care, Master Aivorn?"

"Aye. You would have heard from me, if I weren't," Aivorn replied.

"Good." Lineal smiled. "And you? Are you enjoying the trip?"

The beastcrafter nodded. "It's a relaxing change from the normal. No duties, no apprentices to yell, no hidework and no emergencies cropping up middle of the night."

"Like having a holiday?" Lineal suggested. Many of the passengers had commented on the relaxing nature of travel on the riverboat which was far less stressful than travelling by road. If not nearly as instant as going by dragonback that affected very few, since most people never got the change to experience that.

"Exactly," Aivorn agreed.

"Are they so very important, these runners. that they need a craft master to accompany them?" Lineal asked curiously. He knew little about the breed and certainly not enough to identify anything special about this pair.

"Yes, they are from winning blood-lines and very promising themselves. Their worth is more than you or I could make in a Turn," Aivorn replied.

The Captain of the Sungazer winced and hoped the man was meaning their individual earnings and not, for instance, the Turn-long earnings of the Sungazer herself. "And they're Emerald Falls' breeding?"

"Aye, I've worked for those blood-lines for over twenty turns. Makes me actually sad to see them sold off," Aivorn sighed.

"You mean you can't replace them? Breed more?" It was so far out of the riverboat Captain's experience that he had no real idea.

"Of course I can and from same sires too, but they won't be the same. Each beast is unique, individual," Aivorn tried to explain. "I guess I see them as people."

"People who can run pretty fast," the younger man suggested with a smile. "That's what makes these ones special, isn't it?"

"Oh, yes," Aivorn sighed almost dreamily. "Only thing that can rival with them are dragons."

"What - when they're hunting?" Lineal murmured in a dry tone.

Aivorn chuckled. "Hopefully not on my runners."

"Hopefully not. So, where are these ones going? After the seaport? More travel for them?"

"To Pine Creek hold, it's about two days travel from the port hold," Aivorn replied. "It's not along the river, so we have to go overland after you unload us," he continued.

Lineal nodded. "Not too far. Can you _ride_ them? Just for travel? Or are they too special for that?"

"Well, they are not fully trained yet and they are usually ridden by much lighter men, but yes, I can ride them. Just not too long," he grinned. "And I shall be bringing one or two of Pine Creek's breed with me on my way home."

"With us? Oh, the timing might not be right." They only spent three nights at the seaport and the beastcrafter had a two day journey each way.

"Probably not," Aivorn shrugged.

Lineal was a little relieved. Two lots of cargo of that sort of value could ruin a man's nerve. "Good luck, then, with the return. I'm sure it'll be as straight-forward as this has been." So far. And he hoped it stayed that way.

"Thanks, Captain," Aivorn replied.

Last updated on the November 3rd 2009

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Precious, Live Cargo