What Courage is Made of. (A'rik)

[E]

Somadin stood just outside the candidate barracks running a nervous hand through his still wet hair. Face and skin pink from the unusual scrubbing Somadin had put himself through, he now wondered if he should have checked just one more time for dirt behind his ears. Wearing his best trousers (cuffs carefully rolled up so he wouldn’t step on them) and best tunic (a hand-me down that refused to turn white again and so remained cream with age, but thankfully no holes – that was the important part), he still stood there fidgeting.

Half of him dared to hope his daydreams of chances won and hard work paying off could come true, while the other half was terrified of not being given the chance. Sure he had just turned 15 a sevenday ago, turning him old enough to stand as a candidate, but what his age was and what he looked were two very different things. He looked closer to 12 or 13. Well he wasn’t going to find out standing outside.

Mustering up every last ounce of courage he could find, he smoothed his shirt down and shook his head so his bowl cut hair would lay flat. Rolling back his shoulders so he stood straight, silently praying for even just one more inch of height to add to his meager five feet, Somadin walked into the Candidate Barracks.

Finding himself in the common room of the barracks, he glanced around and was relieved to find them momentarily vacated. Breathing a sigh of relief, he hurried to the marked office of the Candidate Master. He wanted to get the whole ordeal over with before any of the other candidates appeared. Raising a hand, he paused before knocking on the door to check one last time that his carefully chosen shirt was not soiled. Satisfied, he held his breath as he knocked on the door before him.

[starshine]

A'rik sat neatly behind his desk, elbows resting on the surface. His hands held his head, his eyes were closed. He yawned. It had been a long night, and an equally long morning. Pan had been going on about having a bath and sunning himself since dawn, chittering away in A'rik's mind. The dragon had the tendance to chatter quite a bit.

He had nearly dozed off in his chair when he heard the faint knocking at the door to the office. He still wasn't comfortable refering to it as his office. In his mind it was still the previous Candidate Masters. How long do you think, Pan, until I am comfortable in this position? The dragon buzzed for a moment, not really giving him an answer but mearly emitting the sense of comfort. A'rik rose from his chair and crossed the room slowly. It was un-naturally quiet, mostly because many of the candidates were off doing morning chores.

The door creaked open to reviel a small boy who judging by his looks could be no more then 12 or 13. "Can I help you young man?" His voice had its usual gentle tone, which coupled with his usual soft look made him comfortable and easy to talk to.

[E]

As the door open, Somadin found his gaze traveling upwards – which wasn’t a surprise at first, cept it did not stop till his head rested on the back of his shoulders. The man before him was at least a full foot taller than him. Taking a step back so his neck would be more comfortable, he licked his lips looking for the words he had practiced to memory and now found lost to him.

“I… I… I want to become a candidate, Sir. Are you the Candidate Master?” The question was added as it suddenly dawned on him that he had remembered an older man in the Master position a turn or two ago. Nervousness made him pull his shirt straight again as he attempted to look around the man. No, this had to be the Candidate Master. Nobody else would be sitting alone in the office.

[starshine]

His green eyes fell downward to the boys childlike face. He was thin and looked like he belonged with the Creche, a weyrbrat. He gave the kid a smile as the boy stepped back to have a better look at him.

"I...I...I want to become a candidate, Sir. Are you the Candidate Master?" His voice was nervous, and he seemed to try and look through A'rik, to see if there was some mistake. "That... that... that's what the tell me!" His voice was kind and light, the mocking was a mere joke. His grin widened, and he took a step to the side. "Come on in young hopeful and we'll see what we can do."

[E]

“That… that… that’s what they tell me!” Somadin blinked as he heard the tall man stammer an answer back. As he watched the man’s grin widen on his face, the small boy couldn’t help but find it infectious. Feeling surprisingly reassured, he followed the man’s directions and moved into the room as he smiled broadly.

Finding chairs set up before the desk, Somadin helped himself into one as he waited for the Candidate Master. Deciding he should explain himself, his frown faltered only slightly but the reassurance remained.

“See Sir, I was talking to an Uncle and he said Candidates could begin classes before a clutch was laid if their parents were dragon riders and vouched for them. I dunno my ma or pa but being Weyr breed I’m sure I’ve got some rider in the family somewhere and I wanted to vouch for myself.”

Taking a moment to see how the Candidate Master reacted, he decided to continue quickly.

“I might look small, Sir, but I turned 15 just a sevenday ago and any of the Creche ladies can vouch for me. I am real good with my numbers and I am practicing my letters real hard with the Uncle I spoke of before. I always do my chores Sir and I promise I will try my hardest. If I slow up the class even a little I’ll take my leave and understand, but Sir I just want the chance to stand now that I am old enough.”

“The queen flew a while back and I don’t know how long I’ve got till the eggs are laid and ready, but with my size, I want as good a chance as everyone else my age and I think the best way is learn’n with the rest about being a Dragon Rider.”

Now that he was done, Somadin found himself void of reassurance all over again and began fidgeting with the hem of his shirt once more.

[starshine]

The Candidate Master closed the door quietly behind the young hopeful. As the boy began explaining his sudden viset to the Master's office he crossed the room and took a seat before the boy on his desk. The boy went on to explain that he had no knowledge of his parents and believed them to be dragonriders, that he wished to join the candidate class and hopefully stand when Aliath's clutch was ready.

"...learn’n with the rest about being a Dragon Rider.” His kind eyes fell to the boys face. He was young, though he claimed to be of 15 turns, certianly old enough. A'rik crossed his muscular arms over his barrel like chest. The arms of his tunic were pushed up above his elbows.

"Well young man, I guess I can let you join the classes. Don't much see the harm in that." He grinned at the boy, then hopped off the desk and circled around behind it. "As for being able to stand with the rest at the Hatching is to be seen. I'll make my decision when it gets closer to the time." He looked at the boy reassuringly as he took his seat behind the desk and opened the Log Book that rested ontop. "Name please."

[E]

“Well young man, I guess I can let you join the classes. Don’t much see the harm in that.” Hearing the candidate master say this, Somadin could not keep his smile from spreading widely across his face as he nearly bounced right out of his chair in delight. Sure the man was honest in not promising that he’d let the boy stand, but he had given Somadin the chance to prove himself and the chance is all the boy believed he would need.

“Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir. You won’t regret it, I promise!” he said excitedly as the man moved to behind his desk and opened a book upon it. Watching the man from the edge of his seat, he answered earnestly, “Somadin, Sir”. Stretching as tall as he could while still seated he attempted to see what the man wrote, his curiosity showing through.

“When is class? What do I need to do first? Do I need to bring my things here or leave them in the Creche?” Realizing he was probably asking too many questions, he clamped his mouth shut with a soft apology for speaking out of turn.

[starshine]

A'rik's bright eyes watched as the boy was beside himself with glee. Well he's not short on spirit is he? The though was meant more for himself then for Pan, who was still preoccupied with his grooming. "Somadin, Sir" the boys voice was excited. A'rik noted the boys name and the date of his candidacy in the log, his handwriting was impeccable. "Well Somadin, welcome to candidacy." He gave the boy a wink.

His comment was received with a long list of questions. “When is class? What do I need to do first? Do I need to bring my things here or leave them in the Creche?”... He took a deep breath once the boy had quieted himself. "Oh... there's no need to be sorry. There is a schedule posted in the common room. It should answer you questions about lesson and chore times. As for your things, well there are open beds in the Male Candidate Weyr, select one and your things can go in the trunk at the end of the bed." He gave the boy a reassuring smile. "That should do it kid."

[E]

Somadin made a note to look around for the poster and the Male Candidate Weyr before heading off to tell the old Uncle he had done it, he had become a candidate! Looking at the tall man seated before him, Somadin wanted desperately to hug the man in his joy, but reminded himself that he was a kid no longer, but a candidate with a future. Choosing to smile brightly instead, he slid off the chair and gave the ranking dragonrider a bow of respect.

“Thank you, Sir. You can count on me being on time for everything. I will check the list first. And Thank you again for make’n me a candidate!” With that the boy walked out of the room and closed the door. Leaning against it he took a deep breath to keep from jumping and shouting. Once under control again he sprinted toward the common areas. If he was lucky he would see what time he need to be where and have a little while to fetch his clothes and blanket from the Creche…


[Closed]