Chap 23 The Volunteer

Chap. 23 The Volunteer

It was a perfect day for a rest day. The morning was still fresh and cool. 

The Weyrlings, after caring for their dragons, were outside the dining hall, discussing what they planned on doing. Swimming, sleeping, hobbies, hunting, spoiling their dragons rotten…they, like everyone else, made the most of a rest day.

D'nis was seen talking to B'rant, who was lingering over his klah in the dining hall.

Soon after, he came out to his class, obviously with a plan for them. On a rest day? Some instinct told them that it might not be good news. But they stood fast-he was, after all, THEIR Weyrlingmaster.

"I'm sorry to say this," he said to the group, "but I need a volunteer for a task that may take all day."

Hmmm. With some resentment…they'd HAD their tasks all week-eyes were suddenly searching for anything to look at save his face. Feet shuffled, minds raced, looking for any excuse.

K'ndar heaved a huge sigh. He had nothing planned, and sometimes found the rest day to be boring. As long as it wasn't cleaning the latrines, he'd be glad of something to do other than just sit around.

He raised his hand with a resigned shrug. "I'll do it."  The other boys snickered. K'ndar wasn't very smart, was he?

"Thank you, K'ndar," B'rant looked at the rest. Shaking his head, he said to the rest,  "You still don't trust me, eh? But I know. "Never volunteer for anything," is a phrase that has come down to us from the very first settlers. And you all should know by now that sometimes, a volunteer comes off the best."

He grinned at K'ndar.

"K'ndar, D'nis needs to go to Singing Waters Hold to meet with Lord Dorn. He is also taking Hariko, who needs to pick up some things at the Hold's Market Day that we just don't normally get here. YOU, K'ndar, are assigned to help her gather and load them onto the dragons. Once that task is done, you will have to wait until D'nis's meeting is done. You are free, then, to wander the Market at will."

K'ndar leaped into the air with a WOOHOO! B'rant looked at the rest, eyebrows lifted with a 'told you so' look. They looked chagrined. "From now on," Sinala said to herself, "I'll volunteer, too."

 He still could not get over how big a bronze dragon was. Corvuth was enormous, compared to Raventh. 

What is this stuff?  Raventh asked, as K'ndar tacked him up with extra boxes and baskets.

Just transport duty. We're going to Singing Waters Hold for supplies

With Corvuth, too?

Of course. 

He's my sire

I know that, silly lizard

He'd surreptitiously watched D'nis tack the bronze up. It was odd, he thought, his Weyrleader was held in such high regard he was almost mythical, yet here he was, tacking up like any other dragonrider. 

D'nis, too, watched K'ndar's actions closely as the Weyrling packed the wicker baskets and boxes Hariko was bringing. "You do that well, K'ndar."

"I have a good teacher, sir," K'ndar replied instantly.

"Aye, you do. But it's plain as the wings on a dragon that you've packed beasts before."

Shyly, almost embarrassed, K'ndar nodded. "Yes, sir, I have."

"Who would you like to ride, Corvuth or Raventh?" D'nis asked Hariko.

"I think I'll ride on Raventh, he's not so tall as Corvuth", she said. She needed help getting aboard, even with Raventh's lowered knee.

"My bones, they aren't what they used to be," she complained, not seriously.

D'nis, who'd strapped her in, patted her leg affectionately.

"My dear Hariko, this weyr would be helpless without you. No matter if your bones give out, we'll find a way to keep you on your feet."  Once she was safely strapped in with the boxes and wickers behind her, K'ndar strapped in ahead of her.

  It wasn't her first time aboard a dragon, but even so, when Raventh leaped skyward she was thrown backwards into the wickers.

Even K'ndar was surprised at the power of the launch.  In a way, he was grateful that he and Raventh were both "small." Learning. Growing accustomed to each other.

"Sorry!" he called back to Hariko, who'd grabbed his middle to keep her steady.

"It's okay," she said, "he's just a youngster, like you. Long as I stay in the middle, like my father used to say."

Too much...leap?

I think so, but it's okay

It is more weight, I was unbalanced. I thought I'd need that extra… strong. I'll be better next time.

"Effort"  Corvuth told him.

Effort. Extra effort Raventh repeated.

K'ndar knew Corvuth was teaching Raventh vocabulary. He appreciated it. So did Raventh.

The two dragons flew high into the sky until they had a clear view all round.

"K'ndar," D'nis called from Corvuth's back, "have Raventh take the coordinates from Corvuth. Visualize them from him. Tell me when you're ready".

He knew that they were still learning to go between.

Did you hear?

Of course. Corvuth has already visualized for me. Here, look in my mind

K'ndar could see Singing Waters hold in his mind, especially seeing the dragonstones and the drums alongside them.

He committed them to memory.

"Ready, sir!"

"On my mark, three..two…one…between!"

And they went between.