Chap. 192 What is a Smanda?

Chap. 192 What is a Smanda?

K'ndar looked into the repurposed watering trough. A small smanda was swimming about in it.

He was struck speechless.

"Well, K'ndar, what do you think?" Raylan said, looking supremely satisfied.

"I'm..gobsmacked, Raylan. I don't know what to say, or think. Except, by the egg, they're uglier than I thought," he said.

It looked slimy. It SMELLED slimy, and it looked stupid. But, it noticed them and swam towards them. It placed its fore paws on the straight sided trough, reared up and opened its mouth.

K'ndar leaped backwards in terror. At the same time, Raventh was shouting in his mind.

Siskin sees it. He's panicking, he just went between.

WHAT?

Suddenly, Siskin appeared, hovering, hissing in fury. He took one look at the smanda and dived at it.

"NO!" Raylan shouted, trying to fend off the blue fire lizard.

The smanda dived to the bottom of the trough.

Siskin stopped just above the water's edge and still hissing, swept back and forth, trying to attack the smanda.

After a confused moment, K'ndar shouted, "Siskin, to me, here lad!"

Reluctantly, Siskin retreated to K'ndar's shoulder, his eyes red.

"Siskin. It's okay, he won't hurt me, calm down, little one," K'ndar said. He wondered if he was lying.

Raylan began to hum tunelessly. Siskin twisted his head, looking curiously at Raylan, and K'ndar felt the blue's heart begin to slow.

"Sorry, Raylan, I had no idea he'd react like that, I thought it was going to spit at me," he apologized. A smanda in a water trough was odd but if it was there at all it was for good reason.

Raylan stopped humming. "It's okay, K'ndar, I should have warned you rather than just pop this on you as a surprise," he said.

"What's with the humming?" he asked.

"Francie discovered it some time ago. When one of her fire lizards is afraid or upset, or angry, she hums to it, like a dragon queen will hum to her eggs," he said, and hummed again.

K'ndar, unconsciously, began to hum in harmony with Raylan, and Siskin's eyes slowed their whirling to less than warp speed. They stayed orange, though.

"Good lad," K'ndar said, stroking the lizard's head, "You were so brave to protect me."

Siskin heaved a large sigh, shook his wings out and re furled them neatly along his sides. He kept his eyes fastened on the smanda.

"Any specific tune I should hum?" he asked.

Raylan laughed. "No, I don't think dragons or fire lizards have songs," he said.

"Tell me why you have a live smanda in a horse trough?" he asked.

"In a short word, research. In the long words, I'm sure your Weyrleader told you our initial findings...that the saliva turning into webbing is an excellent water proofing compound. Well, it's not only that. The toxins in it, once they're distilled from the saliva, demonstrates topical and long lasting pain killing properties. The chemistry folks are in the process of trying to produce it synthetically, because obviously, 'milking a smanda' is not for the timid. But it's going to be valuable. We're just now teasing out some innovative uses for the saliva, and as you learned, it's easily handled and stored when dry. It's amazing stuff, K'ndar, and we're going to try and propagate these beasts, and perhaps, one day, they'll be just another barn yard denizen," he said.

"Not at MY hold, I promise you that!" K'ndar said.

"Now, now, K'ndar, I understand your feelings against them, but, allow your scientific brain to think this through. One of my staff has written up a preliminary report of the smanda itself, as well as initial assessment of the many uses we believe the saliva can provide," Raylan said.

"I'd like to read it, but...how did you get a live one?"

"G'alin and a team of unwitting volunteers went out to bring back 14 'pods'. The original one you brought back is being kept in estivation, or 'suspension', because they're not asleep, just torpid. They stay that way, as far as I know, as long as the soil surrounding the pod is dry. They survive the dry season until floodwater awakens them.

After looking at the pods for several days, we put two into this water trough, and this one erupted almost immediately. The second one was dead when we finally dared to open the pod. I think it was killed during between. So we dissected it down to its DNA," he said.

They watched the smanda recover from its fright and began to swim about again.

"Is this the only one you have 'awake'?

"No, there are several others, we didn't want to put all our smandas in one trough. So they're scattered here and there in odd spots on Landing. I believe one or two are in the horse barns, another in the cattle yard.

Lots of folks are always taking a look at them, one has already found out that they don't take kindly to being provoked. He was lucky, he only got webbed, as we are calling it, on his hands. And your antidote, vinegar, took care of that. Now word is out, don't tease the smandas.

The venom, it seems is only marginally detrimental to mammals, although upon application, it stings until it numbs one up.

But dragons, well, dragons are just too big, but tunnel snakes, wherries, birds? They seem to be the preferred prey. The victim is incapacitated, but alive. In every pod we opened, we found a live bird or snake, all wrapped up in netting, their metabolism slowed but not stopped. I think it serves as a food source so that the smanda has had something to eat once it emerges from estivation. Fish are unaffected, which is odd, considering that a fish lives in water all the time," he said.

He shook his head. "You felt bad for the poor prey creature, all wound up and still alive," he said. "We even tried removing the webbing, but the action was too damaging, none survived the attempt. In fact, they all died within a day of being pulled from the pod. Not sure why," he said.

"Did you dissect the prey?" K'ndar asked.

"No! What a good question, K'ndar. What are you thinking?"

"That maybe the prey isn't for the smanda, but for its eggs, assuming it lays eggs, or gives live birth. Perhaps the prey are parasitized, the adult lays it's eggs inside the prey animal, the babies hatch out inside the prey and eat it before they hatch. There were creatures on Vulcan and Terra that had the same sort of behavior. I remember reading about it and thinking, what a ghastly thing to do to the prey, but what a smart thing to do for the creature's progeny," he said.

Raylan slapped his head. "Dolt that I am! I should have thought of that! But we did keep the prey, so I'll have one dissected as soon as..well, it's crazy here these days, but they're refrigerated, so they'll keep. Good question, K'ndar, you're a good scientist," he said.

K'ndar felt a thrill of pride.

"How in the world did someone get webbed by a smanda? What was he trying to do, pet it?" he snorted.

Raylan said, "Exactly!"

He wanted to PET it?" K'ndar repeated, astonished.

"K'ndar, these creatures are intelligent. And relatively friendly. Watch this," and he bent over the trough and kissed at the smanda.

It swam up to where Raylan was standing, reared up again and made a strange sound, like a lamb bawling for it's mother.

Siskin hissed and recoiled. K'ndar put his hand on the lizard's back to reassure him.

He was repulsed by the smanda's eyes. Yet, despite looking flat and dead, there was something in their depths. He felt unnerved when it met his gaze and held it.


Raylan pulled a treat out of his pocket and showed it to the smanda. The smanda mewed again. "Go get it," Raylan said, and he tossed the treat to the far side of the trough. The smanda turned, watched to see where it fell into the water, then swam to it and engulfed it.

"If you've ever played fetch with a dog, you know that most dogs start running before you throw the stick, right? Well, the smanda only does that once. The next time, he watches to see where it lands before he spends the energy searching for it. That's pretty smart for a beast that hasn't had who knows how many thousands of years of domestication dogs have had.

"Huh. Playing fetch with a smanda? That's...bizarre. Sorry, but I don't see them becoming a pet anytime soon. They don't have a lick of cute, not like a colt or a kitten. And anyway, just what IS a smanda?" K'ndar asked.

"Ah, there is the question. It's an animal like no other known Pernese creature. For now, we've decided to catalog it as being in its own class and genus. It's DNA is unique, it's not related to anything that we have here on Pern and it's certainly not from off planet. About the only thing it has in common with other creatures is that is has six limbs, so we're confident it evolved here.

We've yet to come up with a scientific name for it, there's some argument going around about just who gets naming rights; the person who discovered it, meaning YOU, or the person who dissected it, getting smelly and sticky and thoroughly disgusted by the entire process, but gamely wrote up her findings?"

"Umm," K'ndar said, blundering. "I get to name it? Like I named the locust?"

"Yes, I know that's not how it's normally done, but, yes," Raylan said.

K'ndar looked at the smanda. "Who did the dirty work?"

Raylan shrugged. "One of my staff. She volunteered after several people, to include ME, refused to take on the job. Your ordeal with it had a lot of people scared," Raylan said.

"What will I get? I don't want money," he said.

"Biology doesn't pay, K'ndar, not at all. If you want to make money these days, create something or extract something. But the intangible reward is your name in the biology books, a scientific legacy, if you like," Raylan said.

"But, I wasn't the first person to see it. One of our Oldtimers did, before he came forward, he called it a 'smanda' and told us the antidote to the saliva's venom is vinegar."

"Oh. I didn't know that," Raylan said, puzzled. "Maybe he could come out here?"

K'ndar shrugged. "He's old, Raylan, I doubt he'd be interested in coming out here, I don't know if he can tolerate between anymore," he said. "I'd be afraid that his old bronze would just go between and never come out," he said.

His conscience tugged at his mind. "Besides, historically? the person who described it officially does the naming," he said.

"That's correct, K'ndar, and the girl who did the dissection already gets to name the class, as there doesn't seem to be anything quite like it here on Pern. Funny thing, Jansen, ..now there's a smart lass, took it as an personal insult that the database had nothing about smandas. Nothing! She dug and dug without success. So, she decided to try looking at the problem from an etymological point of view. "Smanda" is an odd word, it just doesn't sound Pernese. It had to have come from Terra, as that's where we humans are from, and all our animals. She hit pay dirt. "Smanda" is a corrupted form from the original word 'salamander'. A salamander, on Terra, was from the class Amphibia. Pern never had amphibians, the smanda isn't one. But apparently it resembles a Terran salamander, so whomever saw them, one of the Ancients? thought it was one. The word salamander fell into disuse, because, as we all know, they're uncommon and remote. Until you came upon them, knowledge of their existence had vanished. Had it not been for your Oldtimer's input, we'd have had to create a new name for it. And maybe not learned the benefits of vinegar!" Raylan said.

"Amphibian", K'ndar repeated, "I'll have to research that. I wonder if Terra's "salamanders" did the same things? Spit out venomous webbing?"

"No. Once we had a key word, the database had plenty of information about amphibians in general and salamanders in particular. Seems the salamander, unlike our beast, was a quite benign little creature," he said.

K'ndar nodded, a bit frustrated that now that Library was closing, he had no access to its vast database. Amphibians! Well, wait...he could use the datalink at Kahrain's growing library.

He dragged his mind back to the issue of naming.

"No decision has been made on naming it officially?" he asked.

We've discussed it in amidst the chaos of moving around. But she's willing to allow you to name it," Raylan said.


He struggled in is mind, trying to come up with something, then said, " Ah, never mind. That couldn't have been a nice job, cutting the beast up, so she's earned the right to name it. I'm sure the common name will be 'smanda'. I concede any naming right I have, Raylan, I really don't care," he said, "My compliments to the scientist who did the dirty work," he said.

Raylan smiled. "There's the spirit, K'ndar. Yes, we'll keep the common name, smanda, and when the lass names it, you'll be the first to know."

Chap. 161 End of the Gather

Chap. 161 End of the Gather

K'ndar sat down in the shade of Lizard's caravan. The sun, while late afternoon, was still very warm.

Siskin appeared and perched on K'ndar's shoulder, scolding him for being gone for so long.

"Tell me what all the noise was about, after the Stakes," Lizard asked. "I saw the aftermath, but I stayed out of the thick of it."

So K'ndar and Glyena filled him in.

"Ah, lassie, what a fitting end to a pair of misfits. I'm so glad it all came out right in the end," he said.

He poured some freshly brewed klah. K'ndar and Glyena each took a mug. She took a sip, but her eyes began to close.

Crunch, the dog, sniffed at their mugs, then curled up next to Glyena.

Within seconds, she was asleep.

Lizard looked at her sleeping form with a grin.

"Wore her out, did you?"

"Truth be told, I could do with a nap myself. It's been a long day. I had planned on going to the horse auction, but now? I think I'll let her sleep for a few minutes, then we'll head home. Oh, wait, I need to ask Terylin if she wants a ride home," K'ndar said, feeling sleep tugging at his eyes. To forestall it, he asked, "Will you be staying on? I think this is a two day Gather?"

"It is," Lizard said, sipping at his mug, "And I am. Like you, I want to go see the horse auction. I looked the horses over earlier, after the cattle auction. See 'em? See at the end of the paddocks, the individual ones? That bay, Drummer, in the 3K was in one of them. I don't see him right now, but earlier, I saw one of the Ruathans leading him there after his race," Lizard said.

"Drummer! Glyena was going to ride him, until the real rider showed up, and I am so glad she got off. He was…….well, crazy. Not mean, but, not a riding horse. Not at all," K'ndar said. He looked for the bay, but didn't see him.

"No doubt. He was a handful from the start. I had considered bidding on him at the auction, but after his nonsense in the race, I'll let him go to someone more willing to risk a broken neck," Lizard said.

"I heard one of their staff say he was a perfect horse in harness. I think they're going to sell him as a cart horse," K'ndar said, "and I think they said a Wanderer was interested in him. Funny thing, I had one of them come up to me, just before that race. He insisted I put a bet on the filly. Said I'd done him a 'good turn', although I can't remember ever seeing him before, and this was how he wanted to repay me."

Lizard gawped. "You did, tell me you bet on the filly."

K'ndar nodded. "I was a bit skeptical, but yes, I did. She paid…well, quite well, honestly, especially for a beginner like me," he said.

Lizard laughed. "Good lad. When a Wanderer vouches for someone, or some horse, take 'em at their word. They're odd, you know, they've always acted as if they're not really Pernese and they keep to themselves, but they're honorable people and they know horses better than anyone else on the planet.

The thing with racers is to not get overconfident in your ability to 'guage' a horse, especially a hot one in a new environment or with strange horses around. I made that mistake, even though I know better."

"You didn't bet on Drummer, did you?"

Lizard nodded, ruefully. "Sorry to say, I did. But not a lot. I don't like to lose big."

K'ndar shook his head. He knew it wasn't polite to ask how much someone lost-or won.

"Well, I didn't bet after that, even though I knew Swiftsure would win. He's a grand horse, he is." K'ndar said.

"I'll be switched," Lizard said, looking out the auction ring, "Someone made a deal."

K'ndar saw a small, wizened man leading Drummer away from where the horses up for auction were sequestered before the auction.

"That's…that's him," he said.

"That man with the bay?" Lizard said.

"Yes. It looks like he bought Drummer. He's the one who told me to bet the filly," K'ndar said.

Something told him to go talk to him. Without explanation, he got up and ran to the man.

Drummer had been cooled out and fed, and was minding his manners.

K'ndar stopped the man.

"Sir, I want to thank you for your tip," he said.

The man smiled shyly, yet with a tinge of pride.

"You took my advice, did you?"

"Yes sir," he said, and something pulled the words from him, "I wonder if you'd want to share a little of what I won?"

The man looked surprised, then grateful. Drummer nuzzled him. The action surprised K'ndar, knowing how bizarre the bay had acted earlier.

"Ah, that's kind of you, my man, but no, thank you. You did me a good turn, when you rescued one of our little girls from a handful of raiders. I can't take your money, although I do appreciate it," he said.

Lizard joined them.

Ah, now I remember, K'ndar thought. "I remember now, sir. Please tell me you bet on the filly, too," he begged.

The man laughed. "I did, of course. Of course! I bred and raised her, don't you know? Own her dam AND sire. She was a racer from the very first, she told me so. I'm too old to break and train a racehorse anymore, but that young girl you rescued? My niece? She has the touch, you know, she backed the filly and taught her well-because she listens to the horse.
And her elders…but I don't need a race horse, I need a good carthorse, and I could see from the start this here Drummer is no racer. Fast, yes, but I could see from the start he was more interested in showing his bollocks, despite having lost them, rather than settle down and do his work. Horse like this, he needs a harness to keep his mind on his job. So,well, I talked to the Ruathans. They wanted the filly, I wanted a harness horse, so we…well, let's just say no money changed hands, but both parties are happy," he said.

Drummer seemed enchanted with his new owner. Lizard is right, he thought, the Wanderers DO seem to have a special way with horses, something even I don't have and I've been a horseman since I was born.

"Seems to me the horse is happy, too," Lizard interjected.

The Wanderer smiled and patted the horse on the neck.

K'ndar smiled, and turned to Lizard. Knowing, now, that Lizard preferred to maintain a professional mien in public, he said, "Sir, this man is…"

"Probably looking to barter or buy a new harness for this horse, correct?" Lizard interrupted.

The Wandered looked at him.

"I know you as Fire Lizard Man, and word is you're an honorable man and a fair trader. Aye, I DO need a harness, I've got a good one in my caravan but it won't fit this gelding. I bet you've got just the one I need," he said.

Lizard smiled. "Aye, you're a sharp one, sir. Won't you come to my caravan? Let this horse graze while we fit him," he said.

K'ndar looked at him and grinned. He knew business was about to be done, and that Lizard was now 'on duty'.

"Thank you for the transaction, sir, I'll just pick up my gear and be on my way," he said.

Lizard winked.
____________________________________________________________________________
"K'ndar,I want to go home," Glyena said, "I'm tired." They'd shouldered their packs. Somehow they felt heavier than when they'd grounded them at Lizard's caravan.

"I am too, I'm ready, but we need to check with Terilyn before we leave. She might want a ride back home," he said.

The crowds were beginning to thin. Most folks were heading for the food tents or to their own homes.

There would be music and dancing later that night, but neither of them were interested.

Terilyn was closing up her booth. Siskin immediately flew to Putzu and chirruped. She responded with an equally friendly chip.

"You're…packing up?" he asked her.

"I am. I'm sold out," Terilyn said, very pleased.

"Really! Everything?" K'ndar said, happy for his friend.

"Yes, and I've orders for more of just about everything. It'll keep me busy for weeks," she said.

Want some help packing?" K'ndar asked. Glyena didn't really want to help, she was VERY tired, but one look from her brother told her to shut up and help out. She began to untie the cables to the canopy.

"No, Glyena, the canopy itself is Ruatha's, leave it standing. My stuff, there's not much left, just my stool and tripods and the little crate," Terilyn said.

"This little one, it's empty," Glyena said.

"It IS! It breaks down, so that it packs nicely into the larger crate," Terilyn said, proud of her design.

"It's clever," Glyena said.

"Do you want a ride back to our weyr? Or your cothold?" K'ndar asked.

"Please? I had planned on staying through tomorrow, but now I have no reason to stay overnight, as I'd planned. Do you think I could stay at Kahrain tonight?"

"Shouldn't be a problem, Hariko usually has a room open for overnight guests," K'ndar said hoping he wasn't lying.

Putzu chirped at Siskin, in a tone of voice that sounded seductive.

"Don't tell me she's in heat again," K'ndar said, frowning. Terilyn had never indicated any anger with K'ndar for Siskin mating her Putzu earlier, but maybe that was because she was a kind, understanding soul. And there was no way to stop a fire lizard from mating. You couldn't sequester an animal that could go between.

"Yes, I'm afraid she is, she's a horny little thing at times. Thank goodness they're sterile, otherwise I'd be up to my ears in blues and greens."

"Green fire lizards are sterile?" Glyena said. K'ndar was surprised, too.

"Most of the time, I've found," Terilyn said, "although from what I've heard, they do sometimes have fertile eggs. They're not like golds, all a green can lay is green females and blue males. "Putzu is very good about making a nest and watching over her eggs, for a while, then she sort of forgets about them and leaves them. I think she can tell they're not good eggs." she said.

She kissed at Putzu, who obediently left Siskin and flew to her shoulder.

"How did you know they only lay greens and blues?" Glyena asked.

"I dissected some of the eggs after Putzu abandoned them. The embryos weren't full formed, it's as if they stopped developing at some point. But their color was obvious," she said.

"What about green dragons? Is it the same with them?" Glyena asked, looking at K'ndar.

"Wellllll, we've always been told that green dragons CAN'T lay eggs, I've always assumed it was because of them eating firestone, but now we don't have to do that, and the greens still go into heat and mate. But, since I've not heard of a green laying eggs, maybe, when Kitty Ping noodled around with their hormones she made it so that they're incapable of making eggs. Or maybe they're sterile from the start. I don't know," he said, thinking this would make a very interesting line of research.

They finished packing Terilyn's gear. "I thought you had more than this?" K'ndar asked.

"I did, I shipped two crates. But, like I said earlier, everything, to include the smaller crate breaks down to fit into the larger one. Everything is made of lightwood, so it's also fairly lightweight. I made half a dozen mistakes, designing it, but now it all fits nicely. Not, of course, when I bring the wheel, but I didn't bring it this time, if you'll recall.

I'll have to leave it, I'm going to let the gather manager know I'm leaving early, and he'll hopefully ship it back," she said.

Glyena looked at it. "K'ndar, can't Raventh carry it?"

He looked at the crate. Hmmm. It would be nice, he thought, to save Terilyn the cost of shipping it back.

Are you ready to go home? he asked Raventh.

I am. You are looking at that box?

I am. Can you carry it as well as the three of us?

Raventh 'looked' at it. K'ndar remembered Aivas telling them that dragons could lift anything they thought they could.

I think so, as long as it's balanced

Of course.That's a given.

Let's do it, then

K'ndar nodded. "Raventh says he can carry it," he said.

Terilyn smiled. "That would be nice, it would save me the time and the shipping costs. It's not too heavy, it's just a little bulky, is all." They each took a handle and K'ndar let Raventh 'feel' its weight.

She was right…it wasn't very heavy at all.

Shouldn't be too difficult Raventh said.
____________________________________________________________________________
He made sure Terilyn and Glyena were harnessed in and the crate balanced. The fire lizards were firmly set just behind Raventh's head.

There was just barely enough room for everyone and the crate. Well, Raventh WAS small, for a brown.
Yes, but I am still RAVENTH

K'ndar hugged the dragon's neck.

Of course you are, the best dragon on Pern

We look like a family of Wanderers, K'ndar thought, laughing inside his head, with everything but the kitchen sink.

What is a kitchen sink?

Never mind. You aren't carrying one.

"Did you have fun today, Glyena?" Terilyn asked.

"OH, YES ma'am…but I want to get some dinner and then go to bed," the girl said.

"Me too," K'ndar said.

Chap. 42 Second Thoughts

Chap. 42 Second Thoughts

It was time.

His family met in the dining hall, early in the morning. They wanted to get an early start on their trip back to the cothold. K'ndar was going to take Daryat back to the cothold on Raventh.

Glyena looked glum. She'd hardly touched her breakfast. Unusually quiet, she was second guessing her decision to stay at the weyr. Up until now, she'd convinced everyone, even herself, that this was what she wanted. 

But now, with the prospect of seeing everyone leave, she was having second thoughts.

The rest of the family carried on animated conversations, making final decisions and plans, but were still aware of her silence.

Lindea came up to them as they ate.

"Good morning, Daryat! Hello, Glyena! And Fland, I remember when you were here for Impression," she said.

K'ndar introduced her to Sandriss and his family. 

She sat down opposite Glyena. 

As they reminisced and talked, Lindea could see that something was weighing heavily on Glyena's mind and heart.

She reached out and patted the girl's hand, to draw her attention.

"I saw you win your race, Glyena. That was pretty impressive!"

"Thank you, it was fun," Glyena said, smiling but not convincingly. It was certainly different from her reactions at the race. 

Zeta, Lindea's gold fire lizard, flew into the hall and landed on Lindea's shoulder. She then wrapped herself about her neck. Nattana, Sandriss's toddler, absorbed in playing with her food , paused long enough to say "Daddy wizard" and then returned to her play.

"Lindea, my brother gave me a fire lizard egg!" K'ndar said, "It's pretty close to hatching!"

"Oh, good for you, K'ndar, I know you've been wanting one for a long time."

"I have…"

"So, you all appear as if you were ready to leave," she said, sipping on her klah.

"Yes, as soon as we finish this excellent breakfast, we'll head out. K'ndar is taking Daryat back to the hold on Raventh, but the rest of us are going overland.  Glyena is staying here as a foster," Sandriss said.

"That's going to be an adventure, eh, Glyena?" Lindea asked.

"Well…" Suddenly Glyena looked her age, that of a rather scared seven year old girl.

Lindea contemplated her for a long moment. She cast a glance at K'ndar that said, "play along". Then, half to Glyena, and half to the family, she said,

"Did K'ndar ever tell you about our first days here at the weyr?" 

Glyena shook her head. "Um…I remember you made some necklaces for me and Mum. I lost mine. Mum's is at home. But that's all I remember."

"Well, let me tell you what happened. As long as I could remember, I wanted to impress a dragon. And I wanted to be on my own. I was so happy when I was searched!  I couldn't wait to be a dragon rider! But when I got here, all of sudden, I didn't want it. My stomach hurt. I was scared. I didn't know anybody. It was all so strange, so different.  I thought no, I can't do this. I was what they called homesick. It means you miss your family. You miss your home. I missed my mum. I missed my brother and sister. I missed everything about home because it was familiar, and the weyr wasn't. Even as badly as I wanted to leave home and come here, when I did get here, I didn't want to be here." 

Everyone was entranced, listening, although aware she may be embellishing.

She looked Glyena in the eye as if it was just the two of them.

"Don't tell anyone, but…I cried like a baby at night. I didn't want anyone to hear so I would cover my head with a blanket and cry and cry. I thought, oh, I will never like it here, I want to go home."

Then I met K'ndar, and we were walking on the beach. I told him I was afraid, I suddenly didn't want to be impress a dragon, but I didn't want to go home because I thought everyone would think I was a baby. Or a failure. So you see how odd it was? I was homesick but I didn't want to go home.

And K'ndar said he was homesick, too, I think he even wanted to change his mind and go back, even when your dad was so mean." 

"Really, K'ndar? You wanted to come back?" Glyena looked at him. K'ndar played along. He HAD been homesick but an entire wing of dragons couldn't have dragged him back to his father. 

"I was homesick, Glyena, just like Lindea. But I didn't cry because someone's little sister gave me a drawing of me on a dragon and saying, "don't forget your promise Kandar." Do you remember that letter? I still have it. It's on the wall of my weyr. It helped me feel better about being away from home."

Lindea continued.

"So me and K'ndar, we got to be friends.  The weyrfolk, they put us to work, made us get busy, so busy that we forgot to be afraid, or homesick.  The best thing was, I KNEW someone. K'ndar was my friend, and I was his, and even as homesick as we were, we had SOMEONE to talk to.

Now you, miss Glyena, you are lucky, your big brother is here, although he's going to be gone, a lot. And I think I know that the horse you won on is your horse, right?"

The girl nodded. "His name is Jordan. He was K'ndar's but K'ndar gave him to me."

"So, you see, you have TWO family members here, K'ndar and Jordan. That's better than most of us had. 

I am sure you know that lots of kids here are fosters. They all went through the same thing. I promise you they were all homesick, too. Now they seem happy here, right? Because you know what, first you'll be unhappy then you'll be so busy you will forget. And one day, you'll wake up and realize you like it here."

Glyena nodded, not sure if she should believe Lindea or not. 

"I want you to know, that, even when K'ndar isn't here, you have another friend to talk to if you're scared, or lonely, or homesick. Do you know who that friend is?"

Glyena shook her head.

"Me. Anytime you want to, you can come and talk to me. You can even cry if you want, it's okay."

Glyena thought about it for a few moments. The family watched her, their hearts full of emotion.

"Thank you," Glyena said, and then, "Can I play with your fire lizard?"

"Well, fire lizards aren't friendly pets, like a dog or a cat. They're tiny dragons, and you know that most dragons just want to be with their rider. You can't force yourself on a fire lizard. Zeta has a mind of her own, though, so maybe someday she might want to play."

"Maybe you can be friends with Jordan," she offered.

"Do you want to hear something? I don't know how to ride a horse."

Glyena…and everyone else, was shocked.

"REALLY? I thought everyone knew how to ride horses," she said.

"Not me. I grew up on a ship. I'd never even come close to a horse until the day I spent cleaning stalls in the barn, with K'ndar. So I would love to have someone teach me to ride."

"I can do that! K'ndar trained Jordan and I ride him and he's so sweet and he won't hurt you, he knows when someone is a learner," she stopped for a breath.

"I think I would be afraid. He went so fast with you at the race. I'd be afraid if he ran that fast with me. Would he?"

"Oh, noooooooooo, nooo. He is the best teacher. He goes real slow if he knows you're afraid. Sometimes I fall off, and he just stands there and waits for me to get back on."

Daryat's heart melted at Lindea's kindness. Her worries were evaporating.

"So, what do you say, Glyena? Do you want me for another friend?"

Glyena smiled. "Yes, please!"

Chap. 41 The Gather and the Horse Race

Chap. 41  The Gather and the Horse Race

The day after the Weyr flew against thread, the Turnover (year's end and beginning) Gather took place.

K'ndar had never seen so many people. There were vendors of all sorts, selling everything from laying hens to playing cards. Jugglers and puppetmasters put on shows for the children. There were games to play, tents set up for those who wanted a beer or wine, food of all descriptions.

He didn't linger at the cattle show, was intrigued, at least for a little while, by the sheep shearing competition,  but thoroughly enjoyed the herding trials! The dogs were amazing, proving to be as intelligent as a dragon, in some ways. The best dogs hardly needed a whistle to know what the shepherd wanted. 

He wandered through it, sometimes meeting up with his  family, sometimes without.

The best part, though, were the horse races.

Glyena on Jordan was entered in the Open to All Comers division. Daryat was concerned when K'ndar had brought it up the night before, but Glyena was adamant, once again. 

"Mum. I will be okay. I've ridden fast before, even bareback. I can do this, please, Mum, it's important," she said, "and we're going to win."

"I'd like to think that, sweetheart, but there are people in the race who've been doing this for a long time."

"It's okay, Mum. Even if I don't win, I think it will be fun," she said, patting her mother's hand.

The next day, after several races, the "Open to All" race was up.

Jordan looked small against some of the other horses. Glyena was solid in the saddle on his back, looking nervous. 

"Care to make a bet, my lad?"

He looked to his side. Terylin, the potter, was there, with Putzu, her green fire lizard on her shoulder. 

"I am so glad to see you! I heard you would be here, and I have a choker necklace for you."

He pulled it from his pocket and handed it to her.

"Thank you, for the pot. I gave it to my mum, last night. She's  right over there, I think, after the race, she'd love to talk to you," he said.

Terylin examined the necklace.

"This is beautiful, K'ndar, just perfect. I love how you interwove a…what is this, malachite? stone into it as a  clasp. How did you drill the hole? Oh, I see…it's natural. How clever! The color is beautiful. It contrasts so nicely, the weave and the stone against the chestnut. Thank you."

"As for the bet, well, I don't have a bit of money, and quite honestly, no brains for betting.  Besides, that's my little sister on the grey. I can't bet against her, now can I?"

Terylin looked at the gelding, prancing at the starting cable. He was nervous at all the new horses, the noise, the crowds. Glyena soothed him, crooning softly. She was nervous, too, but kept it to herself.

"I like the looks of him. I don't bet either, I just said that to open the conversation. But were I betting, I'd bet on him and your sister. He's just got that-look of dragons."

Look of dragons. What an amazing description, he thought.

Daryat came up to them. 

"Mum, I would like you to meet Terylin, the potter. She made the pot I gave to you."

"Terylin, this is my mother, Daryat. She's here to see me graduate and to enjoy the Gather."

The two women shook hands.

"I LOVE the pot. It's so cunning, so beautiful. I would love to talk to you, but..my daughter is in this race," Daryat said, "would you mind if I were to wait until afterwards?"

"Of course," Terylin said, "I'm just like you, I want to see her win."

Putzu, her green fire lizard, squawked, unhappy. Her eyes whirled orange. She was a bit afraid of the big crowds.

"May I pet her?" Daryat asked, "we heard the funniest story about her."

Terylin looked at Putzu's eyes.

"There's no mean in her, none, but she's pretty anxious right now. Maybe after the race, we can find a nice spot to sit and talk, she should be calmer then.  Putzu, be a dear and wait for me at our wagon?"

The green whimpered. She opened her wings but was unsure.

"She could go be with Raventh," K'ndar said, "He's keeping an eye on a fire lizard egg staying warm in my weyr. Would she go?"

Terylin smiled. "That would be nice, then, after the race, you and I, Daryat, can chat."

Raventh, would you like Putzu's company?

Of course. All the greens love me, even fire lizards. I already have Sandriss's pair here.

How is the egg?

It's an egg. It does nothing. But it's warm and dry. Don't worry. The queen is keeping watch on it. It's hers, after all.

Thank you, my brother

Putzu suddenly straightened up, cheeped, and vanished.

"Maybe I could go into business with Raventh: Fire lizard babysitting service," he said.

They found a spot near the finish line. Sandriss, his family and Fland were on the other side ot he course. They exchanged waves.

They could see the horses on the track, milling about. Jordan looked nervous. Nyala was giving Glyena last minute advice.  

Two men beside him were arguing.

"Nay, don't be daft, not the grey. It's just a little girl riding. Maybe you can go with the bald face. Me, I like that skinny chestnut, he's got speed to spare, that's the one my money's on."

"Ah, maybe you're right, but I still like the looks of the grey."

"Suit yourself, cobber, you've already lost. You might want to pay up right now."

"Go on, it's not even run yet. Give her a chance, what?"

Just then, the call to post came. Eight horses lined up to the starting rope. The crowd quieted. 

Glyena took a tight hold of the reins. Nyala had given her several pointers on how to ride in a race. The most important one was Don’t fall off!

"I won't. I know how Jordan is, he jumps like a dragon at first. Then he settles down."

The gelding, puzzled by the abnormally firm hold Glyena had on his mouth, tossed his head. Something was about to happen.

"Nose on the cable, riders. You there, on the bald face, yes you..don't push on t'rope, man, that's cheating. Just set t'nose on it." The offender backed his horse up just a tad, so that the horse's nose was on the cable.

"On your mark……….."

The starter waited until all feet were on the ground.

"GO!" he cried,the cable flying up above the horse's heads.

The horses broke in a confused mass. The bald face reared instead of leaping forward, dumping his rider. Those who had bet on him groaned.

Glyena saw nothing but horse tails. Dirt clods were thrown into her face. Jordan tossed his head, trying to avoid being pelted. She held him in, making him wait, to keep dirt out of their faces. She felt him on the bit, giving and taking without releasing, feeling his resistance fading as he began to understand. She was as new to racing as he was, but she'd ridden him flat out many times, and was familiar with his way of running.

The mass of horses ran in a compact pack, until the skinny chestnut broke away and took the lead. For several lengths he was alone, then a rangy bay took the challenge and took the rail, coming up inside the leader. They battled for the lead, first one ahead, then the other.

 Glyena was dead last.

Oh, Daryat thought, she's going to lose.  But she still kept calling encouragement, her voice lost in the ocean of shouts from the spectators. It would be okay. Glyena was the youngest rider in the race, as well as the only girl. It was okay, win or lose. 

"Ride him, sis, you've got the horse!!" K'ndar yelled, doubting that she or the horse could hear.

Uncharacteristically, Jordan held back.

It's the dirt, she thought, he doesn't want it in his face.

She aimed Jordan to the outside, giving him plenty of room.

The crowd was yelling as she passed them, but she heard nothing but her horse's breathing and the pounding of his hooves…and her heart.

Jordan pulled. She was balanced, part of him. 

He caught up with the last horse in the pack, who had slowed considerably, and passed him.

"Carry on, lassie, my boy is done," the rider gasped.

Jordan turned his head to give the failing horse the stink eye. Out of my way, laggard.

She touched him on the bit, calling him back. To me, Jordan, listen to me. But he'd suddenly understood that he was in a race. I can do this. I can do this. Let me run. He begged for his head. She let him have it

He responded by accelerating. The wind whistled in her ears. His long mane whipped her in the face. 

"He's flying," she thought, "he's going faster than ever." It was…exhilarating. Go go go!!

He passed the pack and came up just behind the chestnut. The bay looked at him from across the chestnut's quarters. Jordan kept coming. He came up on the chestnut's right side. The chestnut's eye met his and Jordan glared back. For several strides they were even, the chestnut pushing hard. The finish line was coming up much too fast. Glyena kissed at Jordan and he surged ahead of the chestnut, to win by a head.

The spectators roared.

The man nearest to K'ndar was yelling with joy. "I knew it, I knew it!"  His friend looked unbelieving, but was dutifully digging in his pocket to pay the bet.

Glyena continued on around the track at a slower canter, Jordan breathing hard, but exultant. He knew he'd won.

When she saw her family pouring onto the track, she stood in the irons and yelled, "MUM!! We won!!" 

She trotted up to them and brought Jordan to a halt. K'ndar took him by the headstall and patted his wet neck.  "GOOD lad, well done!" Nyala came out, patted Glyena's arm as she began to dismount.

"PERFECT run, Glyena, you did it exactly right!" Jordan wheeled around, still full of run. Glyena whooped in joy. 

"Mum! We won!" She yelled, looking for her mother.

 She jumped off the horse and gave Nyala a big hug. "Thank you, thank you, that was SO MUCH FUN! Do you have another horse you need a rider for?"