Chapter 2
Jerahmeel looked around the kitchen clocking where everyone was briefly before he ducked in and grabbed the burnt ends of the different foods that had been trimmed away along with grabbing some of the fruit that was close to being spoiled. He looked over toward Manora who was conversing with the head cook of the kitchen about the level of supplies available. Some Wings were still gone, though R’gul and S’lel were already back, Jera had heard that the others were recalled with the recent return of F’lar with only one female candidate. He ducked out of the kitchen thankfully without being seen.
Jerahmeel’s parents had been journeymen in glass and baking before becoming Dragonriders. His father, Joldidas known to his Wing as J’das, had been one of the few that listened to F’lon’s warnings of the return of Thread. He had been the rider of the blue dragon Choranth, within F’lon’s wing, who was killed by an unknown cause, Jera still believed that he’d been killed for his vocal support of F’lon’s warnings. His mother, Talleva known to her wing as T’eva, had succumbed to the same type of fever that had taken F’lon’s foster mother. She’d been the rider of a green dragon Hinlunth, one of the few females chosen as a rider in the Eighth Interval. His mother’s sister refused to move from High Reaches Hold where she was serving in one of the weaving halls while her husband served the Lord Holder Fax.
Weyrwoman Jora had been someone to avoid after F’lon passed, Jerahmeel was just grateful that because of her lazy, slothful nature led to almost everyone forgetting about him. He was rarely noticed, he tended to the rooms that had belonged to his father where he still lived. J’das had been killed two turns back while T’eva had passed within two turns of Jera’s birth. Few even remember that J’das had a child that he was raising, those that didn’t forget about him was those remaining of his father’s Wing. The dragons of Benden Weyr were used to him being around the feeding and bathing grounds. His father’s rooms were being cleaned out for the preparation of the approaching impressions and the fact that they hope someone would be able to claim it.
“Has someone been living in here?” The voice of one of the stewards for Manora spoke from where they were clearing the personal goods of J’das from the chamber.
“Not since J’das died two turns ago why?” Another asked without looking up.
“The rooms too clean…” The first voice echoed slightly causing Jera to freeze on the end of the hall. “And there are things belongin’ ta a child in here…”
Jera flinched as he heard more things being tossed from the room while he knew that they’d be keeping anything that would be useful to the Weyr as a whole. Shattering of glass told him they weren’t taking care with some of the more decorative pieces J’das had made and that Jera had made under his instruction. He wanted to curse them out but knew that in doing so he’d draw attention to himself. He’d been able to avoid confrontation with any of the staff for years, and while he slipped into lessons still with the Weyrlingmaster and Weyrsinger, C’gan, and his blue Tagath, who was in charge of the new weyrlings, though when there were no weyrlings that need training they C’gan acted as a member of F’lar’s Wing.
“Didn’t J’das ‘ave a bratling?” The second voice spoke with scorn in their voice. “Whelped by that lone female green rider…”
“T’eva…” The first spoke up again giving the name of Hion’s mother. “She rode Hinlunth. She never recovered enough from the early birth of the whelp, caused by a need for goin’ between in her last months.”
“That’s right…they were an odd couple…never saw J’das join in again with mating fun.”
“He liked to claim he didn’t have time for that ‘nonsense’…as if his hand din’t get enough of a workout when Choranth went after a green.”
Jera snarled before startling when he felt a hand land on his shoulder. He looked up and saw F’nor, one of the few who remembered Jera lived within the Weyr and made sure that he was okay. Like his brother F’lar they did not forget the child that their friend was so concerned over. Born two months early Jerahmeel had been prone to illness and small for his age. He’d grown as he passed his 10th turn becoming someone that would be a good match for a dragonrider as he continued to grow older.
“You knew this was going to happen.” F’nor softly said, kindness in his eyes. “F’lar has found someone to be a candidate to the queen…I think that I’ve found someone to be a candidate for one of the other eleven eggs.”
“No one knows about me.” Jera shrugged away from F’nor. His body under the patched clothes he wore was thin and scarred, he was beaten the few times he’d been caught ‘stealing’ some food and the steward that had done so was harsh and wouldn’t stop until Jera was bleeding. He never got numbweed for his injuries. Other children of the Weyr also like to beat on Jerahmeel leading to him being injured more often than not. “No one that matters anyway.”
“I know about you…are you saying I don’t matter?” F’nor chuckled. “And it doesn’t matter if no one else knows of you beyond thinking that you’re a drudge of the kitchens with how often you’re caught in there.”
Jerahmeel smirked a little before shrugging. “I need to eat but because Jora didn’t have me on the records as a family member of the Weyr I’ve got nothin. Thanks be that my Pa lived as long as he did and got on so well with night hearth cook and was able to get me portions…”
“Something that you continued though the change is happening.” F’nor chuckled. “Doesn’t matter though…to the bathing hall…you’re going to be a candidate.”
“Alright…” Jerahmeel shrugged and walked with the man toward the chambers that held the bathing halls for those waiting to see if they’d be impressed on. He took another look back before sighing as he moved off.
“I’ll make sure that they don’t destroy too much of the work that your Pa did as well as making sure that your things are protected until after the hatching.” F’nor smirked before turning and going back toward the chamber. “I’ll also make sure that the chambers are returned to you once you’re a weyrling.”
“Thanks…” Jerahmeel sighed as he took the last turn before disappearing from F’nor’s sight. “Now just to survive this…” He sighed again as he entered the bathing chambers and saw that there were a couple of the white robes available for those that were to be candidates. He bathed quickly using the available sweetsand that was there. Washing out his shoulder length red hair he tied the top portion back, Jera remained in his trousers not trusting one of the other candidates that were coming into the chamber not to take them it was one of the few things that he was skilled in, making his own clothing from the scraps that were laying in the tanner’s hall. He hummed a song that he’d been writing that had been part of a dream that filled his head. “May it be an evening star…shines down upon you…”
“The song freak is at it again…” A voice sneered from the corner where others were entering and preparing for the impression. “Hey freak what are you doing in here? This is for the candidates only!”
Jerahmeel ignored the boy’s sneering voice as he finished washing before going to the pile of ceremonial robes that were left there for them.
“What do you think you’re doing freak?!”
“I think Tulde that I’m preparing for the hatching as I was ordered to do so by F’nor and F’lar. They need more bodies in the chamber to give the dragonets enough to choose from.” Jerahmeel raised an eyebrow; he was already 4’10 in height though he had the runner or swimmer’s build since he frequently performed those tasks to help the dragons and F’lar’s Wing. While Tulde was only 4’6 and heavyset having been a spoiled child of the Benden Hold’s Lord, and a frequent visitor to the Weyr for lessons. “SO Tulde I think you need to make sure to prepare yourself and truly think if this is something you’re willing to risk. After all there’s always the risk of death to a dragonet.” He raised an eyebrow before he finished securing his boots on his feet and left the chamber heading to the hatching ground. He could feel the pressure in the air growing. He knew that the candidates would be brought in at a specific time, but he entered the chamber and just watched Nemorth with sorrow in his eyes. He had a feeling she wouldn’t survive to go between on her own. “Scorch it…why does it have to be this way…”
“Didn’t expect to find you here young one…” C’gan spoke as he moved to sit beside Jerahmeel. “What leads you to the sands before the time?”
“Memories and worries…” Jerahmeel whispered. “Dreams that haunt with songs that echo…”
“Songs?” C’gan raised an eyebrow in question. “What sort of songs?”
“Ones I’ve never heard in all my turns…” Jerahmeel sighed out as he pulled his legs up onto the seat with him and wrapped his arms around them.
“Sing it for me and let us see if we can understand it…”
Jerahmeel looked at C’gan carefully before closing his eyes and letting his soft tenor ring out, when he opened his eyes he could see that Nemorth seemed to be breathing easier after.
“May it be an evening star
Shines down upon you
May it be as darkness falls
Your heart will be true
You walk a lonely road
Oh, how far you are from home
Mornië utúlië
Believe and you will find your way
Mornië alantië
A promise lives within you now
May it be the shadows call
Will fly away
May it be your journey on
To light the day
When the night is overcome
You may rise to find the sun
Mornië utúlië
Believe and you will find your way
Mornië alantië
A promise lives within you now
A promise lives within you now…” His eyes focused on the lone queen egg that sat separate from the rest of the eggs before looking back at the others.
“I’ve never heard that either…it is lovely…if you’re not so lucky to receive impression from a dragonet I’ll sponsor you to the Harper Hall.” C’gan whispered as he looked back into the hatching grounds.
There was suddenly a vibration that ran down the bones. The sound was repeated as more and more dragons and candidates entered the cavern. Jerahmeel moved down the steps at a push from C’gan to join the others on the sands. He left his boots back with the blue rider. His gaze was locked on the dragon eggs. He grimaced as the sounds of the screams from the female queen candidates praying that there wasn’t another Jora among them.
The boys were set in a rough semi-circle and Jerahmeel looked with a hidden sneer as Tulde puffed his chest out bragging about how he was sure to be chosen by a bronze that would fly the queen on the next mating. Jerahmeel knew that it was unlikely that Tulde would get any dragon let alone a bronze. Jerahmeel looked at the screaming girls brought in and couldn’t help but want to sneer at the sight of the screaming and rush to get away from the hatching queen egg. His attention was briefly drawn to one of the girls in particular that he’d seen F’lar bring in. She was the only one not screaming or quivering in fear. His attention turned back to the eggs in front of the boys just as a bronze broke through.
“Tulde don’t do anything stupid…” Jerahmeel snarled as he saw the boy start to make moves forward. “The dragonet chooses the rider not the other way. You know this!”
“Shut up freak…” Tulde snarled back before moving and drawing attention to himself from the bronze dragonet that came to the height of his head, Tulde was only ten turns old and thought he was all that. “This is going to be my dragon!”
There were more screams as the young fledgling reached out with claw and beak to grab Tulde. Jerahmeel kept his watch on what was happening forcing himself to watch as Tulde was mauled by the fledgling before being tossed to the side. He closed his eyes and prayed for the boy hoping that he’d survive the wounds that he received. His attention was returned to the front when the fledgling that had mauled Tulde made his way over to Jerahmeel and looked at him before moving on.
Suddenly Jerahmeel was bowled over by one of the fledglings going for one of the other boys. The claws raked across his body slicing into him and causing him to hold in a cry of pain. He was shocked when there was another fledgling that stopped beside Jerahmeel and began crooning anxiously. He raised his hand to gently touch the fledgling while struggling to his feet, he couldn’t hold back the tears that stung the one slice to his face that just barely missed his left eye and the deep lacerations across his chest and arms.
“Easy…Easy…I’m going to be okay…shhh…it’s okay…” Jerahmeel smiled through the pain. He was amazed by the kindhearted brown when he felt an infusion of joy along with warmth, worry, and many other wonderful emotions surged through him. He remembered the words from his Pa when he asked about the events of his impression.
*~*~Flashback~*~*
“It is indescribable little warrior…” J’das whispered as he ran his hand through Jerahmeel’s hair soothing him to sleep. “There is a feeling of rightness…of a knowing that no matter what happens you’ll never be alone again…that only death will separate you from this other part of yourself. You don’t realize until the moment of impression that something was missing from you soul…” J’das closed his eyes as he thought back to the day he was chosen by his wonderful friend. “You’ve found your best friend, soulmate, and partner all in one move. It…” He took a deep breath before looking back down at his son. “It is something that is different for everyone. When you first meet the eyes of your partner and KNOW them in ways that only the deepest of bonds can allow…When Choranth impressed on me my world shifted in ways that I never expected. I was on the older end of the impressionable age…just like your mother. She disguised herself as a male to get into the hatching grounds…it was unorthodox, but I thought it was brilliant…now sleep my little weyrling a new day will be dawning soon.” J’das placed a gentle kiss on Jerahmeel’s forehead. “I’m to journey with F’lar and the others tomorrow. You’ll have lessons waiting for you.”
*~*~End Flashback~*~*
That had been the last time he’d seen his father as he’d been killed while they were touring the different holds that were supposed to be supplying the Weyr. He looked back at Chiarranth before blinking lightly as he realized he had just learned the name of his wonderful bronze.
“Come on J’eel…we need to get your dragonet tended to as well as your wounds.” C’gan came up beside Jerahmeel, though now he’d be known as J’eel.
“Chiarranth…Chiarranth needs to be tended first…” J’eel whispered as he walked slowly from the hatching grounds ignoring the pulling of the pain from the wounds. As he looked back, he saw that the bronzes had moved to surround the remains of Namorth and took her between as was proper.
“You can both be tended at the same time don’t worry…you aren’t the first that’s been wounded in the impression stage.” C’gan smiled softly.
J’eel just nodded before watching Chiarranth carefully, though in his head he was already thinking of him as Chiar to make the long name easier to communicate in flight with others.
“Are you going to be the Weyrlingmaster?” J’eel asked carefully as he looked at one of his father’s best friends, who was also one of the ones that would spend mating times with his father even though the stewards and servants believed that J’das didn’t spend the time with anyone else.
“I am…” C’gan smiled softly. “That doesn’t mean that you get to shirk your lessons.”
“What’s going to happen to Tulde?” J’eel asked simply as they continued along the talking and asking questions was distracting him from the pain.
“If he survives the wounds, he’ll be returned to his father and enter into training for an apprenticeship. He’s the youngest boy of the Lord Holder.” C’gan answered as they entered the care rooms for the dragonets and the weyrlings. “F’lar will be going to inform his father of what had happened and why he was so wounded. S’lel and R’gul will be training the new Queen rider…I wish them luck.” He smirked thinking of the young woman that they’d Searched out in the old Ruatha Hold. “She’s going to be a firecracker.”
“I’m glad it is someone with spirit unlike Jora…” J’eel sighed out as he eased to the ground beside Chiar.
“Same here.” C’gan nodded in response. He remembered when he helped S’lel attempt to wake Jora after S’loner went between with Lord Holder Maidir. He remembered other times that he’d had to help carry a drunk Jora to her chambers. “I know that F’nor has already promised that your Pa’s quarters will be returned to you. There’s nothin anyone can do to stop it.”
“Kenelas and Sanra’ll attempt something…” J’eel shrugged. “They’ve never liked me.”
“Well, Manora won’t let that happen. She’s the headwoman and Wingleaders won’t let it happen either. We simply need to remind people of who you are and who your parents are.” C’gan shrugged. “Now sit down so we can tend those cuts with some numbweed and then you can help Chiarranth eat. One of the others is cutting up a bucket for ya.” He looked over at the others who’d come to escort the weyrlings into the chamber.
J’eel simply shrugged through pain and allowed the journeyman healer to come over and help him with his wounds.
“Sadly, I think these will scar…” Namma sighed as she finished dressing the wounds, she used the numbweed but also stitched the one on his face that went down through his left eye only the fact that it was a glancing blow kept it from taking his eye in the action. “Thankfully unless infection sets in you’ll keep your golden eyes…”
J’eel simply nodded in response before he turned to the care of his dragonet. He knew the signs of infection and how to care for things. He didn’t care if he scarred or not it was something that happened when one was a Rider. Now just to get through the training before he deals with anything more. He wondered if he could help the new Queen rider in some way. After all she was having to deal with R’gul and S’lel likely teaching her things. And both were of the view that a queen does not fly, a view brought on by the lazy bitch that was Jora who had no control over her dragon and lead to them being so limited with numbers. He believed like his Pa and those who rode with his Pa’s old Wing in the idea that Thread was going to return. He simply prayed it waited until this batch of dragonets had time to mature and learn the skills needed.