A Second Chance (2/2)
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyrhold
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Elsewhere on Pern
NPC Weyr (NPC)
River Bluff Weyr
Seacraft Hall
Writers: Estelle
Date Posted: 29th September 2020
Characters: R'fal
Description: What if... Renfal is offered a second chance
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 5, day 22 of Turn 10
He crossed the courtyard and walked down the path that led to the road,
where the dragons had settled, their wings folded on their backs and
their tails flicking lazily, to and fro. Keeping a respectful distance,
he made a quick bow.
"I'm sorry..." He spoke, not knowing entirely what he was apologising
for. The last Turn, the mistakes he'd made. What he'd been a part of,
and still was. No better than the tavern folk, salivating over the
chance to empty the riders' purses.
The brown lifted his head slowly, blinked, then let out a low rumble
that Renfal felt through his feet and in his chest. Then he rested his
head on his forelimbs again and sighed, basking in the sun. The boy
watched him so closely, taking in all the details, the soft burnish of
his hide, the glinting of light in his faceted eyes, that he almost
missed when the lids flicked back on the blue's eyes and he stirred,
rising onto his hind legs.
"Oh. I didn't mean to bother you." He backed off a step. "I should go."
His father was going to be furious.
The blue made a soft, crooning noise, and stretched out his neck in one
fluid movement so that suddenly, his head was only a few feet from
Renfal. He crooned again, a deep, enticing sound, and breathed out, the
warm, spicy-scented gust ruffling the boy's hair so that in spite of
himself, he laughed, then covered his mouth, shocked at his own daring.
"I really should..."
But before he could turn to leave, the dragon had leaned forward and,
very gently, nudged his side with his snout, as if to herd him closer.
Renfal nearly giggled again, made another half-protest, but the huge
head nudged him again, this time from the other side. The jaws fell open
slightly and he saw the tongue flicker over gleaming teeth. It should
have been terrifying, but somehow, he knew he was safer than he'd been
in a long while.
"I think he likes you."
With a gasp, Renfal turned to face a man in flying leathers, a riding
helmet dangling loosely from one hand. He had short hair, almost
entirely gone to grey, and skin as deep brown as Renfal's own, deeply
creased around the eyes.
"Sir, I'm sorry, I just came out to pay my respects and I must have got
too close." He remembered how he'd learned dragons and riders spoke
silently, mind-to-mind, and flinched. He must have disturbed them both.
At least he'd brought the rider away from the game, for a short while.
The man laughed. "Don't worry, it's not your fault. He's friendly." He
came closer, reached up to scratch at the bony ridge over the dragon's
eyes. "His name is Clarenth."
Renfal nodded, wide-eyed. He turned back to the blue. "My duty to you,
Clarenth. I hope I didn't disturb your rest."
The dragon rumbled and nudged him again, and the rider raised an
eyebrow. "You're polite! I didn't expect - well, no, never mind. Perhaps
this place isn't what it looks like."
"It's exactly what it looks like," Renfal said quickly, and, dismayed,
shut his mouth so he couldn't say any more.
"Is it, now." He gave the younger man a long, speculative look. "You're
not from here?"
"No. I grew up on a farm, but now...I work here."
"I see." The man fell silent for a while, and Renfal saw that his eyes
seemed oddly faraway, unfocused. Then, suddenly, that keen gaze was on
him again. "What's your name, lad?"
"Renfal." He felt his throat tighten in a panic. Why hadn't he lied?
After the trial, when he'd stood before the whole Hold to be branded a
criminal, his name had been ruined for good. He didn't want the
dragonrider to think of him as a thief. But the man didn't show any
recognition.
"Well met, Renfal. I'm N'lenn, bluerider of Dolphin Cove Weyr." He
offered a hand in greeting, and surprised, Renfal took it. "You ever
think of coming to the Weyr yourself?"
"Huh?"
"We could use young men like you. For the clutches." He grinned, the
laugh lines creasing around his eyes. "Clarenth says so, and he's not
often wrong. He's taken a real liking to you."
Renfal gaped at him. "But - you're not on Search?"
"I may have thought I was off duty, but this fellow had other ideas."
N'lenn patted the dragon's snout, affectionately. "How old are you?"
"Sev...no, eighteen." Shells, he'd nearly forgotten. His birthday, the
previous sevenday, had gone unmarked.
"Eighteen?" He smiled. "You know, I couldn't tell from looking if you
were a little lad just out of harper classes or as old as the hills.
Must be my age. Anyway, you've got a few Turns still. It's your choice.
We could take you to the Weyr now, if you wanted. Well, as soon as I can
drag Br'del away from the gaming table. He thinks he's got a system."
For a brief moment, a strange, warm sensation welled up inside him, an
electric pulse along his nerves, a grey fog lifting. Searched! He'd
thought that chance was long since lost to him. He'd never even
considered that it might happen again.
Then, common sense returned. As soon as he got to the Weyr, they'd ask
his name, and his parents, and where he'd come from. Questions about his
past that had no good answer. And when they learned what he'd done...
Shame bowed his head, crushed his hopes. How could he explain? "I don't
know."
To his surprise, the bluerider nodded. "I understand. The harper tales
make it seem simple, the Searchrider whisking you off to fame and glory,
but it's not. It's a hard duty, all the more so now we're in a Pass."
"Yes, sir. I'm honoured, and grateful, I just - " He hesitated. "My
place, here at the tavern, it's...what I deserve."
N'lenn gave him a shrewd look. "You know, Renfal, anyone the dragons
choose is welcome at the Weyr. No matter where they've come from. It's a
fresh start for more folk than you'd think." He rested a hand, lightly,
on the boy's shoulder. "I'd better go back in before my wingmate loses
his shirt. Sit out here a while, with Clarenth. Think about it."
Renfal watched him as he walked back towards the low building, easy and
confident. Could he be like that? Was the man telling the truth about a
new start? It hardly seemed possible.
He should go back in, get back to work. His father would be angry about
the game, but there were still the traders. Da would think of something.
Tavern Maskter Krivek was more to be feared, he had a hard hand and a
foul temper when takings had been bad, but Renfal had lived with worse.
He could endure it, and go on. He had a roof over his head, and that
wasn't nothing. Not in a Pass.
But he didn't move. The blue dragon rumbled in satisfaction, and angled
his wing to create a patch of shade where he could wait, daydreaming
like he had as a boy, until the Searchrider returned.
Last updated on the September 29th 2020