A Fieldtrip to the Hall

Writers: Halyonix, Shawna
Date Posted: 24th August 2025

Characters: Cirina, Paldra
Description: Cirina runs into an apprentice during a trip to Harper Hall.
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 8, day 16 of Turn 12

Cirina had told her brother she wanted to explore the Hall a little, maybe snoop in on some lessons, but really all she'd done was find a quiet corner to settle down in and play fetch with Digger.

Which is why Paldra rounded a corner only to be hit with first a flung guitar pick, and then, just barely, by the little brown firelizard's wings when he suddenly veered off from his pursuit of the item.

"Ohno, I'm so sorry, we were just playing and I didn't hear anyone coming." She didn't ask if Paldra was alright- it was a guitar pic, not a boulder, but that was no reason not to apologize, so she bookended that with another, "Soooo sorry."

Paldra, unable to see that is was a pic and a firelizard, let out a screech and held up her hands to defend herself from the rush of wind, the brush of things unexpected, and the unknown but apologetic voice. Her ears strained to catch any warning, any clue, as she stayed rooted in place, scared.

Digger swooped to pick the guitar pick up off the floor, returning it to Cirina with a happy trill that turned into a sad one when she didn't resume their game of fetch. "So, uh, sorry again," Cirina said, "I'll just go wait outside. It's that way, right?" She pointed off in a direction, not realizing Paldra couldn't see her.

The voice was not one she recognized at all. Paldra cocked her head to the side, analyzing the tones. In the grey on grey dimness of her world, the woman talking to her was a slightly darker blur but there was not enough light to give any sort of definition. And certainly not enough for Paldra to gauge which way the woman might be pointing. Cautiously hopeful that the danger had passed -- she was certain she had heard a firelizard's trill in all of the confusion so that would explain the rush of wind so close -- Paldra exhaled, forcing herself to calm down a moment, before she asked, "Are you trying to get to the gardens or the main courtyard?"

"Oh, main courtyard. I'm with the brown dragon lounging out there." Remembering the scolding she'd gotten for Aydhara misunderstanding, Cirina added, "I mean, he's my brother's, but he's my ride. He's running an errand and he left me to entertain myself. There are gardens, too?" That made sense of course, but somehow she was surprised the Harpers bothered with such mundane things.

"A small one, yes. I hear it's quite colorful," Paldra answered through another grounding breath. "Some of the flowers have very fragrant and soft petals." At least she had not become entirely disoriented by this. Her hand reached out to find the wall she knew should be on her right, taking strength in the stone that reached back. "This way," she said. "I can show you it and then take you to the main courtyard." If anything about her mannerisms seemed amiss, it was in the way Paldra was just shy of making eye contact, as though she was looking at something far away that only she could see at all times. But now reoriented, her steps were surer as she led Cirina on.

"You hear it's colorful?" Cirina asked curiously, even as she fell into step at Paldra's side. "Thank you. If you're busy, though, I can just keep wandering around. I told my brother I was going to sneak into some lessons but ugh," Cirina said in a low, conspiratorial tone.

"It wouldn't be wise for you to wander into the wrong lesson," Paldra informed her. "Some of the Masters are quite strict about visitors and observers. I've heard that at least one has thrown a dragonrider out of Harper Hall for interrupting." She paused as they approached a larger door, splaying her hand across it to feel the wood and iron to make certain it was the right one. Her hand undid the latch and she pushed at the door. Warmth blanketed her skin as her grey world turned slightly brighter. Scents of loam, vegetation, and pollen filled her next breath. "Here we are," she announced as she started wandering forward, her fingers reaching to brush the flower petals as she passed.

"Thanks for the warning. It's ok, I was having more fun with Digger anyway. He loves fetch." Cirina's frown deepened as she watched Paldra lead her through the hall, even more so when she groped at the door before opening it. "Can you see? I'm sorry, I assume that's just rude to ask but.. It would mean I should probably introduce myself a little better."

"I am blind and you didn't introduce yourself at all," Paldra said in a matter-of-fact tone. She turned slightly towards where she assumed Cirina was standing. A small smile graced her face. "I'm Paldra, one of the apprentices here."

"Well, I'm used to the knots doing it for me. I'm Cirina. I'm a candidate from Dolphin Cove. And the rude little beastie that ran into you-" there was an indignant chirp,"is my firelizard, Digger. Pleased to meet you."

"Cirina," Paldra repeated. It was for her memorization, but the way she said someone's name the first time sounded like she was gently running her fingers over the syllables and cadences that made up that name. She tilted her head to the side. "What's it like being a Candidate?"

"Ugh, awful," Cirina grumbled. "It's mostly a lot of chores, the same lessons I've been hearing since I was old enough to Stand, and then you get really excited when there's eggs on the sands, only to get really disappointed after they hatch. And then the cycle starts all over again. I can't wait until I don't have to do it anymore. Next time, I hope." She always hoped 'next time'.

Paldra's expression became a small smile. "It sounds awfully like being an apprentice. Chores and boring lessons. Though..." Her fingers gently explored a nearby petal. Lavender, she thought, by the smell and texture. "I hear that the Candidates get to touch the eggs before they hatch? Is that true?"

"Oh, yeah. Most of the time. Sometimes the queen can say no, but that doesn't happen often." Cirina scuffed her boot against the ground and added in a sheepish tone, "I got caught trying to sneak in for extra touching last time. Loseth nearly deafened me roaring."

The blind apprentice tilted her head at the scuff of the boot but her expression still held an amused smile. "I can only imagine how frightening that must have been. Can you...describe the texture of the eggs?"

"It was mostly just startling. I know a dragon wouldn't eat me," Cirina said with the overconfidence of someone who'd been around dragons her entire life. "Um. I've been told they're kind of... leathery at first, that's why the golds won't let people on the Sands. All the ones I've been around are pretty hard and... egg-like, I guess. Have you ever gotten to touch a dragon?"

Paldra thought of the dragon that had conveyed her here. The soft whuff of breath against her hands just before that velvet muzzle touched them. The hardiness of the head knobs. The cushion of the cheek. "Once," Paldra answered with some wistfulness. While dragons were not uncommon at the Hall, she was rarely ever close enough to touch one just because of her rank.

"I could introduce you to Dasveth, since you were nice enough to show me around," Cirina offered. "He's really nice."

The blind apprentice tilted her head to the side as she considered the offer. "I would like that."

"Well, let's go meet Dasveth, then. I'm sure he won't mind. Digger, go find Dasveth, okay?" With a happy trill at having a task, the little brown took to the air. Impulsively, Cirina hooked an arm through Paldra's, "This way! You'll like him, he's a very nice brown."

Last updated on the September 2nd 2025

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A Fieldtrip to the Hall