Barefoot Potential

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 20th June 2014

Characters: Lanniya, Y'gel, D'arvn, Yendon
Description: A trader's granddaughter comes to the Weyr.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 7, day 7 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Briata

Lanniya

Y'gel

D'arvn

As soon as the Trading caravan settled to the stop, an older man
climbed off of the lead wagon, patting one of the hefty draft runners.
Before he met anyone, he began calling out orders to others coming off
the wagon. A slim figure climbed out of the back of the lead wagon,
her bare feet coming in contact with the grass and then lightly
stepped over to the older man. Her blue eyes were wide as she stared
at the cliffs that dominated the view. "I never knew it would be so
huge." Her voice was soft, awed.

There was a soft chuckle. "Everything in the Weyr is large, Lanniya."

"Can I look around? Please?" Her eyes turned to him with hope.

He sighed and nodded slowly. "Just stay close. Don't go with anyone
anywhere else. Don't go past the lake, okay?" She grinned, reached up
to peck his cheek and then with a flash of strawberry blonde hair, was
darting out. He shook his head and sighed before going back to meet
with the Headwoman about trade.

Lanniya's quick feet found their way to the lake in short order. She
stopped and then tilted her head to the side, her smile widening. Her
eyes closed at the myriad sounds that she usually only heard when her
family was taking shelter. The voices flowed past her ears, some
murmuring, some loud and a few arguing amongst themselves. The influx
was a bit surprising, but she had learned over the years to filter it
out to where it became a buzz in the background.

She had never spoken to the voices she heard; she knew her
grandparents already fretted that she was too involved in imaginary
things and speaking to someone who they couldn't see would have only
made them worry more. Maybe now was her chance. The caravan was
leaving in the morning after what her grandfather hoped would be a
brisk day of trade.

Opening her eyes again, she skipped over to where she saw a dragon
lounging in the sun. Without fear, she approached. **Hello there.**

}:Hello:{ the big bass voice of Aughashyth spoke back into her mind.
He was quite used to Briata's mind voice but this was a different one
he'd never met before yet he thought he'd heard her voice on the wind.
}:Have you come to visit the Weyr:{

**Yes. I'm with my grandfather.** Lanniya tilted her head back and
eyed him. **You're bigger than I thought you'd be. Which one are
you?**

}:I am Aughashyth:{ The bronze lowered his immense head to look more
closely. }:Mine is Healer;[

She gave a little frown as he gave his name, her mind working before
she brightened. **Oh! I remember your voice now and the name. I hear
you often. ** As he lowered his head, she felt no trace of
intimidation; she felt as though she already knew this dragon. To put
a image to the name was a pleasure and she told him so. **It's very
nice to finally meet you, Aughashyth.** She lifted a hand towards him,
then stopped. **May I touch you?**

}:Who is this:{ the voice of a curious blue as he rose from the lake.
He got closer and his head tilted as he tapped into his search senses.
}:She could bond with an egg:{ he judged and called his rider. D'arvn
came walking from where he'd been waiting for Falzeth.

Aughashyth brought his face closer to the little one. :}I like my brow
ridges scratched:{ he blinked a slow eyelid. }:it is
Withmygrandfather:{ Aug told Falzeth :}The name is too long for
dragons{: he added sagely.

**What are you doing** D'arvn called.

}:Meeting W'grafatr:{

"What," D'arvn laughed and shook his head. "Hello there," he called to
the girl who had the dragon's attention.

Lanniya suddenly laughed, a light joyful sound. **That's not my name,
silly. My name is Lanniya.** She immediately scratched where the
dragon indicated and looked over at the approaching blue.. **Hello.
Bond?**

The appearance of a man made her turn, but she kept scratching at
Aughashyth's brow ridges. "Hi. Are you Aughashyth's rider?"

"No," he smiled and leaned against "I'm D'arvn and I'm with this guy,"
he said. "He says you could be a dragonrider too by the way." He
reached into his pocket for the tokens he always carried and handed
her one of them. "That's a search token if you're interested."

"You can hear them," another voice queried from the other side. The
big dragonhealer had been summoned by his lifemate by one of Aug's
shielded message. The bronze had learned when working with his how to
speak to him without Briata hearing too.

She took the token, a slight frown on her face. "I..."She bit her lip
and looked at the man who'd introduced himself as D'arvn. "I'm leaving
in the morning."

She finally let up scratching Aughashyth and blinked at the arrival of
another man and her brows rose. She hadn't been expecting to meet very
many people. She gave him a smile and nodded. "Well, yes. For Turns."
She turned back to Falzeth and Aughashyth with an affectionate smile.
"I know I'm safe when I hear them." She paused and then a look of
concern flashed over her face. "Did I do something wrong?"

D'arvn smiled. "That's ok, if you decided to come back, show it to a
dragon rider and he will bring you back."

Y'gel saw how comfortable the girl was the the dragons. "You are
safe." he said softly. "Dragons keep Pern and all it's people safe."
But when she looked at him with concerned eyes he just smiled and
shook his head. "No, Most people can't hear dragons talk," he said.
"Only very special people like you and my weyrmate Briata can hear all
the dragons. I only hear Aug. Would you like to talk to her?"

Lanniya looked down at the token in her hand and then back at the huge
bronze beside her. She glanced at the blue Falzeth and then back down
at the token. She didn't know how her grandfather would react to it.
"I told my grandfather I wouldn't go far." She gestured towards the
Trader caravan already setting up near the cliff face. "Could you
explain this to him?" She gave a rueful smile. "I'm afraid he thinks
I'm a little light-minded."

"Of course," Y'gel said and D'arvn simply nodded and followed along
toward the recently arrived traders.

Lanniya hurried in front of them, her bare feet skipping quickly over
the ground. As they approached the caravan, a man nudged her
grandfather, drawing his attention to the three. His brows snapped
down and he put down his hides, hurrying to meet them. "Good afternoon
gentlemen." He glanced at Lanniya who held up the token. That gesture
stopped him before he could attempt to begin his trader spiel. "What's
this?"

"D'arvn gave it to me." She pointed at the bluerider. "Falzeth thinks
I'm good for an egg."

"Falzeth? Who is..." He went quiet as realization swept over him.
"Lanniya," he spoke slowly. "Go help your grandmother while I speak to
these men."

"Oh but..." He cut her off with a simple hand gesture and she sighed.
"Yes, sir..."

He waited until she had slipped into a wagon before turning to the two
riders. "What is the meaning of this?"

"It seems your granddaughter is able to hear dragons." Y'gel said mildly.

Yendon blinked slowly and he sighed. "Is that what she said? I'm
sorry, but my granddaughter is a bit..well... she often says the
oddest things. I'm sorry she troubled you."

"No trust me sir," Y'gel smiled. "She did talk to Aughashyth and not
with her voice. With her mind." He looked at D'arvn for confirmation.

"And Falzeth," he said. "He's a searcher and said she'd make a good
candidate. That's why I gave her that token."

"I hope you understand how rare she is." Y'gel paused a moment to
weigh his words. "Riders can hear their own lifemates from the moment
they hatch." He didn't want to bring up his own weyrmate and her
decision _not_ to Stand as that might plant an idea in the man's mind.
"But I cannot hear Falzeth and D'arvn here," he swept a hand toward
the bluerider, "can't hear my bronze Aughashyth. Think of the Harper
chronicles of Torene and Lessa. They are legend."

The man paled considerably as he looked back down at the token. He
realized in that blinding shock that all of the times he had seen her
smile and mumble to herself about her friends during Threadfall...she
had been...He slowly lifted his head, his face pained. "Our Lanniya is
our only grandchild. Our only family left. She's no Torene or Lessa.
She's a soft, gentle, dreamy child. She's no rider."

The two dragon riders were well aware how different the culture was
outside the Weyr. So, Y'gel chose his words carefully as the
bronzerider that he was. "And will you allow her to choose what she
wishes to do?" The life of a trader wasn't always an easy one and this
man was getting up in Turns. Perhaps he and his small band would like
to stay in the comfort of the Weyr.

"I..." Yendon fingered the token and looked over his shoulder towards
the wagon. His granddaughter had had so much loss in her life and the
smile on her face when she handed him the token left enough evidence
that she was excited about it. Yendon swallowed and slowly nodded. "I
want her happiness." He looked back at the men, distressed but equally
resigned. "What will happen to her if she wants to stay?"

"If she wants to be a dragonrider then she would come under the
protection of the Headwoman and live with the other female candidates.
She would have classes and instruction with the Weyrllingmaster. Then

there would be chores according to her skills. One day, she may
Impress a dragon of her own." Y'gel said. "If you stayed at the Weyr
also, she could live with you here until she Impresses."

At that, Yendon appeared startled. "We could stay with her?" That
would mean they wouldn't lose their grandchild to the Weyr completely,
but would mean the loss of their trade caravan. He had a man to pass
it to, but... "Let my wife and I discuss that." He spoke softly. "We
will let you know in the morning." He looked at Y'gel and nodded
slowly in thanks. "Thank you."

Y'gel nodded. "I'm Y'gel, ask anyone and I'll come find you." He knew
his Master's knots were visible to the Trader and they would be able
to find him when they needed, He gave D'arvn a significant look and
they both turned walking back toward where Aug and Falzeth waited. A
candidate that could hear all dragons? **Whatever it takes to keep
them here.**

Last updated on the July 1st 2014

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Barefoot Potential