Untitled, By Jenelin and Katielyn
She looked around in awe. Corus was such a beautiful city. She couldn't believe that this city would be her home while she underwent rider training. She reached the castle, and a guard came forward.
"Please state your name and your business," he demanded.
"My name is Saphyne of Emerald Isle, and I am here to begin my rider training."
"Very well," the guard said, as a hostler came forward to take her horse. "Go down to the rider barracks, near the stables. The rider horse-mistress is expecting you."
"Thank you," Saphyne said as she made her way to the stables. As she walked, she saw a guy who looked at her with deep amber eyes.
"You must be Saphyne," a voice boomed behind her. Saphyne looked up, startled. Onua, the rider horsemistress smiled at her. "Don't worry, it's just a guy, you'll get used to them around here." She said with a laugh.
Saphyne tried to make an excuse, but Onua just laughed and said "Let me show you where you will be sleeping and give you a tour."
Onua led Saphyne to the barracks, which were marked with a bright red door and they stored her gear under her new bed. They then went to the supply room. Saphyne was given a few pairs of breeches in colors varying from tan to brown to blue to black. She was then given a number of shirts, in white, a deep blue that looked great with her long brown locks, a green that brought out the color of one of her eyes, orange, pink, and purple. As Onua and Saphyne were leaving, they ran into a K'miri woman.
"Saphyne, this is Buriram Tourakom, Buri, the commander of the riders, and Buri, this is Saphyne, a new rider recruit." As Onua finished saying this, a loud bell sounded. The women headed into the dining room by the barracks, chatting. Saphyne learned that in 2 days they would be choosing they're mounts. Saphyne would have to meet with Buri later to learn some of the things that the riders who had already arrived had learned. In addition, Saphyne needed to find someone (another rider) to show her around. All of this was very overwhelming to Saphyne, and she brought her food to an empty table and sat down. A dark shadow fell across the table and Saphyne looked up.
"Is anyone sitting here?" the guy she had seen earlier asked.
"No," she replied, regaining her composure quickly as he sat down across from her.
"My name is Aidan," he said. Saphyne couldn't stop staring. Aidan was the handsomest guy she had ever seen. He was tall, with dark, raven-colored hair, and his amber eyes made her melt.
"Hi I'm Saphyne, I'm new here."
"I noticed," he said, and Saphyne could feel his eyes looking into hers, "It looks like you need a friend. Let me show you around." Aidan smiled.
"Thanks, that'd be great, I really don't know anyone around here. Why are there so many people? I didn't think there were usually this many new recruits." Saphyne asked.
"Oh, well that's because it's so easy to join. You need to be older than 15, healthy, single, without a spouse or kids, have good reflexes, be able to read and write and be here by now. The hard part is getting people to stay." Aidan replied.
A loud bell rang, and Aidan brought Saphyne into a room that was filling with other riders. Buri came over to them. "Hey Saphyne, right now are magic lessons. You need to meet with Alanna and Jon do they can test you" she said as she steered Saphyne over to a mat on the floor next to a man and a woman.
"What interesting eyes you have Saphyne," said the woman whose own eyes were purple. "One is green and one is blue. Do you know if you have the gift?"
"I don't have the gift. I have sea magic" Saphyne said, looking away.
"I'm afraid I don't know what sea magic is," said the man. "I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself. I am King Jonathon of Conte, please call me Jon, and this is Sir Alanna of Trebond, Olua, and Pirate's swoop-"
"-Call me Alanna"
"-Could you please tell us everything you know about your sea magic?" Jon finished.
"Well I guess I'd better start from the beginning." Saphyne said with a sigh. "My mother is a sea nymph. She met my father, a knight, at Emerald Isle, our home. They fell in love, got married and had me, but they couldn't live together because she needs water and he needs air. I lived with my mother in the water when I was young, but she had to swim south to warmer water, and so I went to live on land with my father, Sir Dorian. He was away a lot, but I learned archery and swordsmanship. I also learned the art of Shang hand-to-hand combat, and I've been told I'm very good. I inherited my mother's beautiful singing voice, and because I am part sea nymph, I have sea magic. I can breathe underwater, turn things into water, and I can talk in the languages of all sea animals. I guess that's about it."
Alanna and Jon stared at Saphyne in awe. "That's some power. I think you should have lessons from Master Numair, starting tomorrow," Alanna said.
Aidan walked Saphyne back to the barracks. "You must think I'm a weird psycho." Saphyne said, sadly.
"Actually, I don't think you are weird at all." Aidan said. "Many people have different magic here. I have Fire magic, and I like to think that I'm not weird."
"Fire magic? What's that?" Saphyne asked.
"Well basically, I can create fire, throw fire, and see things in fire. Oh, and my eyes change color." Aidan replied.
Saphyne looked at him. He had a nice smile.
"So when you say you can see things in fire, do you, like, read it?" She asked.
"No, not really. It's just like a picture that gives me clues to something. Kind of random I know, but it helps sometimes. " He looked ahead. "Here we are. The stables. Best places in the area. There's a way 'round back to get in so the grooms don't see you. I'll show you later." They walked in a bit of awkward silence until they were inside. Aidan showed Saphyne around, warning her who to avoid, and where to go.
"We'll be choosing our mounts in 2 days, right?" She asked.
"Yea, I heard they just got here today with Diane. She made the trip by herself this year." He took an apple out of his pocket and began to cut it.
"Who?" Saphyne asked, sitting on a bench inside an empty stall.
"Oh yeah, sorry." He apologized. "Diane, she works with Onua every year to bring the ponies here. I've only met her once. She has wild magic, not my type of girl, not that I'm picky." He offered her a slice of apple, which she took and ate.
"So where's this Numair guy? Apparently I'm supposed to have lessons with him."
"He's around. He tries to avoid us trainees, kinda quiet. Tall guy though, can't miss 'em. We can go see him later, about your lessons. I took a few once, don't think he liked me very much." He smiled.
Saphyne rolled her eyes "You have apple in your teeth."
Just then, a guy ran up to them. He had sandy blond hair and gray eyes. He was shorter than Aidan but taller than Saphyne.
"Aidan, c'mere, you have to come help with the mounts, they're short a few people this year and Diane went to wash up. Who's this?" He looked at Saphyne.
"Oh sorry, Coren. This is Saphyne, another weirdo like me," He smiled. "Saphyne, Coren. Close friend and liar extraordinaire."
Coren bowed, "But please don't think less of me for it," He said grinning. "Hey, we gotta get going, see you at dinner." He ran out, not bothering to wait for Aidan.
"Yeah, I'll see you late, you'll be okay?"
"Sure no problem." He ran out after Coren. Saphyne walked around, inspecting the tack, petting the cats. She heard some one behind her, quieter than most, but noticeable.
"Hello?" A voice said.
"Hi, I'm sorry if I'm not supposed to be here, I'm new. My name's Saphyne." As a second thought, she stuck out her hand. The girl took it.
"I'm Daine. Um, I hope you don't take offense, but what's your magic? Your fire around you, it's different." The girl pulled out a string from her pocket and tied back her wet hair.
"Oh yes, I have sea magic. Long story," she said, fingering her almost-black curls. "But I don't know everything about it yet."
Just then, a shrill whistle made Saphyne jump. Daine gave an exasperated sigh. "Over here!" she called, turning her head. A small dragon with green scales and intelligent eyes trotted out of the shadows. "Saphyne, this is Skysong, or Kitten as we like to call her." She picked up the dragon and set her on her hip like a toddler.
"You have a pet dragon!?" Saphyne exclaimed, eyes wide.
"Not a pet, she stays because she wants to. I look after her, her ma died when she was a baby."
The dragon jumped down and whistled. Saphyne's charm that she wore pulled itself out of her collar. The dragon was looking at it intently, the way a small child looks at a toy.
"It was from my mum. She gave it to me so she could always find me. It does more, but I don't know what. Alanna tell me I'm to have special lessons to help." She put the charm back inside her shirt.
"Yes Alanna told me you are to have lessons with Numair. You'll have different training from the others. Basically the same, but different." She pulled down a saddle, and handing the bridle to Saphyne, sat down to oil it. Saphyne did the same.
"So where are you from? We have time to talk before dinner." Daine set kitten down and gave her some small tack and oil.
"Emerald Isle. My mother is a sea nymph and my father is a knight. I lived with my mum 'til I was around 8. So I have sea magic." She dipped her cloth in more oil.
"Numair will help you. He showed me my magic. Your training will be slightly different. Numair will push you to work. He loves teaching magic." They heard a loud bell. Daine stood up. "We'd better go." She took the bridle from Saphyne and called to Kitten.
"I'll leave you with Thayet. She's usually around here just before dinner. She'll want to talk to hear more about your magic."
"Thanks Daine. I'll see you at dinner!" Daine gave her directions to Thayet, and then ran off, kitten following.
Saphyne was talking to Thayet, whom to her surprise, was very easy to talk to. She told her the same things she had told Daine, Alanna, and Jon.
"So, I see you've met Aidan." Thayet said smiling. Saphyne blushed. Thayet laughed. "He's a good person for a friend. Popular with the girls, but loyal. I'm glad you are meeting people and making friends." By now, they had reached the dining hall.
"Saphyne, I want you to meet me here after dinner. I want you to meet Numair." She smiled and shooed Saphyne into the hall.
Saphyne got her food and searched the room, looking for a familiar face. She saw Aidan and Coren at a table with a few other trainees. She took a deep breath and walked over.
"Saphyne hi!" Aidan said. "Move over guys make room." He shuffled over and Saphyne sat down. "Guys this is Saphyne, she's new, obviously. Saphyne, this is Nicci, Narissa, Coren you've met,. Renna, Damien, Randilyn, Alexevadra and Alianora, they're twins."
"Yes I can see that." Said Saphyne smiling.