I bounded down the outer hold stairs from the drum tower. Turgen followed close behind. The whole hold was rushing out to see the dragons who had just arrived over Benden Hold.
We made it down the steps and ran through the crowd now gathered outside Benden Hold's main doors. We looked for and eventually spotted Master Zeplin, Benden's Harper. Turgen's head was taller than most in the crowd, though he and I were only sixteen turns old. As we joined master Zeplin I got only a glimpse of the Lord Holder speaking with the dragonriders.
The Lord Holder turned and beckoned Zeplin to send his students forward. All twenty-two young men and women eligible for Search lined themselves up in front of the three green dragons and one blue. With my gift of hearing dragons, I could hear their conversation. The first green started at the other end of the line from Turgen and I.
This boy is obnoxious! I can feel it.
Not suitable for the Weyr, the second green replied to the first's comment.
This girl is quite strong willed, but she thinks a lot. Her thoughts are loud, the third moved on.
She will do, then, the first replied.
The greens went through all the other candidates this way, choosing only seven out of the many available. The second green came to Turgen and very strongly remarked on his attitude.
He is strong. He stands beside one who is broken, I gather from his thoughts.
He would have led a great group, his father being the Lord Holder, yet they shun him for his love for the broken one, the third green added. He will do very well. And the broken one?
Hold on, did they just say Turgen loved me and refer to me as the 'Broken One'?
Ah, she hears us! She is the one who stands next to him, the first green said.
About time you noticed.
What has left you broken, young one?
I was shocked that they would speak to me, but instead I replied to them with my mind, I was born unable to speak. Everyone else shuns me because I stare at them and seem dumb when they speak and I can't reply.
She needs the Weyr, the third said, she knows how to nurture and to lead, though she cannot. She has a gift. She can become great as a weyrwoman.
The green said something private to her rider, and he motioned me forward. Now nine Candidates lined up in front of the dragons, the ones chosen out of Benden for Benden Weyr's latest clutch.
Alright, that was a bit fast. It'll be longer next time. Please R&R.