Jonavor awoke to the sound of voices.
He felt, he realised, more rested than he'd been in a long time. Living as he'd been doing, effectively holdless, he'd learned to sleep lightly, waking at the least disturbance. It was the only way to stay safe.
But here, A'ran had told him, he was safe, that no one would hurt him. And even though he didn't know the man yet, he trusted him. In one short day the rider had shown him more kindness than anyone had in a long time, and asked nothing in return. That had to mean something.
He opened his eyes to the pale light of glows. How long had he been asleep? Slowly he rolled over to face the rest of the room, letting the cover slip off his body. The boys who'd been there before had been joined by others bringing their numbers to a round dozen or so. Some were lounging on their beds, others engaged in various tasks, yet others changing out of dirty working clothes. One or two looked at him, but no one spoke.
Jonavor sat up and swung his feet off the bed, leaning forward with his head bowed as a wave of dizziness hit him. He didn't see the man who came out of the bathing room until a pair of naked feet appeared within sight of his downcast eyes.
"So who are you?" drawled a lazy voice.
Cautiously Jonavor lifted his head and looked up at the man. Older than him by a few years, though maybe not so tall, he was stocky and dark haired. And he wore nothing but a towel round his waist. The boy swallowed nervously.
"I'm Jonavor. Who are you?"
The man reached out and cupped Jonavor's chin with one hand, tilting his head back.
"I'm Janyn. I'm in charge here. You do what I tell you."
He leant forward to press a kiss on the boy's lips, and found himself flying backwards to land on the bed behind him.
"I did not say you could touch me in that way," Jonavor snapped, standing staring down at the man.
"Why you arrogant little..."
"What's going on here?"
A'ran stood in the doorway with Madirra behind him.
Jonavor looked to the two riders, shaking. Whether in anger or fear A'ran couldn't tell.
"You said nobody would touch me like that again 'less I said so," he whispered, sounding close to tears.
"So I did. And I meant it. What happened?"
"He..he..."
Jonavor couldn't go on.
"Teirgan?"
The young man addressed, a slender blonde haired youth, stepped forward.
"Sir, the new boy had just woken up. Janyn came out of the bathing room as you see him and went straight up to him, and started throwing his weight around, right in the boy's face. Then he kissed him, that was all but the boy panicked and shoved him away."
"Thank you."
The blue rider looked around at the other boys.
"A fine welcome you've given after I gave my word that Jonavor would be safe and welcome here. I trust you'll be kinder from now on. Jonavor, get your boots on. It's time for supper."
The boy did as he was bid, grabbing his battered old pack in his arms before following A'ran out. Behind them they could hear Madirra's raised voice as she made her displeasure known.
A'ran said nothing about Jonavor bringing his pack. After the way he'd been treated it was no surprise he wanted to keep all he owned close. He just hoped it didn't mean the boy was thinking about running.
In the dining hall he led Jonavor to the servery and began filling a tray with food for them both. For the boy he chose fairly bland food, avoiding any rich sauces that might upset his stomach again. Adding to that, fruit, bread, milk and klah he found them an empty table in a quiet corner.
Jonavor set his bag on the floor between his feet for safekeeping before examining the food. Warily, after what had happened earlier, he took a piece of bread and nibbled at it. At least that was something he knew he could eat, he'd survived on just that for long enough. His first bite however revealed that this was nothing like the stale leftovers he'd become accustomed to. He held the fragment in his mouth savouring the taste and texture before at last swallowing it.
"Good, eh, lad? Bet you've not tasted its like in a while.?"
Jonavor shook his head.
"Not for longer'n I can remember. Most times I was lucky if I had even stale bread. Can't remember a time I wasn't hungry."
"What did you eat then?"
Teirgan set down his tray and occupied the seat beside Jonavor.
"Anything I could find, stuff other people had thrown away. Fish trimmings, over ripe fruit, rotten vegetables. I couldn't afford to be picky if I wanted to eat."
"Well, it's all good food here, and as much as you need. So I'd eat that up if I were you."
"Did you want something, Teirgan, beside discussing Jonavor's past eating habits?"
The candidate looked up at A'ran, a forkful of food halfway to his mouth.
"Yeah. Madirra has removed Janyn from his position as leader of the candidates. Needless to say he's not happy about it."
"And who replaces him?"
"As next oldest, I do."
"Then you had both better stay alert. That boy has a vicious streak to him and he won't be above seeking revenge. I can't help thinking it'll be a good thing when he ages out and the weyr can be rid of him."
"And I thought I'd come here to get away from all that," Jonavor commented round a mouthful of food.
"People are people, lad, wherever you go. Being chosen by a dragon doesn't always make a man better than he was."
"Nor does being left standing on the sands," Teirgan added.
"Janyn's had near ten turns of being rejected. It can make a man bitter."
"You've been waiting almost as long. I don't see you behaving like that."
"I was searched. If a dragon thought I was good enough then, I believe my own will hatch one day. Janyn's a weyrbrat, he stands because it's expected of him. So what's your sorry tale, Jonavor?"
For a moment the boy was silent.
"I'm a fisherman's son but I get seasick, so he disowned me, said I'd better find employment better suited to my sensitive con... consti..."
"Constitution?" A'ran suggested.
"Yeah, that's the word. Didn't know he knew such long words. Anyhow he barely spoke to me after that. And when my so-called friends found out I like boys and started telling lies about me that was all the excuse he needed to throw me out of our lodgings. Kalisa, our landlady, watched out for me for a while, but it weren't fair to make her choose sides and he was the one paying her rent. So I took what were mine and left."
"And what did you plan on doing when thread starts falling again?"
"I never thought that far ahead. I was just glad to be free of him. I was gonna get work and keep myself, find a new home maybe. But it didn't work out because everyone believed the lies and they wouldn't employ me. So I had to... to..."
Jonavor faltered to a halt, unable to go on with his tale. A'ran reached a hand across the table and gently touched his arm.
"Enough, lad, you don't have to tell that. Teirgan, best you don't tell anyone of Jonavor's preference for now. Leave it for him to decide when he's ready for that."
Teirgan nodded, he was quick witted enough to realise what it was that the boy couldn't say. Thoughtfully he turned the conversation to more cheerful topics, regaling Jonavor with tales of the candidates' escapades over the years that he'd been counted among their number.
They sat there long after they'd finished eating, long after Madirra had ordered the other candidates to their beds. Normally, Teirgan said, they'd have been included, but as they were with A'ran they'd been given special exemption. It was dark when they finally headed for the barracks, guided by a single glow over the door as they crossed the bowl.
Teirgan reached for the door handle, then paused and glanced at Jonavor.
"I put your clothes in your chest. Just in case someone felt like playing tricks."
"Thank you," the boy replied.
"Would they? Play tricks, I mean?"
"It happens. Not everyone gets along, just like anywhere else. And now Janyn has a grudge against you, and he behaves like a spoiled brat when he can't get his own way. Just watch out for him."
"What about you?"
"I can handle Janyn. I've learned a few tricks of my own over the turns. Don't worry about me."
He pushed open the door.
"Get to bed now. Madirra'll have us up early for chores."