Disclaimer- I don't own Pern, blahblahblah, you should all know the drill. I only own this plot and the original people and places. There ya go.
Author's Note - whoosh Please comment! I take flames as well as praise, it's the readers that inspire me to write more. lol. I'll reply to a few comments at the beginning of every chapter after this. Read and enjoy!
Chapter One - Secret Plans
It was while everyone else was still in the Dining Cavern when sixteen Turn old Jaikel snuck out one of the back doors of the kitchens. Gray eyes seemed to darken as they adjusted to the little light available. Turning a corner, he crouched behind a group of sacks filled with fruit as another drudge ran by. Yes, Jaikel himself was a drudge, but he shouldn't have been. He ran a hand through messy blond hair as yet another person passed by.
His mother had been a drudge at Katno Hold, that was true. But rumor had it that his father was a brownrider at the nearby Skyfire Weyr. Now, Jaikel's mother was dead, killed when an angry man had broken her neck. This had left Jaikel an orphan for the past six sevendays. Thankfully, he had always been good at sneaking around and turning 'invisible'.
Right now, everyone else was probably listening to the Hold's Harper as he began the entertainment for the night. Entertainment that wouldn't exist, had it not been for the Searchriders that had come that afternoon. Apparently they had decided to stay the night, just in case any returning folks should be Searched.
Jaikel had been in the kitchens when the shouts had started. Two dragonriders had come. It wasn't unusual for them to visit, but this time it was on Search. Naturally, Jaikel had wanted the chance to see the dragons, and perhaps dare to see if he was worthy of standing as a candidate. Unfortunately for him, he was still considered a drudge, so he had been kept inside with the others. In retaliation, his keen mind had come up with a plan: sneak out later that evening to see the dragons himself.
It got better. The riders had brought a clutch of firelizard eggs. Jaikel wasn't going to let that pass him up. He'd seen several flitters over the past Turns as they became more popular among the Lady and Lord Holders, and he wanted one; his own miniature dragon. Better yet, they were due to Hatch the next day. Perfect.
As the second unidentified person faded away from view, Jaikel once more started back down the hallway. He'd been able to see where the firelizard eggs were being kept. One good thing about being a drudge, he had just walked in claiming to have been told to start the fire burning to keep them warm. Of course, the real drudge that had been told to do so probably had gotten yelled at for lying. Smiling slightly, Jaikel ran down the rest of the hall, stopping in front of the last door. Opening it a crack, he peered inside to see if anyone else was there. All clear. Nerves on end and reflexes ready to react to the slightest sound, he walked in, shutting the door behind him.
It was a small room, the only furnishings being a few chairs that sat in a corner near the burning fire. Normally it was probably just a meeting place for those that didn't want to be eavesdropped on. And there they were! Jaikel rushed over to the hearth, where at least eighteen small eggs were laid out and surrounded by sand to supply extra warmth. Each egg seemed to be different in shade and size. Fingering the small pouch that hung at his belt, Jaikel looked over each one.
One caught his eye almost right away. It was in fact one of the largest one's, almost a dark tan in color.
Noise from outside. He paused, listening to anything that came from outside the door. There it was again, more than one voice, getting closer with each passing moment.
"Shards." He whispered. Reflexes reacting, he gently tucked the chosen egg into the pouch and pushed the sand in also as an afterthought. Looking around the room, he ran into the far corner. The fire was the only light in the room, no glows for some reason, thank Faranth. Hopefully the lack of light would save him.
The door opened to reveal a man he had never seen before and a fellow drudge. Jaikel narrowed his eyes, trying to decide how obvious the one missing egg was. It had been near the end...would his luck hold out?
"They look okay." The man said simply, his deep voice carrying across the room. "I don't want anyone in here after us, you hear?" He added, turning eyes on the drudge beside him. The drudge nodded, looking around the room with nervous eyes. Turning, the man strode out the room, the drudge following at his heels.
Jaikel stepped out of the shadows, thinking. Was that one of the riders? Must have been, for he knew everyone at the Hold by sight if not by name. Feeling the pouch, he noticed that he could fit another egg in, one of the smaller ones.
Well, the man did say that no one else would get in until they Hatched. A smirk forming on his lips, Jaikel once more glanced over the assorted eggs. There, one of the smallest this time, cream-colored shell.
A minute later he was out in the hall, practically running, though he made sure that the eggs didn't run into each other.
He slowed his pace as he neared the Dining Cavern, listening to the Harper as he sang The March of The Wings, Jaikel's favorite. Stopping outside the door, he smiled to himself; how appropriate.
"Jaikel, what are you doing?" A commanding, high-pitched voice suddenly said from behind him.
Putting on a stature of confusion, he turned, running a hand through his hair. "Sorry?"
Great, it was the Headwoman's assistant, Siara. She stood before him; hands on hips and blue eyes glaring.
"Don't just stand there; I want you to change the glows. Since you aren't in there with the rest of 'em." She snapped.
"Yes, ma'am, right away." Jaikel nodded, and then proceeded to shuffle down the opposite way as fast as he could.
He didn't stop until he turned a corner, then he let out a sighed. Lucky for him, Siara was never good at catching details, such as the small, full pouch at his waist. Not to mention that she always had favored him over the other drudges, probably due to his true heritage.
As for changing the glows, that would be done later. Who cared if he got in trouble? Taking a deep breath and making sure that the pouch was still warm, Jaikel headed to one place he wouldn't be bothered at, one of the old empty spare bedrooms.
It ended up being pitch black inside, a good sign that no one had used it in a while. Taking a chance, Jaikel started up a very small fire in the hearth. The wood was old, and it took a while, but soon he had enough heat to keep the eggs warm.
Sitting against the wall an hour later, Jaikel started to wonder what time it was. No one would notice if he disappeared for the night, he did it often enough anyways. A grin formed on his lips. He had taken quite the chance by taking two eggs, not to mention one of the largest ones there.
Bending over, he laid a finger on each egg, feeling how hard it was. Excitement shot through him, they were rock-hard, a good sign that they'd Hatch very soon. He had borrowed enough hides on dragons and firelizards to know that. His mother had taught him how to read when he was around ten. He might not be the best, but he caught the main ideas.
He sighed, remembering his goal to see the dragons, but with the eggs so close to Hatching he would have to wait until morning. Hopefully the riders wouldn't leave right away.
Another thought crept from the back of his mind. Meat. Jumping up, he ran out the door. How could he have forgotten? He couldn't not have anything for the little flitters to eat when they Hatched! How shallow of him to have almost forgotten!
Returning an hour later, he was relieved to find the eggs undisturbed. Siara had found him sneaking around again, and had made him set up two guest-rooms for the riders by himself. However, he had managed to fill a small bowl with raw scraps from the kitchen on his way back.
The drudge sat on the floor once more, eyes trying to stay open. He'd been so active that night that he had forgotten how tired he really was. He sat for another hour, thoughts of flits and dragons darting through his head, before he fell asleep.