Author's Note - Gah! I took forever to update again! And there's a lot ofdialogue this time around.Do not fear! My mid-winter break is this week, which means a four-day weekend, which means time for me to write. Merci beausoup to all you reviewers! Thanks to those who are just reading too, but I like reviews more. Winkwink.

Guess what? - I want your opinions as to who Impresses what color. I've given you five candidates, and I want your opinions! Either tell me in a review or e-mail me. I have an idea for a sequel, so this is important. mwahahaha.

Chapter Four - Useful Information

As Jaikel pushed the door open, he had a feeling that he was just getting into a new lifestyle. Here he was at an actual Weyr, with two people that he barely knew. Well, this day had proven quite interesting. Shards, he didn't even know what time of day it was.

The door swung to the side, and the ex-drudge heard Marlya take a breath beside him. The Candidate Barracks were simply in design. Two rows of simple yet comfortable cots lined opposite walls, while at the end of the large room two corners turned into what was probably the bathing rooms. Next to each cot was a small chest, and above the head was a long shelf for small personal belongings. Glows illuminated the area well enough, and the room was actually warm.

As Marlya pushed passed Jaikel, a single girl looked up from her cot, hazel eyes lighting up at the sight of the three newcomers. She had been petting a small black canine, which started to whine at the loss of touch.

"Hello." Marlya said, voice holding an authority of sorts as she found a cot a ways down the row for the females.

"Good day." The other girl replied, getting up and smiling. "More new candidates, I take it? Who brought you guys in? Are you all from one Hold?"

Jaikel was startled by the sudden onslaught of questions, so he busied himself with looking down the row reserved for the males. His gray eyes finally landed on one almost smack in the middle, and he quickly strode over and deposited his carry-sac on the edge.

"Er, yes, we're all candidates." Kaiser replied to the girl after a moment. Marlya had decided to ignore all that was going on around her. The Lord Holder's daughter was busy unpacking already. Kaj was sitting on the ledge above her chosen cot, glaring around the room. Jaikel guessed that the brown wouldn't like the idea of sharing a room. He wondered how Marlya herself would take it.

"Well, obviously you're all candidates!" The girl said loudly with a giggle. "Otherwise you wouldn't be in here! So, who brought you? Common, I know almost all of the Searchriders here.

There was an uneasy pause, and for a moment all that was heard was the small canine's whining. The girl silenced her companion with a gentle touch on the head.

"Brownrider R'dim and greenrider Anna." Jaikel finally replied, sitting on the cot he'd picked out. Kira and Zailos had relaxed now that they were inside, so he moved them to the soft blanket on the cot. Kaiser looked a bit dismayed that the ones on both sides of him were already taken, so the younger lad moved to the end of the row.

"My sister! That's so neat. She and R'dim are really turning out to be a good team. Bringing in three candidates at once if quite an accomplishment as of late!" The girl shouted, eyes alighting again. She ran a hand through her black hair, and Jaikel noticed that she did look a lot like Anna. Her skin was the same fair shade, and her hair was even cut at the same length.

"Yes, it has been an interesting day." Kaiser replied. Jaikel could tell that he was still nervous with the whole situation.

"I bet. I've lived here all my life, but I can imagine being Searched would be wonderful!"

"Wonderful." Marlya mumbled.

"Oh I'm sorry! I didn't even introduce myself!" The girl practically yelled. Kaiser looked terrified as she jumped off her cot and offered a hand to Jaikel. "I'm Ariala, and Anna's my sister. The canine on my cot is Sasha, she's a runt but Anna gave her to me two seven days ago."

"Jaikel." He replied shortly, shaking her hand for a brief moment.

"Nice to meet you. What's the name of your two firelizards? A queen's rare for a candidate! You must really be lucky. They look young too."

"Her name's Kira, the blue's Zailos. They sort of just Hatched yesterday."

"Wow, that's really lucky! I'm sixteen Turns old and I've never even had the chance to Impress a firelizard. The Weyr barely gets any clutched, and even then it's not like us candidates get the chance to Impress one." As she finished, a shadow passed over Ariala's eyes, but was gone an instant later.

As Ariala moved on to say hello to Kaiser and Marlya, Jaikel took a moment to unpack his things. The one sac he had brought wasn't even full. Two sets of clothing, his old sandals, and a small drawing of a dragon that he'd found several Turns before. He smiled as he looked at the picture for a moment. In the near future he was going to get a chance to Impress.

From across the room, Kaj let out a hiss as the door to the barracks opened once again. It was not Anna, as Jaikel had thought. A tall young man stood in the doorway, light green eyes calm as he surveyed the room's four occupants. His hair was certainly noticeable, as it was the most noticeable shade of red Jaikel had ever seen on a human.

"Faraj!" Ariala exclaimed, rushing up to the male. "My sister's brought three more candidates." The girl proceeded to point to the newest arrivals; "That's Jaikel, and Kaiser, and the girl's Marlya. Jaikel's even got a gold flit!"

"Nice to meet you guys." Faraj said in greeting, a smile flickering across his solid features. "I hope Ariala hasn't scared you all to death with her babbling. She did it to me when I got here."

"Oh stop!" Ariala retorted, playfully smacking her friend on the shoulder. "That was almost a month ago."

"Well, still." Faraj replied, walking over to sit on the cot next to Jaikel's. "Three from the same place, eh? The barracks have really filled up over the last few days. Maybe Weyrwoman Riena thinks that the clutch will Hatch soon."

The statement was valuable information the three from Katno Hold. Or, at least to Jaikel, who had not known the Weyrwoman's name. Judging by the interested look in Kaiser's eyes, he had not known either.

"You're the only candidate that's got a firelizard above brown." Faraj continued, green eyes regarding the two flits, which were sleeping once more.

"How many have any." Marlya asked before Jaikel could answer.

"Well, there's one girl that has three greens, and then a lad who's got a brown…but other than that, none. No one's got a feline, and Ariala's the only one with a canine now."

"Ugh, don't remind me of that other one." Ariala said with a sigh. Kaiser looked curious, and he caught the girl's gaze. She shook her head before speaking. "There was a girl that came last month that had two canines, and she was a total brat! She slept with three riders! Three! Riena was so angry, she kicked her out. Candidates aren't allowed to be in…relationships, and we got word that she's pregnant now…" She trailed off.

Jaikel shuddered involuntarily. Marlya and Kaiser remained silent as well. That wasn't something that most people liked to hear about, even though many people did tend to…get around.

At this time, Kaj let out another soft hiss, and everyone save for Faraj looked towards the door. A moment later it opened, to reveal a smiling Anna.

"Well, I can see that you've met my younger sister." The greenrider said with a smile. "You'll have to go down to the evening meal soon, and then you can come back here and finish getting situated. Torlose, that's the Candidate Master, is busy, so you'll have to meet him tomorrow."

"Thanks." Kaiser replied from his cot. Anna gave him a smile before leaving the room again.

"I wanted to ask her when we'll get to touch the eggs." Kaiser complained as the door shut.

There was a pause where Ariala and Faraj glanced at each other, until Faraj shook his head and replied.

"You guys missed that. Two days ago. The Hatching could be any time."

"So we won't be able to see the eggs until Hatching day!" Marlya exclaimed, a rather hurt look on her face. "I wanted to see the queen egg."

Jaikel blinked. There was a queen egg? He hadn't heard that. Then again, it could have been news when he had been hiding away waiting for Kira and Zailos' eggs to Hatch.

"That's not so lucky." Ariala said with a wink to Jaikel. He smiled in return, glancing over his shoulder to see Kasier's reaction. The younger lad looked a little startled, but otherwise unshaken.

"It doesn't really matter anyways." Faraj pointed out. "Touching the eggs has nothing to do with Impressing the day they actually Hatch."

Ariala nodded in agreement. "It's the dragon that chooses, and if you don't Impress, there's always…the next time."

As she spoke, the same shadow as before passed over her features, and Jaikel gave Faraj a questioning look. The other candidate ran a hand through his red hair before leaning close to whisper an answer.

"She stood at the last Hatching and didn't Impress. Her entire family is riders, so she really wants to Impress this time around. The fact that there's a queen egg has only got her more excited."

Jaikel nodded, absently stroking Zailos, as the blue had woken up again. Kira was still fast asleep, though he'd notice her open an eye once or twice earlier. "If we don't Impress, do we go back to our Hold?" He asked. By the look on Kaiser's face, they wanted the same answer.

"Probably not. I mean, plenty of the candidates here have stood once or twice. Ariala told me there was one lad who didn't Impress for four Hatchings, and then a large bronze chose him."

"Good."

"Didn't like your Hold?"

"No, it's fine. But…I was a drudge."

"Really? Well, I'd say forget that for now. Since the Hatching's close, think positive."

Jaikel nodded, attempting to smile. Katno had treated him well enough, but he already liked Skyfire Weyr much more. Here he was equal to all of the other candidates, and they all had the same dream. Looking down at his two firelizards, he reminded himself that, if he were to go back to Katno, he wouldn't be treated the same anyways. Lord Taren hadn't seemed to care, but what if Jaikel had to return? A drudge couldn't walk around with two firelizards, but he was too old to start training for a good craft.

He sighed, running a finger down Kira's small neck. The only thing he could do was wait. He had almost no control over what happened now that he was a candidate for the Weyr.

"Hey, are you guys coming to eat or not?" Ariala's voice sounded from the entrance to the barracks. Marlya was standing next to her, Kaj on her shoulder. Kaiser was already waiting out in the hall.

"Guess so." Jaikel replied with a smirk. He glanced at Kira and Zailos, and Faraj caught his gaze.

"Don't worry about them. No one else is here right now because they'll just be finishing chores."

"Then why were you and Ariala here?"

"We got an early start on cleaning the runner stall at the stables." Faraj replied. By the looks of it, the pair did that often. "It's nice to have the barracks all quiet ever once in a while. Wait 'till later, it'll be loud right before Torlose tells us to be quiet."

After another glance at the two firelizards Jaikel decided he could trust Faraj's word. He followed the others out the door and down several halls. Now this would be interesting. For once, he wouldn't be the one serving other at meal-time.