Post by stolenhart on Jan 19, 2009 19:29:42 GMT -6
Banishment of Kari
I wasn't Searched out, girls are never Searched when there is no gold egg on the Sands. But I was sitting in the Stands to watch my brother Impress. Deliro, my husband, was sitting next to me holding our son Casino. They looked so handsome in their Gather best. I was lucky to have such a husband, he was a Journeyman Beastmaster here at the Weyr while I was just some kitchenworker. Still I knew he loved me from the first
Four eggs cracked all at once and all eyes went to the four glistening, angry and hungry hatchlings that emerged. They were scraggly creatures, all of them, thin, fragile looking, ugly. The two greens, blue and brown eyed each other then as one turned away. They would not fight yet. Three hatchlings charged for the largest group of boys, while the fourth, a more delicate green, came straight to the Stands. She keened at the edge, causing a murmur of surprise to go through the crowd. Which lucky boy had she chosen?
She was gorgeous. A dark forest green like the trees in spring seen from the shady side looking up. Her eyes were vibrant whirling colors of hunger and love. I met them and found more peace and love then even Deliro had given me. "Her name is Isnoth", I crowed.
Instantly the Grounds were silent, Hatching eggs going unnoticed in the wake of the green Impressed female. A young wingleader was sent for, coming through the crowds for the unacceptable Weyrlings. The people were glad it would be taken care of. Though they hated to lose the dragon, it was best, better to kill the beast then have it be Impressed by a worthless female.
I glanced at my husband, hoping for pride and saw hatred. He handed our son, my baby, off to a stranger and helped a stranger pull me to my feet and down to the Sands. "You are not my wife", he told me, letting the Isnoth and the stranger have my life. "Come, we will get you settled", the man said, leading past the group of weyrlings to the beach. Isnoth, nearly starving to death, followed me onto a ship that was hastily being loaded with herdbeasts. "Feed her, keep her calm", the man said, then left us, returning to the Weyr. I am scared, my dragon said softly, crooning to me now that she had eaten. I was scared to.
The girl and her newly Hatched dragon lived on ship for sevendays, braving fierce storms and the hatred filled stares of the sailors. Mutterings of evil, for women on ships were said to bring bad-luck, they wanted to chunk the woman overboard. Yet the fast growing green kept her rider safe. After what seemed like forever, they came upon a small island. The herdbeasts were dropped off and the girl lead ashore. "This is your new home, for however long it will last", she was told. The sailors, and Weyr's hope, the dragon would starve and take the girl between, thus relieving the Weyr of it's guilt.
We have been on this island two sevendays with one beast left. Poor Isnoth is so skinny, we have been stretching her beasts out but the poor creature is starving. I myself am in no better shape. I miss my son, my husband, my family and life and yet I do not hate Isnoth. It's not her fault. At least we will die together
The next day a passing ship sees the pair and comes to investigate. "One of dem Southern girls", a sailor says, pushing a fat beast off the ship. "Kill it for yon dragonet then load 'er onboard", he tells the young woman who does just that. "We'll take you to ol'Ista and sumone 'rom Nort' will be 'ere to get cha", he explained as the dragon ate then curled up on board. "I'm Kari", the girl introduces herself as she falls asleep beside her dragon.
Two days after we are rescued we find ourselves at Ista Hold. Though not liked we are well taken care of and this morning a green dragon, with a female rider appeared. She says she is to stay until Isnoth is old enough to between safely, then we will go to Northern Weyr. To think, we have found acceptance by our hated enemies. The thoughts of my son still linger but he is lost to me now. I feel gratitude towards these Northern riders who accept me because of Isnoth. Where have the Southern riders gone wrong?
