You walk down the candidate halls until you reach the door marked ALMARA. It's right where Celeste said it would be. You shift the platter you are carrying to your left hand and knock on the door with your right. You hear a screech and a thump. You then hear a moan and another screech. You drop the tray of food and open the door, worried that something might have happened to Almara. You are greeted with an odd sight. A gold firelizard is flying around the small room, knocking things over while a girl who looks to be about 18 is lying on the floor, tangled in the sheets off her bed.
"Tali, for everyone's sake, calm down." The girl mutters from the floor. The golden firelizard perches on the desk and glares at you. The girl gets up, rubbing her head.
"Hello," she smiles. She is wearing nothing but a thin nightgown. Her long brown hair is tied in knots and her face is dirty. You look confused.
"Well..." You start. "Healer Celeste sent me up here with food, because you didn't come down for breakfast." You point to the discarded tray, the spilt food, and the broken dishes and feel rather stupid.
The girl smiles, realizing your embarrased. She sweeps her hand across her room in a gesture that points out the mess made by the firelizard, and her attire. "I think I have a better reason to feel stupid. Greeting someone with nothing but a shift on." She pulls a housecoat on. "Tell Celeste I said thanks. I'll clean up the mess and bring the tray down." You start to protest, not wanting her to take the blame for you. Almara winks. "We'll tell her Taliana knocked it over."
You look around the room. "Who's Taliana? I've never met her, but I don't think..."
Almara cuts you off again. "Taliana." She calls the firelizard over. Taliana sits on Amara's forearm, looking intently at you. "Meet Taliana. Say hi, Tali." The golden firelizard extends a claw to be shaken. You shake it, enchanted.
"How did you teach her to do that?"
"It became necessary." Seeing your blank look, Almara elaborates. "Tali has a knack of how shall we call it? Breaking things. She once got into Celeste's chambers and knocked all of the medications, ointments and salves off the shelves. I thought Celeste was going to blow up, literally." You both smile at the thought of the middle-aged healer's face turning a bright red. "Anyways, I taught Tali to do that so she could apologize. It enchants everyone." She rubs the gold's head. "No one can stay mad at her for long."
"I guess not." You agree. You know you should go back to the kitchen's, Media's probably got more tasks for you to do, but your curiosity takes priority. "Are you really a candidate?"
Almara laughs. "Of course. You intrested?"
"A little." You admit. "Where?"
"Cincanta Weyr" Almara answers bluntly. "Anything else you want to know candidate in the making." Almara smiles at her own pun.
"How were you Searched?"
"Where are you from?"