"You’re both useless!"
Serri jumped at the sound, almost dropping the stack of books she was carrying. She had 7 or 8 large volumes in her arms and the entire stack was at risk of toppling over as she tried to regain her balance. She finally steadied herself and slowly opened the door to the Starcrafter’s study.
"There you are!" Master Jendan stormed over to her and grabbed one of the books out of the middle of her pile. Without missing a beat he flung the book open and resumed his seat at the desk. Unfortunately, he missed Serri’s amusing performance as she desperately tried to defy the laws of gravity and keep the stack balanced. After a brief struggle the books went tumbling to the floor. The Starcrafter looked up and glared at her. "Can’t you do anything right?"
Nabir stifled laughter and moved to help her. Jendan’s two assistants quickly picked up the books, piled them on his desk and escaped before the Starcrafter could blame them for something else.
"I swear," Nabir was still chuckling. "He must be the most difficult man on Pern to work for."
Serri ran her hands through her hair. "If I didn’t need the marks, I’d leave right now."
"Ditto." Nabir opened the door to the small room they were both forced to share. The youth flung himself down on his bed. "Four more turns and I’m outta here."
Serri nodded. Nabir and her had been friends since they were young children. They were both born and raised in Kysim Hold and both were ostracized by their peers for their amazing abilities with math. Jendan had been passing through Kysim and noticed the two budding mathematicians. He’d gone to their parents, explained why he wanted them and Serri and Nabir became apprentice Starcrafters. That been when they both had only 4 or 5 turns. Neither of them remembered much about their parents or home.
When they’d first arrived, they’d been overjoyed. Finally they were being noticed. They were apprenticed. They thought that Jendan would teach them, help them become better than they were. They didn’t realize that they’d really be doing chores, carrying books and serving as the Starcrafter’s calculators.
After they’d gained 16 turns each, their apprenticeship was over and they’d both made plans to leave. They were halfway through the door when they’d run into a problem: They hadn’t a mark between them. They’d done a quick calculation of how much they would need to get themselves some good clothes, some equipment and into a good Starcrafter’s school. Master Jendan approached them with the offer of a job and they’d accepted. Now they both had 17 turns and 4 turns to go before they’d collected the marks.
Serri sighed and flopped onto her own bed. "I don’t know if I can put up with Jendan for another four turns. We’re not only his assistants, we’re his scapegoats. He probably blames up for Thread!"
Nabir laughed. "He has. Remember?"
Serri smiled. "Oh yeah." Some time, about a turn ago, Jendan had messed up on a prediction. He refused to admit that he had made a mistake and had spent the entire Threadfall blaming it on Nabir and Serri. "I remember. He looked like his head was about to explode!" The two friends shared a laugh.
Nabir opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off by a shout from the hall. "Nabir! Serri! Where are you? You’re both useless!!!"
Nabir sighed. "Our master calls." They both stood just as Jendan burst into the room.
The Starcrafter quickly sized up both of his assistants. "Who’s faster? Better on a runner?"
Serri looked blankly at Nabir. Nabir shrugged. "I...we don’t know sir." Serri admitted.
"Then you just volunteered." Master Jendan grabbed her arm and dragged her through the halls to the stables. He put her on a runner and gave her the reins. "Go!" He ordered. "As fast as you can!" He slapped the runner’s rear and it jumped forward.
"Woah!" Serri quickly reined it in. "Wait! Master Jendan!" She backed up. "Where am I going and why?"
Master Jendan gave her a look that told her exactly what he thought of her. He sighed. "Adanuk Weyr. Tell them that Thread’s coming. Think you can handle that?"
Serri grit her teeth to hold back a rude comment. She quickly nodded and spurred her mount on. She forced the runner into a full gallop and kept that pace until she reached the Weyr. Fortunately, the runner was in good shape and managed to run all the way to Adanuk without killing itself. Unfortunately, Serri wasn’t used to riding and by the time she reached the Weyr she was hungry, exhausted, and very sore.
She moaned as someone helped her from the runner’s back. She tried to catch her breath and grabbed the person’s arm. "Weyrwoman." She only managed to get out the one word before choking. Her throat was parched and her lips were cracked and dry from the wind. The stablehand pointed to one of the buildings and Serri ran for it.
She burst through the door, into the Weyrwoman’s .......office? The room was a complete mess, with books and papers and clothes stacked everywhere. Serri was stopped in her tracks by the sight. A friendly-looking woman appeared from somewhere in the mess and raised a brow. "And you are...?"
The question brought Serri back to reality. "Serri." Her voice cracked. "Master Jendan sent me." She winced as she swallowed. "Thread."
The Weyrwoman dropped whatever she’d been holding. "Now?"
Serri could only manage to nod.
"Gah!" The woman jumped to action. "Karina! Hyth!" A golden firelizard appeared and Serri guessed that Hyth was the Weyrwoman’s gold. She seemed to talk to both of them. "Thread! I want the wings ready to fly five minutes ago!" The firelizard cheeped and disappeared. A dragon bugle from outside told Serri that Hyth was doing her job. The Weyrwoman grabbed her helmet and flamethrower and headed for the door. She patted Serri’s arm on her way out. "Thanks kid. By the way, I’m Magika. Welcome to Adanuk. Make a wild dash across the Weyrbowl and you’ll find the kitchen’s and the healers." Magika ran into the Weyrbowl.
Serri yawned and flopped down on a paper/scroll covered chair. She knew she shouldn’t be hanging around here, but she was too tired to move. She yawned again and leaned back. She heard a muffled cheep. She closed her eyes and curled up. Probably just a firelizard, somewhere, Something moved behind her. That I’m lying on. In her foggy state of mind it took her a minute to realize what she’d just thought. When she did, her eyes snapped open and she jumped up. Underneath some of the crumpled scrolls was Magika’s golden flit, Karina. Serri smiled. "Hello. Sorry about that."
The flit cheeped and cocked it’s head. It studied the girl for a minute before cheeping again and climbing onto Serri’s shoulder.
Serri smiled. "Well, if all is forgiven." She curled back up in the chair with the little golden flit. In minutes they were both asleep.
"Serri, Serri!" Someone touched her shoulder.
"Awww, let her sleep Magika. She’d not in your way." A voice Serri didn’t recognize jumped to her defence.
The Weyrwoman didn’t reply for a moment, obviously thinking things over. "I guess she can stay. Someone wake her in the morning though. I’m leaving at the crack of dawn or I’d do it."
"I’ll make sure it gets done." There was a brief pause and Serri was covered with a blanket. "You better get some sleep yourself Weyrwoman. You look rather tired."
The two people left and Serri made a mental note to find the owner of the other voice and thank her before she drifted back to sleep.
A loud chirping woke Serri. She moaned and tried to turn over, only to find herself still in Magika’s office. She was confused for a moment, but it quickly wore off. She yawned, stretched and searched for her glasses. Someone must have been here after Magika and that other woman. Serri thought. Sometime during the night she’d been given a pillow and her glasses and shoes had been removed.. Without her glasses, Serri couldn’t see a thing and was forced to fumble around looking for them. She knocked some stuff over and poked Karina accidentally. The flit thought this was the most fun she’d had in a long time and flew, chirping happily, around the room. Serri tripped over something and crashed into a bookcase.
"Faranth’s sake girl! What are you doing?!?"
Serri whirled to face the voice. She recognized it as the same woman from last night. "Umm......" She stuttered slightly confused. "My glasses?"
"Your what? Oh!" The woman snapped her fingers and walked to a table. She picked something up and walked back to Serri. "These?"
Serri took them and quickly put them on. "Yes. Thank you." Serri felt slightly silly wearing her worn skirt and wrinkled blouse in front of this obviously ordered woman. She stood up straight and ran her fingers through her hair, pulling out the green ribbon that had been holding it back.
The woman laughed. "No need for that girl. I live with Magika." She sweeped her arm across the room. "I’m used to chaos. I’m Media, the Headwoman."
Serri’s mouth formed a small ‘o’ in surprise. She felt even worse. She was standing in front of the Headwoman looking like something the feline dragged in. "I’m sorry." She bobbed her head respectfully. "My name is Serri. I’m an assistant Starcrafter."
Media looked amused. "I know."
"I...I..." Serri fiddled with the ribbon on the back of her skirt. "I’m sorry for causing any trouble . I’ll be going." Serri attempted to escape the awkward situation.
Media laughed and grabbed her arm. "Shards! You’d think I was Faranth the way you were treating me! Be nice if I got that kind of respect from people ‘round here." She laughed again. "I’m more like everyone’s mother than Headwoman. Just call me Media or Mother, I answer to both." She kept a hold of Serri’s arm and started leading her through to the Dinning Hall. Karina stayed on Serri’s shoulder and Media kept talking. "Half the kids you see ‘round here are my fosterlings." She patted a rider on the shoulder as he walked past them. "Or past fosterlings. Anyways, I wouldn’t dream of sending you back to Master Jendan without breakfast. Here we are." She led Serri into the Dining Hall and stopped dead. She also let go of Serri’s arm. Serri, unprepared to stop, was tripped up by her own forward momentum and fell to her knees. Various people looked up from their meals and smiled. Some weyrbrat made a rude comment and that table erupted into laughter. Karina cheeped once and disappeared. Media clucked her tongue and pulled Serri back to her feet. Serri turned red from the tip of her head to her toes.
"Are you alright? Floor can be a little slippery. Anyways..." She scanned the tables. "There!" She half-pulled, half-dragged Serri to a vacant spot. "This is a blue-rider table, but you can sit here for today." She pushed Serri into the seat. "Enjoy your meal. Feel free to stay for lunch too. Master Undil’ll have your runner ready fro your trip home this afternoon." The Headwoman patted Serri on the head and quickly left.
Serri could feel her cheeks burn and stared down at her hands in her lap. Male laughter surrounded her and Serri wished she could disappear between.
"Shut up, the lot of you!" One of the men started to say something, but the female rider cut him off again. "Stow it!" The woman touched Serri’s shoulder. "Ignore them. They all know how Media is. She’s mother to the entire Weyr. I’m Kyna."
Serri looked up. "Oh!" She then blushed again. A small blue dragon beside Kyna smiled at her . She searched for words. "Ummm......hi. I’m Serri."
Kyna smiled. She stared at a point some place above Serri’s head. "This is Kovith, my dragon. Yes, I’m blind."
Serri blushed. "I’m sorry."
Kyna continued smiling. "Why? You didn’t do anything. You’d better eat something before it’s all gone."
Serri felt like her face was stained red permanently. She dejectedly ate her food, not tasting it. She’d been conscious in Adanuk Weyr for less than a candlemark ans was already embarrassed beyond belief.
Kyna didn’t seem to notice. She continued the conversation. "So, you’re the one here from that old Starcrafter, huh?"
Serri nodded, as her mouth was full, realized Kyna couldn’t see her and quickly swallowed whatever had been in her mouth. "Yes."
"It’s okay. Kovith see everything and tells me." Kyna took a bite of bread. "Planning on becoming a Starcrafter?"
Serri shrugged. "I guess."
"You’re pretty good at math. You could probably go for a Weyr Starcrafter if you wanted to."
Serri was surprised. She gasped and choked. Kyna thumped her on the back.
"You okay kid?"
Serri nodded. "Yes. You just surprised me."
"Oh?" Kyna smiled as she continued eating.
"How did you know that?"
"Kovith’s an excellent judge of character. I think he thinks he’s a Searchdragon."
Serri nodded slowly. "A Weyr Starcrafter like Master Jendan? Or are there other kinds?"
"Master Jendan’s not a Weyr Starcrafter. He just helps us out. Adanuk doesn’t have a Starcrafter."
"Oh. What’s the difference?"
"A Weyr Starcrafter gets to live in a Weyr, work for that Weyr’s inhabitants, gets room and board free there, helps out around the Weyr and you only have to run downstairs to tell Weyrwoman Magika that there’s Thread."
Serri blushed slightly. "You heard about that?"
"All riders heard. We had to fly."
Serri sighed. A drum sounded and the tables were cleared. Table by table, the people of Adanuk Weyr resumed their daily duties.
Serri stood with her table and turned to Kyna. "Nice talking to you." She turned to leave.
"Wait." Kyna laid a hand on her shoulder. "Kovith says to try and attend a Searching here. He thinks you stand a chance."
Serri stared, dumbfounded, as everyone left the Dining Hall. She quickly ran after Kyna. "What?"
Kyna turned. "Don’t take it as a guarantee. Kovith isn’t a Searchdragon. Just try it, okay?" Kyna whirled, obviously uncomfortable with the news she was told to deliver. Kovith may wan to be a Searchdragon, but Kyna obviously didn’t want to be a Searchrider.
Karina reappeared chirped once and landed on Serri’s shoulder.
Serri continued to stare shocked after Kyna. Karina’s chirp brought her back to her senses. She shook her head, still amazed. She’d never even considered herself to be dragonrider material. She stroked Karina’s head and smiled. "Well, I’ll be Threadscored."
"You’re not planning on riding that runner back today are you?" Master Undil was obviously not impressed with Serri’s plan.
Serri looked at the ground and stammered. "Well...umm...yeah I was...I guess."
Master Undil sighed. "Only if you walk alongside the poor creature. You nearly killed it yesterday."
"Oh." Serri felt horrible. "I didn’t know. Maybe I could sen a message to Master Jendan and tell him I’ll be back tomorrow."
"Then you’ll need a firelizard, not me." Master Undil turned and walked away.
Serri relaxed. She’d been standing at attention while the Beastmaster lectured her. Karina cheeped angrily after the man. Serri smiled. "You tell him." Serri sighed and looked around. "Where do I go for a firelizard?"
Karina cheeped, flew forward a few feet, cheeped again then flew to Serri’s shoulder. She repeated the process a few times until Serri finally clued in.
"You want me to follow you?"
Karina nodded and cheeped. Serri smiled, shrugged and followed the tiny queen. Instead of flying towards the Weyrbowl, she headed towards the beach. Serri, not understanding, simply followed. Karina flew along the beach for a bit, before stopping at a small mound of sand. She cheeped and dug at the sand. Serri helped her. She found a small rock. A very round rock. A very smooth rock. She almost dropped it when she realized what it was. "Karina! Firelizard eggs!"
The miniature queen gave her a look which plainly said, ‘well duh!’ and Serri came to another realization.
She examined the egg she held very carefully. "These are your eggs, aren’t they Karina?" The golden flitter nodded and cheeped. Serrri felt light-headed, like she was in a dream. She couldn’t believe she was holding one of Karina’s eggs. "Karina?" The flitter cheeped, rather pleased with herself. "I meant a message carrying firelizard."
Candlemarks later, Serri, Magika, Media, Karina and the eggs were all in Magika’s weyr. Magika smiled and rubbed her flitter’s head. "So this is why you wouldn’t leave Adanuk with me."
Karina happily chirped and curled around her eggs. Magika smiled. "So, you found them Serri?"
Serri blushed and nodded. A sudden thought hit her and she quickly looked up at the two older women. "But I wasn’t searching for them. I was looking for firelizards, but not like that. You see I almost killed my runner...."
Magika’s laughter cut her off. "S’okay. I’m not mad at you. Even if you had been searching I wouldn’t be mad."
Serri sighed. Magika tried not to laugh at the girl. "Why were you looking for firelizards?"
"Oh!" Serri had forgotten to send her message and it was now well into night. "I forgot!" She hung her head. "Master Jendan wanted me back today, but Master Undil said I couldn’t take my runner so I need to send him a message. Not that he’d be worried, or expect me to dawdle. Nabir will be worried sick. I’m not normally late."
Magika cut in when Serri stopped for air. "I’ll send Karina." The golden firelizard didn’t want to leave her eggs, but Magika convinced her to carry a message quickly.
Half-a-candlemark later, Karina returned with a reply from the Starcrafter. It was mostly insults and threats. Serri sighed unhappily as she read the note.
"What?" Magika noticed the change in the girl.
"Oh, nothing." Serri quietly replied.
Karina chirped and seemed concerned for her friend. She flew down beside the eggs and began examining them carefully. She chirped as she chose one and began rolling it towards Serri. She pushed the egg into Serri’s lap. The assistant Starcrafter didn’t know what to do. She looked to Magika for assistance, but the Weyrwoman was just smiling.
"Ummmm......." Serri put the egg back with the others. "I think this is yours."
"No." Magika quickly got a jar, filled it with sand and buried Serri’s egg within it. "Karina has some say in who get her children." She handed the jar to Serri.
Serri blushed and smiled. She held the jar close to her. "Really? I don’t know what to say!"
Media laughed and got up. "I’m not surprised." The Headwoman stretched. "Come along Serri. It’s late. I’ll find you a cot...somewhere."
Serri yawned and nodded. Just before she left she turned back to Magika. "Thank you."
Magika smiled. "For what?"
"Everything. I really like Adanuk." She turned and followed Media to bed.
Magika smiled and pet Karina. "You’ll be back. Don’t worry."
"Impossible!" Master Jendan was furious. "There is no way those fools at Adanuk gave you a firelizard egg. They must have meant for you to give it to me." The Starcrafter reached for the jar containing the egg.
Serri backed up a few steps. "Karina gave it to me." She said in a small voice. "Magika said so."
"Magika’s an idiot! Everyone knows she’s not fit to run a Weyr. She made a mistake. Give it to me!"
Serri was flushed. "Magika’s fully capable of running Adanuk." Serri jumped to defend the Weyrwoman who’d been so nice to her.
Jendan snorted. "What do you know? You’re just a fool girl. Now give me that egg!"
Something in Serri snapped. "What do I know?!? What do I know?!? I know that I’ve been putting up with you for the last 11 turns when I should have left long ago. I’ve worked as your scapegoat, calculator and servant when I could have and should have been learning to be a Starcrafter! I know that you’re a selfish, cruel, cold-hearted old man that nobody likes! I know that Magika is fine running Adanuk! I know that this is my firelizard egg! And I know that I’m leaving!" Serri pushed past the astonished Starcrafter and went upstairs. She quickly packed her bags. Nabir sadly watched her. >
"Leaving?" He obviously didn’t like the idea.
"Yes." Serri said it coldly as she was still furious.
"Oh."
Serri turned to face her friend. "Come with me."
He smiled sadly and shook his head. "I can’t. Four more turns, remember?"
"Faranth’s sake, forget that! Just come with me."
"It’s okay Serri. I’m going to be a Starcrafter. I need the marks."
Serri stopped. She hadn’t thought of what she was going to do after she left. She had no marks and nowhere to go. "Shards and shells."
"I know you’re mad Serri, but are you sure you want to do this? Where are you going? What are you doing?" Nabir walked over to her and laid a hand on her shoulder.
"I don’t know Nabir." Serri admitted. "But I need to leave. Now. I can’t survive another moment here. I’ll figure something out."
"I’m going to worry about you starving in some cave you know."
"Don’t." She smiled at her friend, knowing she probably wouldn’t see him again. "Good luck, Nabir. I know you’ll make a great Starcrafter someday."
"Good luck, Serri." Nabir hugged her.
Bags in hand, she walked down the stairs and out the front door, past the fuming Jendan. To her surprise Magika and Hyth were there, waiting for her.
The Weyrwoman smiled. "Need a lift?"
Serri looked back. Jendan looked like he was going to explode. Magika stuck her tongue out at the Starcrafter. Serri smiled. "Thank you." It wasn’t until Hyth reappeared above Adanuk Weyr that the full impact of what she’d just done hit Serri.
"Oh gods!" She felt light-headed and nauseous. "What have I done?"
Magika smiled. "Just keep breathing." Hyth gently landed.
"I can’t believe I just did that!" Serri’s head was spinning.
Magika helped her dismount. "In through the nose, out through the mouth. In through the nose, out through the mouth..."
Karina appeared, chirping happily and Media moved to greet them.
"Serri!" The Headwoman grinned broadly. "I didn’t expect to see you again so soon. What brings you here?"
Serri smirked and fainted. Magika smiled. "Welcome to Adanuk Weyr." Karina flew above Serri’s head, obviously worried about the girl. "Welcome home."
A turn later...
Background from Jolie Joyau Web Designs.
Serri's picture from Caleah's Anime Avatars.