Tour at Dawn (1)

Writers: Ainsley1, Vix
Date Posted: 21st May 2007

Characters: Hartam, D'ryne
Description: As promised, D'ryne transports Hartam to the Weyr and shows him around.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr, Vintner Hall
Date: month 3, day 9 of Turn 4

**I _am_ awake. I _am_ awake.** Hartam paced in front of The Tavern, trying to convince himself that the quick cup of klah he had grabbed while indoors was doing the trick. Somehow it was not working and he found himself wondering why he had consented to leave before dawn to go to the Weyr.

As he emerged from /between/ the cool pre-dawn air felt good on D'ryne's face, nothing like the formless cold of /between/. Quirinynth bugled a friendly greeting to any and all as he started his descent to the Vintner's Hall.

**Quirinynth, it's not yet dawn!** D'ryne rebuked the large brown.

}: We're awake. It will be a good dawn.:{ The dragon answered without remorse.

**Not everyone enjoys the sunrise like we do.**

The dragon did not respond as he effortlessly completed his descent and landed a safe distance from the tavern, but close enough to make it an easy walk. D'ryne shook his head as he gave his dragon an affectionate thump and dismounted, certain that several sleepy apprentices in the nearby barracks were scrambling to see the dragon settled so close. Hopefully, no irate masters would be appearing to lodge complaints.

Hartam watched with delight as the dragon appeared and loudly saluted those in the area. "Maybe this _will_
be worth the loss of sleep." His eyes remained on the dragon as it descended, memorizing the sight of the dark body against the gradually lightening sky for later writing. As the creature's feet hit the ground, he walked hurriedly toward the dragon and rider, ignoring the morning stiffness of his hip.

"Good morning, D'ryne!" he called. "It looks to be a fine day."

"Greetings Hartam! Quirinynth thinks so as well. So much so that he believes all should awake to welcome it," D'ryne replied with a smile, taking in the harper's slight limp.

}:This is the one that writes the songs? Will he sing for us?:{ the brown dragon asked his rider curiously watching as the harper approached.

**I'm sure he'll be happy to oblige you with a song, but later, dearheart.**

The harper stopped in front of the dragon, shifting his gitar case in his hand so that he could bow slightly. "Good morning to you Quirinynth, and thank you for consenting to transport me today."

The brown inclined his head, eyes whirring a friendly blue. "He says he's happy to, but I'll warn you, he expects payment. He wants to hear a song before the day is done. Quirinynth likes music," D'ryne answered affably. "You've ridden dragonback before?" the rider checked to be certain.

"Not as often as I'd like," was Hartam's reply. "And I'll gladly sing a song in payment and if this works out, play the song that's forming in my head once it's finished, though that won't be today."

"I told him to be patient. Let's get you up and settled and we'll be off." The dragon positioned himself for easier mounting and D'ryne offered his assistance to help the harper mount.

Using a combination of the dragonrider's help and the brown's riding straps, the older man scaled the side of the dragon, wincing only once as he swung his leg to slide between two of Quirinynth's ridges. He buckled himself into place with little trouble. "Ready when you are."

D'ryne was quick to mount and the trio was soon aloft.
The brownrider had Quirinynth circle wide to give the harper a good opportunity to view the surrounding countryside before taking them /between/ to Dragonsfall Weyr. They overflew the plateau and the weyrlake, circled once and finally landed atop the cliff.

Pleased to see the solitary figure awaiting them, D'ryne dismounted. "I knew you'd be anxious for klah so I had some brought. Before we seek the dining caverns, though, I thought we'd await the sunrise."

Hartam nodded as he slid from the brown's back, his eyes taking in the sight of the Weyr stretched before them in the pre-dawn light, stark and shadowed. "This will do quite nicely."

Taking the steaming cups of klah from the young kitchen worker with a nod and a wink, D'ryne offered his thanks to the girl. He then passed one mug to Hartam. "We're not the only early risers," he stated pointing to a young green taking flight.

The harper forgot the cup of klah in his hand as he watched the dragon lift from the ground. Though the smallest of the dragons, she looked large when seen next to the rocks of the Weyr. However, in the air she took on a grace, a litheness, which made him imagine the air whistling past her wings. She appeared black against the sky, wingtips and tail well-defined. "She's beautiful."

"She is lovely. Incredible how such elegance can wield the power to annihilate Pern's worst enemy,"
D'ryne mused as he watched the young pair.

"It is, isn't it?" Hartam sipped his klah with eyes still upon the green, wincing as the hot liquid hit the roof of his mouth. His concentration broken, he glanced around, noting other activity as here and there weyrfolk emerged from entrances into the rock that formed the Weyr. "There are early risers everywhere," he noted as the sun's first rays pierced their way above the eastern horizon.

"Oh yes, but plenty still abed as well. The weyrlings rise early to feed their dragons, and much of the weyrling staff likes to be available for newer pairs. Others, like me, just like to watch the Weyr awaken." D'ryne pointed quickly as a powerful bronze sailed across their line of sight, aglow as the morning lights glimmered over his hide. "Headed to hunt."

"Hunt?" The harper looked confused. "I thought that dragons ate from the pens?"

With a grin, D'ryne explained, "Though a baby dragon needs to be fed, even young dragons prefer to catch their own meal once they're able. We just make sure the animals are available. The dragons are quite capable of doing the rest."

"I see." Hartam watched the bronze recede into the distance. "Do the dragons hunt any place in particular? Or can they go wherever they want?"

Taking a drink of his klah D'ryne realized it was almost gone. "Often they stay on the plateau or the plains below. There is breeding stock that we of course stay away from and we don't hunt from a hold without permission. The younger dragons usually take from the pens. It's not at all uncommon for a mature dragon to hunt a wild beast, though."

"I had never really thought of how they eat, but with so many dragons, it must be difficult to keep them all fed - especially during a Pass." The harper nodded thoughtfully. "All the more reason to be conscientious about tithes."

The brownrider nodded without comment, but sighed. Yes the tithes were important and he was only too glad he had not had to deal with the holders in re-establishing them. "Are you about ready for more klah and some food? There's a great deal more to see and you may want some food before hand?"

Hartam realized that as he had watched the dragons flying, the sky had streaked with color, heralding the rising of the son, and gradually evened out to its typical daytime hue. Though he had not been conscious of the sunrise, the memory of the dragons against the colors was now within his memory, waiting for his songs. "Yes. Let's have some breakfast. I feel almost over-loaded with what I've seen so far, but want to see it all."

"And what's at the top of your list?" the brownrider wanted to know.

The harper paused thoughtfully. "Part of me wants to say eggs, a gold, a Hatching - but those are the special events. For this, for what I have in mind, I want to see the ordinary, what happens everyday."

Nodding thoughtfully, D'ryne finished the last of his klah. "Well, we'll get a meal in the dining caverns and that's about as everyday as you can get. We might look in on the weyrlings, and some of the wings will be practicing drills a bit later in the morning." A grin tugged as his lips as he added, "And if Mnaiath's mood is equitable we might even get you a peek at the eggs. A broody queen is definitely part of the Weyr experience."

Hartam nodded at each of the rider's suggestion, but winced at the final one. "I want to experience the Weyr, but I find that suggestion to be a bit frightening. Are they really as . . . irritable as I've heard described?"

"And more I'd wager! But don't worry, harper, I'll not put you in harm's way. This Weyr tour carries the guarantee of not only surviving but doing so all in one piece," D'ryne couldn't help but joke with the crafter.

"I'd appreciate that, good rider. Though I'm curious about weyrlife, I'd prefer to keep my own hide intact."

"Best not to let you expire with hunger then.
Quirinynth will give us a lift down."

}:What about my song?:{ "Well, you can't expect Hartam to play on an empty stomach," D'ryne answered aloud for the harper's benefit, while giving Hartam a wink. "Once he's fed I'll let you bother him for a tune."

}:I'm not a bother:{ Quirinynth answered confidently.

**No dear one you are the furthest thing from it.**
D'ryne replied privately.

With a laugh, Hartam addressed the dragon. "It's actually a part of our harper training - they teach us to be sure that we're paid, that we have food and drink, before giving our goods. Our songs aren't like a piece of jewelry or a pair of boots that a crafter can display and then hand over once the customer has paid. With our songs, once they're offered, the audience has them."

}:I will take you both to eat so the harper can sing for me:{ the dragon responded.

D'ryne chuckled, "You've convinced him. Are you done with your klah?"

He drained the last now-cold drop. "I am now!"

Last updated on the May 25th 2007

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Tour at Dawn (1)