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Name: Iena
Age: 20 (At candidate age) Gender: Female Attributes: Taller than the average woman and rangy with the frame of a hunter, her skin is the pale tan of someone who had been in the sun long enough to darken. With shoulder length night black hair that is often kept loose around her shoulders, her features are sharp with slightly thin lips, a straight nose and frank sky blue eyes. Careless with her looks and not one to primp in front of the mirror, she is often clad in close fitting trousers and a tunic with a leather belt nipped in at her waist with a silver buckle of a pine tree. She has the overall appearance of a forester; someone who spends their time working out and has the proud bearing that is just shy of being too arrogant.
 Name Meaning - Marl: 'My Autumn of Changing Fire' Age - 6 years Color - autumn colors Gender - female T-Power or Magic - Weather Mage Sire x Dam - Nar Ednan x Aiona Sairi Origin - Rerir Location - Andoran, Tir Asken Human Relations - Wild, little interaction Overview - Known as Aesa, this young wolf has been through enough in her life to make many want to hide from the world. However, like the ever changing seasons or weather, Aesa is able to change to met the rest of the world with a polite smile and a willing personality. Her greatest time of year is autumn - because she can hide in the leaves so well!
Iena was only ten years
old, but even at this age she didn’t have a mark of chubby fat, not
because she was naturally slender by birth but because all softness had
been burned out of her through training. Running through the forests
and feeling her feet lightly step over each and every rock and root, it
was not that she had memorized the plains, but as if the land welcomed
her, accepting her as one of theirs. She had crossed this pass often,
and as the sun soared to reach the highest point, her lips quirked with
grim satisfaction. Her muscles ached, her calves were screaming for
mercy but she had never felt so free before. Running towards an
overhanging ledge and jumping into the air, executing a slightly clumsy
roll before dashing down a clean field of grass and wild flowers, she
smiled. She had promised her mother she would return by lunchtime, and
she had. While her mother would not have doubted the young girl
anyways, she felt proud knowing that lunch would not be served for
another hour, and she would reach home in about twenty minutes.
Nearing the curve of the field where a forest behind, a small house was neatly tucked away from view. While to the naked eye it appeared surrounded by untouched wild land, it was a day’s journey by foot to the nearest town, and within the forest was a nomadic tribe. The family lacked nothing here, and Iena, slowly her pace but jogging lightly as to ease the stress on her lungs gradually loved it. It was her home. “Mom?” she called out, reaching the front door and paused, frowning as she spotted the foreign shoes. People visited often, she was used to seeing men and women who came to her mother for help, but she had never seen a pair of shoes like this before. Pausing, and leaning down she shrugged. A hunter by upbringing, she knew how to track people, how to memorize different leathers to know their origins. But she was not used to this. “Iena.” Her mothers voice drifted towards her, gentle but slightly tight, as if she was nervous. “There is someone I would like you to meet.” Iena looked up to see a shadow fall behind her mother, and paused, straightening to see a tall older man with sky blue eyes and night black hair. Her eyes and her hair, or… to be more precise, his eyes and his hair that she had for herself. “This is R’ise.” Her mother cleared her throat. “Your father.” Iena looked up with calm, frank blue eyes and the man smiled, settling down on his haunches so that they were more eye level. “Hello.” He said softly. She looked up at him, unblinking and shrugged. She was carefree, and had a child’s acceptance when it came to matters of importance. “My father?” she said almost critically, and looked over at her mother, as if searching for something, for a sign as to how she was supposed to react. “So?” She had spent ten years growing up with her mother in this small house, learning the ways of the land and the warrior and she had never been bothered by the fact that she had no father. She didn’t know why people expected her to be bothered now. R’ise laughed, an uncomfortable laugh as he stood up. “She has your personality.” He remarked, but this was said with amusement, and pride. “But she has my coloring.” Her mother smiled, and it was a good, warm smile that had Iena relaxing. “She is growing into a fine warrior.” Iena puffed up at the compliment. “I thought it was about time you met your daughter.” R’ise sent her an almost cursory glance, but it was a kind, loving look. Iena did not understand how this man could already love her—they had only just met. With this critical eye, she walked into the room, helping herself to a glass of water. “I’m going to go upstairs.” She said, and paused. “Unless you want me to stay?” she turned to her mother for guidance, and her mother merely shook her head. “It’ll be dinner soon, though.” She reminded her daughter, and Iena brightened, turning to R’ise. “I killed the rabbit.” She said proudly, boasting the way children do. “Fifty paces.” R’ise smiled, not understanding a word but knowing it was a source of proud. “I’m proud.” He said, and Iena sent him a quizzical glance. “Why are you proud?” she asked, not in defiance but in question. “You did not teach me, and you gain nothing with my excelling.” R’ise was speechless, and laughed. “She is your daughter.” He remarked, and her mother smiled. “As she is yours.” Iena went up to her room, and as they heard the door shut Anya and R’ise turned to each other. R’ise paced the room. “Why did you show her to me? Why were we introduced?” his tone was still gentle, caring but there was seriousness to it. “When you told me you were pregnant ten years ago, you told me that you wanted to raise your child by yourself. I respected your decision, and while I would have loved to be there” there was silence, and he shrugged. “Why now, Anya? And no games.” He warned. Her mother, a tall rangy and tawny huntress turned her back on him deliberately. “I had a dream.” Seeing the incredulous expression on the face of R’ise, she raised her hand to stop him. “You know, that my family has a gift of dreams. I knew that I was pregnant with our daughter, I knew when you bonded and I knew that our daughter would be our only child.” “What does that have to do with anything?” he paused his pacing. “I had a dream that I was dead, and that the house was burning and she held a bloody sword in one hand.” Her voice was quiet. “I had a dream that death claimed her eyes, and I knew it to be prophecy, a warning. I wanted you to meet her, so that she had somewhere to go when the time came.” R’ise cursed in response. “I can take her to the Vella Crean.” He said quietly. “She would be safe… and so would you.” Anya shook her head. “R’ise, I dreamt a warning of what was to come. Escaping would not change that. How do you know if your actions are preventing disaster, or causing it?” she asked quietly. “There is nothing we can do to change fate.” “Of course there is!” he burst out, and she chuckled. He could be so innocent at times. “R’ise.” She said, more gently this time, and he growled with frustration. Her tone softened, and there was pride as she thought of her only daughter. She was growing to be a serious, talented young girl, and Anya would regret not seeing her girl blossom into womanhood. R’ise frowned. “I can talk to Naeodin, get the courts involved.” “It is my business.” Her tone hardened. “Not the business of dragon riders.” Even though Anya had long since grown used to this foreign people, had even had brief affairs with several of them, she still held her old beliefs that dragon riders were foreigners, and should not interfere with businesses which were not their own. “When things happen…I want you to protect your daughter, R’ise.” Her tone softened. “She will remember me, I have trained her in the basics and it is enough that she can seek learning elsewhere. I want to see her grow into something great, R’ise.” She paused. “I want to see my daughter live.” R’ise gathered her into his arms, and it was as if time had not passed. “I still don’t know why you chose me to father your child.” He said quietly, and Anya smiled. “You were stubborn.” She said softly, nostalgically as she thought of times when she had been younger, harder and keener in the ways of life. Was it age, or child bearing that had softened her so? “I knew a stubborn daughter would make me proud.” It was two days later when in the middle of doing her morning stretches her mother called for her, her face grave. “There is something, we need to discuss Iena.” “Yes, mother?” her tone was formal, distant and her mother smiled with regret. “Iena, do you know why I left my clan?” the topic was completely random in Iena’s mind, and she blinked. Iena shook her head. She had never broached the subject because it was something that always had her mother withdrawing. “I killed the clan chief.” She said simply, and Iena’s eyes widened. She knew enough about clan life to know the important of loyalty. Loyalty to ones friends, family and to the clan. “He was a good man, a great leader and a terrific father. But he was a cruel husband, Iena.” Her voice dropped, as if Anya was too busy living in the memories. “My younger sister –your aunt- was a pretty young woman, and as a child our parents knew that she was destined for great things. She was a swift warrior, and during one of the battles she captured the heart of the clan chief.” Anya paused. “We were very proud of her then. She had two sons, and they were a pride to the clan itself… we didn’t know, of the bruises.” Her voice escaped in a shuddering sigh. “We were never meant to, until he went too far and she…” Anya swallowed. “She was at the healers, we discovered the scars and I knew that I could not let that man live. Iena, I taught you that loyalty and obedience is everything. It is the way of the clans, of harmony. You must be loyal to your family, protect them from harm and you must be loyal to your friends and to your leader. But most of all, to your family.” Anya closed her eyes, and Iena leaned forewords. “Was it hard?” she asked quietly, and Anya’s eyes opened. “Was it hard, killing him.” Anya’s smile was wistful. “It was.” She admitted. “To kill him, for he was a great warrior. But to execute his death without remorse?” Anya shook her head. “I knew what this would mean, that I would not be allowed to live. But I did it anyways. I could not stand to watch my sister harmed.” Iena reached out and touched her mother’s hand. “I would have done the same thing.” she said suddenly, and while she was only ten, there was such fury in her eyes that Anya smiled. “You are a true daughter of the clans.” Anya said quietly. “I was allowed to leave only after my father begged. But I knew I would never be welcomed back. I was given life, but stripped of everything else and so I built my own home here. They do not bother me, and I do not bother them in return. It has been the way of life until now…” Anya’s smile fell. “I taught you as a child, that we cannot avoid destiny.” “But you also told me that some times we have a choice as to which destiny we live in. There are several versions of the same world, and everything depends on one another.” She said, quoting her mother and Anya smiled, proud. “Yes.” She conceded. “But some things have to happen.” Iena nodded, not knowing where this was going. “Among our kind, when we are killed and there is no justice we call for blood sacrifice. It is justice in turn, and we are allowed to hunt down the accused. If there is no justice in death, it is tradition to carry the bones of the dead, and once reaching the hunted to bury the bones on top, so that the hunted will serve our family for the rest of time.” Her voice was quiet, and Iena did not really understand. She allowed the words to sink, to assimilate and paused. “R’ise, of the Vella Crean. Can you remember that?” Iena nodded. “R’ise of the Vella Crean.” Puzzled, but not completely taken aback because sometimes her mother had odd ways of telling her things, she only nodded. “Now, do you remember what I told you about our blood line?” Iena smiled. “Our ancestor was a great shaman who was killed in the Clan wars.” She repeated obediently. “None of us have his power, but we have all been gifted with the blood of prophecy. We see this in the form of dreams, and in one life time we only have three visions.” Anya chuckled, pride evident in her face and nodded. “That is correct.” She said quietly, and paused. Iena turned to see what her mother was staring at, and saw the three shadows slipping out from the forest. While they often had visitors, the visitors were usually from the town, or even dragon riders. Not from the nomadic clan tribes. Remembering the story of her mother’s exile, her heart was twisted with fear. Anya got up. “Put your weapons away, Iena and then come back out.” She said quietly and Iena, glad to have an excuse got up and walked stiffly towards the house. She tried to take as long as she could, but she was also worried over her mother and looking out the window she saw them conversing quietly. She heard the word warning, and danger but it was not enough and curiosity took a hold on her. Her mother had always taught her to face her fears, that fear was a bully that only grew more powerful the more you ignored it. So she approached them, quietly and hesitantly when they approached her mother. One of them glanced at her with no interest, but then took a double look. “Your daughter.” The tone was not accusing, and Anya nodded calmly. “Iena, come here.” Immediately Iena walked over, her eyes wide as she saw the scars and the bravado on the faces of these men. “These are your uncles.” One of them smiled, but it was a grim smile and Iena didn’t know how to react to it. “Hello.” She said, almost shyly but refused to hide. Standing straight, shoulders back and chin up she watched them. “You know she cannot be our niece.” One said quietly, and Iena saw the almost regretful touch in their eyes. “Father has disowned you.” “Ah.” There was regret, such regret that Iena looked back, concerned. At a young age, she was a quick learner and this made her slightly more intuitive than normal. Or maybe she was intuitive, which was why she was a quick learner. The man named Zephir was the kindest looking one, and he shifted on his feet. “Nora’s eldest son Karmack is clan chief now.” He said quietly. “He is exactly like his father in respect to being a husband.” “Ah.” This time, this one word was filled with something else. “And?” The brother’s looked uncomfortable. “Karmack does not understand why his father was murdered, and why his murderer was allowed to go free. But while Nora ruled as regent, he could not do anything about it. Karmack… he is now clan chief, he has power and with this…” he looked up, and swallowed. “We have to go back, but we never forgot you, Little Sister.” Anya smiled. “You’ve done enough for me as it is.” She said softly, and nodded. “Be at peace.” Iena did not understand the exchange, not really but she knew something was deeply wrong. See had never seen her mother so determined before, but she could not ask as to why. Instead, she waited for her mother to speak. That night Anya oiled and checked every weapon in the house, and Iena could not sleep. Iena had always been impatient, and this was no different matter. Unable to help herself she asked. “What is wrong?” Anya’s face was grim, and she nodded. “Karmack is clan chief, he doesn’t like me. He might kill me. We have to defend ourselves.” Such clipped, tight words as if Anya had built a wall around herself to keep everyone out, and Iena nodded. “Come, I want you to show me the moves I taught you with the sword.” The bow and arrow had proved to be too clumsy for young Iena, she did not have the keen judgement of distance for a cross bow and yet with the sword, a line slender thing she was proving to be quite apt. Iena, grateful to have something to focus on nodded, and preformed for her mother. No amount of time was going to prepare them. Anya should have known, but she didn’t want to. Iena had trouble sleeping, and often she had a dark look in her eyes. Anya never asked about it, not really because she was the mother, and weren’t mothers supposed to know everything? “I had a dream, mother.” Iena confessed quietly. The dream still haunted her, not negatively but enough that she was obsessive. “What of?” she asked quietly. “I had a dream of a wolf, a creature of fire markings and wings that were larger than two swords. The wolf was drenched in blood, and it approached me. I heard her whisper the words Tir Asken, but I do not know if it was a promise, or a threat.” Anya nodded, quiet. “Were you afraid, of the wolf?” Iena looked up, quite puzzled. “No.” she said, and paused, her eyes widening. “She was covered in blood, but I was not scared. I had a sword in my hand, and it was also covered in blood.” Anya nodded. “It is a prophetic dream.” She paused. “It—“ What ever words her mother would have said was lost when a single black arrow flew through the open window and embedded itself in her throat. “I’ve come to exact blood debt.” And the words cold and cruel had her turn to see a man standing there, tall and handsome with eyes of ice.
“Karmack, she is only a
child.” Zephir pleaded. “She was not even alive then.”
Karmack looked to his uncle with cold eyes. “I killed the woman who murdered my father.” He said quietly. “How do I know she will not try to kill the man who murdered her mother? It is a circle that will never end unless I do something about it.” Zephir shook his head, looking down at Iena. She had been dragged as a prisoner, and her eyes were haunted with grief. “She is only a child.” “I was only a child.” “But she is not a monster!” the words left his mouth fiercely, and he paled. “Karmack.” He began. “I did not mean…” Those pale blue eyes were cold, and haughty as they stared on. “But you did, uncle.” He said, the words escaping in a purr. “But I will forgive you this time.” Forgive. To forgive. Iena’s eyes were haunted as she looked around her. Her mother had been killed unprepared, and it had been so cowardly… so cowardly. There had been no challenge, no justice and her mind kept jumping back to what her mother had said. Blood debt. Blood debt. “I will claim blood debt.” She whispered the words like a chant, calming her self and diverting the pain to something else, something more like cold fury. “You will die.” The voice startled her from her thoughts and she looked up to see Zephir standing there, his eyes old. “Am I to die now, anyways?” she asked, quiet and she lost that fear. Zephir shook his head. “I’m to take you away.” His words were dull. “I’ve been exiled, with you… we are leaving, never to return.” Zephir closed his eyes. It was the most humiliating punishment to a clan member, to be banished because even in death, at least you had a chance of crossing to the great plains. This way… this way there was nothing. Iena looked up. “I’m sorry.” She said quietly, and Zephir’s eyes flew open. “Why are you sorry?” he asked. “You are being punished for something I did.” She murmured. “And for that, I am sorry.” Zephir smiled. “You are an odd one.” He remarked quietly, and bent down to undo the chains. “Do you still intend to claim blood debt?” he asked suddenly. Iena nodded. She was young, but her eyes were old. “I do.” Zephir smiled. “You’re going to have to learn how to kill, in order to do that.” Getting up, he offered her a hand. “I can teach you.” She looked up, and she smiled. Without hesitation, she took the hand that was offered. There was exiled into a different world, a place called Rerir and they found a home in a place called Andoran, in a town. Zephir and Iena, whom people presumed to be father and daughter arrived mysteriously and claimed a far off cottage as their own. They rarely came into town, but when they did the young girl, serious with dark eyes came in by herself, carrying fresh meat to be traded for other things they could not find in the mountains. Everyone left them alone, and they left the world alone. During this time Zephir taught Iena everything he knew about war. He taught her the basics, of crossbows and axes but truly, she excelled in the work of the sword, the dance of it and so he focused on this skill. They did not have much time, they never had enough time and Zephir had already been old. He could feel the age dragging on his feet, waiting patiently to claim him but every day he woke up at dawn, and taught his niece. The time together, the death of family bonded the two until truly they were like father and daughter. It was a happy bonding, and during the six years Iena grew from the small tanned girl to a tall and rangy hunter. Protector became the protected, and in six years time it was Iena who hunted in the forest for meet, scavenged for herbs and mushrooms in the darkness of the leaves. Iena grew in this fashion, determined with one goal in mind and it was during one of her hunts, her bow carefully aimed at a waiting stag that she saw something shift. The rustle was enough to cause the deer to spring, and she did not bother shooting it. By running, the muscles of the deer would have tensed and she would rather go without meat tonight, than settle for rough venison. Cursing, and wondering what the rustle was she looked down to see a patch of autumn leaves run across the plains. Except… autumn leaves were dead. The wolf was large, intimidating with fur that was marked not like fire, but like autumn leaves. Large wings on it’s back seemed proud, and with glittering golden eyes the wolf approached her, muzzle stained with blood. The dream came back to her as she watched the creature, she remembered what her mother had said and before she could stop herself, she found herself calling out. “Wait!” the creature, the winged wolf turned with irritation, looking up and hardly afraid. “I’ve lost track of my dinner, because of you.” She snapped, growling and Iena dropped from the trees with a light bounce. “What are you doing up there anyways? You make an unconvincing bird.” Iena swallowed, suddenly nervous. “You can come with me, we have meat on our table from yesterday.” The wolf paused, cocking her head in suspicion. “Why are you trying to be nice?” Iena blinked. The wolf was frank, but so was the hunter. “Because I had a dream about you.” She said simply. “And my mother told me my dreams are prophetic.” The wolf was called Aesa, or at least that was the shortened version. When Iena had stumbled over trying to pronounce the long name, the wolf had given her a blistering lecture on how the human was butchering her name, and had told her to call her Aesa. Aesa did return home with Iena that night, and for several nights after. “You feed me, don’t you? That means I don’t have to hunt.” Was her excuse every day, and Iena settled for it. The wolf was proud, mean and constantly whining but Iena… loved her. “Well, anyone would.” Was the answer from the wolf every time Iena remarked on this oddity. Zephir did not like Aesa, Aesa did not like Zephir but they settled in an uneasy friendship for both respected each other. Once Aesa had shown her ability to control the weather, Zephir had cackled, saying something about Iena having no excuse of missing training – for some reason, it had stormed constantly for three weeks after that. They grew as a family, bonded and knitted and every day Aesa would leave and return when she felt like it, and Iena would train, Zephir growing too old to train with her. “You are better than me, and it is not because I am old with age.” Her uncle always said. “But because you are driven. Soon you will be ready to leave.” “But when will that be?” Iena would always ask with impatience, and Zephir’s eyes would darken with sadness. “When I die.” Was always the answer. Iena always looked forewords to the blood debt, but was also fearful. She did not want her uncle to die. “What death would claim him?” Aesa would always snort when ever Iena voiced her fears. “Even death does not want to have such a man complaining at his table.” But Aesa would always treat him more nicely, if only for a couple of hours. The day that Iena was ready came when she was nineteen years old, and when Aesa and Iena had developed a strong bond to each other. It was a sad day, but one that marked the beginning of a journey. “Where do we go?” Aesa asked. Iena looked down. “So you will come with me?” she was relieved--- she had almost expected the winged wolf to leave her. Aesa snorted. “You would take care of your stupid flesh? You would die in one day left by yourself.” Iena chuckled. “And no one would bear with your complaining pile of fur.” She teased. “We go to the Vella Crean.” Her expression darkened. “To seek vengeance.”
Karmack’s
thoughts never dwelled on that young girl from before, but he was
growing older, and nine years had passed since that day. Now well into
his left forties, he had enough power and children that he did not lack
anything else. He did not think that anyone could harm him, and he was
almost right. Almost.
The night Iena crept into his tent, waking him up by knifepoint, he was taken by surprise. And nothing took the clan chief by surprise, any more. “Who are you?” there was fear in his voice because very few could get back his bodyguards. “Guards!” he cried out, only to feel the knife tighten. “They’re occupied, Karmack.” The voice was soft, husky and he could feel her breasts pressing into his back. Were it not for the knife, he would have been aroused except it seemed the threat of death dampened many things. “Don’t you remember me?” “No.” and it was not a lie, not really. “I’ve come for blood debt.” The words were cold, precise. “Bloo—“ Karmack paused, his thoughts scrambling furiously and then he paused. “Anya’s daughter?” he was incredulous. He had exiled her with that old uncle, Zephir. “You cannot be serious.” “Can’t I?” she proved her point when the knife sliced flesh, causing a soft touch of blood to drip down his neck. “I should have killed you when I had the chance.” “You should have.” She agreed, and felt nothing as her knife dug in deeper. She paused. She felt… nothing. No exultion that she was killing this man, no joy and no feeling of justice for her mother. It was curiously empty and for a moment she sat there, positioned that one cough could end his life and yet… “You were right.” Karmack was not paying attention. “Right?” “If I kill you, your sons will come after me to kill me.” Karmack did not try to nod, not until he felt the knife move away. “And then your child would come kill my sons.” “I have no children.” She said simply. “Then it will end with your death.” “I do not want to die.” “I do not either.” Man and woman watched each other, eyes seeing other things. “My mother was only claiming debt, you know.” It was Iena who spoke, her voice quiet. “Your father almost murdered your mother.” “But she was still alive.” “Sometimes, death is better then life.” For a moment Iena closed her eyes. Nothing made sense, any more. She had worked for this moment, but she was filled with nothing except for regret. Why? Was this not what she had wanted for so long? Yes, but… “Iena, kill that man or don’t. I can’t distract them forever.” The harried voice interrupted her thoughts, and Iena looked over to see Aesa’s shadow reflected at the edge of the tent. Winged wolves were not seen in the Vella Crean, and so the creature had kept the guards occupied. “Make up your mind, woman!” Aesa sounded so harried, that Iena smiled. “I want to kill you.” There was something in Karmack’s eyes that told her he had already accepted his fate. “I know.” Iena shook her head. “But I do not want to end up like you. You killed my mother, for saving your mother’s life. She did, in the end.” Her tone was so conversational, it jarred Karmack. “Your father would have killed your mother, in the end. It was one or the other. I don’t want to kill you, and to have to fear for my life.” She got up. “Aesa, come.” “I am not dog.” Aesa snapped. “You’re not killing him?” she sounded incredulous. “After all that work?” “No.” Iena said simply. Aesa paused. “I don’t like human flesh anyways.” She said grudgingly. They left the tent just about the same time the guards rushed in to find Karmack, bleeding but alive. “Shall we go after them?” the head of guards asked, and Karmack looked up, surprised. The girl had raised an interesting question. He had never wanted to admit before, that it was either his mother or his father. His father would have killed his mother in the end, but he had died before he had a chance to. What would it have been like, to grow up under his father’s rule? He shuddered at the thought. He had been intent on blood debt, and then that forgotten… no, not forgotten. The face of his aunt sometimes haunted him at night. “Chief?” one of the guards asked softly, and Karmack shook his head. “No, let them go… it was an accident.” He paused. “And call my wife, for me will you?” He hadn’t told her enough just how much he loved her… Far away, and half exhausted because of the run girl and wolf collapsed in front of a stream, hiding their tracks and crawling towards an empty cave. They had stored their belongings here as well, prepared for fight except no one had come after them. Some dreams were prophetic warnings. Would actions stop them or prevent them? For the entire run Iena had been unable to forget her mother’s words, the conversation. Some dreams spoke of destiny, actions that could not be changed but at other times it spoke of futures that might not exist. Each act depended on each other. From her own dream she knew that she had seen the death of Karmack, the dead of many guards and she had Aesa had stood over the bloody remains. But now? She had not killed him, and he had not sent his men after her and now… she did not know. “Where are we to go?” she said out loud. “I did not get my revenge, and now I do not wish for it. I sold our property but here and where Zephir has died… where am I to go?” “We.” Aesa corrected. “Does it matter now? I am sleepy.” Iena looked down, rather bemused at the narrowed focus of the winged wolf, and merely nodded her head. “We can think on it tomorrow…”
Iena leaned
back to feel the brush of air as powerful wings above her seemed to
fly. Dragons scattered through the skies, dragons not of the usual
shades- although how she knew what the usual dragon shades were when
she had never seen their kind before troubled her- but of the gleaming
jewels. Opal, sapphire, rubies and diamonds danced in the skies and
they in turn seem to reflect down upon her. Aesa was at her side, and
through her Iena knew that not much time had passed. A year, or two?
They had not aged much, and with the beat of dragon wings drumming in
the air, she sought with her mind the companion.
Iena woke up with a small smile on her lips, and stretching, she rolled over and almost fell off the narrow cot. From the side Aesa laughed, and Iena frowned. “It’s not funny.” She said simply, getting up. She was used to sleeping on natural ground, or on beds much larger and so she was still growing used to this candidate life. “Of course it is.” Wry with amusement, Aesa padded over and sat on the bed, stretching and clawing at it rather like a feline. “You are the only human I know, who can learn so quickly the art of fighting, and these dragon rules and yet cannot master getting out of bed.” Iena rubbed her eyes. “I will to.” Grumbling about having winged wolf for breakfast, she got up and pulling on a white tunic walked out of the room, towards the lake. It was odd, how every Weyr she came across seemed to have a lake. Just as quickly she shed her top, and plunging into the still cold depths, she swam, allowing her muscles to stretch and allowing her mind to wake completely. A sevenday ago she had arrived at the Vella Crean, only to find that her father had left long before with some other riders to found a new Weyr. The Vella Crean had disturbed her—she did not like that odd scientist man who kept following her about and so she had arrived on Pern, to this place called Twins’ Pass only to hear that her father was now Weyrleader. He had not recognized her—she had not recognized him, and it had been awkward. It had seemed to be such a good idea before, to meet her father and to find him because that was what her mother had wanted, except it had gone all wrong. She was not used to this man, she was twenty years old and the man who considered father had died in a small house. She had failed at everything she had set out to do, had her beliefs questioned and had no where else to go. Thinking back to the moment, her arms and legs slicing through the water with speed, she went back three days past. R’ise looked up with wariness. When his daughter had arrived he had been filled with both pride to see what she had become, as well as sadness, knowing that then Anya must have died. Their relationship was awkward at best, but they both tried and for now, it was enough. “I need to ask for a favor.” Iena said quietly, and he knew her well enough to know she was uncomfortable with favors. It was pride that, his own pride. “What is it?” he asked, not promising to grant her anything. He did not make idle promises, and while he felt protective, that was it. “I’m searching for a place where precious stone dragons exist.” First, he took her words literally and then he understood. A Weyr, by the name of Shourai boasted dragons of such unusual parentage, that they seemed to be a freak of nature. He nodded. “Why?” he was curious, both for himself and as to her motives. Why would his daughter, who he had met just once in his life come to him for a favor? She smiled then, and he saw Anya in that smile. “I had a dream.” She said simply, and he held back the shudder. The last time Anya had dreamt, she had prophesized her own death. His association with prophecy thus was not a good one, and he –although he did not know her- did not want to send one of his daughter’s to their death. “What happened?” the words left his mouth before he could think, and he watched her stiffen. “What happened, before?” Her eyes shuttered closed, not literally but something seemed to hide. He knew he had no right to ask, but he wanted to know. “I planned for something, and worked hard to achieve it, spending seven years of my life.” She said quietly. “But when that moment came… I found myself questioning my own beliefs. Seven years I spent, and for nothing. A man I loved died believing I would do it, spent his entire life training me but in the end…” she shrugged, and it was a helpless shrug. “I failed.” He knew that was all he would get from her, and while he did not understand, it was enough for now. “Shourai Weyr.” He said suddenly, but she understood. Maybe they were alike in more ways then one. “Shourai Weyr just recently clutched a final clutch by the ruling diamond. I’ll send you over with the first rider I can find.” She smiled, and it was a grateful one. Whether it was because he had aided her, or because he did not question her any more, he did not know. ‘Candidate!’ Oranyth announced, and F’gan blinked. “What?” rubbing his eyes due to a sudden glare of light, he frowned. ‘You know, a person. Who stands for a clutch, and usually impresses?’ F’gan frowned. “I know that.” He snapped, only to chuckle. “Where?” ‘There.’ He said, and F’gan was about to roll his eyes when he saw the young woman alight from the back of a blue dragon. F’gan shrugged. Rolling his shoulders, he was about to approach her when something big and furry jumped off the back of the dragon. “I don’t know why the dragon is complaining.” Aesa complained. “Going between hurts me more than it hurts him.” Iena did not answer, instead she stared rather pointedly at where the winged wolf had embedded her claws into the thick leather. “You don’t?” she asked dryly, and Aesa growled in response. “Not my fault that I get scared.” She muttered, and frowned, looking around. “Why are they so shiny?” she demanded, and muttered something about evil shininess. It seemed, the winged wolf could not go without a complaint. It was about this time, that F’gan approached, more wary and Iena smiled. “F’gan.” She stated, and the search rider blinked. “Do I know you?” he asked curiously, and Iena shook her head. “I dreamt about you.” Had another woman said it, it might have had a different meaning, but there was something normal about the way she smiled, as if she usually dreamt of strangers. Still, he was confused and Aesa, sensing his confusion laughed. “Don’t scare the poor boy.” Aesa said simply, looking around and bristling her feathers. “It’s pretty.” She remarked. “And you didn’t believe me, when I said they existed.” She teased. ‘Are you sure they’re candidates? They seem a bit…crazy.’ F’gan asked his bond, and the blue snorted. ‘She, the human’s a candidate. They’re companions and I don’t want that wolf to touch me. Poor dragon who shipped her here has told me enough horror stories about that Aesa. Yes, I’m sure. Are you accusing me of being wrong?’ the tone sounded so insulted, that F’gan smothered a smile. “Is something funny? Do you find us funny? Fancy that. Iena, I don’t want to stay here any more.” The wolf was bristling, with anger this time and Iena laughed. “Aesa.” She said once, soothingly and placed her hand on the winged wolf’s head. “Shut up, for a second.” The winged wolf grumbled, but complied –amazingly enough-. “And F’gan?” F’gan looked up then, to see the woman smiling an oddly serene smile. “Yes.” “Yes what?” was there another half of this conversation he was just not understanding? Perhaps. “To what you’re going to ask.” ‘Did you tell her?” F’gan asked the blue. ‘Nope.’ The blue replied. “How did you know?” he said outloud, and she smiled again. “She had a dream.” Aesa interrupted, and snorted. “And believe me, hers are uncanny.”
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