Rrknz

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</div> <script type="text/javascript"> if (typeof lycos_ad !== "undefined" && "slider" in lycos_ad) { document.write(lycos_ad['slider']); } </script>  <div id="FooterAd" style="background:#DFDCCF; border-top:1px solid #393939; clear:both; display:none; width:100%!important; position:relative; z-index:999999!important; height:90px!important"> <div class="adCenterClass" style="display:block!important; overflow:hidden; width:916px;"> <div id="footerAd_container" style="display:block!important; float:left; width:728px"> <iframe id="lycosFooterAdiFrame" style="border:0; display:block; float:left; height:96px; overflow:hidden; padding:0; width:750px"></iframe> </div> </div> </div> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=168 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="01ff4f43.gif"> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/ryslen_red/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.geocities.com/ryslen_red/"><U><IMG SRC="08b63630.gif" border=0 width="99" height="99" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> Rrknz, </div> <div> Rider of </div> <div> Blue Chzarnth</div> <div> is a </div> <div> Ryslen Searchrider</div> <bR> <div> Rider Dgethi</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/efellai/depths.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.geocities.com/efellai/depths."><U>Trhrrn/Chth</U></A></div> <div> Rrknz/Chzarnth</div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="01ff4f43.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="EraserDust" ><B>Paperloom: The Otherworldly Characters</b></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="EraserDust" >    </FONT> |   <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Paperloom: The Otherworldly Characters"><U><B>home</b></U></A></div> <div>                                                   </div> <div> <IMG SRC="001f4010.gif" border=0 width="500" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Rrknz</div> <div> Rrknz, Ambassador and Dgeth liaison to Ryslen, lay back on the sunwarmed stone of the promontory and watched the brittle blue dome of the sky roil with clouds.  He probably had other duties to attend to, other errands to run, but Rrknz loved these new, mutable heavens, and felt it his duty to document and describe them for the thousands of Dgethi who had only see the static bulk of the Red Heavens. </div> <div> Still awaiting his new scribe-he was delighted at how Trrhrn's Candidacy had ended up, but he needed someone who <I>didn't</I> have a dragonet to care for-Rrknz could only make mental notes.  The art of writing was a difficult one for the Dgeth, and Rrknz had never quite mastered it.  He could read, yes, but not write.  </div> <div> And since the scribe Skmrr had not yet arrived, the ambassador felt perfectly justified in making observations.  Especially because he was having no luck at all with the hmny tongue.  </div> <div> Drat the boy anway!  How did a mere scribe inhale a language that fast?  Rrknz's brain just refused to parse the mouth-filling vowels, and his tongue was in full agreement.  Trrhrn surely had a gift for such things.  Rrknz did not.  </div> <div> The wind soughed sweetly off the tip of the promontory and the dgeth flared his nostrils in pleasure.  The Rkavrrns had no such wonder as this, no such scents!</div> <div> A scrabble of claws alerted Rrknz to the night-haunched brown dragonet loping awkwardly up the slope, rider clinging tightly to a set of altered riding straps.  Amused, the ambassador watched his protégé surmount the promontory.  Trrhrn's eyelids were clamped shut.   </div> <div> "What can I do for you, Rider Trrhrn?" he asked solemnly, patting the dragon's muscular neck.  </div> <div> <<Put a box over his head,>> Chth suggested dryly.  <<Then he can't feel all this horrible open space around him.>></div> <div> "Do shut up, Chth," Trrhrn groaned, his skin even ashier than usual.  "The new scribe's here, sir, with a runner.  There's a relay team being set up to every kvrrn, so they can stay updated on the situation here."  He panted for a moment, eyes resolutely closed, and continued, "They request your presence immediately.  Poor things haven't a clue what to do."  The boy open one eye to squint miserably at Rrknz.  "Chth says he'll take you down, and come back for me, if you like."</div> <div> "If you're sure you can handle it," Rrknz replied dubiously.  There was a sheen of sweat on the young dgeth's brow.  </div> <div> Jerkily, Trrhrn nodded, swinging down from Chth's back.  "Pray mount, Master Rrknz."</div> <div> Distinctly ungraceful, Rrknz scrambled aboard the already-tall young brown.  He leaned down to give his former secretary a pat on the shoulder.  "Don't worry, Trrhrn.  It's solid rock.  Just like being in one of the big caverns again, right?"</div> <div> Trrhrn just pulled his leathers a little closer around him and sat on the stone, eyes closed.  </div> <div> It was a bumpy, galloping ride down to the Red Sands.  Rrknz was forced to cling to the leather `straps even though he was buckled in.  "Chth…can you slow down, just a <I>little?</I>" he murmured in his own tongue.  </div> <div> Chth tossed his head.  <<I'm doing you a favor.  Trrhrn needs me.  And use the human tongue, you need the practice.>>  He paused at last, rearing up for a moment to beat his wings before settling down and offering Rrknz his foreleg.  </div> <div> "Thank you," the ambassador said, trying hard to keep the sincerity in the words.  He slid down the night brown's shoulder in an awkward scramble.  </div> <div> Rumbling something that might have been a laugh, Chth loped away.  With a sigh, Rrknz straightened himself up and walked in.  </div> <div> Skmrr was there, an older, dark umber female who carried herself proudly.  At her side was the messenger, also a female.  The young Dgeth was a pale, luminous gray, and she shifted from foot to foot as if she wished to leave right <I>now</I>.  </div> <div> "Listener, ambassador, we have come at your call," Skmrr said in the familiar, sibilant tongue of the Dgethi.  "Where are we to go now?  What would you have me do?"  </div> <div> "Scribe Skmrr, be welcome to Ryslen," he replied formally, rubbing his cheek against hers in a greeting.  "Stay with me, if you will, and I will see to it that your needs are met.  Who is this you've brought with you?"</div> <div> "Messenger Khvssrr," Skmrr introduced, and the slim gray youngster bobbed her head hastily, amber eyes wide.  She shifted from foot to foot as he watched her, her tail whipping across the floor in a flicker of nervous energy.  </div> <div> He smiled at her.  "Be welcome, Khvssrr.  Messenger, Scribe Skmrr, follow me if you please.  I'm to talk to Tiyanni."  </div> <bR> <div> Skmrr, to his disappointment, declined to have dinner in the hmny fashion, but Khvssrr joined him at the small, low table that was recently installed.  Trrhrn had already grabbed his meal and left by the time they got to the table-Trrhrn, Rrknz reflected, was altogether too shy-and the young messenger was intensely curious about the first Dgeth rider, the Whisperers, and everything else.</div> <div> "Master Rrknz," she said eagerly, sipping juice from a broad, short cup that fit Dgethi hands better than the normal glasses, "I've heard so much about you.  Is it true that you were the one who was supposed to bond, ah, Impress, one of the Whisperers?"</div> <div> Rrknz frowned and lashed his tail.  "Those were my directions from the High Priest, yes."  </div> <div> She cocked her head, her enormous eyes as luminous as the harvest moon he saw in the heavens.  "Why was it Trrhrn, then, who did the deed, Master Rrknz?  Meaning no disrespect…"</div> <div> Rrknz sighed guiltily, dropping his head.  "The Waer-w'mn said I was too old…no Whisperer would choose me.  I could not follow Jzrrl's directives."</div> <div> Khvssrr tilted her head again.  "But Tyannih told us that Ryslen accepts anyone.  Why not you?"</div> <div> He glared at her, anger stirring sluggishly in his gut.  "I don't <I>know!</I>  Maybe they just don't like eavesdroppers!"  With a swing of his legs, he slid off the backless chair and stalked out into the Great Bowl.  Her bewildered stare burned on his shoulderblades all the way out the door.  </div> <div> Rrknz <I>couldn't</I> answer her question, and it was more bothersome than a leaky roof.  It <I>nagged</I>.  For why wasn't he good enough?  He was sensitive to their voices.  He'd made a career out of listening to dragons.  His personality wasn't any more unusual than some of the riders' that he'd met.  And he wanted to do what was asked of him…wanted now to prove that there was nothing wrong with him.  </div> <div> There were few dark places at Ryslen, and most were far above ground.  He needed somewhere where he could feel the earth above him again.  Humans were as mutable as their skies…  Then the ambassador smiled, as he thought of a place where he could ask questions and feel at home at the same time.  </div> <bR> <div> The room that Xiorayith's clutch had sequestered itself in was dead black at this time of night, and the few dragonets left rustled in the dark.  </div> <div> <<Who are you?>> said a cool young voice, a dragon too isolated to pepper his or her mindspeech with the scents, sounds, and images that usually accompanied the Whisper.  </div> <div> <<It is Rrknz, Xenarioth,>> said another voice, a shy papery whisper.  <<He is the leader of Chth's bond.>></div> <div> <<No one asked you, Klodarth,>> a third, more nasal voice broke in.  Rrknz got a sense of malicious meticulousness from it, a harsh, unforgiving perfectionism.  </div> <div> <<Ease up, Luci!>> a cheerful treble suggested.  <<What are you looking for, Rrknz-bondleader?>></div> <div> While Rrknz pieced his sentence together, the third voice growled, <<Spiflyth!  That's <I>not</I> my name!>>  He felt the dragons' attention shift over to him.  </div> <div> "Can you tell me," he said, mouth dry, "why the Search dragons will not take me?  I…it is my duty to Stand, but I cannot without an invitation."</div> <div> <<If you're looking for an invitation, you won't find it here.>>  It was a different dragon, a new voice, and its inflections were as stiff as any automaton's.  </div> <div> <<What Branvanth means is that we're too young to Search,>> yet another dragon said, but this voice was different.  As young as the rest, it still had a dignity to it that endeared it to the Ambassador.  <<The other, older dragons do not share their decisions with us.  Half of them think we're insane anyway.>>  The dignified voice sighed gustily.  <<What do you think?>> he asked the rest of the group.  <<Would you take him?>></div> <div> <<Too servile,>> Xenarioth snorted.  <<He might make a wingrider, but no more.  Pretty tongues are of no use to me.>></div> <div> <<Emotional and dreamy.  Definitely not,>> the dragon Spiflyth had called `Luci' replied haughtily.  </div> <div> <<A bit stuffy,>> Spiflyth commented, <<but a good heart.  Too old for me, Chzarnth!>></div> <div> <<I'm sorry, Rrknz, but you're so extroverted.  The people would drive me crazy.  I could never take you,>> Klodarth said regretfully.</div> <div> Branvanth said nothing, and the dignified voice did not ask for that opinion.  <<Well, <I>I</I> think you'd do well,>> said Chzarnth firmly.  <<You are well-balanced, dutiful, and fit for the job.  I don't know what they're thinking up there.>></div> <div> Branvanth said, hollowly, <<Politics.>></div> <div> Rrknz fancied he saw the glint of an eye in the moonless dark of the abandonlings' room.  <<Come back and ask, if you have any more questions.  We don't mind your company.>></div> <div> <<<I>You</I> don't mind his company,>> Luci' muttered darkly.  </div> <div> <<Shut up, Lucifidth,>> Spiflyth said in a reasonable tone.  <<He's all right.  And he's no work to talk to.>></div> <div> Rrknz smiled in the darkness, still feeling stiff after most of the dragons' comments.  "Thank you.  I'll be sure to do that."</div> <div> <<Ca'trell is only here in the mornings,>> Branvanth murmured cryptically.</div> <bR> <div> So Rrknz came back to the den of dragons.  The six dragons seemed lonely without their adopted siblings' company, and he was, after all, an ambassador.  Rrknz could talk about <I>anything</I>.  </div> <div> <<The gift of gab,>> Spiflyth suggested, snickering.  </div> <div> He got along well with Spiflyth and Klodarth.  Xenarioth was overpowering at close quarters, Branvanth was enigmatic, and Lucifidth was just plain evil-minded.  Chzarnth, his ally in the group, he soon knew as well as he had ever known Trrhrn or his family back in the Rkavrrns.  </div> <div> <<Do you ever get tired of it?>> the young dragon asked one day.  His claws scraped restlessly over the stone floor.  </div> <div> "What?"  Rrknz had found that applying oil to the dragons' hides soothed their skin <I>and</I> his.  It was oddly therapeutic.  </div> <div> Muscles rippled under his hand.  <<Hearing us, as you trained to do.  It must be wearying, hearing the gossip of hundreds of dragons.  Cacophonous, where you are.>></div> <div> The Dgeth shook his head.  "I wouldn't give it up for the world.  It's no worse than being in a crowded room, and I don't have to make myself heard.  Besides, I like talking with you."</div> <div> The dragon was quiet for a few minutes while sturdy Dgethi hands rubbed oil into his shoulder.  <<If it were not your job, would you still wish to Impress?>> he said at last.  His tone was graver than usual, if that was possible.  </div> <div> Rrknz thought about it.  "Yes," he confirmed, slowly.  "Since I know there are dragons like you, Chzarnth.  Before that…well, maybe.  I know the bond you have with your riders, and it sounds…it <I>feels</I> like heaven.  And I love the sky.  Unlike poor Trrhrn, I think I'd like to fly.  We could range far from Ryslen, and yet come back again, whenever we wanted."</div> <div> <<We?>></div> <div> Rrknz felt his face heat.  "My lifemate and I, if I ever did Impress."</div> <div> <<I don't think that's what you meant.>></div> <div> "Don't be difficult, Chz'!  You sound like Branvanth.  I just think you'd like that too, if you ever come out of this hole in the ground."</div> <div> <<Like to bond and fly and travel, or be with you?>> the dragon asked aggravatingly.  The slim head touched Rrknz's shoulder as the Dgeth drew away, irritated and embarrassed.  <<Because I would like to do all of those things, Rrknz.  And I still think you would make an excellent rider.>></div> <bR> <div> Chzarnth took his first steps outside the abandonlings' room with Rrknz glued to his side.  Ryslen's newest rider gaped as his dragon's hide blazed a dark royal blue in the sunlight. </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="07b9be60.gif" border=0 width="411" height="230" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>  </div> <div> "You're beautiful," the ambassador told his charge.  "Absolutely gorgeous."</div> <div> Chzarnth, startled, looked back at his bondmate with squinted eyes.  <<I am?  You do not mind that I am a blue?>></div> <div> Laughing, Rrknz patted the slender hatchling's neck.  "Heavens, no.  You're perfect, Chzarnth."</div> <div> The blue crooned softly to himself, a merry hum that he kept time to with the lash of his tail.  <<Let us go see Tiyanni, then, Rrknz.>></div> <div> "And then we can feed you, which is what you're really after, right?"</div> <div> Chz's snort was eloquently unimpressed.  <<Anything, as long as I'm with you.>></div> <bR> <div> Then the door opened, and the light of the corridor shone in, illuminating Chzarnth and the Dgeth Rrknz. Tiyanni was not surprised to see that they had come together. </div> <div> <I><</I><I><He's mine, Tiyanni>></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" ><I>.</I></FONT> was about all the blue had to say. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <<And they thought we'd lag behind,>> Chzarnth snorted as he came off the training field.  His royal blue hide shone faintly with sweat, but he still stepped out energetically.  He carried his wings proudly half-spread as he strode back toward the Weyrling Barracks.  </div> <div> "We showed 'em, didn't we, Chz'?" Rrknz said tenderly.  He was surprised at how well they had done in the Weyrling classes.  His blue was not particularly strong, nor particularly fast or agile, but he made up for all of it in determination and intelligence.  The odd pair was at the top of their class now, though they had started nearly a month late.  </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="07cf4d20.gif" border=0 width="500" height="466" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Finally, <I>finally, </I>they graduated.  They made it with honors.  Chzarnth was insufferable.  He may have been a small blue, but he was also as stubborn as stone, and the fact that he had persevered titillated him.  </div> <div> <<So,>> his lifemate ventured, <<What do we do now, Rrknz?>></div> <div> The Dgeth blinked.  "Uh….I'm not sure.  We have a lot of pretty unique talents-they'd be wasted if we just stayed wingriders.  But word has already been sent with the messenger that a new ambassador is in order.   That Khvssrr…  What do /you/ think of her, Chz'?" </div> <div> <<She might make a good rider, someday,>> Chzarnth said diffidently.  </div> <div> Rrknz frowned, trying to envision the slim, hyperactive young Dgeth on a dragon.  "How can you tell?"</div> <div> The blue shrugged, an impressive gesture on a creature with <I>that</I> much shoulder muscle.  <<I just do.  Khvssrr feels like you did, when you came in.  Candidate material.>></div> <div> "You really think so?  Have you asked Chth about it?"  Rrknz was anxious about the future of his former embassy.  People seem to be chosen right and left…  </div> <div> <<Chth doesn't feel it as keenly as I do.  He is not sensitive, as dragons go.>></div> <div> Rrknz peered up at his bond with one lambent eye.  "Chzarnth, do you think we could be Searchriders?"</div> <div> <<Like R'lan and Ancith?  I would like that, I think.  <I>You</I> love to travel, I know,>> the dragon said thoughtfully.  <<And that silver tongue and those courtly manners wouldn't be wasted.  We should request it of Jeyann.>></div> <bR> <div> Jeyann said yes.  It no doubt added to J'lenn's bad mood, but Rrknz was the first nonhuman Official Searchrider.  And Rrknz felt as though he had fulfilled Jzrrl's orders at last, beyond the priest's wildest dreams.  </div> <div> <<And you have filled my life with the filling of your orders,>> Chz' said softly, amused.  <<Let's go find some bonders, Rrknz!>></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="085f4b50.gif" border=0 width="500" height="693" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>