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His mother, Takina, was among the various town whores, making it almost impossible to distinguish who among the ruffians of Varex Hold was his father. None would have claimed him anyway. They all knew that most likely one or more of the various orphans and unwanted children that ran the streets was theirs. So why bother worrying which one? Takina’s true husband had been sent years ago to permanent imprisonment at a distant hold created solely for the purpose of housing criminals, and she seemed rather happy that he was gone. It gave her the freedom to sleep around as she wished. Saalis could care less what his mother did with all the men. He was too busy planning his escape from this hell whole. He wanted to go on to bigger and better things. Conquer something, anything! For he had already taken a life, why not steal more? **** The dark cloaked figure wandered aimlessly through the streets. Harsh music and drunken laughter floated to the boy’s ears. A caravan had finally chosen to come back to Varex Hold, and now a grand celebration, or better stated “wild one night stand”, was taking place throughout the cobblestone streets. Being almost midnight, and only 1/8th of the Holds inhabitants remaining sober, Saalis realized and grasped at his chance to ravage through the abandoned stalls and take any goods he pleased. The owner would never notice, and if he did he would surely reason that he had indeed sold the item and blame it on forgetfulness. So being needlessly careful, the tall and lanky boy cloaked in a navy blue bed sheet, meandered through the side streets and their stalls. Jewelry, animal hides, cold but still edible pies, all rubbish! He wanted weapons; a dagger or axe perhaps. “Ah!” The wary, dark grey eyes caught the familiar glimmer of cold steel in the end stall. Saalis rushed towards it, but halfway their tripped over something lying in the path. That something made a gurgling, half snort and rolled over. Saalis sharply inhaled and stood stone still while the drunken man moved about slowly and then stood. “Wha?” the man mumbled, stumbling clumsily towards Saalis. He reached out a hand and grasped for the boy’s bed sheet. “No! Drunken fool. Go back to sleep,” the boy said in a husky voice, trying to disguise his own. The man laughed, but nodded in half agreement, half delirium and waddled quickly down the path in the opposite direction of the weapon stall. He was obviously heading towards the local tavern to find somewhere less chilly to sleep, or perhaps find a willing whore to pleasure him. Saalis sighed, and leaned back against the closest stall for a moment. Perhaps his mother was one among the willing. He snorted, disgusted at the honor less women but also pleased that Takina never bothered to give him the time of day. He didn’t need some woman nipping at him every moment of the day. He could handle everything himself. Shrugging off the unpleasant thought of his mother, Saalis glanced about and continued on his way towards the weapons stall. “Oh, you’re a beauty...” the boy whispered, his thin lips twisting into a devious grin. In his hands he held a long, sleek dagger. The moonlight shown against the carefully polished steel, and the handle was encrusted with some sort of red gem. It would obviously cost a fortune, or two, if someone actually planned to purchase it. Which Saalis did not. His hands swept over the cool metal before beginning to slip the blade into his pocket. But a rustle from behind in the street stopped him. Saalis turned and met the cold, angry gaze of a rather large caravan member. His eyes dropped slightly, indicating that he too was rather drunk, but not enough for him not to realize the thoughts currently rushing through Saalis’s mind. “Planning to steal from me, eh boy? Not the wisest thing. Oh no,” the large man said, stepping and half stumbling closer to Saalis. “Hand me the dagger and you will face a much lesser punishment.” The boy gripped his dark cloak closer about him. There was no way the stall owner could see his face, so why should he listen to him? Run for it, Saalis decided. That is the smartest thing. So with a quick switch of his feet, Saalis leapt into the darker section of the side street and began racing across town towards his hideaway. But little did he realize how fit the larger man was, and how capable he was of giving chase, even in his state of illusionment. “You inbred slime! Get your skinny tail back here or I will beat you to death!” the stall owner shouted, grabbing a hammer from a tailor’s stall and tossing it at Saalis. His aim was good, and the sharp metal end clipped the thief in his right temple. But it was not enough to slow the boy down. A rush of blood trickled down the side of his face, leaving a slick, dark trail as Saalis ran from his pursuer. He turned his head, sweeping the chunk of dark red hair from his eyes, and grinned at the still rather large distance between him and the larger man. “You’ll never catch me or your precious dagger!” The boy shouted, his eyes sparkling as his adrenaline level grew and flowed freely through his veins. Those weeks at working in the harvest had greatly improved his strength and stamina. He would run all night. But not if something blocked his path. Which indeed, something did. Another caravan member. This man had obviously heard the commotion and had come to investigate. He was perfectly sober, and standing steadily in the path of the oncoming pair. Saalis did not notice this until he turned back and collided full speed into the second large man. Only a grunt left the caravan member, while Saalis cried out and fell back sharply onto the hard stone street. His head bleed more profusely and his back ached. The dagger hidden in his pocket dug into his flesh as the large man picked him up by the collar and held him infront of his face. “Boy, why are you being chased?” the man asked. Saalis remained silent, struggling fiercely in hopes of getting away in time to escape his original pursuer. “Look! I’m only trying to help you! Why is Grelo chasing you?” But as Grelo approached, cursing freely and loudly about a “thief” the man holding Saalis off the ground immediately understood. “What have you taken from him, boy? Give it to me now.” Saalis shook his head and clutched the dagger more firmly to his side, careful not to dig the tip further into his thigh. “No,” he said indignantly. “What?” the man asked, but stopped. It seemed Grelo had finally caught his breath and was prepared to speak. “He won’t do it, Jack. So just beat him unconscious and then I’ll take back what is rightfully mine,” Grelo said with a grin, cracking his knuckles for an after effect. Jack frowned. “What did he take in the first place?” “My prized dagger, worth more than this ruffian’s life I guarantee,” Grelo snarled impatiently, obviously wanting to beat the snot out of Saalis as soon as possible and reclaim his possession. “Oh, well. In that case,” and as Jack raised his fist, Saalis shrunk down and tried to cover his face from the impending blow, but it did nothing. The shock of the punch stunned the boy and he fell limply to the ground, before regaining his strength and standing to face both men. Jack and Grelo glanced at one another and laughed. A puny boy trying to fight them? “Hah! You stupid scoundrel, I will feed your meat and bones to my hounds after I am through with you!” Grelo shouted, lunging at Saalis with his fist raised as Jack’s was moments earlier. But Saalis was prepared and struck back, not with his fist, but the sharpened dagger. It easily penetrated the larger man’s belly and sliced through his back as well. A gurgle emitted from Grelo as blood trickled from the corner’s of his mouth and he fell limp to the ground, the dagger’s point protruding from his back. Jack’s mouth remained opened, stunned, that such a small boy could do such a thing to his larger companion. But his shock only lasted momentarily and he jumped forward as Grelo had done, arms raised in an attack stance. Saalis was too quick for him, and as the large man fell towards Grelo’s limp form, the boy landed a harsh blow across Jack’s cheek, rendering the caravan member unconscious. And after he landed with a thud across Grelo and the dagger point struck through his belly as well, Saalis knew that Jack would remain unconscious for good. With an exhausted sigh and great effort, Saalis managed to roll both men over and he extracted the now blood-stained dagger. Rotten luck, for the blade would never again regain it’s original luster. Oh well. Now he had the tool which would be the key to his escape. **** A week passed, and the short investigation over the murder of the two men erupted, fizzled, and died as the two men had done while fighting Saalis in the alley. No one would figure out how the two died lying on one another like that, but not many cared about the loss of life. They cared about the loss of the caravan. It was official, Varex Hold had finally scared away the last willing visitors to it’s dark, iron gates. Or, more so, Saalis had. But no one knew this, and if they had our main character in this story would never have gotten much farther than to obtain his precious dagger. But he did do more. After that first week of investigation passed, one fateful night Saalis yet again emerged from his hideaway in his navy bed sheet. Except this time his plan did not involve thievery, but escape. He had spoken to his mother earlier, while she was drunk and in bed with one of her various male partners, that he planned to leave. The man had been too busy pleasuring Takina to even listen, and Takina herself hardly caught a word, but she nodded in agreement anyway. Let the boy do what he wanted, as long as he stayed out of trouble was her philosophy. So he left, slipping through the Hold’s main gates and out into the open countryside. Following the well-worn dirt road, Saalis knew that he would reach the large township of Kevlar within two days, and there he could further plan his journey. But in Kevlar he encountered a greater opportunity then he ever imagined. **** The dragonrider disliked being anywhere near this part of Pern in the first place, with the pathetic, rotting city of Varex nearby and all the semi-corrupted individuals. There were such more suitable, evil places throughout the planet to search. It seemed useless to even try searching out a possible candidate here, but Bekirol had insisted that she try, and not even Kimre would question her dark lord. She told twilight purple, Nuarth, what she thought about the slim pickings of worthy candidates and of her anger at being ordered around by Bekirol while the frightening pair strode through the streets of Kevlar.
Don’t let him hear you talking like that, ridermine. He wouldn't be happy with you at all, perhaps even behead you like he does with the Blackriders. And who knows? Maybe we will find a suitable candidate, the twilight said,
an unusual optimistic tone clearly ringing through her deep mental voice.
Kimre sighed and shook her head, but continued walking, glancing around with a sneer plastered on her innocent looking face. All these stupid humans, they wouldn't last a second at Arx Atra Mons. A beast would certainly swallow them whole at first sight...
Just moments behind the pair, Saalis was making his way through the exact street that the dragonrider and her bond had recently strode
through. He did not see or recognize the sight which lay before him until some time later, while the twilight purple and her rider had stopped to corner a particularly weak, and terrified mortal.
Oh! May I eat him. Please? Nuarth asked her rider, who stood nearby grinning at the scene unfolding.
Saalis's two dark gray eyes widened further as he overheard these words, and he too grinned as Kimre had done. “What is that beast?” he asked a shopper in a nearby stall.
The haggard old woman glanced at the purple form and frowned. “A bloody dragon. Useless, annoying creatures.
Always disturbing us when they know they're not wanted.”
So, a dragon. He had heard of these. And now that he came to think of it, the idea of having one
of the “useless and annoying creatures” might be beneficial for his bigger plan.
Deciding that he would try and speak to this dragon and the man walking, or rather fidgeting,
besides the purple, Saalis strode confidently towards the pair who were still trying to decide whether or not to eat the tiny man before them.
But before Saalis or Kimre could open their mouth, the twilight turned and fixated two whirling green eyes upon
the much smaller, red-headed figure behind her.
Leave this man be Kimre. I've found someone better. Nuarth said with a
pleased tone of voice. She was positive that this boy would be suitable to impress at Arx Atra Mons.
Hearing her bond’s remark, Kimre sighed and frowned in frustration. “I don't care who you eat, just pick something and let us continue looking for bonders!” the dragon rider said.
Saalis backed away, preparing to unsheathe the dagger at his side. "You will do no such thing, purple beast! I'll rip myself from within your bowels before you can digest me," he shouted.
Nuarth shook her head and rumbled in agitation. She turned and explained the misunderstanding to her rider, Kimre, who laughed after hearing of the mistake. “Silly boy! My bondmate does not want to eat you, she wants to search you!” Kimre explained, stepping closer towards Saalis and looking him over momentarily.
“And I must say that I agree with her judgment. That is a mighty fine blade you have, and from the looks of things you know how to use it," she remarked, pointing at the jewel encrusted hilt. Saalis smiled.
"So if this dragon does not want to eat me, but search me, then what happens now? Are you going to take me somewhere so I may aquire a beast such as yours?” Saalis
questioned, glancing at the twilight with an appraising gaze. Yes, a creature such as this would benefit his needs!
Kimre shook her head and explained, "Not necessarily. First you have to be deemed worthy by the clutch mother, and survive without being eaten by a beast. Then you may bond a dragon."
Saalis frowned at this rather complex delay in plan and at the insult of this tiny girl actually thinking that he would be eaten by a puny beast. "No beast would dare eat me, and no clutch mother dragon would dare deny me a chance at bonding."
Kimre nodded in disagreement, only half listening, as she glanced at the sun. It was well past the final meal at Arx Atra Mons, and she knew Bekirol did not tolerate tardiness and had expected a candidate by tonight.
"We really should be on our way, whoever you are. For my lord will wish to meet you before the night is over. I trust you are prepared to leave?" Kimre asked, hopping aboard Nuarth's back and awaiting Saalis's reply.
"My name is Saalis, and I am prepared to meet this lord of yours," he replied, grasping Kimre's outstretched hand and situating himself behind her petite form. His grip tightened around her waist as Nuarth lifted off.
I hope you are right about this, Saalis, Nuarth. Bekirol will not be happy if our candidate gets eaten before he can be inspected. Kimre whispered mentally to her bond as they soared higher into the sky.
No worries. My choice will not fail us, and he will impress. I am sure, the twilight reassured her rider as she and the two passengers on her back disappeared between to Arx Atra Mons.
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