Search

It was Four Turns later that all the trouble started. Several of Lord Schille’s relatives- cousins, brothers, older nephews- had started fighting over the rightful heir to the Hold. Their own cousins angered Pitiraon and Mirrial as they tried to take claim to the Hold. It was one large family feud, and the only one that would decide who would be the heir would be Lord Schille, since his father had passed the Hold into his care.
Pitiraon sighed as he watched several of his and Mirrial’s cousins and uncles arrive at the front of the Hold.
“I heard you were passing the Hold to young Shiffer here.” His first uncle, Lord Itar said and frowned. “Why not my son? He’s shown better leadership skills than any of your other nephews here.” He said begrudgingly and stuck out his chin when several of his brothers argued that theirs was the better.
“I’m sorry, I have chosen who I wish as the heir and I won’t change my mind. So get of my property!” Lord Schille yelled, his face turning red in anger. His brother grabbed him by the shirt collar.
“If you refuse my son, I will personally be sure you regret your choice!” He said, but Lord Schille shoved his brother away.
“You know, I used to think that our father was crazy out of his mind for giving me the Hold. But now I understand why: I wasn’t corrupted like all of you are! Now, I said get out!” Lord Itar glared menacingly at him before mounting the runnerbeast he came in on. His brothers, nephews, and son followed suit.
“You’ll regret this, Schille. I promise you. You’ll regret this.” Lord Itar said and then kicked his runnerbeast into a run. Schille sat against the doorframe and sighed. He was old, having been married late in life and having his two children in his late forties, and though he was still physically fit for a man his age—and still rather good-looking—he knew he wouldn’t be this strong forever. And all his brothers were younger than he was, if it came to a fight, he would most likely loose.
At sixty-three, Lord Schille had tutored his nephew, Shiffer, since the day he’d been born, to be the next Lord Holder. Though he was a little sorry he hadn’t kept Pitiraon instead, Lord Schille knew he’d made the right decision. He hadn’t wanted his son to be the next Lord Holder, which is why he’d sent him to Dawnsisters Weyr to grow up. He had found his only trustworthy brother and asked him to train his son instead to be the next Lord Holder. His brother had been flattered and accepted the proposition, though he had been worried it’d come to this.
Yet, Lord Schille had been stubborn and insisted he’d be able to deal with the problems. It would be difficult, but he’d get through it. He sighed again. Shiffer was ready to be Lord Holder, in fact, he had been for a while. But Lord Schille didn’t want to lay the family problems on his nephew’s shoulders.
Pitiraon swallowed as he watched his uncle ride off with his other uncles and deadglow cousin, Jurat. Pitiraon was glad his father had chosen him to be the Lord Holder. He didn’t want to run a Hold, it wasn’t his kind of thing. He wondered if it would have been his kind of thing if he had never been sent to Dawnsisters.
“Are those worthless, good-for-nothing, deadglow relatives of ours gone?” Mirrial asked, coming over to sit beside her brother and stare out the window.
“Just left.” He said and looked over at her. She had grown beautiful in her last four Turns and Pitiraon actually envied the man that would make her his wife. He would make sure that no man would take advantage of her, though. This was his sister, and if anyone tried anything with her before she was married, he would go after them. He smiled. “How is Shiffer handling all of this?” Pitiraon asked.
“Cautiously.” Shiffer said as he entered unexpectedly. Mirrial jumped as if caught doing something she shouldn’t’ve, while Pitiraon just glanced over his shoulder. “I’m worried one of our uncles is going to try something. You know that if one of…them…somehow take over the Hold, there will be an outright war. Lord Schille is the only one that’s been keeping our family from going to war with each other, but now…” He trailed off sadly. “You aren’t angry at me for taking your place as Lord Holder, are you?” He asked of his cousin.
“Of course not! I don’t envy your place at all, I’d hate to have to be on the verge of war with father about to hand over the Hold.” Pitiraon said. “Besides, you’re better for this job anyway.” He said and smiled reassuringly at his cousin. Then he sighed. “But I hate to see father go through all of this. It’s not good for him. He’s old and…” He blinked and swallowed, trying to keep from crying. “I…haven’t known father that long. That’s the only thing I regret. He still could have kept me and trained you…” Yet, even as he said it, he trailed off because he did understand why his father had sent him away. “Aw…just ignore this mushy old deadglow.” He said and smiled.
“C’mon, Pitiraon. You aren’t mushy!” And Shiffer laughed. “It’s normal. I feel the same about my own father. Why was I taken away? But I love this hold as much as you and Mirrial and your father.”
“Yes, well, if I may say so, being saddened by not spending time with your fathers is not something you should worry about right now. Pitiraon, you know you can go and talk to father anytime you want. He’s not as busy anymore, and Shiffer, you can spend time with your father because he’s living right here. I think guys just can’t express their love like women can.”
“Hey, I resent that!” Pitiraon said. “Shiffer, when you become Lord Holder –because I know father won’t- send her to work with the drudges!” He teased, receiving a fist in the shoulder from Mirrial.
“That’s not funny, Pitiraon, you thin-skinned wherry. I’ve worked with the drudges before anyway.” She said in a huffy mood. “And I think that you should try it Shiffer, since you’re going to become Lord Holder, and get a taste of what the drudges do. Maybe you’ll both should! Then you’ll appreciate their work!” And she strode from the room in anger.
“What’s got her so worked up? And why’d she get angry at me when you made the remark?” Shiffer frowned.
“I’d think you’d understand her more having been here all your life with her.” Pitiraon laughed.
“Yes, well, you’ve spent four full Turns with her while I’ve only seen her once in a while. I was with your father wherever he went, all day long. And even on certain occasions, when he was on an important errand, all night long. Though,” and he laughed to himself. “I fell asleep at times at night, but Lord Schille never said anything to me when I woke, just gave me a reprimanding look.” Pitiraon smiled.
“Yes, those looks can be scarier than when he really actually says something.” Pitiraon said, remembering the few occasions when he’d made his father mad.
“Yes, yes they can be.” He said and chuckled lightly. “And you…you have the same ability as your father when you’re angry. The looks.” And he shuddered. “Your sister can do that too. I’ll need someone like you or her to get people under control.” And he laughed.
“Shiffer! Shiffer!” Lord Schille called. Shiffer sighed.
“Looks like I must be going.” Shiffer said and gripped his cousin’s arm. Pitiraon returned the greeting.
“Good luck, cuz.” He said and the turned to look back out the window as his cousin walked from the room. In reality, Pitiraon considered his cousin as more of a brother than anything else. They had grown to be more like siblings than cousins. And he would trust his cousin with his life.

“Shiffer! Have you seen Pitiraon at all?” Mirrial came running into the room, short of breath and red in the face. “He was gone all last night and I haven’t seen him since!” She cried.
“No, I haven’t. Did he tell you where he was going?” Shiffer asked, standing up.
“He said he was going to ride down to the river.” Shiffer ran the back of his hand across his mouth and thought. Pitiraon often rode down to the river, but he’d never been gone a full night and day. It was nearly evening again now. “I thought perhaps that he had been busy all day, and I really didn’t think about it at all.” She said, worry tingeing her eyes. “But when I went to talk to father, he absently said he hadn’t seen Pitiraon at all, and I am worried!”
“Alright. I’ll go down to the river and look for him.” He said. The water level had risen from all the rain the past sevenday, he recalled, but he knew his cousin was a good swimmer. Yet, even rough waters…he nodded his head and put on a coat. Mirrial followed.
When they got down to the river, they easily spotted the footprints from Pitiraon’s runnerbeast pressed into the wet mud and followed them before they saw the footprints tell of the terrible accident. Mirrial cried out and put her right hand over her mouth to keep from screaming. Her eyes misted and she shook her head in denial.
Shiffer frowned as he looked at the footprints. Something wasn’t right. The runnerbeast had fallen over before it had fallen into the river, but not the way it would normally fall if it had slipped. He dismounted and saw Pitiraon’s footprints next tot he runner beast and an imprint from another large body, but not a runnerbeasts. Mirrial dismounted and moved up beside him.
“Uncle Itar.” She said with disgust…and then worry shown in her eyes again. “He took Pitiraon and then shoved the runnerbeast into the river to make it look as if he’d fallen in! But here there are signs of struggle from this imprint in the mud. And look! More men moved in to help! Well, as far as I am concerned, Uncle Itar and the rest of our family is no longer a part of our family!” She shrieked and mounted her runnerbeast. “I’m going to get my brother back!”
“Mirrial, wait! I need your help here! I’ll help you get your brother back, but this is going to need time, a well laid-out plan, and…” Shiffer smiled. “A fleet of dragonriders.”

Mirrial watched as her cousin brilliantly came up with a plan for rescue. They had decided against telling Lord Schille, because it would only cause him to worry, and perhaps make stupid decisions to get his son back…like give up the hold and it’s lands to his brothers.
“Alright, you said there is a clutch…a Gold’s clutch at Moon Shadow Weyr?” Shiffer asked, looking the dragonriders in the eye.
“Yes,” the lead bronzerider said and nodded his head.
“Good, because you are going to pretend to be on Search for Moon Shadow Weyr.” He said.
“But usually we give fair warning to let them know. Three days at the least, they’ll think something is up.”
“No, they won’t. They’ll be delighted to have dragonriders there on Search. Just…just do as I say, okay?” He said. Then he turned to Mirrial. “And you!” Shiffer said, and pointed as if demanding that she would not object to his orders. “You will be the shill.” Shiffer said.
“The What?” Mirrial asked.
“The decoy!” He said and Mirrial got a knowing look in her eyes and then she smiled dangerously.
“Cool. What do I do?” She asked.
“You, will wear this.” He said and handed her a very revealing garment. She blushed. “Don’t give me that look, you’ve worn garments like this before.” Mirrial thrust her chin outwards defiantly.
“I wore the garments because I had to.” She said, though she averted her eyes to the ground, and she could her a cough or two from the dragonriders, trying to cover a laugh. She glared fiercely and then snatched the garments from her cousin’s hands. “What do you want me to do when we get there, my Lord?” She asked mockingly, emphasizing the title.
“No one will recognize you because your hair will be dyed. So…you will be…” And he studied the dragonriders. “His sister.” He said, choosing the head bronze rider. “You two will act as candidates.” When no one seemed about to disagree with him, Shiffer nodded. “Alright, you all know the plan. So, if you are all ready, let’s begin.”

Mirrial felt quite naked in the clothes. She didn’t like the fact that the dress was made with slits up to her thighs on both ends so her legs were extremely revealed. Not to mention, it was skin tight, so her legs practically hung out of the dress and it was thin fabric, made for wearing for hot summer days much like today. It had revealed most of her back and a good portion of her belly.
Her hair was now dyed a medium red and was pulled back. Her cousin was pleased that their uncle had only seen her with her hair down, she had never worn it up before as far back as she could remember. So they had worked with her hair and tried at best at putting it up, but finally had a drudge brought and she did her hair up in a style that showed most of her neck.
Mirrial was quite embarrassed when she finally stepped in front of everyone when she was done up, but held her head high and he back straight. Her cousin laughed. “You look more beautiful with red hair than that sun-blond hair.” He said and then ducked as she retaliated with such force that finally a dragonrider interfered.
“Remember, we have to get going.” The dragonrider said. “We don’t normally do things like this.”
“And the hold will give your weyr that much more food, dragonrider. I am eternally grateful to you and your dragonriders for helping us.” The dragonrider nodded and mounted his dragon. Shiffer, who’d had long shoulder blade-length hair before, had had it cut very short and also dyed. He had –much to the dismay of the dragon and his rider- switched clothes with the head bronze rider so that he looked like the dragonrider and the dragonrider looked more like her brother.
“Why can’t you just pretend to be her brother?” The young dragonrider had asked.
“Because I know my uncle’s hold top to bottom and you don’t. And I know where to find my cousin and you don’t. And you and her look more alike than her and I.” He said, and a warning look from the lead bronze had shut both young rider and dragon up.
The lead Bronze rider gave the signal to rise and they were in the air and winked between as soon as they were in formation.

The minor hold was not so pleased with the hasty arrival of the dragons as most of them were in a meeting about what they would do with the young Lord they had captured.
“My…most distinguished…friends.” Lord Itar remarked with irritation. “What happens to bring you here today?” And he was worried for a minute that they may have figured out.
“I am T’flar, rider of Bronze Teth.” Shiffer said, making up a name for himself and the bronze. He made sure to lower his tone of voice to a deep baritone. The true rider of the bronze dragon translated what Shiffer said to his dragon who disliked the fact that the impudent young Lord Holder had been so Bold as to make up a name for him and almost snorted, but refrained from doing so as it might give them away.
“Hmm…I seem to recognize that name from somewhere, do I know you from anywhere? You almost look familiar.”
“Have you been to the Moon Shadow Weyr?” Shiffer asked and smiled when Itar nodded, he remembered to keep his voice at a deep baritone. “I am the Head Searchrider at the Moon Shadow Weyr. In fact, I am here today because my men and I are wanting to Search the place for willing candidates.” He said. Lord Itar frowned deeply.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t think you’ll—”
“These two with me here are candidates, and they’re a little hungry, I’m sure you’ll not mind sparing us all some food?” And the real Head Searchrider almost grinned as Shiffer took on a perfect bronze dragonrider’s disposition. “And, she is a little freezing from going between, but the silly darling refused to wear anything more than that.” He said, pointing to his cousin who felt as if her limbs were going to fall off from freezing in the cold of between. She would get Shiffer back for this, she promised herself.
Lord Itar, not wanting to appear discourteous to the dragonriders, nodded his head, though obviously with reluctance. “If you’ll alert your hold that we will be Searching?” He asked. “As soon as we are finished eating, that is.” He replied and walked over to the bronze he had boldly claimed as his. The bronze was still irritated about the fact that Shiffer had changed his name, it wasn't right to change a dragon's name, yet he supposed he understood why as well.
“Yes, sir. Uh, one question?”
“What is that?” Shiffer asked without turning around, helping down his cousin and the bronzerider. The bronzerider reluctantly accepted the help since he really knew how to get down on his own.
“Next time give us an advanced notice.”
“I’m sorry for our sudden appearance, but the clutch was just laid today and the gold demanded that we go out Searching immediately or we’d have to deal with her wrath.” He said, and this time the Bronzerider did smile, but only so Shiffer noticed.
“Well tell her highness that she will have to deal with our wrath…” Shiffer’s glare shut Lord Itar up. He realized with approval that he did have a little bit of his cousins’ ability to give an icy look that was worse than words. “Right this way.” Lord Itar said, leading everyone into the Hold and to the dining hall. “We were just about to have lunch, but we can make room for seven more.” Shiffer nodded and grinned. Only five dragonriders had come along, he and Mirrial made up six and seven.
After lunch, Mirrial wandered around the Hold as if interested in every little detail. Several men followed her and she flaunted about, attracting as many of them as she could, even when most of the men had gathered round her.
“This, is such a wonderful place. Much nicer than the other snakehole I lived in.”
“Y-you lived in a tunnelsnake hole?” One asked, obviously stupefied with wanton love for her. Though they didn’t know they were in for a big surprise.
“Gaura! Are these men bothering you?” The dragonrider, her acting brother, asked. “I can dispose of them.” He said, glaring at each one with faked anger, though he did look like he would if he could. He fit the role well and she smiled.
“No, brother dear. But come stand with me. They have ever interesting facts about this place.” She said, and had changed her voice to a bit higher than was her real voice, though it wasn’t one of those annoyingly high squeaky voices. In fact, the voice she used now was one she would prefer to have, and enjoyed using it to lure these deadglows to her.
Mirrial’s ‘brother’ came over and stood by her, draping an arm across her shoulder as if protecting her from any of the men and a few backed away, for this ‘brother’ of hers was surely one they would not like to tend with. He smiled.
“Fear not all, she is free, well, as of right now anyway. But once she Impresses, well, that’s a different matter.” And her ‘brother’ sounded so sincere just then she actually felt like a candidate.
“Y-you’re a candidate?” The same dimglow asked and Mirrial nodded and relaxed more on one foot so her hip was revealed plainly. Several men gulped. “H-how do you become one?”
“Well, they –the dragonriders –Search you. You just have to wait for them to come up to you.” She said and smiled a winning smile. Several of the men closed in, but with a warning look from her ‘brother’, they backed off again. “Oh, don’t be so protective, Burris.”
She released herself from his ‘protective grip’ and moved foreword, with a smile on her face, towards the dimmest dimglow there, the one that kept stuttering questions at her. He gulped again as she stood by him and smiled.
“You seem to know a lot about the hold, can you show me around some more?” She asked.
“M-m-m-me? W-w-why of c-c-c-course.” He said and his eyes widened.
“I know a lot too, milady…”
“I’ve lived here all my life...”
“I know this place like the back of my hand…”
“Oh, really? And what does the back of your hand look like?” She asked. The man who’d said that automatically looked at the back of his hand and then, realizing what he’d done, blushed. “I chose him to show me around.” She said and many of the men tried to get her attention again, but her ‘brother’ stepped in then and glowered.
“You heard her! Leave her alone. But, if any of you would be so kind as to show me around, I’ll remember the kindness and return the favor by Searching you when I Impress.” He said. When several of the men turned away, Mirrial used her influence again.
“Oh, you guys. Can’t you show my brother around? Please?” And she put on a sad face that won them over. “I really would appreciate it, and maybe, if there’s time, I’ll let each of you show me around the Hold.” Though she knew that most of them only wanted to get her alone to get her in bed. They shrugged and, since she had promised them such a favor, showed her ‘brother’ around.
“So, I’ve seen practically everything.” She said, adding a bored tone to her voice. “Is there anything I haven’t seen?” She asked, and again slouched on one foot so that her hip was revealed.
“T-t-the…k-k-k-k-kitchens.” He replied.
“Oh, is that all?” She asked, pushing out her bottom lip as if disappointed. “I thought holds had places to keep prisoners and had torture chambers, and all kinds of neat things.”
“Oh well, there are…more things…I’ll show you everything milady. Not…not torture chambers, sorry.” He said the last part a little shyly. They went through the kitchens first, much to Mirrial’s dismay as it wasted time. It wasn’t until about a half-hour later that she was finally led to the prisoner chamber.
“Ooh, this is so interesting! It’s so much bigger than ours.” And the man-actually, he looked more like a boy in his late teens- puffed out his chest in pride.
“We have caught many thieves and murderers.” He said. “Not form here, of course. His is a perfectly safe place. Nothing bad ever happens here.” He said. Mirrial wanted to roll her eyes in disgust, but refrained from doing so.
“Do you have any prisoners now?” She asked. He nodded.
“Yes, one. He was caught steeling runnerbeasts.” He said.
“Really? Wow? Am I allowed to see this thief?” She asked with a tinge of fake interest.
“Well, we shouldn’t really be down here…” Mirrial put her bottom lip out again. “Of course, anything for you, milady.” He said and hurried her along the corridor.
“Right here. Look, he’s right inside. Beast thief!” He shouted at him, just before Mirrial smashed his head into a wall and the man fell unconscious to the ground. She smiled smugly, actually a little surprised that her uncle didn’t keep guards down here. He trusted himself a little too much, she surmised and looked around for something to open the door.
“Danged stupid boy. Can’t keep his hands off me. Shells, it smells down here like a sevenday old dead wherry.” She cried out. “Miiiirrrrriiiiaaaaal?” She heard her brother’s voice form inside, it sounded faint, as if something was making it hard for him to speak. “Mirrial, is that you? How’d you turn into a firelizard. Mirrial? Mirrial. Don’t chitter at me! You’re just like a proddy queen! How’d you turn into a firelizard Mirrial? Mirrial? You are a very pretty firelizard Mirrial, get the keys on the wall Mirrial. Mirrial, is that you?”
“No, my name is Gaura.” She said in her own voice then quickly switched back. She hoped her brother would get the hint, but he seemed to be in a delusional state of mind. “I’m not a firelizard.”
“There are some keys directly behind you, Mirrial. Mirrial, did you say your name was Gaura? Mirrial, why did you change your name and change into a firelizard? Mirrial? Mirri?”
“Shh!” She hissed. “Keep your firelizard flap shut.” She said and then almost laughed at the pun. Firelizards were always talking too much about what they saw, confusing people. He seemed more like a firelizard at this point than her.
“Mirrial? Would you mind flying over to the keys now?”
“Have you been drugged or something, Pitiraon?”
“I was dragged behind a runnerbeast before too! It was…” He said in almost a gaiety tone of voice. “It was…” He tied to remember. “I think they drug me behind Uncle Itar’s runnerbeast. They killed Blazer.” He said and Mirrial heard his voice choke. “Hey, Mirrial?”
“Yes, Pitiraon?”
“Why did you turn into a firelizard?”
“Because, Pitiraon. I wanted to play a trick on you.” She said, playing along. They must have given him drugs!
“Haha! I knew it Mirrial, you can’t fool me! I’m too smart.” And he barked out laughter. “Mirrial?”
“Yes, Pitiraon?” She said, finding the keys.
“Why did you turn into a firelizard?” She sighed as she unlocked the door.
“Come with me Pitiraon. And be quiet…or I’ll put you back in that cell.”
“Okay Mirrial. Mirrial? How’d you turn human so fast? Mirrial? Mirri? Ow! You proddy queen. Don’t pinch me!” He said and was quiet. She hauled the unconscious boy into the cell and locked him in, then hid them. The he began talking again. “Mirrial, did you know that if you put your foot in your mouth you can eat it?” He said and tried to put his foot to his mouth. Mirrial sighed and looked at the boy in the cell.
“He looked just like you, sounded just like you too. About your height, same hair color. Shorter though.” She said and proudly held up a pair of sheers and she cut his hair to the same length as the boy’s in the cell. “Now, perfect match.” She said and smiled, and only she knew the pun she had made at her brother. “Except, you stink worse.” She added and received a jab in the ribs. Within fifteen minutes, she had gotten her brother to sober up and laughed as he stumbled.
When they got back to the main part of the Hold, her ‘brother’ was looking for her. He nodded approval and the men were once again surrounding her, all the better since Itar would recognize Pitiraon if he weren’t properly hidden.
Pitiraon managed to keep his face down though as they exited the hall.
“We’ve Searched several people here.” Shiffer said, still acting the Head Searchrider, his deep baritone and dyed hair even had Pitiraon fooled, and if he hadn’t known it was Mirrial standing next to him, he would not have recognized her either. “We will return in two hours.” He continued. “By then, you all should have your things packed and ready to go to Moon Shadow Weyr.” Shiffer said. While Shiffer continued to talk to the people in the Hold, Mirrial turned to her brother.
“Come with me, we’ll move in the background and get up on the small bronze dragon on the other side of this larger one. Do you see him?” But Pitiraon shook his head. “Good, that means nobody else here will either. So you will remain hidden until we take off.” She said and proceeded to drag her brother behind her to the Bronze. “Itar is such a deadglow.” She said as glanced over at him, listening to Shiffer with a very bored expression on his face. “No, don’t look. Keep following.” And she had her brother on the small bronze.
“Well, that’s it. We must be going now. Remember, two hours.” Shiffer said and turned towards the bronze and helped Mirrial and the real Dragonrider up. He was about to climb up himself when Itar suddenly cried out in dismay and he pulled Shiffer back down. The bronze, still acting as Shiffer’s bronze–and truly having more respect for him–lowered his head menacingly, but didn’t move more for fear of dumping his real rider which was only halfway up in the saddle.
“You!” And Itar’s face was red. “You aren’t a real Searchrider! This isn’t a Head Searchrider patch, this is a WingSecond patch, and there is no Searchrider patch!” He bellowed. At least he still thinks I’m a dragonrider. He thought, and if Mirrial had know that had been what he’d been thinking at that time, she would have berated him fiercely for worrying about a thing like that.
“Look out!” The real Dragonrider cried out as Itar suddenly pulled his knife, but Shiffer had seen it coming and had his own knife out. The people around the two backed off. They circled each other slowly, each waiting for the other to make the first move. Shiffer knew he couldn’t make the first move without risking injury, and Itar knew the same.
Mirrial started to leap of the dragon to help her cousin but the dragonrider firmly held her back.
“Never, never interfere when there is a fight like this.” He said warningly, but Mirrial wasn’t listening. She wouldn’t let her cousin be killed by her uncle. He was stronger, and Mirrial knew it, as did Pitiraon as he jumped from the small bronze’s back.
“Itar!” He shouted, creating a distraction for Itar, and Pitiraon saw his chance and took it.
“How’d you…Aaarrgh!” He bellowed as Shiffer cut Itar’s side. The surprise that Pitiraon had somehow escaped and the shock from the wound, made Itar stumble, but he was ready again, and they circled. “Now I see it all! You are Shiffer, aren’t you? Haven’t seen you since you were a baby.” He said and glowered. “You shouldn’t’ve interfered. You know you’ll pay for this. And Mirrial, once I kill Shiffer, I’m going to kill Pitiraon and then you and your father lastly. And I’ll drag your bodies to him tied to runnerbeasts!” He shouted.
“You’re a madman, Itar!” Mirrial yelled, still trying to brake free of the Dragonrider’s grasp. “Think of what you’re saying! The dragonriders won’t let you harm us!” She said, and as she did so, the rest of the fleet showed up and dove at the Holder residents, who ran screaming like maniacs.
“I’ll kill all the dragonriders as well!” Itar yelled in a shrill maniacal voice. But his concentration wasn’t diverted by this new diversion and no dragon would truly harm a human. Mirrial laughed from her seat, stopping her struggle for a moment.
“If you think you can kill all of these dragonriders, Itar, you’re crazy!” And Itar suddenly lunged. Shiffer sidestepped and then grabbed Itar by the arm, letting his momentum carry him past, but his strong hand restrained the older man from going too far forward. He thrust the knife down in Itar’s side and then took Itar’s knife from his grasp when he fell to the ground, gasping in pain.
“I’m letting you live, Itar, against my better judgement. But, if you, or any of your family ever shows their face in my family’s hold,” Shiffer said, disbanding his family from Itar and the rest of Itar’s crazed Hold-Happy family. “I will personally see to it that you are killed. Do I make myself clear?” He said and looked down at the Lord Holder who only glared.
Shiffer mounted the Bronze.
“You haven’t been rid of me yet! I’ll be there one of these days when you least expect it. I’ll be your shadow, and I’ll be watching your every move. And when you let down your guard for just the slightest moment, I’ll kill you!” But his last words Shiffer didn’t hear because he nodded to the dragonrider to let them go between.

When they arrived back at the hold, Lord Schille was near heart attack because he couldn’t find his nephew or children. When he saw the dragons appear he breathed a sigh of relief. When the dragons landed, he frantically searched for his nephew and daughter.
“Where’s Mirrial. Where’s Shiffer? Where’s Pitiraon? I’m going to make sure the boys are punished well, and Mirrial too for giving me such scares.” He frantically said as a tall dragonrider slid from the back of his Bronze.
“Uncle, it’s me.” Shiffer said as he moved towards the old man, scaring him temporarily.
“What the…what’d you do to your hair?” Then he looked up and notice Mirrial and Pitiraon as well
“Mirrial! What a shameful dress! Get down here and change immediately! Why didn’t you tell me you were with dragonriders? And why didn’t you tell me you were leaving in the first place? Pitiraon! Why’d you cut your hair? Shiffer, you dyed and cut your hair, what is with this?” He was frantically searching them for any harm.
“Allow me to explain.” The real dragonrider, in Shiffer’s clothes said. “You see, Pitiraon here was napped from you in the middle of the night a few nights ago. Shiffer brilliantly planned out a way to rescue him.” Mirrial made a sudden sound of dismay.
“Hey, I’m the one that did all the work! I had to touch that disgusting boy who couldn’t keep his hands and eyes off me—”
“He didn’t do anything to you?” Pitiraon asked defensively, looking ready to go back and wring that boy’s neck if he had to.
“And I had to wear this skimpy dress which I have no taste for, and wear my hair in a silly style. I look like I have a mass of mating firelizards twined together in my hair on a clump-like rise!” Her voice sounded dismayed and she ignored her brother’s comment. “Then I had to put up with the dragonrider putting his arm around me, which I did not like, by the way.” She said, glaring at the dragonrider as she dismounted. Pitiraon looked like he was ready to strangle the dragonrider.
“You put your arm around her?” He asked and glared.
“Hey! That was supposed to be an act of protecting you!” He said and growled.
“Yeah, well, you didn’t have to pat my shoulder!” She glowered. The dragonrider glared back.
“See if I do anything for you again. And, that was a reassurance that you were doing great!” His bronze bugled his agreement with his rider and from the stress his rider was feeling.
“Fine!” She shouted. Pitiraon looked as if he didn’t know whether he should knock the dragonrider down or not for his actions on his sister. He was half crouched though, in case.
“She’s as proddy as a queen about to fly!” The dragonrider said as he crossed his arms across his chest and sniffed. Shiffer and Pitiraon stood there a moment and then Pitiraon relaxed and started laughing, as did Shiffer.
“We’ve been telling her that all along. Now she has real proof from a real dragonrider!” Pitiraon said and nearly doubled over with laughter, no longer ready to strangle the dragonrider.
“You men!” She yelled and stomped up the steps to the hold. “You’re all like a bunch of…a bunch of…” but she couldn’t find the words and let out an exasperated half-scream, half-growl of anger and stomped into the hold. By this time, Lord Schille had joined in the laughter as well.
“Alright, alright. How about you dragonriders stay for dinner at the Hold tonight? I’d like to hear this story in detail.” He said, emphasizing the last word.

Later on that evening, as the dragonriders were about to leave, they had one more small conversation with Pitiraon, Shiffer, Lord Schille, and Mirrial, and the latter was still fuming over the evening’s occurrences. But she sat still, glaring profoundly at the dragonrider, who’d switched back to his normal uniform by then.
“I would like to ask permission, Lord Schille, to Search the young people here.” The dragonrider said. “We really do have a clutch too, a gold’s clutch.” He emphasized the last two words and smiled at Mirrial, who snorted in response not showing any other reaction to the Search comment, for she hadn’t really heard it in her state. Lord Schille thought a moment. “I think you can Impress a gold.” He told her in a daunting voice.
“Hmm…Well, it’s not my permission you should be asking.” Lord Schille said. And the dragonrider, as well as Shiffer and Pitiraon, looked surprised at the remark. “Ask Lord Shiffer here. He has control of the Hold now.”
“Since when?” Shiffer asked, surprised.
“Since now.” Lord Schille remarked.
“Oh, well, that does present a problem then.” The dragonrider said.
“It does?” Lord Shiffer and Lord Schille asked, surprised.
“Well, yes. We were going to ask if he would like to become a candidate for the clutch as well. He has a brilliant mind, good for working out problems.” The dragonrider said. “And Mirrial has a brilliant mind as well.” He said sincerely and he did see her anger lift a bit, but not near as much as he hoped.
“Not enough of an apology!” Mirrial said in a demanding voice, her face was red from anger and she was tapping her foot angrily, rapidly, on the floor. The clickety-clicking of her shoe on stone was nearly driving Pitiraon mad.
“But I am serious, Mirrial. You have a brilliant mind, I could never attract a man like you could.” His dragon outside bellowed, and the dragonrider blushed when he realized his statement.
“Well, I should hope not!” She said and the dragonrider’s flush deepened as his fellow dragonriders tried to keep from laughing. Then, unable to hold back anymore Mirrial began laughing. “Okay, you’re expression has made up for a little bit of your rudeness.” She said.
“My rudeness? What about out there when you…” And he trailed off, shaking his head. It was no use to carry on with her, she would win the conversation either way, no matter how many times he tried to prove to her how rude she’d been to him. “Well, it’s a nice offer, but I have trained long and hard to run this hold. And…Lord Schille is getting on in his years, as you can see,” Lord Shiffer said to the Wing Second, with a little remorse since he would have like to Impress dearly. “No offense.” He added hastily and Lord Schille laughed.
“I can face the facts, boy, don’t hesitate. I’m old!” And he bellowed his laughter.
“And no one else can carry out the Hold duties because Lord Schille hasn’t trained anyone else and then Lord Itar and his sons and brothers would start fighting over this again. By the first Egg, I swear I’ll kill him if he comes anywhere near here again. And his wound makes him weaker now.” He said. Lord Schille was rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he looked from the dragonriders to his nephew.
“Well…” He said slowly. “There is someone else who can run the Hold.” He said. This surprised the three young people and they stared at him, the Fleet Second eagerly waited Lord Schille’s message.
“And?” He asked finally.
“Well…I you do have that one sister…”
“She, a Lord Holder?” Shiffer asked. He’d forgotten he actually had a sister.
“Lady Holder, Shiffer, Lady.” Schille barked laughter. “And she already was going to marry a wonderful young Lord who comes from a brilliant and wonderful family. Their Hold is neighboring ours, so they can combine the lands if they so wish. Really, that’s a good idea. Now you have Holder training and you will receive Weyr training. Pitiraon, my son, you have weyr training and four years holder training.” For some reason, Lord Schille found this funny and started laughing. “So go boy, I can tell you want to. Go with these dragonriders.” He said.
“Alright, Shiffer, you’ve been Searched. Do you want to become a candidate, Pitiraon?” The dragonrider asked when Shiffer finally nodded his head that he would go. "If you do, we will be taking you and Shiffer next time. We can only fit one candidate in right now, so it will be Mirrial this time around. Is that okay with you?"
“Of course, who would turn down such an honor?” Pitiraon said.
“I almost did.” Shiffer said in response.
“I really did turn down the offer. I was Searched once when I was young.” Again Lord Schille surprised them all. “I suppose I was a wherry for doing so.” He said and smiled.
“Now, Mirrial.” The dragonrider said and turned to Mirrial. “Would you like to become a candidate?” He asked. Mirrial only sat there and stared at the dragonrider.
“Mirrial!” Pitiraon shouted, the tapping finally getting on his nerves. Even though Mirrial had laughed before and seemed to have forgiven, she had continued tapping her foot. When her brother shouted her name she jumped and stopped her tapping. “Stop being so prude and reply to the dragonrider!” Her brothers commanding tone shocked her.
“I’ll stand.” She finally said. “But no more of this ‘I am as broody as a queen business’!” She demanded and glared fiercely at her companions.
“Well, you are.” Someone said quietly, and he was lucky Mirrial had not known it was!