Jonari

Lasair Weyr
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“Tis a fine day fer sailin’, i’n’t it.” Dihinol remarked absently to his elder sister, light gray eyes scanning the calm ocean. Jonari smiled at him from her place by the sail, one tanned hand automatically brushing strands of dark hair away from her face. “Yes, ‘tis indeed.” She answered in an equally accented voice, though there was a slight frown starting between her brows at the distant clouds. For a moment, the only movement was the breeze rippling gently against the white sail-cloth as the siblings contemplated eachother quietly.

“Look! Dolphins! I think it’s Dar’s group!” Jonari cried suddenly, pointing at the pod closing in. Dihinol raised one hand to shield his eyes against the sun and smiled at the sight. Sunlight flashed off of sleek gray bodies as the leading dolphin began clicking and squee-ing happily. “I wonder what news they be a-bringin’?” the young woman asked rhetorically.

“Mans come! Mans come!” came the distinct call as the creatures swarmed around the boat. Jonari carefully leaned over the rail, grinning, “A woman too.” She spoke loudly over the sound of the dolphins’ chatter. “Wo-man too!” was the immediate chorus, eliciting a chuckle from Dihinol, who was standing behind his taller sister. “What is it ye came t’say?” the young man asked, giving each dolphin a scratch as they came within reach.

“Big storm come soon, soon. No good for mans and wo-mans. You go back t’shore now.” Dar, the pod leader, advised firmly, among the squeaks and clicks of approval from the others. The two humans looked at eachother, then back at the waiting dolphin. “Thanks fer the warnin’. Here, fish fer ye all.” Jonari responded graciously, reaching for the ever-ready bucket that was reserved for dolphin consumption and deftly throwing the small fish out to the pod. Straightening, she smiled widely at the breathtaking spectacle of dolphins leaping and spy-hopping as they swam off.

The siblings watched the graceful mammals until they were out of sight before a word was spoken. “I s’pose we should be gettin’ back then.” Dihinol said after a moment, making his way to the bow. His sister nodded assent and moved to stand beside him as the little ship made a half-turn and headed for home.

“I don’ like the looks o’ those clouds, Dihi.” Jonari commented, shaking her head as she gazed towards the ominous clouds that were fast approaching. “I know, Jo, I don’ either. Lash up the sails and secure the rest o’ her, will ye? Looks like we won’ be a-beatin’ this storm home.” Dihinol called, never taking his eyes off the ocean ahead.

Jonari nimbly climbed up the short mast and pulled up the single lateen sail, fixing it securely in place with rope and quickly clambering down again. She darted about the vessel, preparing the Dragonbreeze for rough weather, smiling a bit as she pictured the name, proudly emblazoned on the starboard side of the little ship. When they’d finished building the stout skiff, Dihinol had declared that “It would take a dragon-sized breeze to sink her.”. Hence the name. Well, the young woman told herself wryly, glancing at the now-overhead clouds, This storm’s a-gonna cook up a lot more’n dragon-force gales.

“She’s secure, Dihinol, I’ll take it from here! Ye’d best get down, and be righ’ quick ‘bout it!” Jonari shouted over the ever-increasing wind. It was the custom for her, eldest by almost four Turns, to steer the vessel through especially rough seas, as she specialized in sailing smaller ships and had been a Journeywoman Seacrafter for a longer period of time.

Dihinol nodded, his reply lost in the wind, and Jonari took her place at the helm, gripping the wheel tightly. She threw one quick glance backward to make sure her brother was safe before turning her full attention back to battling the storm. This one was going to be a whopper, all right.

Rain began lashing down harder than ever, drumming incessantly on the deck and soaking Jonari to the skin. The wind howled in the young woman’s ear, as if trying to distract her. Great waves crashed against the wooden sides of the sturdy skiff, making it rock violently from side to side. She clenched her fingers around the smooth wood hard enough to make her knuckles strain at the skin. I will get us out of here. I will. I must! Jonari told herself sternly, blinking away the raindrops from her eyes. “Hang tight! There be a beach ahead! I’m a-goin’ fer it!” she yelled at Dihinol, hoping he could hear her. She aimed the battered vessel towards the shore.

The sound of wood splintering made the Journeywoman look back, in time to see a piece of broken railing hit the side of her brother’s head. “Dihinol!” Jonari screamed, but she knew she couldn’t leave the helm without endangering both of them. Turning back, the young woman grimly guided the Dragonbreeze forward, beaching her high up on the sand.

That done, she hurried back to her brother, lying inert at the bottom of the boat. A quick examination revealed a slight concussion, nothing more. Jonari breathed a sigh. She slowly lifted Dihinol up and began walking determinedly down the sodden beach. You must look a sight, Jo. the Seacrafter said to herself, grinning at the thought.

“Ahoy there! You need help?” called a voice. Jonari looked up and saw, with a surge of relief, two men coming towards her. Beyond them were the welcoming lights of a small cothold. “Here, let’s get him to the womenfolk. I’m Tranler, this is Jenarn.” Said the taller, heavier-set of the two men, as he relieved the young woman of her burden. Jonari smiled and thanked both of them heartily, introducing herself and Dihinol. “He’s jus’ got a bit o’ a concussion, nothin’ serious. I’m sure yer wife kin handle it.” She assured Tranler when he inquired.

When her brother had, still unconscious, been settled in, Jonari busied herself helping the women with chores and cooking. “Work keeps worry away.”, as her mother often said. She checked back often to make sure Dihinol wouldn’t wake without her.

It was midmorning the next day when Dihinol awoke. Jonari had been about to leave the room when he’d stirred. “Jo—Jonari?” he whispered anxiously.

“Shhh, I’m here.” Jonari promptly answered, touching his fingers briefly. “What happened? Where are we? Is the Dragonbreeze okay? I’ve the most horrible headache...” Dihinol blurted out. Jonari laughed softly and reached over to smooth his rumpled hair with one hand. “The Dragonbreeze is fine, bar bein’ knocked about quite a bit. Ye got hit by a piece o’ splintered railin’, remember? Nasty concussion it gave ye. Well, we were blown rather far off course, but I managed t’land. I had t’sort of half-carry ye down the beach afore someone found us. We’re at his cothold.” Jonari explained, putting one hand over his eyes as Dihinol attempted to make them open again. “No, don’ try openin’ yer eyes yet. The light might hurt yer head even more. Don’ worry, they’ve sent fer a dragon t’fly ye straight back home. I’m takin’ the Dragonbreeze back once she’s repaired. I don’ want t’risk ye gettin’ even sicker by sailin’.” She continued, almost didactically.

“A—a dragon? Surely ‘tis not worth the trouble...” Dihinol trailed off, seeming embarrassed to be such a burden. Jonari cocked one eyebrow, her words stopped him protesting further. “Yes, it is worth the trouble. A cart would bounce ye too much, the Dragonbreeze would rock ye too much, and ye most certainly can’t ride a runner. Don’ argue, just rest.” She told her brother firmly. She would not have him risk his health like that.

“Oh, fine.” Dihinol said, a trifle disgruntled. Jonari grinned and motioned one of the girls to give him the fellis-laced fruit juice. She smiled down at her brother as he drifted back off to sleep. Brothers could be so silly sometimes.

Jonari had just finished dinner when she heard her brother’s incredulous voice and the dragonrider’s amused answer. She excused herself hurriedly and burst into the room, interrupting whatever the rider had been saying. Dihinol was grinning like an idiot. “This is the wierdest conveyance job that I have ever been on.” The bluerider said, shaking his head. Jonari looked expectantly at him. “You’ll never believe this, but you’re both Searched! No need to sail back to your home, miss. You’re both coming with me!” J’gen declared, adding quickly, “If you want to, of course. Do you?”

Jonari and Dihinol looked at each other, grinned, and looked back at the Searchrider. “O’ course!” they responded in unison.

Jonari almost had a sense of being not quite real as she stood watching Impressions and hatchings. Most of the eggs had already hatched, and several of the greens had looked at her, but she had not been chosen yet.

Movement in the sand drew the crowd's attention from the newest Impression for one of the eggs had wiggled so much that it lay half-buried in the scorching sands--and now it began to shake violently as the hatchling within fought to free itself from its long confinement. I a spray of sand, and shattered shell, the lovely sea-green dragon sprang from the shell like a dolphin breaching from the surface of the water, all lithe sinous motion for one so young. Gently she stepped forwards, her graceful slim body moving with a purpose and intent--the dappled patterns of her hide rippling as she moved, nearly mimicking the soft swell of a sea wave as she slinked forwards. There was no doubt in anyone's mind of whom she would choose, and with barely a glance at the other Candidates, she gazed adoringly into Jonari's eyes. The girl gasped, lifting a hand to her mouth to hide a grin as Saldaeath crooned up at the Seacrafter. We will swim together, Jonari, and soar the cloudy seas of the skies above when I am old enough. You will teach me how to swim, won't you?

Jonari knelt down and stroked Saldaeath's beautiful wings. "'Course I will...an' the sea'll be ashamed of itself when it sees yer beauty." she assured her dragon.