Fyridare: Story

 [ Stats ] [ Impression ] [ Hatchling ]
[ Weyrling ] [ Adult ]

"Will he be all right?" Half conscious, Fyridare heard voices above him. He was too exhausted and pain-racked to look up, but heard the reply before drifting back into sleep.

"I don't know. His Threadscores are healing, but if this fever he seems to have caught worsens... "

When Fyridare awoke, sunlight streamed into his face. Sitting half-up, he looked around. He was in a whitewashed, sunlight-filled room, lieing in a white, soft bed. He guessed this was some kind of Healer Hall.

It seemed normal, more normal than anything since that terrifying Threadfall. Yet, something was wrong. He could remember everything else, all that had happened.... except this. What was missing?

Then he realized. It was silent, deathly silent. Annoyed and somewhat scared, Fyridare rapped his fist on the side of his bed.

The silence was not broken.

He opened his mouth, shouted, screamed for someone, anyone.

There was no sound.

But a green robed Healer did come into his room. She opened her mouth, moved it as if speaking. Then he knew what had happened, what must have happened.

He had gone deaf.

But, she did seem able to understand him, so he tried to speak. "I can't hear you. Get a hide and ink, write what you said down." Thanking Faranth that his mother had made him learn to read at one of the holds their caravan stopped at, he decided that he would have to learn to read lips. Soon.

When the journeywoman left the room, he decided that she could hear and understand him. Several minutes later, a different man, in the garb of a MasterHealer, returned with the ink and hide. He wrote,

Fyridare, Delra told me that you couldn't hear her. I'm going to mkae an examination and find out if you are deaf.

"I am. But yes, you can."

A candlemark later, the Healer wrote:

I'm afraid that the fever you had caused a complete loss of hearing. But, I do have an idea. In ancient records, I have read that we used animals, canines, usually, to help the disabled. I don't know how smart canines could be, but I do have an idea. At the Healing Den, Baeris Kshau has a clutch of special firelizards. She believes that they are more intelligent than normal, and could help you live a more normal life. If you agree, I will arrange for you to find a firelizard to Impress from that clutch.

Fyridare read the letter, frowning at the word 'disabled' . But he nodded, knowing it was probably his only chance. "Ok, then."

I think that you're well enough to go between. If you're ready, I'll arrange for transport.

"I'm ready."

Good. There are new clothes at the foot of your bed. Shard will be waiting for you, to take you to the Healing Den.

He left, and Fyridare, rising, proceeded to put on the clothes. They were very soft, but rubbed painfully against his Threadscores. Sighing inaudibly, he left the room, and headed down the hall.

Before he reached the end of the hall, he was accosted by a dragonrider, presumably Shard. At the man's signal, he followed him out to the blue who awaited them outside the Hall.

Hello. Shocked, Fyridare shook his head to clear it. He had heard a voice... hadn't he?

You heard me. I am Jeremoth. You are not hearing me with your ears, but with your mind.

He turned, and looked at the blue dragon. Jeremoth?

The dragon smiled mentally as Shard helped Fyridare to his back, and  climbed on in front. Safe ride, Fyridare. Shard tells you the same.

They flickered between, and were gone.