Xanadu Weyr - Beach
The unerring range of subdued white rises and falls in a multitude of sandy dunes, creating an endless amount of tiny valleys constantly demolished and rebuilt by the frequent arrival or departure of a dragon. Smoothing out as it slopes gently to the edge of the deep blue water, the sand darkens and a shell here and there stands out for children to collect. The beach itself is set along a low cliff - the height lessoning as one heads eastwards, blocking a portion of the beach from direct access.
The wide wide stretch of water opens up to the east, the far distant shore way beyond the horizon and the beach curves ever so slowly round to east and west, distant arms of land embracing the wind-ruffled Caspian Lake. East leads up to the mouth of the Rubicon River, where the protecting cliff is merely an arms length higher then the sand, and beyond that, a winding road leading out of Xanadu's territory. Westwards, the beach narrows as the cliff swings out, leaving a path wide enough for dragons in single file before cutting in to the sheltered cove designated the Weyrling Beach. However, cut in the cliff face to the north are a variety of rough, wide staircases, providing access to the clearing and to the meadow.
Taking advantage of a nice afternoon, Kaede has escaped from the stuffy confines of the Crafter area, current tome that she's studying dragged with her, to the open, breezy stretch of beach that Xanadu Weyr is home to. Settled sideways on a bench, the girl is carefully reading, hair wrapped in a scrap of fabric in an attempt to keep the bouncy curls from her face, while one arm holds down the pages, a finger on the other hand running under each line as she reads, mouth moving silently as she works on committing the knowledge contained within the book to memory.
Shellie comes out onto the beach, wearing her bikini. Rieselth's following her closely, and she's carrying a long handled brush. Looks like bath time for the green. "Yes, love, we'll oil you, but first I need to scrub you down, and you know it.
Chin lifts briefly as a voice carries across the beach, Kaede's eyes taking a moment to focus after the change in distance, sweeping over rider and dragon before she's back to reading. Page is flipped, brow is furrowed, and she's turning backwards to the previous page again, reading softly to herself as she tries to make sense of it. "Shardin' holders." She mutters under her breath, rubbing at her eyes as she finishes the paragraph she was on - finally.
Shellie smiles at the girl, then turns to Rieselth. "Go on ahead, love. Soak for a while." She walks over to where Kaede is sitting. "Morning. How are you today?" She sets down the brush, and glances over at the green again.
Kaede's attempt to read continues, painfully slowly it seems, for the finger on the page is making very little noticeable progress down the page, as it constantly seems to backtrack. Absorbed in her reading, there's a little jump as the voice is much closer than it was previously… and it seems to be directed at her. Looking up hurriedly, Kaede squeaks a little, pushing her hair out of her face. "Fine, really. Studying, ma'am.." She offers politely, a half-smile on her face, even as she glances down at her book again, distracted, before she offers belatedly. "You?"
Shellie shrugs, and settles down on the sand nearby. "I'm doing well, enjoying a restday." She offers her hand. "I'm Shellie, Healer Senior Journeyman here at the weyr, and rider of Rieselth." She indicates the green, who for whatever reason hasn't yet gone into the water. She does raise an eyebrow when she notices you reading.
"My mentor says once I can prove to him that I know this… Then I can have a rest day." Kaede offers with a little frown, shaking her head before a piece of tooled leather is pulled from her pocket and shoved into the book, the heavy volume flipped shut with a dull thud. As it remains settled in her lap, she leans to offer Shellie a hand, smile becoming slightly more genuine then. "Pleasure, ma'am.. Harper Apprentice Kaede."
Shellie nods, understandingly. "Sounds like my mentor when I was an apprentice." She takes the hand, and shakes gently. "The pleasure's mine. I don't think we've met yet. Have you been posted to Xanadu for long?" Rieselth is still not getting into the water. Indeed, she seems to be approaching the harper and her lifemate, snuffling in the sand as she does.
Kaede spares the green a glance, offering a slight bob of her head to Rieselth in acknowledgement before she's shaking her head at Shellie. "Half a turn, or so, ma'am. Was at the Hall before that, but hopefully I'll be making my Seniorship soon." She taps the book in her lap. "Just three more subjects, and an oral exam.." She offers brightly, sitting up a little straighter, pushing at the fabric that tickles an ear.
Shellie grins. "My grand-neice is going for her Journeyman Project at the moment. She and a friend of hers are working together on it…" She trails off, and just eyes Rieselth. "And what has gotten into you, m'dear?" she asks, dryly. The green is snuffling closer, and in fact is sniffing at Kaede, her eyes whirling green.
Kaede straightens up as the green comes closer, hesitantly lifting a hand towards the green's nose, the girl's familiarity with her father's brown causing old habits to kick in as she offers a scritch to a nose, even as her gaze wanders back to Shellie. "I'm specializing in Law… My mentor says if I make Journeyman by the time I'm twenty five he'll be impressed…" She wrinkles her nose and ducks her head a little, before looking back up at the greenrider. "Have to wait for the cases, to get the experience."
Rieselth croons in pleasure as she finds her nose scratched. She's almost acting like a fire lizard, but there is a different, as she's much bigger. Still, she nuzzles Kaede, causing Shellie to go wide eyed. "Rie! That'll be enough of that. I'm sure she doesn't want you to be pestering her for scritched all the time!"
It is a distracted scritch, but a scritching never the less, fingers automatically moving to find the itchy spots as the green reacts, Kaede offering a little bit of a giggle as she does so. "I'm sure there are plenty of weyrbrats who would happily give scritches, to get out of their lessons. I -have- to do my lessons, though.." She offers, giving the green a gentle pat on the nose, a subtle indication that she's done for now, even as she leans away from the nuzzle. "Hey.." She ducks, and peeks almost hopelessly at Shellie.
Shellie smiles, commisserating. "Believe me, I know how you feel." She stretches, and lays back, hoping for the moment that Rieselth's had enough and is going to go off and soak for now." Unfortunately, it would appear that Rieselth isn't going to take no for an answer, and she nuzzles Kaede again, a little more firmly this time.
Kaede squeaks again, shifting away down the bench, awkward given the large book cradled carefully in her lap, turning her shoulder into the green's nose as she ducks her head. "Hey!" She protests again, this time a little more, lifting a hand to give the muzzle a gentle nudge. "Rieselth.." She murmurs, shaking her head. "Stop.." She murmurs.
Shellie is mortified, until her eyes blur for a moment. "Well, why didn't you say so?" She sighs, and shakes her head again. "I'm sorry about that Kaede, but she's got a good reason." She smiles. "She wants me to ask if you would like to stand for Seryth's clutch."
Shoulders hunch a little, and Kaede keeps herself leaning over the book - the Harper in her quite mindful of its value, as the green lingers. And then, at Shellie's question, her head snaps backwards and her eyes open widely. "W-What?" She finally manages, her mouth taking a few opens and closes before she is able to speak. "Me? I.. I have studies, and… and.." And she stammers, brain reeling quickly through reaction after reaction.
Shellie giggles. "Well, I'm more than sure your Mentor would understand. And you don't have to accept. But it's up to you. No craft would ever deny an apprentice the chance to stand, mind you. Nor would most holders." Her eyes cloud, though, as she remebers some turns back, and the business with Hanista hold.
"I…" And she spares another glance at the green, before sighing a little and offering a nod. "I.. I'll do it, I suppose. I.. I doubt my parents would forgive me, if I said no." She offers quietly, even as her fingers slip lightly over the book in her lap, touching the engraved letters of the title. "I'll keep studying, so I don't loose any time.." She whispers, reassuring herself as to the correctness of her choice, before eyes dart back to Shellie and she nods. "I'll do it, ma'am.."
Shellie grins, and stands, then offers her hand. "Then let's get you settled into the Candidate Dorms. On the way, I'll go over the rules with you.
Kaede shifts the large book into a shoulder bag which is settled over her shoulder, even as she's taking Shellie's hand to get to her feet, settling the bag against her back, hand going in her pockets then. "Yes ma'am… Of.. Of course." She offers, still a little stunned, it seems, giving Rieselth another look before she's settling in to trail after Shellie towards her new home.
Xanadu Weyr - Candidate Barracks
A long, low ceiling room opens off the entrance hall to the arena, one wall slightly curved as it is set against the outer wall of the arena itself. Cots are set evenly the length of the room, in two rows, each with its own small press at the foot, for personal belongings. Wide windows are spaced along the outside wall, letting sunlight in, while other lights are available for the night time hours.
Shellie comes in with Kaede, talking to the Harper girl. "Welcome to Candadicy, then. There are a few rules that you need to follow, of course. First of all, no drinking. If you're caught drunk, you can be removed from candidacy. Also, no sex. The fact is that pregnancy could cause a lot of unpleasant complications that no one would want. No fighting with anyone, particularly the other candidates." This last leads her to look over towards Pyriel for a moment, before turning back to Kaede. "Finally, no leaving the weyr without being with a Rider. We may need to get you back to the weyr at a moment's notice.
With a shoulder bag hanging against her back, the bag looking heavy, Kaede is trailing in behind Shellie, a rather blank expression on her face. Pausing just inside the door, she glances around the barracks, nodding absently to Shellie as the rules are mentioned. "Yes'm.." And then at the list, she nods. "Of course, ma'am…" She repeats again, skirting around Shellie to find a cot, looking a little pink as she does so. "Thank you.." She murmurs, as she settles her things down, to get herself settled as well.
Pyriel is looked at? The harper scowls from his cot at Shellie, though the evidence on his face and hand that he'd been in a fight within the last couple of sevendays was evidence enough. Golden eyes settle on Kaede briefly before he goes back to filling his press with his stuff.