[G] [P] 743.05.23 | All Eyes On You

Oh that isn’t necessary! Larrikith reassured the child, when she felt his sad emotions spike when she gave him the information about N’mor. N’mor is doing quite well for himself! He has a dragon – bronze Rhezalth – and a mate – Z’rin of blue Varralath – and he’s the Weyrsecond at Benden Weyr! It was more than clear that Larrikith was very proud of N’mor and his achievements, a sentiment echoed by B’jin, who smiled with proud embarrassment as Larrikith waxed poetry about his son.

When the boy told her he couldn’t speak, either, Larrikith gave a vocal chirp of amusement that had B’jin glancing idly in her direction, though it was hard to see her from where he sat. Raising an eyebrow, B’jin waited for his dragon to pass on what was so amusing. He can’t speak, either she said privately to B’jin, before chortling to the pair of them: It’s a good thing you didn’t lose your arm, too! I imagine being a one-armed mute would be particularly tiresome! B’jin threw a dirty look in the direction of his dragon, before focusing back on the boy.

Feeling Larrikith’s attention shift from him, and the interesting expressions on the boy’s face, B’jin could tell he was actively trying to speak to his dragon. Mind-speak took a lot for Weyrlings to learn, but B’jin had always felt that that was as much because young dragons were easily distracted by shiny things as it was because the new rider-to-be had to learn to communicate silently. Which made B’jin wonder how long the boy had been mute for. Since birth? A long time at least, he was sure. Deciding the pair were quite occupied with their communication for the moment, B’jin got up and nipped over to the service area, filling a plate with some food and a glass with some wine. He made his way quickly back to the table, and took a seat again as he felt Larrikith adjust her attention back to him.

I don’t think he’d have any issues Impressing, Larrikith said, her words for B’jin alone. He seems intelligent, and he is excellent at communicating for someone who has never been around dragons before. I can sense fear, but whatever is causing it is deeply buried. Do you want me to find out what it is? B’jin considered her words for a moment, before shaking his head slightly. No. He seems distrustful enough without you poking around in his private memories and digging up things he doesn’t want to remember or share. He will when he is ready. What did he tell you? B’jin listened with a slight frown as his dragon relayed what the boy had told her, and after she was finished, he flashed a smile at the kid, and let her relay his own thoughts.

B’jin and I will go and collect your kills when we are finished here, though another wherry may have already made a meal of them. We will get your weapons, too, she promised, since she’d picked up on the attached train of thought when he’d issued the images to her. B’jin has a guitar he’s particularly fond of and understands what it is like to be without it. B’jin nodded seriously, his eyebrows drawn together. A hunter without his bow was as much use as a harper without his guitar (or voice, but neither B’jin nor Larrikith commented on that).

The pair had another quick conversation, before Larrikith’s voice once more returned to the boy’s mind. Why do you want to go home? She asked gently, with genuine curiosity. She had glimpsed enough of his homelife from his mind to understand where he had come from, and how he had been living. Don’t you want to stay here? She decided at the last moment not to overwhelm him by telling him he could even Impress a dragon of his own; she would save that card to be played a little later.