Ironna's Search

Ironna held her head in her palm and stared at her Master blankly. All the other apprentices around her were fully or partially alert. And here she was, drifting off to sleep. She couldn't understand why she was so tired all of a sudden. She tried to remember what they were doing. Oh, right. Taking notes on a recipe. But which one? She looked down at her paper. Blank. Oh shards oh shards oh shards. She glanced up at the tall lanky man, who was waving his hands around dramatically. "... And that, my students, is how it is done. We'll be making it next sevenday, so make sure you bring the recipe with you. Class dismissed."

Ironna groaned. A test next sevenday and she doesn't even know what it is. She couldn't ask her best comrade Yoria for the notes. They had recently got into a fight and Ironna was never first to apologize. Yoria was always very stubborn and they'd be furious a t each other for sevendays at a time until Yoria got lonely. Why couldn't she just abandon her pride and admit she wasn't paying attention! It was so frustrating. She shivered as she felt icy sweat trip down her spine. Yes. A nice hot bath was all she'd need. Ironna picked up her book and satchel and began to walk out of the room. Yoria's posionous green eyes were staring daggers at Ironna. She only returned the glare and stumbled out of the room.

"Oh was class dear?" Lellia was cleaning around their chamber. Lellia was beautiful, in an exotic way. Her brown was wavy and mingled with shades of blonde and sometimes even green when the light hit it right. Her skin was beautifully creamy and a dash of dark freckles made her even more exotic. She was tall and leggy and slender, so unlike her daughter. Ironna's skin was the color of old klah and her lips so pink it clashed horribly. Her dark freckles made her look like an idiot, and her short, curveless body made it all even worse. Her deep red gown wasn't helping very much either. "Fine, Ma. It was all wonderful," she lied. "That's good," Lellia replied absently and went about her cleanign.

Ironna walked into her spacious room and dumped her books onto her too-large bed. She stood their, unmoving for a moment until she sighed and stumbled to her window. Maybe she'd catch a glimspe of that sun-like blonde hair or that fair and perfectly tanned skin or the large calloused hands and maybe even catch a whiff of that manly, animal-like scent that would be a turn off on anyone less beautiful. Ah, Reagel if he only knew. Sometimes Ironna wished she had followed her given road to becoming a Healer than taking the beaten path of becoming a Cook. She would've been closer to that god, the wonderful Reagel that she adored from afar. But alas, he was not what she saw today. Today, three dragons had landed in the courtyard. She wondered what they were doing. And she remembered. Searching. She remembered breifly studing book on Dragon Impression before she lost interest and moved on. And breifly, she wondered what it would be like to be with a dragon. But she waved the thoughts away. Foolish. Utterly and completely foolish. But one of the larger dragons, a brown she thought, turned his head towards her. Ironna inhaled suddenly as the large blue eyes caught her own. For a moment she thought the word 'you' echoed in her mind. But she was only dreaming.

She shivered as the icy feeling returned to her spine. Why was she coming down here? What was she thinking? But still, she was descending the stairs. Idiot, idiot, idiot. She kept repeating it to herself, hoping the words would create a barreir and she would be forced to return upstairs. But no, the only came out and drifted behind her. A crowd had gathered near the courtyard. Everyone there had forgotten their manners and were staring in awe at the large beasts. Ironna found an opening in the crowd and peered through. They were even larger up close. One of the riders, the one who had ridden the brown spotted her. "You! You girl!" He shouted at her. Ironna's eyes wided and she pushed her way out of sight. Oh, how foolish she must seem running like this! She found a small niche and began to edge her way through until tight fingers closed around her arm. She spun around to face endless eyes she had adoredd from so far away. "Reagel," she breathed. He smiled at her. Oh, what she had to do not to faint on that very spot! "I think you've just been Searched." Ironna's lower lip quivered as she struggled for something to say. "She has." The brownrider clamped a hand down on Reagel's shoulder. "What's your name girl?" Ironna's eyes darted from Reagel to the brownrider. "Iyanna, I think," Reagel said. Oh joy! Oh happiness! He knew her name! So what if he was a little off. Ironna brushed a strand of fine brown hair behind her ear and lifted her chin. "Ironna. My name is Ironna."