Salem's Search

Salem sat quietly on the beach of Dragon's Sea Hold. He sat on a large rock, facing the setting sun as he watched, eyes squinted. He'd go when he got dark. He'd be back in time for dinner. And if he didn't, he'd just steal something from the kitchens. Salem absently rubbed at his newest scar, breaking the scab which made it bleed again. He sucked at the softly gushing blood, spitting it out when his mouth got to full, trying to wash the bitter taste from his tongue. He fell back on the rock, staring up the darkening sky, connecting the stars with his fingertips. The nearby trees covered him in their dappled shadows. He didn't want to leave here, but thinking about it made him depressed. He leaped off and made his way to the main building.

Salem turned into the kitchens casually, appearing only to be taking a short cut. He passed a bowl of fruits, reaching behind to take a few, nibbling on one while the others were slipped into his shirt. The smell of meat pies reached him. He used to same maneuver as before. He appeared to be rubbing his stomach hungrily as he held the food from slipping out. He passed a kitchen lady, whom he nodded to in a greeting. He peered into a pitcher of klah. Seeing it was barely full, he finished it off, drinking straight from the pitcher. A sharp pain in his side sent him spluttering and dropping his plunder. He spun around, seeing the kitchen lady he passed holding a broken knife handle. "Stealing your meal again, eh, Salem?" He grinned sheepishly. "'Course not, Ollia. I can't believe you'd think such a thing." The woman eyed closely. "Right. Tell the truth or I'll the Master. He'll have you scouring pots for the rest of your thieving little life." Salem took a leap back and held his hands up in mock terror. "No, nothing but kitchen duty! Hahahah... all right, I stole. I'm ashamed. And I'm sharding hungry, too." Ollia shook her head and shoved two meat pies into his hands. "Go now, afore I change my mind." Salem laughed and began jogging away, rubbing his smarting side.

"Good morning!" Salem let out a cry as he sat up in his bed, drawing his blankets closer. He glared at the grinning girl who was cleaning up his sleeping quaters with him in it. "Salem... ," she said, laughter in her voice. "I never you still slept in the nude. I thought you only did that when you were a baby. " "Out, mother!" He pointed firecely at the door. She snorted, blowing her brown hair out of her face. "Hmmpf! Too old for your ma to see you in your birthing suit, eh. Fine. Oh, and I've secret that I'm not telling you because you're grumpy!" She slammed the door. Salem leapt up, using his blanket as a cover. He shuffled to the door, opening it as he looking for the girl. "Ma, tell me the secret. You know I hate guessing." Galore just ignored him, straigenting up his messy quaters. "Okay, I'm sorry. Stop cleaning up! I said I'm sorry. Come on, Ma!" The brown haired mother finally turned to him. "All right. I'll tell you. Searchriders are coming from Talor Cliff Weyr to search for their senior queen's clutch. And you'd better hurry, there aren't very many slots open." Salem's jaw dropped and he shuffled into his bathing room and got ready.

"What did I do?" Salem was caught for something he thought he didn't do. The MasterHarper, whom was Galore's husband, was towering over him. Even at fifteen, Salem's height was no match for the not much older man. "A sevenday ago you stole breakfast from the kitchens. You were asigned to kitchen duty, but Ollia said that you never attended to it." Salem put on a look of disgust and anger. "A sevenday ago! But I forgot! How was I s'posed to know!" Master Harper Jaor simply shook his head. "You do things, Salem, knowing the consquences but never respecting them. Go now, or I'll have you on double duty for every steal you've made. I do have this recorded." Salem stomped off, muttering curses under his breath.

It would take all after noon. How many people lived in this Hold? How much could they possibly eat? He'd never see a Searchrider by the time he was through. Stupid Mailor would Impress before he was through. Galore stepped up beside him. She put a finger to her lips. "Shhh... don't tell Jaor. You wash and I'll dry." Salem's face broke into a grin as he picked up the first greasy pot and began to wash.

"Eww... my fingers look like an old fruit." "Mine too. You'd better hurry up." Salem thought for a moment. "Oh! I nearly forgot! Thanks for the help, Ma!" He dashed off, looking at everyone for a shoulder knot that showed they were a rider. He looked through everyone. He finally saw a group of them in the Dining Hall, chattering after dinner. He tried to wait and catch his breath, but he couldn't. He ran up to them, palms on his knees. "Are... hah.. all the slots... filled?" he gasped. The Searchriders stared surprised at him. One finally nodded. Salem cursed, rather loudly. They all broke into laughter. "Ha!" one of them shouted. "If you want to be a rider so much, then you can wait a sevenday or two. A green is due to rise after the Queen's clutch. Can you wait?" Still rasping, but standing up straight, Salem shouted ,"Sure can!"