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Inkali's Search
The musicians sat at their usual spot in the middle of
the makeshift tables set up around the beach. Lady
Chekri and Lord Ryoshimae sat between a guitar and
a pipe player, singing a duet along with the
musicians as they did every night.
The teenagers and children danced around the bonfire
farther away from the tables. It reached into the sky,
bright flames seemingly licking at the stars. The
shadows fell across their faces, mixing with the Reli
tatoos that were very noticable on many of the children.
All were wearing bright colors, swinging
jewelry, and bright smiles.
After all... everyone knew that the Islanders
threw great dinner parties. Every night was a party,
and every party was celebrated just as greatly
as the night before's.
However, this time there was an extra guest that
none had expected.The dark blue dragon circled against
the dark sky, only being seen because darkness took place
of stars and then they reappeared as others blinked out.
Cheysi, one of Chekri's children, tugged on the skirt of the
girl next to her and pointed up at the sky.
"What's it Niamh?"
The young woman looked up at the sky, then shrugged
her slender shoulders. "I haven't a clue, Chey."
Inkali pushed aside the curtain of the tent, her face
newly decorated in a wild pattern of Reli that accented
her narrow faceline. Her dark eyes widen lightly at
the scene in front of her. "Sh'var! What are
you doing here?"
She smiles with her thin tan lips, but her eyes still looked
suspicious. Her father sits across the table from the
bluerider, such a broad smile on his face that she's
sure he has just embarked on yet another of his little
bets that the Islanders are well-known to participate in.
"I came here to see how your little boy is doing."
He paused for a moment and smiled when Ksarri winged
in through the half-open curtain. The small flit landed
on Inkali's shoulder, chirping familiarly at the dragonrider.
"He's fine. Ryoshimae has been helping me and Niamh
with our firelizards. Ksarri's learning quite well, and
so is Niamh's bronze." She darts her eyes back outside,
but she doesn't see her friend approaching the tent.
"That's good to here. Very good..." Sh'var smiled,
running a hand across Ksarri's blue head and getting a
croon from the flit. The dragonrider's eyes sparkled,
something which made Inkali a bit hesitant.
"Is that all?" She turned her dark eyes towards
her father.
Sh'var shifted feet. "Actually, there's something
Charmith and I want to talk to you about..."
Her father only grinned at her.
"I can't believe you're going to leave me here!"
Niamh glared at her friend from the doorway of the tent.
She was leaning against the support that cut through
the middle of the entrance, a pout on her face.
"I'm sorry, Niamh, but you heard what I said."
Inkali stood up, trying to keep a stoic face even
though she felt as if she were about to explode.
"You and I know all of the Islands, we know everything
about it. This is my chance for something new."
Niamh snorted lightly, though she wasn't glaring anymore.
"And when you know it you'll come running back here and
you know it." The thin young woman folded her
arms against her chest.
Inkali waggled a finger at her best friend, a grin on her face.
"Not if Sh'var is right. He says I'll Impress
if he knows anything."
"That's what he said about Kavrill," Niamh said
pointedly. She looked at her friend from under
her thin eyebrows.
Inkali rolled her dark eyes and closed the bag around her
bottles. "And Kavrill was a lying annoyance. It's a pity he came
back to the Islands." She stood up and frowned at her friend.
"I wish you'd be happy for me..."
Niamh looked at her friend for a long moment, then
stood up and walked over to her. Putting her
strong arms around her best friend she sighed lightly
and a smile came to her face. "I am happy for you."
She paused, a characteristic sly grin coming to her face.
"I'm just jealous as shards that it's not me..."
Inkali grinned at her friend, her dark eyes sparkling.
"Maybe someday it will be someday..."
Niamh scoffed, shaking her and lifted her nose into the air.
"And leave the Islands? Unlike *some* people, I'm loyal to my
birthplace." While her head was raised, she deserved
a well-placed poke in the ribs.
Inkali's weyr
Story: The discovery of Reli- By Inkali and Niamh
Spirit: Learn more about her (stats)
Where Inkali Impressed Merrith
and
Where Ksarri was Impressed