Twins born to a long line of vintners.
Denver (left) Journeyman Vintner age 22
Mesha (right) Sr Apprentice Vintner and Apprentice Harper, age 22
It was first thought that Mesha would be trained as a harper, because of his sweet voice, but it soon dropped and he lost the control that he would need to become a true singer. He then entered the Vintner craft several turns behind his twin, but in a different mode: he is more one to keep lists and administrate, so he knows what is where and who is brewing which.
Denver on the other hand showed great promise in the wine craft right from the start. He has developed a tasty peach wine, with locally grown grapes and peaches. Dawnlight's holders are proud of him, and he actually makes a great bartender of sorts.
The pair often collaborate on things, with Mesha's mind being set on creating something 'perfect' while Denver's hands might be able to actually put it into action.
They don't seem like dragon riders, but they both have always enjoyed bringing their wares to gathers and dragon riders have always found themselves thinking about how organized, clever and stable the pair are.
Plus of course, dragonriding would only detract slightly from their craft, and in fact, if either of them could go for new grapes, cuttings or fruits from other parts of the world, they might have something bigger than just their family trade to rely on!
If they impress: Either of them probably belongs on a blue or even green dragon, though Mesha's ability to organize and think straight would do well on a brown too. Denver's name would become D'ver, while Mesha's would be elided to M'sha.
Dawnlight Hold was quiet this time of the morning. The blue dragon's wings which stirred the air in the courtyard were hardly noticed save for the drudges whose work kept them up either very late or very early.
Trelerth swung his head around, and sniffed hard at the air.
Not here, over there, the dragon bespoke to A'rd.
"Where?"
On the hillsides, where those protected fields are. I cannot land there, without damaging their wine-grapes.
"How thoughtful of you," A'rd smiled and walked the short distance to the vinyard. There, he saw a number of workers examining and watering the vines, including a pair of dark-skinned young men wearing Vintner badges.
That is them! I recognize them. They smell sure.
They smell like grapes, Trel. A'rd grinned to himself. He introduced himself to them, and waited for them to turn.
"And... you are here ... why?" Denver asked, echoed by his brother who poked his head around one of the long twisted vines.
"I'm on Search. Weyrwoman Jewel of Sapphire weyr has opened her sands. Rith has clutched with a very large number of eggs!" The search rider laughed. "And, my blue Trelerth over there," he tossed his head at the elegant and almost smug looking blue on the gather ground, "says that you're both to be eligable for that clutch. How about it?"
It took them a moment. Then, almost as one, the pair of brothers began hooting and laughing, hollering and finally, they calmed.
"It would be an honor," Mesha said. "We must put the vinyard in order first, of course."
"Of course," A'rd said. "It would be a shame to lose even one batch of our famous wine!"
The hatching was a grand event, so many eggs! Several broke at once, in numbers of twos or threes at a time. The brothers stood beside one another and worried together. "We'll impress," Denver said, quietly.
Mesha nodded hopefully. It was hardly safe to say now, the hatching half over, that either of them stood a --
One of several eggs opened, bearing a big bronze dragon! He looked right up at Mesha, striding out of his egg like he owned the place.
I am sure you are the right choice. Your name is M'sha. I am Bornoith. I am very pleased to meet you! Could you show me the food, so we can get to know each other now?
Laughing, while the dragon crooned his delight at being heard by his human lifemate, M'sha said, "Hello Bornoith! I'm glad you chose me!"
He hung about, just moments later -- while Bornoith protested that he was hungrier now than ever -- and Denver had his chance.
The blue which came from a smallish egg glistened in the air, drying his wings. I like you. You smell good! What is that smell? My name is Ditith, are you okay with that?
"His name's Ditith!" Cried D'ver, unable to say any more.
"They are literally climbing the walls, sir..." D'ver said, looking at the blue. Their wings were just about large enough to let them fly, but not quite strong enough.
"It will be soon," the weyrling master promised. "And soon enough for you I'm sure, when you'll get to learn how to send them between, to get rid of their waste..."
The pair of brothers groaned and laughed, they spent so much time shoveling muck out of their shared weyr, it wasn't really even funny! It had been, early on, but then the next batch of weyrling candidates had their own hatchlings to worry about, and their easy assistance wandered away to find their own helpers!
"I'd love to have a fire lizard big enough to go between with all this... crap..." M'sha said. His bronze Bornoith looked up at him with confused eyes.
But we love you! You would choose a flitter over us?
"Never!" Cried both brothers!
"Shards, he's huge!" D'ver laughed. "How are you gonna get that big bronze anywhere?"
"Hey, if H'lis and Synesth can do it, so can we, right Bornoith?"
M'sha, I think he was being funny again.
"No, really, you ARE huge. You're going to be able to catch a fine gold, you know, Born!"
With pride, the bronze puffed up. He was even less likely to get into the weyr's narrow opening now, than ever!
"You're none too small yourself, Ditith," D'ver said to his big healthy blue.
But I will catch a green. Or a purple! Or a white! Won't I?
"I hope you do, some day, Ditith! I really hope so!"
