Arrival on Mavros

[cookmi]

The deep blueish gray waters of Mavros bay chopped against the salt-crusted hull of the little wooden fishing boat, and Bowen was glad. It was good to see land again; dark, beautiful cliffs and sandy shores surrounded him on three sides within the sheltering arms of the island. Bobbing up and down all day long for the last several days hadn’t agreed with his stomach any more than the fresh fish chowder he’d had the day he left Fort Hold to come here.

Ahead was a gaping hole in the cliffs where the waves had eaten away at the rock, creating a large cavern. The fisherman and his salty little wife, whom Bowen had bought passage with to the island, alternatively pulled on the tiller and wrestled with he small three-pointed sail until the craft was skimming directly towards the cave.

Bowen felt a rush of excitement as the little boat slid under the cavern’s mouth, the solid rock over his head blocking out the hazy sky like a great mouth which was slowly swallowing the world. Under the rock, the temperature dropped several degrees and Bowen shivered.

As the boat approached the docks, Bowen collected his belongings. There was a large, lumpy duffelsack which held his clothes and a few personal belongings. Then there was his pride and joy, a hand-crafted ashwood gitar, polished and waxed until it positively glowed. Finally, a sleepy and very seasick firelizard named Drune, whom Bowen found curled up in the gunwale in a pile of fishing nets.

Slinging his sack over one shoulder, his gitar over the other, and tucking the lizard under one arm, Bowen stepped off the boat and onto the dock.

“Well boy,” Bowen said to the decidedly groggy firelizard, “We made it—Mavros wherhold!”

Stepping up the wide stone steps carved into the cavern floor, Bowen made his way into the Harbor cave, eager to meet the people he was sure to be regaling with his music before the day was through.

[tovaana]

Candidate Vavithan;

“Yes, those should be sufficient.” Vavithan nodded to the young sailor he had met in passing in the dining area. He had overheard them talking about their ship and the possibilities of repairing it after a couple day days at sea. Unable to resist the urge to join the conversation, Vavithan had found himself deep in a conversation about different woods and waxes and other ways to mend ships. This of course led to other discussion, such as fish and the best ways to prepare it. The conversation had left Vavithan missing being surrounded by ships and the ocean – so it was an easy agreement for Vav to tell the lad that he would meet him in the harbor cave to give him a few pointers and things to fetch to take better care of the vessel he helped with.

Now that the boy was running off to fetch the items, Vavithan found himself with a few moments to himself. There had been classes in the morning, and there would be other requirements later in the afternoon, so there was so rush to leave the cove. The echoing noises of the ocean was soothing as he went slowly down the line of ships that had long returned from morning expeditions and would probably go out in the evening. A couple of ships that were more beat up reminded Vav of the ship he had been working on before leaving… A twang of guilt went through his thoughts as he remembered his abrupt leave of his home, without even saying goodbye…

That’s when he heard a man’s voice as he got off a boat that had recently arrived. “We made it—Mavros wherhold!” Vavithan kept his easy walk, finding his path soon to cross the man with his brown firelizard and gitar swung over his back. A harper no doubt.

“Welcome to Mavros.” Vavithan felt inclined to say, though he wondered if he, a mere candidate, should be the one welcoming the man. Vav glanced about the man casually, but didn’t notice any extreme baggage that he could help him carry. “You’re a harper then? Does your firelizard sing with you?” Vav eyed the creature with a small, yet wistful smile. He had heard a rumor that they could be musical.

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[cookmi]

Delighted to have attracted the attention of a Mavrosi so quickly, Bowen flashed a dazzling smile and gave a little bow. The man was a giant; a good four fingers taller than Bowen and far more muscular. Bowen thought it best to be congenial, good first impressions and all that.

“Well spotted good sir! A harper through and through -- my name is Harper Bowen, and this here is my faithful companion Drune.”

Bowen presented the firelizard with a flourish, which sent Drune’s head spinning. The poor, seasick creature gave a pitiful whimper and tried to crawl up Bowen’s arm and underneath the duffelsack strung over Bowen’s back. Bowen cringed as the scaly, brown reptile dug his sharp black claws into his shoulder. Putting on a good show, Bowen forced his smile wider and blinked back a few tears of pain as the firelizard finally settled atop the duffelsack, his long thin tail looped around Bowen’s neck.

“As far as singing goes, Drune appears to not be in the performing mood right now—and more’s the pity, for Drune’s harmonies are fabled throughout the Holds as being a true delight. However, I am feeling quite musical at the moment—give me but a moment to tune my instrument, and I shall regale you with an epic ballad which I only recently composed during my long and arduous journey to this magnificent isle.”

Dumping the duffelsack (and the unfortunate Drune) unceremoniously onto the ground, Bowen slid his gitar over his chest, leaving the strap over his shoulder. His hands moved like quicksilver over the pegs and strings, tightening here, strumming a little there, until the hand-polished ashwood thrummed as if it were coming alive. Bowen’s fingers cascaded down the neck of the instrument, producing a frill of notes which climaxed in a playful chord which hung in the air for a moment like a bird poised in flight. Then Bowen sucked in a lungful of air and started to sing in his fine, tenor refrain, his gitar thrumming and humming along in tune.

“Fine blows the wind, and fair flows the sea,
Across the blue waters from Holds far and free,
And here’s the gray rock, the salt sandy shore,
Where the dragons of Mavros still fly evermore!

When skies are like seas, and sails are great wings,
Where the golden-voiced harper plays as he sings,
What the brave riders peril, their lives and their love,
Who but the great dragons may choose who flies up above!

So listen, learn and love, and choose what to see,
For the dragons are wise, and so must we be,
And no dragon flies further, none so fast,
As the dragon of time, which none living may outlast!”

Bowen let the last notes of his ditty bounce off the stone walls of the cavern until the air was still. Then, with a flourish equally as grand as if he were performing for a Lord holder, he gave a deep bow.

At that precise moment, Drune upheaved the last remnants of his fish chowder, spattering bile all over Bowen’s duffelbag. Momentarily lost for words, Bowen stared at the brown firelizard, which had taken on a decidedly greenish tint.

“Uh, I don’t suppose you know what to do about a seasick firelizard,” Bowen asked, “I think Drune may have had the last of sea voyages for a while.”

[tovaana]

Candidate Vavithan;

His gaze moved between the harper and the firelizard, but tended to linger longer on the firelizard. The poor thing looked uncomfortable and didn’t seem to want to socialize in the moment. Vav folded his arms lightly, considering the harper and his gusto voice. Perhaps he shouldn’t have been surprised by the man’s boisterous manner, it reminded him of the polar opposite sort of energy of the hardy sea folk he was more familiar with. However, now that he would… well, maybe…be a dragon rider, he supposed he would have to get used to such people.

Vav nodded appreciatively when Harper Bowen confirmed his suspicions about firelizards being musical. He was disappointed that Drune wouldn’t perform, but was actually interested in the tune that harper wanted to play. It was so… spontaneous, something that Vavithan was not. Part of him was uncomfortable that the harper was drawing attention, but realized that the folk were listening and paying attention to the harper – not to him. He sighed and let his arms fall to his side and he found that one of his feet were tapping on time to the harper’s melody. And…if he listened to the words, why… he hadn’t heard this song before. He found himself enjoying it thoroughly. 

“Did… did you come up with that just now?” He asked in awe, applauding lightly with the rest of the small crowd that had gathered to hear the harper’s tune.

Once more his attention was drawn to Drune, but this time from the sound of the poor beast being sick. “Never got your sea legs, did’ja boy?” Vavithan asked, crouching to get more level with the firelizard huddled on the now soiled bag of the harper. “Uhh, I’m afraid not. My sister has a firelizard, she may know more.” He considered the pale and sick looking miniature dragon. Poor fellow. Perhaps there were herbs that could help? Fresh water…

“Need help with anything? I mean, besides Drune. We can stop by the infirmary and see if they have any tips for your brown.”

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[cookmi]

Bowen was taking a liking to this big man, the strong muscular type who had greeted him. He had a strong and intelligent air around him, like he knew what he was about.

“Well, thank you, I’m glad you liked my song—it’s just a little ditty I wrote on the voyage here. Mavros was my inspiration you know, I ‘ve heard all about it—about the dragons, and the riders, and the hold of course. That’s where I’m headed—the hold, I’ve got to report to Master Clintock, the weyrharper. You don’t happen to know where I could find him, by any chance?”

Bowen glanced down at the unfortunate Drune and added, “And yes, I think it would be best if we stopped by the infirmary, Drune’s never been on a boat before and I’ve never seen him so miserable. Lead on good fellow, and thank you!”

Bowen grabbed up his belongings, slung his gitar over one shoulder, and scooped up his seasick firelizard. All packed, he motioned for the big Mavrosi to take the lead.

“Incidentally, I don’t believe I caught your name—and what is it you do on this fabled isle?”