Tiseren hated the Tanning Craft. Sure, it had seemed just like any other craft when he first came here four turns ago, but that was before he knew what it was really like. It wasn't because it was hard work (which it was) or he was treated poorly (he wasn't); it was disgusting. First they got the raw hides, still covered in hair--among other things--and it was up to apprentices like him to soak the skin, scour the flesh and fat from it, and scrape the hairs off of the hide. Then it had to be soaked again in a solution of water and animal brains, before being stretched and dried. It was no surprise that the Crafthall was located far away from the rest of the Hold; the smell alone would be enough to make many people nauseous.
It wasn't just the process of tanning itself that made Tiseren want to leave. The Tanner Crafthall was located near Igen Hold, well within the hot desert climate that the region was known for. While the heat made the drying process easier, it only exacerbated the smell. Working with the finished leather was interesting, even fun, but if he never saw or smelled a fresh hide again, it would be too soon, and he was't even a senior apprentice yet.
He had just finished his chores and lessons for the day and was glad to get inside the Hall, the only place with fans and consistently cool air--thank Faranth for Aivas and the technology it helped create! He felt his stomach rumble and was thankful that it was almost time for the evening meal, so he went to wash up beforehand. It wasn't until he came back into the main hall that he heard his fellow apprentices talking excitedly among themselves.
"...four of them outside now. Only blues and greens, though."
"But those make the best searchdragons, don't they?"
"You don't know they're here on Search!"
"What's going on?" Tiseren asked. What had gotten the apprentices talking about dragons?
A lanky apprentice a turn younger than him looked up and grinned. "There are dragons at the Hall, Tiseren! If we're lucky, they're here are Search!"
Tiseren heart just about stopped. Really? Could he be that lucky? "Where are they?"
"Still outside, with their dragons. Thy haven't told us why they're here yet," one of the apprentices said. She had hardly finished when Tiseren bolted out of the room. She sighed. "Sometimes I think that guy doesn't have enough brains to tan his own hide."
The riders themselves looked unremarkable, but Tiseren stopped to look at the dragons. Two of them were fairly average looking greens, but the other two were blues, one with black markings and one with white. "Awesome," he said. He realized all four of the riders were staring at him. "You have to take me with you!" he pleaded. "I can't stand it here."
Tiseren thought one of them was trying to hide a grin as he said, "Well, we are here on Search..."
Perfect. "Please let me stand for the clutch. Shards, I don't even care if I don't Impress, I'll do some other kind of work." He paused. "On the other hand, my father was a rider, so...it might actually work." Not expecting to ever get Searched, and never having known his father, Tiseren had never really thought about that.
One of the searchriders spoke up before he could keep babbling. "Well, fortunately for you, Treth agrees you might be able to Impress."
Tiseren breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you. When do we leave?" The sooner he got away from the Tanner Craft, the better.