28. Distances #2
The master jumped back, swinging around with rage in his eyes. Whatever he was fumbling with, he dropped, and a metallic clink chimed as it landed on the surface of the workstation.
“Blasts!” Lyric bellowed. “How long have you been standing there?” He shook his head and raised the large clear goggles from his eyes, which had left a deep indentation in his blotched skin. “Are you trying to draw a last breath from me, sneaking up like that?”
His thick accent combined with his flustered state drew a laugh from Aeden, who raised his hands to feign innocence.
“I’m sorry, Lyric, I was worried when I couldn’t see you around the hatchery, so I thought I would have a look around to try and find you. I didn’t mean to startle you, but I did call out for you a number of times.”
“Still, next time have the decency to knock. It’s a miracle my heart didn’t stop.” He shook his head and brushed his thick, coarse hair back from his face and over his head.
“What are you doing?” Aeden asked, intrigued as to what the harness was for.
“This? I’ve been working on it for a couple of weeks. Needed a few modifications, but it’s pretty much ready once I manage to fasten this clasp to it.” Lyric looked down at his thick, sausage-like fingers. “These hands were made for the anvil, not for finer details.”
“Is it something I can help with?” Aeden asked. He walked towards the worktable, and Lyric stepped to the side to allow him access. When he picked up the bronze clasp, it was warm to the touch and finely polished, the light of the room reflecting well on it. “What’s it for?” he asked.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Lyric said. “This is your harness, for riding Nyra. Now, I’ve made some modifications to it to help with her wings, but I will go through that once it’s ready to be fitted, which will be as soon as that clasp is clicked on.
I’ve already done the other half, it just needs fastening into place. Care to help?”
A large wooden beam hung above, which Lyric had used to suspend the harness in the air, likely to make it easier for him to work on it.
Aeden hadn’t given much thought to actually riding Nyra. He was enjoying simply being in her company and talking to her, their bond getting stronger with every passing day .
When he didn’t answer, Lyric said, “You are an Aer-Kin rider. Well, to ride an Aer-Kin, you need a harness to sit comfortably but also to help you steer. Yours needed a few modifications given Nyra’s issues with her wings.
I started working on it as soon as I realised that Nyra’s wings were permanently damaged.
It’ll help her be more comfortable in general, but also when you are mounted.
” He tilted his head and gave Aeden a puzzled look. “Are you okay, lad?”
“It’s just, I hadn’t given much thought to riding her.”
“Well, I would get used to that thought, because she is now at a size where you can. You won’t have much time before the director will insist on seeing her in action.
That means you’ll start having some classes around flight” – he stopped himself.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to – I mean, although she can’t fly, I imagine you’ll still need to learn how to ride her. Is that not what you want?”
Aeden looked up at the harness again and reached for a loose strap that was hanging down.
It stood out, as it was the only strap without a clasp attached, so he set about attaching it.
It took him a couple of attempts, but it was easy enough to do, looping the leather in and out until the clasp could be pulled tightly without coming loose.
“It is what I want,” Aeden said. “More than anything. But with her wings being damaged, I didn’t think I would be able to.”
“Well then, you’re in for a treat, aren’t you? Can you help me carry this back through?”
Lyric pulled on a chain to the side, a mechanism squeaking as if it was in dire need of a good oil as the harness lowered until it filled the workbench .
Aeden grabbed hold of one side and Lyric the other, and the two of them carried it back to the main hatchery. The harness was far heavier than it looked, and Aeden had to stop twice to allow himself to reposition his grip so that he didn’t drop it.
When they reached the hatchery, they were greeted by the wall of heat from the furnace.
“Why is the furnace on so high? It’s so hot in here,” Aeden asked as Lyric led them to Nyra’s pen. They lowered the harness gently to the floor in front of her enclosure.
“The eggs are in their incubation period. Keeping the temperature high through these final weeks will help make sure they’re ready for hatching on time, ready for the bonding ceremony.”
“I couldn’t stay in here all the time, it’s unbearable,” Aeden said. Sweat was already pooling on his face.
“Ah, you soon get used to it.” Lyric set about stretching out the harness and mumbling under his breath. He examined every strap, buckle, and clasp individually until he was satisfied.
“Perfect. It’s just about ready for Nyra to try on.”
“We might need to wait a while yet,” Aeden sighed, raising an eyebrow as he looked at a sleeping Nyra. She seemed so peaceful. “What was it you always say?”
“Never wake a sleeping Aer-Kin,” Lyric said.