Deksor "Well, I think that's it for the day," Deskor sighed as he shoveled the last bit of manure out of the runner's stall.  Running his hands through his sweaty hair, the young man patted Southern Snow on the neck and ran his hand through her mane.  "Tomorrow, girl, I'm going to brush you until you shine.  I think that there are a few people who might be coming to buy you.  You'll fetch a fine price.  I would love to have you, of course, but I'm just a stablehand." He sighed, running his hands over the white's withers.  A short, finely-boned boy, Deksor had always had a talent with runners, and had wanted to become a apprentice herder.  Instead, he was sent to Sapphire Hold and became a stablehand.  "Instead of riding a horse, I take upon myself one of the most noble jobs, shoveling their refuse, because who's to do it if I can't?" Deksor had once said to one of the weyrlings who had teased him about being a stablehand.  The male greenrider had been rather confused by this, and Deksor wasn't sure whether he was literate or not. "Well, girl, I have to go and check on that new stallion.  You know, the one that thinks he's the size of a canine and butts people over," Deksor sighed.  "See ya."  He patted the mare's neck again, smiling wistfully up at her. Deksor looked up with slight fear at the huge chestnut stallion and gently patted his muzzle.  The stallion pushed him back with his nose, and Deksor laughed slightly.  This stallion was playful, but everyone in the stables had recognized that as one of his down-sides; he played too hard and didn't realize it.  A few of the more scared stablehands had called him viscious. "I think that you're about as far away as someone could get from viscious," Deksor whispered up to the huge chestnut.  "I'd love to have you, but I don't think that I could afford it.  I bet that they're asking somewhere close to the price for Southern Snow for you, and she's costing a bundle of marks.  Who knows, I might get lucky and be able to buy one of those skittish geldings." He brushed his dark brown hair away from his eyes and sighed again.  "Anyways, your bloodline's too good for me to afford." The stallion snorted softly, and Deksor turned back to him.  He blew air gently into the runner's nose, watching with pleasure as the stallion snorted back at him.  Since runners identified people by smell, the runner might be able to get used to him a little bit faster.  "Like I said to Snow, though, I have to go.  Tomorrow's a rest day, and I"ll be back."  He patted the rump of the large stallion and turned back to the stablehand's barracks. ********************************************************************* Deksor fingered the marks that he'd managed to earn over the past three Turns that he'd been a stablehand here.  He could remember perfectly when he'd gotten each mark.  There were seven (his largest from one place) from when he'd found a green firelizard's clutch and manged to sell all of them (he tried to forget, though, that three of the seven ended up barren), and four from work as a stablehand.  He also had several thirty-second and sixteenth pieces, and they were probably a mark and a half together. He fingered the pouch, thinking about how soft it felt, just like the hide of firelizards and dragons.  Suddenly, he decided that he didn't want to know what it was made out of.  "Ya wanted ta spake to ma?" Julanna asked, and Deksor spun around quickly. "Uh, yeah, Julanna," He said.  "I wanted to know about that big chestnut stallion in stall number two.  You know, that one without markings that's a bit...  er, too playful.  He's out of your WildFire and Everlasting Love.  I..." He trailed off, then decided to ask before his fear got the best of him.  "I was wondering if he needed an owner, and how much you wanted for him," Deksor finished. Julanna looked at Deksor for a moment, then broke out into peals of laughter.  "Dun wurry so much!" She laughed.  "'E needs a rid'r." "You mean that you might be interested in selling him to me?" Deksor asked happily.  "Really?" Julanna just nodded, and Deksor felt like he might expolode with excitement.  He wasn't going to be "just a stablehand" anymore.  He might actually get to own a runner!