Darrkon measured up the man who stood a foot shorter than he did.
He had approached from behind and clasped his shoulder which either
showed great confidence in his fighting ability or great stupidity.
He had also showed him an open hand which implied he came in peace,
so Darrkon dismissed the idea that he was unintelligent.  There was
no menace in the man's gaze so Darrkon decided not to draw his weapons.

"Hold friend Darrkon.  Could you spare a minute?"

Perhaps there would be some business today, "Make it quick then.
Was it something for your horse you needed?"

Under this man's gaze Darrkon felt that he himself was being sized
up, and to his surprise he felt he didn't make the measure.

"It's a mount of a different sort concerns me."  The stranger
answered as he continued his gaze at Darrkon, "Allow me to
introduce myself...M'lent, Norwall's Searcher at your service.
Telll me lad...have you ever thought of becoming a Dragonrider?"

The question caught Darrkon so off guard the only response that
came to him was to laugh.  Which is exactly what he did.

M'lent smiled at him, "Can I take that as a yes?"

"A dragonrider you say?"  In all his years Darrkon had never 
heard of a searcher picking someone out from a bar.  He decided
this man WAS a fool afterall, "You're a few years late aren't
you?"

<Don't push him away Darrkon!>  The thought came from Calindeth,
<This may be your chance to join a warren, and join human society
again.>

"It is never too late."  He heard the man answer, "I sense the
ability in you to join a dragon.  If you are willing to accept
it."

<He doesn't know I am joined Calindeth.  What do I do now?>

<It should be obvious!  Tell him you are joined!  Tell him now,
and bring him to meet me.  Prove to him that you can care for
a dragon, prove that you are competent, and show him your
confidence in yourself.  Remember he has lived sheltered amongst
other dragonriders.  You and I have survived on our own, with
no support from anyone else.  He may have different raising but
you're still his equal.  Deal with him as one.>

"I must admit, I am already joined."  He no longer felt any 
unease around the man, as usual Calindeth knew exactly what to
say.

M'lent now looked puzzled, "Truely, what warren are you from?"

Ack!  The dredded question.  Darrkon knew how dragonriders felt
about wild riders.  He had been pushed away by a wing of riders
when Calindeth was still in his first year.  He has not tried to
join any riders since.  Darrkon took a deep breath and thought to
himself and Calindeth, <Well here it goes.>

"I don't belong to any warren, M'lent.  I am what is referred to
as a wild rider."  Darrkon went on to tell M'lent an edited 
version of his life story.  He ended it with Calindeth's desire to meet the searcher.

"Your dragon...Calindeth want to meet me?  Well them lead me to
him.  A fully grown dragon and rider would be an asset to the
warren if they are willing to learn to fight as a unit."

Darrkon walked out of the Travellers Rest with perhaps the one
thing he didn't actually expect to find in this venture...a
potential companion.