按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃You knew about this？〃 he demanded of Tai； recalling her whispered reassurance under the ramp。
〃Me？〃 she was affronted。 〃I'm certainly the last one they'd tell。 Zaranth can't keep secrets from Golanth or you。〃
〃PUT MY DRAGON DOWN！〃
It doesn't hurt； Golanth replied； peering down at his rider； as he was supported in midair by the other dragons。 I'm high enough to go between。
You can't go between without your rider； Monarth said and Golanth began to descend。
Stop！ Golanth cried to reduce the pressure that was putting him back down on the terrace stones。 That's better。 Be careful of me！ I'm not a feline to be tossed about any old way。 Shaking his head； he righted himself and looked around for F'lessan。 Why can't I do it to myself？
We don't know…yet！ Arwith replied； blinking her lids with puzzled embarrassment。 Queens were supposed to know everything。
〃We're lucky we've got this far；〃 T'lion shouted。 〃Get aboard！〃
As Golanth crouched to allow him to mount； F'lessan hesitated。
〃I'll try it from the left；〃 he said and； trying to disguise his limp； hauled himself up to the neck ridge； though his left leg hung down stiffly straight。
Are you ready； F'lessan？ Monarth said。 This time we'll lift Golanth high enough for safe passage between。
Where？
Swimming。 We're to get Golanth in the water； too； Tai said。
You're expected at Cove Hold today； Path told Golanth。 I mean swim at Cove Hold； too； you know； he replied。
And Erragon has something for you to bring back。 I don't think he needs all of us； you know； Path added in an aside to the other dragons。
Ramoth says we are not to take chances with them； Arwith remarked。 Lift！
F'lessan； once again in the air astride his dragon； felt Golanth's unmistakable elation。 Within that joy was a core of deep fear that told F'lessan something else： as he had been hiding his fears from his dragon； Golanth had been concealing his from his rider…clowning up and down the ramp； exhausting them both so they could neither grieve nor think。 Then he was aware of Zaranth on Golanth's left side。 Poised to lend him her wing if needed？ Well； he would certainly choose Zaranth and Tai as wing riders。 Honshu Hold receded behind them until they were well clear of it。 He could see as far as the clump of holder cots； the fields they had cleared for crops； the river…and the terraces。
It is good； and Golanth gave a sigh of relief； craning his head hard left to make up for his impaired vision。
Let's go to Cove Hold； Golanth。 Bright in his mind were the blue waters； streaked with green over shallower bits： the observatory on the right。 Unconsciously raising his arm in the Wingleader's mand； he brought it down and told Golanth to go between。
BENDEN WEYR…3。27。31
They did it！ Ramoth jubilantly told her rider。 Then she added in a slightly critical tone； Not as neat a landing as could be but； under the circumstances； it was well done。 I don't think that five dragons were needed to lift Golanth。 Just Mnementh and I could have done it。
Most certainly； Lessa agreed but she herself was smiling with relief。 But the Monacan riders needed the practice and so many offered； that it might well require five to control each other。
She had never seen the ebullient F'lessan so despairing as the moment he finally realized that Golanth would never again be able to fly Thread。 And； by that disability； he could no longer be Wingleader。
She thought back to the day when she and F'lar had been overjoyed； the magical moment when F'lessan had Impressed Golanth at the first Hatching he'd been old enough to stand as candidate。 The pair had been unusually well matched and had； almost without visible effort； succeeded in all the training and tests。 At sixteen； he'd impudently encouraged Golanth to fly a female when the mating flight of a junior queen had been opened to all bronze dragons。 The same Turn had seen the birth of his first child。 Two Turns later he had been made Wingleader of a newly formed wing…Benden was at near capacity as a Weyr； so F'lar could take a chance on a new young rider assuming a full wing。
The Honshu attack had been a near thing； even though both F'lessan and Golanth had survived。 Riders often had trouble accepting such severe； and limiting； injuries to themselves or their dragons。 The ones who were not strong enough in character and resilience to deal with the reality would just go between。 That had been the most important factor to the Benden Weyrleaders： that F'lessan； once he understood the severity of Golanth's crippling； would not suicide。 Keita had dismissed that fear instantly。 F'lessan did not have that sort of personality。 Then there was Tai to fort him。 Frankly； Lessa had not foreseen F'lessan making such an attachment but the bination had lasted well past mating； and Zaranth was as supportive of the bronze as her rider was of the man。 Ramoth had kept an ear open for Golanth and Zaranth every moment of the crucial period。 So； Lessa thought privately； had F'lar and Mnementh。
Lessa could now be doubly grateful for F'lessan's keen interest in Honshu and she'd been much relieved to know that he and Tai had begun to pick up the sky…watching during the convalescence。 F'lessan was too important…not just as their only living issue； but to Pern。 How he had given heart at that Weyrleaders meeting！ When she herself had despaired of finding a solution to what the dragonriders could do After； her one child had supplied a direction。
She gave herself a little shake； reliving that moment of cold terror when Ramoth had gone； without her rider； to aid Golanth and Zaranth。
〃That moment is nearly a month ago；〃 F'lar said； ing from behind to bend and embrace her。 〃I know you wanted to be there； but Zaranth is a Monaco dragon and having the support of her Weyr is as important as learning how to give Golanth just enough lift to get airborne。 It's not as if we aren't getting plenty of practice in telekinesis lifting those telescope ponents for Erragon。〃 He hugged her。 〃A fine control you and Ramoth have。〃
〃And Mnementh's potential is seemingly unlimited；〃 she said； returning a sincere pliment as she leaned against him； accepting the strength he always shared with her。 〃So many new things to learn in this new dimension of dragonkind。〃
F'lar gave a dry chuckle。 〃It's no wonder it's too much for some people to absorb。〃
〃We've not had more trouble with Abominators； have we？〃 Alarmed； she turned in his arms to see that he wasn't hiding anything from her。
〃Fortunately； we have enough to do。〃
〃But you don't think we've heard the last with that death at Landing？〃
F'lar sighed。 〃Pinch has evidently seen Fourth in Tone's keeping。 Who can be sure？ Such people are afraid of what they don't understand； won't understand。 So they pretend to despise and reject it since they can't and won't understand。 They retaliate by defiance and witless destruction。 And claim they're acting on behalf of people and for reasons those people don't understand either。 It may just be a sign of our changing times。 And life on our planet is indeed changing。〃
〃For the better？〃 she murmured。
He tipped her head up with one finger and lightly kissed her lips。 〃Definitely for the better！〃
〃You do believe that？〃 Lessa said； seeking reassurance。
〃I wouldn't say it if I didn't believe it。 After how many Turns； don't you know I wouldn't give you false hope； dear heart？〃
She put her hands on the arms that enfolded her。 〃We lived for nearly a whole Turn on nothing but hope。〃
〃And I survived three days without any；〃 F'lar said； kissing her as he reminded her of his own private despair when she had gone back in time to bring forward the five missing Weyrs。
COVE HOLD…SAME DAY； SAME APPROXIMATE TIME
As F'lessan counted the eight seconds in his head； he never thought he'd be so happy to be in the black coldness。 Then they were above the blue waters。 Golanth eased to the right； lowering the left wing's sail to pensate as they glided toward the lightly rippling surface。
This is good！ I have missed this！ Golanth said。
All right； my friend； how do you propose to land？ F'lessan almost laughed as