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ep。 The man stumbled； obviously winded； and regained his balance with difficulty。
That's when F'lessan saw the water being sucked back； away from the beach； all along the shoreline。
He will not make it！
Golanth did not wait for an order but dove sideways toward the man who was straining with effort； head up； arms carried tight to his chest； elbows flaring to suck air into his labored lungs； knees pumping。
The bronze intercepted him； dipping to secure the man in his front paws。
Binness looked up at the outstretched claws； panic contorting his face。 Out of the corner of his eye； F'lessan could see the wall of water that was rising higher； higher； higher and ing straight at them。 He saw the cliff looming up： if the tsunami didn't drown them； they'd smash against the cliff。 Having slowed to catch Binness； Golanth did not have enough air speed to gain altitude！
Between had never been so cold or so forting。 Eight seconds； four deep gasping breaths； and then a watery deluge all but drowning them。
The wave is nearly as high as this cliff； Golanth said； sounding amused。 He had changed position to bring them out of between not far from the point where they had first entered over Sunrise Cliff Seahold。
The bronze had also timed that rescue！ On his own initiative！
Dazed； F'lessan stared down at the tremendous tsunami wave that should； by any rights； have drowned them。 Water splashed high； its topmost point lapping the summit。 Behind the first； a second tsunami roared ashore； battering the land； taking with it the steps that had so recently led the way to safety。
I will put him down near the others； Golanth said； back…winging； hovering in front of the terrified seaholders who were clutching at each other； watching as the crest of the second wave just missed the summit。 Mealth and Galuth had spread their wings high； providing some cover from the windblown spray for the ancient woman sitting very upright in her chair that was rocking in the wind。 I hope my claws did not scratch him badly。
He's lucky to be alive to be scratched； F'lessan responded weakly。 He couldn't quite believe they had survived the double peril。 One more second and the three of them would have been pasted on the cliff face！
I knew you wouldn't mind getting here before that happened。 Golanth turned his huge head to his left as the tsunami flooded inland； boiling up the streambed。 Almost daintily； Golanth turned on his forequarters and paused midair； lowering Binness safely to the damp ground。
F'lessan stared down at the man； supine on the thick drenched ground cover。 There were indeed red marks on Binness's bare arms； where the dragon had clutched him。 The bronze rider sagged across Golanth's neck ridge。 He was aware of a booming noise； not like the shock wave but frightening in its intensity。 Water splashed high on the cliff again； as if seeking to regain a victim that only the initiative and quickness of his dragon had rescued。 He did feel Golanth land； he was aware of Golanth tucking his wings loosely along his back； of the darkness that had replaced the bright sun； of the cries of those who had seen the tsunami curl and nearly inundate their summit refuge。 These were dim； background noises to the rush of blood pounding in his body； the dryness in his throat； the extreme weariness he felt。
Breathe deep； said his dragon with proud affection。 We're all safe now。
〃Who has the wineskin？〃 The rasping voice cut through his self…absorption。 〃Help him down。 Can't you see he's wore hisself out saving us。 Give him a drink。 Cona； go help your man。 He thinks he's dead of drowning。〃
〃It was real close； Granddam；〃 a young voice said。
A hand tugged at his sleeve。 〃Dragonrider； here's the wineskin。〃
St'ven and C'reel had to help him down； Golanth crouching as low as possible to make that easier。 The brown riders propped him up against his dragon and put the spout of the wineskin against his lips。 He opened his mouth to accept a sip of wine。 It was a rough sort； but its effect was more important than its quality。
〃Get a cup； someone！〃 Lady Medda ordered。 〃Can't have a dragonrider who saved our lives drink like a sot right from the skin！〃
〃Get several cups。。。 〃 St'ven yelled over his shoulder。
〃Could only find one；〃 said a woman； a moment later extending it to the brown rider。 〃Everything's mixed up。〃
〃But it's here；〃 said Lady Medda。 〃Lias； Petan； haul Binness back outta all that splashing。 Then e back and carry me to shelter。 Don't aim to sit in all this wet any longer'n I have to。 You fixing to stay longer； dragonriders； you'd better get under cover； too。 Never saw a storm blow up so fast。〃
〃It'll pass；〃 F'lessan whispered to C'reel who repeated his words loud enough to be heard。
The wine revived F'lessan sufficiently to get to his feet； propping himself against Golanth； hoping no one but his bronze noticed his trembling。
Ramoth says to e back to Landing； Golanth said。 Evidently an order which Mealth and Galuth heard because the brown riders straightened up at the same time。
〃We are ordered to return to Landing。。。 〃 F'lessan began。
〃Can ye get that far？〃
F'lessan turned himself toward the sound of her anxious voice。
〃Yes！〃
Lady Medda had pushed herself to her feet…she had a cane on which she leaned heavily…as she extended her right arm in a gesture that still retained a vestige of youthful grace。
〃We owe you； dragonriders。 We owe you much。〃 Behind her； the wet and bedraggled seaholders paused in transferring their belongings and； as one； bowed！
〃We owe you much； dragonriders。〃
The dignified simplicity of their tribute rewarded all three riders for the effort they had made to save the ships。 Then Lias and Petan waited until Binness's dam had reseated herself before they carried her into the shelter of the forest。
〃Send the lads out to see what fruit's on the ground。 Find enough dry wood to build a fire。。。〃 Lady Medda was saying as she went。
〃Thought you were dead； F'lessan；〃 C'reel murmured； his face wet。 〃Here； get your arms in your jacket or you'll freeze solid between。〃
When St'ven saw F'lessan's hands trembling； he did the jacket fastenings； then found F'lessan's helmet and put that on； too。 Then he and C'reel heaved the bronze rider astride Golanth。 〃You're some Wingleader； F'lessan。 Proud to fly with you！〃
〃I； too； bronze rider；〃 C'reel said and saluted before he ran to his waiting brown。
IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM…LOCAL TIME 2：12 AT LANDING…1。9。31
〃I've got to break the news to Toric？〃 F'nor demanded； staring first at his half brother； then at Idarolan who nodded emphatically。
〃You and K'van are the logical messengers；〃 F'lar said。
〃I'd send G'bol as my emissary but he's。。。〃 He quirked one eyebrow expressively。 〃。。。 making time。〃
K'van shrugged； raising both hands in reluctant acceptance。 The expression on his angular； tanned face did not suggest great enthusiasm for the task。 〃We could take Sintary with us。 He's used to dealing with Toric。〃
〃He respects me；〃 Idarolan said with one of his fierce growls。 〃Get him organized and we can proceed on to assist at Southern Boll；〃 he added with a quick sideways glance at young Janissian。 He'd heard good things about her； taking hold with her grandmother ever since old Sangel became so erratic。 This might be an excellent time for the girl to show her leadership qualities。 She was the best of Sangel's blood。 〃Unless； of course； Master Curran；〃 and he deferred amiably to the successor of his rank； 〃you have need of me。〃
〃I have need of you； Master Idarolan；〃 Ciparis of Nerat put in quickly； almost apologetically。 〃Nerat has more coastline to be affected。〃 He glanced at F'lar。 〃We'll need so much help。〃
〃Sweepriders are already out informing holders；〃 F'lar said； 〃but； Master Idarolan； if you will share those invaluable charts of yours？〃
〃They can be copied； indeed； they can。〃 Idarolan slid out the relevant sheets。
Idarolan was； F'lar thought； the only one who had e at all prepared to this meeting。 An early riser by nature； he was in the habit of scanning the morning skies for weather signs； so he had seen the fireball。