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s lips twitching； his brows creasing； ricking the lines that now scored his cheeks。 His body looked unusually bulky under the cover…bandages； she thought； snatching back the hand she had unconsciously extended toward him。 He shouldn't be allowed to thrash so。 Manora had said his wounds were deep。 He could do himself more injury with this tossing。
T'lion placed her in the chair by the bed。 She saw that F'lessan's dark hair had been cut back on the right side； clearly showing the stitches on his scalp。 Holding her hand a scant few centimeters above his face； her fingers trembled as she followed the path of the other facial scars。 They didn't look that deep but they were terrible to see on his handsome face。
As if conscious of someone watching him； he moved his head more restlessly from side to side and tried to lift first one hand； and then the other： the left hand slid limply to dangle beside the narrow bed。 She picked it up； returning it to his side； and lightly touched his shoulder。
〃Easy； F'lessan； lie still。〃 She pushed behind his ear the strand of hair that had fallen across the stitched cheek。 〃Lie still。 Golanth lives！〃
〃Golly？〃 The question was more breath than word； his brows creased slightly； halted when he felt the pull of skin。 〃Golly？〃
His eyes opened； blinked； strained to focus on her face。 He seemed puzzled by her presence。 〃Where've you been？〃 It was almost a plaint。
〃They wouldn't let me e。〃
〃She got clawed； too； F'lessan；〃 T'lion said； leaning over the other side of the bed。 〃But I said I'd bring her and I have。〃
F'lessan's eyelids seemed too heavy to keep open but the corner of his mouth turned up。
〃So you did。 Don't go 'way； my very dear green。 Don't go 'way。〃
His endearment caught at her heart and she had to wait a moment before she could speak。
〃I'll see Golanth and then I'll be right back。 You can rest now。〃
〃Hmmm； yes。 I can； can't I？〃 He turned his head to one side and； exhaling a deep breath； sank into a stillness that scared her until she saw his chest rise again。
〃I'll convey you to bronze Golanth；〃 T'lion said； picking her up and carrying her from the room。
〃Why； just look at him； bronze rider；〃 Sagassy remarked； pausing to look back at F'lessan。 〃He's much less restless already。〃
It was as well Tai had seen F'lessan before Golanth because the sight of the terribly wounded bronze made her weep。
〃Now； now； he looks a lot worse than he is；〃 the Monaco rider said； tightening his arms about her。
He is much better； Tai。 He is much better； and Zaranth rose from where she was lying on the sunny terrace beyond Golanth's supine bulk。
〃Oh； Zaranth！ How can you say that？〃 Tai was sobbing。
Because it's true。
〃Hey； now； Tai； don't go to pieces on me；〃 T'lion said in a rallying tone。 〃He was badly injured； it's true。 Flesh gouged out of him； bits gnawed off him； but they got the tail mended。 That's what's in the splint affair。 And he's not in any pain because we don't let him be。〃
That was when Tai noticed all the other people on the terrace and valiantly controlled her sobs。
〃Ah； Green Rider Tai；〃 and through the tear haze in her eyes； Tai recognized Persellan's familiar face。 〃I know the extent of Golanth's injuries seems appalling；〃 he went on； 〃but we keep him fortable。〃 He gestured to the large gray pots in which numbweed was stored。 〃Having Zaranth here makes it certain that he is relieved before he can twitch a muscle in pain。 She's been as close to him as a pulse。〃
Golanth's prostrate body made the terrace seem smaller than she knew it was。 There was room for people to move around him。 Near the main entrance； there were supplies； like numbweed pots and chests of dressings or other medications； chairs where carers could relax； a table for dining； like the ones that had been set out when half of Monaco had been staying here。
Golanth's body was cushioned from the rock of the terrace by many pads： an awning had been rigged above him…a sail； Tai thought； by the look of it。 He seemed smaller somehow； diminished by the absence of his characteristic vitality： like rider； like dragon。 She pushed that thought away。
There were marks all over the near side of him； where claws had torn and teeth had snagged。 The patch over his left eye was most prominent and the casing around the end of his tail； which was positioned by his body。 He lay with his head between his front legs but she could see his nostrils flaring slightly with every breath he took。
He is much better； Tai； Zaranth said with the heartiness of someone who has watched recovery。 Much better。 Touch him。 You will feel the strength in him。
Zaranth had not moved from her position behind Golanth but now she cocked her head at her rider。
〃I'll take you round；〃 T'lion offered。 〃There's a place for you to sit and be private with Zaranth。 Let me tell you； despite her own injuries； she has been conscientious in helping us tend Golanth。〃
T'lion deftly maneuvered her behind him and Tai nearly burst into tears again to see the slashes； hidden behind Golanth's body； that marred Zaranth's green hide。 T'lion put her on the bench and stepped back； giving Tai's shoulder a firm reassuring grip before he left them。 Zaranth took the small step that separated rider and dragon and put her nose down to Tai's knees。
I do not hurt； Tai。 They tend me as well as Golanth but only I can hear to help him。 He grieves for F'lessan's hurts。 And that pain is the worst。 Zaranth emphasized that with a little push of her nose。
It would be。 And you've needed me！
In deep apology for her absence； Tai put her arms carefully around her dragon's nose； rested her face against Zaranth's cheek； aware of the dragon's warmth and the particular smell of her sun…warmed hide mixed with the astringency of numbweed。 Then； tenderly； lightly； she placed her right hand on the scored chest and felt the beat of the powerful heart； letting herself relax against her beloved。 Reassured by the essential strong rhythm； she felt tension draining out of her body； softening her muscles； and giving her back the sense of Tightness that was the bond between dragon and rider。 They remained in this silent munion until Tai was restored to serenity。 And had renewed the strength in them both。
Caringly； she stroked Zaranth's nose； her cheekbones； was able to touch the deep gashes with gently inquiring fingers。 She could see that they were shallow； worse than scratches but not as deep as the troughs that scored Golanth。 Zaranth looked as if she were wearing stripes。
How did you do it； my heart？ the rider asked the dragon。 How did you save us？
I called。 Ramoth and the others came quickly。 I told Ramoth。 The dragon's tone was squeaky with self…satisfaction。 She did what I told her to do。 She saw how to do it and told the others。 They did more than me。 There were more of them。 Zaranth sighed gustily into her rider's lap。 And the felines threatened our lives： all four of us。 But we were too much for them。 I was very glad to see the other dragons arrive： especially Ramoth。
I'm sure you were。 So was I！ Tai admitted； letting tears well up in her eyes； tears of exquisite relief now that she was physically close to her brave and clever Zaranth。
F'lessan has been anxious； Zaranth said with great concern。 He will not rest。 Golanth sleeps a lot。 I tell F'lessan not to worry but I don't think he believes me。
He will believe me！ Tai caressed Zaranth's sensitive eye ridges soothingly； just the way her green dragon preferred。 Zaranth leaned her head more and more on Tai's knees until she became aware that this pressure was causing her rider pain。 Zaranth opened her eyes and lifted her head。
I have called him。
Called who？
The bronze rider。 The one who carried you。 I thought about bringing you here myself； and Zaranth's eyelids lowered apologetically； but it's one thing to do it because it's the only thing to DO but I couldn't risk dropping you and I'm not quite that good at it as I should be to try lifting you carefully。 So； first he will let you touch Golanth； this side isn't as bad。 Golanth knows that you are here。 You will touch Golanth and tell him that