The first was free of its encumbrance, staggering beyond the nearest boy who jumped adroitly out of its way. It fell, nose first at the feet of a tall black-haired lad. The boy knelt, helped the dragonet balance on his shaky feet, looked into the rainbow eyes. Jaxom saw Lytol close his, and saw the fact of Lytols terrible loss engraved on the mans gray face, as much of a torture now as the day his Larth had died of phosphine burns.
Look, Jaxom cried, the queen egg. Its rocking. Oh, how I wish …
Then he couldnt go on without compromising himself in his friends good opinion. For much as he wanted Talina to Impress which would mean three living Ruathan-bred Weyrwomen, he knew that Felessan was betting on Brekke.
Felessan was so intensely involved in the scene below that he hadnt been aware of Jaxoms unfinished phrase.
The golden shell cracked suddenly, right down the center, and its inmate, with a raucous protest, fell to the sand on her back. Talina and two others moved forward quickly, trying to help the little creature right herself. The queen was no sooner on all four legs than the girls stepped back, almost as if they could not press their claim, by mutual consent leaving the first opportunity to Brekke.
She was oblivious. To Jaxom, it seemed she didnt care. She seemed limp, broken, pathetic, listing to one side. A dragon crooned softly and she shook her head as if only then aware of her surroundings.
The queens head turned to Brekke, the glistening eyes enormous in the outsized skull. The queen lurched forward a step.
At that moment a small blur of bronze streaked across the hatching Ground. With defiant screams, a fire lizard hung just above the queens head. So close, in fact, that the little queen reared back with a startled shriek and bit at the air, instinctively spreading her wings as protection for her vulnerable eyes.
Dragons protested from their ledges. Talina interposed her body between the queen and her small attacker.
Berd! Dont! Brekke moved forward, arm extended to capture the irate bronze. The little queen cried out in protest, hiding her face in Talinas skirts. The two women faced one another, their bodies tense, wary.
Then Talina stretched her hand out to Brekke, smiling. Her pose lasted only a moment for the queen butted her legs peremptorily. Talina knelt, arms reassuringly about the dragonet. Brekke turned, no longer a statue immobilized by grief, and retraced her steps to the figures waiting at the entrance. All the time, the little bronze fire lizard whirred around her head, emitting sounds that ranged from scolding to entreaty. The racket sounded so like the cook at Ruatha Hold at dinnertime that Jaxom grinned.
She didnt want the queen, Felessan said, stunned. She didnt try!
That fire lizard wouldnt let her, Jaxom said, wondering why he was defending Brekke.
It would be wrong, terribly wrong for her to succeed, Lytol said in a dead voice. He seemed to shrink in on himself, his shoulders sagging, his hands dangling limply between his knees.
Some of the newly Impressed boys were beginning to lead their beasts from the Ground. Jaxom turned back, afraid to miss anything. It was all happening much too quickly. Itd be over in a few minutes.
Didja see, Jaxom? Felessan was saying, pulling at his sleeve. Didja see? Birto got a bronze and Pellomar only Impressed a green. Dragons dont like bullies and Pellomars been the biggest bully in the Weyr. Good for you, Birto! Felessan cheered his friend.
The littlest egg hasnt cracked yet, Jaxom said, nudging Felessan and pointing. Shouldnt it be hatching?
Lytol frowned, roused by the anxiety in his wards voice.
They were saying it probably wouldnt hatch, Felessan reminded Jaxom, far more interested in seeing what dragons his friends had Impressed.
But what if it doesnt hatch? Cant someone break it and help the poor dragon out? The way a birthing woman does when the baby wont come?
Lytol whirled on Jaxom, his face suffused with anger.
What would a boy your age know of birthing?
I know about mine, Jaxom replied stoutly, jerking his chin up. I nearly died. Lessa told me so and she was there. Can a dragonet die?