Chance to what? Whos she?
Ramoth, thickwit, Felessan stopped so quickly that Jaxom bumped into him and the glow in his basket began to flicker.
Ramoth?
Sure. Or are you afraid to sneak a look at her eggs?
At her eggs? Honest? Breathless terror battled with insatiable curiosity and the knowledge that this would really put him one up on the Hold boys.
Honest! Now, Cmon!
The other corridors they passed held no unknown evils for Jaxom now, with such a promised end to this dark trek. And Felessan did seem to know where he was going. Their passage churned up the dust, further dimming the glows, but ahead was a sliver of light.
Theres where were heading.
Have you ever seen an Impression, Felessan?
Sure. A whole gang of us watched the last one and ooh, that was the most scary-velous time. It was just great. First the eggs wobbled back and forth, see, and then these great cracks appeared. Zigzaggy ones down the eggs, longwise, Felessan excitedly illustrated the point with his glow basket. Then, all of a sudden, and his voice dropped to a more dramatic pitch, one enormous, dragon-sized split and the head comes through. You know what color the first one was?
Dont you know that from the color of the shell?
No, except for the queen. Theyre biggest and they gleam kinda. Youll see.
Jaxom gulped but nothing could have kept him from continuing now. None of the Hold boys or even the other young lordlings had seen eggs, or an Impression. Maybe he could lie a little …
Hey, keep off my heels, Felessan commanded.
The sliver of light ahead widened, touching the smooth wall opposite with a comforting rectangle. As they got closer and their glows augmented the outside light, Jaxom could make out the end of the corridor just beyond the fissure of the slot. The jumble of rock gave evidence of an ancient slide. But sure enough, they could really spy on the mottled eggs as they lay maturing on the mist-heated sands. Occasionally an egg rocked slightly as Jaxom watched, fascinated.
Wheres the queen egg? he asked in a reverent undertone.
You dont need to whisper. See? Grounds empty. Ramoths gone to the lake.
Wheres the queen egg? Jaxom repeated and was disgusted when his voice broke.
Its kinda to that side, out of sight.
Jaxom craned his neck up and down, trying to get a glimpse of the golden egg.
You really want to see it?
Sure. Talinas been taken on Search from my Hold and shell be a Weyrwoman. Ruathan girls always become Weyrwomen.
Felessan gave him a long stare, then shrugged. He twisted sideways and inserted his body into the slit, easing his way past the rocks.
Cmon, he urged his friend in a hoarse whisper.
Jaxom eyed the slit dubiously. He was heavier as well as taller than Felessan. He presented the side of his body to the slit and took a deep breath. His left leg and arm got through fine but his chest was caught against the rocks Helpfully, Felessan grabbed his left arm and yanked. Jaxom manfully suppressed a yelp as knee and chest were scraped skin deep by rock.
Eggshells, Im sorry, Jaxom.
I didnt tell you to pull! Then he added as he saw Felessans contrite expression, Im all right, I guess.
Felessan pulled his tunic up to dab at the young Lords bloody bare chest. The rock had torn through fabric. Jaxom slapped his hand away. It smarted enough as it was. Then he saw the great golden egg, reposing by itself, a little apart from the motley group.
Its its so glisteny, he murmured, swallowing against awe and reverence, and a growing sense of sacrilege. Only the weyrbred had the right to see the Eggs.
Felessan was casting a judicious eye over the gold egg.
And big, too. Biggern the last queen egg at Fort. Their stock is falling off noticeably, he remarked with critical detachment.
Not to hear Mardra talk. She says its obvious Benden stock is in trouble; the dragons are too large to maneuver properly.
Nton says Mardras a pain in the ass, the way she treats Tron.