He meant it as no more than a guerdon and was totally unprepared for the reaction in himself, in Brekke. Or for Canths distant bugle.
His eyes never leaving Brekkes, Fnor rose slowly and circled the table. He slid beside her on the bench, pulling her against him with his good arm. Her head fell back on his shoulder and he bent to the incredible sweetness of her lips. Her body was soft and pliable, her arms went around him, pressing him to her with a total surrender to his virility that he had never before experienced. No matter how eager others had seemed, or gratified, there had never been such a total commitment to him. Such an innocence of …
Abruptly Fnor raised his head, looking deep into her eyes.
Youve never slept with Tbor. He stated it as a fact. Youve never slept with any man.
She hid her face in his shoulder, the pliancy of her body gone. He gently forced her head up.
Why have you deliberately let it be assumed that you and Tbor …
She was shaking her head slightly from side to side, her eyes concealing nothing, her face a mask of sorrow.
To keep other men from you? Fnor demanded, giving her a little shake. Why? Whom are you keeping yourself for?
He knew the answer before she spoke, knew it when she placed her finger on his lips to silence him. But he couldnt understand her sorrow. Hed been a fool but …
I have loved you since the first day I saw you. You were so kind to us, yanked away from Craft and Hold, dazed because wed been brought all the way here on Search for Wirenth. One of us would actually be a Weyrwoman. And you you were all a dragonman should be, tall and handsome, so kind. I didnt know then and Brekke faltered. To Fnors concern, tears filmed her eyes. How could I know that only bronze dragons fly queens!
Fnor held the weeping girl to his chest, his lips against her soft hair, her trembling hands folded in his. Yes, there was much about Brekke he could understand now.
Dear girl, he said when her tears lessened, is that why you refused Nton?
She nodded her head against his shoulder, unwilling to look at him.
Then youre a silly clunch and deserve all the anguish youve put yourself through, he said, his teasing voice taking the sting from his words. He patted her shoulder and sighed exaggeratedly. And craftbred as well. Have you taken in nothing youve been told about dragonfolk? Weyrwomen cant be bound by any commoner moralities. A Weyrwoman has to be subservient to her queens needs, including mating with many riders if her queen is flown by different dragons. Most craft and holdbred girls envy such freedom …
Of that Im all too aware, Brekke said and her body seemed to resent his touch.
Does Wirenth object to me?
Oh, no, and Brekke looked startled. I meant oh, I dont know what I meant. I love Wirenth, but cant you understand? Im not weyrbred. I dont have that kind of of wantonness in my nature. Im Im inhibited. There! I said it. I am inhibited and Im terrified that Ill inhibit Wirenth. I cant change all of me to conform to Weyr customs. Im the way I am.
Fnor tried to soothe her. He wasnt sure now how to proceed, for this over wrought girl was a different creature entirely from the calm, serious, reliable Brekke he knew.
No one wants or expects you to change completely. You wouldnt be our Brekke. But dragons dont criticize. Neither do their riders. Most queens tend to prefer one bronze above the others consistently …
You still dont understand. The accusation was a hopeless wail. I never saw any man I wanted to to have The word was an aspirated whisper. Not that way. Not until I saw you. I dont want any other man to possess me. Ill freeze. I wont be able to draw Wirenth back. And I love her. I love her so and shell be rising soon and I cant … I thought Id be able to, but I know Ill …