She tried to break away from him, but even with one arm the brown rider was stronger. Trapped, she began to cling to him with the strength of utter despair.
He rocked her gently against him, removing his arm from the sling so he could stroke her hair.
You wont lose Wirenth. Its different when dragons mate, love. Youre the dragon, too, caught up in emotions that have only one resolution. He held her tightly as she seemed to shrink with revulsion from him as well as the imminent event. He thought of the riders here at Southern, of Tbor, and he experienced a disgust of another sort. Those men, conditioned to respond to Kylaras exotic tastes, would brutalize this inexperienced child.
Fnor glanced round at the low couch and rose, Brekke in his arms. He started for the bed, halted, hearing voices beyond the clearing. Anyone might come.
Still holding her, he carried her out of the weyrhold, smothering her protest against his chest as she realized his intention. There was a place behind his weyrhold, beyond Canths wallow, where the ferns grew sweet and thick, where they would be undisturbed.
He wanted to be gentle but, unaccountably, Brekke fought him. She pleaded with him, crying out wildly that theyd rouse the sleeping Wirenth. He wasnt gentle but he was thorough, and, in the end, Brekke astounded him with a surrender as passionate as if her dragon had been involved.
Fnor raised himself on his elbow, pushing the sweaty, fern-entangled hair from her closed eyes, pleased by the soft serenity of her expression; excessively pleased with himself. A man never really knew how a woman would respond in love. So much hinted at in play never materialized in practice.
But Brekke was as honest in love, as kind and generous, as wholesome as ever; in her innocent wholeheartedness more sensual than the most skilled partner he had ever enjoyed. Her eyes opened, met his in a wondering stare for a long moment. With a moan, she turned her head, evading his scrutiny
Surely no regrets, Brekke?
Oh, Fnor, what will I do when Wirenth rises?
Fnor began to curse then, steadily, hopelessly, as he cradled her now unresponsive body against him. He cursed the differences between Hold and Weyr, the throbbing wound in his arm that signalized the difference which existed even between dragonmen. He railed at the inescapable realization that what he loved most was insufficient to his need. He hated himself, aware that in his effort to help Brekke, he had compromised her values and was probably destroying her.
Instinctively his confused thoughts reached out to Canth, and he found himself trying to suppress that contact. Canth must never know his rider could fault him for not being a bronze.
I am as large as most bronzes, Canth said with unruffled equanimity. Almost as if he was surprised he had to mention the fact to his rider. I am strong. Strong enough to out last any bronze here.
Fnors exclamation roused Brekke.
Theres no reason Canth cant fly Wirenth. By the Shell, he could out fly any bronze here. And probably Orth, too, if he puts his mind to it.
Canth fly Wirenth?
Why not?
But browns dont fly queens. Bronzes do.
Fnor hugged her fiercely, trying to impart his jubilation, his almost inarticulate joy and relief.
The only reason browns havent flown queens is that theyre smaller. They dont have the stamina to last in a mating flight. But Canths big. Canths the biggest, strongest, fastest brown in Pern. Dont you see, Brekke?
Her body uncurled. Hope was restoring color to her face, life to her green eyes.
Its been done?
Fnor shook his head impatiently. Its time to discard custom that hampers. Why not this one?
She permitted him to caress her but there was a shadow lingering in her eyes and a reluctance in her body.
I want to, oh how I want to, Fnor, but Im so scared. Im scared to my bones.
He kissed her deeply, ruthlessly employing subtleties to arouse her. Please, Brekke?
It cant be wrong to be happy, can it, Fnor? she whispered, a shiver rippling along her body.
He kissed her again, using every trick learned from a hundred casual encounters to wed her to him, body, soul and mind, aware of Canths enthusiastic endorsement.