“Leri and Orlith went before dawn,” K’lon said, his voice breaking. “No one couldwould have stopped them. But we had to watch, to be with them. That’s all we could do!” K’lon’s tear-filled eyes begged for solace.
Desdra folded her arms around him, and Capiam stroked his back,
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Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern
Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern
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offering the blue nder a kerchief that he needed himself in that instant. Desdra didn’t weep but her face was flushed, her jaw muscles tight, and her nose very red.
“They only stayed because of the eggs, to be sure of the day. But we had to see them go.” K’lon sobbed.
Wondering if he should administer a restorative, Capiam caught Desdra’s eye, but she gave a little shake of her head.
“They were so brave. So gallant! It was dreadful, knowing they would go. Dreadful knowing that one day we would wake up and they would be gone! Just like Moreta and Holth!”
“They could have gone that day …” Capiam began, knowing that wasn’t the thing to say, struggling to find something to ease K’lon’s grief.
“Orlith could not have gone till the eggs were hard,” Desdra said. “Leri stayed with her. They had a purpose and now it is accomplished. Today must also be a glad day, for dragons will hatch. Surely that is a good day for going. A day that had begun in unmeasured grief will end in great joy. A new beginning for twenty-five no, fiftylives, for the young people who Impress today begin a new life!”
Capiam stared in wonder at Desdra. He could never have expressed it so well. Desdra might not speak often but she chose the right words when she did talk.
“Yes, yes,” K’lon was saying, dabbing at his eyes, “I must concentrate on that. I must think of the beginnings of this day. Not of the endings!” He straightened his shoulders resolutely and remounted the doleful Rogeth.
Dragons did not weep as humans did, but Capiam thought he might prefer tears to the gray tinge that came to their eyes and hides. Rogeth bore the color of mourning. They mounted and K’lon conveyed them to Fort Weyr. Old tears froze briefly on Capiam’s cheeks, to be renewed as he saw the dragon-crowned Rim of Fort Weyr. He’d no time to count but surely even Telgar’s disaffected Weyr must be represented to produce such an assembly. K’lon angled Rogeth to land as close to the Hatching Ground as possible, seemingly a dangerous task for dragons were leaping and landing all over the Bowl.
Everyone will have to make an effort today, Capiam thought and tears streamed down his face again. Desdra was stroking his hands and he knew she was aware of his intense feelings. He knew she
wasn’t untouched by the tragedies; but grief can be exhibited in many ways, and her quiet summary to K’lon had given Capiam some comfort, too.
They dismounted quickly from Rogeth, smiling up at K’lon, who had mastered his tears if not his mournful expression. Then the blue dragon leaped skyward again.
Capiam noticed that the usual tables and benches had been set outside the Lower Cavern for the Impression feasting. He hoped to get drunk enough at it not to hear Master Tirone’s ballad. Capiam could smell the roast meats but they did not rouse his appetite as they usually did. It was a lovely day. It would have been a magnificent dawn, he thought, and rubbed his face harshly, to stop the ready tears. If the Masterhealer of Pern could not maintain his composure, what a poor example he would set. The day was a beginning not an ending!
As Desdra pulled him toward the Hatching Ground, he inadvertently looked to his right, to where Moreta had lived the last days of her life. He blew his nose fiercely and looked directly ahead of him, now pulling Desdra to a place as far from that tier as was possible within the confines of the Ground.
The eggs took his attention. They lay, neatly spaced, the queen egg separate on a neat mound of sand, lovingly piled to cushion and display it. He blew his nose again and stumbled on the first step of the tier.