glad to do the sitter – justice.” Justice?” K’vin laughed as he landed
neatly between the bnnze neck ridges. I think that’s possibly a dirty
word to Chalkin now!” lantine grunted as the dragon suddenly launched
himself.
Not only was lantine going to be able to set right tht inaccurate
portrait – he felt he had demeaned himself ind Hall Domaize by
succumbing to Chalkin’s coercion, in spite of having no viable
alternative – but he had given himself more time at Telgar Weyr. And
Turn’s End was nearing: Turn’s End and the festivities that the
mid-winter holiday always incurred. Maybe then he could come to some
agreement with Debera.
Dragonriders could and often did take mates from non riders It would
have been easier i his profession was one that he could offer the Weyr
in return for staying on in Telgar.
But, once Morath was able to fly, Debera could fly hinl wherever his
commissions took him.
That is, if she felt anywhere near the same about him as he did about
her. Never in his wildest dreams had he thought he’d be IN a Weyr at
all. He could almost have thanked Chalkin for being the catalyst on
that score: almost. Until he remembered the stark horror of what
Chalkin had done at the borders and in the cold storage cells.
He shuddered.
Thought you’d be used to this by now,’ K’vin said, leaning back to
speak into lantine’s ear.
It isn’t this,’ lantine said, shaking his head and grinning.
He thoroughly enjoyed flying and, after the first experience with the
utter cold and nothingness of between, had not been nervous about that
transfer. He took a firmer grip on the strings about the painting.
Charanth was now high enough above Bitra Hold to go between.
Meranath, bearing Tashvi and Salda as well as Zulaya, zoomed up beside
his right wing: the dragon’s golden body gleaming in the bright morning
sun as her riders waved at him.
As he waved back, lantine was surprised to think it was still morning.
The invasion of Bitra Hold had begun in such early hours that the day
was not that old. So much happened these days!
BLACKNESS! lantine couldn’t feel the cord on the painting, his butt on
Charanth’s neck, and then they were out in the sun, hanging over
Telgar’s familiar cone.
Far below, above the prow of Telgar Hold, a sparkle showed that Meranath
had arrived. The big bronze now turned gracefully on one wing and
headed down towards the Weyr.
For lantine, this happened all too swiftly, for he saw so much more from
this vantage point than he did from the ground: the dragons sleeping in
the sun on their weyr ledges, the younger riders practising catch and
throw with firestone sacks, even the weyrlings getting their morning
scrub around the lake. Debera would be among them. He tried to see if
he could identify her, and Morath, but at that height details were lost.
Two dragons, browns both, were eating their kill further down the
valley. Another rider burst into the air above a watch rider who
gestured broadly for him to land. Then Charanth had spiralled close
enough to be identified, too, and welcomed back. lantine could feel a
rumble in the bronze’s body. Did dragons speak out loud to each other?
He had to tighten his hold on the painting or have the wind of their
descent pull it free.
As they dropped, K’vin turned his head. At the Cavern?” Please,’ and
lantine nodded, struggling to keep a grip on the painting. Not that
losing it would bother him, but then he’d have to waste another board.
He swung his leg over and slid down Charanth’s shoulder as quickly as he
could.
My thanks, K’vin,’ he said, grinning up, having to shield his eyes from
the sun.
Not needed. You more than earned it with today’s doings.” Charanth
rumbled again, his gently whirling blue eyes focused on lantine who
saluted him in gratitude. Then the bronze leaped up, flapped his wings
twice and was landing on the ledge of the Weyrwoman’s quarters.
You’re back, you’re back, and safe,’ and Leopol came racing out of the