“When your Master calls, lad, you go,” Idarolan said, grinning, and giving him an encouraging push on his way.
“We’ll drop the supplies off at your caves,” Alemi shouted after him.
“Listen well, learn hard,” Sebell added.
“We’re proud of you, son,” his father said just as Readis arched himself in a dive over the railing and into the sea, carefully aiming at the space left free for him by the dolphins waiting there.
EPILOGUE
THE DRAGONRIDERS STAYED a while longer, talking about this unusual meeting between humans and dolphins and eating the small repast that Master Idarolan had had prepared.
“Sometimes, I feel that we are rushing forward at unbelievable speeds,” Menolly remarked, “with hardly time to catch our breaths. So much has happened!”
Sebell nodded. “And not enough time to make songs out of most of it.” He gave his wife a droll smile and ducked as she playfully swatted at him.
“The song …” Aramina said, leaning toward Menolly. “The song we heard. Where did you hear it?”
“At night, near the sea, I must admit. And …” Menolly paused, frowning. “At Paradise River Hold when I was there harpering the children. You’ve heard it?”
“Yes,” Aramina said in a sad, wistful tone. “I always thought it was a dream, but I wasn’t always asleep when I heard it.”
“When you think how long the dolphins have waited for us to acknowledge them again, it would make any creature sad,” Sebell said, slipping a reassuring arm about his wife.
“Dragons don’t sing, so I knew it wasn’t them, but Ramoth has complained about ‘lonely’ sounds impinging on her sleep,” Lessa said. Then, with a brisk twist of her shoulders, she smiled at Aramina. “Now we all know, don’t we, that the dolphins of Pern are part of our future. I like to think, one of the better parts of our future when this Pass is over.”
“When this Pass is over!” Master Idarolan said loudly, raising his glass.
And the others drained their glasses to that toast!