The Honshu attack had been a near thing, even though both F'lessan and Golanth had survived. Riders often had trouble accepting such severe, and limiting, injuries to themselves or their dragons. The ones who were not strong enough in character and resilience to deal with the reality would just go between.That had been the most important factor to the Benden Weyrleaders: that F'lessan, once he understood the severity of Golanth's crippling, would not suicide. Keita had dismissed that fear instantly. F'lessan did not have that sort of personality. Then there was Tai to comfort him. Frankly, Lessa had not foreseen F'lessan making such an attachment but the combination had lasted well past mating, and Zaranth was as supportive of the bronze as her rider was of the man. Ramoth had kept an ear open for Golanth and Zaranth every moment of the crucial period. So, Lessa thought privately, had F'lar and Mnementh.
Lessa could now be doubly grateful for F'lessan's keen interest in Honshu and she'd been much relieved to know that he and Tai had begun to pick up the sky-watching during the convalescence. F'lessan was too important-not just as their only living issue, but to Pern. How he had given heart at that Weyrleaders meeting! When she herself had despaired of finding a solution to what the dragonriders could do After, her one child had supplied a direction.
She gave herself a little shake, reliving that moment of cold terror when Ramoth had gone, without her rider, to aid Golanth and Zaranth.
"That moment is nearly a month ago," F'lar said, coming from behind to bend and embrace her. "I know you wanted to be there, but Zaranth is a Monaco dragon and having the support of her Weyr is as important as learning how to give Golanth just enough lift to get airborne. It's not as if we aren't getting plenty of practice in telekinesis lifting those telescope components for Erragon." He hugged her. "A fine control you and Ramoth have."
"And Mnementh's potential is seemingly unlimited," she said, returning a sincere compliment as she leaned against him, accepting the strength he always shared with her. "So many new things to learn in this new dimension of dragonkind."
F'lar gave a dry chuckle. "It's no wonder it's too much for some people to absorb."
"We've not had more trouble with Abominators, have we?" Alarmed, she turned in his arms to see that he wasn't hiding anything from her.
"Fortunately, we have enough to do."
"But you don't think we've heard the last with that death at Landing?"
F'lar sighed. "Pinch has evidently seen Fourth in Toric's keeping. Who can be sure? Such people are afraid of what they don't understand, won't understand. So they pretend to despise and reject it since they can't and won't understand. They retaliate by defiance and witless destruction. And claim they're acting on behalf of people and for reasons those people don't understand either. It may just be a sign of our changing times. And life on our planet is indeed changing."
"For the better?" she murmured.
He tipped her head up with one finger and lightly kissed her lips. "Definitely for the better!"
"You do believe that?" Lessa said, seeking reassurance.
"I wouldn't say it if I didn't believe it. After how many Turns, don't you know I wouldn't give you false hope, dear heart?"
She put her hands on the arms that enfolded her. "We lived for nearly a whole Turn on nothing but hope."
"And I survived three days without any," F'lar said, kissing her as he reminded her of his own private despair when she had gone back in time to bring forward the five missing Weyrs.
As F'lessan counted the eight seconds in his head, he never thought he'd be so happy to be in the black coldness. Then they were above the blue waters. Golanth eased to the right, lowering the left wing's sail to compensate as they glided toward the lightly rippling surface.
This is good! I have missed this!Golanth said.
All right, my friend, how do you propose to land?F'lessan almost laughed as this problem had to be considered. And quickly.
I will settle as neatly on the water as I always do,Golanth said, but in his joy at being aloft, he'd briefly forgotten that the stiff joint would not respond as usual.
Later, Erragon and D'ram who had been watching from the deep porch of Cove Hold said that, considering the handicaps, it hadn't been a bad landing. Golanth, who had been gliding in without assistance from the other dragons, tried ineffectively to backwing. He couldn't balance and tilted, trailing his left wing tip in the water and that swung him round. Before the left wing could be wrenched by a rough immersion, he was skimming the water, supported by his guides. He had time to fold his wings before he splashed down, skidding forward another length. With no riding strap, F'lessan lost his grip, went over his right shoulder and into the water. He was able to turn his assisted dismount into a creditable dive.
Sorry!Monarth said. Should have caught you, F'lessan. There's a trick to this we haven't figured out. Getting Golanth up is one thing. Getting him down is another. Water is at least soft.
Water is not the least bit soft!was F'lessan's response.
Although his heavy riding jacket was sodden and hampered him, he surfaced and started swimming to Golanth, now bobbing on the sea, and looking anxiously about for him.
Is your wing all right?
I think so.Golanth demonstrated by cautiously stretching it out as fully as he could. Waves lapped across its surface, the stiff joint sinking into the warm sea. That feels good!
F'lessan had done no more than seven or eight strokes when his outstretched right hand was filled by a dorsal fin. He caught it gratefully and was conveyed toward Golanth at speed. Others surfaced beside him, squeeing with delight at his appearance, calling his name and Golly's and grinning at him as they arced above his head.
"Shore, Fless? Shore, Fless?" Alta asked him. Beyond her he could see Dik and Tom. Five more of the Cove Hold pod were tail-walking about Golanth. He could hear their excited clicking. "We take care of Golly. You leave clothes on shore, Fless."
As with everything this morning, F'lessan did not apparently have any options. He could at least submit with grace. The dolphin escort, squeeing and squealing, guided him inshore until he could get his feet under him and walk out.
A grinning D'ram was there to hand him a towel, offering to take his jacket and to make sure it dried properly. Zaranth landed Tai on the beach, Monarth hovering briefly as T'gellan leaned down to speak to the green rider. F'lessan saw her stiffen and then nod in acquiescence. Monarth veered off and gained height to go betweenwith the other dragons. Zaranth splashed into the bright cove waters, swimming out to join Golanth and the dolphins who seethed in the water about him.
Tai hurried up the beach to join F'lessan, stripping off her jacket and helmet, but F'lessan knew that her conversation with T'gellan had been significant. She looked very thoughtful.
"Just the people I wanted to see," Erragon called out, waving for F'lessan and Tai to join him at the Hold. "I've got all the equipment you need for remote access to the scope."
Vigorously both F'lessan and Tai waved arms, acknowledging that good news.
Then Master Wansor, hearing the commotion, shuffled to the steps, Lytol beside him. As Tai reached F'lessan, he was wringing out his dripping shirt and trying to keep his balance on the slant of the beach.
"Clever of you to dive in," she said, giving him a proud, shy smile.