Dragon’s Kin

Chapter XI

...and Renna was already here when J’lantir arrived,” Kindan finished explaining to Master Zist. The Harper’s color had returned to a more normal shade from the bright red of rage it had been when he had first found Renna in Kisk’s shed.

He had been ready to tear Kindan’s head off for letting Renna in on the secret—he had a few hot words for Nuella, too—but Kindan had managed to get the first word in and refused to be silenced until he’d finished telling the full tale. Master Zist let out a long sigh. “J’lantir was just about to tell us why he had come when I sent Renna off to get you.”

“Hmmph,” the Harper said at last. “My Lord J’Lantir, first let me apologize for delaying you in delivering your message—”

J’lantir waved aside the apology. “No need, Master Zist, no need at all,” he said graciously. Then he wagged a finger at the Harper, adding, “And I thought we’d agreed to dispense with the formalities.”

“But you call me Master,” the Harper protested, “I could hardly not return the honor.”

J’lantir laughed. “I only do that because your young charges here all go blue in the face if I don’t.” He added conspiratorially to the Harper, “You must tell me how you do it, someday. It’s a trick I’d like to use on some of my riders.”

Master Zist chuckled appreciatively. “I’m afraid it comes from all my years at the Harper Hall, intimidating young scamps worse than Kindan here.” Then he frowned. “Well, maybe only just as bad as him.”

Renna returned at that moment, bearing a pot and several mugs. “They sent me down with some hot klah,” she told the group. She glanced apprehensively at Master Zist, then looked to Kindan and Nuella for comfort. Kisk butted at Kindan and gave Renna a cheerful mrrp, at which point the girl visibly relaxed.

“Well, pass the cups around, child,” Master Zist barked at her. When she jumped and nearly dropped the pot, he added calmly, “I’ve heard the whole story now and I won’t bite. But I’m sure I need a warm cup of klah, and I wouldn’t doubt our dragon-rider friend here is still chilled from between.”

Kindan and Nuella both moved before Renna’s panicked reaction spilled the pot. Kindan retrieved the pot and mugs, while Nuella put a reassuring hand on the girl’s shoulder and pulled her out of the way. With a flourish, Kindan poured klah for the dragonrider and the Harper.

Nuella held her hand out, saying, “I’m more parched than anything, but I’ll also be glad for the heat.” Kindan filled a mug and carefully guided her hand to it.

Shortly they were all settled on the straw floor, gathered in a semicircle facing J’lantir. Renna had been as polite as her awe of the dragonrider permitted when she had been introduced, and J’lantir, for his part, had gone out of his way to make her feel more comfortable.

“So,” he said at last, “you probably want to know what’s been happening.” He paused. “I apologize for not getting back to you sooner, but things got rather out of hand. Weyrleader M’tal had hoped that I could train the watch-whers that look to Benden the same way that we’ve managed to train Kisk here.”

He nodded politely to the watch-wher, who blinked happily at him and nodded back. J’lantir and the others chuckled at her behavior. Kisk reared her head and chirped mournfully to Kindan until he reached up and scratched her eyeridges, saying, “It’s all right, they’re just proud of your good manners.” Kisk glanced around at all of them, decided that Kindan was correct, and settled back down, making noises of self-satisfaction.

“Such a well-behaved watch-wher,” J’lantir agreed. Then he drew a breath and continued, “Sadly, we did not get the reaction we had expected. Many of the wherhandlers could not believe that their watch-whers would talk to dragons, and still others refused to believe that there was anything that any dragonrider could teach them about their friends.”

He shook his head sadly. “And the truth of it was that they were right,” he told them. “For all that I tried, for all that Lolanth tried—” He smiled fondly at the mention of his dragon. “—we couldn’t get any of the watch-whers to work with us.”

“Whyever not?” Nuella wondered. “You had the scrolls Master Zist wrote for you, and the training is fairly straightforward. Were they just too simple to understand?”

“I think that the underlying problem was that there was too much telling and not enough showing,” he replied. “M’tal and I had several long talks on the topic, and we came to realize that the best way to teach wherhandlers was to have someone who hadn’t Impressed a dragon but who had taught a watch-wher show them how to do it. Someone who wouldn’t intimidate them.”

He looked straight at Nuella.

“He’s looking at you, Nuella,” Renna whispered.

“Of course,” Nuella agreed. “He wouldn’t be looking at Kindan because he has to stay with Kisk, and it’s not like she’ll be able to go between to follow him.”

But then Nuella proceeded to marshal all the reasons why it wouldn’t work. “J’lantir, I’m afraid that that’s not a good idea. I’d love to do it, but my father—”

“Nuella, this is your chance to do something,” Kindan interrupted her. “Training the watch-whers will help save lives, Weyrleader M’tal said so.”

Nuella ducked her head in acknowledgment but persisted, “My father doesn’t want anyone to know about me. He’s afraid that once they find out I’m blind, no one will want to marry Dalor or Larissa and—”

Kindan had been watching her with narrowing eyes ever since the dragonrider had made his proposal. Closing his eyes in thought while Nuella spoke, he reached a hand casually to rub Kisk, only to stop as he felt a jolt of fear travel from the watch-wher to him. He gave Nuella a look of surprise, whispering in awe, “You’re afraid!”

Kindan’s announcement stopped her cold. She groped for words, trying to deny his accusation, but couldn’t say anything. Kindan reached across and grabbed her hand.

“Nuella,” he said sincerely, “you have never been afraid of anything.”

Uncontrolled tears spilled from her eyes. “They’ll talk! They’ll laugh at me and they’ll—”

Kindan grabbed her in a hug and patted her back awkwardly. “No,” he said softly. “No, they won’t.”

“But I won’t know where to walk. I’ll stumble and trip over things, and they’ll know I’m blind!” she wailed. J’lantir exchanged a distressed look with Master Zist.

“No, they won’t,” Kindan said again. “It’ll be night. Watch-whers are awake at night. You’ll stumble no more than anyone else.”

“Zenor never said you were blind!” Renna broke in. She had listened patiently while Kindan was talking, but she realized that for all his good intentions, he didn’t get it. She turned to Nuella. “He never used your name, but I knew he was sweet on someone. He would talk about all the things he wanted in a girlfriend, and he’d smile that secret smile of his, like he knew something I didn’t.” She snorted, shaking her head at the foolishness of her brother trying to keep a secret from her. “I knew it had to be you the moment I saw you, Nuella. You are everything he was talking about.”

Nuella looked puzzled.

“Don’t you see?” Renna asked. “He never talked about your sight. It doesn’t matter to him.” She paused. “And I think it doesn’t matter to him because it doesn’t matter to you. You just get on with living, don’t you?”

Nuella nodded reluctantly.

“If it doesn’t matter to you,” Henna continued fiercely, “and it doesn’t matter to my brother, why are you being so blind that you can’t see that it doesn’t matter to anyone else?”

Nuella sniffed a final sniff and wiped her eyes. She pushed herself away from Kindan and faced Renna. “Do you really think he likes me?”

Renna nodded, and then said, “Of course. He’d be a fool not to.” Thoughtfully, she added, “Sometimes I don’t think he’s all that smart, but he can’t be that stupid.”

Nuella smiled. “But my father—”

“A secret that causes harm is a bad secret,” Kindan said.

“I think we can still keep your father’s secret,” J’lantir offered. “I rather doubt that Telgar Weyr will want to train watch-whers to talk to dragons. And if that’s the case, then no one in Crom will ever meet you.”

“Rumor travels fast,” Master Zist pointed out.

“Of course, if we don’t tell him...” Kindan suggested.

“No, I think there are too many secrets already,” Master Zist said firmly. He looked at J’lantir. “Natalon is a good man,” he said, “and while he may err on the side of caution, I do not believe he would do anything to hinder you in this worthy cause.”

“Once he calms down,” Nuella corrected, her normal sense of humor having returned. She turned to Renna and said, “You will keep the secret, won’t you?”

Renna made a sour face. “I will,” she agreed. “But I think it’s a bad idea.” She looked squarely at J’lantir. “I think people should tell the truth. All the time, no matter what the consequences.”

J’lantir gave her a shocked look. Then he grew thoughtful, brows furrowed.

“I think that some youngsters should mind their manners,” Master Zist said tightly. “Particularly with dragonriders.”

Renna dropped her eyes and nodded unhappily. “I’m sorry.”

J’lantir waved the apology away. “No harm done,” he said. Renna looked up. J’lantir grinned at her. “And perhaps some good.” They shared a look for a moment, before the dragonrider continued, “Food for thought, at least.”

Master Zist looked up at that. “Food is an excellent idea, J’lantir,” he said agreeably. “Perhaps you and I should head up to Miner Natalon’s hold in search of some.”

J’lantir nodded in enlightenment. “That would allow me to pay my respects,” he allowed.

Master Zist laughed. “And bring up any matters of import at the same time.” With a groan he uncoiled himself from his cross-legged position on the straw. “You know, Kindan, you must really see about getting some chairs in here sometime. All this sitting on the floor is hard on us older people.”

“Not to mention cold,” Nuella added. She looked up at Master Zist. “Should I—?”

“I don’t think there’s any reason for you to accompany us,” he said.

She looked ready to accept, but thought better of it and shook her head firmly. “No,” she said slowly, “Renna’s right. There have been too many secrets. This concerns me; I should be there.”

“As you wish,” J’lantir said, rising to his feet. “Perhaps you could lead the way?”

Master Zist turned to Renna, who had started to get up, and looked thoughtfully at her. “Aren’t you supposed to be on watch?”

“I traded with Jori,” Renna said. “She owes me.”

He wagged a finger at her. “Then,” he intoned, “you are up far too late and need some sleep. I expect you in my class bright and early.”

“I could bring some klah to help wake you up in the morning,” she suggested impishly.

Master Zist drew breath to scold her, paused, then let it out, nodding his head. “I’m afraid I’ll be needing it,” he agreed wearily.

“Are you all set, Nuella?” J’lantir called over his shoulder as they prepared to go between.

“I’m a bit nervous,” she admitted, clutching the dragonrider tightly.

You’ll be fine, Lolanth reassured her.

“Remember it will take no longer than it does to cough three times,” the dragonrider added.

“All right,” Nuella said. For a moment, nothing changed. Then she felt cold and detached from anything and everything. This is strange, she thought. She savored the moment and then it was gone. Nuella took a breath, then carefully sniffed the air. It was different from home.

“We’re here,” J’lantir said. “You did just fine.”

“It was great!” Nuella exclaimed.

J’lantir laughed. “That’s not the normal reaction people have the first time they go between.”

Nuella clutched the dragonrider tighter as Lolanth banked and started a steady spiral down to the ground. The sensation startled her, but she recovered before Lolanth said, We are landing, it’s all right.

“Nuella, you’re here,” M’tal called, rushing up to greet them. “Welcome to Lemos Hold.”

When she felt his hand grip hers, she swung her leg over Lolanth’s neck. Getting down was easier than getting up, particularly with M’tal’s strong arms to hold her.

She felt J’lantir’s hand on her shoulder as he landed beside her.

“Permit me to lead the way,” M’tal said, deftly catching her hand and placing it on his elbow, just the way Master Zist had assured her that all the great lords escorted their great ladies. Nuella blushed at the thought, but followed M’tal gratefully.

“Harper Inrion has managed to convince the Lord Holder to let young Lord Darel and his sister, Lady Erla, stay up with Lemosk to get your training,” M’tal explained as they walked up the steps to the Great Hall of Lemos Hold.

“But it’s old Renilan and his watch-wher Resk that you’ll really need to train,” J’lantir added. “If you can convince him...”

Nuella nodded. Her father had agreed readily enough when J’lantir and Master Zist had presented the facts to him, but he had insisted that if, for any reason, Nuella couldn’t train other watch-whers, she be returned immediately to her hold. Nuella understood, and even agreed with his thinking: It would be bad enough if she failed, but utterly unbearable if she was asked to repeat her failure time and time again.

“I want to start with the most stubborn person,” she had said. When J’lantir had protested, she dug in her heels until Master Zist dryly informed the dragonrider that it would be very hard to find someone more stubborn than she was. Nuella wasn’t so sure, but she wanted to find out as soon as possible.

In the days between her father’s consent and M’tal’s news that he’d set up a class at Lemos Hold, Nuella and Kisk had trained hard together, going over everything it was felt watch-whers and their handlers needed to know. Nuella marveled at how helpful and patient Kindan was, even when he mostly had to stand aside and let her work directly with Kisk.

“She’s just a girl!” a gruff old voice exclaimed as M’tal led her into a large, echoey room. A younger voice—that of a girl Nuella judged to be younger than Renna—giggled nervously. Nuella made a note to ask everyone’s age beforehand next time. If there was a next time.

She paused, taking a deep breath. She could smell a fire burning on the hearth and turned her head slightly toward its warmth. A pleasant scent, not perfume but a nice soap, came from where the girl’s voice had originated. A sharper, woodsy smell came just faintly from her right, away from the fire.

Nuella turned toward it. “You must be Renilan,” she said, letting go of M’tal’s arm and raising her right hand in greeting.

She heard the old man’s sharp gasp and figured that he was still a meter distant. Then she heard him walk slowly toward her and felt his gnarled hand grasp hers firmly.

“My wife lost the use of her eyes three Turns before she passed on,” he told her softly. He sighed. “She had the most beautiful eyes. Like yours, lass.”

Nuella smiled. “Thank you.”

“You’ve a pretty smile, too,” he added.

“And I’m stubborn,” she told him.

“I think you must be,” Renilan agreed. “And I can tell by the way you said it that you’ve been told that I’m stubborn, too.” He gripped her hand tighter. “My Lord Holder asked me to meet you. He said you could teach me what Lord J’lantir couldn’t. How to talk to my Resk, here.”

Nuella shook your head. “I can’t teach you that,” she said. “All I can do is help you learn it. If you’re willing to do that, then the next time there’s an emergency at your cothold, you’ll be able to get Resk to call for help. From dragons.”

She heard the surprised gasps of the two youngsters on the other side of her and knew that they were drinking in every word.

“Ah, that’d be a good trick indeed, lass,” Renilan said. “If it could be done. But I’ve tried already with Lord J’lantir—tried for nearly a month, and the only thing I’ve got to show for it is a bare larder and hungry wee ones to feed.”

Nuella nodded in understanding. “Could you introduce me to your watch-wher, please?”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea, lass,” Ranilan said with a trace of nervousness in his voice. “Resk and I are well bonded and he’s not one for strangers. I’d hate it if he bit you or anything.”

Nuella stepped around the older man and toward the sound of the watch-wher, her right hand held out, palm up.

“Lolanth, would you ask Resk if I could greet him?” she said out loud. She heard a surprised snort from the watch-wher and then a quieter chirp.

“Resk, my name is Nuella,” she said in soft, soothing tones, still walking slowly toward the sound of the watch-wher. “You just heard Lolanth, J’lantir’s dragon. He’s a nice dragon, I just rode in on him. He’s a relative of yours from back in ancient times. He’s a very friendly dragon. He wants to help. He helps like you do. I know you can hear him. Can he hear you? I can teach you how to talk to him. I can teach you and Renilan how to call to the dragons. Would you like that?”

Warm, moist air blew softly across her outstretched palm. Nuella moved her hand up, slowly, to touch the hard hide of the old watch-wher. Resk started and moved back, but Nuella waited patiently. Slowly, she heard him return. Presently she felt his hot breath on her palm again.

Concentrating on calm thoughts, she stood still, trying to get a feel for the old watch-wher.

After a moment, she turned back to Renilan. “May I touch him?”

“I don’t see why you’re asking me, lass,” the old man said with a snort. “You’re practically touching him now.”

“Manners,” Nuella replied tartly.

Renilan let out a bellow. “Ha! Put me right in my place, you did!” he said, still laughing. “Very well, on your head be it. At least you seem to know what you’re doing.”

“Thank you,” Nuella said. “But could you please tell Resk that it’s okay?”

Renilan sobered up. “Ah, I see what you mean. Good one, lass.” To his watch-wher he said, “Resk, let the lass touch you, there’s a good lad.”

“I just want to get a feel of you, Resk,” Nuella said calmly. “You can feel me, too, if you wish.” Slowly she raised her hand to follow the line of his jaw and up toward his neck. She felt the watch-wher’s shock and alarm, and his growing calm as she moved her hands down his neck. She stopped.

“Are you itchy? Can I rub your eyeridges? The dragons love that, you know.” She stretched her senses until she felt that the watch-wher had acquiesced. “Okay, let me do that now.”

Slowly she reached up and scratched the watch-wher’s left eyeridge. After a moment the watch-wher lowered his head so that she could reach more easily. Nuella kept scratching.

“That’s a good lad,” she crooned.

Resk turned his snout toward her and butted her with it. Nuella laughed. Resk gave a sweet chirp and butted her again. Then Nuella felt the watch-wher’s slivery tongue slide along the line of her jaw and he gave another happy chirp.

“I don’t believe it!” Renilan exclaimed.

“It’s just the salt on my skin,” Nuella said, turning her head to the old man.

“Ha!” Renilan snorted. “If that were so, I’ve much saltier skin than yours—he’d be slobbering all over me.”

She giggled. “Then you might try washing more.”

The two holder children gasped at her cheekiness, but Renilan just guffawed. “Washing!” he said between laughs. “Oh, I’ll try that for sure.”

Nuella heard him walk over to her and felt him clap her on the shoulder. “You’re a good one, lass,” he said approvingly. “You’re a good one.”

“Thank you, sir,” she said, reaching up to pat Resk again. “I hope you’ll still say that when I’m done.”

“Weelll... let’s say that I’m willing to listen,” he admitted.

Nuella shook her head. “Listening is not enough,” she said firmly. “Learning is.”

She heard poorly stifled groans from the children behind her. She turned to them and smiled. “Lord Darel, Lady Erla, M’tal tells me that you work with the Hold’s watch-wher, Lemosk. Is that right?”

“Yes,” Erla admitted after a moment’s hesitation and some whispered consultation with her older brother.

“Well, I don’t think that you can learn all that much without Lemosk here,” she said. “And it seems to be awfully late. Would you prefer me to teach you another day?”

“I’m not tired,” Lord Darel insisted over his yawn.

“Very well,” Nuella said tactfully. “However, I think I should work with Renilan and Resk first, so that they can get back to their people, don’t you?”

“Yes,” the two youngsters said in chorus.

Nuella smiled. “Great. You can watch if you like,” she told them. “But there won’t be all that much to see. In fact, the first thing we’ll do is close our eyes. I’d like you and Renilan to close your eyes and turn toward the fire in the hearth. Can you do that?”

She heard Renilan’s stubborn hiss and turned to him with a smile and an inquiring look. The old man sighed reluctantly. “There. Now what?”

“What do you see?” Nuella asked. “No, don’t open your eyes. With your eyes closed, what do you see?”

“I don’t see anything,” Erla said crossly.

“Really? Don’t scrunch your eyes, my Lady, just close them, like you’re asleep.”

“It’s lighter toward the fire,” Darel reported.

“What color is it?” Nuella asked. “Is it gray or some color?”

“Sort of orangey-red,” Erla said. “And I can feel the heat on my face.”

“Very good,” Nuella said encouragingly. “Renilan, how about you?”

“Well,” the old man said slowly, “I’m farther away, but I can see a lighter spot where the fire is and feel the heat, of course.”

“Good. Now keep that image in your mind. My friends tell me that it’s blurrier than looking at a fire with your eyes open. Do you agree?”

“Well, it’s not the same at all, really,” Renilan said thoughtfully. “It’s like it’s hottest in the middle and cooler on the edges.”

“That’s how your watch-wher sees it,” Nuella said. “Try keeping that image in your mind and asking Resk if that’s what he sees. Keep your eyes closed, please.”

“Can we ask Lemosk?” Erla asked.

“She’s not here, silly,” Darel said. “She’s outside by the gates.”

“Is there a fire or a torch near her?” Nuella asked. “If so, you could ask her to think about that.”

Renilan gasped and Resk made a startled noise at the same time. “By the First Shell, you’re right! That’s what Resk sees.”

“Watch-whers see heat, you see,” Nuella explained. “That’s the way their big eyes work.”

“So that’s why they can see tunnel snakes when there’re no glows!” Lord Darel exclaimed excitedly.

“Exactly,” Nuella agreed. She turned to Renilan and said for his ears alone, “You felt him, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” Renilan said in a hushed voice. “I could feel him. I’ve always sort of known how to talk to him but now...”

“Now the hard part’s over,” she said. “Now that you can imagine how Resk sees, you’ll be better able to understand the images he sends you. Now you and Resk can build up a vocabulary, come up with agreed sounds and images that mean something. And then we can teach Resk to use your ‘words’ to talk to the dragons.”

“They can see heat,” Renilan repeated, more to himself than anyone. He raised his voice for Nuella’s ears, “Can they see people buried in snow?”

“Or coal, or mud, and even a bit in water,” Nuella told him.

“That’s why my Lord M’tal wants to train us,” Renilan said in an awed voice. “We lost three cotholds with all their families in an avalanche last winter.”

“My friend lost his older brothers and his father in a cave-in at our mines two Turns ago,” Nuella said by way of agreement.

“They should have had a watch-wher,” Renilan said firmly. “I hear they’re good in mines.”

Nuella turned a bittersweet smile into a full smile. “If they’re trained properly.”

“Very well, Lady Nuella, let’s start training,” Renilan said with a voice full of commitment.

“It’s just Nuella,” she replied, shaking her head at the honorific. “Not to my way of thinking,” Renilan said fervently. Nuella laughed. “Let’s see if you still say that when the cock crows in the morning!”

“My Lord M’tal, I cannot thank you enough!” Renilan said the next morning, pumping the dragonrider’s hand greatfully. “This will save so many lives.”

“I’ll be sure to have my sweep riders stop by and get acquainted with Resk,” M’tal told the old wherhandler. When Renilan’s eyes widened, the dragonrider added, “Well, it wouldn’t do any good to have your Resk know how to summon just one dragon.”

“I suppose it wouldn’t at that,” Renilan admitted in awed tones. “And you can be sure we won’t abuse the privilege; we’ll only call in direst emergency—”

“Not even a Gather?” M’tal asked plaintively.

Renilan accepted the teasing with a nod. “And Gathers.”

M’tal clapped him on the shoulder. “We dragonriders are here to protect Pern and its people, Renilan. I’m just glad that you and your watch-wher can help us do our job better.”

“Much better,” Renilan agreed, “now that Lady Nuella has taught us how.”

“Do you think you could teach others yourself, now that you know?” J’lantir asked, stifling a yawn. He had been quite surprised to wake in a soft bed that morning. The last he remembered he had still been in the Great Hall. The mystery had been cleared up when he learned that Nuella had asked to have him moved there after he’d fallen asleep at one of the Great Hall’s tables.

Renilan pursed his lips thoughtfully. He gave Nuella a sideways look, then replied, “I think I could. I might not be quite as good as my Lady here, but I would do my best.”

“Resk can talk to the other watch-whers, you know,” Nuella said. “That’s half the battle already.”

“Half the battle?” Renilan asked.

Nuella nodded vigorously. “Sure. Resk can tell the other watch-whers how to talk with the Benden dragons he’s met. And they can tell him about the ones they’ve met.”

“They can?” M’tal and J’lantir said in chorus.

“Dragons can, can’t they?” Nuella said. “If a dragon can, why can’t a watch-wher?”

“I’d never thought of that,” M’tal admitted in a tone of admiration. He cocked his head thoughtfully. “Renilan, has your Resk ever met Breth, the Weyrwoman’s dragon?”

“Why, no, my Lord,” Renilan said.

“Would you then, kindly,” M’tal continued, “ask your Resk to ask Lemosk how to talk to Breth?”

“If you wish, my Lord,” Renilan agreed. “He’s a bit sleepy, I’m afraid. It’s just dawn. He might not be too good at it.”

“Just try,” M’tal said. “We can try tonight or another night if this doesn’t work.”

Renilan nodded. He closed his eyes in concentration. Resk was sharing Lemosk’s lair for the day and so too far away to hear his handler speak out loud. After a moment Renilan looked up again. “I’ve done it, my Lord. I think Resk knows now.”

“Could you ask Resk to send a message to Breth?” M’tal asked.

Renilan looked dubious. “I can try, but I’m still learning, as you know.” He took a quick look at Nuella and straightened up, determined. “Let me correct myself—we’ll do it, my Lord. Maybe not this time but we’ll try until we do. What is the message?”

“Could you ask her to contact Gaminth?” M’tal said.

“Oh, no, make it Lolanth,” J’lantir suggested gleefully. “That would be a much better test as they’re not in the same Weyr.”

“Very well, could you ask her to contact Lolanth, then?”

“I’ll tr—I’ll do it now,” Renilan answered, closing his eyes again. “There. Although Resk is awfully tired—”

“By the Shell of Faranth!” J’lantir shouted, jumping with excitement. “It worked! It worked! It worked!” He bounced around the others in glee.

Throughout the waking Hold, heads turned and Lolanth and Gaminth bugled from their cliffside perches.

“That’s fine, J’lantir, but you’d better tell my Weyrwoman what we are up to,” M’tal replied drolly. He turned to Nuella and bowed deeply. “My Lady, on behalf of Benden Weyr, I thank you.”

Nuella blushed scarlet from her head to her toes.