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rkened room； his left leg jutting straight out over the end of the bed。
〃A bit sudden； isn't it； Tai；〃 he said； opening his eyes。
〃I'm thirsty。〃 That was plaintive。 The next was definitive。
〃And I do not want any fellis juice。 I want water； lots of it。 Cold。〃
Limping a little because she'd strained her bad leg； Tai paused at the door to listen for any activity in the hall； and then slipped as quickly as she could back to F'lessan's sickroom。 She took the pitcher and the glass from the table and returned with them。 Maybe she should have found some wine； or something sweet； for the shock。 Now that she had had a few moments to get accustomed to the uncovered eye； it could have been worse： Golly had some sight。 It must have been much worse for F'lessan； not able to check but very able to lie in that bed； numbed with the weed and fellis； thinking； thinking； and thinking。 There would be considerable relief in knowing just how bad it was。
She got back with no one the wiser in the sleeping weyrhold。 She poured water for F'lessan； who dragged himself to a sitting position on one elbow。 He drained the glass。 She arranged pillows and pushed him back against them before she took a long swig from the pitcher to quench her own thirst。
〃More； please。〃 He held up the empty glass。 When she refilled it； he sipped in mouthfuls this time。 She drank again from the pitcher。 The water was nearly gone。 Should she get some fruit juice from the kitchen？ Sagassy could be relied on to have a beaker cooling there。 It wasn't just the sea that had made her mouth dry。
When she made a move to leave； he caught her hand。 〃Don't go； Tai。 Don't leave me； my very dear green。〃
〃Golanth's patch； I should replace it。〃
He grabbed at her hand； his fingers unexpectedly fierce。 〃No； he can use the lids if he needs to shield。。。 what's left to see with。 He hated that patch。 I promised I'd get it off。〃
〃If you'd only told us！〃
Eyes closed with exhaustion； he gave a weak smile。 〃Would you； Tai？ Would you have flouted Wyzall； Ballora； all of them？〃
〃Yes！〃
His smile broadened； tinged with doubt； as he turned his head on the pillow toward her； his hand patting hers。
〃Yes； I would have；〃 she said firmly。
Then he scowled。 〃And what were you doing away from Honshu in the middle of the night； dear rider？〃
She grinned。 〃We went swimming。〃
〃Swimming in the middle of the night？〃 he cried； astonished。
〃Belior's up and it did me a lot of good。〃
〃Alone？〃 He tried to scold her。
〃Not with nearly a full pod of dolphins about。〃 Then； before he could continue； she added； 〃And all the good of that swim might be undone coping with your jaunt tonight。〃
He sighed； giving a weary shake to his head。 〃I think； my very dear green； my very dear Tai； we're all the better for tonight。〃 Wearily he closed his eyes but his lips curved in a slight smile。
He is； Golanth is； I am； you are； Zaranth said。
F'lessan gave her hand a final pat before the fingers lay lax。 She checked again for any seepage from the bandages。 It would be like F'lessan to be unscathed by such a desperate antic。 When she fumbled to draw the light cover over them； he was breathing evenly and the fretful lines on his face had relaxed。 He almost looked like himself； except for the scar and the lack of hair around it。
He sleeps； said both dragons。 We sleep。
She gave a happy sigh； ignored the ache in her leg and her bruised hand； put her head on the pillow beside F'lessan's； and turned her cheek against his bare shoulder。
Excited； concerned whispers and running feet awakened her。 She was in that state of limp repose that allowed her to be aware of the distraction but unwilling to respond to the air of alarm。
Fortunately it was Sagassy who put her head in the door and stared at them。 With a sense of mischief that astonished Tai as much as it did the hold woman； Tai put one finger to her lips to keep Sagassy from alerting the searchers。 At that； Sagassy did give them a few more moments' peace； going back into the hall。
〃The dragons are sleeping； aren't they？ So the riders've e to no harm or be sure we'd've all heard the bugling。 Now let's all be sensible。。。〃
Then someone called urgently from the terrace。 And Sagassy ran off。
Beside her； F'lessan moved； stretching a little。 〃I'll bet they found Golly's patch has been removed。〃
That was the startled news reverberating down the hall。 F'lessan slowly slid his arm under Tai's shoulder and nestled her against him； his head on hers。
〃It won't be long now；〃 he murmured indolently and kissed her temple。 Tai felt something inside her snap； as if all her guts and her ribs had been tangled in a great knot； which the kiss had untied。 〃I'm going to insist that we occupy this room from now on。 It's big enough so you won't be bashing into me。 You're a quiet sleeper anyway。 I don't think you moved all night。〃
〃They have to be somewhere；〃 they heard Keita shouting。
〃That is； if it's your choice； Tai？〃
For a split second…wanting to throw her arms about him in an excess of relief…she didn't know where it was safe to embrace him。 So she demurely rubbed her head against his left shoulder。 〃I choose。 I choose you in any condition and any way I get to choose you。〃
By then； their refuge was officially discovered and they were the victims of some choice sarcastic official displeasure and tongue…lashing。 Tai was ejected from the bed so that Keita could be sure that F'lessan had done no damage to himself。
The main puzzle…how had they gotten to this room…was the easiest to answer。
〃Zaranth put us here；〃 Tai said。 〃She can； you know。〃
〃And brought F'lessan out to Golanth？〃 Keita demanded； still outraged by finding the patch removed。
Tai gave a negligent shrug and let them assume what they wanted to。 Then the healer had F'lessan carried back to his sickroom where medicines and bandages were stored； to make sure that he hadn't done himself any harm。 F'lessan's grin might have been a trifle off…center as Keita changed dressings to reassure herself that no stitches had broken； but he remained unrepentant。
〃I'm soaked in numbweed；〃 he said。
〃You both should know by now；〃 Keita said； reproachfully； her expression severe； 〃that the deadening effect of numbweed is deceptive。 It is so very easy to damage tissue or tendon because you can't feel what strain you're inadvertently exerting。 If the green dragon did indeed effect your unwise and unauthorized trip to the terrace； then that at least proves you're not totally bereft of mon sense； bronze rider。〃
〃And Golly's eye suffered no further damage？〃 F'lessan asked with a touch of arrogance and； to Tai； a wish to be reassured that it was； indeed； all right。 〃Persellan has seen it？〃
〃You're very lucky that the lids have healed as well as they have；〃 Keita said； giving them full measure of her censure。 〃They were in shreds after the attack。 Fortunately dragon membrane； unlike the more delicate eye facets； can regenerate。〃
〃Yes；〃 F'lessan said in a dry tone； 〃that's been explained。 Golly knows he has limited vision but he does have some。〃
Keita had to admit that。