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the left wing。 As he had diverted such thoughts by plunging into Erragon's backlog of images。 And Tai had encouraged him。 Encouraged him to swim。 To do other things。 He wanted to think that she had been deceiving him but deceit was not a facet of Tai's personality。
Neither Lessa nor F'lar had said anything during their last visit。 He should have noticed the avoidance； the talk about sky…watching and installing remote controls。 Hadn't he mentioned it casually？ Had they thought he was making the adjustment from Wingleader to sky…watcher？ How could he have been so dense？ This ramp allowed Golanth more freedom of movement…on the ground。 But into the air！ Golanth might not have lost his ability to go between but to go between from ground level presented hazards that no sensible rider would ask his dragon to face。 What about an unsensible rider？
He could feel Tai beside him。 He could hear the men and women who had made the ramp still cheering the acplishment and encouraging Golanth to show how easily he could climb back up to the weyrhold。 F'lessan took a deep breath and turned around： in Tai's eyes he could see she knew what he'd been thinking。 Then； the second shock hit him。
A dragon must be in the air to 〃fly〃 his mate。 He could not suppress his anguish at that realization。 Hard enough to lose his right to lead； but to lose the ecstasy； too？
It took him a moment to realize that Tai was shaking him； her green eyes intense with denial。
〃Nonsense；〃 he heard Tai say in a whisper so furious it stung his ears。 〃There'll be a way。 There's been a way for everything else！ e。〃
He grabbed her； pushing her against one of the thick stanchions at the base of the ramp。
〃Did you know？ Do they！〃 He meant his Weyrleaders。 He gave her a shake when she didn't answer。
〃I thought；〃 and her words came out slowly； 〃that you realized someone would have to take over your wing…for a while。〃
〃It's not just the wing。。。〃 He pushed her away from him。 〃I thought Honshu was my refuge。 Now I realize it's Golly's prison！〃 He pointed to the beasthold and its widened doors。 〃He'll have to be put in there whenever there's Thread above。 Not being able to fly drives a dragon crazy。 We always assist an injured dragon to get far away until Thread has passed。 But Golanth can't even do that！〃
〃You don't know that yet！〃 she said； whirling to stand in front of him。 〃We haven't even tried to get him to the sea。〃
〃How in the name of the first Egg can we get him to the beach when he can't even get in the air？〃
〃Because；〃 Lessa replied； walking in under the ramp； F'lar beside her； 〃we know how he can get into the air。 Once he's in the air； he can go between。 Did you think Ramoth and Mnementh…and other dragons…had forgotten what they learned that day at Honshu？〃
F'lessan stared at her。 She was almost reproachful。 To his amazement； his father was more amused than critical。 He couldn't quite grasp what they meant。 His mind was tormented by the crushing revelations he had been too cowardly to admit to himself。
〃The ramp is a good idea；〃 F'lar said。 〃That…〃 and he waved toward the beasthold； 〃makes a fine weyr。 Nothing else。〃 His amber eyes held F'lessan's。 〃Certainly not a prison in time of Thread。 By the time the Nine Fall is over Honshu； we'll have mastered lifting that bronze dragon of yours。〃
〃But how？〃
〃It takes control； you know；〃 Lessa said； walking up to her son and slipping her arm in his。 〃Which； I believe； your dragon was practicing the other morning。〃
〃How did you know that？〃 F'lessan asked； startled out of his morbid thoughts。
〃There's not much Ramoth doesn't know if she wants to find out；〃 Lessa said； looking up at him and giving him an encouraging little smile。 〃Now； there is a celebration going on around us。 I think we've inspected Golanth's weyr sufficiently to know it will suit and I think you'd better calm him down。〃
Golanth was bugling and his happy voice did not mirror the anguish of F'lessan's recent numbing thoughts。 None had leaked to his dragon； for which he was intensely grateful。 Now Golanth was happily prancing up the ramp。 His mind was all about being free of the terrace。 F'lessan concentrated on that positive thought； reinforced it by what F'lar had just said。 Practice？ Yes； practice。 Zaranth and Golanth hadn't done so badly in the two movings they'd attempted so far。 They could practice。 He could feel the thud of Golanth's feet in the ground under his。
Lessa gave him a little shake。 〃e； F'lessan； you've other things to do now；〃 she said softly and then pulled his arm。
In the few steps back into the sunlight； he quenched that black moment of anger and mind…numbing despair； forced himself through them to grasp what hope allowed。 He joined the applause as Golanth came charging back to the foot of the ramp； limping only slight on his left hind leg。 His right wing was fully extended and； if the left was canted downward； it was straighter than it had been now the dragon didn't have to worry about banging into Honshu's wall。
Maybe swimming and dolphin massage would loosen that joint just enough…
〃Don't consider anything else； rider；〃 said his father in a low voice； striding past him。
F'lessan turned back and held out his hand。 〃Tai？〃 he asked hopefully。
She came out of the shadow of the ramp； too； and took his hand。 They walked out to Golanth。 〃Remember； F'lessan； I have chosen you。 I now reaffirm it。〃 Her hand was tight on his as they began the walk up the ramp。
SOUTHERN HOLD…3。23。31
Toric was overseeing the unloading of several prime breeding pairs of canines： big strapping animals； deep in the chest； thick…necked； well…set teeth； sturdy legs； dark to mid…brown short…haired…a necessary trait since parasites could cling to long fur to burrow into the host body。 Shrewd calculating eyes； unafraid； despite a journey stuffed in a cramped forward partment。
〃They weren't seasick；〃 the handler said approvingly； with a slight emphasis on the pronoun。 〃Name's Pinch； Lord Toric。〃
〃Why the muzzles？〃 Toric asked； flicking his thick fingers in acknowledgment of the name。
〃One of the females is near her heat。 Couldn't have them biting； fighting。〃
〃Aren't they trained？〃
The handler； a medium…sized man with an angular face somewhat marred by tar stains and dirt； brown eyes； serious sort of expression； gave Toric a hard stare。
〃If they wasn't when they came on board； they are now。 Sit！〃
All six dogs instantly obeyed； heads pointing at the handler。 Though they didn't move； it was obvious by their rolling eyes and the movements of their nostrils that they were taking in such sights and smells as they could at the sit position。
〃Stand！〃 On their feet in a shot。 They took advantage and glanced about in every direction。 One of them whined softly。
The man gave a sort of smug smirk。 〃Voice and hand。〃 He demonstrated by firmly depressing his hand to the ground and the dogs sat down again。 〃Make sure you feed 'em by hand yourself and they'll be yours。〃
Toric had no time to feed dogs but his sons did。
〃Here're their papers；〃 the handler said。 He fumbled in a clean but well…mended jacket； and passed