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〃She'll show him off to anyone； she's so proud。〃
〃I'm better acquainted with the Cove Hold and Readis's pods； you see；〃 he confided in her。
〃I know；〃 she replied。
〃Quite likely；〃 he said； shooting her a teasing glance。 〃Dolphins like nothing better than to gossip。 They can spread news faster than Runners。 We have too many animals on this planet who can talk back to us humans。〃
She gave him a startled look and then let herself chuckle。 〃I suppose we should be grateful that fire…lizards can't talk。〃
〃A large mercy；〃 he agreed。 〃It's bad enough they sing！〃
〃But they add such beautiful descants。〃
〃I suppose so；〃 he replied amiably。
She knew that Lessa； his mother； had a prejudice against fire…lizards。 Mirrim had said it was because no one had known how to control the creatures when they were first brought to Benden。 Did F'lessan share her bias？ She didn't know what to say to change the subject。 He spared her by speaking first。
〃What has you so interested in Rukbat system charts？〃
〃Ah！〃 She was grateful for the change in topic。 〃Well； I'm close enough； being at Monaco Bay； and I was an apprentice。。。 〃 She floundered a moment。
〃So you said。。。 〃
〃So I'm often asked to check out figures on the original charts； which are much too valuable to be anywhere else。〃
〃Good Master Esselin。〃 F'lessan's tone was facetious。
She flushed。 〃He doesn't really approve of me； even if Master Stinar entrusts me to take Yoko updates to Cove Hold； because I'm only a green rider。〃
〃There's no such thing as 'only a green rider；' Tai。 A wing never has enough green riders；〃 he replied so staunchly that she was startled enough to catch his eyes。 〃That's the Wingleader in me talking。 Besides which； Master Esselin is a pompous old hairsplitter！ Ignore him。〃
〃I can't。 And weren't you hoping to avoid him； too？〃
〃Whenever I can。 He；〃 he told her； dropping his tone to a whisper as he leaned across the table to her； 〃doesn't approve of me being in Honshu。〃
〃But you found it；〃 she said； surprised。
〃Yes；〃 he said； nodding with an air of mischievous satisfaction。 〃And I take great care of its treasures。〃
〃So I've heard。〃
〃So you have heard some good of me？〃
She knew he was teasing her； she knew she was often too solemn。 Even Mirrim said she shouldn't be quite so conscientious； but that was just how she was。 She just didn't know how to respond to levity。 As if he hadn't noticed her uncertainty； he reached for the skin。
〃More wine；〃 he said briskly。
She hadn't realized her glass was empty and obediently held it out。
〃Does Erragon let you stand any night watches with him at Cove Hold？〃 he asked。
〃Yes。 I'm a good timekeeper。〃 Conscientious was what Erragon called her； just like Mirrim。
〃Time is a critical factor in astronomy；〃 he replied。
She was surprised that he knew that。
〃Did you study much astronomy？〃
〃Not as much as I should have； but I'll catch up。〃 He wasn't teasing now。 He was quite serious。 〃And to good advantage； since we must look beyond our traditional duties。 I like people who think ahead。〃
〃You certainly are； with Honshu。〃
His expression altered again； as if he； too； had considered his future…which put another dimension to the outwardly lighthearted dragonrider。 He grinned； impulsively covering her hand with a reassuring pressure。
〃Yes； I've plans for Honshu。〃 Then； in another abrupt change； he added； 〃I'll just get us second servings before the roasts are all gone。〃
She wouldn't have had the nerve to go back for more to eat； but F'lessan took her plate before she could protest。 Slightly awed； she watched as he chatted with the cook while the man carved generous slices from the roast。
All the tables around them were filled now with boisterous diners； enjoying the excellent Turnover meal。 Though several called cheerfully to F'lessan as he made his way back； he returned the greetings without stopping to chat。 He wasn't at all what she'd expected based on Mirrim's tales of some of his pranks at Benden Weyr。 Well； that had been Turns ago； before he'd Impressed。 He did have a serious side to his nature； along with that most amazing sparkle in his eyes。 She should be wary of such a sparkle。 Mirrim had said he had been very much a bronze rider！ Maybe she should slip away while she had a chance。 But that seemed very discourteous。 She had barely touched the second glass he'd poured。
A bright chord of music cut through conversations and she saw that harpers were ranged on the platform； ready to entertain the diners。 Moreover； there'd be new music for a Turnover。 She'd intended to stay that long。 She reached out for Zaranth's mind； but the green was obviously enjoying herself on the heights with the other dragons。
F'lessan deftly placed the dish before her。 It was piled so high she wondered where she'd put all that food。
〃I brought you some of the things I like； too。 Fresh from the ovens。〃 He topped off their wineglasses。 〃With music！ Good！〃
He had no trouble putting away his second helping of Turnover food。 Nor did she； but then； her parents had raised her to 〃eat what's on your plate and be thankful。〃 She took a hasty sip of the white Benden； she hadn't thought of her family recently。 Her life with them had been so different from the one she now had…even before she had Impressed Zaranth。 Zaranth…and Monaco Weyr…was her family now； and closer to her than she had ever been to her bloodkin。
Determinedly she concentrated on something else and the music caught her up。 Sometime during the first round of songs； their plates were removed and a basket of southern fruit； northern nuts； and sweet cakes was deposited on the table。 Klah was also being served and F'lessan； she noticed； drank more of that than the wine； which he continued to savor in sips。
It was expected that the diners would join in the chorus of the ballads。 When F'lessan opened his mouth to join in； she was astonished。 He plained about fire…lizards？ They could harmonize； and were supplying descants from wherever they were perched。 He couldn't even find the melodic line！ He wasn't quite a monotone； but so near to one that she hoped the lusty voices around them drowned him out。 Yet he was…well； not exactly singing； although he bellowed out the right words…carrying on as if he didn't care。 He merely waved to those at the nearest table； who were grimacing at him and vigorously indicating that he should either shut his mouth or go elsewhere。
Should she try to drown him out？ She had an alto range but at least she sang on pitch and with reasonable musicality。 He was gesturing broadly…urgently…for her to sing。 His merry eyes caught hers； and from the mischief in them； she suddenly realized that he knew very well how badly he sang and didn't care。 That he was willing to show such a defect in a culture that apotheosized music； and certainly encouraged vocal talents； astonished her。 Mirrim might criticize his fickleness and breezy attitudes to weyrmates； but why hadn't she mentioned his flawed voice？
Now； still lofting his hearty non…tone； he cupped his ear to indicate that he couldn't hear her singing。 Out of pi