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〃Heard tell you're as good bringing down vandals；〃 he said； touching his own face to indicate he had noticed her healing cheek。 He untied the water bottle from the back of his saddle and handed it to her。 As she drank； he kept fanning。
〃Thanks；〃 she said； refreshed by the cool water。 His canteen must have been one of the new thermal types。 She coveted one for herself。 They were expensive； and the waiting list was long。 Still； the price of the two pelts would bring that wish closer。
〃Drink up； Tai。 We're not far now from water。 Can I help you skin the second one？〃 He gave her a broad smile。 〃Won't take two of us long。〃
She nodded； her smile appreciative。 As he divested himself of the bow and arrow sheath； she took a second； longer drink； carefully replaced the plug； and handed it back to him。
〃Would you know yet how many the dragons brought down？〃 he asked as she led the way down to the second feline。 Zaranth didn't raise her head from her meal。
〃I saw eleven dragons on the ground。 T'gellan brought half the wing； and a couple are still hunting。〃
〃And you accounted for two！〃 he said again。 She skinned up the front leg as he deftly did the hind one。 〃We'd been trying to catch up with this part of the herd；〃 he explained in a rueful tone through clenched teeth。 〃Wanted to get 'em turned before they got this close to the jungle。 Felines don't usually hunt so late in the day； but if there were two with litters； they'd be hungry and more apt to attack when they saw so much food on the hoof。〃
He gave a resigned sigh； swiveling to look at the dense forest with its multiple shades of green leaves； fronds； and spikes that bordered the plateau； the light breeze ruffling the taller； more flexible branches。 He mopped his forehead and cheeks and shook his head。 〃Well； if we didn't have so much on the hoof nearby； it'd save us to track down and finish the cubs before they start hunting。〃 He paused。 〃As it is； they'll have to take their chances like the rest of us。〃
〃Can we help you turn the herd back out of immediate danger？〃 Tai asked as they flipped the hide from the legs and wrestled the carcass over。 Rency was almost as good as Zaranth as a helper。
〃We'd sure appreciate it；〃 Rency said。
Herdbeasts were as terrified of dragons in the air as felines on the ground； so herding them merely required the dragons to keep their shadows on the beasts。
〃Sure。 Dragons have to fly straight with full stomachs； you know；〃 she said。 〃No reason we can't help you spook the herd in the right direction for now。〃 Today's feed would last Zaranth a sevenday。
〃Just need to set them in the right direction； Tai；〃 he said。 〃There's a ravine〃…he pointed in a northwesterly direction…〃and water。 Whooshing 'em that way is all we'd need。〃
〃No problem；〃 Tai said。 If you'll be kind enough to stop eating long enough to tell Monarth what's needed； she said to her dragon。
He just told me； Zaranth said； sucking the tail into her mouth and licking her lips。
〃Makes short work of it； doesn't she？〃 Rency remarked approvingly。
Tai grinned。 〃Monarth says we'll be glad to help。 Half the wing has fed today。〃
I am the only one who has two。 Zaranth； her faceted eyes flickering with orange pleasure； strolled indolently over to them to await her second course。
Rency and Tai pulled the skin cleanly off the flesh。 Once they had rolled it up； he went back to his mount； which stood far enough away from the dragon to feel safe。 Tai； letting Zaranth move in on her bloody kill； followed him； hoping to get away from the worst of the insect swarms。 Rency handed her the water bottle and a towel。
〃Take a good swig and then we can wash off some of the gore。 Like I said； I'm not that far from water；〃 he said and Tai was grateful to be able to rinse herself。
Feeling somewhat less sticky； they walked to the top of the incline。 Though they had washed off most of the blood； the swarms began a renewed assault in waves so that they clenched their teeth and kept their eyes narrowed。 Fanning vigorously with his hat； Rency watched with satisfaction as they could see other riders heaving pelts to their dragons' backs。 Suddenly the mass was whisked away。 Zaranth had finished eating and was sweeping her wings broadly； scattering the insect cloud。
I'm ready to leave when you are； Zaranth announced with a final lick of her lips。
〃D'you need the loan of my rope？〃 Rency asked。
〃That'd be real wele；〃 Tai agreed。 Her riding harness would secure one。。。 but two？
〃Be sure to check no nits burrowed into your skin；〃 he said。
〃I most assuredly will；〃 she told him through clenched teeth。
Deftly the two humans roped the pelts on either side of Zaranth's second neck ridge。 Flying straight was time…consuming； but Zaranth could fly high enough…once they'd helped move the herd…to be cool and escape the insects。 Tai held out her hand to Rency to thank him for his help and the loan of his rope； and swung onto Zaranth's back。
〃My pleasure； dragonrider；〃 Rency said； stepping back； fanning with his hat as swarms tried to settle to the hides。
Get us out of here before I eat bug； Zaranth； Tai said； wind…milling her hands in front of her face。
I ate very well； Zaranth said smugly and Tai could feel a satisfied belch rumbling from her chest； to her throat and out。 Inelegant； Tai muttered with mock severity as Zaranth leaped skyward。
Courteously； Zaranth dipped her wings； causing Rency's mount to back away from him in sudden panic。
Out of here。 The man doesn't need to be chasing his runner。 Then they were out of range of bloodsuckers and into cooler air。 Zaranth circled； looking for Monarth and the rest of the dragons。
Monarth is aloft； and so is Path； Zaranth told her and headed in their direction。 We are to swing wide behind the beasts； she added。
It's not the first time we've herded； Tai said grumpily。 She wished she had more in her belly than cold water； she'd had no lunch。
At this altitude； she had a good view of the bright…shirted herders； stringing out over the grassy plain； starting the beasts back the way they had stampeded。
It would be good to have a swim when the herd is turned。
It most certainly would。 There were plenty of hospitable coves on the way back to Monaco Weyr； and trees full of ripe fruit。
Altogether； Tai thought； apart from the insects； the day had been profitable。 It would take time to clean and stretch the pelts； but once word got around to the traders of today's kill； she might even get to sell them raw。 One day she might keep a particularly fine one…she fancied a clouded fur with ghost stripes…but in the meantime； northerners prized whatever was taken。
PART 2…Disaster
（Throughout the Same Day）
RUATHA HOLD…LOCAL TIME 12：04 IN THE MORNING…1。9。31
Stepping out of the cothold； Sharra wrapped her cloak tightly around her。 It was very cold； but the wind； which could cut like a knife down the broad avenue back to Ruatha Hold； had died out。 She was tired from a long nursing； but relieved that the weaver would recover from his accident。 She silently thanked Aivas once more for the medical information he had left。 She had been