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Honshu's sprawling precipice； its two terraces and ledges； were so covered with dragons that soon others had to find space on the rocky terraces down by the river。 Their numbers would be sufficient to keep away the herdbeasts who often came for shelter in the lower cave as well as the felines who hunted them。 Even in the early days of its discovery； Honshu had never had so many human guests。
Sitting on one of the few chairs on the main terrace； F'lessan airily advised each new arrival to dump his or her flying gear on any unoccupied space and e back for food。 T'gellan had brought four wineskins and St'ven and C'reel added two kegs of the light beer Landing brewed。 From Honshu's deep cellars； F'lessan sacrificed some of the good Benden he had put aside for a special occasion； surviving this day could be considered in that category。 There was enough for everyone to have at least a cup of beer or wine。 That would be sufficient for men and women who had served double the hours a day usually spanned。
Unaccustomed to having 〃his〃 space at Honshu so overly populated； F'lessan took his wine up to the second terrace and was delighted to find Tai there。
〃I suppose we'll need time to wind down；〃 he said； ing up behind her。 〃Sorry；〃 he added as she whirled around； spilling some of her wine。 〃Don't waste it。〃
〃You startled me。〃
〃So I see。 Again； my apologies。〃
She flicked her hand in dismissal and seemed hesitant。
〃So you noticed it； too；〃 he said； gesturing to the northeast where a silvery glow arched in the general direction of Monaco。
She sighed and then looked up； where the light from other stars was undiminished。
〃Yes； but Rigel's still there。〃 She pointed at the first magnitude star above them。
〃Hard to miss；〃 he said； laughing softly。 〃And Betelgeuse；〃 he said； subtly testing her knowledge of the southern night sky。 She looked in the appropriate direction and he chuckled。
〃Also Acrux； and Becrux；〃 she quickly added； taking up his challenge。 〃The one forty degrees away is Gacrux。 Erragon said there was a fourth star in what the Ancients called the Southern Cross but you can't find it with the naked eye。〃
〃I'll match those with Shaula and Antares；〃 and he lightly touched her shoulder to turn her toward Adhara。
〃I am glad that you retained Honshu's old name；〃 she said softly； her voice rough with fatigue。 〃I think it is honorable that we use the names the Ancients had for their places； and their stars。〃
〃Why not？ They brought the names with them。 The stars haven't moved that much and there are bright ones in our skies that the Ancients saw from old Earth only as dim ones。〃
〃It isn't the stars we have to worry about；〃 Tai said； her voice as weary as the sudden slump in her shoulders。
〃No； it isn't；〃 he agreed tiredly； 〃but it's good to see they don't change。 I've a pair of binoculars； you know； if you'd like to use them tomorrow night。〃
〃You do？〃 Excitement briefly sparkled in tired eyes and then she sighed。 〃Tomorrow； if you'd trust me with them。 They're。。。 hard to e by。〃
F'lessan managed a wry grin。 〃I've known Piemur and Jancis a long time； you see； so I snuck to the top of the list。 Besides； they're very keen to get the Honshu instrument working。 A bit of extortion！〃
〃Extortion？〃 That startled her。
〃It's all friendly。 A dare and challenge situation；〃 he assured her。 〃Tomorrow night then。 We both need the sleep tonight。〃 He put his hand lightly on the small of her back and gave a push。
Quietly they left the Upper terrace and separated in the hall inside。 For this one night； fire…lizards would stand watch。 F'lessan shared his room with the last to arrive： T'lion； bronze Gadareth's rider； and his brother； K'drin； brown Buleth's rider。 Fortunately； neither snored。
PART 3…Aftermath
HONSHU…1。10。31
F'lessan found himself awake at Benden's usual dawn hour though night lingered at Honshu。
Ramoth says we must e back to Benden； Golanth told him。 The brown riders will visit your seaholders。 They are Monaco's people； not Benden's。
F'lessan quietly gathered his clothing； hoping to have a chance to bathe and change； and left his room without waking the others。 He took a quick shower； there'd be many people wanting one。 He was glad he'd fixed the cisterns。 As he padded down the stairs； past many sleepers； the pungent and irresistible odor of fresh klah told him someone else was awake。 He heard voices； arguing quietly but intensely。 Well； that was their problem； whoever it was。 He needed klah。
He slid open the panel into the kitchen and nearly ducked out again when he saw that it was Mirrim and Tai who were bickering。 Or rather； Mirrim was ranting at Tai； who kept saying 〃No； I didn't；〃 〃No； the children came first；〃 and 〃I don't know how。〃
Zaranth says； Golanth told him； that Mirrim thinks Tai deserted the Weyr's children to save her skins。
Skins？
Her pelts from the Cardiff felines。
She saved the children。 I sent you with her。
Zaranth says she got the skins。
How could she？ F'lessan looked from Mirrim's angry face to Tai's pale one。 You were with her。 She came and went with you。
〃Golanth says Zaranth was with him all the time； transporting children；〃 F'lessan said and strode across the counter to the huge urn of klah。 He'd have a cup no matter what the argument was。
Mirrim whirled toward him。 〃She didn't have the skins when she got to the Weyr。 She did have them when she left。〃
〃I didn't get them。〃
She's telling the truth； Golanth said。
〃Golanth says Tai's telling the truth； Mirrim； so leave her alone。〃
〃Then how did she get them？〃 Mirrim demanded。
〃I didn't！〃 Tai was taut with anger and frustration。 〃If I'd had time to get to my place； I'd've saved my books and notes。 Not sharding pelts。〃
〃Pelts like that would have given you enough credit to buy new books；〃 Mirrim countered。
〃Ahha； but not her notes； Mirrim。 Golanth says she's telling the truth。 Now leave it！〃 F'lessan rarely spoke in such a tone。 Mirrim gulped； and swallowed whatever she had been about to say。 F'lessan used her silence to drink as much hot klah as he could。 〃Thanks； whoever brewed the klah。〃 He looked toward the pale； tense Tai and smiled； indicating he was certain she'd made the klah。
〃I couldn't sleep；〃 she murmured。
〃And； if that doesn't…〃 Mirrim began。
〃I told you to leave it； Mirrim！〃 F'lessan took a menacing step toward Mirrim who unexpectedly gave ground。 He saw the meatrolls on the counter behind Tai and； stepping around her； grabbed a handful。 〃Thanks； Tai。 Besides which； Mirrim； I didn't see the pelts on Zaranth's saddle until Landing。〃
As he hurriedly slid the door open to leave； he heard Mirrim sputtering behind him。 He bumped into T'gellan who looked thin and haggard despite a night's sleep。
〃No matter what Mirrim says； Gell； Golanth says Tai's not lying。 Good flying today。〃
He raced down the stairs and out the wide door to the main terrace before he sat down to put on boots and jacket； allowing Golanth time to arrive from wherever he had weyred that night。 Slits of blue and green dragon eyes on the terraces above watched him mount