amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第85节

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with　F'lessan　as　she　could…when　not　dismissed　by　healers…because　he　really　did　seem　less　restless　when　she　was　nearby。
　　She　could　tell　when　he　was　speaking　with　Golanth；　which　was　often；　and　also　when　his　wounds　were　being　dressed　and　he　needed　distraction　from　the　pain；　because　his　eyes　went　unfocused。　Sometimes　she　worried　that　he　was　retreating　too　much　into　Golanth。　Oddly　enough；　the　healers　could　keep　the　dragon　far　more　fortable　by　use　of　numbweed　than　they　could　the　rider。
　　There　was；　indeed；　little　she　could　do　for　F'lessan…which　distressed　her…and　not　all　that　much　for　Zaranth　who；　like　most　injured　dragons；　slept　a　lot。　By　the　eighth　day；　she　realized　that　the　healing　process　was　plete　enough…no　more　grainy　feel　except　to　the　deepest　claw　marks；　though　the　new　skin　was　very　tender…and　Zaranth　could　safely　go　between。　Tai's　leg　wounds　were　red　scars　and　peeling　flesh。　The　sea　would　plete　her　healing；　too。
　　We　will　go　when　they　sleep；　Zaranth　informed　her　rider。　They　will　not　then　miss　us。
　　Sea　will　be　good　for　you；　too。　Tai　assuaged　her　conscience　by　saying；　repeatedly。
　　Having　made　the　decision；　it　was　hard　to　get　through　the　day。　She　worried　about　leaving　F'lessan；　Golanth　wouldn't　be　aware。　She　felt　as　if　she　was　deceitful　and　devious　but　she　needed　a　respite。　The　sight　of　F'lessan　crumpling　in　on　himself　when　allowed　to　take　a　few　steps　from　his　bed　had　almost　made　her　retch。　He'd　had　to　lean　heavily　on　the　crutch；　for　his　left　leg　could　still　handle　no　weight　and　the　abdominal　wound　kept　him　from　straightening。　Hair　was　beginning　to　grow　over　the　head　wound；　but　he　was　a　far　cry　from　the　dashing；　blithe；　youthful　Benden　Wingleader。
　　So　Tai　and　Zaranth　made　their　plans　and　waited　until　the　subdued；　quiet；　but　constant　activity　of　the　carers　and　healers　went　into　nighttime　mode。　At　last　Tai　slipped　out；　wincing　a　bit　as　she　jarred　her　leg　on　the　stone　floors：　she　had　left　her　cane　behind；　for　it　had　a　metal　tip　and　its　click　would　be　audible。　Someone　might　hear　her　moving　and　investigate；　very　quick　to　investigate；　they　were。
　　She　slipped　onto　Zaranth's　back。　The　green　padded　carefully　to　the　edge；　slowly　extending　her　wings　above　her　head；　and　then；　in　a　maneuver　that　they　both　knew　was　reckless；　tipped　over　the　edge。　Wind　caught　under　her　wings　and　she　glided　silently　a　moment；　just　above　the　treetops；　before　going　between。
　　They　chose　a　little　cove　off　the　coast　of　Cathay；　Zaranth　expertly　ing　in　over　the　placid　waves　to　a　white　sand　beach。　They　landed　there　long　enough　for　Tai　to　strip　off　her　clothing；　leave　her　towel；　and　remount　Zaranth。　The　green　then　walked　slowly　into　the　tranquil　sea；　chirping　happily　as　the　warm　water　caressed　her；　until　she　floated。　Tai　just　fell　off　her　dragon's　neck　into　the　sea；　elated　with　the　success　of　their　escape　and　the　caress　of　the　warm　water。
　　〃We　needed　this；　dear　heart；〃　she　said；　slapping　Zaranth's　wet　wither。
　　The　dragon　let　herself　sink　until　only　her　eyes　remained　above　the　water；　brilliant　green　and　blue…and　that　unhappily　reminded　Tai　of　Golanth's　eye。　But　suddenly　dolphins　arrived；　squeeing　and　clicking　in　great　sympathy　for　the　red　scars　on　Tai's　legs　and　the　black　scabbed　stripes　on　Zaranth's　body；　overjoyed　at　their　unexpected　arrival　and　scolding　them；　as　much　as　dolphins　scold；　for　staying　away　so　long。　And　when　were　Golly　and　Fless　ing　to　swim；　too？　Yes；　they　knew　they　had　been　hurt　but　seawater　was　good　for　all　hurts；　and　swimming　was　good　for　sores；　and　they　must　e　and　tell　them　about　the　furry　things。　All　these　questions　while　sleek　smooth　dolphin　bodies　provided　the　dragon　gentle　massage　and　unplicated　pany　for　the　rider。　The　moon　rose　as　Tai；　grasping　two　dorsal　fins；　was　taken　on　a　wild　ride　around　the　little　cove；　dolphins　leaping　high　in　escort　and　vying　to　take　the　place　of　any　who　lost　her　hand。
　　Indeed；　it　wasn't　until　Tai's　hands　slipped　several　times　from　fins　that　she　realized　she　was　tired。　So　much　unexpected　exercise。
　　〃You　rest；〃　the　dolphin　named　Afri　urged；　and　cheed　firmly　about　her；　an　order　for　the　others　to　calm　down。　Tai　was　surrounded　and　supported　by　dolphin　bodies；　the　light　waves　splashing　over　them；　lulling　her　until　she　was　all　but　asleep。
　　She　came　to　awareness　of　how　easy　it　would　have　been　for　them　to　just　succumb　to　such　blandishments　and　find　a　weyr　on　the　shore　and　forget　the　heartache　and　the　dismal　prospects　at　Honshu。　But　that　was　impossible；　no　matter　how　tempting。　She　had　chosen。
　　〃We've　had　our　respite；　Zaranth。　We　go　back　now。　Dawn's　not　far　away　and　you　know　that's　when　F'lessan　is　most　restless。〃
　　Resolutely；　she　turned　shoreward；　letting　Afri；　or　maybe　it　was　Dani；　tow　her　until　her　feet　touched　the　bottom。　She　walked　out；　found　her　towel；　dried　herself；　and　dressed。　Then　she　called　Zaranth　in　and　checked　to　be　sure　that　none　of　the　scabs　had　burst　during　all　that　diving　and　cavorting　about　in　the　water。
　　〃e　back；　e　back。　Good　for　you；〃　Afri　said；　walking　on　her　tail　as　she　spoke。　〃Bring　Golly。　Much　better　for　him。〃
　　It　would　be；　too；　Tai　thought；　except　possibly　for　his　eye。　Buoyed　by　water；　he　could　exercise　his　leg　and　his　tail…the　bone　had　healed　but　the　muscles　remained　flaccid。　He　might　also　be　able　to　spread　his　injured　wing；　ease　open　that　stiff　joint。　If　only　they　could　get　him　up　in　the　air　and　to　the　sea。　Golanth　had　a　much　wider　wingspan　than　Zaranth。　Falling　over　the　cliff　at　Honshu　as　she　had　done　could　have　fatal　consequences　for　the　bigger　dragon。　Tai　wondered　if　Ramoth　and　Mnementh　had　made　any　progress　in　refining　the　ability。　After　remending　trundlebugs；　Zaranth　had　not　heard　anything　from　Ramoth　except　that　she　and　Mnementh　were　practicing。
　　They　returned　to　moonlit　Honshu。　Where　shadows　would　mask　their　approach；　Zaranth　glided　toward　the　edge　of　the　lower　terrace。　All　was　peaceful　below　so　their　absence　was　unlikely　to　have　been　noticed。　Because　of　the　angle　of　their　approach；　facing　the　main　entrance；　Tai　saw　the　halting　figure　making　its　way　to　the　sleeping　bulk　of　bronze　dragon；　pausing　to　hold　the　edge　of　a　table。　F'lessan？
　　What　was　the　fool　doing？　He'd　walked　for　the　first　time　that　morning。　If　he　should　fall；　he　could　damage　all　the　healing　of　the　past　two　sevendays。　What　did　he　think　he　was　doing？　Fury　for　such　recklessness　dissolved　as　Tai　realized　what　he　needed　to　do：　be　with　Golanth。
　　e　in　slowly。　If　we　startle　him；　he　might　fall；　she　told　Zaranth。　D'you　think　you　could　support　him　if　he　falls？
　　I　could　try。　Zaranth's　tone　was　doubtful。　He　hurts。
　　Of　course　he　does；　Tai　said；　almost　glad　that　pain　was　slowing　him　down；　making　him　cautious。　Then；　she　could　hear　the　faint　click：　he　wasn't　being　entirely　reckless；　he　was　propping　himself　on　a　cane…hers；　no　doubt；　since　none　had　been　offered　him　yet。
　　He　was　concentrating　so　hard　on　his　goal；　reaching　his　dragon；　that　he　was　unaware　of　being　observed。　He　had　ten　more　meters　to　move；　painfully；　slowly。
　　Golanth　knows　Tai　es。　He　does　not　move。　Someone　might　hear　that。
　　But　I　can　hear　the　tap　of　the　cane。
　　They　may　think　it　is　you；　Tai；　checking　on　Golanth。
　　He　managed　another　painful　step　in　the　moonlight；　wobbling　for　a　moment；　uncertainly　balanced。
　　If　he　falls。　Oh；　shards；　Zaranth；　just　move　him；　as　you　did　the　trundlebugs。　Move　him　to　Golanth。
　　I…I。　He's　nearly　there。
　　Not　near　enough。　Just　move　him；　Zaranth。　Do　it！　You　know　how　you　moved　trundlebugs！
　　Tai　felt　Zaranth　gulp。　If　F'lessan　made　a　sound；　it　was　muffled　against　Golanth's　neck　as　Zaranth　plied。
　　Put　me　beside　him。
　　And　Tai…more　abruptly　than　she　had　ever　moved　without　Zaranth　beneath　her…was　standing　beside　F'lessan　who　clung　to　the　loose　skin　on　Golanth's　neck　for　balance。　Tai　put　her　hand　under　his　left　arm　for　support。
　　〃How　the　shard　did　I　get　here？〃　F'lessan　demanded　in　a　low　tense　voice。　〃Where　did　you　e　from？　There　was　no　one　else　awake！〃
　　〃Zaranth！〃　Tai　murmured　by　way　of　explanation。
　　F'lessan　buried　his　head　against　his　dragon's　neck；　gasping　for　breath。
　　〃You　could　have　opened　stitches！　You　could　have　fallen　and　hurt　yourself　more；〃　she　scolded　him；　speaking　low；　her　lips　to　his　ear。
　　〃Why　didn't　you　get　Zaranth　to　bring　me　to　Golly　before？〃　He　turned　his　head；　his　low　fierce　whisper　conveying　his　fury；　his　pain；　and　his　desperate　need　to　be　in　physical　contact　with　his　dragon。
　　Tai　grimaced。　〃Three　reasons：　one；　because　you've　been　badly　wounded　and　needed　to　heal　a　bit。　Two；〃　and　she　allowed　her　irritation　to　color　her　voice；　〃because　I　just　thought　of　it　when　I　saw　you　trying　to　undo　all　the　good　done　while　you　were　forcefully　kept　in　bed。　Three；　Zaranth　doesn't　really　know　how　to　control　herself。〃
　　〃Trundlebugs；　my　dear　green；　trundlebugs。〃　He　took　a　deep　breath　and　pushed　upright；　steadied　himself　on　the　cane　before　raising　his　arm。　She　saw　the　knife　in　his　hand…one　of　the　sharp　ones　that　Crivellan　used　for　surgical　procedures。
　　〃What　are　you　doing？〃
　　He　gave　her　a　shove。　She　stumbled　and　hissed　as　the　imbalance　sent　a　jab　of　pain　through　her　half…healed　leg。　How　had　he　managed　to　walk　this　far　with　his　more　serious　wounds？　〃I　want　to　see　his　eye；　Tai。　I　want　to　see　it。〃
　　〃Why？〃　No　one　had　lied　to　h