A pearlescent glow spiraled up in front of his mind�s eye, and his eyelids moved painfully beneath their bandage, seeking the light�s source desperately. Cantrell�s ruined eyes saw nothing, and the strands of light did not move with that motion. They twined and spun a core of brilliance, shifting gradually to the blue-white of a lightning bolt, sending pale tendrils of warmth and light into the sound-filled recesses of the Harper�s mind. <<You understand,>> a voice whispered, not sepulchral at all, but a deep, pleasant bass, like the instrument of that name. It was made all the richer, to Cantrell�s mind, by the undercurrent of a tremendous grief, the echoes of an unbearable loss.
�Meilizath?� the Harper asked softly, as if loud speech might break the rapport like glass.
<<I am Meilizath,>> the sweet, sad bass agreed, but there was a reverberant triumph to it now. <<You were Harper Master Cantrell.>>
Hardly daring to hope, the Harper whispered, �And who am I now?�
<<Rider Ca�trell, partner of light blue Meilizath,>> the light blue said hesitantly, <<if you wish to be.>> His tone held such a lack of self-worth that Ca�trell half-rose involuntarily.
�My dear Meilizath, I�m simply very surprised. For a man resigned to spending the rest of his life being passed around like a bad mark, it�s pretty earth-shaking, don�t you think?�
<<And how do think it feels, Ca�trell, to have a Harper suddenly descend upon your ceaseless mourning and refuse to leave until you�ve recovered your joie de vivre? My own lifemate didn�t want me�why on Pern would you? You should have been mourning your own loss, not singing me out of mine. You�re quite impossible, Ca�trell, but here you are, and here I am, taking another rider.>> Meilizath brooded for a moment, his luminescence dimming and darkening.
The Harper/Rider rose, stumbling a little, and walked cautiously over the rough sand until his questing fingers met the warm hide of the light blue. He pressed himself against the dragon�s foreleg, fiercely. �If you�ll have me, Meilizath, even -=between=- will not part us.� A thought struck him, and Ca�trell swallowed hard. �Meilizath�I�m fifty-three Turns old.�
<<Yes,>> the light blue acknowledged, his mellow voice a trifle impatient. Meilizath wished to savor the moment while it lasted. <<I know. You don�t look it. Why do you bring it up?>>
�Dragons go -=between=- when their riders die, don�t they?� the Harper asked, his mobile face grave.
<<Yes,>> Meilizath replied, a trifle curtly. <<What is your point?>>
�I�m old, Meilizath. I wouldn�t leave you for the world, but people, unlike firelizards, have only so long to live.�
Meilizath curved his neck around and down like an embrace, and Ca�trell could feel the flicker of the dragon�s first-lids as the light blue shoved his head against the Harper. <<And because of this, you expect me to leave you again and go enjoy a miserable eternity? I will not! I�ll chase you across the face of Pern, if I must, but never, ever suggest that I would be better off without you. Besides, I tried young-and-innocent before. Young wine is only grape juice, Ca�trell. Green fruit is not fit to eat. You are not too old.>>
�And my eyes?� Ca�trell said huskily. �I�m useless for fighting Thread.�
Meilizath hissed at the word. <<I will not fight Thread with anyone. Nuita thought that the be-all and end-all of all activities was fighting that wretched silver rain. I was not good enough for her, I trow. I hope you don�t hold the same views.>>
A little shaken at the light blue�s vehemence, Ca�trell shook his head. �No, Meilizath. I�ve no desire to take these hands out where they could be devoured by some mindless worms.�
<<A practical Harper,>> the dragon muttered, amused. <<I thought I�d never see the day. Come now, Ca�trell. We�d best tell Weyrwoman Tiyanni of this newest impudence of yours. I�d like to hear the Hall�s reaction to the Master they turned away being a dragonrider now.>>
Breathless, Ca�trell lengthened his stride, and walked purposefully beside Meilizath. The new Rider couldn�t help but appreciate the tenderness with which his lifemate shortened his steps so that they moved as one. |
