Nov, 2005. This is another piece of fan fiction set in Anne McCaffreys universe. It is an earlier work. Even though I am tempted to fix problems and polish up the piece, I have left it intact as it was written. This was written before Todd McCaffrey published his book on Pernese weyrs.

________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey!\nListen. Do you hear that?\u201d Jasin asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     The two boys cautiously edged closer to\nthe entrance of the old mineshaft. A steady drip, drip, drip could be heard\nechoing from deep within. They had spotted the irregular opening while scouting\nfor hardwood groves and, like all boys, were instantly drawn to it. Forgetting\nduty and purpose for the moment, they had climbed the steep slope in search of\nadventure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\ndon\u2019t hear anything.\u201d Stebin said, straining to hear. \u201cNo wait.\u201d A distant\nsound, a deep rhythmic rumbling, issued forth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah\nI hear it.\u201d Curiosity and a tinge of fear colored his now hushed voice. \u201cWhat\ndo you think it is?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Both boys peered into the cave squinting\nin the bright late afternoon light trying to make form out of the inky\nblackness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m\nnot sure.\u201d He wasn\u2019t, but he sure wanted to find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaybe\nit\u2019s a tunnel snake. I hear that some can grow big enough to eat a man.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDoesn\u2019t\nsound like a tunnel snake. More like an old man snoring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jasin\ncupped his hands to his mouth and yelled into the mineshaft. \u201cHeyoo!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\nare you doing shellbrain? Let\u2019s get out of here!\u201d Stebin, always the more\ncautious one, began backing away from the entrance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both\nboys froze as they realized the deep rumbling had ceased. Drip. Drip. Drip.\nNothing else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cWell, what ever it was you scared it away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\ndon\u2019t think so. I think I woke it up.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\ndo you mean? Woke it up? You think that really was snoring?\u201d Stebin asked\nskeptically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

     He thought about it. Strangely, yes, he\ndid think it was snoring and now he thought the owner of those snores was\nawake. He didn\u2019t know how he knew, but he was certain he was right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d\nHe answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell then come on. You want to wait around here until\nwhat ever that is comes out? Maybe it\u2019s a feline, a really big and hungry\nfeline.\u201d He grabbed Jasins tunic and began tugging him back toward camp.\n\u201cBesides, we\u2019re supposed to be scouting. If we don\u2019t find more than just those\nthree groves we\u2019ll have more to worry about than stupid cave creatures.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWait.\u201d\nJasin said, shrugging loose from Stebins grip. \u201cI think I see something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Shading his eyes he could just make out a\nset of large, dimly luminous eyes peering out from the deep shadows. They\nseemed to shift color from milky pale blue to pale green and then back. Nothing\nmore of the creature could be seen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\nis it?\u201d Stebin asked in a quavering voice. \u201cTunnel snake or a feline?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\nfelt strangely indignant that this creature would be thought either of the two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNeither.\u201d\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen\nwhat is it?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\ndon\u2019t know. But I don\u2019t think it\u2019s mean or anything. I think it\u2019s just curious\nabout us.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh,\nso now it\u2019s a friendly cave creature? \nWhen did you suddenly become the expert? Let\u2019s go. This gives me the\njeebies. If you\u2019re so sure it\u2019s friendly then you can come back tomorrow and\nbring a glow\u2026\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    His sentence was cut short as the creature\ngave a tremendous bellow and, with a flash of pink-orange eyes, disappeared.\nThe scramble and scraping of small stones marked its rapid passage further back\ninto the shaft. By the sound of the echoes, the mine complex must extend for\nlengths into the low mountainside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow\nsee what you did? You scared it.\u201d Jasin accused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMe?\nI didn\u2019t do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell\nit\u2019s gone now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood.\nLet\u2019s go check out those two other valleys before it gets dark. We should be\nable find a few more groves. Thank goodness we found those apple trees. They\nmight just save our hides from Berella.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The mention of Berellas name was enough to\nset him into motion. No one liked to provoke the stout headwoman. She was quick\ntempered enough on a good day. Jasin grabbed up his caryall and then, on\nimpulse, removed two meatrolls and left them outside the cave entrance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Early the next morning Jasin found himself\nwinding his way back up the wooded hillside toward the old mine. When he made\nthe last turn and had his first good view of the entrance he stopped dead,\nheart pounding. Lying across the entrance sunning itself was one of the biggest\ntunnelsnakes he had ever seen. At least twice his height in its length, it was\nthe kind prized for their beautiful skin. This particular one was distinctly\nmarked with large gold and blue triangles set against a dark green background. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

     He was slightly disappointed that the\nintriguing creature of the day before had turned out to be a tunnelsnake after\nall. He was so certain that it was something special. He almost turned away but\ncould not take his eyes off the beautiful hide. A hide like that would bring\ngood marks at a gather. He could trade it to the Master Tanner for a new pair\nof boots and another thicker pair of wherhide pants. He was quickly wearing\nholes in his current pair and the logging season was only half over. Well,\nthere was no way he could tackle that monster by himself and he didn\u2019t have\ntime to get help before the sun became too intense and it retired into the\ndepths for the day. So, he did what any boy would do in his situation. He\npicked up a rock and threw it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

     The throw was good and the rock connected\nsolidly with the creatures\u2019 side. Thunk. It didn\u2019t move, didn\u2019t even twitch.\nPuzzled he launched another good-sized stone and, it also hit with a satisfying\nsmack. Still nothing. The third, even larger, stone provided the necessary\nmomentum to elicit action. The creature slipped sideways down and away from the\nslightly sloping entrance and rolled almost bonelessly onto its side. It looked\ndead. He watched it suspiciously for several moments looking for signs of life.\nOnce he was satisfied he grabbed a nearby stick and approached cautiously. Very\ncautiously. The tunnelsnake looked even bigger up close. He poked it several\ntimes before deciding that it was indeed dead. Strange. The rocks he threw\ncouldn\u2019t have killed it. So what did? Maybe some sort of sickness drove the brute\nfrom its cold depths to die out here in the sunlight. Maybe it was just old\nage. Either way it was dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   He examined the still limp body and could\nfind no marks to indicate how it had died. It couldn\u2019t have happened more than\na couple of hours ago by the limpness of the carcass. Well, no sense in letting\nthe hide go to waste. He took out his belt knife and began the arduous task of\nskinning the monster. It took longer than he expected but the care he used not\nto nick or tear the hide would reflect in its value. The better the condition\nthe higher the price. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As he began making the final cuts he noticed dark bloody marks in the meat around the creature\u2019s neck. He pulled on the limp head. Too limp. The neck was definitely broken. Then he noticed how small the eyes were. This couldn\u2019t be the creature he saw the day before. It had large eyes. He quickly finished the skinning and carefully rolled up the precious hide. He would have to do something with it soon or it would spoil. He would probably just stake it out and let it dry. It would become very stiff but it was the best way to preserve it for tanning without salt. If he had some salt he could preserve the hide much better but salt was not readily available this far inland. A sun-dried hide would have to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took longer than he expected but the care he used not to nick or tear the hide would reflect in its value. The better the condition the higher the price. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

     As he began making the final cuts he\nnoticed dark bloody marks in the meat around the creatures neck. He pulled on\nthe limp head. Too limp. The neck was definitely broken. Then he noticed how\nsmall the eyes were. This couldn\u2019t be the creature he saw the day before. It\nhad large eyes. He quickly finished the skinning and carefully rolled up the\nprecious hide. He would have to do something with it soon or it would spoil. He\nwould probably just stake it out and let it dry. It would become very stiff but\nit was the best way to preserve it for tanning without salt. If he had some\nsalt he could preserve the hide much better but salt was not readily available\nthis far inland. A sun-dried hide would do fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     He sat contemplating how he was going to\ndry the hide when he heard the unmistakable sound of small stones shifting from\ninside the mineshaft. Stupid! What had made him stay so close to the entrance!\nHe looked up quickly, half-expecting the tunnel-snakes enraged mate to come\ncharging at him from the blackness. Instead he found himself peering into a\npair of incredibly milky-blue eyes and his fear melted instantly. He felt safe\nand knew he was in no danger. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

     He shook his head. No danger? He had no\nidea what he was looking at and he thought there was no danger? This thing\nmight be what killed the tunnelsnake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes. Kill. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He jumped. Did it just answer him?  \u201cYou. You killed it?\u201d He stuttered. He hated\nhis tendency to stutter when he was under pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes. Killed. Show not filthy\nslither.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\nhad heard that. Well kinda. It was more in his head but he understood. The\ncreature could talk. This was getting more and more interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat are you?\u201d He asked. He still couldn\u2019t make out more\nthan luminous eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Am Ca\u2019deff.<\/em> It answered\nmatter-of-factly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy name is Jasin.\u201d He said while leaning forward, trying\nvainly to make out more of this \u2018Ca\u2019deff\u2019. Frustrated, he edged closer just\ninside the entrance, but not too far, where the light was less intense. He\nwaited for his eyes to adjust. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can\u2019t see you.\u201d He complained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I see you.  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

     His eyes slowly\nbegan to make out shapes, large boulders, support timbers and something else.\nHe walked in even further. Closer. The bulk of the Ca\u2019deff began to separate\nitself from the blackness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re a dragon!\u201d He proclaimed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

     He had seen\ndragons. Well, mostly from a distance, although he had clearly seen the blue\ndragon that had come for his foster father once. That image was crisp in his\nmemory. He had seen pictures too. The hold Harper saw to it that all the\nchildren knew their ballads and their duty to the weyr and included pictures in\nhis lessons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not dragon.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSure you\u2019re a dragon.\u201d He said with certainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dragons fly. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou have wings.\u201d He could make them out, sort of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not fly. Not dragon.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

     He didn\u2019t hear.\nA dragon. His head was spinning with the implications. Where was its rider? Why\nwas it in a cave? Every boyhood fantasy of riding his own fighting dragon came\nflooding into his head. He could not believe his luck! It was male, that much\nwas certain but what color was it? There was no way to tell in this blackness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey Jasin! Is this your cave monster? \u201d A jeering voice\ncalled from outside. \u201cWhy it\u2019s naked!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShells! Feddic must have followed me here.\u201d He hissed. \u201cI\nbet his lackey Davik is with him too! The last thing I need is that bully\nsniffing around. Shells! Shells! Shells and shards!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Ca\u2019deff\ngrumbled, shifting restlessly. His eyes whirled a cloudy pinkish orange as he\nbegan moving slowly back, fading into the depths. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStay here. I\u2019ll get rid of them.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Jasin emerged from\nthe cave into the blinding bright sunlight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat do you want Feddic?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Before he could\nreact a large sack was thrown over his head and pulled down to his chest. A\npunch landed solidly in his middle doubling him over painfully. He sank slowly\nto his knees gasping for breath as his head swam with nausea. A hard, crunching\nblow to his side sent him sprawling. The sack slipped back from his head as he\nwrithed in agony. When his head cleared slightly from the shock and pain he\nfinally got a good look at his attackers. Feddic was leaning against a boulder\nsneering at him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Davik, who had obviously done the attacking, was stuffing\nthe tunnelsnake hide into a carrysack. Feddic swaggered toward him. He knelt\ndown an arm length away gloating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell. Well. Feel like giving me orders now? I really like\nbeing told what to do by a half blooded drudge. Too bad that big tunnelsnake\nhad to go and mess you up like that. I was going to blame it on a feline but\nsince you kindly provided the carcass, a tunnelsnake will do just as good. When\nStebin told everyone about your little side trip yesterday I knew you would\ncome back. You never could leave a puzzle alone. Now it works to my advantage.\nI get rid of you and I get a bonus. I really didn\u2019t expect the skin but it was\nnice of you to do all that work for me. Poor Patro. Our foster father will miss\nyou. I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll find a replacement to train up in your place though. People\nare always coming up dead down here. The Southern Continent has a way of\nweeding out the weak or, in your case, the inconvenient.\u201d Feddic stood up and\nkicked dirt in his face. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Jasin sputtered\nand spat, trying to dig the filth from his eyes. He cleared them just in time\nto see Feddic pick up a small trimming hatchet. He raised the weapon\npurposefully, poised to land a deadly blow when a blur of bronze fury came\nhurtling from the cave. Ca\u2019deff stopped just short of Feddic showering him with\ndirt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You not hurt mine! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

     He threw his\nhead back and gave voice to a full-throated challenge no dragon would mistake.\nCa\u2019deff turned his head toward Jasin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I protect mine.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through blurry eyes Jasin saw that Ca\u2019deffs eyes were\ntightly shut. Somehow though, he could feel the searing pain of the sun burning\nthrough the lids. How could he see with his eyes closed?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You see.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Feddic was\nterrified but quickly recovered. It was just a wher. A big one to be sure but\nit was still just a stupid wher. He had often harassed the watch-wher at Fort\nHold before he was fostered off to this stinking place. He knew whers. They\nwere sniveling cowards, especially in the daytime. He picked up the hatchet he\nhadn\u2019t realized he had dropped and jumped at the wher intending to scare him\nand send him howling back to his cave. Stupid wher!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     The second Feddic moved toward him Ca\u2019deff struck. With lightning quickness he swept the boys feet out from under him and then grabbed him in his jaws. Feddics screams were cut gruesomely short as the powerful jaws met. Jasin watched detached as the hatchet, intended to end his own life, dropped from Feddics now lifeless hand. Ca\u2019deff spit out the body which fell in a crumpled heap. It was too much for Jasin. Blessed blackness overcame him with Feddics strangled screams still ringing in his ears.
_________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Mallin looked\nover the group occupying the small Southern cothold. So much depended on these\npeople, he thought anxiously, as he waited for everyone to get settled. Most\nwere Craftmasters, holders or Dragonriders from the Southern Continent. Only\ntwo Northerners were in attendance. They would bear watching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cI appreciate\nall of you coming here.\u201d He began. \u201cI hope that this meeting will provide a\nsolution to a rather sensitive problem.\u201d One of the Northerners sniffed\nderisively.   \u201cSome of you already know\nmany of the details but, for the rest of you, I have asked Journeyman Fandal of\nthe Minercraft hall to provide us with some background information relevant to\nthe situation. If you would please Journeyman Fandal.\u201d He motioned to the\nJourneyman. He was young but had a likable personality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cAs most of you\nare aware\u201d Fandal began without preamble \u201cthe first dragons were created from\nthe genetic material of firelizards. All modern dragons are the direct\ndescendants of those first few created by Kittie Ping and her Granddaughter\nWindblossom. However, the creation was not without mistakes. Windblossoms first\nclutch produced less than perfect dragons. In doing so it seems that \u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Weyrlingmaster\nH\u2019dan\u2019s mind began to wander. Meetings were not his strong point and this was\nold news to him. Every Dragonrider now knew the circumstances of dragon\ncreation and he certainly didn\u2019t need a lecture from a Journeyman Miner on the\nsubject. Anyway, he was much better at teaching than being taught. He gazed out\nthe window watching the sleeping bulk of a young bronze in the outer yard. Its\nrider sat dozing against the curve of its inner side. Strangely the dragons\nhead was tucked under a forearm with the riders jacket was thrown over it. They\nwere both probably exhausted. He smiled knowingly. The constant drilling and\nheavy workloads imposed upon newly fledged weyrlings often caused them to\nsnatch sleep whenever the opportunity allowed. Unconsciously he reached for the\nmind of his beloved brown Lamath and found that, he too, had given into to the\nwarmth of the fading sun and was contentedly asleep. Most of the dragons who\nhad conveyed passengers or who\u2019s riders were attending the meeting, had flown\nthe short distance to the nearby spring fed lake for cool a bath. Many of them\nwould now be sprawled on the shoreline basking in the sun. Lamath, having recently\nhad a bath in the warm waters of Monaco Bay, elected to stay close by and was\njust out of sight. Probably found a sunny grassy spot and baked himself to\nsleep, he thought affectionately. All this sleeping was not helping. He fought\nback a yawn and tried to focus his attention back on the meeting but soon found\nhimself once again gazing out the window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Professionally,\nhe noted the young bronzes well oiled hide. It had an interesting bluish cast\nwhen it caught the waning afternoon light. It was a very striking effect. There\nwas something about the dragon he couldn\u2019t quite put his finger on. It looked\ntoo bulky. No, that wasn\u2019t it. The proportions weren\u2019t right. That was it! The\nbody was stubby and the front legs were all wrong. As if aware of his scrutiny,\nthe dragonet stirred repositioning itself. He gasped. Revealed, were two huge,\nbadly healed gashes across the dragons back. The ragged wounds were old and\npuckered with thickened skin. How could any rider allow such horrid wounds to\nheal so crudely? He was mortified. Never had he seen such obvious neglect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBy the shell I\u2019ll skin that rider myself!\u201d H\u2019dan pushed\naway from the table, headless of the ongoing conversation and upsetting several\ncups of klah. When dragon care was involved he was single minded in his\nresolve. The dragon always came first. A heavy hand settled roughly on his\nshoulder before he could step away from the table. The Beastcraft Master had\nrisen at his outburst. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSit down H\u2019dan.\u201d The Beastcraft Master said in a calm low\nvoice. \u201cAll will be explained.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is no explanation, no excuse\u201d he spat \u201cgood enough\nto overlook such blatant neglect!\u201d He stabbed his finger toward the window.\nSeveral of the rooms\u2019 occupants followed his direction. A few Dragonriders\ngasped at the sight of the ragged wounds now clearly outlined against the\nhealthy bronze hide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou may be more correct that you know. That is what we\nare here to help decide. Please\u201d he said courteously \u201csit down.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

     The tone was\npolite but there was no civility to the intense pressure the Beastcraft Master\nwas exerting on his shoulder. Reluctantly he complied. The bronze was not in\ndanger and could wait. For a while. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is not the boys\u2019\nfault. Ca\u2019deff only just found him. <\/em>Lamath spoke. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lamath must have awakened at his outburst. H\u2019dan thought\nruefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You were upset.\nCa\u2019deff is fine. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cWhat do you\nmean \u2018only just found him\u2019 and who is Ca\u2019deff?\u201d H\u2019dan pressed but Lamath\noffered no more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

     One of the\nNorthern visitors stood to see what all the fuss was about. And swiftly turned\nto Mallin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cI can\u2019t\nbelieve you allowed that beast, that murdering monster to go unchained! He\ncould turn on us all!\u201d The Northerners anger was quickly building and the\nDragonriders were rising to their feet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

     This was not\nthe way the meeting was supposed to go. Mallin thought regretfully. We are not\nready for this yet. He sighed. Nothing to do about it now but proceed. Mallin\nwaved Fandal off and once more took over the meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cI think now\nwould be a good time to meet the subjects of this meeting. If you will all\nplease follow me outside I have a couple of youngsters you should meet. And\nLardacal,\u201d he was glad he remembered the Northerners name in time, \u201cyou are\nquite safe. Ca\u2019deff is well under control.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not going out there until I see chains on that\ncreature.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     H\u2019dan rose with\nthe others. Surely this Northerner, Lardacal, could not be suggesting they\nchain the young bronze. Why would anyone even think of such a thing? He didn\u2019t\nlike the direction things were going. Ca\u2019deff? \nWas that the bronzes name? He was perplexed. It was not a proper dragon\nname, but then, as he looked the dragon over more closely, he was beginning to\nsuspect they were not dealing with a proper dragon at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group left the cothold meeting room and filed out into\nthe outer yard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The boy resting with the bronze was up instantly. He\nhastily dusted himself off and straitened his clothes, which looked a tad too\nbig for his slender frame. The bronze didn\u2019t seem at all bothered by the crowd\napproaching and slowly stood, stretching casually, allowing a much clearer view\nof his actual conformation. Then he sat behind the boy with his foreleg\ntouching the boys shoulder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was, as H\u2019dan had suspected, a wher. Though it had to\nbe the biggest one he had ever seen. It would probably match a green in height.\nIt was the size that had initially fooled him into thinking it was a young\ndragon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     What he had\nfirst thought to be the riders\u2019 jacket turned out to be a thick wherhide\nblindfold that had been shaped to fit the whers head snuggly. It was a sensible\nidea considering the whers notorious fear of light. As a dragonrider, H\u2019dan\ncould not help but make comparisons. The whers muzzle was short and somewhat\nmore flattened than a dragons. The chest seemed less muscled. The tail was\nshorter and the back legs looked even more powerful. It gave the wher a rangy,\nlong legged appearance. The wings were obviously smaller but still well formed.\nAll in all it looked like a grossly deformed dragon. To people used to the\ngrace and beauty of dragons it looked down right ugly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGentelmen, may I introduce Jasin and Ca\u2019deff.\u201d Mallin\nbegan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The boy bowed deeply if somewhat tenderly but did not\nspeak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTwelve days ago Jasin found Ca\u2019deff inside an ancient\nmine complex. He was not immediately sure what he had found so he returned the\nnext day. Unknown to him, two boys from his timber camp followed. These boys\nhad come to forcefully take over Jasins position as ground team foreman. The\nintimidation went beyond simple battery as one of the boys saw an opportunity\nto dispose of Jasin for good. It was when the older boy was about to land a\nfatal blow that Ca\u2019deff here intervened.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat is a lie! Feddic was only pushing the boy around\nwhen that murderous beast charged, without provocation, and tore him limb from\nlimb! That monster must be destroyed! It cannot be controlled, it is unstable\nand a menace!\u201d The northerner Lardacal accused. He had taken a position well to\nthe rear of the group. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe looks pretty well controlled to me.\u201d H\u2019dan stated. The\nwher was<\/em> under control but he didn\u2019t\nknow for how long. He hoped that no one else noticed the tenseness to the whers\nmuscles or heard the low warning growl. He was sure that under that blindfold\nwhirled orange-red eyes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mallin countered Lardacals accusations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have accounts from both Jasin and Davic, the other boy\ninvolved, which state that Feddic intended to kill Jasin. The hand axe was\nlying near Feddics body when he and Jasin were found. Jasin had suffered a\nsevere beating and was unconscious with two broken ribs. Nonetheless, both\nJasins and Davics stories match on several key points. No one except Feddics\nblood ties dispute what occurred and none of them were present at the cave. I\nhave the written statement from the second boy\u201d he withdrew a folded scroll\nwhich had been tucked into his belt and waved it at Lardacal, \u201cwhich clearly\nagrees with Jasin that Feddic was about to strike him with the axe.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnother lie! You said the beast only attacked when my\ncousin tried to strike the boy but how can a beast blinded by daylight see to\nattack only one boy? Even now it wears a blindfold to keep it from cowering in\nthe darkness. I say the beast went crazy and attacked blindly. I say it was the\nbeast that broke the boys ribs and killed my cousin!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cousin huh? H\u2019dan thought as he realized the reason for\nLardacals malevolence toward Ca\u2019deff. But he did bring up a valid point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, how was Ca\u2019deff able to see to attack?\u201d This time\none of the Holders stepped forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wondered that myself,\u201d another said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCa\u2019deff sees what the boy sees.\u201d Mallin stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCome on. How is that possible?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt seems that they had impressed. Ca\u2019deff can see what\nJasin sees.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cImpressed?\u201d H\u2019dan asked, now very interested. And he\nthought his was going to be a boring meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes. Whers are<\/em>\nimpressible you know. Not quite in the way that dragons are mind you but\ncertainly a deep life bond is possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mallin continued. \n\u201cI think Fandal can better answer your questions as he knows almost as\nmuch about whers as his Master\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs Mallin said,\u201d Fandal began \u201cwhers are impressible,\nlike dragons, but unlike dragons they do not have<\/em> to impress.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut the boy just found the wher twelve weeks ago. There\nis no way he is only three months old. How can he have impressed him when he\nwasn\u2019t there at hatching?\u201d Lardacal seethed. Everyone was ignoring him.\nCouldn\u2019t they see that the wher was dangerous? It brutally killed a child!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnlike dragons, an unimpressed wher will not die at\nhatching. It will just be harder to control. We believe Ca\u2019deff is out of a\nclutch commissioned by Lord Toric over a year ago. Seven eggs were shipped to\nSouthern Hold along with two handlers to help care for them and instruct their\nfuture partners. Unfortunately, Lord Toric did not believe that the eggs needed\nconstant attention and sent the handlers on ground duty during fall.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat sounds just like him. Everyone works or they don\u2019t\neat \u201d One of the Holders mumbled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fandal pretended not to hear and continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTragically they were delayed by one of the powerful\nstorms that region is notorious for. When they were finally able to return\nseveral days later, they found the eggs had hatched. The hold children did\ntheir best to care for the hatchlings and four survived. Of course Lord Toric\nblamed the handlers for the loss and deducted it from their commission\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Something in Fandals\u2019 tone alerted H\u2019dan. He suddenly\nrealized that the young journeyman was one of the handlers of whom he was\nspeaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He blames himself\nfor the deaths. <\/em> Lamath filled in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat happened to the other hatchlings?\u201d He asked gently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe eggs hatched at night. Night hunters, attracted by\nthe hatching, took three.\u201d Fandal said sadly. Then he brightened somewhat. \u201cWe\nbelieve Ca\u2019deff may be one of those hatchlings taken by the predators. The\nscars on his back and across his main sail were likely received as he struggled\nagainst his attacker.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou see! Even as a weak hatchling that beast managed to\ntake on a night hunter. Probably killed it too.\u201d Lardacal once again broke in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have had enough of this Lardacal!\u201d The other\nNortherner, an older gentleman who had arrived with Lardacal and, until now\nremained silent, finally stepped in. \u201cI have heard nothing here to make me\nbelieve that Ca\u2019deff is the menacing danger you insist. I knew that Feddic when\nhe ran with the children of the lower cavern at Fort Hold and he was a\ntroublemaker then. I had hoped that fostering him in Southern would temper his\nambition but I see now that it only made him worse. If I were you, Lardacal, I\nwould keep quiet before this young man figures out that he is due blood\ncompensation for his injuries.\u201d He smiled and winked at Jasin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would never sir.\u201d Jasin spoke up. He turned to\nLardacal. \u201c I\u2019m sorry about your cousin. Ca\u2019deff was just protecting me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

H\u2019dan smiled. So the boy could speak after all and was\npolite too. That Lardacal just sneered at the boy rankled him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally someone changed the subject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a big one isn\u2019t he? I\u2019ve never seen one so big.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat is because he isn\u2019t a watch wher like most of you\nare familiar with.\u201d Fandal said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll whers, as you know them, are the direct descendants\nof those first few dragons engineered by Windblossom. Today they fall under the\ncare of the Minercraft Hall.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMinercraft? I assumed the Weyrs bred them.\u201d Master Lorian\nof the Beastcraft Hall broke in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd I thought the Beastcraft did.\u201d Someone else chimed\nin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo. The first whers were considered useless and a burden\nto the colonist. They would have been destroyed had it not been for the ancient\nminers. They had seen possibilities in them and asked that they be spared.\nWhers have been bred and cared for by the Minercraft as long as the Weyrs have\nbred and cared for dragons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is a strange combination for sure but the Minercraft\nhas actually done well by the wher and has developed several useful strains.\nThe watch wher is only one type. There is also a smaller sturdy type used\nexclusively in the mines and another larger, more intelligent kind quite useful\nfor guarding herds.\u201d \u201cThat is the type our Ca\u2019deff here is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA wher among the wherries?\u201d Someone quipped. This\nprovoked a ripple of gentle laughter throughout the group helping to break the\nlast of the tension. Lardacal was still seething but he kept his tongue.\nThankfully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cActually, yes.\u201d Fandal continued \u201cHerd whers are very\ngood at guarding flocks. I won\u2019t say that they don\u2019t take an occasional animal.\nIf they are well fed there is no reason their partner can\u2019t control them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So whers are really just deformed dragons? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several Dragonriders shuffled their feet uncomfortably. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, not at all. Whers are whers. They are no more\ndeformed dragons than dragons are deformed firelizards.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several Dragonriders took great exception to their beloved\nbeing called deformed firelizards and voiced they dismay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPlease. I did not mean to offend. I was only trying to\nexplain that they all came from the same source. Dragons and whers were made\nfrom the same basic design but have many different characteristics. \u201cWhers are\nless intelligent than dragons. Their eye structure and musculature is also much\ndifferent. They cannot flame or fly and don\u2019t communicate near as clearly as I\nam told dragons do. Through our breeding program we have made the wings even\nsmaller and less likely to impede the whers movements in tunnels and caverns.\nThe herd whers are the exception, they have large wings helpful in scaring\npredators away and giving protection from the elements.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have seen several whers and have never seen a green or\nblue one.\u201d H\u2019dan didn\u2019t see the speaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lardacal didn\u2019t intend to bring up that part of wher\nhusbandry but he wasn\u2019t about to side step the question. \u201cMost eggs thought to\ncontain green or blue whers are destroyed shortly after clutching and any that\ndo hatch are immediately\u2026.\u201d He faltered. Thinking how to bring up such a\nsensitive matter in front of dragonriders. He started over. \u201cThey are culled.\nGreen and blue whers are just too unpredictable and are much harder to control.\nThey tend to forget their jobs and wander off. They often turn wild and\ndecimate flocks and herds at night. It is much better to prevent the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow do you..? You know.\u201d One of the dragon riders asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe feed them meat very heavily laced with fellis\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

H\u2019dan listened as the discussion quickly turned toward\nquestion and answer. The more he learned about whers the more interesting they\nbecame. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou said breeding program. So there are actually gold\nwhers?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes of course. Though not as beautiful and graceful as\nqueens, they are just as devoted to their clutches.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCan whers go between?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes and no. There are many recorded cases of tunnel whers\ndisappearing during a cave in or other disaster only to reappear in a safer\nsection of the tunnel. Whers do not seem to consciously go between like\ndragons. Most documented cases of whers going between were in times of danger\nand, occasionally, on the death of their handlers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo they do it instinctually.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat is the belief. No handler has ever been able to get\nhis or her wher to go between on command. They don\u2019t seem able to understand\nwhat is being asked of them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCan whers breath fire?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo. He chuckled, they are not able to process the\nfirestone to produce flame. It is thought that the modification made to whers\nprevents this, as they do not have a second stomach. Besides it would be very\ninconvenient in gas filled caves.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This provoked another round of gentle laughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mallin took advantage of the break to turn the discussion\nback on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo now we are all a little more educated about whers.\nShall we discuss the problem at hand? What to do with our pair here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jasin listened intently as H\u2019dan explained some of the\nmore intimate details of being impressed \u201cDragons! Dragons in the sky.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 One of the Holders\ndaughters cried. She gathered her skirts and dashed past him toward the\ncothold. Jasin heard her mumbling something about meat rolls and drinks before\nshe disappeared in a blur of auburn hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jasin watched the six dragons spiral down. Their wing\nmembranes glowed in the rays of the early morning sun. He would never tire of\nwatching their graceful flight. Soon a gold, two bronzes, two greens and a blue\nlighted nimbly on the field. All of the riders dismounted and approached. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

H\u2019dan, grinning broadly, thumped Jasin on the back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It seems we have guests this morning. Lets go see what\nthis is all about shall we. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jasin, with Ca\u2019deff ambling along, approached the group.\nLamath stayed where he was but watched with interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell you two have come along nicely.\u201d \u201cHello Jasin,\nBronze Ca\u2019deff.\u201d The bronze rider said bowing to Ca\u2019deff. \u201cI am F\u2019lessen of\nHonshu Weyrhold and have heard much about you two. We,\u201d he indicated the newly\narrived riders, \u201chave come to offer you both a posting at Honshu if your\nwilling. We have a problem with large felines predating our herds and are in\ndesperate need of protection. If you both are willing, you would be most\nwelcome. We have ground quarters ready and can offer you private accommodations\nespecially suited to Ca\u2019deff and yourself.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jasin was at a loss for words. A position? They need us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will protect. We\nare needed. This is good.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood then it\u2019s settled. When could you begin? H\u2019dan tells\nme that you are well along in your training.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. How far away is Honshu?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, it\u2019s very, very far away. Nearly on the other side of\nthe continent from here I think.\u201d He said looking to H\u2019dan who just nodded his\nagreement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat is very far.\u201d Jasin said, shoulders falling in\nresignation. \u201cWe would take at least several months to reach it. It took three\nweeks to walk here from our camp in the lower ranges.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCome on boy! You could be there tonight. I couldn\u2019t help\nbut notice that fine friend of yours has wings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t joke please. Ca\u2019deff cannot fly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd why not?\u201d Now the dragonrider was grinning as if he\nknew something Jasin didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHas he tried?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe can\u2019t. Whers don\u2019t fly. They are not,\u201d he faltered\nlooking for the right words but none came. He tried a different approach. \u201cHe\nisn\u2019t made right.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSurely you jest. I have seen the breath and length of\nhim. I think he is quite capable of flight, with a little help that is. You see\nmy Golanth there? He can\u2019t fly either.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jasin was sure these Dragon riders were poking fun at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe flew in.\u201d He pointed out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, he did didn\u2019t he. He flew in but he can\u2019t fly. Show\nhim Golanth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The largest bronze stepped forward and extended a wing.\nOne of the joints was fused. It was<\/em> a\nwonder that he flew in.  Jasin also\nnoticed one of his eyes was damaged and several facets were actually dark.\nDead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith that joint disabled like that he can\u2019t make the all\nimportant downsweep to attain flight, but with the help of his weyr mate he\ncan.\u201d The bronze turned it\u2019s head lovingly regarding the green dragon which had\nlanded with it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His weyr mate? Jasin had assumed the gold was the bronzes\nmate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDragons can fly if they think they can.\u201d F\u2019lessen continued.\n\u201cYour guy doesn\u2019t think he can so of course he can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is a simple matter really.\u201d The smallish woman beside\nthe bronze dragon rider piped up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

H\u2019dan watched the boys face. Uncertainty and disbelief\nwere plainly seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He grinned inwardly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCome on get your things and we\u2019ll just see what this\nwinged friend can do\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

H\u2019dan knew exactly what F\u2019lessin and his friends were\ngetting at. It wouldn\u2019t matter if Ca\u2019deff had no wings at all. If he believed\nhe could fly, with help, he could. The important thing was that he believe<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

H\u2019dan steered Jasin toward the small cothold that\ncontained his things. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As they walked Jasin asked. \u201cH\u2019dan, why are they making\nfun of us. Everyone knows whers can\u2019t fly.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes that is<\/em>\nwhat most people think.\u201d H\u2019dan said no more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They reached the cothold. Earlier he had the holders\ndaughters, who had taken quite a liking to the boy, pack his small collection\nof clothes and possessions. Two bundles were tied and ready on his bed when\nthey went in. Another sack of meat rolls and pastries sat atop the largest\nbundle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen did? How did?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

H\u2019dan smiled at his confusion. \u201cI told F\u2019lessen about\nCa\u2019deff and yourself and he insisted that you join him at his Weyrhold. He is a\ngood man. I knew he was coming today and had Brelka gather your things. Now\ndon\u2019t keep the dragonriders waiting\u201d he said pushing Jasin toward the waiting\nbundles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jasin gathered them up and left the cothold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Dragonriders were still waiting for them. Many of them\nwere smiling and plainly enjoying his discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, young fellow. You can\u2019t go flying in those\nclothes.\u201d Here try these on. They offered a wherhide jacket, a pair of pants, a\nflying helmet and goggles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He had had enough of this joke. He wasn\u2019t about to get all\ndressed for flying and then have the dragonriders point and laugh at him for\nthinking he would fly his wher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is enough. I don\u2019t know why you want to poke fun at\nus but Ca\u2019deff can not fly!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dragonriders just smiled. A few even tried to hold\nback laughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

H\u2019dan stepped forward and took the offered clothes. He\nhanded them to Jasin who took them quietly. He put both his hands on the boys\u2019\nshoulders and gave them a gentle squeeze. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJasin. Trust me. You will have to believe as much as\nCa\u2019deff does. He can fly\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jasin hesitated only a moment before shrugging the heavy\njacket on. He trusted H\u2019dan. He would play along because he asked him to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now here are some riding straps. They are sized to fit a\ngreen but should fit your Ca\u2019deff nicely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

H\u2019Dan took them also and showed Jasin the proper way to\nput them on. With some minor adjustments they fit snuggly. Ca\u2019deff took all of\nthe tugging and pulling in stride and seemed quite interested in all the new\ngear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow up you go.\u201d H\u2019dan gave Jasin a leg up and helped him\nsettle between Ca\u2019deff\u2019s smaller neck ridges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other dragon riders mounted. The bronze riders took a\npackage each and settled Jasins meager belongings behind them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOK Ca\u2019deff. Spread your wings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ca\u2019deff did as he was told.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow Jasin. Ca\u2019deff is going to launch himself skyward.\nGrab a tight hold on the straps and lean back so you aren\u2019t whipped back when\nhe lunges.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jasin could hear the dragons giving Ca\u2019deff instructions\nand excitement built up in him. Could it be? Could Ca\u2019deff really fly? He felt\nthe power beneath him and looked at Ca\u2019deff\u2019s outstretched wings. Their\nproportions were so much smaller than the other dragons but he could almost\nbelieve, almost. He then looked at the largest bronze. Golanth, and his injured\nwing. He remembered the grace and ease with which he had flown and landed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will fly. We\nwill help.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jasin was astonished. Was that Golanth? He sounded just\nlike his rider only a little deeper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 I can do this. <\/em>Ca\u2019deff said.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that assurance all of Jasins doubts melted. He did\nbelieve. He believed!  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are with you. <\/em>The\nmultiple voice of the dragons chimed in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will go. We will\nfly. <\/em>Ca\u2019deffs eagerness was palpable as he reared back on his powerful hind\nlegs and sprang into the crisp morning air. Wings outstretched, reaching for\nthe sky so long denied his kind. He labored to work muscles so long forgotten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Downstroke! Put your\nchest into it. <\/em>The other dragons encouraged<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Straining,\nCa\u2019deff applied the all-important downstroke and lifted himself skyward. He\ndefied the ground. He flew! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jasin clutched the straps as the wind rushed by propelled\nby Ca\u2019deffs powerful strokes. Together they were joined<\/em> in the intense effort. Jasin could feel<\/em> the pressure of the air under his<\/em> wings. He felt<\/em> the\nground fall from his<\/em> claws. He longed\nfor the sky and they flew! He was about to explode with joy. Ca\u2019deff put voice\nto their shared triumph and bugled his defiance to the earth below. His deep\nbaritone voice reverberated from the hillsides. Tears streamed from Jasins eyes\nas Ca\u2019deff continued to gain distance. It felt right. It all felt so right. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We fly!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

     The other\ndragons winged in around them. Gold, Bronze, Blue and Green. Each rider saluted\nthem as they joined into the formation. Jasin was sure he was grinning like a\nfool but he didn\u2019t care. He and Ca\u2019deff were together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are to go.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are going between?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I see, you see. I\nfollow.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slight concern entered Jasins thoughts. Didn\u2019t Fandal say\nwhers don\u2019t know how to go between?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They show. I follow.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

     H\u2019dan watched\nhis unusual charges as they made their way skyward. A lump formed in his throat\nas he both felt and heard their jubilation. Later F\u2019lessen will explain the\nmechanics of \u201cflight\u201d but for now no one would take away this joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you think Ca\u2019deff will ever be able to sustain flight\nby himself? He asked Lamath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He will always have\nfriends.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They watched the \u2018dragons\u2019 sweep across the cloudless\nmorning sky. The differences were not as apparent from this distance. Only the\nweyrbred might look twice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 The flight of seven\nwinked out. <\/p>\n