Sorry again for the delay. Argh!
A sevenday after Turnover, as the youngest dragons passed their sixth month, Ramoth's latest clutch of thirty-two eggs lay hardening on the hot sands of the Hatching Ground. They would hatch within two, possibly three sevendays and a new group of candidates was already being gathered in the Weyr. This clutch did not include a queen egg though, and Lessa told those who worried over that fact that Benden Weyr and indeed all the Weyrs of Pern had sufficient queens and needed no more at present.
The little dragons were now nearly half their full grown size and the difference between and even among the colors was far more noticeable. Mynth and Nayrith were no longer among the smallest of the greens; they were both above the midsize range. Gredarth was now the third largest blue, and Klamath was the largest brown. Saraneth was still a bit smaller than Biradeth, but still, declared Lessa, among the largest queens on Pern at her age. Dandreth was the largest bronze in the class, and Tagamarth was the smallest, only slightly larger than Klamath, which sorely tested B'rand's newly learned tolerance of the big brown weyrling.
During yet another dragonet evaluation session on a cold but dry winter day, Mara assisted the dragon healers in assessing the young dragons' health and readiness for load-bearing flight. Each dragon was sent to fly a full circuit of the Weyr interior and then subjected to considerable poking and prodding by healers while Mara kept her hands on the subject dragon, both to calm and to detect any twinges or pain.
When Tagamarth's turn came, Mara was secretly pleased that B'rand did not seem bothered by her touching his bronze, though something was hidden deep in his thoughts, fighting to escape.
All eyes turned toward the fire heights when the watch dragon let out a series of welcoming bugles. Typically, one or two calls would welcome even a large group of dragons, but the brown on duty bugled at each of seven dragons as they appeared from between. Mara was thrilled to hear that Golanth was among the visitors. Lessa, too, perked up at hearing that her son was among the visiting dragonriders. She had been in an increasingly sour, cramped mood since Ramoth had clutched her eggs. Mara could understand her Weyrwoman's frustration at being stuck in the Weyr until the hatching.
Everyone watched as Golanth seemed to float to the ground at the other end of the bowl. His wings were spread, though the left wing appeared cocked at a rather awkward angle, yet he simply floated down slowly until he landed on all four feet. After landing, the big bronze raised his head and trumpeted a cheerful thanks to the dragons hovering above.
Lessa released her held breath in a sudden chuckle. "Stay here," she said to no one in particular just before heading North at a full run, a big smile on her recently scowling face.
As the first six dragons landed near Golanth, another six popped out of between in a circular formation with something hovering in the air between them. They moved to a point midway down the bowl and the object began to descend, slowly, just like Golanth had done. When the large sphere touched ground, the dragons broke formation and landed closer to Golanth.
As Lessa passed the object, it became clear that it was some sort of very large ball, at least twice as tall as Benden's Weyrwoman, though she barely noticed as she ran past. As she reached the visiting riders, she stopped in front of F'lessan and placed hands on hips. From the weyrlings' section of the bowl it looked as if the bronze rider was being scolded for something. When the grinning man stepped forward – with a tall green rider at his elbow – hugged and lifted the Weyrwoman, L'ret tried to divert the weyrlings' attention.
"Back to work you nosey busybodies! Who's next?"
"Who's that?" asked one of the green riders.
"That's F'lessan, rider of bronze Golanth and our Weyrleaders' son."
"But, I thought Golanth's wing was eaten by felines," offered a young blue rider.
"Obviously not. Now, if it's any of our business, they will all be introduced to us later. Until then, get back to work!"
The weyrlings reluctantly moved back to their previous positions in groups around riders ready to tell more stories about the use of each flying formation, but they were obviously distracted. L'ret was secretly pleased that most were so curious about what he knew to be a fascinating experiment unfolding.
"What's that giant ball for?" "It looks like a dragon-sized soccer ball." "Dragons don't play soccer." "How'd they get it to the ground?" "I didn't see any ropes." "How'd they do that?" "It floated down." "Just like Golanth did!"
When no one provided answers, the weyrlings were finally able to listen to the senior riders' stories, but heads often turned north to glimpse the giant ball.
Mara was not immune to the infectious curiosity. While she managed to concentrate mostly on the dragons being evaluated, she occasionally stole a glance at the ball as well. She fought the urge to listen to L'ret or any of the visitors; she really needed to concentrate on the job literally at hand.
As the last young dragon endured the poking and prodding of the healers, the group of visitors began moving toward the weyrling barracks and weyrlings grew excited at the prospect of learning about the giant ball. L'ret gave up trying to hold their attention and instead had the weyrlings form a semicircle with their dragons. Most of the riders in the Weyr this day also joined the weyrlings, as well as quite a few of the Weyrfolk.
F'lessan, wearing a huge grin so much like F'lar's in his few unreserved moments, walked with an obvious limp and the help of a cane. Mara noticed that the tall and strangely beautiful green rider at his side lent well-disguised aid with her hand at his elbow. F'lar and Lessa walked to the side opposite the green rider. The remaining riders – of all colors of dragons and from several different Weyrs across Pern – flanked F'lessan as if he were the leader of the group.
The visiting dragons dropped one by one from the ridges – first the single gold, then three bronzes, two browns, a blue and finally, five greens – where they had been visiting with Benden's dragons, and landed in a semicircle around the focus of the weyrlings' attention. As each did so, their rider would break away from the group to join his or her lifemate.
F'lessan greeted L'ret with all due respect despite his arrogant grin, and then introduced Tai as his 'precious green' to the Weyrlingmaster. The gleam in his eyes and the blushing smile of the green rider left no doubt they were weyrmates. L'ret's handshake followed by a graceful bow caused Tai to blush even darker.
While L'ret whispered something to Tai, causing her to react with surprise and then laughter, F'lar addressed everyone gathered nearby.
"How many of you witnessed our visitors' arrival?" His grin nearly matched his son's as all hands went into the air and the questions began.
"How'd they do that?" "Golanth floated." "So did the ball." "How'd they do that?"
F'lar raised his arms to silence the crowd. "How many of you weyrlings know how Golanth and the ball floated to the ground?"
Several weyrlings raised their hands while most of the full riders and Weyrfolk grinned or chuckled. F'lar pointed to a green weyrling. "You." He affected the same incredulous tone the crowd had used. "How'd they do that?"
Angalyn smiled at her Weyrleader, amused by his rendition of the weyrlings' questions. "Nayrith says it's called telekinesis."
"Cheat!" said someone on the other side of the semicircle.
F'lar's eyebrow rose, but his sparkling eyes stayed on the green rider. "You didn't know until Nayrith told you?"
"No, sir." Angalyn bowed her head in embarrassment.
"Good teamwork, weyrling!" F'lar waited for the girl to look at him with surprise, and graced her with his most charming smile and a nod.
"Next time," began F'lessan, "leave out the 'Nayrith says' part. Not everyone understands that a dragon and her rider are one and the same."
"But, she deserves credit, sir."
"Very commendable!" said F'lar.
"Yes, she does," said F'lessan. "But most people outside the Weyr won't understand that your minds are one, and apparently some inside the Weyr don't understand either."
That earned one young bronze weyrling several teasing pokes from those standing nearby.
F'lar made a great show of turning everyone's attention to his son, complete with extended arms and a theatrical bow.
F'lessan executed a partial bow, though 'his green rider' seemed panicked. With the help of Tai and his cane, he stood back up ignoring the slight loss of balance his injured leg had caused. He returned his attention to Angalyn. "Telekinesis is correct . . ." He waited for the green rider to supply her name. "Angalyn. What a lovely name." He then spoke to all the weyrlings. "Kitty Ping engineered the first dragons with three remarkable abilities: telepathy, teleportation, and telekinesis. You're all familiar – I hope – with telepathy." He pointed to his temple and grinned as the weyrlings nodded or giggled or chuckled. "Some of you," he looked at the older weyrlings and the full riders, "are familiar with teleportation – we call it 'going between'. But telekinesis was thought to be a failed portion of Kitty Ping's creations until very recently, when my dear Tai's lovely green Zaranth, began displaying the talent in the most remarkable ways. How many of you know what Zaranth has done with telekinesis?" Again he looked to the youngest weyrlings.
"She pushed felines away," offered one young brown weyrling.
"She exploded some of them!" declared a green weyrling with accompanying hand motions.
Most everyone gathered laughed at the boy's exuberance, but Tai blushed as she raised her hand for attention. "That may not have been Zaranth."
"What's most important," continued F'lessan, "and most remarkable, is that Zaranth taught other dragons to do the same, and the instinct was strong enough that all those present that day were able to learn telekinesis within heartbeats." He pulled Tai into a loose embrace. "Green Zaranth is the main reason Golanth and I are still alive this day." He kissed the side of Tai's head before she could duck away.
"She had lots of help," added Tai modestly.
"Only after she called for help and taught them how to help," added Lessa while F'lar nodded agreement.
Seeing Tai's embarrassment, F'lessan put an end to the admiration of his weyrmate and her amazing dragon. "The reason we're here today, is to teach you and your dragons to use telekinesis as Kitty Ping intended." He then explained to all that the youngest dragons would be trained first, followed by older and older dragons. He, Lessa, F'lar and L'ret had discussed the training order earlier. The youngest dragons would be the least inhibited by the prospect of this new ability, but might become inhibited if older dragons – and their riders – should fail in their attempts. And older dragons might have less trouble after seeing the younger dragons performing what they and their riders might now believe improbable.
The newest weyrlings, all bouncing or jiggling or simply glowing with excitement, unaccustomed to being first at anything, were divided into twelve groups, one for each of the visiting riders, leaving F'lessan free to move between the groups or talk with older riders, some of whom were already accomplished at telekinesis. Other weyrlings and older riders were encouraged to join the groups but were dissuaded from asking questions until their turns came.
Mara found herself in a group with a green weyrling and a blue weyrling, and worried only slightly that neither were Istans. With so many full riders present, she laughed at herself for worrying about their safety. Her group found themselves assigned to the single visiting gold rider. Shareen and Bibeth were the youngest of three junior queen pairs at Southern Weyr.
After proper introductions had been made all around to Shareen's patient, but exacting satisfaction, the gold rider explained that telekinesis was a combination of controlled pushing and pulling and lifting. She withdrew a much smaller hide ball from the carisak she had been carrying, one much closer to the size of a soccer ball. She dropped it on the ground in front of Bibeth and asked most politely for a demonstration from her lounging gold.
Bibeth, Mara heard, directed the three young dragons to back up a bit to form a circle. Shareen suggested each weyrling stay to their dragons' sides. Older weyrlings, full riders and curious weyrfolk all stood further back, but still between the dragons.
The ball began moving slowly away from Bibeth, stopped and slowly returned while Shareen explained in human terms what she was doing. Using only her mind, the gold could push or pull theoretically any object.
Bibeth's explanation to the dragons was far simpler: Push like this. Pull like this.
Using a combination of pushing and pulling, explained Shareen, Bibeth could move the ball in different directions. The gold demonstrated by sending the ball around the inside of the weyrlings' circle. The ball then spiraled into the center of the space and, with gasps from the observers, began floating. Higher and higher, it rose, until it floated at the smallest weyrling's eye level. Shareen explained that lifting an object required picking it up while using a precisely controlled combination of pushing and pulling. With more detailed concentration, the object could be made to perform even more complex maneuvers. As Shareen glowed with pride for her dragon, the ball began spinning on its vertical axis. As the small group of spectators 'ooo'd and 'ahhh'd, the axis began to tilt toward a horizontal alignment, which elicited even more appreciation. Finally, the spinning stopped and the ball slowly floated to the ground.
Bibeth humbly pulled her muzzle in toward her chest as the small crowd clapped and cheered her wonderful performance.
"Now," began Shareen, "who would like to try telekinesis?" She laughed lightly as three half-sized dragon heads rose with excited readiness as three weyrlings moved closer to their dragons' sides.
Mara heard as the gold rider assessed the three weyrlings, and was not the least offended when Shareen selected the blue to try first. The gold rider's reasoning was that the youngest humans would have the least resistance to trying something new.
Bibeth telekinetically rolled the ball toward the blue who, along with his rider, watched with almost comical concentration. The ball stopped abruptly an arm's length in front of the blue's muzzle which was poised barely a hand-span off the ground.
"Good!" said Shareen. "Now, push it back to Bibeth."
Mara and Klamath listened as Bibeth gave the blue extra instructions.
You stopped it with a push. Now push harder.
The ball wobbled as if a finger had touched it.
Harder, coaxed Bibeth.
The ball scooted, without rolling, half the distance to the gold. The green weyrling giggled, Mara grinned, and the blue weyrling glowed with pride for his dragon.
Good, said Bibeth. But you're trying too hard. Push and then let the ball roll.
The blue focused again and soon the ball scooted a short distance before rolling to a spot between Bibeth's forepaws.
"Very good!" said Shareen. "Now pull it back."
The blue required a couple tries to get the ball back to his feet, but both he and his rider beamed with pride at the accomplishment. He was then instructed to push the ball to the green, which was far easier – he had no worries about hitting a clutch-mate with the ball. One attempt sent the ball past the green's forepaws and under her belly.
The green had far less trouble pushing the ball to Bibeth – she knew it would take more than a small hide ball to hurt a big strong queen. As a result her first attempt at pushing the ball sent it toward Bibeth so fast it seemed to have gone between. Bibeth stopped it though, and her jaw dropped at the green as she congratulated her, but suggested she pull it back a bit slower. The pull-back was slightly slower but still so swift and so uncontrolled it smacked the green in the belly causing her to squeak with surprise as she jumped up to all four feet, her wings spreading for balance nearly knocking down several observers.
Shareen's lilting laugh was far from condemning. "Now you see why we need to practice control. Can you roll it to Klamath? Without hurting him?"
The poor green's embarrassment was evident to all; her head swaying with muzzle down and yellow swirling through her eyes. But her rider soothed her with kind words and loving strokes along her neck.
"It's all right, lovey. This was your first try. Slower this time, all right?" The boy kept his hand on her neck as she snaked her head between her forelegs to find the ball. It rolled quickly to her nose and just a bit beyond where she could then push it toward Klamath. Her control was much improved, but Klamath still squeaked when the ball approached so quickly.
Using his mind, Klamath stopped the ball before it hit his paw. I did it! The brown bounced and huffed with excitement.
Of course you did! Mara jiggled with pride and laughed at the thrill of his accomplishment. Now, push it to Bibeth, love.
Klamath focused all his attention on the little ball and pushed. It rolled about a hand-span before it stopped.
Harder, love. Hand on his neck for moral support, Mara concentrated on the ball as well and wished she could help her sweet brown. Push!
The ball disappeared! A thwap and a gasp from Bibeth caused the brown and his rider to look to the gold. The ball now rolled away from Bibeth's twitching nose and back toward them.
Mara gasped and Klamath groaned and both shrank in stature, waiting for . . . something. Even the observers stood in silent shock at what they'd just witnessed.
After what seemed an eternity to the brown weyrling pair, Bibeth began to shake. She raised her head into the air and let out a high pitched bugle that matched her rider's surprised laughter.
Mara sagged into Klamath as he leaned against her.
I don't think she's hurt, said Klamath meekly.
Bibeth's massive head lowered, jaw dropped in a draconic grin as she still huffed. No, I am not hurt, little Klamath. You simply surprised me. She extended her neck to gently touch noses with the little brown. You did very well. Now, try again . . . but slower.
Klamath pulled the ball back and pushed again with considerably less force. The ball rolled at a leisurely pace to a point just below Bibeth's tucked in nose.
It simply requires practice, said the gold to the weyrling dragons.
So, the weyrlings and their dragons practiced. They practiced pushing and pulling in their small groups, and then older and older dragons were called to join in until nearly every dragon in the Weyr was practicing pushing and pulling small hide balls around the chilly bowl. Only a few of the oldest dragons and their riders seemed unable to perform the simplest version of telekinesis.
Once all who could had grown more competent at moving the balls across the ground, weyrlings were again called into their small groups. This time they learned how to lift the small hide balls with varying degrees of success. All the weyrlings were able to at least raise their bundles of hide off the ground. Some, like Klamath, lifted so hard the balls were nearly lost; some of Benden's dragons flew fairly high to find the small orbs and track them long enough to know where they would have fallen before catching them for a safe return to the bowl. Most would have fallen right back into Benden's bowl; only a few had been pushed as well as lifted and would have fallen far outside the craters.
Again, older and older dragons were added to the exercise, until all but a few became accustomed to lifting. And then the concept of working in male/female pairs was introduced. At that point, each dragon in the Weyr – even the oldest – was found to have some telekinetic ability; perhaps in slowing another dragon's movements, or helping to maintain chosen directions, or simply adding a little extra push or pull or lift.
Some dragons actually did better by themselves than with a partner. When F'lessan good naturedly began separating 'loners' from 'team workers', a pattern quickly became evident. Girl dragons with boy riders, and Mara and Klamath, were most likely able to perform more complicated telekinetic tasks without assistance. These dragons, for instance, were first to figure out how to send a ball on a curving course, and then were able to show their clutch-mates and others how it was done. One of the 'loner' greens was first to lift and spin a ball, though the spin became a push and the ball wound up where it should not have been.
On a whim – or so it seemed – F'lessan wondered out loud to the 'loners' if the riders might have some telekinetic ability without the aid of their dragons. A few were willing to test his theory, Mara included, so their dragons were sent a ways down the bowl to be entertained by Bibeth. Following the established pattern, F'lessan asked first the youngest green riders to make the attempt, and then the older riders. Mara was last to try, but first to actually push the ball with only her mind, though only about an arm's length in distance.
"I did it!" Her eyes were almost as wide as her open-mouthed smile.
Of course you did! said both Klamath and Normond in unison.
Did you help, love?
No. I just watched, said Klamath with glee.
I didn't help either, added Normond. And G'raden thinks you should help with firestone more often.
That started Mara laughing until she noticed the disbelieving stares from most of the other 'loners'. She listened briefly to each of them and found that they also thought Klamath had surely helped her. F'lessan smiled in a most convincing manner though, as he checked with Golanth who checked with Bibeth on whether the brown had helped his rider.
"Well!" declared the bronze rider. "We now have proof that humans as well as dragons are capable of telekinesis! Can you do it again, Weyrling Mara?"
Mara did do it again, and pushed the ball all the way to the bronze rider's feet. When asked, she also pulled it back to her own feet, and then toward one of the youngest green riders. He, being one who had not doubted what he'd seen, promptly stopped the ball a short distance from his feet, and then pushed it part way back to Mara. Before he could try again, though, a shout from further down the bowl had everyone turning to see what was happening.
Teams had been working with the giant ball, rolling it back and forth and on curving paths, and had just started practicing lifting when something went wrong. The ball was lifted just above the largest dragons' heads when someone on the eastern line pushed . . . with enough force to shoot the ball toward the southern entrance to the storage rooms.
Above the excited chatter and the sudden collective gasp from the riders involved in the new game, one voice overpowered all. "Melvar! Go back!"
From Mara's position, she could see the boy walking out of the entrance studying something in his hands. On hearing his uncle's shout, he looked up, dropped whatever he was holding and stretched out his arms as if to stop the giant lump of hide. The next thing Mara saw was the ball flying the opposite direction, but much faster and on a much higher trajectory. It flew fast and high, up over the line of dragons closest to Melvar and toward the eastern wall of weyrs. As it lodged into one of those weyrs, Mara looked back to where Melvar stood in apparent shock.
G'regg had started running even before yelling at his nephew. As he approached at full speed, the boy turned and ran back into the tunnel. Mara listened to his thoughts, but could hear only fear of a repeated mistake.
It's all right, Melvar. You did nothing wrong. Please come back. Mara directed the most calming thoughts she could manage toward the boy, but he wasn't hearing.
Voices in the bowl finally reached Mara. "Wow!" "Who did that?" "That was great!" "Is he all right?"
"Who did that?" asked Lessa of Mara.
"Melvar. And he's scared senseless. May I go to him, Lessa?"
Lessa put a hand on the weyrling's arm. "Of course. Tell him he's done nothing wrong, Mara."
"That's what I've . . . I'll tell him, Lessa."
Fear in Mara's eyes at nearly disclosing their secret caused Lessa to smile slightly. F'lessan knows, dear. Go.
When the weyrling looked at Lessa's son, he merely cocked his grinning head in Melvar's direction. So Mara ran as fast as she could toward the tunnel, directing soothing thoughts at the boy. At the entrance, she could hear Melvar's panicked screaming.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean it! Let me go!"
G'regg stood a dragon's length away from a group of riders surrounding Melvar. He leaned back against the wall with his hands covering his face.
Mara put a hand on one arm and waited for his attention. The man was crying when he finally looked at her.
His voice broke as he forced out. "He's afraid of me!"
"Didn't your sister say you look just like your father?" Mara smiled gently at the shock on the bronze rider's tear-streaked face.
G'regg shook his head. "There's nothing I can do about that."
"It'll take time, G'regg."
"He knows you won't hurt him."
Mara nodded her head as she squeezed his arm, and walked away from the now more hopeful man.
She had to elbow through the group of people trying to calm the boy and found Melvar raised off the ground with B'nor's arms wrapped around his meager chest. The boy was delivering some sound kicks to the man's legs, and some jaw-breaking blows to his face with both tightly clenched fists and the back of his head. But the bronze rider kept a secure hold on the boy as he too spoke calming words. B'nor would sport some brilliant bruises the next day.
Mara caught the boy's wrists and brought them together between them. "Melvar? It's all right, boy. No one wants to hurt you."
Melvar calmed a bit, but then raised a leg and kicked her firmly in the belly.
Mara grunted at the surprising impact, but did not let loose. She caught her breath and then kissed one of his clenched fists.
That broke the panicky mental spiral the boy had been travelling. Wide eyes looked at the big woman, fear, longing, and shame contorting his face in a new heartbreaking direction. A new well of tears sprang free as he wailed, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"It's all right, Melvar. You did nothing wrong."
"I didn't mean to push. I was scared."
"You had to push. Or you would have been hurt. You did the right thing, Melvar."
The boy's fists went limp and Mara held them to the sides of her face. When Melvar's hands opened to caress her smiling cheeks, she moved her hands up his arms and invited him to place them around her neck.
Melvar continued to cry as he gladly reached around Mara's neck and let her take him into her arms. He never heard B'nor's gusty, repeated sighs of relief. "They all saw what I did."
"Yes, the whole Weyr saw what you did, and they think it's great, Melvar!"
"They do?"
"Yes, they do! Do you know what we were learning this day?"
"No."
"Telekinesis."
"What's that?"
"That's what you did when you pushed the ball away. And you proved the weyrleaders' son was right about people being able to do what dragons can do."
"Is there son my age?"
"No. He's closer to my age. But, I'd wager he'll want to meet you."
Melvar's eyes had begun to droop. As he lay his head on Mara's shoulder, he said, "He's too old to play."
"He has a bronze dragon. Golanth."
"Like Uncle G'regg?"
"Like Uncle G'regg, who is worried sick about you."
"Where is he?"
"Right here boy." G'regg had approached out of Melvar's line of sight, but now laid a big hand on the boy's back.
"Where were you?"
G'regg stammered, not sure how to respond. Mara answered. "He tried to help you, Melvar, but you got even more scared, so he moved away."
"I'm not afraid of Uncle G'regg!"
"I didn't think so. Nothing scary about that big, ugly bronze rider."
Melvar made a valiant effort to raise his head and look at his uncle, but spoke to Mara. "He's not that big."
"Oh, boy!" G'regg growled, but with a grin. "We need to have a talk!"
Melvar giggled weakly as he was hoisted to his uncle's shoulder. He immediately wrapped his thin arms over the big shoulders and buried his head into the big neck.
G'regg fought hard to control his breathing, but lost the battle against the tears flowing from his eyes as he hugged the small boy to his massive chest. "Let's go take a nap."
Melvar raised his head just enough to whisper, "I'm not tired."
"I am," growled the big man. "You wore me out, boy."
Melvar giggled as his head fell again to the juncture of neck and shoulder. G'regg left the tunnel with B'nor following right behind, one hand holding a small arm and the other holding his sore face.
As the riders passed Lessa at the entrance, she put a hand on B'nor's arm and walked with them to Arlith. "You need to see the healers." The man's momentary shock at the thought of being separated from his friend was not as surprising as it would have been a Turn earlier. She smiled. "I'll bring a healer and some ice."
B'nor, eyes threatening to overflow, nodded. "Thank you, Lessa."
F'lessan stood behind Lessa, somewhat winded from the hurried trek across the bowl. "I'd very much like to speak with the boy when he wakes," he said to B'nor.
"That may be awhile." B'nor's lips twitched in a partial smile as he touched a few of the spots on his face that were already starting to bruise. "He used up considerable energy trying to get away." After a nod from Lessa, he limped away to follow G'regg and Melvar.
oOoOo
In G'raden and Mara's weyr, the bronze rider studied his weyrmate as she dried her freshly washed hair getting ready for bed. His face was more thoughtfully solemn than Mara had ever seen.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
"Does it bother you that Melvar's getting credit for proving humans capable of telekinesis?"
Mara smiled and shook her head. "No. Should it?"
"You were first to move that little ball."
"But there's no question that Melvar did it on his own."
"You think Klamath helped you?"
"No, but others do." She raised her chin in mock pride. "Besides, I'm already famous, thanks to Klamath. It's time for Melvar to be recognized as the special boy he is." She stood and returned the damp drying cloth to the bathing room.
G'raden stood and waited for her return. He bowed deeply as she passed the curtain and held his arm out to her. "Allow me to recognize what a special woman you are."