Disclaimer: If I owned anything in this story aside from the characters, this world would not be the one it is today. So, I own nothing. Please don't sue me. I'm pretty much broke anyway.

ANs: Wow, that took a shardin long time for me to add to this story. The sad thing is, I had it all written up, too. I'm so lazy. Sorry, sorry! I updated, though! Well, 10 pts to anyone who can guess who the Mary-sue was in this story... And see the next chapter (when I add it) to read about the watch-whers in my story.

About reviews... How's this? Everyone out there, just review with a number between 1 and 10 to tell me your opinion of my story. 1 being the worst and 10 being best. That's all you have to put in the review, one number (though I'd love it if you could put more...) Even anonymous people can! I just want some feedback on how I'm doing.

(ANs, pt 2: Thank you, Astrokath, for your helpful reviews! I hope I've fixed the things you pointed out. I did my best...

I should have the next chapter up shortly.)


T'nar slumped on the couch, scrubbing his face with his hands.

They had visited Sattil at Lemos Hold, where they'd been told that Lari had taken him. T'nar had hardly known what to say to the dragonless man. S'til? Losing Pinceath? Becoming Sattil? Inconceivable! But it had happened.

T'nar couldn't imagine losing Kirroth.

You won't lose me, Kirroth said confidently.

How do you know that? T'nar asked, shaken.

I won't let it happen.

T'nar gave a harsh laugh. You can't always control that, Kirroth.

Lynnia walked into the weyr. She stopped, a concerned look on her face, when she saw her weyrmate, slumped dejectedly on the couch.

"What's wrong, T'nar?" she asked.

"I was thinking about S't – Sattil," he said softly.

"Oh…" Lynnia said. She flopped onto the couch next to T'nar. He saw tears in her eyes.

Then, all of a sudden, she burst out, "T'nar! It's all my fault! I should have stopped Lilianth! She – she flew at Pinceath, and I knew what she was going to do, but I didn't stop her – I couldn't…" she trailed off, gasping sobs racking her body.

T'nar awkwardly patted her shoulder, wishing he could soothe her better. "Well… it's not your fault, Lynnia. Lilianth was mating, and Pinceath was in her way. You couldn't have stopped her. It had to happen. Don't worry. I'm sure S't – Sattil doesn't blame you. Besides, there'll soon be many more dragons Hatching."

"But Pinceath will never come back," Lynnia whispered.

T'nar felt tears spring to his eyes too, but he sternly got a grip on his emotions. "We'll be all right, Lynnia. It's going to be all right."


Later...

Sattil felt his body tense as the drums rolled out the joyful news: Hatching. He listened to the count: One queen, three bronzes, six browns, thirteen blues, and twenty-one greens.

Sattil clenched his fists when the green hatchlings were announced. He could hardly bear it. Against his will, he remembered Pinceath's Hatching…

Pinceath!


T'nar clenched his teeth when Kirroth whined outside.

Sattil again?

Yes! the bronze replied, his own tone expressing Sattil's anguish.

"Excuse me, good Holder," T'nar said to Harodom, Lord Holder of Bitra Hold, with whom he had been meeting. "But Kirroth and I have something to sort out."

"Wait," Harodom said, also rising. "Are you leaving the room or the Hold?"

T'nar grinned briefly. "Both, Lord Holder."

"But we haven't finished negotiating the tithes!" Harodom protested.

"My Lord, this is dragonrider business. I must go," T'nar said firmly, saying to Kirroth, Get ready to go. Sattil needs us.

T'nar quickly disentangled himself and went out to Kirroth.

We are going to Sattil? Kirroth asked.

Yes. Lemos Hold, m'lad.

But we will once again cause him pain. I am a dragon, Kirroth pointed out.

I'd not noticed. C'mon now, we must make this stop happening!

So Kirroth lunged up, into the air, and within five beats of his wings, went between.

T'nar looked over Lemos Hold as his dragon wheeled, preparing to land. He grinned as he saw children spill out into the courtyard, in awe at the sight of a dragon – and a bronze, at that!

Kirroth landed delicately, barely sending up a puff of dust.

Showoff, T'nar said affectionately.

They watch. I give them something to see.

T'nar swung off the great neck.

"Hello there," he said. "I'm looking for Sattil? Recently come? Dragonless?"

The children's faces darkened. One stepped forward, a lad of about twelve. "Why do you want to see him?"

"He's my friend," T'nar said. Suddenly, one of the kids elbowed the speaker in the ribs.

"That's Benden's Weyrleader, thickskull!" the girl hissed.

T'nar gave a slight smile. "Yes, I am. And I would still like to see Sattil."

"I'll take you," the girl who had corrected the lad said. She was actually not so much a girl as a young woman, perhaps about sixteen Turns old.

"I'm much obliged," T'nar said. Then the girl led him to one of the doors that went out of the courtyard. The children behind them gasped as Kirroth beat his mighty wings to fly up and land neatly somewhere up higher.

"What's it like to be a dragonrider?" the girl asked wistfully. "I'm Kaeyi, my Lord," she added, more properly, as though she was afraid she had stepped over the line, speaking so familiarly to a Weyrleader.

"It's wonderful, Kaeyi," T'nar said, as they wended their way through the Hold.

As Kaeyi listened raptly, he went through the best and worst parts of being a rider. They were walking farther and farther from the courtyard, and now up and up. Sattil obviously liked seclusion.

T'nar wondered what he was actually going to do once he reached the dragonless man. Tell him to stop grieving for his dragon? Order him? Maybe this visit had been a foolish and rash decision.

Then, it hit him. He turned to Kaeyi. "Kaeyi, does Lemos have a watch-wher?"

Kaeyi frowned. "Parisk just died," she said softly. "Lord Cardorao has just gotten a new egg, but no one wants to become the new wher's friend."

T'nar thought quickly. What if Sattil didn't want a watch-wher? Would it be too much like a dragon? T'nar knew the man had refused firelizards.

"Here we are, my Lord," Kaeyi said, stopping in front of a door on the highest, most secluded part of the Hold. "Do you need anything else, my Lord?"

T'nar grinned. "Please, girl, call me T'nar."

Kaeyi's eyes widened.

"And I probably won't be able to fine my way back," T'nar admitted.

"I'll come take you back," Kaeyi said instantly. Then she added, "...T'nar."

T'nar chuckled. "I'll have Kirroth let you know when it's time for you to lead me back to him."

"Let me know? How will he do that?" Kaeyi asked.

"He has his ways," T'nar said airily. Then, he nodded to Kaeyi and knocked on the door to Sattil's room.

It swung open. Kaeyi scampered once it did. T'nar got the impression that all the holders were frightened of the dragonless man.

"T'nar," Sattil said in a voice that almost broke. "I saw – saw K – saw your – …"

T'nar put a hand on the man's shoulder. "C'n I come in, Sattil?"

Sattil nodded and stepped asked, his face a tight mask. T'nar couldn't imagine – and nor did he want to – the anguish Sattil must be feeling.

Sattil's room had apparently become a sort of workshop. There were broken instruments. T'nar remembered that Sattil had been a harper apprentice before –

"What do you want?" Sattil asked. T'nar winced as he realized he was causing the man more pain than usual, being a dragonrider.

"You disturbed the dragons again today," T'nar blurted. Oh, not tactful! "I mean, we felt that you were not…"

"That's all right," Sattil said. His voice seemed to grate in T'nar's ears. "You don't need to soften things for me."

"Look, Sattil, I can't stand you like this!" T'nar burst out. "You need to get better!"

Sattil looked at him with blank eyes. "Get better? I can't get better without Pinceath!" he said, and this time, rough emotion shook his tone. "Pinceath's gone, T'nar! She's gone forever! I can't get better without PINCEATH!" The last word rose to a scream of agony.

T'nar reached for the man's arm, but Sattil yanked it away. "No," he whispered. "No."

T'nar remembered his plan, for Sattil to get a watch-wher. It's worth a try, he said to Kirroth.

"Sattil," he said. Not softly, not soothingly. He knew that the Sattil was probably taking the pity almost worse than he was taking the pain. "Sattil, I had an idea."

Sattil watched him, tears on his cheeks.

"Sattil, Lemos Hold is getting a new watch-wher. I think you should befriend it," T'nar said.

Sattil balked immediately at the thought of attaching any but his dragon. But T'nar held up his hand. "Hear me out.

"A wher can't give you back all that you lost, but it will be better than nothing. Shards, Sattil! None of us, humans or –" he added viciously, "dragons, can stand you like this. Please consider it, Sattil."

"I refused firelizards," Sattil said in a dead tone.

"I know. But whers are different," T'nar said, hoping the man would believe him. "Not so much like dragons, but still enough like them. Please, Sattil." And now, he was begging. "PLEASE do this. Do it for your Hold. Do it… for our Weyr."

Sattil watched him for a long time. Finally, he said, "They will not want me to get the watch-wher."

T'nar's heart leapt excitedly. Did that mean Sattil was considering it?

"I can arrange that, Sattil. No worries. But, do you want it?"

After another extraordinarily long pause, Sattil whispered, "I don't like hurting any more than you like me hurting."

"I'll talk to the Lord Holder," T'nar said, a happy bubble swelling inside of him. "I heard that no one else wanted to become the wher's own."

"I thank you, T'nar," Sattil said, the effort it cost him obvious. "I thank you… bronzerider."

Kaeyi jumped when she heard the great rumble of the bronze dragon. He landed neatly in the courtyard again, and turned his huge head toward her. She sprang to her feet and dashed for the door, calling an explanation over her shoulder.

She hurried up to the dragonless man's room, then knocked politely on the door.

T'nar came out and smiled at Kaeyi.

"Hello, my L- T'nar," she corrected herself hastily.

"Kaeyi," T'nar said.

"Come this way," Kaeyi said, leading him to a corridor that would take them to his dragon. She had actually brought them a slightly longer way on their way here, because hearing about dragonriders had been so fascinating.

"Is – is Sattil all right?" she asked hesitantly.

"I made him an offer," T'nar told her, "That might not have been mine to offer, but it will really help him."

"What is it?" Kaeyi asked, her curiosity aroused.

"I told him to be the wherhandler when your new watch-wher hatches," T'nar said.

Kaeyi gaped at him. "Really?"

"Did I do something wrong?" T'nar asked, frowning slightly.

"Oh, no, Weyrleader, sir. You did us a big favor," Kaeyi assured him.

"I did?"

"Yes. You found us a wherhandler. No one else wanted to do it. And you got the dragonless man – uh, Sattil to get out and stop being –" she clapped her hand over her mouth. "Uh…"

"That's OK," T'nar said. "I could tell he'd not been of much use lately. He needs to get out in the world. And he needs that wher."

"Do you want me to bring you to Lord Holder Cardorao so you can ask him about it?" Kaeyi asked.

"If you would," T'nar said. "I'll tell Kirroth to wait."

So Kaeyi lead the dragonrider to her Lord. He always was in his study at this time. Kaeyi watched the dragonrider greet the Hold Lord, then the two disappeared into the study.

Kaeyi waited until T'nar came out again, then lead him back out to the courtyard, where his bronze dragon still sat.

"T-T'nar?" Kaeyi finally asked, hesitantly. He turned to her.

"Yes?"

"Can you tell me about… Sattil?"

"S'til was Pinceath's rider," T'nar said softly, lowering his gaze.

"Pinceath? That was his dragon's name? He never told us. What color was Pinceath?" Kaeyi asked.

"S'til was rider of green Pinceath. She was weyrmate to brown Romanth, of Z'pollo. S'til was in our Wing. When the queen at Benden, Lilianth, rose to mate – when we caught her – Pinceath also was in heat. They fought. Pinceath, wounded, went between. We couldn't save her, and Lilianth needed catching. S'til… became Sattil."

Kaeyi was horrified at the dark story. "Oh… I'm so sorry." Then, she decided to change the subject to something more pleasant. "So… Kirroth caught Lilianth? That's how you became the Weyrleader?"

"Yep."

"We'd heard about the clutch… A queen! We were happy for the Weyr. That's two queens at once, isn't it?"

"Thread comes. We need more than one queen. We need many more," T'nar replied firmly.

"More than two?" Kaeyi asked, surprised.

"Of course! All the Weyrs are understrength. We need to Fight Thread." Kaeyi frowned slightly at this, but didn't continue the subject of the debatable menace.

"Who Impressed the queen?"

"Nikkith was Impressed by Kinsa, a girl from Benden Hold," T'nar said.

"When will a queen clutch again?" Kaeyi asked, begging the Egg that her hopes weren't too obvious.

T'nar paused, thinking, then said, "None at Benden for another Turn."

"Oh," Kaeyi said.

"But at Igen, Tiaronth rises soon."

"But… I mean, that's good," Kaeyi said, smiling weakly.

"But Igen will not Search you," T'nar said gently.

Kaeyi winced. "It was obvious, wasn't it?"

"Of course you want to Impress a dragon," T'nar shrugged. "Most everyone does."

"Igen might Search me, mightn't they?"

"Igen has enough weyrbred. They shouldn't have to leave the Weyr for a Search. Besides, Lemos isn't beholden to Igen Weyr."

"What about Fort's queen – Quarrith?"

"Quarrith only rises once every six Turns," the Weyrleader said, disgust coloring his tone. "And, again, you are not beholden to them."

"When Lilianth clutches again…" Kaeyi blushed. "I can't ask to be Searched, can I?"

The bronzerider shook his head apologetically. "I don't think so. Sorry. Dragons have to approve of you.

"Well, Kirroth and I need to go back to the Weyr now, but, when that watch-wher Hatches… We'll come again."

Kaeyi smiled, inclining her head. "I'll see you then."

Kaeyi mentally berated herself again and again after bronze Kirroth took off. How could she have been such a dimglow? Talking so much and comfortably around the Weyrleader! Then trying to invite herself to be Searched! That was unacceptable! How could she have been so presumptuous? She would never be able to look that bronzerider in the face again.

Ah, well. What was done was done. She couldn't change it, and so all she could do was continue with her life.

She bit her lip, thinking about whether Sattil would get the watch-wher. She wondered what it was like. She'd hardly ever seen the old wher at Lemos. She knew they bonded to their wherhandler, but that was about it. Well, live and learn.


For once, Lemos Hold wished it didn't have a watchdragon on the heights. They would have preferred not to hear his death-keen of utter sorrow.

Suddenly, all heard a shriek from above. All turned their eyes to the ceiling.

"Sattil!"

Kaeyi realized what was going on.

"Sattil! He sensed the dragon's death!" she gasped. She scrambled for the door. She had to comfort him! How terrible it must be for him. He must be reliving his own Pinceath's final leap between.

Disregarding all the others, Kaeyi dashed up the stairs until she found the room of the dragonless man. She burst through the door.

She found Sattil, on his knees on the floor, ragged sobs racking his thin frame.

Kaeyi immediately dropped down beside him. He turned his head to her, his tear-streaked face a mask of anguish.

Kaeyi realized with a jolt that he wasn't actually all that older than she was. She put a comforting arm around his shoulders, not even awkward. All she could think of making the poor dragonless man feel better.

Sattil just sobbed harder. Kaeyi pulled him to her, wishing that she could somehow take the pain away from him.

Abruptly, Sattil's crying stopped. He straightened, and the look in his eyes made Kaeyi shrink back.

"I'm getting that watch-wher," Sattil said. The determination in his voice made Kaeyi look at him in wonder.

"Good," she said.


Well, there you have it! So, remember: 1-10. Please review, even just to nitpick.

Oh, and if you were confused: because Sattil used to be a dragonrider, the dragons whose riders were close to him are still vaguely in touch with his mind, and can feel when he hurts particuarly badly. This happens quite a lot. The man did lose his dragon!

Wow, this was pretty long. Expect the other chapter up soon... Or not...