Despite the strong onset, M'kai's case was relatively mild, and he was over the delirium in three days. He was strong enough to leave his bed a few days later, and was completely healthy within two sevendays. He wasn't allowed to go between for a month after he was well, and he fretted through every Threadfall his wing flew without him.
To keep himself occupied when the Weyr was out fighting, he sketched endless designs for his new weyr, discarding them when dissatisfied, so his friends would return to find his floor covered in screwed-up paper. He went through two sketchbooks before he had the idea of using the plans for Cove Hold as a starting point.
From there, he designed a long, low building with large open areas for entertaining, a big kitchen that joined on to them so the people cooking could still be part of the group and other rooms with specific purposes. He made miniature models of a dam for diverting part of the river so it flowed through the house as both decoration and for bathing.
As he was working on the plan for Tyrith's weyr, the wings returned from Fall, but he was so absorbed in what he was doing he didn't notice. It was only when a blackened finger came down over his shoulder and stabbed the page on the design for the kitchen that he realised he was no longer alone.
He let out a shout and pushed himself away from the desk, which caused the man with the dirty fingers to groan as the chair hit him in the midriff and winded him. M'kai spun around to find B'kennor doubled over, trying to catch his breath.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, B'kennor! I didn't mean to hurt you! You just gave me such a fright!" M'kai exclaimed, rising from his chair and helping B'kennor into it.
"Some way to greet a friend," he choked out.
M'kai then realised that only part of his breathlessness came from being hit, as his eyes were twinkling with laughter.
"Oh, you!" he exclaimed in frustration. "I was trying to work, and you come and interrupt with your childish pranks…"
"What were you working on?" B'kennor interrupted, having finally caught his breath.
"Do you mind? I was lecturing you," M'kai said with a frown.
B'kennor, however, had picked up M'kai's sketchbook and was flipping through the pages. "Designing the new weyr again, huh?" he laughed, then as he came to the newer sketches, he stopped joking and began looking at them seriously.
"You know, these are really good, M'kai," he said admiringly, glancing up at his friend. "I love the open areas. It would be great when you have parties and stuff. Our weyrs here are too small to hold too many people. With this, you could invite the entire Weyr!"
"Don't worry," M'kai said, smiling. "I won't forget to invite you!"
x
"So, I think we should build the dining hall here," Drianne announced, stretching a thick roll of paper out and looking critically at the drawings printed on it. "What do you lot think?"
"Yeah, sounds fine," M'kai and B'kennor chorused.
They and a few others were down at Hanrahan picking out sites for the buildings, and as one of the junior Weyrwomen of Hanrahan, Drianne was in charge. It was easier to put her in charge than have her take over anyway.
"D'ron? What do you think?" she asked over her shoulder. "D'ron?"
"Hmm? Oh, sorry. I was just looking at… stuff. What were you saying?" he asked, giving himself a little shake.
"Really, D'ron!" she scolded. "If you are to be a wingsecond, you need to pay more attention! What happens if you don't listen to what your wingleader says and you end up in the wrong continent?"
T'gellan, Weyrleader of D'ron's native Monaco Weyr, had recommended D'ron for the position of wingsecond in one of the new wings being formed. He had recognised the talent of the youngster, and wanted him to spend some time as a wingsecond before becoming a wingleader.
"I won't, Drianne," D'ron replied. "Listening to a wingleader and listening to someone pick somewhere to eat are completely different things."
"'Pick somewhere to eat?'" Drianne exclaimed incredulously. "Pick somewhere… Choosing the site to build the new Weyr's dining hall is nothing like 'picking somewhere to eat'!"
"I didn't mean it like that, Drianne…" D'ron said, trying to calm her, but she was too angry.
"You lot are hopeless! Choose the site yourself!" she snapped. "I'm going for a walk!" She stalked off into the undergrowth.
"You've really done it this time, D'ron," M'kai said, shaking his head.
B'kennor, however, chuckled. "You know, she's showing all the signs of a rider with a dragon who's ready to fly," he remarked.
"Ready to fly?" M'kai repeated, confused. "Camanth's always ready to fly."
"Fly to mate, dimglow," B'kennor said, giving him a gentle slap on the back of the head. "Not normal flying."
"Oh," M'kai said, stretching the syllable out as he realised what he meant. "Does that mean she'll fly today?"
"Could be, the way Drianne's acting," B'kennor answered with a shrug. "Then again, maybe not."
x
Bloody D'ron! Drianne thought furiously as she stalked through the bushes, whipping at them with her wherhide riding gloves. Just because he doesn't really care where the hall goes…
She angrily scrubbed her hand across her face, scattering the tears. Then suddenly, she stopped, and stared in astonishment at the drops that still clung to her fingers.
"Since when do I get so angry I cry?" she asked herself aloud.
x
Drianne! Camanth called, sounding distressed. Drianne! What's happening to me?
I'm coming, Camanth! Drianne shouted back, and immediately spun and flew back the way she had come. What is it, dear heart?
The only answer she received was a roar. Drianne ran faster, ignoring the branches that whipped across her face, not even pausing as she wiped the blood out of her eye when it trickled down from a cut a branch left on her forehead.
"Drianne! Drianne! Where are you?" From the clearing ahead, she could hear other riders calling her name, sounding excited. "Drianne?"
"I'm here!" she shouted, bursting out of the trees. "What's wrong with Camanth?"
Immediately, the other riders gathered around her. "She's ready to fly!" said one of the riders she didn't know, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. "The bronzes are already blooding their kills. You have to control her when she feeds, or the flight won't be as good!"
"Only let her blood her kill, not eat," warned the junior Weyrwoman from Fort. "It's always best when they blood. You're in for an experience now, my girl!" she added, nearly cackling with glee. "I remember my first mating flight; what a day that was!"
Camanth? What's happening? Drianne cried out, but the swirl of emotions she got in response from her normally gentle partner overwhelmed her. She let out a scream and fell.
Luckily, someone was there to catch her. "Keep a hold on her, and on yourself, Drianne!" the voice hissed. "You mustn't lose yourself in it!"
Drianne snarled. She was no longer Drianne, two-legged creature tied to the earth. She was Drianne-Camanth, queen of the skies, the greatest of all winged things, free to soar and dive to her heart's content.
"Drianne!"
x
Drianne-Camanth roared and took to the skies, searching for her prey. On the wind, she could smell the blood of the bronzes' prey, and angled her body so she turned towards it. As she glided over the forest, her multi-faceted eyes picked out the shapes of running herdbeasts ahead. Swooping down, she caught one in her claws, and wheeled to land on a ledge far above the field.
She held a claw poised to disembowel the creature, but a tiny part of her that was just Drianne paused, and moved the claw to the neck, where she slashed open the jugular and bent to drink, her forked tongue flicking in and out as she drank. Not satisfied, she leapt for another, and drank from it down in the field while the others fled.
At last, glowing as brightly as the sun, she gave a powerful leap with her hindquarters, and was aloft, using a pocket of hot air to rise high and fast. The eager bronzes, waiting while the queen fed, leapt after her, but already she was weaving through the updrafts and clouds, hiding in one for a moment, then dashing out and confusing her pursuers. Inside, Drianne laughed merrily, and flew on.
x
Back on the ground, M'kai found himself caught up in Tyrith's lust, but retained enough of presence of mind to support Drianne against him while her mind flew with her dragon. I hope I can hold on through this! he thought, gritting his teeth.
Dimly, M'kai realised that oldest rider there, P'gon, had fallen to his knees, but had no more time to notice anything as another wave of emotion from Tyrith hit him, making his mind whirl.
x
Drianne-Camanth glanced behind her, and on the ground, Drianne's lips curved into a smile. There had been eight dragons chasing her at the start; now, there were only seven. The eighth had dropped out, and was flying some distance below. Too old to keep up, she thought contemptuously. She gave a mighty beat of her wings, and soared even higher, relishing the feel of the wind on her cheek.
The older dragons began to drop out, until only the five youngest dragons could still keep up. They have no chance of catching me, Drianne-Camanth thought, and to surprise them, suddenly folded her wings and dropped, catching an updraft as they scattered in confusion.
Catch me if you can! she cried. She glanced back again, and saw to her delight that she had lost another one. Now only Tyrith, Jarrath, Dioanth and Timith were left.
x
M'kai surfaced again to find he was still holding Drianne up, but of the bronze riders, only himself, D'ron, B'kennor and J'nin from Ista were still on their feet. The Fort Weyrwoman and some of the lesser riders had helped the unsuccessful riders to cookfires where they were given food to restore their energy.
M'kai tried to croak reassurance to himself or Drianne (he didn't know which), but before he could moisten his throat enough to talk, he was pulled back into the flight.
x
Timith suddenly surged forward, trying to wind his neck around Drianne-Camanth's, but she ducked and left him floundering. She sneered at him, and plummeted downwards.
Why does Tyrith hold back? she wondered as she fell. The others try to catch me, yet Tyrith does not. Is he saving his energy to catch me later?
Her question went unanswered as one of her pursuers, taking advantage of her distracted state, twined his neck around hers and on the ground, Drianne was ripped from M'kai's arms.
x
"I hoped it would be you," Drianne whispered, threading her fingers through the man's hair before she pulled his mouth down onto hers and kissed him deeply.
Keep reading to find out who the successful bronze rider was!