amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第93部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


s　lips　twitching；　his　brows　creasing；　ricking　the　lines　that　now　scored　his　cheeks。　His　body　looked　unusually　bulky　under　the　cover…bandages；　she　thought；　snatching　back　the　hand　she　had　unconsciously　extended　toward　him。　He　shouldn't　be　allowed　to　thrash　so。　Manora　had　said　his　wounds　were　deep。　He　could　do　himself　more　injury　with　this　tossing。
　　T'lion　placed　her　in　the　chair　by　the　bed。　She　saw　that　F'lessan's　dark　hair　had　been　cut　back　on　the　right　side；　clearly　showing　the　stitches　on　his　scalp。　Holding　her　hand　a　scant　few　centimeters　above　his　face；　her　fingers　trembled　as　she　followed　the　path　of　the　other　facial　scars。　They　didn't　look　that　deep　but　they　were　terrible　to　see　on　his　handsome　face。
　　As　if　conscious　of　someone　watching　him；　he　moved　his　head　more　restlessly　from　side　to　side　and　tried　to　lift　first　one　hand；　and　then　the　other：　the　left　hand　slid　limply　to　dangle　beside　the　narrow　bed。　She　picked　it　up；　returning　it　to　his　side；　and　lightly　touched　his　shoulder。
　　〃Easy；　F'lessan；　lie　still。〃　She　pushed　behind　his　ear　the　strand　of　hair　that　had　fallen　across　the　stitched　cheek。　〃Lie　still。　Golanth　lives！〃
　　〃Golly？〃　The　question　was　more　breath　than　word；　his　brows　creased　slightly；　halted　when　he　felt　the　pull　of　skin。　〃Golly？〃
　　His　eyes　opened；　blinked；　strained　to　focus　on　her　face。　He　seemed　puzzled　by　her　presence。　〃Where've　you　been？〃　It　was　almost　a　plaint。
　　〃They　wouldn't　let　me　e。〃
　　〃She　got　clawed；　too；　F'lessan；〃　T'lion　said；　leaning　over　the　other　side　of　the　bed。　〃But　I　said　I'd　bring　her　and　I　have。〃
　　F'lessan's　eyelids　seemed　too　heavy　to　keep　open　but　the　corner　of　his　mouth　turned　up。
　　〃So　you　did。　Don't　go　'way；　my　very　dear　green。　Don't　go　'way。〃
　　His　endearment　caught　at　her　heart　and　she　had　to　wait　a　moment　before　she　could　speak。
　　〃I'll　see　Golanth　and　then　I'll　be　right　back。　You　can　rest　now。〃
　　〃Hmmm；　yes。　I　can；　can't　I？〃　He　turned　his　head　to　one　side　and；　exhaling　a　deep　breath；　sank　into　a　stillness　that　scared　her　until　she　saw　his　chest　rise　again。
　　〃I'll　convey　you　to　bronze　Golanth；〃　T'lion　said；　picking　her　up　and　carrying　her　from　the　room。
　　〃Why；　just　look　at　him；　bronze　rider；〃　Sagassy　remarked；　pausing　to　look　back　at　F'lessan。　〃He's　much　less　restless　already。〃
　　It　was　as　well　Tai　had　seen　F'lessan　before　Golanth　because　the　sight　of　the　terribly　wounded　bronze　made　her　weep。
　　〃Now；　now；　he　looks　a　lot　worse　than　he　is；〃　the　Monaco　rider　said；　tightening　his　arms　about　her。
　　He　is　much　better；　Tai。　He　is　much　better；　and　Zaranth　rose　from　where　she　was　lying　on　the　sunny　terrace　beyond　Golanth's　supine　bulk。
　　〃Oh；　Zaranth！　How　can　you　say　that？〃　Tai　was　sobbing。
　　Because　it's　true。
　　〃Hey；　now；　Tai；　don't　go　to　pieces　on　me；〃　T'lion　said　in　a　rallying　tone。　〃He　was　badly　injured；　it's　true。　Flesh　gouged　out　of　him；　bits　gnawed　off　him；　but　they　got　the　tail　mended。　That's　what's　in　the　splint　affair。　And　he's　not　in　any　pain　because　we　don't　let　him　be。〃
　　That　was　when　Tai　noticed　all　the　other　people　on　the　terrace　and　valiantly　controlled　her　sobs。
　　〃Ah；　Green　Rider　Tai；〃　and　through　the　tear　haze　in　her　eyes；　Tai　recognized　Persellan's　familiar　face。　〃I　know　the　extent　of　Golanth's　injuries　seems　appalling；〃　he　went　on；　〃but　we　keep　him　fortable。〃　He　gestured　to　the　large　gray　pots　in　which　numbweed　was　stored。　〃Having　Zaranth　here　makes　it　certain　that　he　is　relieved　before　he　can　twitch　a　muscle　in　pain。　She's　been　as　close　to　him　as　a　pulse。〃
　　Golanth's　prostrate　body　made　the　terrace　seem　smaller　than　she　knew　it　was。　There　was　room　for　people　to　move　around　him。　Near　the　main　entrance；　there　were　supplies；　like　numbweed　pots　and　chests　of　dressings　or　other　medications；　chairs　where　carers　could　relax；　a　table　for　dining；　like　the　ones　that　had　been　set　out　when　half　of　Monaco　had　been　staying　here。
　　Golanth's　body　was　cushioned　from　the　rock　of　the　terrace　by　many　pads：　an　awning　had　been　rigged　above　him…a　sail；　Tai　thought；　by　the　look　of　it。　He　seemed　smaller　somehow；　diminished　by　the　absence　of　his　characteristic　vitality：　like　rider；　like　dragon。　She　pushed　that　thought　away。
　　There　were　marks　all　over　the　near　side　of　him；　where　claws　had　torn　and　teeth　had　snagged。　The　patch　over　his　left　eye　was　most　prominent　and　the　casing　around　the　end　of　his　tail；　which　was　positioned　by　his　body。　He　lay　with　his　head　between　his　front　legs　but　she　could　see　his　nostrils　flaring　slightly　with　every　breath　he　took。
　　He　is　much　better；　Tai；　Zaranth　said　with　the　heartiness　of　someone　who　has　watched　recovery。　Much　better。　Touch　him。　You　will　feel　the　strength　in　him。
　　Zaranth　had　not　moved　from　her　position　behind　Golanth　but　now　she　cocked　her　head　at　her　rider。
　　〃I'll　take　you　round；〃　T'lion　offered。　〃There's　a　place　for　you　to　sit　and　be　private　with　Zaranth。　Let　me　tell　you；　despite　her　own　injuries；　she　has　been　conscientious　in　helping　us　tend　Golanth。〃
　　T'lion　deftly　maneuvered　her　behind　him　and　Tai　nearly　burst　into　tears　again　to　see　the　slashes；　hidden　behind　Golanth's　body；　that　marred　Zaranth's　green　hide。　T'lion　put　her　on　the　bench　and　stepped　back；　giving　Tai's　shoulder　a　firm　reassuring　grip　before　he　left　them。　Zaranth　took　the　small　step　that　separated　rider　and　dragon　and　put　her　nose　down　to　Tai's　knees。
　　I　do　not　hurt；　Tai。　They　tend　me　as　well　as　Golanth　but　only　I　can　hear　to　help　him。　He　grieves　for　F'lessan's　hurts。　And　that　pain　is　the　worst。　Zaranth　emphasized　that　with　a　little　push　of　her　nose。
　　It　would　be。　And　you've　needed　me！
　　In　deep　apology　for　her　absence；　Tai　put　her　arms　carefully　around　her　dragon's　nose；　rested　her　face　against　Zaranth's　cheek；　aware　of　the　dragon's　warmth　and　the　particular　smell　of　her　sun…warmed　hide　mixed　with　the　astringency　of　numbweed。　Then；　tenderly；　lightly；　she　placed　her　right　hand　on　the　scored　chest　and　felt　the　beat　of　the　powerful　heart；　letting　herself　relax　against　her　beloved。　Reassured　by　the　essential　strong　rhythm；　she　felt　tension　draining　out　of　her　body；　softening　her　muscles；　and　giving　her　back　the　sense　of　Tightness　that　was　the　bond　between　dragon　and　rider。　They　remained　in　this　silent　munion　until　Tai　was　restored　to　serenity。　And　had　renewed　the　strength　in　them　both。
　　Caringly；　she　stroked　Zaranth's　nose；　her　cheekbones；　was　able　to　touch　the　deep　gashes　with　gently　inquiring　fingers。　She　could　see　that　they　were　shallow；　worse　than　scratches　but　not　as　deep　as　the　troughs　that　scored　Golanth。　Zaranth　looked　as　if　she　were　wearing　stripes。
　　How　did　you　do　it；　my　heart？　the　rider　asked　the　dragon。　How　did　you　save　us？
　　I　called。　Ramoth　and　the　others　came　quickly。　I　told　Ramoth。　The　dragon's　tone　was　squeaky　with　self…satisfaction。　She　did　what　I　told　her　to　do。　She　saw　how　to　do　it　and　told　the　others。　They　did　more　than　me。　There　were　more　of　them。　Zaranth　sighed　gustily　into　her　rider's　lap。　And　the　felines　threatened　our　lives：　all　four　of　us。　But　we　were　too　much　for　them。　I　was　very　glad　to　see　the　other　dragons　arrive：　especially　Ramoth。
　　I'm　sure　you　were。　So　was　I！　Tai　admitted；　letting　tears　well　up　in　her　eyes；　tears　of　exquisite　relief　now　that　she　was　physically　close　to　her　brave　and　clever　Zaranth。
　　F'lessan　has　been　anxious；　Zaranth　said　with　great　concern。　He　will　not　rest。　Golanth　sleeps　a　lot。　I　tell　F'lessan　not　to　worry　but　I　don't　think　he　believes　me。
　　He　will　believe　me！　Tai　caressed　Zaranth's　sensitive　eye　ridges　soothingly；　just　the　way　her　green　dragon　preferred。　Zaranth　leaned　her　head　more　and　more　on　Tai's　knees　until　she　became　aware　that　this　pressure　was　causing　her　rider　pain。　Zaranth　opened　her　eyes　and　lifted　her　head。
　　I　have　called　him。
　　Called　who？
　　The　bronze　rider。　The　one　who　carried　you。　I　thought　about　bringing　you　here　myself；　and　Zaranth's　eyelids　lowered　apologetically；　but　it's　one　thing　to　do　it　because　it's　the　only　thing　to　DO　but　I　couldn't　risk　dropping　you　and　I'm　not　quite　that　good　at　it　as　I　should　be　to　try　lifting　you　carefully。　So；　first　he　will　let　you　touch　Golanth；　this　side　isn't　as　bad。　Golanth　knows　that　you　are　here。　You　will　touch　Golanth　and　tell　him　that