II

AUDWIN PACED along the beach, heading north back to where he and Varthikes had first found themselves on this strange shoreline. He tried to stay in the warmth of the setting sun’s rays as much as he could, but the shadow of the cliffs forced him toward the incoming tide. He still had not yet seen any signs of life beyond a few birds that appeared to be very different from other birds he had encountered so far on Draconia. He gave little thought about it, though. He had only been on Draconia for a year, after all. The birds could have easily been of a variety so far undiscovered by the small Human population. Many strange animals on Earth were exclusive to certain regions.

Joyful greetings, friend Audwin, came the familiar thought-voice of Varthikes, accompanying a bugle from above. Audwin looked up and saw his friend beginning to spiral to a landing, followed by a second dragon who was considerably larger, bronze in color instead of the usual golden-tan, lacking scales, and with a tail that ended in a fork rather than the usual whip. Was that a Human riding on the creature’s shoulders? The mystery of where we are has been solved, Varthikes said, delighted.

“Who’s that flying with you?” Audwin immediately asked.

With me flies honorable Mnementh and his rider, honorable Weyrleader F’lar.

You've got to be joking, Audwin thought as the two dragons settled down on the beach before him. But he saw the truth confirmed in the whirling blue-green, multifaceted eye of the large bronze, who helped the man dismount with a forearm. The man approached with a bundle in his arms.

“You are Audwin?” the man asked.

“Uhh… Yea, I’m Audwin,” he answered, suddenly aware that his mouth had been hanging open. His voice sounded shaky and a bit rough, so he coughed a few times to clear his throat. His heart thundered in his chest. Varthikes said this was F’lar? Audwin became more aware of his attire, or lack there-of. Being half-naked was not the way he would have liked to meet one of the greatest people of Pern.

“F’lar of Benden Weyr, rider of Mnementh,” the man said, holding out a hand.

Audwin rather absently accepted the hand. “I'm honored,” he said with a polite bow of his head. “And, uhh…a bit embarrassed,” he added with a glance down at himself.

“Varthikes,” F’lar gestured to the young Draconian standing beside Mnementh, “has explained your situation to us.” The dragonrider extended the bundle toward Audwin and continued, “We brought you appropriate flight clothes so that you may return with us to the Weyr.”

Hesitating in his uncertainty for a moment, Audwin took the bundle from F’lar’s arms, thanking him.

Audwin retreated to the opposite side of Varthikes from the Pernese dragon and quickly slipped on the clothes. The pants were a little tight, but not so much that they were uncomfortable. As for the tunic, the sleeves were a little on the long side, but not terribly so. <i>Suitable are the coverings?</i> Varthikes asked with is left eye focused on his Human friend.

“They’re suitable,” Audwin answered. He lowered himself onto Varthikes’ forearm after the young Draconian, lowering to his belly, nodded his consent and slipped on the riding boots. “They should be good enough for the flight to the Weyr. It’s not a long flight, is it?”

About equal is the distance to that which spans between Sunrise Sea and the border of Bare Peak Range, Varthikes answered.

With the boots laced up, Audwin stood up. “I’m ready,” he said. Varthikes turned his attention to the two Pernese and relayed to them Audwin’s readiness.

As F’lar leaped up Mnementh’s forearm and took his place behind the first neck ridge, Audwin mounted Varthikes’ shoulders. Once they were set, the young Draconian followed the great bronze dragon skyward and on to Benden Weyr.

*

When they reached the Weyr, Audwin looked down in wide-eyed amazement. It looked just like what he had imagined during all the times he had read the books that were set here, on this world that was, itself, a product of imagination.

Audwin’s awe-filled eyes scanned over the scene below him. Saw the bronze, brown, blue, green and three golden bodies of the Pernese dragons in the Weyr Bowl and on the ledges of the individual weyrs. The watch dragon bugled and was answered by Mnementh.

This was Benden Weyr. This was really Pern. He had tried to several times to pry himself awake in case he was actually dreaming, but his attempts meant with no result. So, he assumed this was for real—in one way or another. Maybe it was some trick, some illusion, created by some kind of alien. Until he knew for sure, he resolved to play along with it.

Is this not amazing, Audwin? Varthikes asked, turning an eye to him.

Any words I can think of would be inadequate in the greatest degree, Varthikes, Audwin answered. It’s…several notches up from the feeling I had when I first came to your Range last cycle.

They were spiraling to a landing toward the north end of the Weyr when Audwin caught sight of one of the gold dragons making her way from the lake to their target ledge where a woman also awaited them—Ramoth and Lessa, Audwin recalled. Varthikes, following Mnementh, set down on the ledge and allowed Audwin to dismount as he bowed his head respectfully to the senior queen.

After introductions were made, Ramoth returned to the Hatching Grounds while Lessa and F’lar gestured for Audwin to accompany them down a stone corridor. Audwin turned to Varthikes and asked, You’re going to stay here?

Varthikes nodded once before answering, I will remain here with honorable Mnementh and take in the view of the Weyr Bowl. He turned an eye toward the Bowl. There wasn't the least bit of pout in his tone. Varthikes was undoubtedly used to waiting while Audwin was meeting with the Draconian counterparts of these weyrleaders.

If I require your input, I’ll go through F’lar and Mnementh. Have fun. Audwin turned to the patiently waiting weyrleaders and followed them down the corridor.

“Your Varthikes is a most strange creature,” Lessa started by saying.

Audwin didn’t miss the glance F’lar shot his weyrmate. “He is,” Audwin replied with a chuckle. “There are many among his own kind who would agree with that.” They entered a room occupied by a circular table. The council room, Audwin identified it. His eyes quickly scanned around the room, recalling the many important meetings between weyrleaders, mastercraftsmen, and Lord Holders that had been, and would be yet, held in this very chamber. If the history of this Pern followed the one he had read about so many times. “But,” he continued, “his strangeness among his kind led to the friendship we experience now. Not only between the two of us, but between our respective kinds as well.”

“Varthikes told us about your situation,” F’lar began as he gestured for Audwin to take a seat at the table, “and how you came to be here.”

“I don’t remember much of what happened, myself,” Audwin said, rubbing his head. “First, I was enjoying a swim with Varthikes some ways away from Hatching Cove. The next, I found myself waking up on the beach over there”—he gestured in the general direction from which they just flew in—“draped over Varth’s forearm.”

“Hatching Cove?” Lessa asked as she offered Audwin wine, which he accepted.

“Where the Human settlement was established on the world we came from,” Audwin clarified.

Lessa nodded her understanding as she settled beside F’lar. “Varthikes said you two were pulled under,” she said. “He didn’t say by what.”

Audwin remembered Varthikes telling him that as well. “It’s entirely possible that Varthikes noticed more details than I did.” He glanced briefly at the corridor that led back to the ledge, saw that it was a bit too narrow for even an adolescent Draconian to fit through, then back at the weyrmates. “I don’t suppose I could relay something through Mnementh to Varthikes, could I? His input might be useful.” Off F’lar’s slightly puzzled look, Audwin explained, “We have to be within line-of-sight of each other to focus our thoughts to the other.”

“What do you want relayed?” F’lar asked.

“I want to ask him if he remembers any details in the water while he was swimming after me.”

F’lar nodded, then his eyes became unfocused as he addressed Mnementh in his mind. In the silence that transpired, Audwin lifted the goblet of wine. Benden wine, he mused. In the books, it was widely known throughout Pern as the best. Now, he will be able to either agree or disagree with that opinion. He sniffed the liquid and found the fragrant odor enticing. Then, he took a sip and let the tartness spread testily over his tongue. He tried to keep his composure, but could not keep his eyebrows from cocking up in surprise.

“Wow,” he whispered. Then, he noticed Lessa was studying him through eyes that looked as if they could drill right through him. She started to take a breath to say something when F’lar had returned his focus to the council room and started to relay what the Draconian told Mnementh.

“Varthikes tells Mnementh that the water had appeared calm when he heard your…'thought-voice' and saw that you were clearly struggling. He saw nothing unusual.”

Audwin reflected on his friend’s response. “So, the anomaly that brought us here doesn’t display any visible signs. At least, none that Human or Draconian eyes can detect.” Audwin took a drink of his wine as he quickly searched his memory to recall what he knew of Pernese dragon sight—not much off hand.

“Will you be able to get back to where you came from?” Lessa asked.

“I don’t know. I hope so. I don’t think poor Varth would be much use here. And, I’ve got a wife with a child coming, not to mention a duty to Varthikes’ kind. I’ll discuss our possibilities with him.”

They both nodded in understanding. Then, after a whispery exchange, F’lar turned back to Audwin, “We would like to discuss this privately.”

“Of course.” Audwin finished his wine with a quick swig and headed back out to the ledge. The sun by now had sunk completely below the crater wall, making the Weyr dim in the fading light. He joined Varthikes’ side at the ledge, stepping between the Draconian and the larger Pernese bronze Mnementh. They both turned an eye on his approach. “Honored greetings,” he said with a respectful nod to the bronze. Then, addressing his friend, “Anything interesting out here?”

Varthikes glanced toward the Weyr Bowl, then back at Audwin. Indeed. Things interesting and weird. On one’s point-of-view, however, would it depend what, or who, that thing is.

“I know what you mean,” Audwin laughed.

What is it that the most honorable Weyrleaders tell you?

“They just asked me what I remember of the phenomenon that brought us here and if we can get back.”

Can we?

Audwin shrugged. “The anomaly that brought us here probably still exists, but if we can’t see it, I don’t know how we would be able to find it.”

Would it not make sense for it to be around the area where we first found ourselves?

Audwin nodded. It would indeed make sense, but… “How would we find that area again? We didn’t leave any mark that wouldn’t be washed out by the tides.”

We had not a need to leave any such marks. Already were there natural marks by which we can navigate. I remember the formation of the cliff that rose from where we found ourselves. Varthikes suddenly lifted his eyes to Mnementh for a moment, then back down at Audwin and, with a glint of amusement, said, Mnementh says that the most honorable Weyrleaders wishes to once again see my friend.

“Thanks,” he said, addressing both of them. He turned and walked back to the council room. As soon as he entered, F’lar gestured for him to take a seat in the chair he left a minute ago.

“We discussed your situation,” the Weyrleader said when Audwin was settled. “Varthikes, at least, must stay in the Weyr while you’re here. Ramoth will tell the other dragons here to advise their riders to keep to themselves about them seeing you. We don’t know how the Lord Holders will react to him. In which case, he must <i>really</i> be careful tomorrow during the Hatching.”

Hatching. Audwin fought to conceal his surprise upon hearing about that event. He knew that there was a clutch laid at Benden Weyr at this time with Ramoth in the Hatching Grounds. But, that they had a chance to actually see a Pernese dragon Hatching! Audwin quickly refocused his thoughts on this meeting. “And you would prefer not to find out, I understand,” Audwin replied with a nod. “But…he and I will need to get to the shore where we arrived here.”

“We will assign a rider to be your escort in that case and take the route we used.” There was a short pause before F’lar continued, “Mnementh tells me that you two were discussing a possible way of returning to where you belong.”

Audwin affirmed and told them what he and Varthikes had come up with. “We can go tomorrow if possible,” he said when he was finished. “Or the day after. I would hate to be the cause of anyone missing such a glorious occasion as a Hatching.”

“Very good. In the meantime, you and Varthikes will be assigned a weyr. There are a few available in the upper levels.”

“That will be fine.”

So, Audwin and Varthikes were given lodging in one of the uppermost weyrs—lodging that Audwin hoped would be temporary—on the southeast side of the Weyr. From there, they looked out over the Weyr in the twilight. The walls of the Weyr appeared black against the darkening blue sky with glowing blue-green points of light from the many pairs of Pernese dragon eyes marking the individual weyrs. Audwin, sitting with his legs dangling over the ledge, could not help but to wonder what they thought of Varthikes’ completely different eyes that glowed gold into the darkness.

“This is a really awkward situation, Varth,” Audwin told him after a long, contemplative silence, finally answering the question that his friend had asked several long minutes before. The Draconian turned both eyes to him. “When I was talking to the weyrleaders, when I was sitting in that council room, when I tasted that Benden wine… I know them. I know what they have done, what they’re going to do, what has happened, what will happen…”

Have you not told me that you had many times wished to be here and meet them? Varthikes asked. Just as you have once wished to meet a being like myself and my kind?

“That was before I met you, whom I had never actually read in a book. Don’t misunderstand me. I find this whole experience amazing, but also strange at the same time.” Varthikes’ glowing eyes turned away as he considered his friend’s response. Audwin looked out toward the Bowl. Then, looking back at Varthikes, he asked, “What about you? How do you feel about actually being here?”

The Draconian shot both eyes at him. He jerked his head back and ruffled his wings. A wave of delight and wonder washed over Audwin’s mind, forcing his lips into a large smile. Varthikes seemed to allow the emotions a moment to speak for him before saying, Many times while listening to you read have I envisioned myself flying over Benden Weyr as I did this sunrise! Just as I have thought of visiting other worlds Beyond. The first world is this that I have visited Beyond Draconia. Varthikes lifted his eyes toward the star-filled night sky. I see for the first time the sky of sunfall from another world. Not so different does it look, aside from the stars being in unfamiliar patterns. Then, he lowered his eyes back at Audwin and turned serious. Audwin thought he sounded somewhat saddened. More…alien am I here, however, than that sky. You, at least, have here fellow Humans—beings of your kind who look like you. Different am I, however, from those dragons despite having similar basic form. I understand now how you must have felt when you first came to Bare Peak Range upon my shoulders with honorable Sages Vethes and Lephazing.

Audwin put a hand on Varth’s forearm as they looked back out over the Weyr. Will we next sunrise look for the opening that brought us here from Draconia? Varthikes asked at length.

Audwin shook his head. “F’lar would have to assign us an escort, and Ramoth’s clutch hatches next sunrise.” Varthikes snapped both eyes to him and flicked his wings in surprise. Audwin couldn't repress a slight grin. “I don’t want to be the cause for anyone missing that.”

Varthikes tilted his head and said, amused, I sense that to be not the only reason why you do not want to go.

Audwin chuckled now. “You’re right. I want to be here for that, too.”

As do I.

“Be careful, Varth,” Audwin cautioned him, turning serious. “The weyrleaders don't want you to be seen by the Lord Holders. You remember how they can be.”

I will be careful, Varthikes promised.