Didn't think I'd get this far. Here's chapter 9.

Disclaimer: Only my characters, plot, and situations belong to me.

Chapter 9

"That took long enough," Xiuha's brother said sarcastically as she sat down at their table. "Who was that, anyway?"

"Some Second Phase weyrling from Igen," she said.

"Well, does he have a name, or should I just call him weyrling?"

"His name is James, and calm down," she said, giving him the wherry leg. "we were just greeting each other."

"You two were awful friendly with the greetings, giggling and all."

"Just like you were 'friendly' with that cot girl earlier?" she gave him a scrutinizing look.

"...shut up, and eat your food," he said acidly, turning from her and gnawing on the wherry leg. Xiuha knew how to get back at her brother, and to get him off of her case when it came to her social life. "James..." she heard him mumble. Then he scoffed. "What kind of name is that?"

"He did come from Lemos," she said, shrugging. "Some of the names there are pretty weird."

"Yeah, but at least their names have some semblance of normal. His name doesn't even sound Pernese, not to mention he doesn't dress like one."

Xiuha was about to respond, when another weyrling approached their table, a cheesy grin playing on his face.

"T'zeng, bro! Whaddya know?" said the weyrling in high spirited tones.

"I'm not your bro, K'rel," T'zeng said, nevertheless standing up to clasp the weyrling's wrist with a grin.

Xiuha made a disgusted face. She wasn't overly fond of this bronze rider weyrling from Benden Weyr. When she and her brother were still fosterlings out of the minor hold, he was there with them, always vying for her attention, despite there being other females in the hold, though not very many. She considered them to be a lot prettier than herself, but she had a hard time driving the nuisance away, especially since T'zeng became such good friends with him, and it didn't seem to bother him that K'rel- then Korel- was always trying to win her over, when anyone else that so much as breathed in her direction was given the sharp edge of his tongue. K'rel wasn't bad-looking, to be sure. His skin held the tan from the many days of being out in the sun too long with the other boys doing labor work; his light brown hair, cropped as it was to allow a better fitting of the riding helmet, used to be long and a darker shade of brown before it was sun-dyed. With dark brown eyes and a considerably nice physique, he would have been suitable to consider being courted by, if not for his cocky attitude. Xiuha didn't like people with cocky attitudes; it was a major turn-off for her. When the Benden Search dragons came to the hold and Searched him out, she was dancing with joy on the inside at the prospect of being free from his constant presence. She carefully hid her excitement, feigning sympathy as he pored over her about how much he would miss her, and not to cry when he left. She fervently assured him that she would be just fine, that her brother was there, that she would have no trouble dealing with his departure, and he would be sure to find someone better than her. She nearly lost part of her stomach when he made an attempt to kiss her. As his eyes were closed, he didn't see her leaning away from the kiss, heartily wishing her brother to appear at that moment. Thinking quickly, she plucked off a plant from a nearby pot that looked strangely like a pair of lips, and put it towards his oncoming mouth. Her face twisted in a disgusted scowl as he kissed the lip-plant, making kissing noises with his lips. She schooled her features and quickly hid the plant behind her back as he straightened up again, opening his eyes. After some more cheesy lines of "cherishing the moment when two lovers have their first kiss", she hurried him along, citing that the dragon riders were waiting, and one does not keep a rider waiting. And for the next four-and-a-half Turns, she didn't expect to see him again...until now.

Xiuha turned away from their conversation, hoping K'rel would keep T'zeng occupied enough for her to slip away. But then again, knowing her brother, he didn't stay too occupied when it came to her.

"By the way, Xiuha," K'rel suddenly said as he and T'zeng sat down, K'rel turning a chair backwards so he could straddle it with his arms resting on the backrest. Xiuha silently uttered an expletive, and turned to K'rel with a tight grin on her face.

"Yes, bronze rider K'rel?" she asked in mock sweetness.

"Oh, I love it when you say my name like that," K'rel sighed blissfully, oblivious to the tone of her voice. Xiuha decided that he was a hopeless case.

"Who was the wide, dark, and fearsome giant you were talking to by the tables?" There was a tinge of jealousy in his voice that Xiuha's quick ears were able to pick up, despite him having a cool expression. She hid her annoyance. Neither K'rel nor T'zeng met James, but they were already judging him clearly on the basis of his looks. She barely knew him herself, but while talking to him at the tables, she felt completely at ease with him, as if she could tell him any and everything.

"Some Second Phase weyrling named James," T'zeng answered for her.

"James?" K'rel asked incredulously, his face twisting up in a confused scowl. "Now what kind of dim glow name is that?"

"He did come from Lemos," T'zeng said in a disparaging tone. "No surprise that they would find people there with the weirdest names."

"Too true," K'rel said, with a laugh. "So what, is he a fosterling or something?"

"He's a weyrling," Xiuha intervened, a little more than terse with their teasing. "He came from Igen Weyr."

"Oh, that's why he's so dark!" K'rel was relentless. He and T'zeng carried on another round of teasing until Xiuha, fed up with them, abruptly stood up.

"Where are you going?" T'zeng asked, looking up at her.

"I'm going to go take a walk around while you two continue your male bonding time," she said, obviously annoyed.

"Can I get a dance from you later, when the music starts?" K'rel asked in high hopes. Xiuha leaned her hands on the table, pushing her face towards K'rel. Her lips were set in a tight line.

"When tunnel snakes learn to fly, then you can ask me for a dance," she said. And with that, she straightened up, turned from them and walked off.

"I did notice that he was a little vague in some things," Cyric said to the Master Harper as they stood under one of the open tents away from the square. "Almost as if he weren't too sure about them."

"Which is probably somewhat expected," said Bannis, rubbing his white bearded chin thoughtfully. "Not knowing about one's own past might cause them to be a little apprehensive in some way or other."

"Well, I guess I can't blame him." Cyric rubbed the back of his neck ruefully. "I only remember so much about my actual parents. I know they're still alive, in that same place."

"You were only eight when you came to the Harper Hall."

"Yes, and it's been my whole life since," Cyric said with a grin.

Bannis chuckled. "Well, when you hear talent out of the rarest of places, you can't just pass up the opportunity."

"I believe it, Master Harper. And I'm still not telling you where I'm from, P'rad!" Cyric turned towards P'rad standing behind him, ear cocked towards the conversation. He feigned disbelief and surprise at being discovered.

"Gasp! Now, how did you know I was here?!"

"Because I can smell the bubbly pies on your breath!" Cyric shook his head and grinned ruefully as P'rad beamed heartily.

"Good to see you again, P'rad," said the Master Harper with a hearty chuckle. "Still as troublesome as ever, I see."

"Me? Trouble?" P'rad placed his hand on his chest. "Well, maybe a little. That is, until Janissa decides to attack me with a wooden spoon."

"You know, if you stayed out of the kitchens when she is trying to work you wouldn't have that problem," Cyric said.

"Where's the fun in that?"

Cyric sighed as the Master Harper laughed again. P'rad was just so full of energy and mischief that it was hard to stay mad at him.

"And how have things been for you at the Weyr lately?" Master Harper Bannis asked.

"Well, until recently things haven't been very fast paced, to say the least. This recent hatching did put a little life back into the Weyr. I'd just about regretted my choice of volunteering to go, until then. And then the incident with James occurred, so I figured perhaps things will start to get more interesting."

"Speaking of which, where is James?" Cyric asked.

"Last I saw he was eating. I figured he didn't need someone constantly hovering about him right now. Besides, he's a grown man, and actually older than the other weyrlings. I'm pretty sure he can take care of himself."

"That may be, unless Lord Jaskel happens to be by and spots him. That definitely won't go over so well."

"You got a point there," P'rad said, his enthusiasm shortened a little.

"Master Harper," said a voice behind them, getting the Master Harper's attention. "We're almost set up for the music."

"Thank you, Master Roderan. Cyric and I will be over shortly."

"Hey, Roddie!" P'rad exclaimed cheerfully. Cyric slapped a hand over his face. Bannis immediately covered his mouth with his hand in what was supposed to be annoyance, but he was actually trying to keep from smiling.

"Will you stop calling me that?!" Roderan said irritably. P'rad merely grinned broadly. "You're lucky your father was a good friend of mine, otherwise I'd take you to task!"

"Were my father alive, he'd probably string me up by my ears, and make me plow the wheat fields from dawn until dusk." He shook visibly at the thought of doing such work.

"Were your father alive," and Roderan's acerbic tones took on a considerably lighter reverence, "he would have undoubtedly said the same thing. You're the splitting image of your father, from head to toe, and especially personality. And if he were to see you now, it is guaranteed that he would be very proud of you. He has done much for our beloved Pern; his contributions to the Weyrs and Fort Hold were great and many. May he rest in peace."

"Thank you, Master Roderan," P'rad said in quiet acceptance. Cyric looked at P'rad with new found respect, not knowing this piece of information about his friend.

"Cyric, when you finish talking to P'rad, join us at the stage," the Master Harper said.

"Will do, Master Harper," Cyric said as Bannis and the Composition Master turned and headed for the stage at the far side of the square.

"How come you put on me about not calling you Journeyman Cyric, but don't say anything to him?" P'rad asked, a little perplexed.

"Because he's the Master Harper," Cyric said simply. "When did your father die?"

"Three Turns ago. His heart couldn't keep up the strain of working the fields too much. He was only fifty-two."

"Um, wow. That's...rather young."

"I know. I kept getting reports from the workers there with him that he wouldn't lay off the plow when he became ill, despite having enough manpower to handle the job for him. Not much of a surprise to me, to say the least. My father was always stubborn and energetic; couldn't keep him seated for more than two seconds before he had to get up and do something else laboring. He wasn't content with being the Lord Holder of a farmhold, with people there waiting on his every beck and call. 'Why have someone do something for me, when I can do it myself?' he used to always say. Even when he was sick, he still had a voice of authority when it came to work."

"Sounded like a good man."

"He was. That's why it was a shock to me when I found out he died. Everyone kind of figured his time was coming when his health began to fail. The Master Healer checked him out, found out that his heart was skipping beats from the pace of a normal heartbeat. He was told to take it easy, but knowing my dad, of course, he didn't listen. I wasn't at the Weyr for a few days when he died because I went to his grave."

"Where was he buried?"

"In the mountains, east of Fort Hold. Outside of farming, he loved the mountains and would traverse them every chance he had. They were like his second home. I went with him a few times whenever we had to feed the livestock, because the best plants and grass for them were in a clearing he found somewhere in the mountains. Sometimes I think he took the livestock as an excuse to get out of the hold."

"How did your mother take his passing away?"

P'rad shrugged. "Not as hard as I thought she would. She didn't really..." At length, he broke off the conversation, turning his head as if he were distracted by something to avoid Cyric's eyes. Cyric noticed in his eyes a kind of pained memory, so he didn't question the hesitation.

"I suppose I'd better catch up to the Master Harper, then..." he said.

"...Yeah, and I'll go see about James. Hopefully he didn't eat all of the bubbly pies, if he's had one already." P'rad grinned, recovering his impudence. He turned and walked off.

James looked at the bubbly pie in his hand, inspecting it from all sides. As he had never actually had one, he wasn't sure of how it would taste. But the name alone should have given him a clue to its quality. He looked behind him to see P'rad, who had called his name, striding up to his table.

"Oh, I see you have a bubbly pie," he said as he sat down opposite of James.

"I was just about to taste it," James said. P'rad looked at the pie, noticing the lack of steam that would usually accompany this tasty treat when it is fresh out of the baking oven.

"As cold as it probably is, you'll be lucky if there is still some kind of warmth in the middle of it," he said as James took a bite out of the pie. His eyebrows rose slightly at how good it tasted. Flaky crust and gooey berry juices exploded in his mouth. He stuffed the rest in his mouth in one clean bite. P'rad howled with laughter after seeing that. James, feeling a little embarrassed from his lack of restraint, wiped crust and juices from his mouth with a towelette. He didn't know what came over him. The pie was just that good! Now he understood why P'rad placed so much emphasis on those treats.

"I told you they were good, didn't I?!" P'rad said when he caught his breath.

"It is a rather acquired taste," James said, grinning.
"You should really try them when they are piping hot, though. Don't worry about the roof of your mouth burning off; you'll get used to it after a few of them. But as much fun as that might be to see happen to you, we should probably do some walking around and visit a few stalls. I'll venture to guess that you probably haven't done any trading at the Lemos Gathers?"

"No, I haven't. I...didn't have any marks. Only the temporary drudges that hired themselves out to Lord Trisel to help set up everything for the Gather had marks."

"Do you have any now?"

James shook his head. P'rad looked at him puzzled, but then understanding came to him.

"Ah, well you did Impress as a drudge," he said. "Unlike the other candidates, you wouldn't have had any marks with you from the hold you were Searched from...not that you were Searched, anyway. S'len, being a fosterling under Lord Lemos, would have some marks on him, I'm sure. But that shouldn't stop us from going about and seeing how the bartering goes." He stood up from the table, indicating for James to follow. "We will have to see about getting you some marks when we get back to the Weyr. A few thirty-second pieces should do you some good. Then you'd be able to do some trading at the next Gather, whenever and wherever it may be. And perhaps get some clothes that actually look normal!"

James' face twisted up in an annoyed scowl. "What's wrong with my clothes?"

"Nothing really, it's just that I've never seen anything like them before. Where did you get them?"

"I got the shirt from Headwoman Janissa; the pants I've already had with me in my carisack when I got to Lemos. Aside from the coveralls that were given to me at Lemos, the only other clothing I have is a black shirt and my boots."

"Wow. You must be a really light packer." James only shrugged.

"Journeyman Cyric said the same thing about my clothes, that he didn't think they were normal."

"Cyric doesn't think anything is normal!" P'rad said with a laugh. "He's not very normal himself, so it's quite understandable. He's a good friend, sure, although a little high strung if you ask me. Hey look! The Tanner stall! Come on!"

Xiuha strode quickly through the crowds of people at the stalls and stands, all making wagers and buying wares. She wasn't going anywhere in particular; she just wanted to get away from her brother and that son-of-a-wherry-hen K'rel. How dare they?! They knew nothing about James, and yet they have the nerve to harass him about the way he looked, behind his back even! T'zeng was bad enough, but having K'rel around just made things worse! Just who does he think he is?! He'd only Impressed his dragon nearly around the same time she and her brother did, and he'd been at Benden Weyr for more than four Turns! What was he doing all that time?! If he were as destined as he had claimed in times before to be the greatest dragon rider in the history of Pern, the why in the name of the First Egg did it take so long for him to Impress? That, in itself, should tell him that he as absolutely no room to talk about someone he doesn't even know.

Xiuha stopped, a look of confusion crossing her face. Then she laughed, for surely the irony of the situation was quite a surprise to her. She, herself, had only met James for the first time tonight, and here she is taking umbrage about the way her brother and K'rel were talking about him. The insult would be his to settle, if he knew about it. The fact that she defended someone that she hardly knew was somewhat confusing to her. Just as well that somebody should, she told herself. Xiuha didn't like for anyone to have any slurs thrown their way when they couldn't defend themselves. She viewed the harasser as a low self-esteemed individual, that made themselves feel better by picking on someone that was defenseless. But given James' sheer size, she would have to guess that he was anything but defenseless. By the Egg, he looked to be as strong as a burdenbeast!

Xiuha shook her head, for now her thoughts began to turn towards other areas that she knew she shouldn't be thinking, all involving the Second Phase weyrling. She began walking some more, this time at a considerably slower pace than her angry strides. And as she walked, she turned her thoughts towards the upcoming classes, and how she couldn't wait to get her own weyr so she wouldn't be crowded in a room full of obnoxious boys. She was checking out a set of pipes at the music stall when she heard a familiar voice behind her that filled her with elation. She turned to see P'rad, a few feet away, walking at a perpendicular angle towards another stall. She smiled broadly. It had been such a long time since she had seen her friend, ever since he'd Impressed his brown Kilith. He would always come around and visit her and her brother at their foster hold, bringing in the latest gossip from the drudges, whenever he was able to escape the work from his farmhold. He was always a source of entertainment then, keeping all of the fosterlings laughing with his antics. She was just about to call his name, when she saw the person that was in his company: The Second Phase weyrling, James. Immediately her brother and K'rel popped into her mind, along with their teasings. The smile on her face disappeared with renewed annoyance. Oh, those two! Let's see how they would like it if someone would say things behind their back!

P'rad was explaining to James about Woodcraft, when he suddenly looked past James and stopped. James did too, wondering what got his attention. He turned to see the girl he met at the dinner tables earlier, her face set in grim tones as if she were deep in thought.

"I don't believe it!" P'rad exclaimed, circling around James and heading towards Xiuha. "Xiuha, is that you?!"

Xiuha looked up at P'rad as he walked towards her, a large grin on his face.

"Hey, P'rad!" she said cheerfully, returning the smile. P'rad scooped her up in a big hug and spun her around.

"Oh, my goodness it's good to see you!" He set her back on the ground and held her at arm's length. "Look at you! You've gotten so big!"

"Well, what did you expect?! I couldn't very well stay the same nine Turns that you had last saw me."

"I know, I know. And believe me, when I heard you'd Impressed, I knew you weren't the scrawny child I used to pick on anymore. Great shells, I wish I could have been there to see the Impression. Were you nervous?"

"Very," Xiuha said with a laugh. "I was the shortest girl there, so I was already feeling out of place. You should have seen my brother's Impression. No one expected him to move like that!"

"Is your brother here?"

"Yeah, he's over by the dancing square eating." Her tone fell a little.
"

Uh oh, that doesn't sound good," P'rad said, noticing the change in her voice. "Something happen?"

"Not really, he's just being himself, as usual."

"I know exactly what you mean," P'rad said with a knowing grin. "Hey, let me introduce you to someone." He turned towards James. "Hey James! Come over here!"

James, who had been standing a few feet away while P'rad and Xiuha talked, crossed over to them. Xiuha couldn't stop staring at him. There was something about him that made her stare, but she couldn't figure it out. Earlier, she didn't have a problem with not looking at him as long as she did now. Perhaps it was because she was busy getting food, or the fact that her brother was in the same vicinity, only a few green dragon lengths away and scowling at them. James didn't seem to notice her staring at him, but she blinked anyway to rid herself of the trance.

"James, this is my friend Xiuha," P'rad introduced. "Xiuha, this is James."

"It is good to see you again," James said, inclining his head towards her.

"You too," Xiuha said, smiling a little. P'rad looked at them.

"You've already met?!" he asked, slightly disappointed that he wasn't the first to introduce them to each other.

"We met at the dining tables," Xiuha said briskly.

"I grabbed her hand at the-" James said at the same time. He and Xiuha looked at each other, laughing nervously. P'rad cocked an eyebrow at them.

"We...met at the dining tables," James said. "I was going for a wherry leg, and I didn't see her standing there, so I accidentally grabbed her hand."

"Oh, accidentally..." P'rad said slyly, giving Xiuha a sidelong glance.

"Yes, accidentally!" Xiuha said, giving him an elbow to the ribs.

"Whaaaaat? I didn't say anything!"

"P'rad!"

P'rad gave a rebellious chuckle. "Oh, yeah! She's a weyrling at Fort Weyr. Her Impression was that night after your own, James. Your dragons are nearly the same age."

James blinked. Fort! That's what those colors on her shoulder knot are! James knew those colors looked familiar to him. He'd only saw them once before at the Igen Weyr hatching when the Weyrleaders were there, but he didn't know where they were from. Even then, it was only a fleeting glimpse before he was led towards the outer wall of the sands. The mention of her Impressing made James subconsciously rub behind his right ear. He couldn't understand what that infernal throbbing meant, but he figured it had something to do with the hatchings. Her Impression must have been around the time he felt the faint throbbing, unlike the Igen Weyr hatching where it was very strong, and very annoying.

"What is your queen's name, anyway?" P'rad asked.

"Fareth."

"Fareth? That's a pretty name."

"She's a pretty dragon."

"I'll bet. Come on, let's go for a walk and see what all of these stalls have to offer."

"We'll play the Between song last," Master Harper Bannis said, arranging the sheets of music on the stands. "The traditional and folk songs will be first, to get people in the swing of things. You have the music you and your apprentice came up with, Master Roderan?"

"Right here, Master Harper," Roderan said, surrendering the sheets. The Master Harper arranged them to be the second round of music after the folk song.

"You're to play second gitar on this first one, Journeyman Cyric," Bannis instructed. "Just follow my lead, and everyone else will join in."

Cyric looked over the music sheet as everyone else settled into their positions. It was a jaunty little tune, one that he'd never seen before, but would have no trouble keeping up with, given its timing. The Master Harper lightly rapped on the stand in front of him with a conductor wand, getting everyone's attention in the square.

"Greetings all, and welcome to the annual Spring Gather!" he said, his voice loud enough to carry across the area. "This Gather is special, as it is in conjunction with the Spring Festival! Special thanks to Lord Lenus for providing the food and entertainment, as well as a courtyard big enough to have two Gathers in!" A few people snickered. Lord Lenus, with his wife and Kadellin standing next to him not far from the stage, beamed with pride.

"As you can all see, there is plenty to do here! Trades, games, and dancing as well are available to you all, with the Harper Hall musicians providing the music. So relax, enjoy yourselves, and let's have a grand Gather/Festival!" Everyone cheered as the Master Harper sat down on his stool and picked up his gitar. He signaled for the rest of the band to get ready to play, and at the beat, began the bouncy song.

"Wow, they've started the music already?" P'rad asked, looking back towards the square as they poked around the Weavercraft stall. "Kind of a funny sounding tune. Makes me want to bounce, though."

"There's supposed to be dancing later on, someone said," Xiuha said. "Perhaps we can give a bit of a whirl at that time?" She looked at both P'rad and James.

"I...don't really know if I know how to dance," James said, rubbing the back of his head and grinning apologetically.

"I'd love to," P'rad said, shuffling his feet anxiously and rubbing his knees together. "But right now I need to find a latrine, and fast!" He dashed away from them, looking for a latrine.

"Now, that had to be awkward," Xiuha said with a laugh.

"Well, Journeyman Cyric did say that the bubbly pies would catch up to him," James said. Xiuha turned towards him, giggling.

"I'd forgotten how much he loves those things!" she said.

"It stands to reason, I suppose. They are an acquired taste, cold or hot."

"That they are." She began examining the items of the Weavercraft stall again. "So, where were you before Lemos hold?" Xiuha didn't see James stiffen a little, as she was busy examining the part of a quilt in her hand. She looked up at him when he took longer than a few seconds to answer.

"Um...I was at Telgar Weyr for a spell," he said, looking a little nervous to answer the question. Whether she didn't notice the tone in his voice, or was oblivious to it, he wasn't sure, but she looked rather surprised to hear that he was there.

"Telgar Weyr? That's pretty far from Lemos Hold. Were you a drudge there too?"

"...Sort of. I didn't stay there for too long."

"Were you a transfer from somewhere else, or were you just let go?"

"I don't even remember how I got there, not much less leave. I just remember being there for a while, and the next thing I know, I'm walking along a dirt path again, and ending up on the doorstep of Lemos Hold."

Xiuha stopped fiddling with the quilt and looked at him. "'Again'? Where were you before Telgar Weyr?"

At this, James merely shrugged. "Everything before Telgar Weyr is a blur. Where I come from, who my parents are. I don't know any of it. My past is as much of a mystery to me as to why dragons keep staring at me."

"Staring at you?"

"Yes. Ever since P'rad came to pick me and two other drudges up from Lemos Hold to help at the Igen Weyr hatching, dragons have been staring at me. Kilith was the first. Before him was Lord Trisel's gold watch-wher, Trisk. She took a liking to me quite fast, for some reason. When we arrived at Igen, I kept catching glimpses of dragons staring at me as I went about the workload. Even the queen dragon, Pireth, looked at me as she was curled around her clutch. When I had Impressed, the stares increased. It was very unsettling."

Xiuha blinked, because she had been staring at him again herself. She knew that she shouldn't stare at him like that, but she couldn't help it. There was just something about him that garnered her interest, but she didn't know what it was. At length, she asked him about Trisk, as much to occupy her mind with another subject as to what made her so interested in him.

Well, she thought. At least he has a nice voice.

Somebody remind me to tell Cyric about jinxing me, P'rad thought as he took care of the necessary. He felt bad for leaving James and Xiuha at the stall, but he couldn't wait another second, or he would burst. Besides, it seems that they were getting along pretty well. Of course, James being somewhat quiet would probably hamper the conversations. Which is probably just as well; if Xiuha were anything like she was when she was younger, it wouldn't be hard to draw a conversation out of him. And my, how she'd grown! Vastly different from when she was nine Turns, and not just in age, either! P'rad remembered how she used to be skinny for being nine, but now she has parts on her that he knew that she shouldn't have. Not the same, indeed! He could just imagine how her brother looked. And with his brashness, it was safe for P'rad to assume that he'd Impressed a bronze. Not that it would surprise P'rad if he did; Tienzeng, as he was called at the time, was always bold and brash, always overprotective of his sister, and somewhat hard to get along with, unless given a reason to be considered his friend. For P'rad, it was the way he got information out of the Hold drudges at Fort Hold so he would have a story to tell when he went to go visit the foster hold of the two siblings.

P'rad was getting ready to leave the latrine, when he heard two distinct male voices very close to the wooden wall of the stall he was in. Since he was in the corner stall, he didn't have to struggle for a good listening position. Normally, anyone would just ignore the voices, whether they knew who the person was or not, but it was what the conversation consisted of that caught P'rad's attention.

"It doesn't make any sense," said a deep, baritone voice. "How come anything like this wasn't mentioned in any of Pern's records?"

"Perhaps because something like this has never happened in the history of Pern," said a rough tenor. He sounded more annoyed than the baritone voice.

"But that's why it doesn't make any sense!" said the first voice more fervently. "There has to be some logical explanation for a dragon of that color!"

"They told us that it was sick, but apparently it isn't."

P'rad backed away from the wall. Who are these people, and how do they know about Goliath?! Everyone at the Weyr was placed under oath not to spread anything about Goliath, or James, but that was mostly concerning the fact that he couldn't chew firestone. But that was assuming these two were talking about Goliath. Had to; Goliath is the only dragon with "that color" on Pern! Willing himself not to jump to conclusions too quickly, P'rad leaned against the wall again to listen to more.

"Some of the Lords Holder are not happy with the Impression," said the tenor, whom P'rad noticed had a bit of a western accent. "And who could blame them? I wasn't there, so I didn't see what happened, but from what I was told, some drudge hopped over the wall and began banging on the egg the mutate was in."

P'rad felt the skin on the back of his neck get hot. Mutate?! How dare they?! What do they know about dragons anyway?! He heard the baritone inhaled sharply at such a blasphemous act.

"What were the Weyrleaders thinking, letting that happen?! Don't they know that that drudge robbed a candidate of a dragon? Drudges don't Impress dragons!"

Shows how much you know, P'rad thought bitterly.

"'Tis true, my friend. I cannot fathom the problems that this will cause, especially with what yeh been trying ta do."

"It's just a temporary drawback, Atalis. Everything else is going according to plan. Don't worry, I don't think the dragon, or his 'drudge' partner will get in my way."

The one called Atalis made a disgruntled noise in his throat. "But do yeh really think it will actually work? Not that I doubt yeh, but despite Igen being an isolated Weyr, they have some pretty strong riders, and not just for flaming Thread, either. I've seen some of them fight. They're ruthless!"

The baritone chuckled darkly. "Don't you worry about that. You just do your part, and I'll take care of the rest. They'll see; I should be the Weyr's proper leader, and no mutate, or its partner will stand in my way!"

"If only it were actually sick," Atalis said with a sigh. "It would have already died in a matter of time. Then we wouldn't have this problem."

"As I said, it's only a temporary drawback. It will all work out in time. Now come, we have much to do rather than loiter at this Gathering of fools any longer!"

P'rad waited a little longer before leaving the latrine, in case the two circled around to the front. He didn't want to be caught eavesdropping on them. Who are these two people that are trying to overthrow the Weyrleaders, and for what reason other than the baritone voice wanting to become the Weyrleader? And how does James and Goliath fit into the problem? The one called Atalis's accent seemed to be a derivative of Ruatha Hold's accent, with some similarities, so it is safe to assume that he was from around that area. And if so, he must have been traveling for days to get here. Rather odd to want to meet at a Gather/Festival. But probably a smart move, so as to not be labeled as a renegade running through the plains and forests, and subsequently caught by sweep riders, or other people. Here at the Gather, people were too distracted by other activities to notice a pair of men standing by a latrine and talking amongst themselves in almost hush-hush tones.

P'rad hurried back to James and Xiuha. He was definitely going to have to tell the Weyrleaders, the Wingleader, and Alania, though not at this moment. He would have to wait until after the Gather, when everything is back to normal to say anything. The baritone was obviously a bronze rider, seeing as much as he was citing about being Igen's proper Weyrleader. But why Igen? It's usually dry most of the Turn, until late fall, early winter when things start to bloom. There had to be something more to it. He was rounding a stand when he heard an all-too familiar voice that almost made him forget about the two connivers. He glanced to his right to see Lord Jaskel at the Minecraft's stall, bargaining and fussing over some jewels that, in his words, supposedly came from Crom.

"What kind of shell-shamming mine are you running, that you can't produce any quality jewels?!" he barked. The miner running the stall was quite young, but looked to be wizened beyond his years. His calm demeanor while dealing with Lord Jaskel suggested that he'd dealt with his kind before.

"My Lord," he said in a very patient tone. "these are the finest jewels we were able to produce from the caverns. Some of them have spent Turns developing underground. If you would, please consider this ruby sapphire that would make a perfect brooch-" he held out the item at arm's length. The glowbasket lamps hanging above the stall spilled light onto the medium sized jewel, making it shine a brilliant translucent red. Lord Jaskel snatched up the jewel and held it towards the light. Other iridescent colors shown through the sapphire as well. It was very pretty indeed, but the Lord Holder seemed a little less than impressed.

"Hmph," he grunted. "And how much were you asking for it?"

"Three thirty-seconds, to a full mark, depending on the cut."

"WHAT?!" Lord Jaskel nearly dropped the jewel. "That's a rip-off! I wouldn't give a quarter of a mark for this!"

The miner sighed lightly. Even his abundance of patience was beginning to wane with this one. "My Lord, in all due respect, if you are not going to buy anything, I would like to ask for you to move so others can see my wares." He indicated the line of people behind Lord Jaskel, some holding their ears from his bellowing. All were much annoyed by his fussing.

"What are all of you dim glows looking at, anyway?!" he said. Grumbling several expletives, he paid for a quarter cut of the ruby sapphire to be delivered to Telgar Hold. He pocketed the rest of his marks and made his way around the stall.

P'rad hurried away, not wanting to catch the tail end of the Lord Holder's annoyance. As much fun as it was to watch someone that could handle a person like him, he was still a force to be reckoned with, and P'rad was less than willing to test any more of his patience.

"I never knew a watch-wher could speak," Xiuha said, thoroughly amazed. "I mean, it's very amazing, seeing that they don't have lips."

"It was very limited, to say the least," James said. "From what Lord Trisel told me, watch-whers could be taught very simple words and sounds. Miners use them in the mines to let them know when they are near bad air, so they can avoid harm. So for Trisk to sound off three words without being taught is doubly amazing."

"Yes, it is." Xiuha giggled. "I wish you knew more about your family and your past. I would really like to know where you come from."

"I would like to know myself. What's your family like?"

Xiuha sighed. "Well, it's really just me and my brother. Our parents died when I was six in a mining accident. They weren't miners, but they did help to cart the produce through the mines...well, our father did the carting. Mother helped to load the carts, but they never touched any picks or shovels. My brother and I would stay back at the cot, either with a maid, or by ourselves. Your parents must have trusted the two of you to take care of yourselves. Yes, but it was mostly my brother who was doing the caring. He felt that it was his responsibility, when our parents weren't there, to take charge. He kept at it even when the maid was there to care for us. The only break he would allow himself was during class. The cot was big enough for the Harper at the time to conduct classes, and seeing that both of our parents worked the mine during the day, he would bring the entire class to our cot and conduct classes there. The other children usually had one parent back at their home during the day.

"There were times that we resented that lifestyle, not having either parent there with us. The maid tried her best, but it wasn't like having our actual parent there."

"Why did they both have to work?"

"My father had plans for us to move somewhere else when we saved up enough marks, and to do that the work would have to be doubled. Mother followed him blindly, in my opinion. Good intentions, of course. I loved them dearly, and I miss them. Really, I didn't want to leave the mines close to Nerat. All of my friends were there, and we could go to the beach when we were allowed. Wasn't that long of a walk from the mines. The only times we couldn't go were during Threadfall, of course, and bad weather days, or if any of us got into trouble."

She laughed a little, briefly remembering times when either her or T'zeng would get into trouble over something they weren't supposed to do. Her face grew serious again, as she began to tell the rest.

"That day our parents died, my brother and I were in class, as usual. There was this rumbling, and the whole hold began to shake. When it was over, the Harper went to go investigate to see what happened, admonishing us to stay put with the maid. He was gone for quite a while, too. I couldn't help but feel that something was wrong. My brother tried to assure me that everything was fine, but even as he did I started crying. The Harper came back and asked the maid to step outside and talked to her for a bit. I could hear them talking, but I couldn't understand what they were saying. The maid came back in, her face very sympathetic. She looked at me and my brother, and that's when we knew what happened." She wiped away tears that began forming in her eyes. James looked on, not knowing what to say. He didn't know the pain of losing someone, as he never knew his parents, but he could understand the bond that one would have for their parents. Of a surety, it would be as strong as the bond to a dragon, but perhaps on a different level, seeing that dragons and riders were mind-linked, and would often suicide if one or the other died. He was about to suggest that she didn't have to continue if the memory pained her that much, but she went on anyway.

"Twenty miners died that day, including our parents, she said. The blue watch-wher wasn't in their area; he was with the Master Miner in another part of the mines. Had he been there, they would have noticed the bad air pocket that formed from much of the striking of the pick axes. One strike produced sparks, and that's when the explosion happened. There were only five that survived the blast that could tell us exactly what happened."

"Wow," said James. "I'm...sorry for your loss."

"Ah, don't be," Xiuha said with a smile. "It was Turns ago when that happened. I've learned to cope with it since then. I kind of don't think my brother has, which is probably why he acts the way he does with me. I love him, despite his actions. He means well, but don't be surprised if he comes off as very antagonistic when you meet him."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Xiuha chuckled a little. "Say, what color dragon did you Impress, anyway?"

James hesitated a little, not sure if he would be allowed to answer so simple of a question, as he and the other weyrlings were placed under oath not to reveal information regarding his dragon not being able to chew firestone. But all she was asking for was his color, so he figured what could it hurt. He was about to answer when he saw P'rad striding towards them very quickly, almost in a run. He forcefully and discreetly pointed at them to turn and start walking in the other direction, his face set in meaningful terms. Xiuha furrowed her eyebrows at him, trying to figure out what was wrong with him, but James, his eyes widening slightly, took her by the elbow and spun her around and began walking with her. He, too, was wondering what was wrong with P'rad, until he saw the Lord Holder of Telgar Hold, his face set in a very sour mood, several paces behind P'rad. James had never actually seen the Lord Holder before tonight, but he'd heard more than a few stories to know who he was when seen.

"What's going on?!" Xiuha asked as P'rad caught up to them.

"We'll explain later," P'rad said as they rounded a stall and headed for the square. "Let's just hurry along now."

P'rad had Xiuha join her brother at their table again where, much to her chagrin, K'rel was still there. He and T'zeng were still talking about nothing and sipping fruit juice from wide mugs. She looked behind her to see P'rad and James go back to the table they were sitting. Reluctantly, she went and sat back down next to her brother.

"Xiuha, where'd you go?" K'rel asked.

"For a walk," she said tightly.

"Well, I'm glad you're back," T'zeng said, standing up. "I'm going to get some more bubbly pies."

"You couldn't get them while I was gone?!" she asked irritably.

"Someone has to watch this table while I'm gone. This is a good spot to observe who has two left feet when everyone starts dancing."

"Like you're any better at it! Besides, you could have left K'rel to watch the table! Why do I have to be here?!"

"Because I said so. Now I'll be right back."

Xiuha wanted to say something, but T'zeng had already moved away from them. She uneasily turned towards K'rel, who was grinning from ear to ear.

"So, Xiuha. About that dance..."

"Tell me you've found somebody else," she muttered.

"What was that?" K'rel asked, not hearing her.

"Nothing."

It seemed to take T'zeng forever to get back to the table with his bubbly pies. Xiuha's stomach was roiling with annoyance from K'rel's talking. She played nice, for the most part, partially because she didn't want to be rude to him, no matter how annoying he was. As he and T'zeng ranted about nothing, she thought about James. He was a nice fellow, very mysterious to say the least. Unlike her brother and K'rel, he actually had some kind of character about him. She turned her head towards the two, who were chatting about the music, which now had changed from the jumpy beat to another jovial one. The music must have reached some people, because there were a few couples already dancing to the music. T'zeng and K'rel began betting on who would falter first.

"What do you think, K'rel?" T'zeng asked. "The one in the red dress can't even stay with the beat."

"I'd say that blonde head with the green hat dances better than any of the women," K'rel said. "That's messed up! Just let his hair grow out, give him a dress, and who could tell the difference?"

Xiuha started laughing. She couldn't help it. She was laughing so hard that her ribs began to hurt and tears were streaming down her face. T'zeng looked at her, wondering what was wrong with his sister.

"Come on, Xiuha. It wasn't that funny," K'rel said, thinking she was laughing at his teasing. Xiuha forced herself to look at him, her hand covering her mouth as she shook her head at him. She dropped her head again as another wave of laughter assaulted her. It wasn't his tease that she was laughing at. Fareth was projecting the image of some silver colored dragon floating in the water a few feet away, shaking its whole body in time to the music. The motion was so comical that Fareth was laughing through Xiuha.

Fareth, who is that?! Xiuha managed to ask through the waves of laughter.

I do not know, but he is funny, Fareth answered, her eyes flashing green and blue.

Goliath, what are you doing?! James asked as he tried to control his bouts of laughter. Goliath stopped shaking for a moment.

What? I'm just shaking what my dragon mother gave me, he said as he began shaking again.

"Your dragon is crazy," P'rad said as he wiped tears from his eyes. Kilith was portraying the scene to him as well, with the same laughing effect. "That does put me in the mood to dance, though." He looked at S'len, who was dancing with a blue rider, noting how he danced better than some of the women he partnered in dances before.

"I'll go find us some partners," P'rad said, getting up and moving through the crowds. James decided to get up as well. He didn't consider himself much of a dancer, but nevertheless he moved his body and head to the beat.

"Everyone's starting to dance now," T'zeng said, getting up. "I'm about to get a piece of this action!" He quickly moved away from the table. K'rel turned towards Xiuha, extending his hand as he got up.

"How about that dance?" he asked. Xiuha looked around the area.

"I don't see any tunnel snakes flying, K'rel," she said, pointedly.

"Oh, come on, Xiuha. One dance is all I'm asking for. It's not like I'm trying to bed you, or anything!"

Xiuha looked at him and sighed. "Alright," she said, getting up. "But if you try ANYTHING, you will rue the rest of the night. Your hands had better be where I can see them, or else!"

P'rad was weaving through the tables, trying to find two dance partners when he spotted a familiar face. Grinning, he made his way over to T'zeng. T'zeng must have saw him too, for he made his way towards P'rad as well.

"Well, look who's here!" P'rad said cheerfully.

"P'rad! How's it going? It's been a few Turns!" They clasped wrists heartily.

"Yeah, really. I saw your sister earlier. She told me you'd Impressed a dragon. I'm going to guess a bronze?" T'zeng scoffed. Of course! What other dragon would be suitable for someone like me?"

P'rad shook his head. "As brash as always," he said, smiling. "What's your dragon name?"

"T'zeng. My dragon's name is Balath."

"Balath," P'rad considered the name. "Strong name. I like it."

T'zeng chuckled. "What are you doing right now?"

"Trying to find some dance partners for me and my friend." He pointed over his shoulder towards James, who was still standing by the table and bobbing his head to the music.

"I saw him earlier talking to Xiuha at the tables. Is he a slow wit?"

P'rad looked at him. "No, he's not a slow wit! Mysterious, yes, but not a slow wit. Far from it, as a matter of fact."

"Yeah, well you'll have to forgive me if I don't think he looks like someone I can trust around my sister."

"Never know until you talk to him. Of course, I suppose you trust him with your sister." P'rad pointed towards the dance square, where K'rel led a reluctant Xiuha towards the middle of the square.

"He's been asking for a dance from her all night. She finally folded."

"She doesn't look too happy to be with him," P'rad said, noting her reluctance to get any closer than she already was to him. He also noticed T'zeng's tone held kind of an approval to it.

James watched as Xiuha was led towards the middle of the square, looking none too happy to be there with the gangly looking individual who seemed to be floating on air. He quirked an eyebrow. Despite his physique being not too shabby, James could tell that he was sort of wobbly in the knees. Not good for a fast paced dance such as the musical piece suggested. He looked towards the stage. The musicians had since changed so that the first ones could get refreshments and sooth parched throats of those who played horned instruments. Cyric had been in the original musician's band. James saw him standing off to the side of the stage with whom James could only guess was the Master Harper of Pern, due to his robe and Master Harper seal on one shoulder. They were both sipping on glasses of wine. Cyric noticed James, and indicated a suggestion to join the dancing. James's eyes widened a little, and he subtly shook his head no. Cyric shrugged and turned back to watching everyone else.

"He cannot dance," P'rad said, wincing as he saw K'rel step on Xiuha's foot again.

"You're telling me," said T'zeng. He was a little shocked that K'rel made a big show of teasing other people about their dancing, but could barely move himself. P'rad couldn't take anymore.

"Look, I have to go rescue your sister before she doesn't have feet anymore!" Before T'zeng could say anything, P'rad made his way towards the beleaguered pair.

"HANDS," Xiuha said for the fourth time as K'rel's hands nearly traveled lower than her waist where they were supposed to stay.

"Sorry," K'rel said. He was having a hard time keeping pace with the rhythm of the song, which resulted in him missing steps and stepping on Xiuha's toes. Xiuha was becoming more fed up with him, and heartily wishing that someone would rescue her from this fumble-footed dim glow. Just then, P'rad appeared out of nowhere.

"Heeey, Xiuha! How are you doing?" he asked.

"Excuse you?!" K'rel asked indignantly. "Can't you see we're dancing?"

"Well no, actually. I can see you trying to break her toes off, so I was just wondering if I could cut in, and save her?"

"Go find someone else! She-"

"Would just love to!" Xiuha said, wresting her arm away from K'rel and throwing herself into P'rad's arms.

"What the shell-!" K'rel exclaimed.

"The lady has spoken," P'rad said as he led Xiuha away in dancing. K'rel looked very disappointed as he made his way back to the sides of the square, where he was met by jeers and teasings from other weyrlings.

James watched as P'rad swung Xiuha around the square, dancing in time to the beat and rhythm of the music. He was a far better dancer than that other lad, and Xiuha seemed to really enjoy dancing with him. He could hear her wild laughter as they twirled and dipped across the square. He couldn't help but smile. She had a pretty voice, which, as Goliath said earlier, sounded velvety. There was a strength about her that James felt somewhat drawn to.

He blinked as the music stopped, suddenly aware of himself and the fact that he was staring at her. As the musicians changed again back to the first players which included Cyric, Xiuha and P'rad made their way towards him, laughing and talking about the music.

"All the times that I've been to the Harper Hall, I've never heard that one!" P'rad said, addressing James.

"They've had much practice, from what I've gathered," Xiuha said. "I didn't see you out there, James. Why not?"

"Um, I've never danced before..." he said, feeling rather awkward at the question.

"Then maybe P'rad will teach you on the next song."

"If it's as fast as the last one, I don't know if he could keep up," said P'rad, grinning.

"Come on, P'rad. YOU were barely able to keep up with me!"

"What!" P'rad put his fists on his waist and looked at Xiuha with mock indignation. "Now see here, I'll have you know my feet barely touched the ground!"

"Only because you were dancing with the best." Xiuha turned her head from him with a smug look on her face.

"Yeah, right," P'rad said. Just then the musicians started playing again. This time it was a beat so complex that P'rad found himself faltering at trying to find its rhythm. "You're right, they have been practicing!"

"Yeah, but I didn't know how much!" Xiuha said. She was able to hear the rhythm, as slow as the music was going, but it was still complex. She looked back at James, who was subtly bobbing his head to the beat of the music, a calm expression on his face.

"Well, you definitely have a sense of rhythm," P'rad said, noticing him as well. James blinked as P'rad grabbed his wrist and Xiuha's hand, despite her protests, and forced them together into the square.

"Wha-!" James began.

"If you have rhythm, you can dance," P'rad said. "Show us what you can do!" He danced out of the way before either of them could grab him. They stood there amongst the other dancers, feeling slightly awkward. Some of the dancers around them were having trouble keeping their footing with the beat, which would double-beat every other scale.

"I've never heard this one before," Xiuha said, trying to break the awkwardness.

"Neither have I, but we can try something," James said. He took a step back from her, placed one hand behind his back, and extended his other one towards her, palm facing up. "Would you care to follow my lead?" Xiuha smiled, and lightly inclined her head towards him. She offered her hand to him, and he took it. He bent to kiss it, then straightened back up, turning her hand upright so that their palms were touching.

"What are you-" Xiuha began.

"Just follow me," James said as he slowly began to walk in a circle, all the while keeping his eyes on hers. Xiuha did the same, placing her hand behind her back and walking, one foot exaggerated in front of the other, in a circle and looking at James's eyes. The music gave James the idea to use the pattern that he and Goliath moved that day when they saw the dragons training to flame thread, and modified it to time with the music. Dancing Dragon, is what they both decided to call it, as it simulated dragons dancing majestically in the sky.

They turned at the same time, mirroring each others turn and replacing arms and hands, still keeping their eyes on each other. Xiuha found herself going into that staring mode again; this time, she couldn't do much to prevent herself from doing so. It seemed that they were both in a state of being oblivious to their surroundings, as other dancers began picking up on the pattern, finding themselves catching on to the complicated beat. James and Xiuha spun, dipped, and whirled in the square in such a way that the other dancers could only look in awe at how they performed so well together.

"Hey, who is that with T'zeng's sister?" a weyrling on one side of the square asked.

"I don't know, but he dances pretty good," said another. "They look so well together."

"His name is James," said S'len, overhearing them.

"James?" repeated the first weyrling. "What kind of name is that?"

"Where is he from?" asked the second weyrling.

"He used to be a drudge at Lemos," S'len said. "He's a dragon rider now."

"Huh?!" the second weyrling exclaimed. "What in the name of Faranth's Egg are you talking about? Drudges don't Impress dragons!"

S'len merely pointed at the couple. "There's your proof," he said.

"Why didn't you tell me he could dance?" the Master Harper asked Cyric in a low tone, all the while keeping his playing steady.

"I didn't know that he could," Cyric said in kind, keeping his gitar playing steady.

Their dance became more exotic as they gathered closer to each other, to where their noses nearly touched each other, James running his hand down her neck and her side, while she pressed her body against his and wrapped her leg around his waist. P'rad's eyebrows shot up when he saw this, especially since her skirt went up a little, exposing more leg than it was meant to expose. Xiuha smoothly slipped away from him, but he held on to her hand and brought her close again, this time wrapping his arm about her waist as she did the same, their other hands interlocking the fingers. Still staring into each others eyes, they began moving their legs and body in tandem, James at one point dipping her low to the ground and bringing her back up.

"What is this?!" the first weyrling said, completely appalled. "The drudge is getting his feel on!"

K'rel, who was standing by with his mouth hanging open from the seemingly display of exotic affection from James and Xiuha, sobered up when he heard what the weyrling said, doubly so when he saw James spin Xiuha around, grab her by the waist and pull her close to him, her back against his body and her arms hanging loosely around his head, her eyes closing. James buried his face in the crevice of her neck as he ran his hand up her side, then forcing her away into another series of spins and dips, amid gasps from those watching.

Krel was nearly fuming. Drudge indeed! How is it that she would let this unknown burdenbeast offspring handle her the way he is right now, when she wouldn't even let him touch her?! T'zeng had better be watching this! He looked around for Xiuha's brother, and saw him talking to one of the other weyrlings. He made his way as quickly as he could over to T'zeng, grabbed him by the shoulder, and whispered in his ear to look at his sister in the dance square. T'zeng was shocked to see James with his sister dancing in a very provocative way.

"Where did she learn to dance like that?!" he asked. "Did he teach her?"

"I don't know," K'rel said with a shrug.

"I'm going to have a talk with her after they finish. I'll have to admit though, he is a good dancer. But that's beside the point!"

T'zeng didn't seem to get the picture, so K'rel told him the news he'd just heard, hoping to stoke something in him. T'zeng froze when he heard the news.

"You can't be serious," he said. "Drudges don't Impress dragons!"

"He has," K'rel said. He looked at T'zeng, whose facial expression became unreadable. He'd only saw that look once before, when one of the other fosterlings were trying to goad him into fighting when he talked about his mother. K'rel grinned. Now to see some action!

James and Xiuha were unaware of the effect they were having on those that were around them. Some of the dancers tried to mimic their moves; others tried to create their own. Those who weren't dancing stood in awe at the pair as they continued their dancing. The Master Harper and the rest of the musicians seemed to become more energized, and began playing the music with renewed strength. D'ron and Alania, who were at best indifferent dancers, seemed to hold the beat of the music as they danced on one side of the square. Even the Igen weyrleaders joined in as they danced at their table.
James picked Xiuha up with one arm and spun with her, then slowly let her down as the music came to an end, their faces coming so close together it looked as if they were about to kiss. They stayed that way in each others arms until the audience clapping brought their attention back to the present. Realizing how close they were to each other, they quickly separated. James stammered to try and say something, but Xiuha's eyes widened as her brother appeared out of nowhere and shoved James aside. He grabbed Xiuha by the arm and dragged her away from the square, giving James a piercing look. James watched them go, knowing it would be pointless to follow.

"James! I thought you said you couldn't dance!" P'rad said, coming up to James and draping his arm around his neck. He looked in the direction that T'zeng took Xiuha, and shook his head.

"I know what you're thinking," he said. "and trust me, it wouldn't be worth it. T'zeng is a little protective of his sister, but rightfully so. If he doesn't know you, he won't trust you around her. Ever since their parents died, he's been a father figure to her, even in foster care. It annoyed me a little too, when I went to go see them when we were young." He had been leading James back to their table, where two mugs of fruit juice were waiting for them. "You're probably thirsty from that dance, so I took the liberty of getting you something to drink."

"Not entirely, but thank you," James said, detached. He picked up the mug and sipped at the drink, P'rad watching him with interest.

"You two were really something out there," he said, grinning. "Looked a lot like what you and Goliath were doing that day of practice."

"It...kind of was," James said. "I just twisted it a little to fit the beat of the music."

"What about all of that other stuff you two did? Was that planned too?"

James seemed reluctant to answer. He wasn't sure himself how that came about. It seemed odd that it happened, as if they weren't in control of themselves. He had to stop thinking about it because the very thought began to stir feelings in him he didn't know he had, and he didn't know how Goliath would react to it.

P'rad noticed his reluctance. "Don't worry about it," he said. "We'll figure it out later."

"That was strange," the Master Harper said as he worked his fingers from the intense playing. "but also exhilarating!"

"What was that?" Master Roderan asked, still catching his breath from the pipes. He looked around at the other musicians as they worked finger and hand to calm the strain of the playing. "It felt as if I were given a new set of lungs."

"It was rather strange," said the Master Harper, turning the music over to the next piece. He heard Cyric groan, as it was The Between Song, and he would have to be the one to sing it.

"Do I really have to sing this, Master Harper?" he asked.

"It calls for a melancholy voice, and despite the Voice Master's prowess with singing, yours is the perfect voice for it."

Cyric shuddered. "It gives me chills, as if I'd went between without a riding jacket."

"Come now, it can't be that bad. At the beat then..." and the Master Harper tapped out the slow rhythm to which the music would follow.

James jerked his head up at the sound of the first note striking. He immediately recognized the haunting tune, all too familiar to him, for it sounded very much like what he keeps hearing in between.

"Wow," said P'rad. "You'd think that they would be tired from that last song. They played the notes off of those sheets, didn't they?" He looked over at James with a grin, which went away when he saw the blank expression on his face.

"James?" P'rad turned towards him. "Hey, you okay?"

James wanted to answer,but he couldn't move. He was pinned to the spot, unable to move a muscle. He began to get scared, because the music coming from the stage began to sound very much like the sound he hears in between, and it was this sound that was blocking out P'rad's frantic inquiries of his well-being. The musicians were unaware of what was happening, and as Cyric began to sing the first verse of the song, everything around James seemed to bend and stretch before him. He could no longer hear P'rad's desperate calls for help, nor could he tell if he were still standing. His last conscious thought was hearing Goliath call for him in his mind, and feeling his silver partner take wing towards the Gather. Then everything went black.

Took long enough to get this chapter out. I made it long on purpose because I wanted to get the Gather out of the way and move on. I'll be switching back and forth between this one and Called From Afar. I can't always guarantee how fast I can get the chapters out, because they take much planning, but I do what I can. Hope you enjoy this one.