One by one the great bronze dragons of Pern settled in the grassy sward, their riders and passengers striding through the tall waving grasses to join F'lar, who had hunkered down to dig with his belt knife into the edge of one of those curious lines.

The rider strode towards him, black cloak billowing and feet making little clicking sounds on the cobbles.

F'nor, C'gan and four others remained on the steps as the other riders strode into the court to wait for their dragons.