She had been gone for less than two sevendays and it had only now dawned on Irlan that he may never see her again, he had hardly had time to talk to her in half a turn but she had always been there, out of reach but always there.
      When Tian was searched to be a candidate at White River Weyr Irlan was so happy for her but now, though he hated himself for being so selfish, he wished that she hadn't. He knew he loved her, he had known for a while, even his mother had noticed, but he hadn't realised how much.
      "I know she'll impress, she would be a great dragonrider," he muttered under his breath, and she'll never come back to this back-end-of-nowhere place.
      An elbow poked sharply into Irlan's ribs, "Oi! Wake up Irlan you're supposed to be watching the spit!" Said a young kitchen hand.
      "I am awake you deadglow! I'm just thinking." Irlan said, irritated.
      "Well your thinking is gonna burn the wherrie!"
      "Just leave me alone! If I burn the wherrie I'll get in trouble not you!"
      "Shells Irlan, what's gotten into you recently? Your so ratty and distant."
      "Nothing!" He shouted at the unfortunate kitchen hand whose name escaped Irlan at the moment, Bana or something.
      The boy ran away, convinced that Irlan had cracked.
      I can't stand this wretched Hold any more! I just can't, he thought, I'm gonna pack up and leave, first thing tomorrow I'll ride Yasra to White River Weyr and find Tian.

      That evening Irlan went to his room and packed up all of his things. Now that it was late there would be nobody in the kitchens so he decided to go and get some food for his journey. He crept silently down the stone steps that lead right to the kitchens and poked his head around the door, it was deserted as he had hoped, so he went to the store rooms and purloined some dried wherrie, herdbeast, a loaf of bread and some dried klah.
      Irlan was just about to leave the Hold with his pack and a rolled up sleeping fur when he realised that he had no idea where White River Weyr was, he knew that his aunt Besi had many maps though so after securing his pack and fur to Yasra, his runner, he went to his aunt's room.
      He opened the door to Besi's room and saw that she was not there but the glows were open so she would be back soon, he had to be quick. He went over to her desk and opened the top draw, he sifted through the hides and found one that showed both Ber Hold and White River Weyr. Irlan was in luck; as far as he could tell the journey would only take four or five days, he took the skin and was about to leave when the door opened and Besi came in.
      "What are you doing?" She asked.
      "I...I'm...er." He said, "Oh who am I kidding? I was going to take this map because I was going to run away." He hung his head in guilt.
      "White River Weyr?"
      "How..."
      "I think she was the only one who didn't notice!" Besi laughed.
      "Oh. Well I suppose I can't go then."
      "Now why would that be? No one noticed you go, you just left in the night and the only trace left was a letter explaining to your mother that you were leaving to go to the Weyr." She said conspiratorially.
      "You mean you won't tell?" Irlan was astonished, he was sure it was all over from the moment Besi walked in.
      "As long as you write that letter! Oh and take these," she handed him another hide and a small bag of marks, "that hide is a threadfall timetable, I can't have you getting caught out in a fall!"
      "Wow thanks."
      "Well who am I to stand in the way of true love!"
      "Do you think she likes me?"
      Besi slapped her forehead in exasperation, "Oblivious! You're as bad as she is. Now write that letter."
      Irlan did as he was told and wrote a letter to his mother then hugged and thanked Besi.
      "Now you be careful."
      "I will aunt Besi. And thanks again!" He said as he left.