Dragonflight (Dragonriders of Pern, #1)

by Anne McCaffrey

“The escort arrives in good time to bid the queen good day.” “Good day, Ramoth,” F’lar said obediently.

Honor those the dragons heed In thought and favor, word and deed. Worlds are lost or worlds are saved From the dangers dragon-braved.

“Good afternoon,” said F’lar pleasantly from the entrance. K’net grinned broadly at his side. “Mnementh informs me that the bronzes blood their kill. How kind of you to call us in for the spectacle.” Relief temporarily swept her recent antagonism for F’lar out of Lessa’s mind. The sight of him, calm, arrogant, mocking, buoyed her.

From the Weyr and from the Bowl, Bronze and brown and blue and green, Rise the dragonmen of Pern, Aloft, on wing; seen, then unseen.

Drummer, beat, and piper, blow, Harper, strike, and soldier, go. Free the flame and sear the grasses Till the dawning Red Star passes.

As the bronze dragon charged, flaming, F’lar tightened his knees on the massive neck. Mother of us all, he was glad that now, of all times conceivable, he, F’lar, rider of bronze Mnementh, was a dragonman of Pern!