Lessa of Pern was of Ruathan blood - a proud line all but wiped out by the Lord Fax when he had attacked her Hold ten years before. Ten Turns ago Lessa the child had crouched, hiding, in the lair of the watch-wher. Gifted with the power, fiercely independant, for ten long Turns Lessa had fought single-handedly and secretly to drive Fax out of the hold. Now, Lessa crouched once again with her faithful hideous friend, quivering with courage and viciously perverse determination. For the dragonmen had come to Ruatha. And with all her strength Lessa willed them to kill Fax - forgetting she would thus betray herself to the dragons - and to their dreaded riders...