Lessa and the Oldtimers appear over Ruatha. Lytol greets them. He tells Lessa that she'd misjudged the last jump by two days, and gives her the scene, explaining that she had been thrown off in her last jump by being in three places at once. They jump back two more days. They land quickly, Ramoth eager to greet her mate. He introduces F'lar to the Oldtimers, 1800 fighting dragons, 17 queens, and necessary equipment, including the flamethrowers.