Jaxom and his Warder, Lytol had been summoned to Benden Weyr. Jaxom was excited about the prospect of riding a dragon, though his excitement was diminished by his warder's disapproval. Lytol was a hard man to please, and Jaxom did not intend to upset him, but felt the need to explore the back reaches of the Hold. A greenrider, J'ralt, an old friend of Jaxom's, comes to pick them up. Jaxom makes the faux pas of addressing to him by his pre-Impression name, Jeralte, though J'ralt himself is not bothered by it.