Always remember that the relationship between rider and dragon is symbiotic. Without dragons, humankind has no access to magic with which to weave the wards that protect Navarre. Without riders, the dragons have no wards to safeguard their hatching grounds. While this arrangement benefits both species, never forget that dragons find humans rather...expendable.
havre commented...
could this mean that if the dragons where to choose between their rider or say mate/twin/siblings that the rider will always be the one to go? thinking that if Sgaeyl have to leave, what will Tairn do realistically? Violet survived Andarna breaking the bond - does that mean Tairn could (possibly) do the same? (sry about the long comment, but I have been thinking about this since the second I read this paragraph)