I'm so glad you enjoyed the sequel, too! Yeah, I couldn't see Rodney not being a Smith anymore. Even if he's a dragonrider, too!

R'dek with Lornth...heh. My speshul sekkrit OTP is showing XD

And Carson...I haven't actually decided yet, whether Carson can hear all dragons, or Shepparth was just breaking the rules for Rodney's sake. Carson as a dragonhealer amuses me, though, so...might be that! Will have to find out (I think I'm setting myself up to do more whether I intend to or not! ^^)