Flar could accomplish little if he stormed in on Tron and the other Weyrleaders, bent on extracting justice for his wounded Wingsecond. Or if Flar was still seething from the subtle insult implicit in the timing of this meeting. As Weyrleader of the offending rider, Tron had delayed answering Flars courteously phrased request for a meeting of all Weyrleaders to discuss the untoward incident at the Craftmasterhall. When Trons reply finally arrived, it set the meeting for the first watch, Fort Weyr time; or high night, Benden time, a most inconsiderate hour for Flar and certainly inconvenient for the other easterly Weyrs, Igen, Ista and even Telgar. Dram of Ista Weyr and Rmart of Telgar, and probably Gnarish of Igen would have something sharp to say to Tron about such timing, though their lag was not as great as Benden Weyrs.
So Tron wanted Flar off balance and irritated. Therefore, Flar would appear all amiability. Hed apologize to Dram, Rmart and Gnarish for inconveniencing them, while making certain that they knew Tron was responsible.
The main issue, to Flars now calm mind, was not the attack on Fnor. The real issue was the abrogation of two of the strongest Weyr restrictions; restrictions that ought to be so ingrained in any dragonrider that their fracture was impossible.
It was an absolute that a dragonrider did not take a green dragon or a queen from her Weyr when she was due to rise for mating. It made no difference whatsoever that a green dragon was sterile because she chewed firestone. Her lust could affect even the most insensitive commoners with sexual cravings. A mating female dragon broadcast her emotions on a wide band. Some green-brown pairings were as loud as bronze-gold. Herdbeasts within range stampeded wildly and fowls, wherries and whers went into witless hysterics. Humans were susceptible, too, and innocent Hold youngsters often responded with embarrassing consequences. That particular aspect of dragon matings didnt bother weyrfolk who had long since disregarded sexual inhibitions. No, you did not take a dragon out of her Weyr in that state.
It was irrelevant to Flars thinking that the second violation stemmed from the first. From the moment riders could take their dragons between, they were abjured to avoid situations that might lead to a duel, particularly since dueling was an accepted custom among Craft and Hold. Any differences between riders were settled in unarmed bouts, closely refereed within the Weyr. Dragons suicided when their riders died. And occasionally a beast panicked if his rider was badly hurt or remained unconscious for long. A berserk dragon was almost impossible to manage and a dragons death severely upset his entire Weyr. So armed dueling, which might injure or kill a dragon, was the most absolute proscription.
Today, a Fort Weyr rider had deliberately judging from the testimony Flar had from Terry and the other smithcrafters present abrogated these two basic restrictions. Flar experienced no satisfaction that the offending rider came from Fort Weyr even if Tron, the major critic of Benden Weyrs relaxed attitudes toward some traditions, was in a very embarrassing position. Flar might argue that his innovations breached no fundamental Weyr precepts, but the five Oldtime Weyrs categorically dismissed every suggestion originating from Benden Weyr. And Tron bleated the most about the deplorable manners of modern Holders and Crafters, so different so less subservient, Flar amended to the acquiescence of Holders and Crafters in their distant past Turn.
It would be interesting, Flar mused, to see how Tron the Traditionalist explained away the actions of his riders, now guilty of far worse offenses against Weyr traditions than anything Flar had suggested.
Common sense had dictated Flars policy eight Turns ago of throwing open Impressions to likely lads from Holds and Crafts; there hadnt been enough boys of the right age in Benden Weyr to match the number of dragon eggs. If the Oldtimers would throw open the mating flights of their junior queens to bronzes from other Weyrs, theyd soon have clutches as large as the ones at Benden, and undoubtedly queen eggs, too. However, Flar could appreciate how the Oldtimers felt. The bronze dragons at Benden and Southern Weyr were larger than most Oldtimer bronzes. Consequently, theyd fly the queens. But, by the Shell, Flar hadnt suggested that the senior queens be flown openly. He did not intend to challenge the Oldtimer Weyrleaders with modern bronzes. He did feel that theyd profit by new blood among their beasts. Wasnt an improvement in Dragonkind anywhere of benefit to all the Weyrs?