Grall? Shes with Canth, of course. She heard Ramoth grumbling on the Hatching Ground.
Hmm, yes. Fortunately, those eggsll hatch soon.
Going to invite all Perns notables as you did before the Oldtimers got stuffy?
Yes, Flar replied so emphatically that Fnor pretended alarm. That courtesy did more good than harm. Itll be standard procedure at all the Weyrs now.
And youve talked the Leaders into assigning riders to Hold and Hall? Fnors eyes gleamed when Flar nodded.
Can you slip through whatever patrol Tkul has mounted in Southern? Flar asked.
No problem. There isnt a bronze there that Canth cant out fly. Which reminds me …
Good. Ive two errands for you. Pick up those fire-lizard eggs and, do you remember the coordinates for the Threadfall in the western swamp?
Of course, but I wanted to ask you …
You saw the grub life in the soil there?
Yes …
Ask Manora for a tightly covered pot. I want you to bring me back as many of those grubs as you can. Not a pleasant job, I know, but I cant go myself and I dont want this ah project discussed.
Grubs? A project?
Mnementh bellowed a welcome.
Ill explain later, Flar said, gesturing toward the weyr entrance.
Fnor shrugged as he rose. Ill fly the hazard, O inscrutable one! Then he laughed as Flar glared at him in angry reproach. Sorry. Like the rest of Pern the north, that is I trust you. He gave them both a jaunty salute and left.
The day Fnor doesnt tease you Ill start to worry, Lessa said, encircling his neck with her arms. She laid her cheek against his for an instant. Its Tbor, she added, moving away just as the new High Reaches Weyrleader strode in.
The man looked as if he hadnt slept enough but he carried his shoulders back and his head high which made the Benden Weyrleader more aware of the worried and wary expression on his face.
Kylaras Flar began, remembering that she and Meron had been gabbling together all the last night.
Not Kylara. Its that Tkul who thought himself such a great Weyrleader, Tbor said with utter disgust. As soon as we brought our people up from Southern, I had the wings do a sweep check, really more to familiarize themselves with the coordinates than anything else. By the first Egg, I dont like seeing anyone run from dragonmen. Run. And hide! Tbor sat down, automatically taking the cup of klah Lessa handed him. There wasnt a watch fire or a watchman. But plenty of burn sign I dont see how that much Thread could have got through. Not even if smokeless weyrlings were riding the sweep. So I dropped down to Tillek Hold and asked to see Lord Oterel. Tbor gave a low whistle. That was some greeting I got, I want to tell you. I nearly had an arrow through my belly before I convinced the guard captain that I wasnt Tkul. That I was Tbor and thered been a change of Leaders at the Weyr.
Tbor took a deep breath. It took time to calm Lord Holder Oterel down to the point where I could tell him what had happened. And it seemed to me and the Southerner looked nervously first at Lessa and then at Flar, that the only way to restore his confidence was to leave him a dragon. So I left him a bronze and stationed two greens in those minor Holds along the Bay. I also left weyrlings at vantage heights along the Tillek Hold range. Then I asked Lord Oterel to accompany me to Lord Bargens Hold at High Reaches. Id a good idea I might not get past his guard at all. Now, wed six eggs left over from that clutch Toric of the Seahold unearthed and so I gave two each to the Lords and two to the Masterfisherman. It seemed the only thing to do. Theyd heard Lord Meron had one at Nabol Hold. Tbor straightened his shoulders as if to endure Flars opprobrium.
You did the right thing, Tbor, Flar told him heartily. You did exactly the right thing. You couldnt have done better!