Eat, his bronze advised him. Let Lessa flatter Gnarish Gyarmath doesnt mind. Nor Ramoth. Nor I.
What I do for my Weyr, said Lessa with an exaggerated sigh as she returned a few moments later.
Flar gave her a cynical look. Gnarish is more of a modern mind than he knows.
Then well have to make him conscious of it, Lessa said firmly.
Just so long as it is we who make him, Flar replied with mock severity, catching her hand and pulling her to him.
She made a token resistance, as she always did, scowling ferociously at him and then relaxed against his shoulder all at once. Signal fires and sweepriding are not enough, Flar, she said thoughtfully. Although I do believe weve worried too much about the change in Threadfall.
That nonsense was to fool Gnarish and the others, but I thought youd …
But dont you see that you were right?
Flar gave her a long incredulous look.
By the Egg, Weyrleader, you astonish me. Why cant there be deviations? Because you, Flar, compiled those Records and to spite the Oldtimers they must remain infallible? Great golden eggs, man, there were such things as Intervals when no Threads fell as we both know. Why not a change of pace in Threadfall itself during a Pass?
But why? Give me one good reason why.
Give me one good reason why not! The same thing that affects the Red Star so that it doesnt always pass close enough to cast Thread on us can pull it enough off course to change Fall! The Red Star is not the only one to rise and set with the seasons. There could be another heavenly body affecting not only us but the Red Star.
Where?
Lessa shrugged impatiently. How do I know? Im not long in the eye like Frad. But we can try to find out. Or have seven full Turns of certainty and schedule dulled your wits?
Now, see here, Lessa …
Suddenly she pressed herself close to him, full of contrition for her sharp tongue. He held her close, all too aware that she was right. And yet … There had been that long and lonely wait until he and Mnementh could come into their own. The terrible dichotomy of confidence in his own prophecy that Thread would fall and fear that nothing would rescue the Dragonriders from their lethargy. Then the crushing realization that those all too few dragonmen were all that could save an entire world from destruction; the three days of torture between the initial fall over the impending one at Nerat Hold and Telgar Hold with Lessa who-knew-where. Did he not have a right to relax his vigilance? Some freedom from the weight of responsibility?
Ive no right to say such things to you, Lessa was whispering in soft remorse.
Why not? Its true enough.
I ought never to diminish you, and all youve done, to placate a trio of narrow-minded, parochial, conservative …
He stopped her words with a kiss, a teasing kiss that abruptly became passionate. Then he winced as her hands curving sensuously around his neck, rubbed against the Thread-bared skin.
Oh, Im so sorry. Here, let me and Lessas apology trailed off as she swiveled her body around to reach for the numbweed jar.
I forgive you, dear heart, for all your daily machinations, Flar assured her sententiously. Its easier to flatter a man than fight him. I wish I had Fnor here right now!
I still havent forgiven that old fool Tron, Lessa said, her eyes narrowing, her lips pursed. Oh, why didnt Fnor just let Treb have the knife?
Fnor acted with integrity, Flar said with stiff disapproval.
He couldve ducked quicker then. And youre no better. Her touch was gentle but the burns stung.
Hmmm. What I have ducked is my responsibility to Our Pern in bringing the Oldtimers forward. Weve let ourselves get bogged down on small issues, like whose was the blame in that asinine fight at the Mastersmiths Hall. The real problem is to reconcile the old with the new. And we may just be able to make this new crisis work there to our advantage, Lessa.