There was no way of predicting todays fall, Flar said slowly, but his mind was turning so rapidly that he felt sick. Why had nothing been said to him? Rmart of Telgar Weyr hadnt been at the meeting about Trebs transgressions. Could Rmart have been busy fighting Thread at that time? As for Tkul of the High Reaches Weyr imparting any information, particularly news that might show him in a bad light, that one wouldnt give coordinates to save a riders life.
No, theyd have had good reason not to mention premature falls to Flar that night. If Tkul had confided in anyone. But why hadnt Rmart let them know?
But Benden Weyrs not caught sleeping. Once is all wed need in those forests, huh, Flar? Asgenar was saying, his eyes scanning the spongewoods possessively.
Yes. All wed need. Whats the report from the leading Edge of this Fall? Have you runners in yet?
Your queens wing reported it safe two hours past. Asgenar grinned and rocked back and forth on his heels, his confidence not a bit jarred by todays unpredicted event. Flar envied him.
Again the bronze rider thanked good fortune that he had Lord Asgenar to deal with this morning instead of punctilious Raid or suspicious Lord Sifer. He devoutly hoped that the young Lord Holder would not find his trust misplaced. But the question haunted him: how could Threads change so?
Both Weyrleader and Lord Holder froze as they watched a blue dragon hover attentively above a stand of trees to the northeast. When the beast flew on, Asgenar turned to Flar with troubled eyes.
Do you think these odd falls will mean that those forests must be razed?
You know my views on wood, Asgenar. Its too valuable a commodity, too versatile, to sacrifice needlessly.
But it takes every dragon to protect …
Are you for or against? Flar asked with mild amusement. He gripped Asgenars shoulder. Instruct your foresters to keep constant watch. Their vigilance is essential.
Then you dont know the pattern in the Thread shifts?
Flar shook his head slowly, unwilling to perjure himself to this man. Ill leave the long-eyed Frad with you.
A wide smile broke the thin troubled face of the Lord Holder.
I couldnt ask, but its a relief. I shant abuse the privilege.
Flar glanced at him sharply. Why should you?
Asgenar gave him a wry smile. Thats what the Oldtimers carp about, isnt it? And instant transportation to any place on Pern is a temptation.
Flar laughed, remembering that Asgenar, Lord of Lemos, was to take Famira, the youngest sister of Larad, Lord of Telgar Hold, to wife. While the Telgar lands marched the boundaries of Lemos, the Holds were separated by deep forest and several ranges of steep rocky mountains.
Three dragons appeared and circled above them, wingriders reporting on the ground activities. Nine infestations had been sighted and controlled with minimum loss of property. Sweepriders had reported that the midFall area was clear. Flar dismissed them. A runner came loping up the meadow to his Lord Holder, carefully keeping several dragonlengths between himself and the two beasts. For all that every Pernese knew the dragons would harm no human, many would never lose their fearfulness. Dragons were confused by this distrust so that Flar strolled casually to his bronze and scratched the left eye ridge affectionately until Mnementh allowed one lid to droop in pleasure over the gleaming opalescent eye.
The runner had come from afar, managing to gasp out his reassuring message before he collapsed on the ground, his chest heaving with the effort to fill his starved lungs. Asgenar stripped off his tunic and covered the man to prevent his chilling and made the runner drink from his own flask
The two infestations on the south slope are char! Asgenar reported to the Weyrleader as he rejoined him. That means the hardwood stands are safe. Asgenars relief was so great that he took a swig on the bottle himself. Then hastily offered it to the dragonrider. When Flar politely refused, he went on, We may have another hard winter and my people will need that wood. Cromcoal costs!
Flar nodded. Free provision of fuelwood meant a tremendous saving to the average holder, though not every Lord saw it in this aspect. Lord Meron of Nabol Hold, for instance refused to let his commoners chop fuelwood, forcing them to pay the high rates for Cromcoal, increasing his profit at their expense.