Ah, but that was something new, exciting, she replied. And it was new here, too, for the Oldtimers. What isnt new is that they have another forty-some Turns to fight Thread in our time. Some of them have had fifteen and twenty Turns of fighting Thread. We have barely seven.
The Smith put both hands on the table and pushed himself to his feet.
Talk makes no miracles. To effect an end to Thread we must get the dragons to the source. Terry, pour a cup of that excellent klah for Wansor and let us attack the problem with good heart.
As Flar rose with Lessa, Fnors message rustled at his belt.
Let me take a look at Fnors message, Lessa, before we go.
He opened the closely written pages, his eye catching the repetition of fire lizard before his mind grasped the sense of what he was reading.
Impressing? A fire lizard? he exclaimed, holding the letter so that Lessa could verify it.
No ones ever managed to catch a fire lizard, Fandarel said.
Fnor has, Flar told him, and Brekke, and Mirrim. Whos Mirrim?
Brekkes fosterling, the Weyrwoman replied absently, her eyes scanning the message as rapidly as possible. One of Ltrels by some woman or other of his. No, Kylara wouldnt have liked that!
Flar shushed her, passing the sheets over to Fandarel who was curious now.
Are fire lizards related to dragons? asked the Craft-second.
Judging by what Fnor says, more than we realized. Flar handed Terry the last page, looking up at Fandarel. What do you think?
The Smith began to realign his features into a frown but stopped, grinning broadly instead.
Ask the Masterherder. He breeds animals. I breed machines.
He saluted Lessa with his mug and strode to the wall he had been contemplating when they entered, immediately lost in thought.
A good point, Flar said with a laugh to his remaining audience.
Flar? Remember that flawed piece of metal, with that garble of words? The one with the scribble like last nights. It mentioned fire lizards, too. That was one of the few words that made sense.
So?
I wish we hadnt given that plate back to Fort Weyr. It was more important than we realized.
There may be more at Fort Weyr thats important, Flar said, gloomily. It was the first Weyr. Who knows what we might find if we could search there!
Lessa made a face, thinking of Mardra and Tron.
Trons not hard to manage, she mused.
Lessa, no nonsense now.
If fire lizards are so much like dragons, could they be trained to go between, as dragons can, and be messengers? asked Terry.
How long would that take? asked the Smith, less unaware of his surroundings than he looked. How much time have we got this Turn?
CHAPTER VIII
Midmorning at Southern Weyr
No, Rannelly, Ive not seen Kylara all morning, Brekke told the old woman patiently, for the fourth time that morning.
And youve not taken a good look at your own poor queen, either, Ill warrant, fooling around with these these nuisancy flitterbys, Rannelly retorted, grumbling as she limped out of the Weyrhall.
Brekke had finally found time to see to Mirrims wounded brown. He was so stuffed with juicy tidbits from the hand of his overzealous nurse that he barely opened one lid when Brekke inspected him. Numbweed worked as well on lizard as on dragon and human.
Hes doing just fine, dear, Brekke told the anxious girl, the greens fluttering on the childs shoulders in response to her exaggerated sigh of relief. Now, dont overfeed them. Theyll split their hides.
Do you think theyll stay?
With such care as you lavish on them, sweeting, theyre not likely to leave. But you have chores which I cannot in conscience permit you to shirk …
All because of Kylara …
Mirrim!
Ashamed, the girl hung her head, but she deeply resented the fact that Kylara gave all the orders and did no work leaving her tasks to fall to Brekke. It wasnt fair. Mirrim was very very glad that the little lizards had preferred her to that woman.
What did old Rannelly mean about your queen? You take good care of Wirenth. She lacks for nothing, said Mirrim.