Ssssh. Ill go see. I left her sleeping.
Rannellys as bad as Kylara. She thinks shes so wise and knows everything …
Brekke was about to scold her fosterling when she heard Fnor calling her.
The green riders are bringing back some of the meat hung in the salt caves, she said, issuing quick instructions instead. None of that is to go to the lizards, Mirrim. Now, mind. The boys can trap wild wherries. Their meat is as good, if not better. Weve no idea what effect too much red-blood meat will have on lizards. With that caution to inhibit Mirrims impulsive generosity, Brekke went out to meet Fnor.
Theres been no rider in from Benden? he asked her, easing the arm sling across his shoulder.
Youdve heard instantly, she assured him, deftly adjusting the cloth at his neck. In fact, she added in mild rebuke, there are no riders in the Weyr at all today.
Fnor chuckled. And not much to show for their absence, either. There isnt a beach along the coastline that doesnt have a dragon couchant, with rider a-coil, feigning sleep.
Brekke put her hand to her mouth. It wouldnt do for Mirrim to hear her giggling like a weyrling.
Oh, you laugh?
Aye, and theyve made a note of both occasions that I did, she said with due solemnity, but her eyes danced. Then she noticed that the saying was missing its usual occupant. Wheres …
Grall is curled between Canths eyes, so stuffed shed likely not move if we went between. Which Ive half a mind to do. If you hadnt told me I could trust Gnag, Id swear hes not delivered my letter to Flar, or else hes lost it.
You are not going between with that wound, Fnor. And if Gnag said he delivered the letter, he did. Perhaps something has come up.
More important than Impressing fire lizards?
There could be something. Threads are falling out of phase Brekke broke off, she oughtnt to have reminded Fnor of that, judging by the bleak expression on his face. Maybe not, but theyve got to get the Lord Holders to supply watchers and fires and it may be Flar is occupied with that. It certainly isnt your fault youre not there to help. Those odious Fort riders have no self-control. Imagine taking a green out of her Weyr close to mating Brekke stopped again, snapping her mouth closed. But Rannelly said my queen, not her queen.
The girl turned so white that Fnor thrust his good hand under her elbow to steady her.
Whats the matter? Kylara hasnt ducked Prideth out of here when shes due to mate? Where is Kylara, by the way?
I dont know. I must check Wirenth. Oh, no, she couldnt be!
Fnor followed the girls swift steps through the great hanging trees that arched over the Southern Weyrs sprawling compound.
Wirenths scarcely hatched, he called after her and then remembered that Wirenth was actually a long time out of her shell. It was just that he tended to think of Brekke as the most recent of the Southern Weyrwomen. Brekke looked so young, much too young …
She is the same age as Lessa was when Mnementh first flew Ramoth, Canth informed him.
Is Wirenth ready to rise? Fnor asked his brown, stopping dead in his tracks.
Soon. Soon. Bronzes will know.
Fnor ticked over in his mind the bronze complement of Southern. The tally didnt please him. Not that the bronzes were few in number, a discourtesy to a new queen, but that their riders had always contended for Kylara, whether Prideths mating was at stake or not. No matter whose bronze flew Wirenth, the rider would have Brekke and the thought of anyone who had vyed for Kylaras bed favor making love to Brekke irritated the brown rider.
Canths as big or bigger than any bronze here, he thought resentfully. He had never entertained such an invidious comparison before and ruthlessly put it out of his mind.
Now, if Nton, a clean-cut lad and a top wingrider just happened to be in Southern? Or Bdor of Ista Weyr. Fnor had ridden with the Istan when his Weyr and Benden joined forces over Nerat and Keroon. Nicely conformed bronzes, both of them, and while Fnor favored Nton more, if Bdors beast flew Wirenth, she and Brekke would have the option of removing to Ista Weyr. Theyd only three queens there, and Nadira was a far better Weyrwoman than Kylara, despite her coming from the Oldtime.