“A dragonman stays in his Weyr,” R’gul said with what dignity he could muster.
“And accepts the policies of the current Weyrleader?” The tone of F’lar’s voice made it less of a question and more of an order.
So as not to perjure himself, R’gul gave a curt nod of his head. Flar continued to stare at him and, R’gul wondered if the man could read his thoughts as his dragon might. He managed to return the gaze calmly. His turn would come. He’d wait.
Apparently accepting the capitulation, F’lar stood up and crisply delegated patrol assignments for the day.
“T’bor, you’re weather-watch. Keep an eye on those tithing trains as you do. Have you the morning’s report?”
“Weather is fair at dawning … all across Telgar and Keroon … if all too cold,” T’bor said with a wry grin.
“Tithing trains have good hard roads, though, so they ought to be here soon.” His eyes twinkled with anticipation of the feasting that would follow the supplies’ arrival a mood shared by all, to judge by the expressions around the table.
F’lar nodded. “S’lan and D’nol, you are to continue an adroit Search for likely boys. They should be striplings, if possible, but do not pass over anyone suspected of talent.It’s all well and good to present for Impression boys reared up in the Weyr traditions.” F’lar gave a one-sided smile.
“But there are not enough in the Lower Caverns. We, too, have been behind in begetting. Anyway, dragons reach full growth faster than their riders. We must have more young men to Impress when Ramoth hatches. Take the southern holds, Ista, Nerat, Fort, and South Boll where maturity comes earlier. You can use the guise of inspecting Holds for greenery to talk to the boys. And take along firestone and run a few flaming passes on those heights that haven’t been scoured in-oh dragon’s years. A flaming beast impresses the young and arouses envy.”
F’lar deliberately looked at R’gul to see the ex-weyrleader’s reaction to the order. R’gul had been dead set against going outside the Weyr for more candidates. In the first place, R’gul had argued that there were eighteen youngsters in the Lower Caverns, some quite young, to be sure, but R’gul would not admit that Ramoth would lay more than the dozen Nemorth had always dropped. In the second place, R’gul persisted in wanting to avoid any action that might antagonize the Lords.
R’gul made no overt protest, and F’lar went on.
“K’net, back to the mines. I want the dispositions of each firestone-dump checked and quantities available. R’gul, continue drilling recognition points with the weyriings. They must be positive about their references. If they’re used as messengers and suppliers, they may be sent out quickly and with no time to ask questions.
“F’nor, T’sum”F’lar turned to his own brown riders “you’re clean-up squad today.” He allowed himself a grin at their dismay. “Try Ista Weyr. Clear the Hatching Cavern and enough weyrs for a double wing. And, F’nor, don’t leave a single Record behind. They’re worth preserving. That will be all, dragonmen. Good flying.” And with that, F’lar rose and strode from the Council Room up to the queen’s weyr.
Ramoth still slept, her hide gloaming with health, its color deepening to a shade of gold closer to bronze, indicating her pregnancy. As he passed her, the tip of her long tail twitched slightly.
All the dragons were restless these days, F’lar reflected. Yet when he asked Mnementh, the bronze .dragon could give no reason. He woke, he went back to sleep. That was all. F’lar couldn’t ask a leading question for that would defeat his purpose. He had to remain discontented with the vague fact that the restlessness was some kind of instinctive reaction.
Lessa was not in the sleeping room, nor was she still bathing. F’lar snorted. That girl was going to scrub her hide off with this constant bathing. She’d had to live grimy to protect herself in Ruath Hold, but bathing twice a day? He was beginning to wonder if this might be a subtle Lessa-variety insult to him personally. F’lar sighed. That girl. Would she never turn to him of her own accord? Would he ever touch that elusive inner core of Lessa? She had more warmth for his half brother, F’nor, and for K’net, the youngest of the bronze riders than she had for F’lar who shared her bed.