“I shall dance much more easily in this.” Moreta twitched experi-mentally at the rust skirts.
“Alessan sent word that you had to be enticed with a gown pretty enough to make you stay for the dancing.”
“Oh?” “Oh!” Oklina’s eyes widened at her indiscretion, and she blinked
back sudden tears, her expression very solemn. “He hasn’t been to a Gather or danced or sung or been himself since Suriana died. Not even when he became Lord Holder. Tell me, was he pleased when
Squealer won?”
“Ecstatic!” Moreta smiled gently at the girl’s obvious adoration of her brother. “Creditable win, too. Five lengths.” }
“And he actually smiled? And enjoyed himself?” At Moreta’s re- | assurance, the girl clasped her hands under her chin, her dark eyes
Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern 39
shining. “I did see the start”her expressive face clouded briefly “and heard the yells. I’ll bet the loudest was from Alessan. Did you see Squealer afterward? And you met Dag. Dag is never far from that runner. He’s been so devoted. He knows so much about racing because he rode for Lord Leef before he got so old. He can spot winners every time. He had faith in Alessan’s breeding when everyone else thought he ought to give it up before Lord Leef” Oklina broke off with a gasp. “I talk too much.”
“I’ve been listening.” Moreta was not unaccustomed to outpour-ings of repressed emotions. “I think Squealer is going to repay all the time and effort Alessanand Daghave put into him.”
“Oh, do you really think so?” The prospect brought a fresh spasm of delight to Oklina. “Listen, the harpers have begun.” At the sound of music, the girl wheeled to the window, its metal shutters open to the darkening sky.
“Well, then, let’s go dance. It’s time to enjoy ourselves.”
For a moment, Oklina looked apprehensive, as if she wouldn’t be allowed to enjoy herself. Younger members of Hold families were often saddled with the onerous duties of a Gather, but Moreta would make it a point to see that Oklina did dance. The girl smiled graciously and gestured for Moreta to precede her from the room.
The corridors and the Hall were empty, but drudges were opening the glowbaskets arranged on the forecourt as Moreta and Oklina hastened by. Moreta paused on the ramp, to look up to the fire-heights. Orlith slept, eyes closed, in the setting svm., likely to remain somnolent until the evening breeze chilled thyair. Other dragons, their rainbow-colored eyes gleaming, watched the scene below.
“Oh!” Oklina’s tone was a yip of delighted fear. “They are such awesome creatures.” She paused, then blurted out, “Were you terribly scared?”
“When I Impressed? Very much so. The Search reached my fa-ther’s hold the very day of Impression. I was scooped up and taken to Ista in a scurry, told to change, and then shoved onto the Hatching Ground before I knew exactly what was taking place. Orlith” and Moreta could never suppress an exultant smile at the memory “forgave me for being late!”
“Ohhhhi^klina expelled a long sigh of bliss.
Moreta %Bted, recognizing the girl’s yearning to be found on Search and to impress a queen dragon. Once when faced with such
40 Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern
envious yearnings, Moreta had felt unaccountable guilt over her good fortune at Impressing Orlith, her friend, her sure consolation, her life. That reaction had gradually been replaced by the knowledge of the great gap between wish, fulfillment, and acceptance. So Moreta could smile kindly at Oklina while her mind reached out to
her sleeping dragon. “If my brother hadn’t been my father’s successor, he might have
been a dragonrider,” Oklina confided to Moreta in a sudden whisper. “Really?” Moreta was startled. She hadn’t heard that Ruatha Hold had been approached for one of its sons, not since she joined
the Weyr ten Turns before.
“Dag told me.” And Oklina nodded her head vigorously to support her statement. “It was twelve Turns ago. Dag said Lord Leef was in a fury because Alessan was to be the heir, and though Lord Leef told the dragonriders they could have any other member of his Hold, Dag said that no one else was acceptable to the dragonshow