skyward in asperahon. The handsomest unattached man in the Weyr.
she’s blind.
She’s Morath-besotted,’ Sarra put in. Not that any of us .e much
better.
Most of us . . . and Jule paused significantly, know that, dragons
may now be a significant factor in our lives, are not everything, you
know. Even old T’dam-damn has a weyrmate, after all.
We don’t have weyrs yet,’ said Mesla, speaking for the first She took
everything literally. Couldn’t have anyone in e with you gawking.
Debera knew she was blushing: her cheeks felt hot.
That hasn’t held you back, I noticed,’ Sarra said to Jule, cking her
head knowingly.
Jule smiled mysteriously. From the only Weyrbred resident this
barracks, let me assure you that our wishes can ence our dragons’
choices.” They won’t rise for another eight or ten months,, said though
she had obviously taken heed of Jule’s remark.
,Jule, suppose your dragon fancies a dragon whose rider can’t stand?”
You mean, O’ney?” and she grinned at Angie’s discomfort.
The girl overcame her embarrassment and snapped back y enough.
He’s impossible, even for a bronze rider.
you ever heard him go on about how his wing is always ps in
competitions! As if that was all that mattered!” To him it probably
is,’ Grasella said, but, Jule, I’m more ried about the blue riders. I
mean, some of them are very nice guys and I wouldn’t want to hurt their
feelings, but they don’t like girls.” Oh,’ and Jule shrugged
indolently, that’s easier still. You make an arrangement with another
rider to be on hand when your green gets proddy. Then the blue rider
gets his mate, if he’s got one, or anyone else who’s willing – and you’d
better believe that anyone’s willing when dragons are going to
participate. So you bed the one you like, and the blue rider his
choice, and you ALL enjoy!” The girls absorbed this information with
varying degrees of enthusiasm or distaste.
Well, it’s up to yourselves what you do, you know,’ Jule went on.
And we’re not limited to this Weyr, either. Oh!” and she let out a
gusty sigh. I’ll be so glad when we can fly out of here anytime we
want.
But I thought you were arranging matters with T’red?” Mesla said, her
eyes wide with consternation.
Well, so I am, but that doesn’t mean I might not find someone I like
better at another Weyr. Greens like it, you know. Ah, but can we go
to other Weyrs?” Sarra asked, waggling a finger at Jule. In four-five
months, we’ll have Fall and then we’ll really work hard, ferrying
firestone sacks to the fighters.
Her eyes gleamed brightly in anticipation and she hugged herself.
We’ll be doing something a lot more exciting than having just one mate
and plenty of kids.
Debera averted her face, not wanting to take part in such a ridiculous
discussion.
Something bothers you, Morath said and slowly lowered her head to her
rider’s lap. I love you. I think you re wonderftl.
lantine does, too.
That confidence startled Debera. He does?
He does! And Morath’s tone was emphatic. He likes your green eyes, the
way you walk, and the ffinny crackle in your voice. How do you do that?
Debera’s hand went to her throat and she felt really silly now.
Can you talk to him, too? Or just listen to what he’s thinking?
He thinks very loud. Especially near you. I don t hear him too good
far away. He thinks loud about you a lot.
t;{:. DEBRA?” Sarra’s loud call severed that most interesting
conversation.
What? I was talking to Morath. What did you say?” Never mind,’ and
Sarra grinned broadly. Have you got your Turn’s End dresses finished
yet?” I’ve one more fitting,’ Debera said, although that subject, too,
caused her embarrassment. She tried to argue with Tisha that the
beautiful green dress was quite enough: she didn’t need more.
Tisha had ignored that and demanded that she ù, choose two colours from
the samples available: one for ù{1; evening and another good one for
daytime wear. Everyone 41 in the Weyr, it seemed, had new clothes for
Turn’s End. And {i? yet, something in Debera had delighted in knowing