“I had heard that something was being planned. I knew, which would have been obvious to anyone counting Turns, that the Southern men and dragons are slowing with age, and desperate. I’ve had only the experience of Zair wanting to mate …” Robinton paused, remembering that astounding revival of desires he had thought himself well past, shrugged and met the understanding twinkle in N’ton’s eyes. “So I can appreciate the pressures that randy brown and bronze dragons can exert on their riders. Even a willing green, young enough to be flown, would help …” He looked questioningly at the two dragonriders.
“Not after today,” F’nor said emphatically. “If they’d approached one of the Weyrs … D’ram for instance,” he glanced at N’ton for corroboration, “perhaps a green would have gone, if only to prevent something disastrous. But to attempt to solve their problems by kidnapping a queen egg?” F’nor frowned. “How much do you know, Robinton, about what goes on down in the Southern Weyr? I know I gave you all the maps I’d made when I was timing it in the South.”
“Frankly, I know more about happenings in the Hold. I did get a message from Piemur recently that the dragonriders had been more private than is their custom. They don’t mix much with holders, following the pattern of their own Time, but a certain amount of coming and going into the Weyr was permitted. That ceased abruptly and then no holders were allowed near the Weyr. Not for any reason. Nor was there much flying done. Piemur says the dragons would be seen midair and then they’d pop between. No circling, no cruising. Just going between.”
“Timing it,” F’nor said thoughtfully.
Zair squeaked piteously and Robinton soothed him. Again the firelizard inserted in his mind the image of dragons flaming firelizards: the black nothingness, and a glimpse of an egg.
“Did you both get that picture, too, from your friends?” he asked though their startled expression made the question unnecessary.
Robinton pressed Zair for a clearer image, a view of where the egg was, and received nothing but the impression of flame and fear.
“I wish they’d a bit more sense,” Robinton said, forcing down his irritation. Tantalizing to be so close, thwarted by the limited scope of firelizard vision.
“They’re still upset,” F’nor said. “I’ll try, with Grall and Berd later on. I wonder if Menolly’s getting the same reaction from hers. You might ask her when you’ve got back to the Harpercrafthall, Master Robinton. With ten, she might get that much more clarity.”
Robinton agreed as he rose, but thought of one last thing. “N’ton, weren’t you among the bronzes who went to Southern Weyr, to see if the egg had been taken there?”
“I was. The Weyr was deserted. Not even an old dragon left behind. Completely deserted.”
“Yes, that would follow, wouldn’t it?”
When Jaxom and Menolly, on Ruth, entered the air above Fort Hold, Ruth called his name to the watch dragon and was almost smothered by firelizards. They so impeded his progress that he dropped a few lengths before he could get them to give him wing room. The moment he landed, the firelizards swarmed over him and his riders, keening with anxiety.
Menolly called out reassurances as firelizards clung to her clothing, got tangled in her hair. Jaxom found two trying to sit on his head, several had tails wrapped around his neck and three were beating their wings frantically to remain at eye level with him.
“What’s got into them?”
“They’re terrified! Dragons breathing fire at them,” Menolly cried. “But no one’s doing that to you, you silly chinches. You only have to stay away from the Weyrs for a bit.”
Other harpers, attracted by the commotion, came to their rescue, either taking the firelizards bodily from Jaxom and Menolly, or sternly recalling the ones that looked to them personally. When Jaxom started to shoo them away from Ruth, the dragon told him not to bother-he, Ruth, would calm them down himself shortly. They were frightened because they remembered being chased by dragon fire. Since the harpers were all now clamoring for news from Benden, Jaxom decided to let Ruth handle the firelizards.