It wouldn’t be fair. It wouldn’t be fair to Lorana, it wouldn’t be fair to Kindan. And, she thought, it wouldn’t be fair to T’mar, either.

But does that mean it has to be unfair for me?

Fiona shook her head, dislodging the thoughts from her mind.

He’ll feel better when he eats, she assured Talenth absently, cocking her head toward the sounds in the bathroom and deciding that it was time for her bath.

“It’s a good morning for it,” Shaneese said as she met Fiona at the entrance to the Dining Cavern and gestured her toward the high table. “I’ve hot klah waiting.”

“Thanks!” Fiona called as she passed through.

T’mar, H’nez, F’jian, and M’tal were talking low among themselves when she sat at the table. T’mar smiled at her, as did F’jian and M’tal, while H’nez gave her a quick nod before returning to the conversation.

Sonia asks if they can meet us here, Talenth relayed to her just as Fiona had taken a gulp of klah.

Let me check, Fiona said, swallowing quickly.

“I think that would be a good idea,” M’tal said when she relayed the request, glancing toward H’nez.

The wiry bronze rider looked nonplussed by M’tal’s deference. “You’re the senior rider here.”

“Only temporarily.”

“We’d be foolish not to take every advantage of your experience,” H’nez said, shrugging his shoulders. “And I expect that you know Weyrleader D’vin better than I.”

M’tal turned to Fiona. “Please tell the Weyrwoman that we’d be delighted.”

“What about the firestone?” F’jian asked. “We don’t have enough firestone for them.”

Their own firestone problems had been temporarily solved by a loan from Fort Weyr.

“I’ll remind them,” Fiona said, sending the message to Talenth. Fiona was just thinking how difficult it was to relay messages from one dragon to the other before getting it to the rider when she spotted Lorana entering along with Taria, Xhinna, and all their charges. For the first time since she’d seen her, the ex-dragonrider seemed at ease, almost happy.

Her reflections were interrupted when she saw Norik bearing down on her with Bekka following in tow. The man looked intent, on a mission.

“Weyrwoman,” Norik began as soon as he was within earshot. Fiona glanced at Bekka, but the young girl’s expression was unreadable, her gaze intent on the old harper.

“Harper,” Fiona said, giving him a smile. “Have you a song for us today?”

“No,” Norik said brusquely. He looked at Lorana, then spotted Kindan entering the Dining Cavern. His expression changed.