Chapters (33)
- Other Books by this Author
- Title Page
- Dedication
- Acknowledgments
- For Readers New to Pern
- Chronology of the Second Interval/Third Pass
- Fort Weyr, AL 508.2.2
- Fort Weyr, AL 508.2.5
- Fort Weyr, AL 508.2.6
- Fort Weyr, early morning, AL 508.2.7
- Fort Weyr, later, AL 508.2.8
- Telgar Weyr, later, AL 508.2.8
- Telgar Weyr, early morning, AL 508.2.9
- Telgar Weyr, late evening, AL 508.2.9
- Telgar Weyr, early morning, AL 508.2.10
- Telgar Weyr, later, AL 508.2.10
- Telgar Weyr, late evening, AL 508.2.10
- Telgar Weyr, Threadfall, AL 508.2.11
- Telgar Weyr, morning, AL 508.2.13
- Telgar Weyr, morning, AL 508.2.15
- Telgar Weyr, next morning, AL 508.2.16
- Telgar Weyr, morning, AL 508.4.15
- Ista Weyr, afternoon, AL 508.5.5
- Keroon Threadfall, morning, AL 508.5.21
- Telgar Weyr, evening, AL 508.5.26
- Telgar Weyr, early morning, AL 508.6.19
- Telgar Weyr, evening, AL 508.6.25
- Telgar Weyr, morning, AL 508.6.28
- Telgar Weyr, early evening, AL 508.7.17
- Fort Weyr, second hour, AL 507.11.18,
- Telgar Weyr, evening, AL 508.7.21
- About the Author
- Copyright
“Actually, my lady,” Mekiar told Fiona demurely, “these pottery wheels are something we make here in Telgar.”
Fiona picked up on the other man’s undertones and her brows rose as she inquired, “And this is a Telgar craft secret?”
“Well,” Mekiar huffed, “not so much a secret as—”
“I understand,” Sonia said, sounding deflated. She turned her head up to Mekiar, who was standing above her seat. “Perhaps you’ll let me visit?”
“Weyrwoman,” Mekiar said, at a loss for further words.
“Nonsense!” Fiona declared firmly. “Mekiar, too many arts were lost in the Plague. This one clearly gives such pleasure that we would be churlish not to share it.”
Mekiar started to protest but Fiona forestalled him. “Weyrwoman Sonia clearly has a gift for this and will doubtless make many remarkable works that will command high trade, but there will always be a need for vases, for plates, for mugs, and I don’t doubt that the glazes and colorings that will be favored by High Reaches will be quite different from those favored by us here.”
Mekiar’s protests died in a sigh.
“I’m sure we can convince Pellar to search out clays,” Sonia suggested. “And we’d be willing to trade our clays and pigments for your wheels and expertise.”
“Weyrwoman,” Mekiar said, with a quizzical look toward Fiona, “it will be our pleasure.”
Beside them, Lorana murmured a grunt of agreement, lost in her own forming.
From behind Mekiar, Jeila coughed delicately. “Sonia? If you’re done, could I try?”
Sonia looked back down to her hands and the figure she was forming. “I’m not done yet.”
Jeila sighed in resignation.
“Weyrwoman,” Mekiar said, taking pity on her, “I believe we can set up another wheel before the day’s end.” He paused, adding, “Although if you’d like to try free-forming, you could work on the table over there.”
Mekiar strode over to the clay barrel and dug up a nice lump of clay that he placed invitingly on a nearby table, arranging a pitcher of clean water close to hand.
Fiona giggled and, in explanation to all the heads turned to her in surprise, said, “Who would have thought that getting dirty could be so much fun?”
Sonia did not take her eyes off her work as she replied, “Me, for one.”
“Sonia!” Jeila exclaimed in a reproving tone. The High Reaches Weyrwoman snorted in delight at the younger woman’s outrage.
They’ve met the Benden riders, Talenth called suddenly, even as Tolarth and Lyrinth bugled loudly.
How are they doing? Fiona heard a voice ask Talenth. She glanced behind her to Lorana, who met her eyes with a wide-eyed look of amazement.
“You heard me!” Lorana said, her voice soft with shock. Fiona grabbed her hands and nodded her head.
Yes.
Telgar Weyr, Threadfall, AL 508.2.11
TWELVE
Chew stone,
Breathe fire.
Wheel, turn,
Fly higher.
Telgar Weyr, Threadfall, AL 508.2.11