“Actually, I’m hoping to get Tintoval for a consultation,” Fiona said. She smiled toward the queen’s weyr. “I imagine that Lady Cisca probably won’t want to be disturbed.”

“Probably,” Merika agreed, her eyes dancing once more. “It was quite a mating flight.” She leaned in closer as she confided, “I wasn’t sure if Melirth was ever going to come close enough to any dragon to mate. After all, she’d just risen not a sevenday before!”

“The Igen Records said that it happens sometimes, especially when there are other mating flights that day. A second flight gives plenty of eggs,” Fiona said.

“Indeed,” Merika said. “But it seemed for the longest time that Melirth was torn between Rineth and Zirenth.”

“If so, I’m glad to hear it,” Fiona said. “T’mar regained consciousness.” Briefly, she told the older woman of T’mar’s injuries and their worries.

“Perhaps that was it, perhaps Melirth was encouraging him to recover,” Merika said, although she didn’t sound convinced. “And by the First Egg, we’ve never heard of one bronze rider being Weyrleader to two Weyrs!” She shook her head and chuckled, “Awkward, that’d be.”

“Awkward indeed,” Fiona said, wondering if such a thing had ever occurred in all the Records. Once again, she regretted the necessity that kept the Records of the Weyrs separate. She wondered how much more could be gleaned from reading the Records of all the Weyrs combined? She pushed the thought from her mind, returning to her present issue.

“Is Ellor about?”

“You’d find her in the Dining Cavern if she is,” Merika said. She gestured toward the far end of the Weyr. “I’ve got to check on Perilla, the mating flight’s probably brought on her contractions.”

“Do you need help?”

“Shards, no, Weyrwoman!” Merika said with a laugh. “I’ve been doing this for Turns now, since before you were born. I’ll manage.”

And with that, the older woman continued on her way, leaving Fiona behind, shaking her head at the similarities between mother Merika and daughter Bekka.

As predicted, Fiona found Ellor in the Dining Cavern, bending over a pot gently simmering and ordering the attendant to add more spices.

“There’ll be a lot of hungry mouths here later on!” Ellor said. To herself she muttered, “And no one can say when they’ll wander in.”

She looked up at the sound of Fiona’s footsteps, her expression cloudy, her lips pursed for an angry outburst only to burst into a huge grin when she recognized the Weyrwoman.