Birentir flushed hotly and Fiona held up a hand in apology.

“I don’t recall seeing you whenever I visited the Harper Hall,” Fiona said. “Were you hiding?”

“I was studying.”

“You’re older than most.”

Birentir nodded in acknowledgment.

“Tell me about it,” Fiona said.

“It was the Plague,” Birentir said. “I lost my whole family, wife, two boys, three girls.” He glanced into her eyes as he added, “My youngest would be about your age now.”

“I’ve nearly seventeen Turns,” Fiona told him.

“Yes,” Birentir said, “she had five Turns when the Plague struck.”

“I had only two,” Fiona told him. Birentir gave her an inquiring look. “I spent three Turns back in time at Igen Weyr.”

Birentir’s eyes widened. “I hadn’t heard.”

“We haven’t been back for very long, and we were sent here after …” Her voice trailed off, but Birentir nodded. The news of the death of Telgar Weyr had traveled quickly to the Harper Hall. Fiona shook herself. “So, you’ll be staying here,” she told him. “I’ll ask Master Betrony to give me your stuff and we’ll put you in the healer’s quarters.”

“Are you certain, even with my daily grief?”

Fiona smiled at the taunt and nodded.

“I’ll be sure to bring your gear back from the Healer Hall,” she told him.

“Thank you,” Birentir said, and Fiona knew he wasn’t referring to her promise about his belongings. She smiled again and, with a wave, hurried out of the Dining Cavern in time to climb up behind Bekka and Seban, who were already perched on her eager queen. The older man had stored their gear and secured them ably onto Talenth.

To Bekka, she asked, “Are you ready?”

“I hope so,” Bekka said.

“You’ll do fine,” Fiona assured her. Silently, she gave Talenth the instruction to rise and, after they circled the watch heights once, went between.

When they came out again, Bekka took one look down and gasped in surprise. She turned back to face Fiona, an accusing look on her face.

“I promised Ellor I’d get Tintoval back first!” Fiona said, stifling a laugh. Her expression softened as she added, “And I thought you might want to see your mother, too.”

“Thank you,” Bekka said, peering down intently into the Weyr Bowl below.

Zirenth appeared just behind them and followed Talenth as she spiraled down for a landing.

They were met by Ellor and Merika first. In the distance, Cisca could be seen on the queens’ ledge, walking quickly toward them.

“Should we wait?” Fiona asked Seban, glancing in Cisca’s direction. But Bekka rendered the question pointless, quickly untying herself and jumping down, running toward her mother while screaming at the top of her lungs, “Mother! I’m going to be a healer!” Seban gave Fiona an apologetic look, but Fiona waved it aside. Grinning, she jumped down from Talenth, patting the golden queen softly on her leg while Seban clambered down.

“Queens are a lot bigger than blues,” Seban said, glancing back up at their perch on the queen’s neck.