But Fiona merely turned back to her, saying carefully, “Weyrwoman, we’ve taken too much of your time,” before heading out to the Weyr Bowl and her queen.

Talenth! Tell Seban and Bekka we’re leaving!

“Fiona!” Lorana called from behind her. Fiona turned toward her, furious, her lips trembling. When Lorana caught up to her, she grabbed Fiona’s shoulders and looked into her eyes. “I don’t think she was trying to be mean. I think K’lior’s right: She’s just jealous.”

“Of what?” Fiona cried. “Of a mating flight?”

“No,” Lorana told her softly, “of us: what we are.”

“What are we?” Fiona asked quietly.

“Friends, I should hope,” Lorana said. “And more.”

“How can we be friends? We love the same person,” Fiona cried. She shook her head, tears flowing down her cheeks as she continued, “I can’t take him away from you, I swore I wouldn’t.” She looked up at Lorana. “Maybe it’s best if you and he were in another Weyr.”

“And what about T’mar?”

“I love him,” Fiona said, even as she realized, with the words, that he could be her anchor, he could save her from her misery.

“If we leave, what about T’mar?” Lorana said. “And Zirenth?”

Fiona absorbed her words slowly, her tears stilling and her eyes going wide. “Are you bound to them like you are to me?”

“I don’t think so,” Lorana said. She smiled at Fiona as she added, “But I’m glad to see that you realize we’re bound to each other.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Well, that’s something that you’re going to have to get over,” Lorana told her firmly. Fiona took a step back, straining at Lorana’s hold, her eyes wide. “If you love someone, you have to accept that sometimes you’ll hurt them, too.”

“But I don’t want to hurt you,” Fiona repeated. Her tears started again as she added, “And I love Kindan; I’m sorry, but it’s true.”

“Shh,” Lorana said softly, pulling Fiona closer to her. “Why shouldn’t you love him? You’ve got a big heart and you give it to everyone.”

The sound of footsteps broke the moment and Fiona looked up to see K’lior and Cisca standing by them.

“I’m sorry,” K’lior said, “I spoke without thinking.”

“He does that sometimes,” Cisca agreed, punching him lightly on the arm. “But, you know, he always means well.”

“Will you forgive me?” K’lior begged Fiona.

“Of course she will,” Lorana spoke up firmly. “She knows that sometimes we hurt those we love the most.”

“At least I do now,” Fiona said, dabbing away her tears.

“Come on back with us and we’ll give you a proper Fort lunch,” Cisca said, gesturing toward the Kitchen Cavern. “Besides,” she added, “Ellor would never forgive me if she didn’t get to feed up Lorana, here.”