“Thread falls over Fort in six days,” Cisca reminded them.

“They’re both night Falls, too,” Fiona remarked with a grimace.

“Why don’t we fly them together?” Cisca asked. Beside her K’lior choked in surprise. “Just we two queens?”

“Queens together?” K’lior gasped in surprise, his brown eyes nearly popping out of his head.

Fiona shook her head apologetically even as Cisca laughed and slapped her mate on the back, saying, “I did it just to see you squirm!”

“Besides,” Fiona said, “as both queens have just recently risen, it probably would be unwise to risk them, at least until they’ve safely clutched.”

“I’m afraid you’re right,” Cisca agreed with a sigh. She glanced at K’lior as she added slyly, “But perhaps we could cadge a ride with Kindan and Lorana?”

“I suspect they’ll be busy enough looking out for themselves,” K’lior said.

“I hadn’t thought of them flying this Fall,” Fiona admitted anxiously, adding a moment later, “But we need all our dragons and I doubt we could keep Zirenth on the ground.”

“I didn’t mean to alarm you,” Cisca said. “I’m sure they’ll do fine.”

“It’s a night Fall,” K’lior said by way of agreement, “and the air here is cold, so much of the Thread will be dead.”

Less than a month had passed in the present time since the two night flights that Fort Weyr had fought with the aid of Nuella and the watch-whers, and even though Fiona’s memories of the events were faded by the three Turns she’d spent back in time at Igen Weyr, still her recollection of the anguished cries of riders, dragons, and watch-whers was a searing memory. She fought to suppress a shudder of fear.

Cisca sensed her feelings and wrapped her in a hug. “You’ll do fine, Weyrwoman.”

It was only after they’d left that Fiona realized that the Fort Weyrwoman hadn’t suggested that Kindan and Lorana would be safe.

Telgar Weyr, next morning, AL 508.2.16

FIFTEEN

Weyrfolk, keep your riders true,
Help them to their battle hew.
Aid them, keep their troubles few
And thus grow their strength anew.

Telgar Weyr, next morning, AL 508.2.16

J’lantir and the three Istan wings arrived early the next morning. Shaneese and the Telgar weyrfolk had worked through the night to prepare the additional one hundred and forty-five weyrs required for the welcome influx of fighting strength.

“We’ve found enough of our weyrfolk who’d like to swap for warmer climes that we’ve no worries providing space for their weyrfolk,” Shaneese had assured Jeila as she grew anxious at the scope of the whole affair.

“It’s like we’re getting a whole new Weyr!” Jeila said, eyes wide.

“Well, we’ve been poaching from Fort, High Reaches, and Benden,” Fiona said. “I think it’s about time we stole from Ista as well.”