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Chapters (33)
  1. Other Books by this Author
  2. Title Page
  3. Dedication
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. For Readers New to Pern
  6. Chronology of the Second Interval/Third Pass
  7. Fort Weyr, AL 508.2.2
  8. Fort Weyr, AL 508.2.5
  9. Fort Weyr, AL 508.2.6
  10. Fort Weyr, early morning, AL 508.2.7
  11. Fort Weyr, later, AL 508.2.8
  12. Telgar Weyr, later, AL 508.2.8
  13. Telgar Weyr, early morning, AL 508.2.9
  14. Telgar Weyr, late evening, AL 508.2.9
  15. Telgar Weyr, early morning, AL 508.2.10
  16. Telgar Weyr, later, AL 508.2.10
  17. Telgar Weyr, late evening, AL 508.2.10
  18. Telgar Weyr, Threadfall, AL 508.2.11
  19. Telgar Weyr, morning, AL 508.2.13
  20. Telgar Weyr, morning, AL 508.2.15
  21. Telgar Weyr, next morning, AL 508.2.16
  22. Telgar Weyr, morning, AL 508.4.15
  23. Ista Weyr, afternoon, AL 508.5.5
  24. Keroon Threadfall, morning, AL 508.5.21
  25. Telgar Weyr, evening, AL 508.5.26
  26. Telgar Weyr, early morning, AL 508.6.19
  27. Telgar Weyr, evening, AL 508.6.25
  28. Telgar Weyr, morning, AL 508.6.28
  29. Telgar Weyr, early evening, AL 508.7.17
  30. Fort Weyr, second hour, AL 507.11.18,
  31. Telgar Weyr, evening, AL 508.7.21
  32. About the Author
  33. Copyright

The catalog of strange pains and feelings was growing, and she found Lorana’s half-gloating commiserations completely understandable, given the other’s more advanced pregnancy. She made a note to herself once again, and forgot it just as quickly, to pin Bekka down and track down the meaning of the few raised eyebrows the young healer had made when Fiona had been describing her physical state. Clearly there was nothing that concerned her or Bekka would have immediately contacted Birentir—or probably her own midwife mother—but still … there was something that caused the younger girl to take note.

“Make sure you drink a lot,” Bekka piped up suddenly, rushing on her way through to some new errand. “And, if you can, cut down on the klah.”

She was gone before Fiona could question her and the distraction was enough to drive her other worries from her mind.

Telgar Weyr, morning, AL 508.6.28

TWENTY-TWO

Dragons soar,
Dragons thrive,
Dragons flame—
Keep Pern alive.

Telgar Weyr, morning, AL 508.6.28

The early-morning air was broken by the bellow of the watch dragon’s challenge and a resounding reply, causing Fiona to startle to wakefulness.

Tullea? she wondered. What’s she doing here?

Trying not to disturb the others, she crawled out of her bed and threw on a robe, sliding her feet into slippers before she rose as quietly as she could. But it was no use.

“Wait,” Lorana called quietly from the bed, “I’ll come with you.”

“I was hoping to let you sleep,” Fiona said.

“Tullea’s come to see me,” Lorana said. Fiona found her slippers and helped her into them.

“What does she want with you?”

“Maybe it’s Ketan,” Lorana said as they made their way past Talenth and down the queens’ ledge to the Weyr below.

They were only halfway down the ledge when Tullea reached them. She was obviously in a hurry.

“Tullea, how may we help you?” Lorana asked.

“Let’s get someplace warm, first,” Fiona said, gesturing toward the Kitchen Cavern. “The cold of between must be in your bones, and it’s still early for us.”

Tullea snorted but allowed herself to be led away, even as she said, “I didn’t come to see you, Weyrwoman. I came to see Lorana.”

“What is it?” Lorana asked. “Ketan? Is he all right?”

“Him!” Tullea said. “He’s crawled into a wineskin and never comes out. He still thinks it’s the Hatching!”

They entered the Cavern and Fiona directed them toward a table close to the night fire while she helped the cook prepare a fresh pitcher of klah and some rolls still hot from the morning baking.

“Here, get some warm in you,” Fiona said, recalling Neesa’s peculiar turn of phrase as she pushed a mug to each of the seated women and poured the rich warm brew.