“I suppose we could fit four,” Fiona mused as they found themselves close, but not without room of their own under the blankets.

“Children are smaller,” Lorana said. “We could fit five.”

“Should I take up with the woodsmith about a new bed?” Kindan asked as he turned the last of the glows and the room went dark.

“Perhaps,” Fiona said. “I’m sure if he made a bed and we didn’t need it, someone would find a place for it.”

“Xhinna’s brood would doubtless love to romp on it, at the very least,” Kindan said in agreement.

Something about his tone alerted Fiona. “And who is handling her brood now that she’s Impressed?”

“She is, for the most part,” Kindan said, his tone going grave.

“I can talk with Shaneese,” Fiona said.

“No,” Kindan said. “I think we should see how this works out.”

Fiona’s agitation prompted him to explain, “If we are to have more women riders, we’re going to have issues like this.” He paused consideringly. “Xhinna and Taria have been handling it well, so far.”

“But what about when they start flying?” Fiona asked.

“That’s two or more Turns in the future and the children of her brood will all be that much older,” Kindan said.

Fiona made a note to herself to spend more time with the weyrlings. She admitted that the reason she hadn’t done so earlier was partly that she didn’t want to monopolize Kindan’s time and partly that she didn’t want to become embroiled in any issues regarding the women riders; she’d heard enough mutterings from H’nez.

Perhaps, though, she had put her worries in front of her duties as a Weyrwoman.

“How are they working out?”

“Well, actually,” Kindan said, sounding pleased, “there are only four girls, Xhinna with her blue, the rest with greens.”

“I wonder if that will change, in future Hatchings,” Lorana mused.

“It takes a particular sort of woman to be a blue rider,” Kindan said.

“It takes a particular sort of person to be a blue rider,” Fiona corrected drowsily. “I can understand greens far more easily.”

Kindan made no reply and slowly Fiona drifted off to sleep with Lorana’s warm presence beside her and the distant susurrations of Kindan’s breathing to comfort her.

“No, no, no! Cold! Cold!” Fiona awoke, startled, to find Lorana thrashing beside her, her words quick and frantic.

“Lorana, wake up!” Fiona said, reaching to push the older woman on the shoulder.

“What is it?” Kindan asked. “What’s up with her?”

“Cold, no cold!” Lorana wailed. “Lorana, wake up!” Fiona persisted.

“Lorana, shush now, it’s all right,” Kindan added soothingly.

With a start, Lorana woke up, her breath coming in gasps. Fiona could smell her fear and feel the heat coming off of her.

“You had a nightmare,” Fiona told her quietly. “It’s all right.”

“Not a nightmare,” Lorana said, shuddering. “A memory.”