Seban was sleeping in his bed when Fiona entered the room. Xhinna was seated on a chair beside the bed, with Bekka on her lap. Bekka had a faded smile on her face, the sort of love-everyone look that Fiona recalled from her own experiences of children and mating flights. Xhinna looked very much like a mother or big sister caring for a little one.

“She made the feelings okay,” Bekka murmured, surprising them all. She sat up with the barest hint of an impish grin on her face, rubbed her eyes, and looked at Fiona. “You missed it. Melirth flew Rineth. It was great.”

“Yes,” Fiona agreed. She glanced at Seban. “I just wanted to make sure …” She faltered, not wanting to remind Seban of his loss. “I should go check on the others.”

“By all means, weyrwoman,” Seban said, sitting up in his bed while at the same time carefully plucking Bekka from Xhinna’s lap and setting her on her feet. “Why don’t you take Bekka? She seems to be all recovered now.”

Fiona nodded and glanced at Xhinna. The girl yawned and said to Seban, “Can I stay here a bit?”

“I’d appreciate the company,” Seban told her, then turned to Fiona. “Weyrwoman?”

“Of course,” Fiona said, reaching a hand for Bekka. “Come on, Bekka, we’ll have Talenth take us down to the Kitchen Cavern and see what we can cook up, shall we?”

Bekka’s eyes bugged out. “I can ride your queen?”

“If your father doesn’t mind that I don’t have straps,” Fiona said, glancing at Seban and adding ruefully, “We left in rather a hurry this morning.”

“Please, Daddy?” Bekka begged, making her blue eyes as big as she could, thrilled at the prospect of riding on a queen dragon.

“I’ll be extra careful,” Fiona said, “I promise.”

“I’m sure she’s safe with you, weyrwoman,” Seban said.

“Okay,” Fiona said as she set Bekka down on the ground of the Weyr Bowl, “first we need to see if fires are lit, and if they are …” She raised an eyebrow, inviting the young girl to finish the thought for her.

“Klah!” Bekka declared. “We should make lots of klah!”

“And?”

“Tea.”

“Yes,” Fiona agreed. “Tea would be good. I expect people will be hungry, too. And we’ll probably want to get help.”

“What about the headwoman?”

“What if she needs to rest?” Fiona asked, forcing any hint of a leer out of her expression.

“I’m sure I know some youngsters who’ll help,” Bekka said. She made a slight face as she added, “They’re not all as quick as I am, but they’ll do.”

“Then we should get them,” Fiona agreed as they entered the Kitchen Cavern. “And when we’ve got klah and tea and hot rolls and we’re ready, why don’t you take some to the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman?”

Bekka’s eyes widened and she shook her head.