The other woman was still bustling about, cleaning the room and moving things into the far corridor that linked into the Weyr’s main caves.

“We can get you new tapestries,” Shaneese said, gesturing to the gaudy hangings on the walls. Fiona began to shake her head demurely but Shaneese forestalled her, saying, “Much as I loved her—she was good in many ways—the Weyrwoman had terrible taste and D’gan’s was worse.” She cocked her head toward Fiona. “What sort of colors do you prefer?”

“I grew up with brown and gold,” Fiona said, recalling Fort Hold’s colors vividly. She glanced around the room. Underneath the hangings, the walls were a bright off-white that livened the room. Fiona stepped over to the shutters and opened them, peering out over the Weyr Bowl. A chill wind blew in and she closed them again, regretfully.

“They had mirrors at Igen,” Fiona began only to halt at the sight of Shaneese’s face, “to bring light into the rooms.”

“I know what you’re talking about but we haven’t been able to get them from the Smithcrafthall,” Shaneese told her. Fiona gave her a look of surprise. Shaneese shrugged. “You may have noticed that the Weyr doesn’t lack for bright, shiny things: gaudy gold and bright jewelry; baubles, mostly.”

Fiona raised a hand, prompting her to continue.

“D’gan was a demanding Weyrleader,” Shaneese said, glancing around the quarters with a frown. “He had no trouble taking what he felt was the Weyr’s due.”

“I’d heard,” Fiona said. “At Igen, we preferred to trade for goods.”

“That was before Thread,” Shaneese reminded her. She waved a hand, dismissing the issue. “Anyway, what D’gan didn’t want, the Weyr couldn’t get.”

“I see,” Fiona replied, wondering how much Telgar’s weyrfolk had suffered for their Weyrleader’s whims. She brightened. “I think I prefer our Igen ways.”

“‘Our Igen ways,’” Shaneese repeated to herself, eyeing Fiona critically. “And now, with Thread falling, Weyrwoman, what would those ways be?”

“Fair trade when possible,” Fiona said. “I’m holder bred: I know of the demands of the Weyr. If the Weyr can’t live by the tithe then perhaps we can trade for our extra needs.”

“We could profit from trade,” Shaneese agreed. She shook her head, alerted by the noise of a bell ringing in the kitchen. “It’s lunchtime.”

Shaneese was impressed with Terin’s command of the kitchen and happy to see so many of the weyrfolk gathered. H’nez greeted as many as he could, paying particular attention to those sent by Bekka and Seban.

Fiona invited Shaneese and Norik to sit with her at the head table. At H’nez’s subtle direction, the rest of the dragonriders spread themselves out among the other tables.

F’jian proved very popular with the younger women, causing Terin to hover around his table protectively.