The approach of the Red Star caused further difficulties in the form of violent tectonic activity

throughout the Southern Continent. Overwhelmed by the sudden proliferation of volcanic eruptions and

earthquakes, the colonists abandoned their original settlements in favor of the smaller, stabler, northern

continent. In their haste, much was lost and much was forgotten.

Huddled in one settlement, called Fort Hold, the colonists soon found themselves overcrowded,

particularly with the growing dragon population. The dragons—with their riders—moved into their own

high mountain space, called Fort Weyr. As time progressed and the population spread across Pern, more

Holds were formed and more Weyrs were created by the dragonriders.

Given their great losses, particularly in able-bodied older folk, the people of Fort and the other Holds

soon found themselves resorting to an authoritarian system where one Lord Holder became the ultimate

authority of each Hold. The Weyrs developed differently. Unable to both provide for themselves and

protect the planet, the dragonriders relied upon a tithe from the Holds for their maintenance. Instead of a

Lord Holder, they had a Weyrleader—the rider of whichever dragon flew the Weyr’s senior queen

dragon.

And so the two populations grew separate, distant, and too often intolerant of each other.

As the Red Star moved away again, Thread stopped falling. Then, after a two-hundred-Turn

“Interval,” it returned to rain death and destruction from the skies for another fifty-Turn “Pass.” Again,

Pern relied on the dragons and their riders to keep it Thread free. And, again, the Pass ended, and a

second Interval began.

Twelve Turns before the start of the Third Pass, a strange plague spread across Pern, decimating the

holder population.

Even now, as the Red Star heralds the return of Thread and the beginning of the Third Pass, some

smaller holds still lie fallow and deserted. The farmers of Pern struggle to provide enough food for the

holders and weyrfolk. Miners work long hours to make up for fewer bodies, and few young holders are

sent to the Harper Hall or Healer Hall to learn the ancient crafts.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

AT FORT WEYR, AL 507

K’lior, Weyrleader, bronze Rineth

Cisca, Weyrwoman, gold Melirth

Tannaz, Weyrwoman, gold Kelsanth

H’nez, wingleader, bronze Ginirth

T’mar, wingleader, bronze Zirenth

Melanwy, aged headwoman

Xhinna, a girl of the weyr

Terin, a girl of the weyr

TRADERS

Azeez, Master Trader

Mother Karina

Tenniz

AT FORT HOLD

Bemin, Lord Holder, bronze fire-lizard, Jokester

Fiona, his daughter, gold fire-lizard, Fire

AT THE WHERHOLD

Aleesa, WherMaster, gold Aleesk

Arella, Aleesa’s daughter

Jaythen, wherman

AT BENDEN WEYR

M’tal, Weyrleader of Benden Weyr, bronze dragon Gaminth

Salina, Weyrwoman, gold dragon Breth

Lorana, Weyrwoman, gold Arith

Kindan, journeyman harper, bronze fire-lizard, Valla

DRAGONHEART

ONE

Heart, give voice to sing

Of life on dragonwings!

Fort Weyr, AL 507.11.17, Second Interval

“. . . and you wouldn’t believe how many holders they’ve saved over the last ten Turns,” Benden

Weyrleader M’tal said, continuing to press his case for the watch-whers.