The three remaining Weyrleaders had adjourned to Fort Weyr’s Council Room to await the Hatching

and confer.

C’rion of Ista Weyr snorted and shook his head. “I’m sorry, M’tal, but the time’s all wrong,” he said.

“Threads will be falling all too soon and here you are with this radical notion of training dragons and

watch-whers to fly Threads together at night.”

M’tal took a slow, calming breath to stifle the hot retort he wanted to make. He looked expectantly to

K’lior.

The youngest Weyrleader of Pern shifted uneasily under the gray-haired man’s gaze. Well aware that

M’tal had been a Weyrleader since before K’lior was born, he found it hard to refute such a length of

experience. Of course, C’rion was even older still and had made his feelings well-known.

“Look,” M’tal began again, his hands outstretched in a placating gesture, “just think—”

He broke off as his ears detected the unmistakable hum of dragons at Hatching. He smiled and

gestured at K’lior. “Weyrleader?”

K’lior was already on his feet and heading for the doorway that led to the Hatching Grounds.

Kindan and Kentai, Fort Weyr’s harper, were waiting on the stairs to the viewing stands in the

Hatching Grounds, ready to escort the more feeble or overly-excited holders up to a good perch. Kindan

nodded to M’tal as the Weyrleader passed by, still engrossed in fervent conversation with the Istan and

Fort Weyrleaders.

“I see D’gan has departed,” Kentai murmured to Kindan as the Weyrleaders climbed out of earshot.

Kindan shrugged. He knew that M’tal had not been counting on D’gan’s support anyway. He was less

pleased at the looks he’d seen on C’rion’s and K’lior’s faces—neither looked very thrilled with what

M’tal was saying to them. Kindan, who was familiar with M’tal’s plan, shook his head. Couldn’t the

other Weyrleaders see that watch-whers, with their night-seeing eyes, were supposed to fly the night

Threadfalls?

“Lord Itaral, Lady Nelyssa,” Kentai called as he spotted the Lord and Lady Holders of Ruatha Hold.

He smiled as he spotted the third person in their party. “I see that you’ve convinced Lady Ilyssa to join

you this time.” He nodded to their young daughter and raised an elbow invitingly. “May I escort you to

your seats?”

Ilyssa blushed, but, overcoming her embarrassed smile, curtsied most elegantly and took his arm.

“This is Kindan,” Kentai said with a nod toward the other harper. “He’s come with Lord M’tal from

Benden Weyr.”

Lady Nelyssa started at his name and peered at him more closely. “Aren’t you the one—” She caught

herself and rapidly switched her comment. “—I mean, aren’t you the young man who gave up his

watch-wher to Nuella, the WherMaster?”