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Back The Skies of Pern
Chapters (64)
  1. Other titles by Anne McCaffreyPublished by Ballantine Books:
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Contents
  6. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  7. INTRODUCTION
  8. PROLOGUE
  9. At a Gather—6.15.30
  10. Part 1
  11. Turnover at Landing—1.1.31 Present Pass Aivas—Aivas Adjusted Turn 2553
  12. Benden Weyr—1.1.31
  13. Southern Hold—1.1.31
  14. Healer Hall—1.1.31
  15. Back at Landing—1.2.31
  16. Fort Hold—late night—1.1.31
  17. Fort Hold Runner Station—1.2.31
  18. Keroon Printer Hall—1.3.31
  19. Benden Weyr—midday—1.3.31
  20. Monaco Bay Weyr—five days later—1.8.31
  21. Part 2
  22. Ruatha Hold—local time 12:04 in the morning—1.9.31
  23. Telgar Weyr—local time 4:04 in the morning—1.9.31
  24. Benden Weyr—local time 6:04 in the morning—1.9.31
  25. Harper Hall—local time 1:00 in the morning—1.9.31
  26. Landing—local time 10:12 mid-morning—1.9.31
  27. In the Conference Room at Landing—1.9.31
  28. Monaco Weyr—10:22 in the morning—Timing it
  29. In the Conference Room at Landing—local time 1:10–1.9.31
  30. Sunrise Cliff Seahold—timed-back
  31. In the Conference Room—local time 2:12 at Landing—1.9.31
  32. Back at Landing—local time—3:40
  33. Harper Hall—5:00 in the morning, and Southern Hold—2:00 in the morning–1.9.31
  34. Landing—late afternoon—1.9.31
  35. Same time at Keroon Printer Hall—local time 11:15—1.9.31
  36. Later, on an unusually bright evening at Landing, Sunrise Cliff, and Honshu Hold—1.9.31
  37. Part 3
  38. Honshu—1.10.31
  39. Circle Runner Station—1.18.31
  40. Harper Hall
  41. Benden Weyr—
  42. Benini Hold—east Monaco and Honshu—1.20.31
  43. Harper Hall—1.28.31
  44. Honshu Hold—2.1.31
  45. Fort Hold—2.13.31
  46. Printer Hall at Wide Bay—same night
  47. Honshu Hold—2.9.31
  48. Night at Wide Bay—2.9.31
  49. Ruatha Hold—late evening—2.9.31
  50. Core Hold—two days before Council Meeting—2.26.31
  51. Part 4
  52. Honshu Weyrhold—2.26–27.31
  53. Council Meeting at Telgar Hold—3.1.31
  54. Honshu Weyrhold—3.01.31
  55. Interim at Benden and elsewhere
  56. Honshu Weyrhold—time passing slowly
  57. Landing—3.21.31
  58. Honshu Weyrhold—3.21.31
  59. Southern Hold—3.23.31
  60. Honshu Weyrhold—3.27.31
  61. Benden Weyr—3.27.31
  62. Cove Hold—same day, same approximate time
  63. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  64. What’s next onyour reading list?

“Yes, yes. It was sheer luck that both Oldive and Crivellan have been studying the Aivas files on perforated intestines—such accidents occur often enough to warrant study,” Lessa said. “Once again we can be grateful to reacquire the skills that save lives.”

Menolly pursed her lips. “Those wretched, narrow-minded, deceitful misfits. They really are abominable!”

“Are they making life miserable for harpers, too, Menolly?” Lessa saw the tension in Sebell’s manner. Music might be Menolly’s life but she no more liked Sebell distressed than she had Master Robinton.

Just then, trying to look completely at ease and not quite managing, G’bear came in with Neldama and smiled with great relief to be met by friendly faces and congratulations. Once again Lessa gave reassurances about the invalids’ progress and then had it all to do again when K’van and Adrea walked in. G’dened and Cosira arrived, N’ton and Margatta, too, escorting Lady Janissian who halted, looking about her. Menolly went right up to the girl, putting an arm around her.

“You came!”

“I couldn’t not come, could I?” Janissian replied, and then caught Lessa’s eyes, relaxing when the Weyrwoman gave her an encouraging smile.

“No, you have to be here,” N’ton said, grinning, “to get there,” and he pointed to the closed door of the room where the Council would be held. “I’ll get you some wine. Lessa, what would you prefer? You’ve had a rough few days.”

“I’d prefer the klah. I suspect we must all keep our wits about us in this Council,” she replied.

“Yes, I expect we will,” N’ton agreed, his smile now for Janissian as he gestured for one of the servers to approach with the tray of drinks.

To Lessa’s surprised gratification, fifteen minutes later the entire Council was in their spaces around the U-shaped table in Telgar’s vaulted Hall. Toric was, as usual, the last to arrive. There were seventeen Lord Holders, sixteen Mastercraftsmen and -women (since Joetta had replaced old Zurg as Masterweaver and Ballora was the new Beastmaster), and eight Weyrleaders and six Weyrwomen. Nadira and Talina rarely attended. The heavy skybroom doors shut behind Toric with a resounding thunk.

Lips pursed, scowling, the Southern Lord Holder strode past Sebell, directly to K’van and planted his hands on the table, leaning aggressively toward the Weyrleader.

“Why wasn’t I informed that dragons had been badly injured by felines?” he demanded.

“Because it doesn’t affect Southern Weyr nor your interests,” K’van said, blandly, not intimidated.

“Well?” and Toric swung round toward Lessa and F’lar.

Lessa gave him a bland look. Toric must have enjoyed hearing that F’lessan had been injured but it was in his usual bad taste to try to make it appear an omission on K’van’s part.

“It’s scarcely a Council matter,” F’lar said. “Kind of you to be concerned.”