Chapters (64)
- Other titles by Anne McCaffreyPublished by Ballantine Books:
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Dedication
- Contents
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- INTRODUCTION
- PROLOGUE
- At a Gather—6.15.30
- Part 1
- Turnover at Landing—1.1.31 Present Pass Aivas—Aivas Adjusted Turn 2553
- Benden Weyr—1.1.31
- Southern Hold—1.1.31
- Healer Hall—1.1.31
- Back at Landing—1.2.31
- Fort Hold—late night—1.1.31
- Fort Hold Runner Station—1.2.31
- Keroon Printer Hall—1.3.31
- Benden Weyr—midday—1.3.31
- Monaco Bay Weyr—five days later—1.8.31
- Part 2
- Ruatha Hold—local time 12:04 in the morning—1.9.31
- Telgar Weyr—local time 4:04 in the morning—1.9.31
- Benden Weyr—local time 6:04 in the morning—1.9.31
- Harper Hall—local time 1:00 in the morning—1.9.31
- Landing—local time 10:12 mid-morning—1.9.31
- In the Conference Room at Landing—1.9.31
- Monaco Weyr—10:22 in the morning—Timing it
- In the Conference Room at Landing—local time 1:10–1.9.31
- Sunrise Cliff Seahold—timed-back
- In the Conference Room—local time 2:12 at Landing—1.9.31
- Back at Landing—local time—3:40
- Harper Hall—5:00 in the morning, and Southern Hold—2:00 in the morning–1.9.31
- Landing—late afternoon—1.9.31
- Same time at Keroon Printer Hall—local time 11:15—1.9.31
- Later, on an unusually bright evening at Landing, Sunrise Cliff, and Honshu Hold—1.9.31
- Part 3
- Honshu—1.10.31
- Circle Runner Station—1.18.31
- Harper Hall
- Benden Weyr—
- Benini Hold—east Monaco and Honshu—1.20.31
- Harper Hall—1.28.31
- Honshu Hold—2.1.31
- Fort Hold—2.13.31
- Printer Hall at Wide Bay—same night
- Honshu Hold—2.9.31
- Night at Wide Bay—2.9.31
- Ruatha Hold—late evening—2.9.31
- Core Hold—two days before Council Meeting—2.26.31
- Part 4
- Honshu Weyrhold—2.26–27.31
- Council Meeting at Telgar Hold—3.1.31
- Honshu Weyrhold—3.01.31
- Interim at Benden and elsewhere
- Honshu Weyrhold—time passing slowly
- Landing—3.21.31
- Honshu Weyrhold—3.21.31
- Southern Hold—3.23.31
- Honshu Weyrhold—3.27.31
- Benden Weyr—3.27.31
- Cove Hold—same day, same approximate time
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
- What’s next onyour reading list?
“We could see if one of those eastern islands would suit.”
“What?” She scowled fiercely at him, realizing that she had risen to his bait. He chuckled again. At least he was in a good mood.
“I know the weather here’s terrible but I’ve spent all my life in this pile of rock.” He shot her a look to see if she would disagree.
“Rock is cool in the summertime,” she agreed diffidently, then added in a nostalgic tone of voice, “When I think of how much history we have made here …”
“Indeed. And how many changes have occurred since we became Weyrleaders.”
“Too sharding many losses in the past Turn, too.”
“ ‘There is a time for every purpose under the heaven,’ ” he quoted softly.
Tears welled quickly in Lessa’s eyes at that reminder of Robinton—and Aivas. Two Turns and a few months were not enough to distance that double loss.
“I miss Robinton so much.”
“Who doesn’t?” F’lar replied softly, lifting one hand briefly in resignation before he continued. “I was thinking more of Laudey and Warbret. And good old R’gul.” He let out a sigh of remembered frustration.
“We must be charitable,” she reminded him in her more usual caustic fashion. The bronze rider had been a thorn in both their sides despite his outward acquiescence to F’lar’s Weyrleadership. There was always the hint, when R’gul took orders from F’lar, that he, R’gul, would have done differently. “He did obey, you know, and his wing thought highly of him as a leader.”
F’lar grunted, twirling the stem of his glass and apparently absorbed in admiring the ruby color.
“I’ll miss Laudey,” she went on after nibbling at a pastry, “although I do like Langrell as Igen Holder. Very nice person.”
“Handsome, too.”
She shot him a glance. “He needs a good wife.”
“He’ll have no trouble.” F’lar poked at the contents of the basket before selecting a triangular pastry and popping it in his mouth. “Not bad.”
She found another of the same shape. “No, it isn’t.” She licked her lips.
He sipped his wine, regarding her from the corner of his eye. “Do you favor Janissian for the Holdership at Southern Boll? That’s another issue for the next Council to decide.”
“Boll has an historical precedent for Lady Holders, you know.”
He nodded, waiting for her to continue.
“Certainly Lady Marella has been directing the Hold unofficially for a long time, saving Sangel’s face. She got Janissian educated at Landing, too.”
“Groghe likes the girl. Old enough to take Hold. Well respected.”
Lessa shrugged. “Jaxom says she’s as organized as Sharra is. He’d be glad to step down from the position of youngest Lord Holder.”
F’lar stretched out his right leg, grimacing as the tendon resisted full extension. He gave a sigh.
He’s all right, Mnementh told Lessa privately, waking from his nap.