Charel yawned and stretched, bored. The drovers had been dithering with the Holder of Southbank for over an hour. If they didn't settle the conditions of the trade soon, the tithe herd would be traveling well past the twilight hour. Idly Charel wondered if the dragonriders would come looking for them if the tithe herd was overly late. She giggled to herself at the thought of a hungry dragon sneaking a peek at his lunch while his rider inquired of the drovers' schedule.

Something green streaked by her head and she ducked, then looked up in wonder as a miniature dragon landed on the fence post she had been leaning on. The little green peered down at her curiously.

"Sorry, is Flit bothering you?" Charel turned as a lanky man with a harper's knot joined her.

"She just surprised me- isshereallyafirelizard?" She asked in a rush as the little green preened.

"Yep," grinning, the harper handed her a bit of a meatroll. "Go on, give it to her."

The little fire lizard hopped from her fence post to Charel's shoulder eager for her treat. Charel laughed delightedly, feeding the little green the morsel.

"She's so soft and warm," Charel noted, "do dragons feel the same?"

"Yep," the harper replied, "I rode a blue once, to my first posting, his rider and I compared notes." He explained as Charel pet the green, who crooned with delight.

"Are they very similar? What about watchwhers? Does she flame like fighting dragons? What does she like to eat? What does-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" The harper laughed as she peppered him with questions. "I'll answer all your questions, just- one at a time."

Charel paused, prioritizing her questions.

"How much are they alike? Physiologically, I mean." She asked as Flit head butted her hand impatiently.

"Physiologically?" A smile tugged at the harper's lips.

"Well, the Teaching Ballads say that the dragons speak to their riders, but I've never heard about fire lizards talking the same way," Charel explained patiently, "so there must be some mental differences, maybe due to size, but physical difference? Is there any difference to their wings, or legs, or how their lungs work?"

"SHELT!" Reelon's bellow startled both of them and set the little green to flight. The harper turned and broke into a massive grin as Reelon strode towards them. The two men clasps hands, then pulled each other into a hug pounding each other on the back.

"How are you?" Reelon asked, pulling away to grasp the harper by the elbows as Flit lazily circled them. "Keeping out of trouble?"

"Never." Shelt disavowed, causing Reelon to laugh heartily. Reelon turned to his daughter.

"Charrie, this is Harper Shelt, we used to study together at Healer Hall."

"This is your daughter? Heh, I should have known." Shelt said with a shake of his head. "Charrie was it? Well, your father is being too kind. He's the only reason I passed our emergency aid course." He explained, grinning, then looked back at Reelon. "How is Gwedli?"

"Quite well, and quite the happy cotmistress." Reelon said, and rubbed Flit behind the eyeridge when the little green landed on his shoulder, her eyes whirling brilliant blue.

"You know my Ma?" Charel asked, mildly bemused by the green's capriciousness.

"Oh yes, I introduced you father to her." Shelt ribbed Reelon. "Biggest mistake in my life. She took one look at his brawny arms and fell head over heels in love with him. How's a poor harper supposed to compete with that?" He asked wistfully.

"It didn't hurt any that I was good looking to boot." Reelon ribbed the harper right back, causing him to laugh.

"There was that," he conceded. "Any chance you're staying for the night?" He added hopefully.

"Yes, actually I was coming to get Charrie here. The Hold's letting us use their washroom before we push on to Telgar." Charel looked up hopefully herself. While she didn't much mind the conditions on the road, the prospect of a bath was too enticing to pass up.

"Now?" She asked tentatively.

"Yes, now. So go get your kit and we'll wash out all your clothes while we're at it." Delighted, Charel dashed off to collect her things.


Brinda's windstorm analogy was eerily accurate, Jurille decided, suppressing a sigh. The Council Room was crowded, standing room only as the last few Wingleaders straggled in. The queenriders all arrived early enough to find seats, as did the Weyrhealer and Master Valtree, although the harper's two assistants had offered up their seats to Reema and Koru. Niko, the herdsman for the Weyr had been invited, but demurred, as his mate had gone into labor shortly after the Wings returned from Fall. If the faint humming of the dragons outside was any indication, labor was well advanced. Word of the other queens' visit had gotten around, but judging from the faces of the others, the whole story was rather confused.

"Everyone here?" B'ton asked, closing the door behind him. "Speak now or forever hold your tongue." He added lightly, and a nervous laugh went through the room, easing some of the tension.

"I believe our Weyrwoman has something to say to us." He turned his attention to Jurille, who stood.

"We received several... unexpected visitors today." Someone in the back of the room let out a derisive snort. Jurille chose to ignore it, as Tress distributed mugs of klah and sweet loaves. "First, Master Cici came by to inform us of the Halls decision to refuse Search."

"What?!" Reema gasped in startled silence. "What about the lads already promised a spot on the sands?" She demanded as an angry murmur broke out.

"Easy, sister, I'm getting to that." Jurille said cutting off further protestation. "After the Masterhealer left, the queens arrived."

"Which queens?" Asked one of the Wingleaders in the back. Jurille identified L'stur, the previous Weyrleader, and realized his Wing would have still been fighting during the queens' visit.

"All of them," some wit said, causing a new stir.

"Yes, as Z'dis has very concisely put it, the queens of Fort High Reaches, Ista, and Igen all came to offer their support," she looked back at Reema. "I rather imagine that all of our candidates, and perhaps even a few extras, will show up for the Hatching. But that's not why you have been called here." As succinctly as she could Jurille explained Benden's refusal to meet the father's obligation. Valtree, who had assisted Algyr and her apprentices copy out both lists nodded as Jurille spoke. When she finally finished and reached for her klah, the bronzeriders looked ready to do murder. This is not good. She sighed mentally to Graesth. Would you gently remind the bronzes that they are not to fly off in a righteous rage? Jurille added as several Wingleaders demanded action, only to fall into sudden silence as their dragons talked to them. I didn't need to. Saegth beat me to it. There was something of maternal pride in that comment. Jurille covered her smile with another sip of her drink.

"Our queens are already dealing with that." B'ton interjected, offering Jurille a moment's respite.

"You knew about this?" D'ael, one of the younger bronzeriders demanded. He had not, Jurille remembered, taken the surprised change in Weyrleadership with good grace.

"As of yesterday, yes. And even then our Weyrwomen were quick to point me in the right direction." B'ton replied evenly.

Graesth, who is coaching B'ton? Jurille asked, surprised by the unusually politic answer. There was a long pause then, Urlyra.

Jurille glanced over at the junior queenrider and flashed her a quick smile. Urlyra acknowledged with the shallowest dips of her head.

"Friends." Jurille interrupted the staring match between the two bronzeriders. "We are dealing with this, but this is a problem ten Turns in the making. It will take time. Telgar will meet the obligation of all the children under our protectorate, and a fifth of those in Benden's lands. What I'd like is for you to choose two or three riders from your Wings, preferably blues and greens, to act as liaisons for the Weyr."

"Why not browns or bronzes?" D'ael demanded.

"Because right now there are a number of heartbroken women with grudges against bronzeriders." Pilana retorted waspishly, glaring at D'ael hard enough that he physically recoiled.

"Also, greens and blues can better tell if any of the youngsters will make good candidates." Koru added in barely above a whisper. All four queenriders asked their dragon to forward their gratitude to the youngest Weyrwoman, who turned even redder as the dragons did just that.

"Lastly, the Crafthalls have pulled their people from Benden." Jurille said setting her mug down. "Master Valtree has reassured me that we are in no danger of losing her services, nor those of Healer Zandur." The healer nodded.

"And Herdsman Niko?" L'stur asked, expression taut. Jurille cocked her head to one side, listening.

"I think... he is busy welcoming his firstborn into the world." All of the riders could hear the faint humming had stopped. "But he too plans on staying."

L'stur asked after a few more Hall-affiliated individual, questions B'ton took keen note of, least he miss some important information L'stur's long experience would have him privy to.

"So far as I know, we are not losing anyone. If anything, we can expect an influx of fosterlings." Jurille did not mention the four women from Benden's Lower Caverns that arrived courtesy of their weyrmates, requesting a place to stay for an indefinite period of time. Graesth had reported that other Weyrs had similar visits and that Benden was bereft of a full third of its non-riding population.

"Are there any other questions?" She asked, pushing that unpleasant thought aside.

"What are you going to do about C'seld?" D'ael asked belligerently, and from the expressions on many of the bronzerider's faces, he wasn't alone.

"Currently, we've our hands full with damage control. But make no mistake, we as in all the queenriders, are working on this. We will do something, and we will do something soon. In the meantime you are to fly clear of Benden's leadership." Jurille asked Graesth to reinforce that order among the dragons. "And see to it that your liaisons get whatever they need to meet the obligation." There was no room for argument in her tone.

"Yes, Jurille." D'ael dropped his eyes.

"Are there any other questions?" Jurille asked again and this time was met with silence. There would be more questions, she knew, in the days to follow, but for now it looked like the meeting was at an end.

"Very well then. Please have those names to me by the end of breakfast tomorrow." There was a murmur of accord, then the Wingleaders filed out of the room.

"They are going to have questions that they wouldn't ask me, B'ton. " Jurille said softly, and the Weyrleader nodded, dipping his head to the other queenriders, and following them out.

Valtree glanced at the queenriders on either side of her.

"Do you want to tell them or should I?" She asked Jurille.

"Benden's hemorrhaging people." Zandur said flatly, causing both women to look at him, surprised. He smiled mirthlessly. "You asked me to check over our new arrivals, a wise precaution. I may have done a little judicious questioning in the process."

Zandur was not a likeable person. He had the bedside manner of an uncooked tuber and his rough voice reminded patients of someone perpetually on the edge of losing their voice. But the dragons sensed intent over outward demeanor and the riders needed a no-nonsense healer to cut through the negative reinforcement the bond with their dragons created. That the dragons adored the curmudgeonly healer where the riders only marginally tolerated his presence was largely why he still remained at the Weyr, practicing his Craft.

"Graesth tells me that Benden has lost a full third of its non-riding population since the start of the Turn." Jurille explained, causing the other queenriders and Tress to wince.

"And we can expect more?" Pilana asked.

"Probably." Reema said dejectedly. "If too many more leave, C'seld's going to notice that meals aren't being cooked in time."

"What are the other colors doing?" Urlyra asked.

"Those in committed relationships have mostly gotten their weyrmates out, on the pretense of visiting extended family," Jurille grimaced. "Of those left, they stay out of loyalty to the dragons. After all, Thread continues to fall."

"We need to get another bronze to fly Jentlth." Koru said with a sad sort of finality.

"We do." Jurille agreed. "The Halls know that Telgar is spearheading the movement to meet the father's obligation, Harper Algyr was kind enough to reassure me, but Koru's right, a change of leadership is badly needed."

"Kimi's not a bad Weyrwoman" Reema said with a frustrated sigh. "She just can't see past C'seld's pretty brown eyes."

"Would any Benden rider be willing to inform us of the next time Jentlth rises?" Pilana asked. "Not as they love their dragons," Reema said, shaking her head. "And realistically, it's not fair for us to ask one of them. No, I have an inside source C'seld will never think of." She grinned predatorily. "Wilth is listening for Reelu's 'shout'. In fact, she's how I came across this." Reaching under the table Reema pulled out a rolled up hide. Unrolling it the riders and Hall folk leaned forward and recognized the outline of Pern.

"That's Pern, but these aren't the names of the Holds." Pilana said, studying the map.

"Noooo," Reema drawled out the word. "Those are the names of all the conquests of one rider." She glanced at Jurille, who arched her eyebrows, "I already checked, they are all on the list."

"How did you get this?" Jurille asked.

"Part of her job as Archivist is to help clean out the weyrs of those who've died. This was found in D'kan's weyr.

Jurille looked down at her hands and suffered a moment of real regret. D'kan- Durkan, as she had met him when he had been searched by Telgar, had been an affable young man who exhibited excellent leadership qualities. She had rather hoped he would impress a bronze, and when he failed at Telgar, she had recommended him to Benden.

"Reelu says most bronzeriders have one of these somewhere in their weyrs." Reema continued.

"That's disturbing," Zandur said dryly.

"Worst, C'seld is the one that commissioned these maps." Reema made a face. "He knows what's going on, he's encouraging it."

"I've changed my mind." Valtree announced, standing. "I'm in favor of letting your bronzes challenge C'seld at the first opportunity."

"I'd agree with you, if we were in an Interval." Jurille muttered over the rim of her mug. "But that is an encounter no Weyr can afford during a Pass. No, harper, while I sympathize, I cannot condone a duel."

Valtree huffed slightly, then grudgingly agreed. "I defer to you in this Jurille, now, if you'll excuse us, my apprentices and I have some new students to meet."

"I think if I was C'seld," Zandur noted dourly as the harpers left. "I would be very nervous about any to come from her quill any time soon."


Updated!