Disclaimer: Pern ain't mine. I just play here.


Bronze riders G'raden, G'regg, and B'nor left the main cavern after picking up an afternoon snack. G'regg, carrying a small stuffed carisak, noticed Mara bouncing down the Weyrleader's steps.

"Well," he pointed, "must not be too bad."

The three bronze riders met the brown rider part way. G'raden offered to take the tray she carried, but Mara wouldn't allow it. The sad look in her eyes told G'raden far more than her almost always present smile.

"How'd it go?" he asked.

Mara grimaced. "Can we talk about it later?" Her smile returned. "Klamath gets to try his wings as soon as I get to the dragon infirmary."

G'raden walked with her into the kitchen area. After she dropped off the tray, he asked "Are you all right?"

Mara remembered the act a little too slowly. "The next five seven-days will be a little difficult" she said.

G'raden caught the shift in her expression. He grinned briefly and then frowned and nodded. "We can talk about it later." He put his arm gently around her shoulders and noticed that she held his waist a little tighter than normal. "How's your back?"

Was that a slight gleam in his eyes? Mara grinned. "It itches."

G'raden chuckled and moved his hand down to gently rub her back.

"Oh, a little lower, please. Ah, now the left side? Oh, yes!"

"I love it when a woman says that!" G'regg grinned lasciviously as the weyrmates exited the cavern.

"Bet you don't hear it often, do you G'regg?" teased Mara.

G'regg pretended injury as B'nor consoled him as all four riders walked along the western wall of the bowl toward the dragon infirmary.

G'regg's inquisitiveness finally got the better of him. "So, what happened up there, Mara?"

Mara frowned at the grinning man. "Wingleaders will all be informed sometime before evening meal, G'regg."

"We're all wingleaders. You can tell us."

Mara scowled until another group of riders approached. "What's in the bag, G'regg?" She reached for the carisak he carried.

G'regg danced out of her reach deftly. "Just helping out the ladies."

As the other riders passed, each nodding and smiling at the little disturbance, Mara grinned at G'regg. "Oh, you are such a good man, G'regg!"

G'regg puffed up and stated loudly "I do what I can for the ladies of Benden Weyr."

Mara grinned wickedly until the other riders were out of hearing range. "How long do you think you can keep that secret, G'regg?" She pointed at the carisak.

"At least till Turn's End. Then people won't think anything of it."

"Did you get a good selection?"

G'regg and B'nor both lit up. B'nor started their answer. "Ohhh, they're working on a quilt with pinks and greens."

G'regg continued, nearly bouncing. "Some of the pinks are perfect skin tones!"

B'nor added. "And the greens cover almost the entire spectrum!"

G'regg grinned as he faked grabbing at Mara. "You changed the subject, woman! Are you going to tell us what happened?"

Mara pointed south. "There's Klamath! Hello, love!" She ran ahead of the men to greet her excited brown dragon.

G'raden and B'nor laughed as G'regg spoke to no one in particular. "Shards, she's getting good at evasion."

"We'll all know before evening meal" consoled G'raden.

"Yeah," G'regg growled "some of us before others, huh?"

G'raden grinned. "Just one of the advantages of being weyrmates."

Mara ran the remainder of the distance to the infirmary. Klamath was busy surveying the herd further down the bowl, so she stopped to talk with the healers.

"I know he's anxious to catch his own meal," began the older healer, "but we really don't want him to stress his wings just yet."

"Understood" said Klamath's rider.

"He hasn't eaten much in the infirmary." The younger healer was fairly new to the Weyr.

"It's not crunchy enough" stated Mara with a smile.

They all walked further out into the bowl, Klamath's neck constantly craned to the south.

"We just checked and oiled all of his scars." The more experienced healer led the conversation. "There are no more scabs. How does he feel to you?"

"Klamath, love. Pay attention, please." Mara placed her hands on his shoulder and concentrated on his physical condition.

Klamath relinquished his watch of the Weyr's herd to put his head forward. He stretched his wings slowly, as requested, to full spread, raised them to their highest point, and slowly lowered and folded them to his sides.

Mara grinned at the healers. "It feels good. There's just a tiny bit of tightness near the main connecting joints."

"Good. Ask him to rotate those joints, please."

Klamath did as requested, glancing south a few times, while Mara again concentrated on the tight area.

"Just a little tight."

"Hmm. Let's take a quick look at those joints."

Klamath groaned as he rolled first one way and then the other so the healers and Mara could inspect the tight scars. When released to stand, he immediately looked south again.

"Good" said the healer. "Now if you'll ask him to please fly very carefully around the bowl a couple of times." He smiled as Klamath moaned.

"All right, Klamath. Real easy, now. No hunting just yet. If you tear any of those scars, you won't be able to hunt for several more days."

Klamath moved a little further out and launched into the air with grace. He began a steady, but easy ascent as Mara concentrated.

"If there's any sign of discomfort, he needs to come down."

"He's doing fine" assured Mara. "Those scars near the wing joint do feel as if too much stress might crack them, though." Her eyes glazed as she addressed Klamath. "Did you hear that, Klamath? Good. If you can't hunt today, I'll ask the herd master to protect that bull for you, all right? Yes, I see the one you want."

The newer healer turned a puzzled look to her new mentor. Mara wasn't even looking south toward the herd pens. The older healer explained. "She can see through his eyes." To Mara, he said, "All right, bring him in, please, and we'll take another look at those joints."

Klamath cunningly landed facing south, still eyeing the young bull that looked so tasty. He grudgingly rolled from side to side allowing the healers to poke at his scars and then to oil them yet again, groaning only occasionally. He listened to what the healers were saying to his rider, but his concentration was elsewhere, so he didn't pick up the gist of their discussion.

The elder healer winked at Mara before walking closer to Klamath's head. He affected quite a worried frown before saying, "I don't know."

Klamath turned his head to study the healer. His blue and green eyes began to show swirls of yellow.

"The herd master doesn't like holding back good beasts, you know."

Klamath's eyes developed slightly orange swirls.

"If he's really careful?" Mara pretended to beg on her dragon's behalf.

The healer sighed deeply and shook his head. After Klamath's eyes grew even more orange, he finally smiled. "If you are very, very careful, Klamath, you may hunt one beast. But then you need to come back here so we can check you over, all right?"

Thank you, healer. Klamath crouched and shot into the air before anyone could change their minds.

"He talked to me!" The healer was astounded.

"Of course he talked to you." Mara grinned at the man. "You talked to him, not me." Not all dragons would talk even if addressed directly, but Klamath was one of those who believed in returning courtesies, even to humans other than his rider.

Klamath flew high around the bowl and then swooped down on the unsuspecting young bull with very little extra stress on his damaged hide. He took the quickly dispatched bull to an unoccupied area of the bowl and savored every bite as if he hadn't eaten in months. He chewed far more than normal, or necessary, enjoying the crunchiness of fresh herdbeast.

Mara and the healers watched as the brown dragon enjoyed his meal. The newer healer had not witnessed a dragon hunt before and concentrated on her mentor. The elder healer explained that Klamath preferred 'crunchy' meat due to the trace minerals in the bones that were vital to a dragon's bone strength. The young woman was given an opportunity to question Mara on various subjects dealing with her brown before Klamath returned to their vicinity, his eyes swirling a very satisfied blue with touches of green.

Klamath did not complain or moan or groan as the healers and Mara poked, prodded and re-oiled his scars. He did, however, belch, causing all to laugh. He didn't mind – he was ready for a nap.

The healer was happy with what he found as he inspected the brown, but a bit worried about the tightness. He didn't want Klamath to attempt between until that tightness was gone. More oil and another day should do the job, he declared.

Mara caught herself wondering how long they could stretch the 'tightness' and then mentally kicked herself for even considering such deception. Deception, she reasoned, would only delay the inevitable – might as well get it over with; the sooner, the better.

They left Klamath to nap, and walked back toward the infirmary. "We'll be oiling him again just after evening meal, if you'd like to help."

"I would! Thank you!"

"If you're here, we'll let him fly some more and see what happens." The healer was a little confused by Mara's lack of excitement.

"Wonderful." Mara couldn't quite get her eyes to match her words. "Klamath will love that."

They parted at the entrance to the infirmary. G'raden waited just outside, alone.

"Where are G'regg and B'nor?" asked Mara.

G'raden grinned mischievously. "Too many people asked what was in the carisak."

They both laughed as they walked north again. Mara needed lotion on her itching scars and had promised Loralin she would visit the healers before evening meal.

G'raden was anxious to hear the healer's opinions of Mara's condition. He was looking forward to a long awaited amorous evening with his weyrmate, beginning with a long bath, if her scars were healed enough – if not, a sponge bath could be just as nice.

"Klamath's healing well." G'raden tried to fill in an unusual and uncomfortable silence.

"Mmm hmm. The dragon healers say he might be able to go between tomorrow."

G'raden caught a sad note in her voice. "Are you going to tell me what's going on?"

Mara stopped and turned to face him. "After the healers? Up in the weyr?"

"All right. It's not too bad, is it?"

Mara smirked. "Not as bad as some will think, but bad enough."

The big bronze rider held the tall brown rider's hand as they walked in silence to the healer's cavern. He wondered what could be causing her to be so melancholy. If the punishment wasn't too bad, she should be talking about other things. While they often shared long periods of silence, mostly inside their weyr, but sometimes while just enjoying a rare sight or good music, she was seldom this silent during the day.

Loralin, with Tarminas approval, declared Mara almost fit for duty; another day should have her ready to fly between. She was warned, however, not to soak for too long in the bathing pools, and not to scrub the scars too hard with sweetsand.

Bronze Normond met the weyrmates outside the healer's cavern and was quite talkative with Mara as he flew them up to the weyr. He was very complimentary of Klamath's fast healing and of his smooth dispatch of that delicious looking little bull. He was anxious to have Klamath back up on the ridge as some of the greens looked ready to fly in a few days and he thoroughly enjoyed discussing 'the girls' with Klamath.

The thought of the greens flying started a new thread of depression in Mara, but she hid it quickly from Normond. She wouldn't be able to participate if she was in confinement. Perhaps she could convince Klamath that flying with the greens might be too stressful on his fresh scars.

G'raden felt Mara's mood drop briefly and as soon as they landed, turned quickly to help her dismount. He caught her gracefully and held her tight for several long moments as he convinced Normond that Arlith and Parneth might be just as willing to discuss the greens.

Normond complained just a bit about Arlith's crude way of talking about the girls, but took the hint and flew back to the ridge of the weyr to enjoy the sun and the slightly glowing greens.

G'raden moved two simple chairs from the wall opposite Normond's couch to the ledge just far enough back that the floor of the bowl was not visible, and they would not be visible to anyone in the bowl.

Mara told him about her punishments and both laughed about her being forced to spend time in the Records Room and to pull middle night watch. Her sleeping schedule would have to be adjusted, but they would have several candle-marks together at the beginning of each day after her watches in relative peace and quiet, and she would finally be able to read through Benden Weyr's history from the weyrwomen's different perspectives.

Mara was still a bit depressed when Normond was informed of a Wingleader's meeting to commence in the Council Chambers immediately. She reminded G'raden, unnecessarily, that she probably shouldn't have told him anything.

"Do you want to come down with us? Or would you like to wait until we're done?" asked G'raden as he moved the chairs back to the wall.

"I think I'll stay up here." She thought she might pack for her seven days away from this weyr and this man. It might be easier to get it out of the way now. She also didn't feel quite up to facing too many people right now, though she couldn't say why if she had been asked.

G'raden gave her an extra loving hug and a kiss before leaving on Normond. Mara walked back to the inner weyr and began packing. She wasn't to be allowed any extra activities, so didn't pack any of her stitching, or reading. F'lar had informed her later in the meeting that she would be allowed one book of her choosing. Knowing that he would be assigning other books, she decided on the dictionary in case his books contained words she wasn't familiar with.

She sorted through her ever increasing stack of casual clothing, smiling. Manora wasn't very good at 'trading' outsized clothing for better fitting clothing. Every time Mara tried to trade in one item of clothing, she left the storage rooms with two or three items, so had learned to take in clothing she liked to fit her now slimmer figure better.

She checked on Klamath and found him still napping peacefully, so decided to delve into the reason for her depression. Her punishment wasn't all that bad, she mused. Seven days confinement should pass quickly with reading and writing assignments. That wasn't what was bothering her, so she began reviewing the meeting with F'lar, Lessa and F'nor.

She packed three casual outfits – she could wear each two days if she couldn't wash them. She also picked out a long loose shirt for night wear, and smiled at the thought of never needing such in this weyr. Not knowing where 'her weyr' would be, she thought a night shirt might be a safe choice.

And then she recalled F'lar's seemingly angry questions. Had she been angry enough to kill B'rand? Her answer to F'lar had been rushed. She hadn't taken enough time to thoroughly consider her answer. She sat heavily on the bed as she realized that yes, she had been angry enough to kill. B'rand had endangered Klamath and his own Tagamarth, either dragon could have died, the riders and dragons below them could have been injured or killed, Thread might have burrowed into Benden Weyr protected land, and B'rand had sneered at her afterwards. She had wanted to kill him for his disregard of so many lives and the valuable reputation of Benden Weyr. She had wanted to kill a fellow dragonrider.

And what if F'lar hadn't stopped her when she was about to hit B'rand? She remembered the feeling of utter power she had experienced. Her stomach convulsed as she remembered wondering if her sire had felt that power, even as she was about to hit that young, frightened and crying boy. She tried to imagine not being stopped and realized that the next punch would have been to his face. And with the power she was feeling, that punch would have caused considerable damage, quite possibly fatal damage.

When G'raden entered the small room almost a candle-mark later, concerned that Mara had not heard Normond's greetings, Mara was sitting on the bed. She held some article of clothing clutched to her chest as she seemed to be studying her right hand. She stretched and spread her fingers and then slowly made a fist, turning her palm up and then down and up again.

"Mara?" The big man moved slowly around the bed.

"I would have killed him, G'raden." She held out her hand as if it were something grotesque. "With this hand, I would have killed him."

G'raden pulled up a chair and sat facing her. He gently sandwiched her offending hand between his and searched her eyes. "We would have stopped you, Mara."

"But if you hadn't, or if I had hit him the first time . . ."

"Mara." G'raden's gentle but strong voice demanded her attention. "You will drive yourself insane with the 'what if' game."

"But . . ."

"No" he said firmly. "What happened, happened and nothing can change that. You can look at it and make decisions about the future, but nothing will change what happened."

"What should I have done, G'raden? Should I have just let him go about his routine as if nothing had happened?"

"Ideally, yes." Her look of disbelief prompted a grin. "But ideal situations are rather rare, aren't they?"

"What would you have done, G'raden, if he had purposely let Thread fall on you and Normond?"

His grin faded quickly as his eyes glistened with burgeoning dampness. "I hope I could have stayed away, Mara, because my first punch would have killed him."

Mara was not completely shocked. She had heard about his temper, but had never witnessed anything such as G'regg and B'nor sometimes talked about. Not knowing what to say to her sweet, loving, giant weyrmate, she dropped her chosen night shirt to her lap and put her hand over his.

G'raden appreciated the gesture and understood the lack of words. How could anyone respond to such an admission? "Dragonriders take care of each other, Mara. And so do friends. G'regg and B'nor, and sometimes F'nor and F'lar have always been around to keep me from losing complete control of my temper. F'lar helped you that day, and if he hadn't, I or any number of other riders would have. What you need to remember," he squeezed and shook her hand for emphasis, "with pride my beautiful brown rider, is that your first punch did not make contact with human flesh. That says a great deal about who you are, Mara."

Mara sighed deeply, studied their linked hands, and finally lifted one corner of her mouth as she looked up at G'raden. "All right. Enough thinking about the past. How'd your meeting go?"

"Ha! Everyone was in agreement that your punishment was far too harsh. The Records Room is bad enough, but a full month? F'lar stood up to them, though. 'Assault is never appropriate' he declared. And everyone eventually agreed."

"How'd they react to B'rand's punishment?"

"Oh, just the opposite. Most felt that he's getting off far too easy, though most of them haven't talked to him this day, so really don't know how remorseful he is. F'lar informed them though, that each step of his punishment is subject to review and could be extended."

"Mmm. I told B'rand that he had a long road ahead of him. You know what he said?" When G'raden shook his head, she shared what she took to be a very telling answer. "He said 'At least it's going in the right direction.' I think he'll be all right if people give him a chance."

"With you on his side, he should be just fine. Are you hungry? The dining hall was already filling when I left the meeting."

"Yes, and no." She let G'raden help her stand and watched as he sweetly kissed the knuckles of her right hand. "Do you think it would be all right if B'rand sat with us? He probably doesn't have many friends this day."

"Did you have the healers look at this?" He was looking at the small scabs on her knuckles. When she shook her head, he shook his as if scolding. "G'regg is already looking forward to teasing B'rand. Hope he can take it."

"At least G'regg knows when to stop. I'm more concerned about when he's put back with the weyrlings."

"L'ret won't let any teasing go too far."

"If he knows about it." Mara hadn't told anyone about some of the more extreme teasing she had received in weyrling training. To distract G'raden from asking, she changed the subject. "I guess it's time to face the crowd. I'm really hungry."

G'raden allowed her diversion to work. She would learn eventually how many resources a good weyrlingmaster had at his disposal. "I think I smelled pork roasting in the kitchen."

Normond flew the weyrmates down to the bowl. On the way down, Mara kissed G'raden on the back of his neck, causing both rider and dragon to shiver with anticipation of after meal activities.

Normond landed near the healer's cavern, much to Mara's dismay. Her hand was inspected and treated and she was properly scolded by Master Healer Tarminas.

The weyrmates talked and teased as they walked to the dining cavern. On entering, as expected, the room fell almost totally silent until G'regg stood at his table and very loudly directed the weyrmates where to sit after acquiring their fair share of this evening's wonderful meal.

B'rand and Jostin were already sitting with 'the brothers', and G'regg and B'nor were regaling them with stories from the past. The brothers seemed determined to keep the mood at their table light despite the vengeful or pitying looks being directed their way.

Mara was quite aware of the thoughts accompanying those looks, and relieved that B'rand couldn't hear some of them. He would have to prove himself to quite a few people and Mara knew that some of those people would never trust him, believing him to be of bad blood and therefore always subject to similar poor judgment. Some would never understand what a life of fear could do to a person. And some would never believe the past could be overcome. Mara hoped B'rand was not one of those.

"Uh oh" said G'regg. "Mara's thinking again."

"Nothing wrong with that!" declared G'raden.

"We all know how dangerous it is to let any woman think too much" blustered G'regg.

Mara's thoughts had been interrupted, and she already knew this game. G'regg wasn't the only one who teased her about thinking too much, and Mara was in no mood to be teased just now. B'rand and Jostin were looking at her, both wondering how she would respond to what most would take as an insult. Mara scowled and turned slowly to face G'regg. "Why is it dangerous, G'regg?"

G'regg winked at Jostin, who just stared in wide eyed disbelief. G'regg looked instead to B'rand, who was grinning. "Women are devious! Isn't that right?"

B'rand stopped grinning and held both hands up in surrender as he looked back and forth between G'regg and Mara.

"We're only devious when we have no other way of getting back at you, G'regg."

"So, what were you thinking about, then?"

Mara took a deep bored breath. "Do you really want to know?"

B'nor took G'regg by the shoulders from behind and shook him. "You remember what she was thinking about last time? I do not want to hear any more of that kind of talk. Do you?"

G'regg's mischievous grin slowly contorted into a slack-jawed frown. Last time he had asked this question, Mara had gone into great detail about the women's issue she had been trying to solve; how to ride a full Thread fall during the menses cycle without damaging clothing. Green dragons couldn't fly Thread long enough to bother most women riders, and gold riders had the luxury of taking a short break if necessary, but Mara on a brown wanted to be able to fly a full fall, just like the men did. G'regg still remembered with horror the graphic detail she gave on some of the testing she had done with different absorbent materials.

The big bronze rider's eyes widened as the big brown woman rider grinned challengingly. "No" was all he said before turning back to his plate to push the remaining bites around in circles.

B'nor slumped in relief as G'raden grinned, and Jostin and B'rand looked completely baffled.

Mara couldn't help herself. "Want some redfruit, G'regg? It's nice and sticky, and as cold as between." There were very few things that bothered G'regg, and she had only recently discovered this particular trigger. She didn't use these triggers often, so felt justified in turning the board on him occasionally.

When G'regg, looking a bit ill, stood and cleared his dishes, Jostin, being a healer, finally understood. His jaw dropped as he studied the brown rider he had heard so much about. He wondered how he would explain this apparent personality change to Masterhealer Oldive, who had described her as one of the sweetest and kindest women he knew.

B'rand's brow furrowed as he watched first G'regg and then B'nor leave the table while G'raden grinned appreciatively and Mara frowned with shame. He just didn't understand why redfruit would make a big man like G'regg so squeamish.

Mara backhanded G'raden and started to stand. "I better go apologize."

G'raden held her arm to keep her seated. "Don't you dare! He deserves a bit of his own medicine once in a while."

"But in front of other people?"

"Does he hold his tongue in public? Let him think about it a while. I wager he will apologize to you!"

"Ha!" Mara turned to Jostin and B'rand. "I apologize for this rude display. Please don't take this as acceptable or normal behavior in a weyr."

Jostin now smiled. "He told me earlier that he likes to test you. I'd say that you passed this particular test quite admirably."

B'rand was still confused. "Why does redfruit bother him?"

Both Mara and Jostin blushed at his apparent innocence, while G'raden broke into a bellicose laugh.

Jostin put a hand on the young rider's shoulder and tried to hold back a laugh by saying, "I'll explain it to you later, B'rand."

Mara?

Mara held up a finger and spoke out loud to her sweet brown dragon. "Is it time, Klamath?"

Yes. And the healer says I can take a bath. If my scars don't crack open, I can even sit on the ridges for a while!"

"That's wonderful, Klamath! I'll ask Normond to take me to the weyr for bathing supplies and be right there, all right?"

All right. What happened to Arneth's rider? He seems upset.

We can talk about that at the lake, love, all right?

All right. But I won't forget!

I promise, my love.

B'rand cheered up. "I wonder if they'll let me bathe Tagamarth."

"Let's find out!" Mara let the new excitement push back her distress over upsetting G'regg.

Riders and healer cleared the table and deposited their eating implements at the proper place in the kitchen. B'rand barely seemed to notice some of the derisive looks sent his way. Mara ignored the thoughts accompanying those looks and concentrated on Klamath's and B'rand's excitement.

At G'raden's suggestion, the four walked to the dragon infirmary first. Tagamarth would be permitted to bathe, so G'raden and Normond took both Mara and B'rand first to the weyrmates weyr and then to B'rand and Tagamarth's weyr for the necessary bathing and oiling supplies.

While in the couple's weyr, Mara explained to B'rand that Klamath preferred his scrubbing sand with a bit of a certain spicy scent added. Mara had been experimenting over the last turn and finally found the right combination of spices and flowers to prepare the scenting oil that she soaked the sand in to absorb the odor. B'rand didn't seem too interested in her revelations, so she didn't bother to explain the specially formulated oil she was using on her big beautiful brown.

All were in good spirits as they flew from Normond's ledge to Tagamarth's. Normond, of course, was the first to see the inside of the dragon's weyr, and stiffened significantly after landing.

G'raden growled as he slid down Normond's side, having been shown through Normond what they were about to witness.

B'rand slid down next, and then Mara. They all walked slowly and carefully into the cave that was now splattered with red paint. On the wall above Tagamarth's stone couch were painted the words 'THREAD BAIT'. Long, vertical, squiggly lines of red paint adorned every visible wall.

Mara stood holding G'raden's arm as B'rand walked further, toward his inner weyr. She purposely placed a boot on one of the many paint puddles and found it to be dry enough to walk on. When B'rand pulled back the hide curtain and gasped, Mara made a decision. Lessa?

Yes, Mara.

There's been an incident in B'rand and Tagamarth's weyr.

What kind of incident?

Red paint.

We're on our way.

To G'raden, Mara said simply, "Lessa and F'lar are on their way." She worried just briefly about revealing her so far secret ability to 'think' to people, but quickly realized that she could have sent a message to the weyrleaders through Klamath and Ramoth or Mnementh.

The couple walked arm in arm toward the inner weyr as Normond dropped off the ledge to make room for Mnementh. The inner weyr was almost solid red. The wall nearest the bed displayed the words 'THREAD EAT YOU'. Above the bed was one word: 'KILLER!'. All the other wall space was covered with the same squiggly red lines as the outer weyr.

B'rand moved back the curtain to his clothing nook and found that his clothes had all been removed, painted, and returned in a haphazard fashion. He turned to Mara, his boyish features pale and slack.

Mara couldn't make out his thoughts; they were a confusing mix of anxious fear, guilt and even understanding, with only a slight hint of anger. The boy appeared to be in shock, so Mara walked toward him as G'raden moved to inspect the necessary room.

B'rand looked at the woman and smiled just barely. He spoke in almost a whisper. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised."

Tears filled Mara's eyes as she fought to control her own anger. This might not be a surprise anywhere else, but at Benden Weyr?

Mara?

Inner weyr, Lessa. We're on our way out.

As she took B'rand's arm and pulled, she said, "Lessa and F'lar are here." When B'rand slumped, she tugged a bit more angrily. "Chin up, rider. This was uncalled for."

G'raden walked out of the necessary room shaking his head. As Mara and B'rand passed, he moved to the young man's other side and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Unacceptable" was all he could say.

The three riders met their weyrleaders in the center of the outer weyr. Both weyrleaders were livid with disgust. F'lar's mouth curled in on itself as if holding back a flood of angry words.

Lessa, red faced, studied the walls. When F'lar turned her toward the approaching riders, she nearly exploded. "Who would do this?" She had addressed Mara, but quickly looked at each of the bronze riders as well.

All three riders shook their heads. Mara felt a stab of guilt, but quickly deflected it; surely even Lessa wouldn't expect her to keep tabs on the thoughts of all the people in Benden Weyr. Would she? No, Mara hoped.

F'lar walked toward the three riders. "Mara, come with me!" He kept walking toward the inner weyr. "The rest of you stay here."

As the brown rider turned to follow her weyrleader, B'rand turned as well but was stopped by huge hands on his shoulders.

The young rider turned back to G'raden. "She had nothing to do with this!"

The big man chuckled at the worried young man. "He knows that. Don't worry."

Mara followed F'lar into the rider's weyr and waited while he took in the full scene. He even pulled back the curtain hiding the clothing nook. She followed him into the necessary room and nearly gagged. Someone had done a thoroughly disgusting job of plugging and backing up the latrine as well as a paint treatment similar to the other rooms. Paint and sewage had even flowed into the bathing pool.

F'lar turned dark, dangerously angry eyes to Mara. "If you were a weyrleader, what would you do?"

Mara thought for the briefest of moments. Nothing would lighten this situation, so no jokes. "Call a full weyr meeting in the bowl. Demand a confession."

"If no one confesses?"

"Total weyr confinement until the perpetrator does confess."

"What's the advantage?"

"Embarrassment, if the weyr has to cancel planned engagements and transports."

"And when someone confesses?"

"If it's a rider, assign them to a new, freshly painted weyr."

"If it's two riders?"

"Dragonriders know how to share, sir."

"And if it's not a rider?"

"Someone will have precious little free time until this weyr is cleaned up."

"Good." He started out of the necessary room. "What are the charges?"

"Sir?"

"The offenses. List the rules that have been broken."

Mara followed him. "Invasion of a rider's personal space. Destruction of Weyr property."

"List the property."

"Furnishings, clothing, bedding . . . necessary items, plumbing . . . oh, shells. They've tainted the water going to the hydroponics rooms – endangerment of all Weyr personnel."

"More charges?" He asked this as he passed the hide curtain to the outer weyr.

"Um, endangering the mental welfare of a dragon. Misappropriation of Weyr property. Misuse of Weyr property."

"Good." He pointed to and addressed B'rand, but didn't stop walking. "You were about to bathe your dragons?"

"Yes, sir."

"Do so." As he reached Lessa, she turned and they both walked quickly to waiting Mnementh. "G'raden, you stay with them."

"Yes, sir!"

As the departing weyrleaders floated toward the northern end of the bowl, G'raden, B'rand and Mara walked to the edge of the ledge to await Normond's return.

"Whoa!" said Mara. "I wish I could hear what he says."

G'raden grinned. "G'regg and B'nor will fill us in later."

B'rand looked up at G'raden. "Are they a reliable source, sir?"

G'raden chuckled. "For the first couple of tellings, yes. Then the embellishments start creeping in."