Lytah was thoughtful as she entered her weyr. Almost absently she put the fresh lot of skins she had borrowed onto her table. Now exactly what was her wingleader up to? Not with calling a second meeting of their wing, for with the current situation a replacement for K'tan needed to be found, but with suggesting F'ben as a replacement? Or did he actually mean to bring into the open all those simmering undercurrents?

For if F'ben did not feel off side before that meeting, what would be the betting that he did now? Which would also further divide V'hul. And S'lon could only take it as a further slight to his abilities with not even being given a recommendation.

The only one to come out of this with any positive was D'kor. Never before had she seen him as decisive and outspoken as ha had been today. And the more responsibility that he was asked to take on, the more he seemed to thrive. The number of affirmative decisions being made certainly outweighed the quiet caution he was more noted for. Authority sat well on him.

Which certainly made things interesting for her. D'kor was her best friend but he was also a bronze rider. And the talents that were emerging to prove that role both justified her relationship while at the same time highlighting the necessity for it not being able to go further. She was not going to be responsible for holding him back from his full potential with any sense of commitment to her.

Thoughts which pulled her up short. Did this mean that she actually wanted those suggestions to be more than drunken ramblings? No, that must not be allowed!

Am I not good enough for a bronze? Natoth's distress had her bolt through her bedroom to the green's weyr. Mentally she scolded herself to letting her worries get into concentrated thought while Natoth was awake. She flung her arms wide to embrace the green snout.

"Oh dear heart, that is not it at all!"

Then why do you not approve of Zenth?

"It is not Zenth I am worried about. Nor am I concerned about you. But bronzes fly the queen. It is his rider that may be a problem."

You should not let your feelings for D'kor cloud your judgement as you do both him and yourself disservice with such concerns. Duty to the weyr does not have to conflict with personal wants. Zenth understands that D'kor is working that out. You just need to realise the same.

Lytah was more than a little surprised by that, could think of no immediate reply.

-----------------------

What was she missing! Lytah felt herself sway slightly with the sudden feeling of light-headedness. She hoped that the ache behind her eyes was just due to the lack of sleep. Given circumstances, quite likely. A realization which helped push down the start of panic. Went nowhere near doing a thing for the feeling of helpless frustration though. She rubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands, before she again looked around her room. It had to be here!

Her table was covered with journals from her shelves, others strewn on the now emptier shelves. The rug was covered with skins taken from the weyrwoman's own collection, overlapping others borrowed from the weyrleader's reading room. A veritable mountain of literature, which she had gone through at least once already. So how had she missed it? Moreta had been the weyrwoman at Fort during the last Pass; it had been her exploits that had become the subject of legend and ballad. Lytah had even found some of the writings from the woman herself. It had been only then that Lytah had realized that Moreta was as much an incredible healer herself as she was weyrwoman. Still, Lockenn was going to have a fit if he ever saw this.

"Lytah?"

Almost guiltily she turned to find D'kor, annoyed then at her reaction. She had nothing to feel guilty about. "Not now D'kor. I'm busy." No, that was bad manners. So was he busy and it wasn't fair to take out her frustration on him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that the way it sounded. Please come in."

He turned back around to enter the room fully. He gave a look of query to the chaos that was evident. "You look like you are having as much fun this morning as I am."

"This is driving me crazy. We know that the disease is like the epidemic from last Pass and that the healer from Moreta's time found a way to deal with it. But that was by vaccination, not cure."

"Why is that a problem this time?"

"You have to have someone survive the disease before you can use their blood to make serum. As well as have the time for any recovery. This is only the second day since Nalaya's wake and it could take four days for the disease to even appear. At least from the records we know that we have to use the senior dragons to keep the sillier ones, green and blue in particular, calm when their riders fall to the fever. Then, of course, there is my one real nagging problem."

She was pacing the small strip of floor free of skins, barely noticed that he had gone to her table. He had found a scrap of parchment and was writing something.

She stopped to look up as he asked, "Only one?"

"Well, you tell me then? Why is it that K'tan is the only member of Alpha wing to have come down with the disease? Every other wing already has more than a fair percentage of riders sickening."

"That's easy." He finished writing, shook the piece to dry the ink. "No other wing has an ex-apprentice healer in their midst and you could never convince K'tan to help you test those concoctions you are so fond of making. And who knows what reaction you might get when combined with the magical hangover cures from Urik."

"Urik! That could be the missing element!

She surprised herself by almost throwing herself as him to kiss him full on the mouth. It took a moment for the shock of that contact to register. Now, that was unexpected. And not exactly welcome in its implication for her. Almost reluctantly she pushed herself away, then annoyed at that reaction. Shards, what was the matter with her?

His smile was slight. "If that is the response I can expect, then I should get thrown out of the weyr more often."

That took a while to impact. "What!"

She pushed him into a chair and had him explain while she poured drink. She shook her head in disbelief when he had finished. "Name you wing second one day and traitor the next?"

"The irony of the situation had not escaped my notice. Still, I wanted to see you to say good-bye, in case I don't get back. And to give you this." He handed out the sheet he had written.

"What is it?" A list of herbs and proportions, but in a combination she would never have imagined.

"I believe it is the cure to the disease."

"I thought Jazon was still trying to decipher the skin."

"Jazon does not have the benefit of a friend at Mastersmith Hall who has a passion for all things ancient. Forn would delight in sending me messages in the old language. And neither S'bor nor Jazon seemed interested in waiting for my explanations right at the moment. Another reason for seeing you now. They might listen to you."

"D'kor, this is sheer insanity."

"If I had the time to think about it, I might agree. So much has happened in such a short time frame. Anyway, do you think that might help?"

She looked at the list more carefully then and felt a sinking feeling. "I know of these ingredients, I even know that there are some similar here, but they are nowhere near the potency of these. I wouldn't even know where to start a search."

"Which is probably why that quest is the mode of my redemption. Now, I only have two days for this, which is also why I hope that I am on the four day end of that incubation period."

"No-one else from Alpha has succumbed yet."

"But they were not with K'tan when he died and have not been in and out of Healer Hall."

She felt the cold of dreaded realization. "D'kor?"

"It's all right. I have felt better but I will be fine. Though I had better get a move on. What are the main symptoms, by the way?"

"Headache, lack of appetite, fever and a hacking cough."

"Well, I can be thankful for the lack of cough then." He stood and started for the door.

"Wait D'kor. I'm coming with you."

"As much as I would like to say otherwise, no, you are not. You are needed here. You said yourself that you had things similar, try those out. Talk to Jazon, he might know where there could be some of those other ingredients. Hopefully I will see you soon."

When he had gone Lytah sincerely wished that she had given into the desire to kiss him farewell.

Enough girl, she scolded herself, you are just overwrought. But you can relax now, D'kor has given you the answer. She looked at the piece of parchment in her hand. The inner knot chilled further. This was not the only reason he had called in.

To give her the cure, yes and he would expect her to get straight to the infirmary and work with the supplies there. Then also to talk to S'bor and Jazon and tell them of his discovery. But…

Her musings were swamped by a sudden grief. Then the deep sound of a dragon dirge as another left this existence. A moment later and sound and emotion ebbed into empty silence. Another rider had died. How many did that make it now? She had lost count.

Lytah?

I'm fine. Natoth always sought her out to check and to tell her.

Ladeth had gone.

Ladeth? That was one of the blues from her own impression. Now the younger riders were falling to this disease? She pushed down the rise to panic even as she realised that D'kor's concern was not just overreaction. He may be fully justified in thinking that he may not come back. If the dangers of this quest did not kill him, then the disease he was incubating might. And she suddenly realised that was a future she did not want to eventuate. Certainly she expected no more of their relationship, but to never hear his voice, his laugh again? To feel Zenth's echoing rumble? The loss of the presence of those two would leave a hole in her life. A huge hole, she knew with a start.

We will not let that happen. Natoth's thoughts were firm and comforting.

No dear heart, we will not. Keep in touch with Zenth.

S'bor and Jazon first, then the infirmary.

"Zenth?"

Lytah?

"We are worried about D'kor. Please stay in touch with Natoth and we will come as soon as I make up some of this concoction. I cannot lose you both."

Certainly, and do not worry so. Though you must take some for yourself. For it is also true that D'kor and I cannot lose either you or Natoth.