Chapter 23
J'enia was proud of R'ban; and had not considered any potential problems, until her father said,
"V'sheren, excuse me asking, this, but – do Bronze dragons from the same clutch as a Queen ever feel the need to avoid their sisters in mating?"
V'sheren shook his head.
"DRAGONS have no concept of incest; but if it's your offspring you're worried about, their own feelings will inhibit their dragons from taking that kind of interest in each other – the only time I ever heard of it happening was with half-siblings who were Holdbred, who were already having an illicit relationship. It caused quite a scandal at the time, I'm told, back in the Oldtime," he grinned at Dukkar's horrified face, "so if any Oldtimer tells you how modern folk have degenerated, you can just say 'Amira and S'inder' and watch them blench. It was at Fort, I believe, but long before T'ron's time. I remember my grandfather jerking the strings of some arrogant Fort Rider when I was just a weyrling and he was Weyrlingmaster. He was a Brown Rider, and this fellow a Bronze Rider, and he fancied himself. I guess nowadays we'd worry less, so long as everyone was happy and no children came of it; for it's to prevent children with birth defects that we have the taboo. It doesn't seem to affect dragons the same way; just as well when you consider how inbred the Benden stock is!"
"And by some accounts, Benden Weyrfolk," said Dokkar, with a quick glance to make sure his father was not listening. Fordel would brook no criticism of dragonfolk.
V'sheren shrugged.
"Less so, now. F'lon and F'lar were keen to have new blood; and we adhere now to opening all clutches to all, instead of just when weyrbred children were low in numbers. It makes sense; though some idiot parents do make us question it!" his eyes flicked involuntarily to L'neta's parents and small K'tallen's father.
"My great-great grandfather was a dragonless man who lost his dragon in the Benden Games," said Dukkar. "He joined the family troupe because he was honoured there, and his vagaries weren't judged, and learning to tumble kept him from grieving so hard, I think. Other commons have dragonriders in their ancestry; plenty of girls are ready to make up to dragonfolk, and babies happen. It means there are plenty of people of weyrbred ancestry."
V'sheren nodded, having swallowed hard over Dukkar's easy mentioning of his dragonless ancestor.
"And no reason to think that there is not the quality that makes a dragonrider in the general populace anyway," he said, "but to counter your disquiet, Vangoth is unlikely to fly Shehereth as their respective Riders will not like the idea. And J'enia is going to continue to work daily with the Wingleaders and future Wingleaders; she will get to know the Bronze Riders well, and to pick and choose from among them for her mate. Or mates, if she decides not to be exclusive; we are happy enough if the clutching is spread around. There do not seem to be real problems caused by consanguinity, but it does no harm to have a wide number of sires."
J'enia was horrified.
"Do I HAVE to have more than one?" she demanded.
"No, of course not," said V'sheren, "but your father needs to know that if you cannot choose between two, or even three, Bronze Riders, and let Shehereth take her choice each time, we do not consider that inappropriate, so long as there are no games on the part of the Weyrwoman, playing off her lovers against each other. Both Nadira and Thera have a single weyrmate."
J'enia nodded.
"I see. I – I guess I'll have to think about it; I think I'd prefer a single husband – weyrmate, I mean – but I suppose if I DON'T have any preference, Shedereth must mate for future generations… I'm glad I have three turns in which to consider it."
V'sheren ruffled her hair.
"Don't go rushing into anything, shortstuff," he said, "no-one will make you do anything that's distasteful to you – and I guess you could still sequester if you really wanted to!"
J'enia nodded.
Her duties as Queenrider would be far more extensive than those of a Greenrider, including the breeding of new dragons! It was even possible that she might be senior Weyrwoman one day, in which case her choice of weyrmate could have far-reaching consequences!
oOoOo
The other, disappointed, female candidates all elected to stay on at the Weyr for the next clutch; though Nilis had, apparently, been inclined to throw hysterics and claim that the acrobat chit had unduly influenced the Queen dragonet by claiming to sense Thread so she could get into the furs of the Bronze Riders. Of all people it had been Silaya who had slapped her and ticked her off; and reported the matter to Nadira.
"I can't handle her like Jess- er, J'enia could," said Silaya, "I'm not a tale bearer like her, but it's a nasty thing to put about."
Nadira agreed; and spoke to Nilis, taking the tack of taking exception to her doubting the word of Blooded Riders about J'enia's undoubted gift rather than dwelling on the girl's suggestion that the young acrobat had slept with the Bronze Riders. Silaya had already hooted in derision at that when she had told Nilis off, pointing out that Nilis could not have it both ways when she had demonstrated that J'enia did not know what to do with a man.
Nilis was sulkily subdued after the Weyrwoman had spoken to her – coldly and at length – but Nadira sighed inwardly. This one was nasty; and stupid with it. At least Silaya had come to see her own faults; Nilis never would. The sly troublemakers rarely did. Nadira contemplated expelling Nilis from the Weyr forthwith; but it would not be so long before Baylith's own clutch were laid, and it would be easier to get rid of the girl after that hatching, on grounds of unsuitability, rather than giving her the opportunity to spread lies about being thrown out because of the supposed proclivities of the newest Queenrider.
The more reasonable girls were ready to admire the newly-Impressed dragonets of their erstwhile peers; and J'enia suggested, half in jest, that they might like to help bathe and oil them, to give them some practice when their own friends were shelled. The disappointed candidates were, on the whole, delighted, only Nilis excluded from the invitation, and only Falinn stepping out of the group. The girl was uncomfortable amongst Riders anyway – C'rya joked that she was always afraid one of them might pass her a compliment and make her feel aroused – and asked N'eena to find her a job in the lower caverns. N'eena was happy to do so; Falinn had organisational ability if pointed in the right direction and not allowed to interfere with things outside her own business! N'eena had every intention of flying in the Queen's wing as part of the protective cover, and resuming her job as Headwoman once Terith was no longer as demanding. Though Salima had not done a bad job in the meanwhile, it was a decision happily endorsed by G'narish and even by Salima herself, who found the responsibility too onerous! As Nadira herself remarked to G'narish, for the comforts of having a good Headwoman, having a dragon that did not fly every Fall was a small price to pay, even if her twin only did fly as a reserve like an ageing pair. N'eena herself hoped to fly most Falls, however; since her daughter Bretine was mostly fully grown, and her duties as a Green Rider attached to the Queen's Wing would not be arduous.
Lailla devoted herself to helping C'rya with Mayrith which surprised J'enia, as the girl had been adamant that she wanted to ride only a Golden Queen. C'rya managed to extract from Lailla the information that the gentle girl had a surprisingly strong resentment towards J'enia who had, after all, expressed a willingness to fly a Green and yet had Impressed Gold! The nature of her complaint seemed largely that J'enia would not have minded and she, Lailla, did, and flying a Green was harder because of being in the main fighting wing.
"Huh," said C'rya, on hearing this, "that's why our J'enia Impressed a Queen; because she IS going to fly in the main fighting wing to use her Thread sense more effectively; and a Queen has the stamina to stay out for all Fall. You could always ask to fly in the Queen's wing if you Impress a Green; N'eena is. At High Reaches Weyr they call it the female wing, 'cos most of the escorting Green Riders are female, you know."
C'rya had asked questions of visiting High Reaches Riders out of sheer nosiness; and had gleaned a lot of information!
It gave Lailla a lot to think about; and the girl certainly did not envy J'enia having to bear the brunt of Threadfall when Shehereth was old enough! In truth, Lailla did not like the streak of resentful jealousy in herself, which was why she was avoiding J'enia! Lailla wanted to work through her resentment and decide whether or not she planned to stand for a Green if she might indeed be part of the more protected Queen's wing; or if she should go home with dignity.
For the time being she stayed and helped with Mayrith.
oOoOo
Even with help from friends, caring for hungry baby dragons was wearing! J'enia went to see V'sheren.
"I know Fall's tomorrow over Keroon, but oh! V'sheren, I don't know that I'd be much good, I'm so tired I'd be afraid of making mistakes!"
V'sheren nodded and put a comforting arm about her shoulders.
"My dear girl, nobody ever expected that you'd be flying with us for a goodly time yet!" he said, "and even when you're less tired, it will depend very much on Shehereth; some young Queens would not let their Rider be away from them for several hours, especially on another dragon!"
J'enia snorted.
"Spoiled brats make spoiled dragons," she said. "Our function is to fight Thread; and Shehereth can use her powers of telepathy to boost me to help the Bronzes hear me better."
"If she will, that would be useful," said V'sheren, cautiously, "but do realise, J'enia, that G'narish is prepared to accept that you may not be flying Thread until you do it with Shehereth."
"Wherry teeth!" said J'enia, "and Shehereth asks me to say that she is hurt that you would think that she could be so silly!"
V'sheren laughed.
"Well they say the dragon is like the Rider; and 'silly' really is the last epithet on Pern that could be applied to you, my dear!"
J'enia chuckled.
"Is that a good opportunity to fish for compliments and ask what epithets you might apply instead?" she asked.
V'sheren regarded her for a long moment.
"If you were older, I might think of a few… I think for now we should stick with 'pestiferous brat'," he said.
J'enia laughed, ruefully.
"So much for hoping to have my ego boosted when I'm feeling like a limp rag and ashamed that I can't concentrate on helping to save casualties!" she said.
"Don't be – ashamed, I mean! It's a straightforward Fall, no complications anticipated, and only two hours, passing out to sea," he assured her.
"I hope I'll be more the thing by next Fall," worried J'enia.
"I expect you won't be; and you are NOT to worry about that, it'll only upset Shehereth and I won't have the dragonets under my care upset, you understand?" taking a stern tone with her worked better than anything else when she was worrying about things, he had noticed, appealing to her sense of duty.
She gulped and nodded.
"Yes, V'sheren; I'm sorry. I'll be patient. I just like to help."
"You were there for the one when we needed you most. I'll tell you what, I'll take you over the region we have to cover and you can tell me what the weather will be there tomorrow: THAT would help."
"Truly? I'll get my kit," and J'enia whirled away to put on her flying leathers.
oOoOo
The plains of Keroon were green with spring growth, masses of orange rock thrusting up above them, the tops of these also covered with blue-green scrub. Herds of runnerbeasts and cattle were a dark moving scar on the landscape, keeping together for the most part, one beast occasionally separating, the whole appearing from the air like some amorphous being disgorging small sections of itself from time to time, like seeds, then reabsorbing them. Jessenia absorbed the feel of the land, abjuring her learned knowledge of weather and just letting her instincts talk to her, leaning back against V'sheren to concentrate.
"You know, you little innocent, that's not a kind thing to do to a man," said V'sheren, laconically.
"Oh! did I hurt you?" J'enia sat up.
"No. But a pretty girl close to him is NOT easy for the peace of mind of any man – especially when she's in his charge and he has a duty of care," said V'sheren.
J'enia slewed round to look at him thoughtfully.
"I guess that would solve my dilemma," she said.
"What?" V'sheren was taken aback.
"Asreth's a Bronze. He can fly Shehereth and then I don't need to be nervous."
Asreth bugled enthusiastically.
"Shut up, you fool," said V'sheren, flushing. "You don't know really what you want, yet, J'enia; leave decisions like that until you do. Only don't lean on a man's tender parts if you don't expect those who know you less well to assume you want them to act on it; it's the action of a tease."
It was J'enia's turn to flush.
"I didn't mean to," she whispered.
He touched her suddenly hot cheek.
"I know that; that's why I felt I could be frank about it because you are so straight and true. I'd hate another to misinterpret your innocence and hurt or frighten you."
She nodded.
"Thank you, V'sheren. When – when I'm older, would you be averse to the idea? Asreth isn't, oh, and he's busy telling me that you're not either."
"He's a gossip," said V'sheren. "Averse? No, not at all. But I think you are too young to decide. I don't want you to get hurt. And to be perfectly honest, I don't want to get hurt either."
J'enia considered this; and nodded.
"I guess I'm going to be too busy for romance anyway," she said, prosaically. "Shehereth and I have a lot to learn before SHE's ready to have fun with Asreth or another dragon."
"Quite," said V'sheren. "Any ideas about the weather?" he hastily turned the subject to the reason they were there.
"A little longer… can we go east a little?"
V'sheren nodded and Asreth winged round to the east.
"I think I know now," said J'enia. "We can go home now, Asreth, and I'll sketch it out over klah."
oOoOo
"There's a belt of rain coming in from the north, from Bitra; I think it'll peter out over a lot of the Fall, but it should drown some in the second half of the sweep," said J'enia, "and what you want to watch for is a nasty bit of wind coming up the bay of Nerat, it's circling antiwise, so it'll blow Thread back in your face. I don't think it'll bring enough rain to drown Thread," she added.
G'narish and the other Wingleaders, who had gathered for her comments, nodded.
"Nerat bay can make nasty weather," said S'sher. "Rain from Bitra would be helpful though, if we've wind to contend with. Is it gusty, or strong and steady?"
"I have the feel of strong and steady," said J'enia, "and perhaps worth alerting Ista to send out Riders to look out for capsized vessels."
"THAT sort of strong, eh?" grunted G'erry. "With your permission, Weyrleader, I'll talk to the nearest Master Fisher and suggest he keeps smaller vessels inshore; and strongly hint that he ask for Weyr help ahead of time."
"Can't we just tell Ista then?" asked J'enia.
"Politics, my dear," said Nadira, "The crafters have to REQUEST aid or the Weyr is open to a charge of interfering with autonomy."
"Foolishness!" snorted J'enia, "since when was saving life interfering? We swear to protect and serve don't we? And what about High Reaches doing mountain rescue?"
"That was negotiated a long time ago between Weyr and Lords Holder as well as being ratified recently," said G'narish. "G'dened is flexible however; rescue at sea might be negotiated the same way. Maybe. Certainly with the Fishcrafters. Lords Holder might be, if you'll pardon the pun, a different kettle of fish."
J'enia, conscious of being amongst older and important people, managed not to sniff. She almost grinned when S'sher solemnly winked at her. It was not what one might expect from V'sheren's rather crusty father! Evidently the Weyrsecond had little time for politics either!
"Our thanks, J'enia," said G'narish, "with a weather warning we can be prepared. And if you can do this, perhaps every other Fall until you can fly with us again, it would be appreciated; and your brother perhaps will spell you by doing the times between."
J'enia nodded.
"And if I'm not sure, he could check; he has one skill more intensely, I think, and I suspect he'd give you better weather reports than me," she said.
"Which, being a small boy, might at times be debateable," said V'sheren, dryly, "presenting reports coherently falls a long way short, in the minds of most boys, to planning minor mischief. Still, he's a responsible lad, perhaps he may be able to translate his inborn knowledge into spoken language of the type adults might interpret."
"He'd better," said J'enia, "Or I'll tell Granddad and HE'LL sort him out! Great respect for our language has our Granddad!"
G'narish murmured to S'sher that one of the things that marked this young Queenrider out was the fact that she was ready and willing to give credit for greater talent to her brother, in a gift that brought her attention.