"Quite possibly more than half, G'dened, but, as dragon-riders, we are committed to learn as much about our responsibilities of protecting this planet as possible."
Giving F'lessan an approving nod, F'lar rose. "The Weyrs will continue to serve. If we propose the sky watch to the Council in the most positive terms, and with complete accord," he glanced meaningfully at G'dened and the puzzled G'narish, "then, by the first Eggs that hatched here in Landing, we dragonriders will add a new dimension to our future!"
His fist came down on the table and, eyes brilliant, he stared around, daring anyone to challenge him.
Now that,Lessa thought with a surge of pride for her weyr-mate, was plain speaking! The two new Weyrleaders, so determined to succeed in their new responsibilities, would have followed any strong lead. Between F'lessan and F'lar, they now had one and rose to their feet, cheering. T'gellan's dejection noticeably lightened and, if Cosira looked confused, at least G'narish seemed revitalized by F'lar's stirring words.
"I suppose it's best to show a united front," G'dened muttered, reluctantly acquiescing to the majority.
"Well now, that's most encouraging, most encouraging," Wansor said, nodding around. "So, let us summarize our plans. Yoko,Cove Hold, and Honshu will continue their search patterns of near-space; we'll request the Council to release three of the remaining telescopes; start work on the vitally required one on the Western Continent, another to be sited at Ice Lake-thank you very much, Lord Jaxom. The third at Telgar-if Lord Larad's goodwill and assistance can be obtained. Good of you, Lady Palla, Lord J'fery, to offer your services. Of course, we shall ask the invaluable cooperation of Master Fandarel. We shall also ask for volunteers-sky-watching will require many eyes as well as many of the dark hours-and instigate an accelerated training program. I'm sure the Harper Hall will encourage this. And I'll ask Master Tagetarl to print up one of his notices. The entire planet will know!" He swung his arms wide, his broad smile infectious.
"I think that does about summarize what the dragonriders will do," F'lar said. "Now, why don't we relax and have some wine? We brought some Benden with us for those who might like it."
There wasn't a person in the hall, save perhaps G'dened, who wasn't quite happy to take a glass. Mirrim bustled out to the kitchen with Talina, Adrea, and Sharra in tow. Tai started to join them but F'lessan held her back, to help him explain the prints to Palla, J'fery, and K'van. Erragon produced old Aivas projections, which showed how much currently unobserved sky would be the responsibility of the Western Continent installation.
Relieved that this meeting, which she had begun with little hope of any positive support, had ended on such a high note, Lessa felt incredible relief. The Weyrleaders of Pern would take their places at the Council with considerably more confidence and that, in itself, would impress the Lord Holders and Craftmasters. She especially looked forward to announcing the post-Thread occupation for which dragonriders were undeniably suited. She smiled to herself. Sharra brought her a glass of wine and a small dish of savories. She was roused from her private thoughts by G'dened's testy question to Master Wansor.
"You mentioned three other dedicated people? Who would they be?"
"Why, Master Stinar is one, the others are two of my old students from Telgar who are now masters in their own Halls, Tippel in Crom and Murolin in Southern Boll. They have even built their own scopes-reflecting telescopes, only one-hundred-millimeter-but adequate for the sky-watching. It is to Tippel's everlasting despair that he missed seeing the Fireball; it had been so cold he'd gone in early." Master Wansor made a comical face of regret. "However, I do have a suggestion for you, Weyrleader G'dened. Have a look at the sky tonight from the Cove Hold telescope."
Lessa sat straight tip, grinning at G'dened's sudden confusion.
"Now, why didn't one of us think of that?" She stood up. "I should like a chance to see myself. Is it possible, Erragon?" She saw the brief hesitation on the Master's face. "Or would we be interrupting your search pattern?"
"All in a good cause, Lady Lessa." Erragon bowed with sincere courtesy.
"Who's there while you're here?" G'dened wanted to know.
"Lofton, a capable journeyman," he replied just as F'lessan came up to Lessa.
"Tai and I would be glad to demonstrate Honshu's scope," F'lessan said, grinning from ear to ear. "I've got K'van, Adrea, Palla, and J'fery coming."
G'dened and Cosira were the only ones who did not care to go on to view the stars, either at Cove Hold Observatory or Honshu. G'dened did agree that he would find out who among his riders would wish to train themselves for this sky-watch project.
"You did say, Erragon," said F'lar, joining Lessa, "that you have more prints we can show to relieve the fears of the Council?"
"And the majority of the holders and crafters," K'van murmured, adding so only F'lessan and Tai heard him, "not to mention the dragonriders."
It wasn't until Lessa and F'lar got back to their weyr that she remembered she hadn't had a chance to speak to Jaxom, who had slipped out with Sharra while others were finishing their wine. She missed a moment with F'lessan, as he, too, left more ostentatiously with the group going to Honshu, so that she didn't have any time to talk to this green rider of his. She had never seen him so protective of anyone. Tai did not look fragile.
"She'll do," F'lar murmured, once again touching her very thoughts as he slipped an arm about her shoulders and made her comfortable against him in bed.
PART 4-New Dimensions
After the cove hold meeting that Tai had dreaded, she was as exhilarated as F'lessan. He had had to be unusually stern-for him-to get her to attend and only because Erragon had been equally insistent had she reluctantly complied. Then, during the meeting, both men had made so many references to her assistance that she had been embarrassed. When old G'dened had proved intransigent and supercilious, so-so stupidabout the dangers, she had had to speak up. Erragon and even Lord Lytol, who often took the opposite side of any argument, had supported her comment. And encouraged her to speak. It had been a high and totally unexpected moment of acceptance for her. Neither Benden Weyrleader had taken exception to or even seemed surprised by F'lessan's remarks. She had been almost overcome with pride in him. When Mirrim would have marched her off to the kitchen, F'lessan had kept her by his side, to explain to the younger Weyrleaders how they established the scan, set the remote imager for timed exposures, and how to determine the significance of the images and why so many exposures of the night sky were required. Palla seemed almost as overwhelmed by the company she was in as Tai, and the two exchanged sympathetic glances. Palla was the only other young dragonrider who understood the immediate task.
Then F'lessan issued the invitation for those interested to adjourn to Honshu. And eleven riders and dragons had flown to the weyrhold. That had been the heady part, especially with Mirrim present-showing off the observatory and bringing up images of the minor planets above the horizon. When F'lessan and Tai realized that Palla had remembered a good deal of her apprentice studies, they encouraged her to explain to J'fery, K'van, and T'gellan. Talina listened in the way she had of being of a group but not part of it. Mirrim pretended interest but Tai was aware of her restlessness, so when she offered to find out what there was to eat in the weyrhold, F'lessan told her by all means to find out and serve it up. He snagged Tai by the hand.
"She knows where everything is-" F'lessan murmured in her ear and paused significantly, "in the kitchen. Let her."
Revived by baskets of bread, cheese, fruit, cold river fish, meat, and klah that Mirrim served, the spontaneous first session of Astronomy for Weyrleaders-as F'lessan jokingly called it-went on till well after Rigel had set.