Dragonheart

“We were wondering if we could trade our services for your empty weyrs,” Azeez said in a rush, glancing from T’mar to Fiona.

“Trade?” Fiona repeated, turning her eyes toward Mother Karina. The older woman nodded, gesturing toward Terin and pulling up a seat to sit beside her. “This one, for sure, could use some help.”

“I’m doing fine!” Terin protested loudly.

“You are,” Fiona agreed diplomatically. “Except that you hardly sleep, and when you do you’re tossing and turning and you’re always to bed last and up first.”

“I toss and turn?” Terin asked in surprise, a hand rising to her cheek in mortification.

“And talking,” Fiona added. She grinned at her friend. “Do you think that every  time I end up sleeping with Talenth it’s because I want to?”

“I could move out — ”

“No, you will not!” Fiona declared loudly. She turned to Karina. “I see no problem with this notion.”

“Traders and weyrfolk,” N’jian muttered, shaking his head. “It’s not been done.”

“I’ll bet it has,” T’mar said. “Remember that when our ancestors crossed here from the Southern Continent, everyone lived in the same place — ” He nodded toward Fiona. “ — Fort Hold. It wasn’t until much later that Fort Weyr was established.”

“So the traders and the dragonriders were certainly living together for part of the time after the Crossing,” Azeez agreed.

“We have nothing to hide,” Fiona said, glancing quellingly toward N’jian.

“Our ways are different, Weyrwoman,” he responded unapologetically. By way of illustration, he jerked his head toward a group of blue and green riders who were laughing together over some shared joke.

“Trader ways are different, too,” Fiona countered. She waved a placating hand toward the brown rider. “Oh, I don’t say there won’t be problems or the occasional difference, but I think it will be a great help to the Weyr.”

Her emphasis on the last word was not lost on N’jian who considered her response for a moment before nodding reluctantly.

“We asked because we would like to help with the wedding,” Mother Karina explained.

“Traders don’t like settling in one place for too long,” Azeez said.

“Not all traders mind a bit of a rest,” Karina corrected him. She turned to Fiona. “It’s customary for new mothers to rest in one place for three months — longer if possible.”

“We’d be delighted to help,” T’mar said with a nod toward Fiona.

“And the wedding?” Karina inquired.

“The older riders shouldn’t tarry too long,” N’jian reminded T’mar.

“We can’t hurry their wedding,” Fiona reminded him.

“With all respect, Weyrwoman,” N’jian replied, his lips twitching upward even as he sketched a bow from his chair, “you  can.”

“And did,” T’mar added.

Fiona threw up her hands in surrender. She turned to Mother Karina. “You’ve met Nuella, haven’t you?”

Karina nodded. “We came from there.”

“By dragonback,” N’jian added. “They left their caravan and several traders behind.”

“Setting up a new depot?” Fiona guessed.

“Did you get any ideas from Nuella or Silstra, then?” Terin asked, her fork hovering near her mouth.

“Eat, child!” Karina ordered. She waited until Terin had emptied her fork before continuing. “I spoke with Silstra — she is quite a trader — and she thinks that sometime before Turn’s end would be best.”

“Turn’s end would be the latest we could keep the older riders here,” T’mar said.

“That doesn’t leave much time,” Fiona said, startled.

“Indeed,” Karina agreed. “Which is why I offered our services to Silstra.” She allowed herself a small smile. “And as soon as we can get our mothers settled into the Weyr, we’ll be able to set them to making suitable wedding clothes.”

“That’s right!” Fiona exclaimed in sudden memory. “Kindan said that traders were at Silstra’s wedding!”

“Silstra thought it fitting,” Karina allowed, looking pleased.

“So we’ve less than seventeen days,” Terin declared before hastily swallowing her next mouthful.

“It would help to get an exact date,” Fiona said thoughtfully.

Terin rose quickly and pressed her hand on Karina’s shoulder before dashing to the hearth. Fiona didn’t have time to wonder at the odd gesture, because Karina leaned in close at that moment to say conspiratorially, “And who would be best at getting that date?”

“I suppose it would be me,” Fiona confessed with mixed emotions. She wasn’t sure she could soon handle another day as exciting as this one had proved. T’mar glanced at her — or, rather, at a point over her shoulder — and grinned.

“What?” Fiona demanded, perplexed. Her confusion grew as everyone at the table started to rise and noises from behind indicated that all those in the Cavern were getting to their feet.

Terin approached with F’dan — they were bearing a large platter between them. On the platter was a large cake with icing, and too many candles to count quickly.

“Happy birthday, Fiona!” Terin cried as she put the cake in front of her.

“But — it’s not my birthday!” Fiona exclaimed loudly, her voice not carrying over the roar of the riders cheering her on.

“Yes, it is,” T’mar told her, grinning wildly. “You’ve been here one hundred and seventy-eight days now, and that, added to your time at Fort Weyr, is a whole Turn.” He gestured toward the candles. “You’ve turned fourteen.”

“Make a wish!” the crowd urged.

“Blow them out!”

Still confused and overwhelmed with surprise, Fiona gave a gracious sigh, drew a deep breath, and blew the candles out.

Afteward, as everyone finished congratulating her, she looked over to Terin and smirked widely.

“What?” the young headwoman asked nervously. “You aren’t mad, are you?”

“Oh, no,” Fiona exclaimed, her eyes dancing impishly. “I’m just recalling that you’ve twelve days until your  Turning!”

Soon enough,  Fiona reassured Talenth as she hovered over the Star Stones perched on Zirenth’s back. You’ll be flying soon enough.

I wish I could go with you,  Talenth repeated morosely.

Well, how about the first place we fly to will be the wherhold?

I’d like that,  Talenth agreed.

I have to be there,  Fiona told her again. Nuella has asked me to stand by her side.  She paused, adding worriedly, You  will be okay without me?

I’m tired,  Talenth replied sounding testy. I’ll sleep.

Sleep and grow strong,  Fiona told her encouragingly.

I wish I was bigger.

Soon enough, love, soon enough,  Fiona assured her, sending a tender caress with her thoughts. How are the children?

The littlest ones are in your bed, I think they think I’m too big for them,  Talenth told her, her spirits lifting. But the older ones are warm and comfortable.

Mother Karina had been speechless when Fiona had suggested that the trader children spend the night in her weyr, those wanting to sleeping with Talenth.

“I sleep with her all the time,” Fiona assured her. “She’s completely safe. And I’m sure she’d love the company.”

“But trader children . . . sleeping with a queen!” Karina repeated, eyes wide in amazement.

“She likes the company and,” Fiona added with a wry grin, “it makes her feel older to have youngsters to watch over.”

Karina and the other traders had difficulty looking at the queen, who was much bigger now than any of their