Dragonheart

telling everyone what they should be doing.”

“Well, I think we should keep a full load of firestone bagged and ready at all times,” Fiona remarked.

“A good idea,” Cisca agreed, “and usually we do. I suspect that with T’mar’s injuries, the issue was conveniently forgotten by the weyrlings.”

“I can’t say as I’d blame them,” Fiona said. “They must have been exhausted bagging and flying the firestone and then, on top of it, helping with the injured.”

“Sixty-two,” Terin called loudly from the doorway. M’valer’s wing had flown off and was replaced with K’rall’s.

Cisca turned to the sound of the younger girl’s voice and then looked back at Fiona, her eyes dancing. “Acquiring more outcasts?”

“She can count,” Fiona replied with a shrug. “She says her father was a rider.”

Cisca made a face. “She came to us from a small hold that was doing poorly,” she said. “And yes, they made the claim but couldn’t identify the parent.”

“And they let her go?” Fiona asked, surprised.

“It was six Turns ago, during that harsh winter, and that hold couldn’t feed itself,” Cisca explained. Before Fiona could ask the question, the Weyrwoman continued, “Yes, it was one of your father’s minor holds.”

“It must have been Retallek,” Fiona decided. “Father was going to replace the holder there as soon as the weather turned good enough to ride.”

Cisca raised an eyebrow, urging Fiona to go on.

“There were none left alive when he got there,” Fiona told her grimly.

“So she was lucky,” Cisca murmured quietly.

“Yes,” Fiona agreed with a deep sigh. She shook herself and said to the Weyrwoman, “I think I’ll go inside and see if I can help.”

Cisca acknowledged this with a wave and strode off.

Inside the firestone room, the air was getting dusty as the weyrlings heaped firestone into open sacks. She spotted Xhinna and waved to her, but the weyrgirl was too busy, wiping sweat out of her eyes and stooping to shovel another load of firestone into her bag.

“Water,” Fiona murmured to herself. We must get them water. And why wasn’t there more air coming in?

She started back to the entrance and pushed the double doors fully open, then looked around for someone to get water.

Talenth,  she called, could you ask Ellor to send someone with water for the weyrlings? They’ll be parched.

Ellor has sent the water,  Talenth told a moment later.

Thank you,  Fiona replied, sending a mental caress toward her dragon.

“One hundred,” Terin said beside her as another weyrling passed by.

“Thank you.” Fiona looked up and saw Tajen lifting a sack of firestone up to his perch behind T’mar on Zirenth.

“I’ve brought some water,” a young boy piped up suddenly from behind Fiona. She turned and had to lower her gaze to meet the eyes of the towheaded youngster in front of her.

“Can you go inside and make sure that everyone gets a drink?” The boy’s eyes grew big and round as he realized he was talking to a Weyrwoman, but he shook his head slowly.

“Why not?” Fiona asked in surprise.

“Firestone explodes when water touches it,” the boy replied in a half-whisper.

“Old firestone,” Terin chimed in abruptly. “This is new firestone.” She shook her head at him, looking superior, although Fiona doubted she was more than two Turns his elder.

“Go on,” Fiona said, gently shoving the child to the door. “You’ll be fine. Just make sure that everyone gets a drink; tell them it’s my orders.”

“Yes, Weyrwoman,” the boy replied, his shoulders suddenly straighter as he realized that he  would be giving the Weyrwoman’s orders.

Fiona, who had been raised as a Lord Holder’s daughter, had only a fleeting moment of surprise at how easily everyone followed her orders before she returned her attention the task at hand.

“One hundred and ten,” Terin called out a short time later.

Fiona insisted on carrying the last sack herself and cheerfully handed it up to a blue rider, who gawked at her in surprise before tying the sack to his riding harness.

“Good flying!” she called up to him.

“Thank you, Weyrwoman,” the rider returned, and then he was rising into the air, following the last wing as it took station above the Star Stones, then blinked between  to the skies above Ruatha Hold.

“Everyone, take a break,” Fiona called. “But stay on your feet. Ten minutes.”

She had sent the weyrboy back to the kitchens for some snacks and set him the task of ensuring that everyone had a chance to eat while they were resting. She went into the firestone room and rousted out Xhinna and the weyrlings, urging, “Get some fresh air!”

To Terin, she said, “Good job.” The youngster glowed.

“What do you think of firestone, now?” Fiona asked Xhinna when she had a chance to catch her alone.

“It’s not so bad,” Xhinna replied with a look of stout determination.

When the break was over, the younger weyrlings and Xhinna started back to bagging firestone while the older weyrlings put their harnesses on their dragons in preparation for hauling the firestone.

At last the last sack was loaded onto the dragons, and J’gerd waved to Fiona from his perch on brown Winurth, then called to the other weyrlings, “Test straps!”

The weryling dragons flexed their hindquarters and leapt into the air, their wings beating frantically as they lifted their loads. Just off the ground, they hovered.

Winurth asks if you can see any loose straps,  Talenth told her. Fiona got a feeling of motion from her queen, and turned to see Talenth hurrying out on to her ledge to see all the commotion firsthand. As the young gold caught sight of the straining dragons, she added wistfully, When can I do that?

When the other weyrlings of your clutch can,  Fiona replied sending a wave of commiseration along with the thought. She turned back to the weyrlings and assessed their situation. Tell Winurth that I see nothing wrong from here.

J’gerd waved down at her and made a pumping motion to the flying weyrlings. They rose higher. J’gerd dropped his arm suddenly and the weyrlings swooped, stopping abruptly, straining their lines.

Winurth says that everyone reports ready,  Talenth relayed in a tone of curiosity. What are they ready for?

What, indeed? Fiona wondered. Suddenly she understood.

Talenth, tell Rineth that the weyrlings are ready,  Fiona said, realizing that J’gerd could have just as easily had his own dragon relay the information to the Weyrleader.

K’lior says that they should meet high at the north Ruathan border,  Talenth responded a moment later, relaying the message very carefully.

Good,  Fiona responded. Please tell Winurth.

A moment later, J’gerd made another arm motion. In response, the weyrlings rose higher, gathered at the Star Stones, and then disappeared between.

Did they get there?  Fiona asked a moment later.

Rineth says they are in a good formation,  Talenth replied.

Fiona straightened her shoulders with pride and turned to Terin.

“They got there,” she said. The youngster looked at her as if she’d just pronounced water wet.

It seemed only moments later that the older weyrlings were back, tying on their second load of firestone. Again they tested it. This time one sack fell off and a shamefaced green rider returned to the ground, retrieved the fallen sack, tied it securely, and tested once more. When all was in order, J’gerd gave the signal again and they went between,  J’gerd first sketching a salute to Fiona. Fiona smiled and, gesturing for