Энн Маккефри: The Second Weyr

When he paused again and let his gaze sweep the riders, Torene had the feeling that something momentous was going to happen. She was positive she knew what that had to be and inhaled, sitting straighter. She felt N’klas shift beside her as if he, too, felt impending news.

“The holders all agree that new Weyrs-” He stopped as dramatically as N’klas might, to let the plurality be absorbed. “-must be formed.”

He would have gone on, but wild cheering and stamping ensued and made him smile as he held up his arms for silence.

“Some of you”-and Torene caught him looking at her-“may think that the double-cratered site on the east coast is an ideal site for one. And you’d be right.” More cheering punctuated that statement. Torene felt N’klas’s elbow in her ribs, and she saw that F’mar was also watching her, a broad, happy, and very smug grin on his face.

Well, she thought, he had the makings of a good Weyr-leader, and his Wingseconds swore by his competence.

“We’ll start that one first,” Sean went on, “and there will be two more adapted as soon as possible. I project that we’ll need two more at the rate our queens are laying, so we should prepare now for our needs while holder enthusiasm for our profession continues strong.” He gave a wry smile, which brought a ripple of appreciative laughter. “Big Island is also a firm choice, to give us a warmer climate not only where our injured can convalesce but also where our disabled can still be of assistance. Telgar needs one to protect the miners-” There was a ripple of mild dissent, because Telgar was mountain-cold. “There is a crater in the sandy peninsula to the east and another in the far north-west. But we already have contingents at Big Island and Telgar, so those will be completed first.”

He waited until the wave of whistles and cheering died and then, with a slight grin on his face, continued. “Ierne Islanders are coming north, and Longwood wants the secondary site on the east coast. They will also help us prepare that Weyr in appreciation of our willingness to protect them.” Sean grinned more broadly now.

“So that’s how he’s done it,” N’klas said, his eyes shining with respectful awe.

“Done what?” Torene asked in a low voice.

“Made them think we’re doing them the favor when it’s the other way round,” N’klas replied. “Oh, he’s clever, is Carenath’s rider.”

“Lockahatchee and Uppsala fancy Big Island, and they will help us enlarge the existing facility there,” Sean went on. “Telgar’s promised as many miners as he can spare for some of the excavation work on all sites, so I think we will be able to provide protection in four locations even as the Weyrs are being adapted to the needs of our dragons.”

Four Weyrs, including the one she had yearned for! Torene couldn’t believe it! One would have occasioned great joy. But four Weyrs? Well. . . She did a quick count: Sean could put twenty wings in the air for any given Fall even if all were not accommodated at Fort. Three new weyrs also meant three new Weyrleaders and Weyrwomen. Who had Sean and Sorka chosen to promote? Probably some of the senior riders, and she couldn’t but be happy for Uloa’s and Arna’s sakes, or David Caterel and Peter Semling. They were logical choices. . . but who else?

“We have twenty mature queens,” Sean was saying, “and well over a hundred bronzes and ten or twelve browns who would make admirable leaders. This being the case, I feel that we’ll let chance play a part in what is too difficult a choice for us”-he indicated himself and Sorka-"to make. So you're going to draw which Weyr you'll go to. We're splitting up the queen dragons, with the exception of Faranth, who stays here, with me." Sean scowled fiercely, waiting for the widespread laugh that was expected at the notion of any other dragon but Carenath flying Faranth. When the laughter died down, he went on. "Nora will pass the bag among the gold riders. Tarrie has a bag for Wingleaders, as I think it's best if the wings go forward as a unit to whichever Weyr the Wingleader draws. Does that seem a fair way to distribute riders?"

Despite an almost universal surprise, approval followed almost immediately. Looking around at the faces she could see from her position, Torene saw many expectantly hopeful expressions; she put her hands to her ears in an automatic but pointless attempt to shut out the tumultuous responses of dragons to their riders' anxious reactions. She shook her head and then felt Alaranth's mind helping her shut off the mental noise. Usually she could filter unwanted messages, but not tonight — not that she could blame either party.

"Of course, we've three clutches of eggs ready for hatching, and we'd divvy them up as soon's we know what they are," Sean added with a grin.

Torene looked around for Tarrie and Nora and saw them rising from a table on the far end of the cavern. She'd be one of the last to choose, sitting as she was at the front of the room, and the agony of the wait was exquisitely painful. Dare she dream of drawing the east coast Weyr? would she stay on here at Fort, since she was the youngest queen rider and had so much to learn? She ought to wish she'd be stationed at Telgar for then she'd be nearer her parents, which they'd appreciate all the more now that her brothers and sisters were away on their apprenticeships. But she had developed a special feeling for the double crater and had so brashly planned how to use its many natural caverns — just as if she had the right to!

Brown and bronze riders began to shout out their new assignments, leaping from their seats or just waving their arms about in delight. Surprised, Torene heard as much pleasure expressed at being assigned to Telgar as east coast or Big island. Everything was happening so quickly on the far side that she really didn't see who had got the east coast assignment. She was surprised when she saw Tarrie go to the head table and pass the bag to the Wingleaders sitting there. Why had F'mar been grinning so much then? She saw him reach his hand in and was so eager to know where he was going that she was startled when she felt someone touch her arm and turned to see Nora standing beside her.

"You're the last queen rider present to pick," Nora said. "Hope it's the one you want. Then Sorka will draw for the absentees."

Holding her breath, Torene dutifully slipped her hand into the bag and felt several slivers. Squeezing her eyes tight, she let her fingers close on one, drawing it out.

"Do exhale, 'Rene," Nora said with amusement.

Torene let out her breath, grinning nervously at the other queen rider before she had the nerve to look at what she held. She read it, then read it again.

You keep saying 'east coast,' Alaranth remarked patiently. Are we to go to the place we want?

“Yes, oh, yes, yes," Torene breathed, clutching the all-important message to her breasts.

" 'Yes, oh, yes, yes,' where'd you get?" N'klas asked, showing her his slip. He'd pulled "east coast" as well.

She hugged him in a most uncharacteristic gush of joy. He was too surprised to take full advantage of it before she, as abruptly, released him.

"East coast!" Oh, she was so happy, and she squeezed the message in hands suddenly moist. Radiantly she smiled up the head table and caught Sorka’s smile and Sean’s nod of approval. As her eyes slid away, she saw F’mar’s face: he wasn’t smiling quite so broadly now. She raised her eyebrows queryingly, and he mouthed “Telgar” at her.

She made a moue of disappointment, but actually she wasn’t disappointed at all.

Tarrie and Nora had brought the bags up to the main table and Sorka drew for the absent queen riders, Sean for the six absent Wingleaders.

“So you now all know which Weyr you’ll be stationed at-for now-since we’ll have to make other divisions if we decide to expand to six full Weyrs. All of you Wingleaders are experienced and know as much about managing a fighting Weyr as I do. I’ve seen to that!” He ignored the barrage of whistles and jocular remarks that met his slightly smug smile. “There’s really only one fair way to decide who becomes Weyrleader. “ He used another of his pregnant pauses to increase suspense. Torene had never seen her Weyrleader in such teasing good spirits. He was really enjoying stringing all this out.