Dragon’s Time: Dragonriders of Pern

by Anne; Todd J. Mccaffrey Mccaffrey

  “He must have been a difficult man to live with,” Jeila guessed.

  “Oh, no,” Javissa said, shaking her head. “He was the most marvelous man to live with.” Jeila raised an eyebrow and Javissa moved close enough to whisper in her ear, “He knew his time was short and he made the most of it.” She smiled in memory of the passion. “And he loved me every moment of every day.”

  “H’nez loves me,” Jeila said, feeling almost compelled to defend him.

  “He’d be a fool otherwise!” Javissa said with a snort. Jeila looked askance at the response, so Javissa explained, “For one, you are a trader child. For another, it is obvious—even through your pain—that you are one who finds a man and sticks to him.”

  “Fiona has many,” Jeila said in self-deprecation.

  “That is her way,” Javissa said. She saw the weyrwoman’s eyes widen. “We’ve seen her grow from child to adult down in Igen, we keep track of her.” Her smile faded. “In truth, she has only two men, maybe three, and she shares her love with all.”

  “Yes,” Jeila agreed. She shook herself. “I’d best get back, she’ll need me.”

  “She has you in her spell,” Javissa said.

  Jeila frowned for a moment, then nodded. “I would die for her,” the weyrwoman admitted.

  “As she would for you,” Javissa concluded. “She is one of those lucky enough to live in full love.” Jeila gave her an inquiring look. “She is like Nuella, she spreads her love like air—and we all breathe the easier for it.”

  “Yes,” Jeila agreed. She nodded toward Jeriz. “She opened his heart.”

  “His father gave him a terrible burden,” Javissa said. “It is hard to be the son of a seer and not a seer yourself.”

  “He’s a good lad, he’s got a true heart,” Jeila said. She smiled as she couldn’t help adding, “And eyes that will break hearts throughout Pern.”

  “If he learns to control himself,” Javissa agreed, blushing. Jeila looked at her. “I had a similar problem until I met Tenniz.” She frowned. “It was hard to be judged only on my looks.”

  “What happened?” Jeila asked in wonder, referring to Tenniz’s courtship.

  “He asked me whether I’d be willing to live a hard life that I’d love, or a soft life that I’d hate,” Javissa said with a wan smile. “I was his after that.”

  “That fast?”

  “Well,” Javissa temporized, “after that and our first kiss.” She smiled at the memory. “Then I was his forever.”

  “And now?” Jeila asked softly.

  “I have children,” Javissa said. “And a responsibility.” She gave Jeila a frank look. “I will have other lovers, I’m certain, but when I’m ready.” She drew back a little and lowered her head in a trader’s bow. “Weyrwoman, I request the shelter of the Weyr.”

  “I’d be glad of your help,” Jeila said, offering her hand. Javissa shook it firmly. “Times are hard, the way is dark.”

  “Tenniz said it would be so,” Javissa replied. She glanced at Tolarth. “Your queen is big, the largest on Pern, they say. Can she carry us all?”

  Jeila laughed. “Let’s see!”

  “Should she be out on her queen after all that’s happened?” H’nez asked Bekka worriedly. He’d tracked the healer down the moment he’d noticed Jeila’s absence and had followed her with a pack of questions that the young woman had answered slowly and steadily.

  “She was early enough that the loss is little more than her usual monthly, wingleader,” Bekka told him kindly. “She might feel more cramping, but if she felt able to ride her queen—and her queen was willing because, as you know, Fiona has all the queens check with her—”

  “She does?” H’nez asked in surprise.

  “There are only three and only two of them can fly yet,” Bekka reminded him with a shrug. “It makes sense that the Weyrwoman know what’s going on with the queens in her Weyr.”

  “They won’t rise for months yet,” H’nez protested.

  “Of course,” Bekka agreed. “I think Fiona’s just making it a habit and … I think it’s just part of who she is, you know?”

  H’nez snorted at the question and then gave it more attention. “Yes, I suppose it is.”

  “Anyway, she’s on her way back with Jeriz and two others,” Bekka said.

  “You can talk to any dragon?” H’nez asked, eyes narrowing.

  “No,” Bekka said, smiling. “But I can talk with Talenth and she’s happy enough to ask Tolarth a question and relay the answer to me.”

  H’nez eyed the blonde appraisingly. She’d always had a great deal of self-assurance, justifiably with her expertise in healing, particularly midwifery, but her new elevation to journeyman seemed to have cemented that confidence within her, giving external validation of her internal aspirations. She moved more surely, more confidently. She had, the wiry wingleader realized, found herself as an adult.

  He heard the watch dragon bugle a challenge and Tolarth’s response. “I’d best greet her.”

  “I’ll come along,” Bekka said. She cocked an eye at the taller bronze rider. “Do you want me to give out to her?” H’nez’s eyes narrowed in confusion. “You know, scold her?”

  “If you think it would help,” H’nez said.

  “It’ll be easier if it’s coming from me,” Bekka said. “That way you can be sympathetic.”

  H’nez’s eyes widened in surprise at Bekka’s display of guile. “I would appreciate that.”

  Bekka snorted. “My mother taught me that trick, wingleader!”

  “Wise woman.”

  “Jeila, what are you doing up?” Fiona called as she crossed the Bowl toward Tolarth. “And Jeriz, you and I need to talk.”

  “I brought them, Weyrwoman,” Jeriz cried excitedly as he leaped down from his perch on Tolarth’s neck. “I brought them!”

  “Who?” Fiona asked, her smile broad in response to his clear exuberance. She glanced up and saw the two trader figures above. “More strays?”

  She moved forward to help the woman and child climb down from Tolarth’s high shoulder.

  “Step here, then there,” Fiona said, guiding the small woman’s feet as she instructed. When the woman was down, she turned, and at that moment Fiona caught sight of her green eyes. Her smile faded. “You must be Jeriz’s mother.”

  “Javissa, Weyrwoman,” the other replied, hand outstretched, though caught off balance by Fiona’s coldness. Even Jeriz turned his eyes toward her in surprise.

  Fiona ignored the proffered hand, moving behind the woman to help the girl down and scooting her forward toward her mother while she helped Jeila dismount.

  “Where’d you find the strays?” she asked Jeila. The dainty gold rider gave Fiona a startled look, surprised at her tone. “Jeriz asked a boon.”

  “Weyrwoman,” Jeriz said, “this is my mother, Javissa, and my sister, Jirana.” He paused and added, “Her name is in honor of Lorana.”

  “Lorana?” Fiona repeated sharply, glancing at Javissa. “How do you know Lorana?”

  “My husband, Tenniz—”

  “He said it would turn out all right,” Fiona broke in accusingly. She turned her attention to Jeriz. “And you! How dare you leave, especially after Terin.”

  Jeriz visibly wilted in the face of her anger, his eyes smoldered, and his head lowered. “I only—”

  “Enough!” Fiona cut across him, raising a finger and pointing toward Terin’s quarters. “Go there, relieve Shaneese, and stay with her, no matter who comes or where she goes.”

  “Yes, Weyrwoman,” Jeriz returned sullenly. He started off slowly, but Fiona barked after him, “Run!” Jeriz picked up his pace to a slow trot.

  “I’ll go with him,” Javissa said, starting off after her son, clearly surprised at her harsh reception.

  “I’m staying with her,” Jirana said, pointing at Fiona. Fiona turned to say something to the girl, but the dark brown eyes met hers squarely.

  “You’re hurting,” Jirana declared, as she stepped forwa
rd and grabbed Fiona’s hand.

  Fiona blinked once at the girl and then burst into tears. “Yes, yes I am!”

  Jeila took charge and bustled them over to Fiona’s quarters, shushing the distraught Weyrwoman. Jirana never left her side, gently holding Fiona’s hand as though her touch gave the blond weyrwoman comfort and, as far as Jeila could see, it did.

  She got the younger weyrwoman to sit on her bed, then, with a decisive sigh, she forced Fiona out of her clothes and into her nightdress.

  “You need rest,” Jeila declared, surprised at herself. “You’ve been carrying this Weyr on your shoulders for too long.” She gave Fiona a measured look and shook her head. “You may be taller than me, but you’re not that tall.”

  “I’ve got to.”

  “You’ve got to rest, too, you know,” Jeila told her softly. “You’ve got the babies to care for.”

  “I’ve got the only babies now,” Fiona said, suddenly blubbering again. She grabbed for Jeila’s hand and kissed it. “Oh, Jeila, I’m so sorry! I so wanted our babies to grow up together.”

  “And they will,” Jeila promised. “I’ll have more, you’ll see.”

  Somehow alerted, Bekka arrived. She gave Fiona one look, gave young Jirana a considering glance, and declared, “You need to rest, you’re going to drink this, and you’re going to sleep until you wake up.” She turned to Jirana and said, “She’s a funny one, our Weyrwoman, she uses her friends like blankets and pillows—would you be a pillow?”

  Jirana giggled at the notion and nodded silently.

  “Good!” Bekka said. She turned toward Talenth’s weyr. “Talenth!” The queen raised her head and craned it in through the entrance, eyes whirling steadily. “She’s to sleep, don’t let her fret. And let me know if she needs anything.”

  As you say, Talenth replied.

  “Peel out of your stuff and get into this,” Bekka said, finding one of Fiona’s tunics and throwing it at Jirana, “and then crawl into bed with her.” She saw Jirana glance around and added, “Don’t worry about tidy, the floor’s clean, throw it there.”

  Jirana’s eyes widened, but the child silently obeyed and was soon dressed in Fiona’s soft tunic. She lifted the fabric closer to her and sniffed. “It smells nice.”

  “That’s Fiona smell,” Bekka said with a smile. “She does smell nice, I think it’s a Fort Hold trick.”

  “I smell of Koriana’s bed,” Fiona confessed as she slid into her bed. “I’ve kept the scent ever since I learned that Kindan liked it.”

  “Who’s Koriana?” Jirana asked.

  “She was my sister,” Fiona said. “She died in the Plague.”

  “Oh.”

  “Scoot in bed there, young one,” Bekka said in a kindly voice.

  “I’m only a little sleepy,” Jirana confessed. Fiona yawned and the girl caught it, yawning wide, and gave the Weyrwoman an accusing look.

  “Sorry,” Fiona said.

  “Did you ever want a little sister?” Jirana asked.

  “Yes, I’ve been begging my father ever since I could talk,” Fiona said, turning to peer into the bright, dark eyes of the girl beside her.

  “My father’s dead,” Jirana said with a touch of sadness. “He died before I was born.”

  “I knew him, he was a good man,” Fiona said, yawning once more.

  “That’s what everyone says,” Jirana confessed. “And they say he had the Sight, he could see the future.”

  “He could.”

  Jirana’s voice lowered as she admitted, “They say that I’ll see the future, too, when I get older.”

  “Oh,” Fiona said, at a loss for words.

  “I’ll leave you two,” Bekka said, “and see how Terin and Jeila are doing.”

  “I’m sorry to be such a mess,” Fiona said, yawning once more and giving the little girl an apologetic look as she yawned in sequence.

  “You’re pregnant, you’re under a lot of stress,” Bekka said with a dismissive gesture. “I’m only surprised you didn’t collapse a sevenday sooner.”

  “This is normal?”

  “Nothing, Weyrwoman, is normal with you,” Bekka said, smiling. She walked back and leaned over Jirana to kiss Fiona fondly on the forehead. “That’s why we love you so.”

  “Check on Shaneese, too,” Fiona said, eyeing the midwife carefully. She was not surprised at Bekka’s lack of reaction—she was certain that Bekka had already discerned Shaneese’s pregnancy.

  “I will,” Bekka assured her, straightening and beating a quick retreat. At the entrance to Talenth’s weyr she turned back. “Rest, Weyrwoman. You’ll feel better.”

  Fiona closed her eyes obediently. She heard Bekka’s footsteps fade in the distance and thought of opening her eyes, but the fellis-laced wine was working on her and she was tired, so tired. She heard Jirana’s breathing beside her and reached out to touch the girl on her shoulder.

  “You could be my sister if you’d like,” Fiona said.

  With a half-cry, Jirana threw herself into Fiona’s arms. “I’d like that, very much, please.”

  “Good, then it’s settled,” Fiona said, kissing the crown of the girl’s dark hair. “Sisters it is.”

  Startled by Fiona’s outburst, Jeriz was reticent about introducing his mother to Terin, but Jeila had no reserves, explaining all that had occurred as they made their way up the slant of the queens’ ledge.

  “I understand,” Javissa said when Jeila had finished. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “Such losses are hard on anyone.”

  “How did you manage?” Jeila asked softly.

  Javissa gave her a half-smile. “I had special help.”

  Jeila gave her an inquiring look, but the other trader woman shook her head. “I’ll tell you about it later.”

  Terin met them in Kurinth’s lair. She was feeding the queen, aided by a gaggle of small weyrkids.

  “Gently, Kurinth,” Terin called as the queen lunged toward a bite temptingly offered her by one of the younger boys. To the boy she said, “It’s better to just throw it toward her.”

  “That doesn’t seem very respectful,” the boy said.

  “She’s little,” Terin replied. “She doesn’t mind.” She bent down and stroked Kurinth’s eye ridges. “Do you, greedy guts?”

  The children giggled at her choice of words, but Kurinth paid them no mind, cheerfully chomping on the next sliver of meat offered. Terin heard the noise of Jeila’s approach and turned toward her.

  “Are you all right, Jeila?” she said, moving toward her. “I’m so sorry!”

  “It’s over,” Jeila said, looking up at the younger woman and gesturing toward Javissa. “This is Javissa, Jeriz’s mother and—”

  “Tenniz’s mate?” Terin asked in wonder. “I don’t think we saw you when we were in Igen.”

  “I was busy with child most of that time,” Javissa admitted. Jeila cast narrowed eyes in her direction; there was something that the woman wasn’t saying.

  Terin pointed to the far wall where a large leather set of riding gear was stowed. “He had that made for me—the gold fitting there. He said—”

  “ ‘This is yours and no other’s,” Javissa finished, smiling at the young woman as Terin’s mouth opened in a look of surprise. “He told me about it, when he had it commissioned.”

  “Traders trade,” Terin said. “How can I pay this debt?”

  “You have, many times over,” Javissa assured her. “And again, just now.”

  Terin’s lips worked anxiously. “It was a great gift he gave me,” she said. “It gave me hope.”

  “I’m glad,” Javissa said. “Don’t lose it.”

  “Did he say something more to you?” Terin asked, pouncing on the other woman’s words for a hidden meaning.

  Javissa shook her head. “No,” she said, “he was careful not to reveal too much to me.”

  “And how did you get here, on this day at this time?”

  “He told me that I would know when to take the dark road,” Javissa
said.

  “And he left word that I would find a home where none has ever been, but that first I would have to go to Telgar and save the queens,” Jeriz said.

  “Save the queens?” Jeila repeated, glancing at Terin.

  “I’d say he has,” Terin said, reaching up and tousling his soft, dark hair. “You, me, and now Fiona.”

  Terin saw Javissa’s eyes narrow and looked toward her questioningly. “She’s holding up as best she can,” the red-haired weyrwoman said in apology for Fiona’s outburst.

  “She is,” Javissa agreed. Her expression softened. “Tenniz and Mother Karina spoke so highly of her—”

  “That you were shocked at her explosion,” Jeila finished. She shook her head. “I’ve heard of her exploding a time or two before. It’s been necessary, although not always directed in the right direction.”

  “But why me?” Javissa asked with less passion than curiosity.

  “Because of Tenniz’s words to Lorana,” Terin said, gesturing for them to move away from the weyrkids. “And his words to her.”

  “His message was: ‘It will turn out all right,’ ” Javissa recalled.

  “Which is why she’s so angry,” Terin said, smiling sadly. “First Lorana, then F’jian, and then—” her expression crumpled as she saw Jeila.

  “Good to see you up and about,” Bekka said, having listened in quietly on the conversation. She flicked her eyes toward Jeila. “You’re well enough, will you join Birentir with the wounded?”

  Jeila opened her mouth, eyes flashing angrily, then thought better of it and nodded, reaching out to pat Bekka on the shoulder. “As you wish, Journeyman.”

  “Weyrwoman,” Bekka said, nodding respectfully but not giving on her determination. She looked at Javissa. “Can I leave you with Terin? Fiona’s right that Jeriz shouldn’t have left her alone, no matter what she said.”

  Terin gave the healer an angry glare and growled, but Bekka was having none of it. “You’ve been through a lot, you haven’t finished grieving.” Bekka nodded toward Javissa. “She knows something of grief.”

  “I promised Fiona—” Jeriz began.