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Chap. 46  The Winged Taxi “Before I forget, sir, ” K’ndar said to Rahman, the astronomer, “I’d like to thank you for sending the books to me. I’ve just finished them and by the egg, I’ve learned so much. I would like more, please, if that’s possible.” The old man smiled. “Oh, it’s possible, my…

Chap. 45 Siskin’s first ride Siskin, his young blue fire lizard, suddenly appeared, chittering in agitation. His eyes rolled an aggravated orange. He flew right in Raventh’s face, for all the world sounding as if he were scolding. Then he settled between Raventh’s wings, muttering.  What’s wrong with him? I was ‘gone’. He was afraid. …

Chap. 44  After Action conference “I know it’s not our normal meeting spot, but it’s a lovely day and we can let our dragons play in the lake while we talk,” D’nis said. The weyr had flown against Thread earlier that day. His wingleaders, wingseconds and B’rant, the Weyrlingmaster, were lounging on the grass, as…

Chap. 43  The egg hatches The egg is rocking and making noise K’ndar was jolted out his concentration on the book he’d been reading. The fire lizard egg, settled on a bed of heated sand, was rocking. He could hear the lizard inside cheeping. Shards!! He had nothing for it to eat! Do I have…

Chap. 42 Second Thoughts It was time. His family met in the dining hall, early in the morning. They wanted to get an early start on their trip back to the cothold. K’ndar was going to take Daryat back to the cothold on Raventh. Glyena looked glum. She’d hardly touched her breakfast. Unusually quiet, she…

Chap. 41  The Gather and the Horse Race The day after the Weyr flew against thread, the Turnover (year’s end and beginning) Gather took place. K’ndar had never seen so many people. There were vendors of all sorts, selling everything from laying hens to playing cards. Jugglers and puppetmasters put on shows for the children.…

Chap. 40  Family decisions “If I hadn’t lived through it, I wouldn’t have believed so many things could happen in one short week,” Daryat said. The family was sitting around a small fire on the beach in front of K’ndar’s weyr. Raventh’s eyes reflected the flames, making them appear to glow like hot coals. Sandriss’s…

Chap. 38 Threadfall at Turnover K’ndar felt the fear climb up his throat. It was his first ever Thread fall in the sky where he was in the middle of the fight. Up until now, as a Weyrling, he’d followed the golds, who didn’t flame Thread. Or he’d shuttled sacks of firestone to riders flaming…

Chap 37 After selling the chokers K’ndar was happy…and relieved…when he saw Lizard’s wagon and draft beasts parked in his usual spot in the shade. A man was walking off from the wagon carrying a new saddle. Lizard was holding a large sword. He grinned at K’ndar. “Want to barter for a sword, my lad?”…

Chap 36 Selling the chokers In his pocket, he had two braided horse hair necklaces. It had taken him long hours of work. It hadn’t been mind work. No, had he realized it, the skill had served to allow him to relax after a day’s training. He’d done it so often his fingers did the…