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When Lessa joined him later； murmuring that he should get some food into him； she took his place。
They sleep。 They need it； Ramoth said so very； very softly； as if she did not wish even that intimate exchange to disturb the silence。
Tell me again； Ramoth； how it all happened。 From the beginning。
I have been thinking of nothing else。 I will speak softly。 These here know what happened and yet…they don't know。 I am not sure I do。
Lessa nodded her head。 Tell me。 We will study it together。
I am asleep。 I am awakened by the most urgent cry for assistance。 Mnementh wakes； too。 It is Golanth who is in trouble。 It is Zaranth who calls； fears for Golanth's life。 She calls everyone。 Everyone she knows。 I get there first； Mnementh a breath behind。 Then e Heth； Gadareth； Monarth； Path； Arwith； Ruth； and others。 I see Zaranth tearing the felines from Golanth without touching them。 Her mind has the fury of firestone as it es from the mouth： never have I seen a dragon so angry。 I see how she does it。 Golanth does it； too。 Ruth learns quickly。 All who came learned。 We remove the furry killing things。 We think only of removing the furry killing things。 We do so。 No other creature has ever attacked a dragon！
She paused。 It is not the same thing as searing Thread from the sky。 I feel good when a Fall is over and no Thread has reached the ground。 This is very different。 I see the leaping furries； ing from behind。 Zaranth lifts as high as she can stand； to take their leaping…bravely done； the bravest thing a green has ever done…but one is aiming for Golanth's back where a rider could fend it off but there is no rider to help protect that place。 The beast will not fail of its target。
Ramoth grumbled briefly。 Golanth tells me to time it。 Of course I know how。 And I know what he means。 It is what he did at Sunrise Cliff。 There is so little time in that second。 The beast is already leaping。 It is too late to stop that。 But I can change where it will land。 Just enough to turn its strike。 The claws do not reach the fatal place。 They just nearly do。
You saved Golanth's life that moment； Ramoth。
In truth it was Zaranth who saved his life。
Lessa had not ridden her golden queen for so many years to disregard something left unsaid。
And so； dear golden heart of my life； you will honor her。
She is a good green dragon。 I had not thought to learn from a green dragon。 I have。 To Lessa's amusement； Ramoth seemed to be considering the source as even more important than the new ability。 But then； she went on as if having finally settled that point； this knowledge will require practice…without the spur of fear…to perfect the way to move things。
Lessa digested that。 But you do remember how to do it？
For one moment； Lessa feared that it might just be the circumstances of death and danger that had activated this new ability。
I would prefer more time to review what happened； Lessa of my heart； but I remember how。 The moment is vivid in my mind。 I will not lose it before I lose the light of my days。
Whatever Aivas would have called the emergence of the last of the linked telepathic abilities that dragons and fire…lizards possessed； Lessa did not know。 She did wonder what use Aivas would have made of it； in those days when they were trying to alter the path of the Red Star。 They'd altered it anyway。 So did it matter？
And yet； subtly； it did。 Every dragon lounging so casually on the cliffs around Honshu； down on the river terraces…soon every dragon on Pern…was aware of being more than they had been。
Practice？ Ramoth said。
COUNCIL MEETING AT TELGAR HOLD…3。1。31
At last Lessa and F'lar slept； determined to be as rested as possible for what lay ahead of them at the Council Meeting。 They went to the meeting by way of Benden； where they bundled up the notes they needed for the session and clothing appropriate to the occasion。 No one stopped them at their weyrs； though people in the Bowl waved encouragingly and dragons bugled。
Though Benden Weyr had a more than adequate reason to postpone the Council Meeting； there were other extremely important matters…such as electing a new Lord Holder at Southern Boll； the Weyrleaders' presentation of their remendations； made more cogent by yesterday's event （though the ramifications of that would not be open for discussion）； the latest Abominator attack on the Print Hall…which made it impossible； as well as inadvisable； to reschedule。 Nor； despite her immense concern over the patients at Honshu； would Lessa have absented herself。
F'lessan was in Master Crivellan's more than capable hands and those of Oldive's most experienced healers。 The Masterhealer could return to Honshu if he was needed during F'lessan's recovery from the plex surgical repair to the worst of his wounds。 Had she remained； Lessa would have felt superfluous； a role she did not play well。
The Weyrhealers attended Golanth and Zaranth。 The green would heal as quickly as most dragons did； given the care she was receiving。 The damage to Golanth's eye remained exceedingly critical。 How the tattered wing sails would heal was another worry。 The crack in the long bone of the left wing； splintered by fangs； might inhibit closing and be weak in stroke or falter during a prolonged glide。 As long as the two dragons were lavished with numbweed； they would feel no pain。 The fact that Persellan had attended Golanth's injuries five minutes after the attack had made a significant difference。
From the beloved Bowl of Benden Weyr； F'lar and Lessa went between and emerged above the hills of Telgar where a large crowd had gathered on the plain below the triangular jut of the Hold。 As Ramoth； Mnementh at her right wing tip； glided in； Lessa could see the banners of many holds and halls displayed。 A Council Meeting usually brought visitors； some waiting to hear about petitions； but she thought there were more than usual…especially in winter。
Then Ramoth's feet touched ground and people surged forward to crowd around Lessa and F'lar where they dismounted on the wide space before the V…shaped Telgar Hold。
〃Well； I suppose I was naive to think we could keep what happened within the Weyrs；〃 F'lar remarked as the two dragons quickly took off again to find sun on Telgar Heights。
〃Fire…lizards spread the word；〃 Lessa said； her voice tight with irritation。 Does everyone on Pern know what happened at Honshu？ she asked her dragon。
That felines attacked dragons； yes； Ramoth said。 More is for you to say。
Scattering replies to the questions about the injured…thank…you…for…your…concern or both…dragons…and…riders…will…be…fine； F'lar took Lessa's arm and； with some of Telgar's guards hastily opening a path for them； reached the ramp up to Telgar's forecourt。 Lord Larad； his Lady Dulsay； and their tall； gawky son； Laradian； were standing there to wele the official members of the Council。 More guards； in fine new tunics bearing the Telgar shield of white； bright red； and medium blue； bowed them into the forecourt just as a triumphant bugling caused them to turn around and witness the arrival of the Ista Weyrleaders。
〃By the Egg；〃 F'lar said； 〃they seem to be glowing。〃 He cast an amused look at his weyrmate。 〃What has happened to G'dened and Cosira？〃
Lessa nearly missed a step。 G'dened？ Of course； he'd know about Honshu but she hadn't seen Baranth that bright in Turns。 After over three decades of fighting Thread as well as the recent exertions during the Flood； it was hard to keep good color in the dragons。 So long as some of the resurgence spilled into the Oldtimer and thawed him a bit！ She couldn't be sure that G'dened would grasp the importance of this unexpected new facet of dragons； but maybe he would be encouraged。 Certainly the vibrancy of his color…and even the restored gleam to the hides of Ramoth and Mnementh as she checked them and saw how bright they appeared…suggested that all the dragons of Pern had been renewed in vigor and purpose。 Lessa took a deep breath。 Now； if they could use this telekinesis effectively。。。
〃The dragons and riders are all recovering？〃 Larad said； stepping down and holding out both hands to F'lar and Lessa。 Taking his hands； she realized that he was genuinely concerned。
〃Indeed； although truly；〃 and Lessa projected her voice to be sure that everyone listening for news would hear； 〃if Master Oldive had not been provided with so much invaluable medical information from Aivas's records； we would have lost them both。〃
〃Saved by Aivas？〃 Larad asked； likewise raising his voice and implying gratitude。 〃What I don't understand is how did the felines get into Honshu？〃
〃The creatures were not in the weyrhold。〃 F'lar gave the simplified version。 〃F'lessan and Tai had taken their dragons down to the river to bathe。 That's where the felines attacked them。 The area around Honshu hasn't been much bothered by the felines but the new holds nearby have been rounding up and domesticating more and more wild stock。 Naturally the predators were attracted。〃 F'lar shrugged as if dismissing the circumstances。 〃A concatenation of circumstances。 Right place； wrong time。 They'll heal。〃
〃Oh； splendid！ We are relieved to hear that；〃 Lady Dulsay said and then her expression altered to concern。 〃And you have to attend a Council Meeting when you must yearn to be at Honshu with your son。〃
Lessa was momentarily surprised； few people referred to F'lessan as 〃your son。〃 He was the one child she had been able to bear F'lar and she had once…briefly and keenly…regretted her inability to have more。 But that was long ago。 The Weyr was more important。 Today it was vital for the Weyrwoman to be present at this meeting。
〃As to that； F'lessan is very well attended and； being weyrbred； he would not expect me to absent myself。〃
Lady Dulsay recoiled slightly。 〃My pardon； I do forget。〃
〃This is one of those times；〃 Lessa said as kindly as she could； for Lady Dulsay meant well； 〃when the customs of hold and weyr conflict。〃
Larad suddenly whipped binoculars to his eyes。 Was everyone growing those things about their necks； Lessa wondered。 〃Here e N'ton with Margatta and the blue at his right wing is Boll's watch dragon； conveying Lady Janissian。〃 He lowered the instrument and smiled self…deprecatingly。 〃I've only had them a sevenday；〃 he apologized。
〃At least you find them useful；〃 Lessa said drolly。
〃And hope to use them more；〃 Larad said with a pleased grin。
Lessa swallowed。 Could news of the Weyrleaders' meeting at Cove Hold have leaked？ No； Larad was merely showing off his new acquisition。
〃There are more dragons； that much I can see with my own eyes；〃 Lady Dulsay remarked； pointing to the skies。 〃Are any of them likely to be bringing contenders to Southern Boll's Holdership？〃 She turned to Lessa。 〃It was so sad when most of that Bloodline； and all four of Lord Sangel's sons； succumbed to the plague。 Such promising young men； so my father said。〃
〃Now； of course； with all the vaccines available to the Healer Hall； we won't have such tragic losses again；〃 Lessa replied。 She saw another pair of dragons enter from between。 〃I suspect this is G'bear and Neldama； Lady Dulsay。 Have you had a chance to meet them？〃
〃Oh； yes。 They arrived the very next day；〃 and Lessa was surprised to see Lady Dulsay blush。 〃Most respectful to let us know how the Weyrleadership had been decided。〃
〃Good of them to be prompt to introduce themselves；〃 Lessa said； suppressing a desire to grin。 Why was it that holders were invariably embarrassed by mating flights？ It wasn't as if Dulsay and Larad hadn't been very much attached to each other when they had formally wed。 〃Are many of the Council here？〃
Before anyone could answer； another triple…tone bugling…in Hem's unmistakably tenor voice…heralded the arrival of the Southern Weyrleaders。 They； too； were gleaming； Lessa noted before she took the shallow stairs up to the main entrance。
〃Would you like to change out of your flying gear now？〃 Dulsay asked。
〃Since you've already met G'bear and Neldama； I think I'll take the opportunity； thank you； Dulsay；〃 and； inside the imposing Hall； Lessa slipped to the left before she could be intercepted。 It was a matter of moments to strip and p