“So you’re encouraging them,” X’lerin guessed.
“Not that so much as just letting the facts speak for themselves,” Xhinna said. “And it’s helping the older riders, too.”
“How so?”
“They’ve got an investment in the future,” Xhinna said. “Not only do they see these riders as their future wingmen, but they also see their children as a part of them, part of the wings, part of the Weyrs when we come back.”
“It gives them something to live for,” X’lerin said.
“Exactly,” Xhinna agreed. With a twinkle in her eye, she added, “And something to do in the meantime.”
“So am I to hope that you’re taking your own advice?”
“I will, when the time is right,” Xhinna said.
“Didn’t you just tell me that that time is now?”
“I’ve my duties,” Xhinna replied, turning away from him.
“It’s a duty of a wingleader to see to the future,” X’lerin told her softly. “I know that not all blue or green riders can find it in themselves to be parents.”
“I’ll be a parent,” Xhinna said.
“There’s Taria’s child,” X’lerin agreed soothingly.
“No, I’ll be a parent myself,” Xhinna told him. She smiled at his look and added, “I’ve got a proper father in mind for my child—he just doesn’t know it yet.”
“And so you’re waiting for the right time?” he guessed. “A mating flight, perhaps?”
“Perhaps,” Xhinna agreed lightly. “Now if we’re done here, I’d best do the rounds.”
“I’ll come with you,” X’lerin offered.
Xhinna raised a hand, turning around to tell him, “If you don’t mind, Weyrleader, I’d much prefer it if you and your riders would get us dinner.”
X’lerin chuckled and held up his hands in surrender, then started toward his Kivith. As he climbed onto the bronze’s back, he called down, “You should get some rest, Wingleader.”
“I will when you do, Weyrleader!” she called back in the same teasing tone.
X’lerin shook his head, did a graceful bow in his seat, and urged the bronze dragon skyward in pursuit of the evening’s meal.
In the end, it was Alimma who got Xhinna to rest. They had made it through another night and Xhinna was drinking klah to keep awake, mumbling to X’lerin about the day’s patrols, when the blue rider came to her.
“Excuse me, X’lerin, I need to talk to the wingleader,” Alimma said, grabbing the cloth of Xhinna’s tunic and tugging her away.
“Let go!” Xhinna said, batting at Alimma’s hand.
“No,” the blue rider said. “You need rest.”
“What are you saying?” Xhinna asked. “I’ve got work to do, we’ve got to—”
“Xhinna,” Alimma said sharply, “everyone’s looking to you—you know that.” Xhinna nodded, opening her mouth for a fresh protest, but the other blue rider held up a hand, saying, “Hear me out, please.”
Xhinna fumed, then nodded. She’d hear the girl out and then she’d give her a piece of her mind.
“Everyone’s looking to you,” Alimma said again. “And you know that many are looking for you to fail.”
“That’s why I—”
Alimma cut her off with her hand again. “That’s why you’ve got to rest,” she said. “You’re unraveling, and it’s affecting the rest of us.” She gestured around her and Xhinna noticed that the other four blue and green riders of Coranth’s first clutch were there, too. “It’s affecting everyone in the Weyr. Jepara’s worried, Bekka’s been crying, Jirana only talks to her egg.”
“I know, I know, I—”
“Shh!” Alimma said, raising a finger to her lips. “You rest; we’ll take it from here.”
“But X’lerin—”
“He knows what we’re doing—that’s why he let me take you away from him so easily,” Alimma said. “R’ney’s got the first room finished at the stone hall and it’s quiet there. We’ve set a bed up for you.” Xhinna tried to protest again, but Alimma spoke over her. “I promise we’ll have someone with you who will wake you the instant there’s a problem we can’t handle.”
“But it’s light out!” Xhinna exclaimed, gesturing to the rising sun.
“It’s daytime, and you haven’t slept more than a wink in the past seven,” Alimma said. “Bekka’s waiting for you; she’s got a drink to help you sleep.”
“Fellis juice,” Xhinna said, making a face. “I hate it—”
“Please,” Danirry said, stepping forward from the others and touching Xhinna on the shoulder softly. “You promised to take care of us, so let us take care of you this once.”
Xhinna nodded, still reluctant. At the new Stone Hold, R’ney greeted her, and Bekka smiled when she saw her, insisting on tucking her into bed personally.
“Drink up,” the blond healer said, handing her a glass. “Let me know how it tastes when you wake.”
It tasted good, much to Xhinna’s surprise. And the bed was warm: There’d been a warming stone in it moments before she arrived, she was certain. The blankets warmed her further, and there was a long, soft pillow running along the wall like another person keeping her company. She dropped her head and an arm onto it, and quickly drifted off to sleep.
THIRTEEN
Attack from Beneath
“They’re back,” someone said in the darkness. It was a male voice: R’ney.
Xhinna stirred and turned over, reluctantly releasing the long body pillow that had comforted her for—how long had she slept?
“You’ve been asleep for a day and a half,” R’ney told her.
She smelled fresh klah and warm rolls; those scents and the sound of liquid spilling into a mug inspired her to propel herself from lying on her side to sitting upright. R’ney chuckled as he extended the mug into her outstretched hands.
“By the shell of Tazith, R’ney, you are a true friend.” Xhinna sighed as she sipped the marvelous warm liquid down.
R’ney’s chuckle became a laugh and he turned a glow; when she blinked in the sudden light, he said apologetically, “You need to see to butter a roll.”
The brown rider—or someone—had brought a chair and small table into the otherwise barren large room. He had placed the tray on the table and now, at Xhinna’s sinuous one-handed invitation, took a seat opposite her. He raised a hand the moment she opened her mouth. “Eat first, talk later!”
As she started to wolf down her roll, R’ney frowned and, putting on a fierce expression, added, “Slowly!”
Xhinna slowed and chewed her roll with exaggerated diligence.
“Better,” R’ney allowed. “While you start your next roll, I’ll tell you the news.”
Xhinna dutifully reached for and buttered another roll. Really, if it weren’t for the worry in his voice, she would have gladly just sat and gobbled down the whole basket. But she knew R’ney wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t urgent.
“We had another attack of Mrreows—a pair, and we’ve heard more in the woods,” he said. “The worst of it is that the pair actually came down to the sands before we drove them off. They were quick and they went straight for the sands, scattering Candidates and weyrlings in front of them until—”
Xhinna swallowed hastily. “Was anyone hurt?”
“No, thank goodness,” R’ney said.
“How’d you stop them?”
“I yelled and waved my hands,” R’ney admitted. He lowered his eyes. “In another instant I would have been mauled, but Pinorth landed in front of me and grabbed the nearest Mrreow—throwing it high, into the sea.” He paused at the memory. “Snapped his neck, too, from the sound of it.”