“Thread is coming,” Xhinna told her. “We haven’t time.”
“What do you propose?” K’dan asked, looking at the netting rigged under the blue dragon.
“I’ll take her first,” Xhinna said. “With J’riz and Colfet. I’ve got the others set up already.”
“Where?” Bekka asked.
“When?” K’dan guessed, nodding in satisfaction when he saw Xhinna’s look. “Three Turns again?”
“Yes, we’re all back in time on the Western Isle,” Xhinna told him.
“Fiona said not to go there,” K’dan reminded her.
“I think Fiona said it because we did go there,” Xhinna said. K’dan frowned on that for a moment, then nodded. Xhinna continued, “We must move quickly.”
“Where’s Coranth?” Bekka asked.
“Injured,” Xhinna told her. “She got clawed by a Mrreow when we took the last of the hatchlings.” She shook her head sadly as she added, “You weren’t here when I came back for you.”
“Because you’re taking us now,” K’dan said with a tone of awe in his voice he normally used when referring to one of Fiona’s schemes. Xhinna found that she couldn’t speak, only nod.
“Well, let’s get moving, then,” Bekka said, unhooking the netting and moving it toward the stricken green.
“She’s small enough that I think we can lift her,” Xhinna told J’riz. “If we’re careful, it won’t hurt her too much.”
Too much was the operative phrase; dragon and rider both moaned with the pain as the green was gently moved into the netting and then tied on to Tazith’s harness.
“I should stay here,” Colfet said when Xhinna motioned for him to climb up in front of her.
“No time,” Xhinna said, shaking her head. “I need you to keep camp.”
The old seaman gave her a surprised look and grimly climbed up on the blue. Xhinna mounted and helped J’riz up behind her. He was becoming a young man, but Xhinna still remembered him as the cute boy who’d been such a help and a handful; so she was both pleased and surprised when he slipped his arms around her waist and leaned against her back as Tazith leapt into the air.
Below them, Qinth gave one whimper and was silent.
How is she? Xhinna asked Tazith.
She is very brave, Tazith said with pride and affection for the green dragonet.
Let’s go, Xhinna said, imagining their camp.
Their arrival was greeted with cheers and a swift unloading as R’ney and C’nian gently helped Colfet and J’riz unhook the injured hatchling and lower her to her carefully constructed weyr. Xhinna waited just long enough to make sure that everything was right before going back again through time to the Eastern Weyr.
“I can take two,” Xhinna said as K’dan helped Bekka guide her Pinorth toward the harness.
“A gold and a bronze?” K’dan asked in surprise.
“That’s about all we’ve got,” Xhinna reminded him with a lopsided grin, Qinth being the only dragonet that wasn’t gold or bronze. “We’ve managed that before.”
Shrugging, K’dan helped his Lurenth into the harness and then handed Bekka up before climbing up behind her.
“It’s been several days since the twins last saw you,” Xhinna told him as Tazith gained enough height to go between. “I hope you aren’t planning on resting anytime soon.”
“No, not at all,” K’dan said. “Sleep is overrated, really.”
THREE
A Leap to Screams
“It’s only temporary,” Xhinna said as she explained the camp layout to Colfet and K’dan the next morning. Bekka had turned a shade of green at their strange height and, too unnerved to speak to anyone, had gone quickly to sleep as soon as her queen was fed.
“I see,” K’dan said drolly. “And after this?”
“We didn’t have time to scout, with Coranth being injured,” Xhinna said. “We needed a high place that was safe from the Mrreows and tunnel snakes.”
“This certainly is that,” K’dan agreed, still unable to keep the amusement out of his voice.
“Harper,” Colfet growled at him, shaking his head warningly.
K’dan’s grin slipped and he sobered. “You did fine, Xhinna.” His grin came back again, though, as he added, “Even Fiona would have a hard time outdoing this!”
“There is that,” Xhinna allowed, catching on to K’dan’s teasing. “I suppose she’ll be jealous.”
“Only if she ever finds out,” Bekka spoke up from her perch. “Of course,” she added with more spirit, “I’ll be certain to tell her.”
“Any time after you check on Coranth and Qinth,” Xhinna said. Bekka groaned but started—gingerly—to get up.
“Why did you have to pick a spot so high?”
“To avoid the Mrreows and the tunnel snakes,” K’dan reminded her.
“I prefer a Weyr,” Bekka said as she edged toward Coranth. Taria moved toward her with the grace of one used to negotiating the springy treetops, causing Bekka to halt in alarm. “Won’t they break and drop us all to the ground?”
“Not broom trees,” a voice called from the distance. It was J’riz. “They’re stronger at the top than at the bottom. And they’re like iron-wood at the bottom.”
Warily, Bekka allowed Taria to lead her to the injured green. Presented with a professional challenge, Bekka soon forgot all about the height. She even managed to walk herself over to J’riz and Qinth without the least whimper.
When she was finished with the injured weyrling, she made her way—slowly—to K’dan and Xhinna.
“We’re going to need more supplies,” she told them. “We need better bandages, and we should have numbweed to ease Coranth’s pain.”
“We’ll have to search for numbweed,” K’dan said.
“On foot,” Xhinna added. Seeing his questioning glance, she explained, “Only Tazith can fly for the moment, so he’s our only source of food for the hatchlings.” She explained how they’d managed to catch wherries by the half-dozen.
“That’ll do until we can arrange pens for herdbeasts,” K’dan declared.
“No,” Xhinna said, shaking her head. “If we pen the herdbeasts, we’ll attract the Mrreows.” K’dan started to protest, but she raised a hand. “We don’t know if the Mrreows can climb.”
“Oh.” K’dan’s brows furrowed in thought. “So we’re stuck up here until Coranth can fly.”
“At least,” Xhinna agreed. “Or if we can find enough fruit or vegetables to tide us over—and build a supply of wherry meat that’ll last long enough to let me scout.”
“Doesn’t Tazith need a rest?” Bekka asked, eyeing the blue with a frown. “His color isn’t too good.”
“He says he’s all right,” Xhinna lied. Bekka took one long look at her and snorted derisively. Xhinna blew out a sigh and admitted, “He’s managing.”
“We should find a way to give him a rest,” Taria spoke up, joining the group. Xhinna nervously noticed several of the weyrlings looking in their direction.
“We could organize ground parties,” Jepara said. “We could go in groups, looking for herdbeasts or wherries.”
“And, queen rider, if anything were to happen to you …?” Xhinna prompted.
“Then it’d be the same as in Threadfall,” Jepara said. “We’ve got to take risks, Xhinna.” She paused, meeting Xhinna’s eyes. “You know that.”
Taria closed the distance between them and stood on her toes to mutter into Xhinna’s ear, “Delegate. You know you can.”
Xhinna gave her a half-hearted glare, which Taria shrugged off with ease, returning the challenge with raised eyebrows.