Todd McCaffrey - Dragonsblood

Dragons Blood By Todd McCaffrey
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This book is the first book written solely by someone else in Anne McCaffreys Pern universe. I would like to thank Ms. McCaffreyThank you, Mum!for letting me do so. I was thrilled to get a smiley face from her on my outline, as well as all her encouragement and her bravery in letting someone else play in her very special sandbox. The quality of that outline was dramatically improved by the comments of Michael Reaves, Brynne Chandler, and Jenna Scott. I would also like to thank my sister, Georgeanne Kennedy, for her insightful comments and questions, and for her unfailing support in my efforts to write this novel.

This novel would not have happened at all without the encouragement, understanding, and keen insight of my editor, Shelly Shapiro, of Del Rey Books. She not only encouraged me when I needed it but also challenged me to stretch to greater heightsthe true hallmark of a great editor. While too many cooks may spoil the broth, it is amazing how many sets of eyes can gaze over the same mistakesand miss them. I am very grateful to Judith Welsh, my editor at Transworld, for catching errors that no one else noticed. I would also like to thank Don Maass of the Donald Maass Literary Agency for his steady support, keen insights, and quiet encouragement. I would like to thank Harry and Marilyn Alm for their prompt replies to questions regarding Threadfalls and particularly recommend Harrys Threadfall charts for anyone seriously interested in figuring out what goes where on Pernat least when it comes to nasty stuff.

I am also indebted to Dr. Natascha Latenschlauger for her help in dealing with illnesses and genetic material, no matter which planet it comes from. I want to thank my early readers, Sonia Orin Lyris, Angel Hanley, Harry and Marilyn Alm, andof courseAnne McCaffrey (Mum) for all their comments, suggestions, and insights without which this book would not be. Finally, I would like to sing the praises of my copy editor from Del Rey, Martha Trachtenberg, who caught or questioned countless errors in the original manuscript and whose songwriting knowledge made Wind Blossoms Song vastly superior. Any mistakes, errors, and omissions still found are all mine.
ONE
Red Star at night: Firestone, dig, Harness, rig, Dragons take flight.

Fort Weyr, at the end of the Second Interval, After Landing (AL) 507 Four men stood in a knot around the Star Stones of Fort Weyr. The sun was just above the horizon, casting the harsh shadows of early dawn at winters end. Each man wore the prestigious shoulder knots of Weyrleader. Their warm wher-hide jackets proclaimed them the leaders of Benden, Fort, Telgar, and Ista Weyrs. Klior, Forts Weyrleader, was host and the youngest present. He was also the newest Weyrleader, having gained his position less than a Turn before.

He glanced back to the Star Stonesto the Eye Rock, which bracketed the Finger Rock, which itself was lit by the baleful Red Star. Thread was coming. Soon. The air was made more chilly by the steady breeze blowing across the plateau where Forts Star Stones were placed. Klior suppressed a shiver. Fort is still wing light.

Weve only had the one clutch Theres time yet, Klior, Crion, Istas Weyrleader, judged. He pointed at the Red Star and the Eye Rock. Thread wont fall until after the last frost. Theres no doubt, then, that Thread is coming, Klior said, wishing the other Weyrleaders would disagree with him. For over two hundred Turns, the planet of Pern had been free of the threat of Thread falling from the sky. Now that peace would end.

The Red Stars return would bring the Thread that would try, once more, to devour all life on Pern. For the next fifty Turns, the dragons would rise to the skies, flame Thread into lifeless char, or, failing, watch in horror as it burrowed into the rich soil of Pern to destroy all organic material with mindless voracity. Telgars ready, Klior, Dgan declared. He turned back from the Star Stones and the dawning light to gaze at the others, who were obscured by the sharp shadows of the early morning light. His words were firmly emphasized by the distant rumbling of his bronze, Kaloth. My wings are at full strength and Ive two clutches on the Hatching Grounds One of the other Weyrleaders cleared his throat loudly, but Dgans fierce glare could not pierce the shadows to identify the culprit.

Yes, we were lucky, he continued in answer to the unknown heckler, but the fact remains that Telgar will be wing heavy when Thread falls. And our holders have tithed fully so weve no lack of equipment or firestone. Klior shifted uneasily, for he had been frank in relaying his difficulties in getting Forts full tithe. But you dont agree to pooling resources? he asked again. He had called this meeting of the Weyrleaders to propose just that. As none of them had ever fought Thread, Klior felt that his notion of fly together, learn together had merit, and would promote communication among the Weyrs.

He was shocked when Dvin of High Reaches had refused the invitation and was even further shocked by Dgans attitude. Telgars Weyrleader was Igen-bred, after all. Klior had hoped that Dgans experience would have made him more amenable to working together, not less. Dgan favored the wiry Fort Weyrleader with a superior look. If youre still wing light when Thread falls, Klior, Im sure I could spare some of my own. Ill bet theyre all bronzes, a voice muttered dryly.

It came from the direction of the Benden and Istan Weyrleaders. The implication that Dgan might want to reduce the competition for Telgars next mating flight was obvious. Not that Dgans Kaloth had to flyall Telgars queen dragons to remain Weyrleaderjust the senior queen. Dgan stiffened angrily at the remark, turned to Klior, and said, Ive a Weyr to attend, Fort. I must return. Let me call someone to guide your way, Dgan, Klior offered pleasantly, worried about slippery walkways under unfamiliar feet.

The offer annoyed Dgan, who snapped, I can find my own dragon well enough, Fort. Klior jogged after Dgan, still hoping to soothe the others foul mood. Crion, youknow hes got a thin skin. Why do you insist on pricking it? Mtal asked the Istan Weyrleader in exasperation. Crion chuckled at the Benden Weyrleaders remark. Oh, you know, Mtal, hes not all that badwhen he stops taking himself so seriously.

I feel its my duty as an older, more experienced Weyrleader, to spill the wind from his sails when he takes on airs like that. Dganis the sort to swear his Egg cracked the wrong way, Mtal agreed. Crion snorted a laugh. I suspect that Dgan will be a lot more acceptable after his first dose of numbweed. And Klior will steady up after his first Threadfall. Mtal pursed his lips thoughtfully.

Im not so sure about Dgan. Crion shrugged. Ive been worried ever since it was decided to abandon Igen Weyr and incorporate those dragonriders into Telgar. It made sense at the time, Mtal said, what with the drought in Igen, the death of their last queen, and the good harvests at Telgar. Crion raised a hand to ward off further discussion. All true.

But Dgan himself worries me. He drills his riders hard. Telgar Weyr has never lost the Games since he became Weyrleaderbut will all that be worth anything when Thread comes? Mtal nodded emphatically. If theres one thing I could never imagine, it would be Dgan shirking his duty. We dragonriders know what to expect when Thread comes. He waved a hand at the Star Stones.

And we know it will come soon. I hear your queen laid a large clutch last week, Crion said, changing the topic. Congratulations. Mtal laughed. Are you going to make me an offer like our esteemed Telgar? No, actually, I was going to offer a trade, Crion said. Mtal motioned for him to continue.

Two queen eggs, by all accounts, Crion said. That would make four queens all told. No, one of the eggs is a bronze, Mtal said. Wed hopes at first, but Breth nudged it back with the others. The queen dragons always pushed their queen eggs into a special spot on the Hatching Grounds, which they carefully guarded. All the same...