Anne McCaffrey - Dragon Harper

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE
ISTA WEYR, AFTER LANDING (AL) 495.4

CHAPTER 1
HIGH REACHES WEYR, AL 495.8

CHAPTER 2
HIGH REACHES WEYR

CHAPTER 3
ALEESAS WHERHOLD

CHAPTER 4
HARPER HALL

CHAPTER 5
HARPER HALL, AL 496.11

CHAPTER 6
HARPER HALL

CHAPTER 7
HARPER HALL

CHAPTER 8
BENDEN WEYR

CHAPTER 9
HARPER HALL

CHAPTER 10
HARPER HALL

CHAPTER 11
FORT HOLD

CHAPTER 12
FORT HOLD

CHAPTER 13
HARPER HALL

CHAPTER 14
FORT HOLD

CHAPTER 15
RED BUTTE

CHAPTER 16
IGEN WEYR STAR STONES

EPILOGUE
BENDEN WEYR, AL 497.1

To Alec A. Johnson
Son, Brother, Father, Patriot

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

AT THE HARPER HALL

Murenny, Masterharper of Pern

Biddle, Voicemaster

Caldazon, Instrument Master

Lenner, Masterhealer of Pern

Selora, head cook

Journeymen:

Issak, Tenelin, Gerrin

Apprentices:

Kindan, Nonala, Kelsa, Verilan, Vaxoram

AT FORT HOLD

Bemin, Lord Holder

Sannora, Lady Holder

Semin, Bannor, their sons

Koriana, Fiona, their daughters

AT THE WHERHOLD

Aleesa, Whermaster, queen Aleesk

Mikal, ex-dragonrider

Arella, Aleesas daughter

Jaythen, wherman

AT BENDEN WEYR

Mtal, Weyrleader of Benden Weyr, bronze dragon Gaminth

Salina, Weyrwoman, queen dragon Breth

AT ISTA WEYR

Crion, Weyrleader

Jlantir, Wingleader, bronze Lolanth

Jtrel, blue rider, Talith

PROLOGUE

Dragons heart,

Dragons fire,

Rider true,

Fly higher.

ISTA WEYR,
AFTER LANDING (AL) 495.4

J lantirs brows were thick, gathered like thunderclouds as he glowered at his wing riders. He had called them to his quarters and met them in Lolanths weyr. The presence of his bronze dragon, eyes whirling menacingly red, left his wing riders in no doubt as to his mood.

A sevenday! he bellowed. Youve been missing for a whole sevenday.

He glared at each one in turn, ending with Jtrel and his partner, Knad. Jtrel, Jlantir guessed, would say nothing, but Knad looked both too nervous and tooamused?

Every rider had bags under his eyes as though he had been without sleep for the whole sevenday. Young Jlian was leaning against Vsog, who himself looked only barely able to stand. Mjial and Bzim surreptitiously supported the other two.

Lcals frown was severe and directed toward the rest of the wing, but beneath his bushy eyebrows, the eldest rider maintained a stoic silence.

Cavorting and carrying on, no doubt, Jlantir thought sourly. Their dragons looked even worse, pale and exhausted. Jlantir had never heard of dragons becoming exhausted because of their riders antics. He narrowed his eyes as he looked more carefully at Knad. The man had a tan!

Where were you all this time? Jlantir growled. Knad dropped his head, shaking it slowly. Jlantir pursed his lips sourly and peered along the rest of the line of men that comprised his missing wing. Where were all of you?

He scanned the line, looking for someone who might answer.

We were on an important mission, Jtrel said finally. The others looked at him and nodded in relief.

Very important, Knad added with a confirming nod.

So important that I didnt know about it? Jlantir asked in scathing tones.

Knad gave him a confused look and was about to answer when Jtrel nudged him, shaking his head.

He said he wouldnt believe us, remember? Jtrel whispered to Knad in a voice not so quiet that Jlantir didnt hear him.

Knad drew strength from his partners words and looked Jlantir in the eye. You said not to tell until the time was right.

I said? Jlantir bellowed back, causing Knad to wilt once more.

I dont recall saying anything of the sort, Jlantir continued when it was obvious that Knad had gone back into his shell. Ill tell you what I think, he said to his riders. I think youve all gone off someplace and had far too much to drink and cant tell yesterday from today.

Half his riders gave him startled looks as though hed been reading their minds.

And so, to sort this out, he continued, well be drilling today.

Could we do recognition points? Knad piped up suddenly. The rest of the wing glanced his way and then murmured in agreement.

Jlantir couldnt believe it. He could never get his wing to drill on recognition points.

From all around Pern? Jtrel added. Wed like that.

You would, would you? Jlantir said sourly. That was exactly what hed planned to do with his wing to teach them a lesson. Well, several lessons. Drilling in recognition points was tiring, dull work that dragonriders usually preferred to avoid. He was surprised that his riders were so eager for the work and a little suspicious. But, as he had no other plans sufficiently punitive in mind, he could only assent.

All around Pern, eh? he repeated. Just remember that you asked for it.

Could we feed the dragons first? Knad asked. Theyre very hungry.

Hmmm, Jlantir murmured. The dragons had been fed the day before. Dragons typically ate only once a week. He glanced again at his wing riders and noticed how tired they were. He glared at Jtrel, but the blue rider merely shrugged. There was no sense in punishing the dragons for their riders lapses, Jlantir decided. Very well, you can feed your dragons and rest for the remainder of today.

His riders gave him astonished and grateful looks.

Tomorrow, he continued, before first light, well start drilling on recognition points.

Jlantir turned and stalked off, already anticipating a grilling from Weyrleader Crionwingleaders were not supposed to lose their wings for a sevenday. As it was, he didnt bother to turn back again when one of his riders murmured, He said hed be like this.

And another answered, But it was worth it.

CHAPTER I

White robe, high hopes
Hatching Grounds, tight throats
Sands heat, eggs move
Shells crack, hearts prove.

HIGH REACHES WEYR,
AL 495.8

P ut this on, Dvin said to Cristov as they rushed to the Hatching Grounds. The white robe was the traditional garb for candidates, as every child on Pern knew from the Teaching Ballads.

Cristov suddenly realized that his heart was racing, his throat dry. In not much longer than it took Dvins bronze dragon to go betweenno more time than it took to cough three timesCristov went from being a miner recovering from an injury to being a candidate for a Hatching.

This cant be happening, he thought. It should have been Pellar.

Pellar was the mute Harper who had rescued Cristov when his mine had collapsed, had saved Cristov when Tenim had purposely exploded the old firestone mine, and who had had a fire-lizard before Tenims hunting bird had killed itand had nearly killed Pellar, as well.

Pellar deserved to be a candidatebut Pellar had insisted upon remaining at the newly named Fire Hold to help the young holdless girl, Halla, manage the Shunned of Pern to redeem their honor by mining the firestone of Pern.