Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 21:26:21 -0800 (PST) From: Corrinne S Subject: The Red Orb of Pern - Part Two The Red Orb of Pern M.C. Gordon Disclaimer is attached to the beginning of this series. This is fan fiction written for a friend who enjoys Anne McCaffrey's Pern as much as I do. Comments welcome to quasito_cat@hotmail.com or quasito_cat@yahoo.com Chapter Two: "Trilenth was a good dragon," S'den said. "I could always count on him to cover my back when a fall was bad." "True," responded A'minth as the two dragonriders strode the echoing chambers of the Weyr. "I know my Minareth will miss him." S'den laughed. "He flew her often enough. If green dragon eggs hatched the two of them would have filled ten weyrs with dragons." "Minareth will miss Trilenth, but I don't think anyone will miss T'anf," A'minth remarked. "He was a nasty piece of work as a boy. He didn't improve as a man. I'm surprised he Impressed at all." Their conversation faded as they passed the cubicles where the children of the Weyr slept. Lydel sat in one of the cubicles and watched Mitchell sleep. Their foster mother, Lurah, had stood watch as Mitchell drank the glass of wine she had brought for him. It was a small glass, and watered down, but it was enough to put the child to sleep. Lydel knew that Mitchell wouldn't miss T'anf, his father, but he would miss Trilenth. He had hidden between the front legs of the blue dragon many times when T'anf had gone into a rage and tried to beat him. Mitchell's mother, Em, had slipped quietly from the world after giving birth to her only child. Her brother M'sel, the Weyrlingmaster, had taken the infant at the moment of his birth and carried him to his own weyr-cavern and his mate, Lurah. So intense was M'sel's dislike for T'anf that he cast aside the Weyr custom of naming a child after the parents, and the baby was named Mitchell. Lydel sat a silent vigil with his friend. When he saw tears puddle in the corner of Mitchell's eyes he laid down beside him and held him, offering what comfort he could to ease the heartache. Chapter Three: The two boys slept through the night and late into the next morning. Mitchell woke first and was surprised to find Lydel snuggled close to him, long black hair splayed out across his shoulder. What woke him was the smell of hot bubbly pies and klah. Glancing around he saw Lurah lighting glow baskets and quietly bustling around the cubicle he and Lydel shared with Andren. Andren was sitting up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Mitchell jabbed Lydel's shoulder. "Wake up," he whispered. "We've slept late and Lurah had to come and get us." "Take your time, boys," Lurah said as she brushed her long brown hair back from her face with one hand. Her hazel eyes swept the room, taking in the appearance of the three boys. "You're a miserable sight," she said. Leaning down, she swept the cloth away from the tray she had placed on the only small table available. "I know bubbly pies don't constitute a hearty breakfast for three growing boys, but it's been a difficult couple of days so I convinced Cook to let me have these straight from the oven." The boys hastily donned their loose breeches and tunics. Mumbling their thanks they each bit into one of the tantalizing pies. Still hot from the oven, the bites caused all three to suck in quick breaths of air to cool the pies and their tongues. Mitchell closed his eyes and savored the taste of the cooked berries and flaky pastry before he remembered his manners. "Would you like a pie?" he asked his foster mother. "No, thank you," Lurah replied. "I try to stay away from bubbly pies. I have to keep my girlish figure or M'sel will leave me for one of the younger women." Her remark sent the boys into giggles for everyone knew that M'sel and Lurah had been soulmates as well as weyrmates for almost thirty years. The idea of their grizzled and gruff Werlingmaster showing an interest in any other woman in the Weyr was as foreign to their imaginations as the idea of Pern being free of Thread. Lurah smiled at her foster sons and said, "Besides, I've already had two. You boys are excused from any work today. The Weyr is quiet. The Weyrleader made sure that there was plenty of wine last night and the riders are sleeping it off. The Weyrwoman decreed today a day of rest for everyone else. You're free to do what you want, just stay out of trouble." With a quick turn she left the cubicle, the hem of her dark brown skirt swirling around her ankles.