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hem as clearly as ever。 Erragon stood behind Wansor； wearing the diamond pendant that was the sign of his new rank； and well deserved for the way he had managed information and warnings about the Fireball。 He was being introduced to those few Weyrleaders he had not previously met。 Lytol and D'ram were fussing with papers at a table in one corner。 Nine piles of paper： one for each Weyr and who got the last？ She flicked her eyes back to the door； to scrutinize F'lessan as he reached the steps； one hand under the elbow of the tall； dark…haired woman acpanying him。 What Lessa noticed most were her wide mouth and curiously slanted green eyes。
Zaranth's rider； Ramoth said； almost approvingly。 Lessa cleared her face of the beginnings of a scowl。 F'lessan was not a child any longer。 He had e very close to total exhaustion after the Impact； moving dories among other things； Ramoth had reported with critical asperity。 His feat of saving the Seaholder from sure death in the tsunami wave had been notable in a day that the harpers said had been full of incredible feats of courage。 F'lessan's timing had always been exquisite and someday she must ask exactly how he'd achieved such an impossible rescue。 He was at Benden only when Wingleader duties required him to be present； for he seemed to prefer living in Honshu now。
His choice； Ramoth added ambiguously。
F'lessan caught sight of his mother in the window seat； gave her that engagingly charming smile of his and turned to speak to Wansor。 The very casualness of his greeting amused Lessa。 She was more surprised when； as Tai held out her hand； the old Smith caught it in his； his smile redoubling； his eyebrows flaring up as if by widening his opaque eyes he might somehow see her more clearly： obviously this green rider was very wele in Cove Hold。 Erragon's greeting was that of pleased teacher to best student。
〃Attractive but not pretty；〃 F'lar murmured to his weyrmate after a very brief glance at F'lessan's panion。 〃No wonder he's so often at Honshu now。〃
He likes it there； Ramoth said in that same cryptic tone。
T'gellan； with Mirrim and Talina； came up the steps now and Lessa thought Monaco's Weyrleader was much too thin； his eyes haunted。 He had been working all the hours of the day to rebuild his Weyr。 For that matter； neither Mirrim nor Talina looked much better； but they didn't look as gaunt as the bronze rider： they didn't have the full responsibility that a Weyrleader shouldered。
Lessa realized that all were now assembled and F'lar led her to their places on one end of the long； oval…shaped table。
〃We're all here； aren't we？〃 F'lar said with a weary smile。 He waited until the others seated themselves。
Twenty…two riders； three men who should have been enjoying their last decades in leisure； two Masters； and a Lord Holder： twenty…eight men and women to solve what she felt in her bones was impossible。 But then； killing Fax had been…once。 And ending Thread。 Why should she consider this crisis to be beyond their capabilities？ She gave her shoulders a little shake and took her place beside her weyrmate。 She heard his sigh。 Then he； too； stood straighter； to address the assembled。
〃I'm sure we've all heard that dragonriders should do something about anything that falls from the sky。〃 He let the various angry and resentful reactions to that peculiar assumption fade。 〃Ridiculous as that notion is； I think we all realize that that's the first question the Council will put to us in two days' time。 Somehow that Fireball has bee our fault。〃 He altered his voice； affecting a querulous tone。 〃 'Dragons can fly between。 Can't they just push rocks out of the way？ Can't they burn them out of the skies？ Can't they do something？' 〃
〃Didn't we do enough？〃 F'lessan said with a brittle edge to his voice that surprised Lessa。 Then he shrugged and his expression altered to one of detached indifference as other bronze riders muttered about ingratitude and impossible demands。
〃Dragonriders did more than enough；〃 said Lytol； the former Lord Warder of Ruatha； his craggy face fierce。
〃Every Weyr performed magnificently；〃 D'ram added； prideful。
〃In the time allotted；〃 Jaxom said； his expression very bland； turning his head ever so slightly toward Lessa。 That sly remark subtly defused the unspoken resentment。 Some even chuckled。
〃I never understood quite how you acplished as much as you did；〃 Wansor said in all innocence。 But then his expression turned to respectful awe。 〃The miracles you managed！ In the face of what could have been catastrophic。 Why the Storm of 'Twenty…nine Present Pass was a shower in parison！〃
〃Fortunately； we're not considered responsible for the weather；〃 F'lar said satirically。
〃Not yet；〃 G'dened added in a sour voice。 Though Ista had been spared the full impact of the tsunami waves； the island had suffered badly from the hurricane。
〃You know； there are those who feel we failed them in that storm； too；〃 G'narish said； shaking his head。
〃This time we had sufficient warning；〃 K'van remarked； 〃before the winds made it impossible to fly。〃
〃Back to what you said； F'lar； it isn't as if dragons could flame rocks in space；〃 N'ton said。 〃Dragons need oxygen to make fire。〃
〃Meteorites are moving too fast to be caught by dragons；〃 K'van added； 〃not to mention the fact that they're so hot； mere dragon fire would have no effect whatsoever and be a total waste of time and effort。〃
F'lar grinned broadly。 〃Other facts Lord Holders and Craftmasters tend to forget。 Still； I'd like to take the initiative。 We've been on the defensive since that sharding Fireball impacted。〃
〃You mean； there is something we can do？〃 G'dened demanded； sitting up straighter and glaring around the table。
〃Oh； indeed；〃 Wansor said； smiling beneficently around the table。 〃My Craft hasn't been idle a single moment。 We have solid remendations to make to the Council。〃
〃Remendations？〃 G'dened snapped； scowling。 〃They want answers！〃 He thumped the table with one fist。 He had been one of the youngest of the bronze riders to e forward to the Ninth Pass and Lessa could see that he was burned out by giving answers to Lord Holders and Craftmasters。
〃They always want answers；〃 G'narish agreed； shaking his head。 He； too； had reason to be as tired as G'dened。
Lessa wondered if there was any way to suggest that those two older Weyrleaders should step down and let younger； more flexible bronze and gold riders take over。 She was grateful enough that M'rand and R'mart had retired。 The two new Weyrleaders tried to appear at their ease but it was certainly the first time G'bear and Neldama had attended this sort of tactical meeting。
〃Well； they deserve answers； G'dened；〃 F'lessan said at his most cynical。 〃Only this time； they also want us to do something。〃 His grin was positively challenging。
〃What can we do？〃 G'dened demanded； eyeing F'lessan as if the younger man were challenging him as Weyrleader。
As she was about to take exception to G'dened's manner； Lessa felt F'lar give her thigh a reassuring squeeze。 Especially after F'lessan had laid claim on Honshu； it should have been extremely clear that he had absolutely no desire to accept Weyrleadership anywhere。
〃It will； of course； require the cooperation of all the other Crafts and Lord Holders；〃 Wansor went on； smiling with benign encouragement； 〃for the marks and craftskills required。 We've already made the preliminary surveys and preparations and； with the assistance of our newest Master；〃 and the old Star Master made a respectful bow to Erragon； 〃Master Idarolan； F'lessan； and Tai；〃 and his smile included the two riders at the end of the table； 〃and three dedicated persons who are not included in this meeting； we have these ready。〃
〃Preliminary surveys of what？〃 G'dened demanded。
〃Preparations to do what？〃 G'narish asked； surprised。
〃Which three dedicated persons？〃 Mirrirn asked； turning to look at Tai in an almost accusing manner。
〃Surveys to locate the most advantageous site for another of the telescopes from the Catherine Caves； to give us a twenty…four…hour coverage for that critically needed sky…watch program！〃 Master Wansor beamed e