Chapter 3
“Do you think that we should perform raids?” Lessa asked J’eel, they’d met days after the hatching and Impressions had happened. While J’eel was still laid up from the dragonet that had literally walked over him. She’d come to check on those that she’d noticed when waiting for Ramoth to hatch. “Do you think it would be wise...”
“You’ve told me yourself what has been reported to you. We’re low on supplies. There are systematic raids happening, discreetly...but as the time approaches that Ramoth will rise...” J’eel looked at the girl, he saw her as a sister in the time that they’d been learning together. He’d been helping her learn the ways of flight even if she was forbidden by R’gul and Traditions. He felt like his father before him that a Queen Rider that does not fly cannot truly lead. “But it is wise to have plans in place. If there was a raider who was not discreet around the time of the Flight...”
“The Lord Holders would get upset...they may gather their forces leaving their Holds unprotected their women and children in the path of harm...” Lessa smirked in return.
“And if when the Flight comes F’lar is the one to become Weyrleader, then there will be a willingness to make a stand. He won’t try to silence your voice...he won’t keep you as decor instead of the strong leader that you can be. I’ve heard about how you got them to perform the act that freed your Hold...I know that you are cunning...we need some of that...” J’eel smirked right back at her.
“You don’t want to become leader?” Lessa looked at J’eel with a raised eyebrow.
“As pretty as you are Lessa...you aren’t my type.” J’eel chuckled as he looked at her before turning back to watching over the hunting grounds. “I see you as a sister and even if the lust of the flight were to overtake us, I fear that I’d be unable to please you.”
“I want you to do fly overs of the Holds...I want numbers of the able-bodied fighters that you’re able to get. Keep an eye on Telgar, Nabol, Fort, and Keroon in particular.” Lessa whispered before standing and moving off. “Just tell the trainers you’re practicing going between.”
“As you say...” J’eel stood and moved over to saddle Chiar. “I’ll be here as often as I can. Thankfully my invisibleness has continued even after I’ve become a Rider.” He smirked as he mounted the saddle on Chiar’s neck ridges. “Keep them thinking that you’re followin’ their paths and they’ll be in for a surprise when the time comes.”
“Keep yourselves safe.” Lessa nodded at J’eel as Chiar took wing, he was the only one she’d told about the fact that she was able to sense and communicate through Ramoth with all the dragons of the Weyr.
J’eel just laughed and saluted her before they blinked between.
J’eel sighed as he watched Chiar stalked a bit of prey before attacking. He sighed again as he heard the whispers from the leaders of the weyr. They had tasks and talks which they didn’t think of others hearing about. He heard the arguments about the Traditions being taught and the arguments about how they should get supplies. He watched as Lessa spoke secretly with K’net and he went off to do ‘discreet’ raids to help supply the Weyr.
“Dragonman, avoid excess,” R’gul was intoning as J’eel slipped into the chamber where the arguments had been happening. “Greed will cause the Weyr distress.”
J’eel was watching as Lessa stared at the man, he could see the disgust at the way R’gul was giving excuses before he watched her discuss things with K’net in the days following. J’eel returned to his final lessons and learning the traditions where she was arguing against. He learned to go between, he learned sword, and flame. He watched as K’net spent days at a time to go raid the different Weyrs. All the while keeping his actions hidden to the pleasure of Lessa.
Again, J’eel overheard the talk of others and the disgust at things that were happening. He heard of the empty coffers and the lack of offerings from the others. He sighed yet again, something he found himself doing often. Signs were occurring that the first flight of Ramoth would be occurring soon. He looked back at Chiar the thing that made him realize was that Chiar, like the other bronzes, were only blooding their kills. Ramoth had been growing until she was larger and stronger than any of the bronzes.
The others are blooding their kills... Chiar grumbled even as he was doing the same. I suspect that R’gul will keep anyone from alerting F’lar.
“Of course, he will...the Weyrleader is a high position.” J’eel chuckled. J’eel muttered to his bronze as he made sure that he was fast and light. “He'll keep the bastard from making sure others aren’t aware.”
He watched as R’gul, S’lan, S’lel, T’bor all converged with D’nol into the Queen’s Weyr. Hath was sounding off while Ramoth still slumbered. J’eel snarled as R’gul attempted embrace Lessa as if it was a given that he’d be Weyrleader again. He followed behind and watched with narrowed eyes when R’gul laughed unpleasantly at the order from F’nor to call for F’lar and K’net.
They’re alerted...Ramoth and Lessa have taken care of it. Chiar assured him.
“She will wake,” R’gul was saying as he watched Lessa. “She will wake and rise ill-tempered. You must allow her only to blood her kill. I warn you she will resist. If you do not restrain her, she will gorge and cannot fly.”
“She rises to mate,” F’nor snapped, his voice edged with cold that J’eel knew was his warning against the uppity man.
“She rises to mate with whichever bronze can catch her,” R’gul continued with a smug expression on his face.
J’eel slipped back out of the chamber and moved to his dragon’s side. “You make sure that you give Hath a large challenge. I know that you won’t fly Ramoth this time, if ever, and I understand that. But make sure the bastard doesn’t get a chance...” He looked over the other dragons, Hath had the pride and attitude of his rider. “Make sure to give time for Mnementh...My Pa spoke of him and F’lar being the next to rise...that they needed to be the next to rise.”
Worry not. Chiar was smirking in his mental voice.
With a skip in time that seemed to past in a blink as Ramoth rose and fought against Lessa to feed instead of blood. J’eel watched as she finally copulated and only bled the kills before, finally, she rose. Chiar was quick on their heels as Mnementh and Hath along with the Orth were the ones to follow closest. J’eel felt the flare of mating drive flood through his body as Ramoth and the Bronzes explode in lust for Ramoth. J’eel could tell that Ramoth had the same disgust for Hath’s attempts fly her. The flight was wily and amusing as Mnementh finally flew Ramoth. J’eel while he felt the lust of the flight did not seek out any to slate his lust with just as his father had few companions. His father had told him that even as Dragonriders their clan was different. There was always the one love that was had and that when you knew you knew. That didn’t mean that they couldn’t find pleasure in others’ bodies, but one didn’t have to partake.
‘Dragonman, dragonman,
Between thee and thine,
Share me that glimpse of love
Greater than mine.’
J’eel stood on the watch tower with Chiar, F’nor, and Canth. “The sun’s still off...” He whispered as he looked over the Eye Rock. “Do you truly believe as F’lar does...”
“Thread will fall again kid.” F’nor whispered as he continued watching the world wake around them. “And we’ve 200 only...”
“Is there any hint in the old records...” J’eel looked at F’nor letting his worry touch his eyes.
“We’re looking...” F’nor replied before turning back from the Eye Rock and looking over the Weyr. “What the...” He looked to the lake plateau. “Shit.”
“We must alert the others to the trouble.” J’eel spotted the same thing as F’nor before climbing upon Chiar’s saddle, he’d seen them coming three days before the flight, he’d alerted Lessa, and she’d made sure that K’net knew it was time to be ‘caught’ in his indiscretions. “Guess they got tired of K’net’s raids.” Internally he was smirking for it was just as Lessa had planned. Now for the next part of the plan to take place.
“They got tired of us taking our dues.” F’nor sneered as he climbed onto Canth. “The watch has alerted Mnementh and the others. I must attend the council as F’lar’s second with T’sum.”
“I’ll keep watch...” J’eel spoke though he knew what his task was.
As soon as he saw T’sum move and went to join the rider just as Lessa had predicted F’lar was sending riders for hostages to keep the Lords from causing harm and reminding the people of Pern why the Dragonriders were provided for. He knew that Lessa was going to keep F’lar on his toes and he was going to watch and enjoy every moment of it. People of the Weyr forgot he was a bronze rider, Chiar’s hide a dark bronze that was nearly brown. He knew that there was going to be a change, he’d seen some of it happening overnight. Now it was time for the Weyr to remind the world of the power they held. Smirking at the screeches and screams he bit back a few laughs as the greens made sure that the ‘guests’ of the Weyr were shown the strength of the dragons in a ‘discreet’ way. After the guests were gathered it was time for him to return to the plateau with the other bronze and brown riders. He kept an eye on R’gul, he knew that he’d be upset over the overthrowing that was happening.
“Come now kid...time to show them what is what.” C’gan smirked as he organized the last of the weyrlings.
From the Weyr and from the Bowl,
Bronze and Brown and Blue and Green,
Rise the dragonmen of Pern,
Aloft, on wing; seen, then unseen.
J’eel came out of between on the southern lip of the Peak scaring the party that had been sent ahead of the advancing force. He with the force of other weyrlings and C’gan settled with Tegath around the force that were trying to find an alternate way into the Weyr.
With a quick work the other blues with Tegath gathered the would-be mountaineers and took flight before moving forward to where the confrontation was happening. J’eel landed with the other bronzes and watched with an amused gaze that he kept behind the mask one wore to ride between as the Lords of the Holds were met with the fact that the Ladies of the Holds and the would-be attackers were all gathered. He kept gaze watching as the others were waiting signal from F’lar as he spoke to the leaders and reminded them of the Sagas and Ballads that all of Perns people were to learn. He smirked when F’lar mentioned the mating flight that had happened the day before. J’eel wanted to laugh out loud at the shock that flew through the ranks of both Riders and Holders as Ramoth rose and wheeled over the gathered group.
“The Weyr prepares Pern, as the Weyr is pledges to protect Pern. Your cooperation is expected...” F’lar paused as he looked at the Lords with firm eyes. “And will be enforced.”
J’eel watched as Mnementh rose to join Ramoth. He could tell that F’lar was furious with Lessa but J’eel and Chiar were only amused. F’lar thought he’d be in control of Lessa and the Weyr forgetting that if it wasn’t for Mnementh catching Ramoth only one would still be in firm charge. Lessa was Weyrwoman and would bring changes that few would expect. He shook his head as he joined K’net in surveillance altitude of the army as they decamped and pulled back from the Weyr.
“You know that they’re going to catch on to you being part of this soon.” K’net flew beside J’eel. “You’re supposed to be in training still.”
J’eel looked at K’net with a raised eyebrow. “I’m supposed to be many things...including dead by all accounts.” J’eel chuckled before turning his attention back to K’net. “Changes are coming K’net...there’s no denyin that. They’re in for a shock if they think that Lessa is gonna be a meek follower and keep all the Traditions. Look at what she was havin us do...” He looked back at the Lord Holders keeping an on Lord Meron who was the one most angry over things that had happened on Search. “Everyone forgets about me bein around but for those that were part of my Pa’s wing...” J’eel looked at K’net again. “oh...this is gonna be fun...” He looked behind when he spotted Ramoth and Lessa diving and flying enjoying the freedom of the sky. “I think for sure that Traditions are going ta be changin...”
The Finger Points
At the Eye blood-red.
Alert the Weyrs
To sear the Thread.
“You still doubt?” J’eel looked out over the world as he stood beside S’lel on the Star Stone before the Eye Rock. He knew that R’gul was still doubting and that he was leading those that had followed him to continue their own doubts.
“There’ve been no Thread falls for over 400 turns...” S’lel snarled looking at the youth that followed too closely in F’lar’s shadows.
There is a meeting called. Chiar told J’eel and he could see that S’lel was being called as well.
They soon were seated around the table and J’eel had to bite back a scoff as F’lar and R’gul entered into a similar argument that he’d just been having with J’eel. He snarled as R’gul went after K’net, though he rubbed his nose as F’lar threatened the Igen patrol to be continued for the insolence. He caught K’net’s eyes and made sure that the other calmed enough that they wouldn’t continue to be separated by the flights. J’eel did curl his lip when R’gul sneered heatedly at F’lar about the verses that were taught to each and every weyrling.
“You cannot deny, R’gul,” F’lar spoke quietly keeping his eye on the older Wingleader. “That no less than half an hour ago the sun balanced on the Finger’s tip at dawn and the Red Star was squarely framed by the Eye Rock.”
S’lel though he was a follower of R’gul was clearly getting frustrated with the continued decent that had been happening.
“There have been no Threads in four hundred Turns. There are no Threads,” R’gul muttered.
J’eel kept a close eye on the man, he’d been one of the more dominate men who doled out punishments when he was a youth, and his Pa was on a flight. He’d always keep a close eye on what R’gul was up to.
“Then, my fellow dragonman,” F’lar said cheerfully, “all you have been taught is a falsehood.”
J’eel looked at F’lar closely listening as he told R’gul that he should leave the Weyr and settle where he wished. He couldn’t help the laugh that escaped him when he gave his ‘permission’ for R’gul to leave the Weyr. He could see the shock and stunned disbelief that crossed R’gul’s face when F’lar gave the ultimatum. As F’lar continued to talk and explain his beliefs he continued to keep watch.
Unknown to the rest J’eel had become the spy for Lessa, as he was one of the few who actually would listen to her plans and help her refine them but also speak up when they were needed to be halted. Only C’gan and K’net, besides Lessa, knew of his role, he’d finished his training sooner than the other weyrlings because of the lessons he’d taken in secret while his father was on Wing. He kept an eye on the pulse of the Wings, because of the darkness of Chiar’s bronze he slipped several times into the other Wings. He knew that he’d have to keep an eye on R’gul as the days passed after F’lar gave his ultimatum. He saw that R’gul made his mental plans and sent word to Chiar to keep an eye on Hath. As F’lar rose to give out the patrols J’eel listened and watched.
Once they were all out, he stood and moved several to move out to continue the Search, he’d smirked as F’nor and T’sum were sent to Ista Weyr for cleanup duty and retrieval of Records. He moved in the shadows as F’lar went to the Queen’s Weyr. He admired Ramoth’s darkening hide before he watched with amusement of F’lar’s frustration at the fact that he couldn’t find Lessa without reaching out to his dragon. He slipped into the records and to the back where he’d been studying the old Ballads for Lessa in secret.
As Lessa’s Spy, J’eel set the glow in place so that he’d be able to see what he was doing without others being aware of the fact. He re-read the Record while fighting back a laugh. He was positioned in a spot that allowed him to listen to the words spoken in the Weyrwoman’s weyr and how Lessa was using her words as knives to carefully cut F’lar. He knew she’d been called to witness the birth of Kylara’s babe that morn and that she was frustrated with F’lar thinking it might be his offspring. He still chuckled over the thought of F’lar even looking twice at Kylara after the events of the Flight. J’eel knew that F’lar had charged the women with the job of planting the notion of being a Weyrwoman, of another Weyr of course, into Kylara’s head. Now just to see if she’d be Impressed. He did laugh when he heard the name that Kylara gave her son and knew that F’lar had to be fighting back a grin from the frustration in Lessa’s voice over not getting a rise out of the man.
J’eel put down the Record he was reading when he heard the words about warnings at dawn. He listened closely with eyes closed in pain as she spoke of the day at Lord Fax invaded Ruatha to slaughter her kin. He wanted to comfort his heart-sister before his attention was pulled back as he heard the movements explaining that they were leaving the space and likely heading to feed before training. He was glad that he no longer had to help them with the training in the darkest hours of the night, the only time that the watchers were unable to see them. He’d never dared to teach them to go between but as he learned the skills of a rider, he taught Lessa. So, what F’lar thought was her first flight was only the first of her being in the air during the light of day.
J’eel looked in shock several hours later as he watched for Lessa to finish with her lessons of between with Mnementh. “Somethings wrong...” He whispered before looking at Chiarranth. “That isn’t a usual between...” He watched as Mnementh scolded Ramoth and the queen and Lessa lowered to the ground. He could see the shock and fear in Lessa’s eyes even from a distance. He slipped into the shadows of the queen’s weyr that she’d designed incase she had need of her spy to watch some meeting there.
J’eel startled in shock at the words that were being conveyed by Chiarranth and the words that were coming from Lessa. Between times...this might be just the thing needed before the thread were to fall. He startled at the sound of a slap and had to fight his desire to slip from the shadows and protect her, he was the spy not the assassin. He slipped through the secret entrance that Lessa had discovered when she’d found reference to the position of spymaster for the Weyrwoman. Returning to the records he dug through them again searching anything that he could to find the proof that was needed for those that would go between times. He went to the section that was around the time of the last Fall. There had to be something besides the reference to the disappearance of hundreds of riders into myth.
Rise high in glory, Count three months and more,
Bronze and gold. And five heated weeks,
Dive entwined, A day of glory and
Enhance the Hold. In a month, who seeks?
A strand of silver
In the sky...
With heat, all quickens
And all times fly.
Three thousand dragons don’t just disappear into the between at once unless it were for some reason. There had to be a reason. J’eel looked over the information given before him and closed his eyes. He turned and walked toward Chiarranth mounting his hovering dragon even with his eyes closed as they moved to the Star Rock.
“Between time and time...The others Search but time is not on our side.” He looked at the Red Star with a glare on his face.
F’nor had brought back scores of Records, F’lar and Lessa were going over the information digging through the reeking hides looking for any information that is to be.
“Well others search the Records...Chiar let us go...” He whispered grateful that he wasn’t a member of a wing yet since the Wingleaders all thought he was still a weyrling while C’gan thought he was already part of a wing due to him finishing his training before the others. It was a falsehood that Lessa kept up and one that soon they’d have to bring F’lar into the knowledge of. “The Search is long...the time for the heating has begun...but...”
More to come. Chiar whispered only to freeze before they could go between and looked back toward the hatching grounds. The queen lays! He turned wing and dived within the Hatching Grounds and settled with the other bronzes that watch over the Queen.
It took a bit before Lessa reached the hatching ground and was able to sooth Ramoth to let them see the eggs which she lay. He couldn’t help seizing Lessa and swinging her in a circle when he saw the queen egg that lay among the clutch. He landed a kiss on the corner of her mouth before letting her go and starting the count of the eggs. Unlike the others who left as Ramoth worked to lay another to join the seven beside the queen he stayed in the shadows. Chiarranth watching protectively over Mnementh and Ramoth while Mnementh focused his care upon his mate.
Weyrman, watch; Weyrman, learn
Something new in every Turn.
Oldest may be coldest, too.
Sense the right; find the true!
Forty-one eggs and people still argued over the threat that was eminent. R’gul stirred duress in the shadows J’eel sneered as he listened to R’gul attempt to teach the weyrlings that were the youngest of those chosen with the last clutch to question what the Weyrleader was instructing while being careful not to do so where others would hear. He bit back a snarl as he hear it again and just continued through his jobs given by Lessa.
Lessa knew that there was going to be people upset with the way that F’lar was throwing traditions out left, right, and center. But she agreed with his reasonings remembering the death from injuries that had happened in the Impression that she’d found Ramoth during. J’eel sneered at Kylara’s newest attempt to foster a relationship with F’lar. He’d heard her talking about how she’d become Weyrwoman to F’lar when she Impressed upon the queen eggs. He bit back a smirk as F’lar also knew of the woman’s ideas and plans and instead had his own plans of having her become the Weyrwoman of Fort Weyr.
“Come Chiar we’re to attend to the information that had been gathered on Meron...” J’eel sneered at the mention of the man and the way he could vex so many so easily with his rumors that he was starting. “I can’t believe that F’lar is taking this step...yeah it’s understandable but still...” He muttered as they went between and helped gather the different fathers of the young candidates that had been gathered for the Hatching.
He was wise to have the candidates to be with the eggs prior...I can’t smell as much fear. Chiar chuckled as he stood on the edge of the bronze watching platform with J’eel beside him. They were both in the shadows of the ledge, J’eel while dressed in the traditional clothing of a Rider had his all dyed in blacks and greys with blue accents to hide among the shadows better, he’d also designed his boots so that they’d have thick soft soles made from tanned watch-wher hide to keep the sound of his walking silent.
“Aye it was better...” J’eel watched with pride as there were no injuries and no running in fear. His attention turned from the stumbling dragonettes and weyrlings as they left the Grounds, grateful that he’d been moved from the barracks back to his old rooms within a Turn of being impressed. He watched as the impression of Kylara to the newest queen Pridith, Chiar giving him the name simply before focusing on the events again. “Now we wait for her first flight...and for Ramoth to take to the sky again.” He watched as the last of the Holders were returned, since he’d been part of the gathering, he was able to remain at the Weyr and keep watch.
Crack dust, blackdust,
Turn in freezing air.
Waste dust, spacedust,
From Red Star bare.
Now that the hatching was done and the newest batch of Weyrlings were being trained J’eel moved through the shadows to the queen’s weyr. He was going to confront Lessa about informing F’lar and the others they truly trusted of his position so that he could continue, he couldn’t be going on patrols more than what was being given.
“You know, F’lar, if I discovered it, someone else must have, and someone else may. If they haven’t already.” Lessa was telling F’lar as J’eel approached the chambers be bowed lightly to the still sleeping Ramoth.
“I don’t know how to find out discreetly. We would be foolish to think we were the first. It is after all an inherent ability in dragons, or you would never have been able to do it.” F’lar spoke in return as J’eel stepped into the room and looked at the pair.
Lessa frowned at spotting him before taking a deep breath and letting it go with a shrug.
“Go on...” F’lar encouraged her, he had seen how smart and cunning she could be.
“Well, isn’t it possible that our conviction about the imminence of the Threads could stem from one of us coming back when the Threads are actually falling? I mean...” Lessa took a deep breath and looked at the pair even though F’lar didn’t register J’eel there.
J’eel moved to the shadows when Chiar alerted him to the arrival of F’nor who was walking this direction. Though there would be no missing the entrance of the man who was choking and sputtering while covered in a fine black dust that rose as he spoke while slapping at his wher-hide. J’eel furrowed his brow as he watched the brothers talk and kept an eye on Lessa who was also furrowing her brow in concentration. J’eel followed discreetly behind the trio as they headed for the Records Room.
“I don’t need to be reminded of Moreta right now,” F’lar snapped while looking over maps.
J’eel startled remembering the stories of Moreta who could talk to every dragon of the Weyr. He was even shocked when he heard Lessa say she’d always been able to talk to every dragon from the time she was able to understand the watch-wher at Ruatha.
“Fuck...” J’eel ran his hands through his hair running his hands down his face.
When F’lar started in on Lessa and calling her spiteful he rushed in giving up his secrecy and placing himself between Lessa and F’lar ignoring the shout of shock from F’nor. “Back the fuck off!”
“J’eel this is not for you to concern yourself.” F’lar looked at him briefly before looking back at Lessa.
“Like hell it isn’t! You would turn the whole Weyr against you! This is NOT the time...” J’eel snarled as he stood with his arms crossed over his chest. “Look should’ve she’ve said somethin maybe...but if you’d actually talked to Mnementh and LISTENED then you’d’ve understanding about this. Chiarranth told me the first time we had clear communication that she was able to do so. SHE is the reason you’re Weyrleader! SHE had Mnementh bring you back when Ramoth was about to rise! Just as she keeps her own counsel so do YOU!”
F’lar stepped forward like he was going to shake the boy in front of him.
“I’ve been workin with her in the shadows to make sure that you REMAIN Weyrleader while R’gul is whispering his poison and the Hold leaders do the same. Fuck I’m fourteen turns and I’m already actin as a spymaster.” He lowered his voice and snarled at F’lar. “All to help my Pa’s visions come true and for you to return this Weyr to the Glory of old! You each keep secrets and it needs to stop!”
“Enough!” F’nor stepped up and put a hand on J’eel’s shoulder pulling him aside. “We’ve got to figure this out. You mean to tell me that the dust I’m covered in is the remnants of Thread that’s froze?”
“Exactly.” F’lar nodded before looking back at J’eel and truly taking in his look. The shoulder length mahogany hair was falling loose around his golden eyes where there were scars, though they were hidden by wher-hide, it was clear that the youth was already becoming a strong man even at fourteen turns. “We can’t waste time arguing...”
“We can’t waste time...” J’eel looked between the pair knowing what was going to come.
“Time!” Lessa’s eyes widened.
“Between time...” F’lar looked back at her with equally wide eyes.
“What the fuck you all talkin about?” F’nor asked with confusion clear on his face.
“The dragons can go between time along with places.” J’eel started to explain before F’lar took over and started giving directions. As they moved through the rooms and F’lar dressed in his wher-hide tunic and put on his riding boots he stood there.
“If something goes wrong...let Chiarranth fly Ramoth...” F’lar looked over at J’eel. “I want you with me. Stay as safe as possible. I don’t want to risk...”
“No one’s flying Ramoth BUT Mnementh.” Lessa cried out, her eyes fierce, and let herself be crush against F’lar and be kissed breathless.
As J’eel and F’lar exited the weyr he looked at the man that had been leader of his father’s wing. “I won’t let you down...but you’ll be returned.” J’eel nodded before launching himself into the space between the weyr ledge and where Chiar was hovering free-falling until he was caught by his dragon.
Wheel and turn
Or bleed and burn.
Fly Between,
Blue and green.
Soar, dive down,
Bronze and brown
Dragonmen must fly
When Threads are in the sky.
J’eel watched as F’lar was quick to mount Mnementh and they rose quickly into the air and flew to the Star Stone where the others were gathered. He could see the ordered chaos as firesacks were being gathered, dragons saddled, commands and counter commands being called out. It was controlled chaos where Lessa stepped out before Ramoth, and he could tell that she was working on informing the many dragons of their orders.
They flashed between as soon as F’lar joined them and J’eel knew that this would work. He’d gone between times since he’d learned of what was possible training Chiar and himself on the precision needed. He was linked with Chiar as they appeared above the rainforest of Nerat just before dawn. He saw as the men realized what had happened and was able to spot the pulsing Red Star. He listened as F’lar called them to attention breaking through the fussing that was happening with the others. He knew that something was going to occur that would bring changes that would make or break the Weyr. He let Chiar fall into a position that F’lar directed him as they got into place the sun rose and that was when they saw it. Threads falling silent, beautiful, and deadly.
The roars from the eighty men and dragons rose over the rainforest and J’eel joined in driven by the call of battle. His blood began to sore as they prepared, not caring that the Threads could hear the challenge it was a drive to convince themselves that they were powerful. As soon as Chiar turned his head to J’eel for firestone he was ready. He could feel the churning of Chiar’s stomach as he continued to take down more and more of the stone to prepare for the flaming that was to come. He flew beside F’lar keeping watch over his back even as they worked in concert with their dragons to burn the Thread from the sky. He pulled his black scarf over his face as the fumes swept back by the wind caused by dragon wing were choaking him. As F’lar and Mnementh were scored and went between to get rid of the Thread that flicked the wing tip a full clump thread hit J’eel’s back that had been falling behind Mnementh.
“SHIT!” Chiar jumped between without a second thought. When they arrived over the Weyr again J’eel cursed. “NO! Go back!”
No you need aid. Chiar snarled in his connection. You’re in shock and flooded with adrenaline.
“No! I need to help!” J’eel snarled uncaring of the burning pain that seared across his back even through the wher-hide of his jacket.
No. Chiar snarled again his own pain starting to flow through their connection. It was only luck that it was the barest of glances against Chiar before he’d gone between, or he’d have been lost as would’ve J’eel.
Moments later the rest of the wings appeared behind him, though it had been hours between the jump there and the jump back even with some time since J’eel had first appeared back. He landed and allowed the women with the salve pots and clean rags to help him and Chiar. He bit back a scream of pain as he moved to get off Chiar and if it hadn’t been for the adrenaline still flowing through him he was able to tend to his dragon first as was proper and right for a rider to do. It was only after he’d finished tending to Chiar that the adrenaline faded, and he realized just how much pain he was in. As the call for help came from Canth he looked to Chiar, thankfully his dragon was barely injured and well-tended. A quick smear of numbweed across his back and a new hide and he was back in the saddle ready to help. He wouldn’t be able to fight but with C’gan he was able to get more firestone to the riders that were at Keroon. Thanks to the numbweed he’d be able to help and was able to remain undetected by the others as injured as he was.
“C’gan!” J’eel couldn’t help but shout in warning as the man and dragon flew near a batch of Thread. Thankfully Chiar had filled with Firestone still as they leapt burning the Thread before it could do such harm as to kill the man. “Tagath! Take him back!”
Tagath trumpeted in pain as his wing was scored a glancing blow by Thread. C’gan received a similar glancing blow instead of a full hit. J’eel was quickly beside the old harper helping support the dragon, who struggled to fly. J’eel let out another snarl as another piece of Thread scored his face just as they went between to return to the Weyr. As Chiar helped lower Tagath to the ground and J’eel helped keep C’gan in the saddle he was amazed to see Ramoth launching to assist.
“Easy ol’ man. You’re not goin for your final trip just yet.” J’eel groaned through his own pain as they got lowered to the ground and he helped get C’gan to the ground.
“Dragonmen must fly...when Threads are in the sky...” C’gan muttered his body racked with pain but not nearly as much as it could’ve been.
“That may be ol’ man...but there must be those that teach the ways to the new to come.” J’eel said ignoring his own pain still, he’d deal with it after others returned. “We’re not gonna lose one this first round. It’s Thread that’s gonna lose.”
Dragonmen must fly
When Threads are in the sky!
Worlds are lost, or worlds are saved
By those dangers dragon-braved.
When F’lar, F’nor, R’gul, and the other riders returned it was to news that there were twenty-eight men or dragons injured to the point they wouldn’t be able to fly the next round. They’d almost lost C’gan to the Thread with his dragon if it hadn’t been for the actions of J’eel. It was as they were getting reports after landing and making sure that C’gan survived J’eel had crumpled to the ground only for Chiar to inform Lessa about the injuries that he’d sustained and been ignoring while helping to fight the Thread. There were seven men and four dragons that would be out of action for months to come especially Gereth with being scored down to the bone on their wing.
J’eel knew that he’d hear an ear full when the others caught up with him, but he’d left the healing hall to his own chambers needing the familiarity there instead of taking up a bed where one needs it more. He knew that a full Council was going to be called in the morn bringing all the Hold Lords and Craftmasters to the Weyr to plan and prepare.
“Just what do you think you’re doing?” K’net asked as he entered the chamber that J’eel called his.
“Leaving space for those more injured.” J’eel answered simply going to shrug but stopping himself as it pulled the burns from the Thread.
“You were scored to the bone in places and the muscle in others. You are one of the most injured!” K’net stepped forward and cupped J’eel’s face careful of the numb cream on his cheek being careful of the score left that trailed from his brow down his cheek. “This is gonna scar...I’m just glad it didn’t take your eye.” K’net whispered as he watched J’eel lean his head into the hand cupping his face. “You were injured in the first run you shouldn’t’ve gone with C’gan.”
“If I hadn’t we’d have lost him. The Thread that did this...” He gestured to his face. “was just a touch of what would’ve scored C’gan. There’d have been no saving the ol’bastard. And we’d have lost Tagath as well to between.”
“There’ll be Council tomorrow. We’ll deal then...now let me check the bandaging...and then we rest.” K’net cupped J’eel’s face, he was willing to wait as long as needed to draw the lad into his life even more.
“Very well...” J’eel whispered as he let himself be pulled further into his chambers unknowing to the task that was to come and the changes about to be made.