Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 21:26:21 -0800 (PST)
From: Corrinne S <quasito_cat@yahoo.com>
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.