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M'tal continued, "It is my duty to ensure that our Wingleaders are able to do
their jobs. And it is my duty to train those Wingleaders to fight Thread in
any
and all positions expected of them-including leading a Fall themselves."
Tullea's nostrils flared angrily. "You will not make B'nik lead the Fall!"
she
shouted. "You're trying to get him killed so that your dragon will fly
Minith!"
She drew herself up to her full height. "Well, it's not going to happen! I'll
not let it happen, no matter what!" Her eyes darted to Salina. "And you!
You're
part of this, I can tell. Well, you're not the Senior Weyrwoman anymore. I
want
you out of my quarters immediately."
Kindan swore. "That's it!" he snarled, darting out of the room. Lorana, who
had
not heard as clearly what had been said, followed close behind.
Salina glanced at M'tal, who touched her shoulder gently.
"Salina's things were moved into my quarters before the last Threadfall,
Tullea," M'tal said, tamping down his temper. "Mikkala and a crew of weyrfolk
have given it a good cleaning and were just waiting for it to finish airing
before they offered it to you."
Tullea huffed at the news. "Why wasn't I informed earlier?"
"I've been busy with the injured dragons and riders, Tullea," Salina said in
a
soft voice. "And I thought that you might not want to move in so soon
after"-her
voice caught-"after Breth's death."
"No one knows how the illness spreads," Kindan broke in from behind Tullea.
The Weyrwoman whirled. "You! What are you doing here? This is a private
conversation."
"Private conversations are not normally conducted by shouting," Kindan
responded. "We heard you all the way in the Records Room."
"We?" Tullea looked behind him and spotted Lorana. Her eyes narrowed. "What
are
you doing here?" she snapped at Lorana. "Spying?"
"Hardly," Lorana said. "I was coming to see if anyone needed help."
Salina grabbed at the statement. "Perhaps some klah and a bite of food." She
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glanced at Tullea. "Or maybe some wine."
"Good idea," Kindan agreed quickly, turning to Lorana and adding in an
undertone, "Laced with fellis juice."
"I'll see what I can find," Lorana answered, with a wink for Kindan.
Tullea watched her disappear with a sour look on her face. "That girl takes
far
too much on herself," she proclaimed. "When I am Weyrwoman, I'll order her to
tend to her dragon."
"I'm sure she'll be delighted to oblige," M'tal purred. "When you're
Weyrwoman-perhaps you'd care to start now and take over the search through
the
Records?"
Tullea jerked as the barb went home. "Don't try to distract me," she barked.
"I
ordered you not to let B'nik lead the next Fall."
As Lorana raced down the steps, still grappling with the bizarre events above
her, she ran straight into B'nik.
"Have you seen Tullea?"
"She's up with M'tal," Lorana answered.
B'nik groaned. "She's not the one who's been shouting, is she?"
Lorana could only nod. The rider swore, then gave her an apologetic shrug.
"She's accused him of trying to get you killed," Lorana said.
"I told her not to!" B'nik growled, starting up the steps. He stopped to look
back at her. "Where are you going?"
"Down to get some food and drinks," she said.
"Make sure to put some fellis juice in her wine," he told her, shaking his
head
sadly. "When she gets worked up like this, it's about the only thing that
calms
her."
Lorana frowned. "This has happened before? Is she all right?"
"Yes. No. I don't know," B'nik said in rapid response. Another shout prompted
him to start back up the stairs. "I'd better get going."
When Lorana returned with a tray, B'nik deftly took the wine glass and handed
it
to Tullea, who had grown quieter but no less determined.
"I don't care," she said. "You shouldn't fly this Fall."
"It's my duty, Tullea," B'nik said. "Besides," he added with a grin, "I want
to
do it." He grabbed a mug from the tray Lorana had set down and poured himself
some klah.
"I know you do," Tullea snapped. She took a sip of her wine. "It's just that,
if
anything were to happen to you, particularly before Minith rises, I-" She
broke
off.
B'nik hastily passed his mug to Kindan and wrapped his arms around Tullea,
drawing her into a tight embrace. The move caught her off guard and she
tipped
her glass, spilling some of the wine onto his tunic.
"I'm sorry," she said. She looked at the others, her eyes moist with emotion.
"I'm sorry," she repeated.
"It's all right, come on," B'nik said soothingly, leading her from the room.
"It's late-you'll feel better in the morning." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]