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K'van； with his Weyrwoman； Adrea； Master Sintary； and four of the Southern Wingleaders； moved out of the shadows as Canth landed in the flower…scented night。 Five pairs of blue…green eyes shone as the brown dragon crooned a greeting and went to join them。 K'van distributed hand lights。
〃Neither moon's out tonight；〃 the young Weyrleader said； his white grin visible in the reflection of the light he carried。 〃R'mart wanted to e but we convinced him that retired means no more responsibility。〃
F'nor bowed to Adrea； nodded to the other bronze riders； and finished stripping off his flying gear。 He was grateful for the fresh breeze on the plateau。
〃I have my own light；〃 Sintary said； turning his beam on the well…worn track from the old open Weyr to the Hold。
〃Of course； Toric could just ignore all this；〃 F'nor remarked in a low tone as the eight of them carefully proceeded to the Hold。
Before they reached the first bend； a fierce challenge stopped them。
〃Who's out there？〃
〃F'nor； Canth's rider；〃 and F'nor tilted the light to his face。
〃K'van； Adrea； M'ling； N'bil； S'dra； H'redan；〃 the Weyrleader said； also lighting his face and flashing it at his panions as he named them。
〃Idarolan and Sintary；〃 the Harper said in turn。
〃Bringing an urgent message to Lord Toric from Landing；〃 F'nor said。
〃A very urgent and very important message；〃 Idarolan said； stepping forward in a purposeful manner； 〃and you had best guide us to him immediately。〃
〃It's the middle of the night！〃 was the protest。
〃Since when has the middle of the night been free of trouble！〃 Idarolan did not pause in his stride and the guard gave ground。
〃You sound like Idarolan；〃 he said dubiously。
〃If you don't know your Weyrleader by sight；〃 Sintary remarked acidly； 〃you're in a lot of trouble。〃
〃This way； Master Harper； Weyrleader K'van。 This way。〃 They were going past the large square when he made one more remark。 〃You've got to wake him； not me！〃
F'nor wasn't the only one who chuckled。
Luckily； it was Ramala who answered their summons； holding up a glowbasket to identify the visitors。
〃Bad news？〃 she asked； leading them to the main hall。
〃Perhaps not as bad for Southern as it is for others；〃 Idarolan remarked which made her stop and regard him speculatively in the dimly lit hall。 〃If you would be good enough to wake Toric？〃
〃Yes； it had better be me；〃 she said and waved them to chairs as she opened the nearest glowbaskets。
She disappeared on her errand and； because they were listening； they heard Toric's muffled shout of protest。 Then she came back； nodded at them and said； if they wouldn't mind opening more lights； she would get fresh klah。
〃Or wine； if you feel that would suit better。〃
〃Both；〃 F'nor said bluntly。 He could use a glass of wine right now。 Breakfast at Benden seemed to have been a long time ago despite the food that had been served during the emergency meeting at Landing。
Sintary and two of the bronze riders opened only sufficient glowbaskets to light the front part of the big hall。 They had taken seats at one end of the long table when they heard the scrape of sandals on stone。 Idarolan grinned； arranging his papers on the table； preparatory to an argument with Toric。
Shirt open； drawstring shorts rucked at one hip； the Lord Holder swung into the room； scowling； and the scowl deepened as he paused on the threshold； regarding those awaiting him。
〃What the shards is the matter now？ This can't constitute a Council！〃
〃A fireball impacted in the Eastern sea at approximately twelve hours twenty minutes Landing time；〃 F'nor said bluntly。
〃The impact of what we believe is a etary fragment has created tsunamis；〃 Idarolan said。 〃You will remember what happened when that volcano Piemur discovered erupted。〃
Toric's eyes rounded； thick sun…bleached eyebrows turning his scowl into an expression of unpleasant surprise。
〃Some of your Hold is in the path of the tsunamis…two sets of them； one with three different waves from the east and the other from the west；〃 Idarolan went on relentlessly。 He used the map in front of him to point them out。 〃Journeyman Erragon and Master Wansor confirmed the phenomenon。〃 He paused for a moment and then rushed on； as a man who regretted what he had to say。 〃Even as we speak； Monaco Bay is probably being drowned！〃
Adrea gasped； and S'dra and N'bil inhaled sharply。
Toric stared at the retired MasterFishman and then glared at K'van。 〃Then what are you dragonriders doing here instead of being there to help them？〃 He waved his arms furiously to indicate the different sites。 He dropped his eyes to study the chart； pulling it toward him。
〃Every Weyr has sent wings to help；〃 F'nor said； 〃We're here to tell you what to expect in roughly eleven hours from now。〃
Toric blinked。
〃I will have riders in the sky rousing the coastal holders as soon as Adrea's queen gives them the orders；〃 said K'van with a stiff bow to Toric。 〃We know you prefer to be informed of the Weyr's movements。 I have just returned from the emergency meeting at Landing。〃
〃I'll rouse your portmaster myself；〃 Idarolan volunteered； 〃to warn the ships at anchor。 They'll be safe enough at sea。 Able to ride the tsunami swell； if they notice it at all。 It's the land that's vulnerable。〃
Ramala came in with a tray of cups and food； followed by a very sleepy and resentful pair of holder women； one bearing a big klah pot； the other a wineskin。 〃You all need something in your stomachs to organize the evacuations！〃 she said。
F'nor wondered how she knew what they had e to organize。 Ramala was a good woman to have subtly on your side。
〃Then； leaving you in good hands； Lord Toric；〃 F'nor said courteous； 〃I will return to Landing。〃
〃Good hands？ I'll。。。〃 Toric lurched at F'nor。
Instantly； before Toric had a chance to plete his lunge at the brown rider； Idarolan stood between then。 With a well…calculated blow of his fist to Toric's shoulder； he spun him off balance。
〃If we're to save any of your coastal holds； Lord Toric； you'd best pay attention to me；〃 Master Idarolan said in a loud harsh voice that had quelled argument before and made the infuriated Lord Holder think。
F'nor？ Canth's mental tone was alarmed。
F'nor saw Sintary move to Idarolan's side as the stern MasterFishman held Toric motionless with his stony glare。
The Southern Lord Holder seemed to shake himself。 With teeth clamped shut behind his bared lips； he gave a long hiss of breath and pivoted back to the table； spread with maps of his holding。
He's under control now； Canth； F'nor said； turning as casually as he could； trying to calm himself and his dragon。 Sharding idiot！ He could feel the anger of the other dragonriders as he left the hall in measured strides。 Thank the First Egg that Idarolan had been right that Toric respected him。 Slowly his fists unclenched。 He took his time walking back in the night to the old Southern Weyr to regain full control of himself。 And to face the other disasters this day seemed to be so full of。 As much as he dreaded what he must see of a flooded Monaco； he was needed there； or