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〃You don't think we're deserting？〃 Pilgra directed her question to Lessa； her face screwed with anxiety。
〃By the Egg； no。〃 Lessa leaned across the space between them and patted Pilgra's hand； noticing the brown spots and the puffiness of her fingers holding the glass。
〃Segrith hasn't had any of the old urgings to fly；〃 Pilgra went on； adding； 〃though she's clutched every two Turns since we got here。〃
〃With at least fifteen eggs and all living to fly。 I wonder you've any space left in the Weyr。〃
〃Well； it's space another queen can fill from now on；〃 Pilgra said with a touch of asperity。 〃M'rand wants to see the Pass out but。。。〃 and she raised one hand in a helpless gesture。
M'rand cleared his throat； leaned forward； elbows on his knees。 〃Did hope to； F'lar； not many get the chance； you know。〃 His grin was a brief echo of his former vitality and charm。 〃But； after seeing the place in Cathay； what with R'mart stepping down； I thought maybe； with three queens available and I've got some fine bronze riders； we might。。。 well。。。 go south and get warm！〃
〃You don't have to ask our permission； you know；〃 Lessa said gently； smiling with genuine gratitude。 〃You didn't have to e Forward from your own time to help F'lar and me during this Pass。〃
〃 'That was twice decided；' 〃 M'rand murmured softly； quoting the old Question Song。 〃We came because that was what we'd done； had to do； did。〃
〃And； for thirty…one Turns； we've been grateful for your splendid generosity；〃 Lessa said。
M'rand demurred with a chuckle。 〃Wasn't having as much fun in the Interval。 I was young enough to accept the challenge。 Now I'm old enough to think R'mart was right。 We got you started and now we can retire in good faith。 Of course； he still wants to be in a Weyr。 Ourselves； we've been in one too long and Pilgra and I'd like to be by ourselves。 Not；〃 and he held up a hasty hand； 〃that you can't call on us and our dragons whenever you need to！〃
〃Now； if you're trying to get us to argue you into staying in that cold Weyr of yours； you've e to the wrong ledge；〃 F'lar said； with an amused tilt to his mouth。 He flicked one hand at M'rand。 〃Go； rider； and enjoy a well…deserved rest。 May it take you into the next Interval。〃
〃You mean that？〃 Pilgra turned to Lessa； eyes wide。
〃Who thinks this is wrong？〃 Lessa wanted to know。 And when both exchanged uncertain glances； she went on。 〃Let me guess： G'dened。〃
〃Well； he's the oldest of us；〃 Pilgra said。
M'rand cleared his throat。 〃Stubborn； too； won't let go at Ista because he's been at that Weyr…〃 He paused to guffaw。 〃…a half a hundred Turns and he knows all there is to know about leadership and Fall。〃
〃One can appreciate such a sense of loyalty；〃 Lessa said after a moment； and smiled。 〃Tenacity； too； and dedication； sense of purpose； perfectionism。〃
F'lar dropped his head； looking away from Lessa who was being outrageous and sounding so sincere。
Pilgra caught it first； blinking with astonishment as Lessa found a few more similar adjectives。 Then M'rand roared with laughter； which turned into the hacking cough。
〃Go before you die of the cough and get done out of your ease；〃 Lessa said sternly。
〃But…but…〃
〃Four good bronze Wingleaders？ Let each one lead in turn during the next Falls until a queen rises；〃 F'lar said pragmatically。 〃You'll be available for any problems。 In fact； it'll take you time to step down even after you have。 Now where's this splendid cove in Cathay？ Did you think to get…ah； you did；〃 he went on as M'rand withdrew a folded paper。
〃Got Master Idarolan to do the map work for me。 He's good at that。〃 M'rand offered it to F'lar； once again the decisive leader； and a very relieved man。 〃I don't know which is better to have； map readings or your dragon knowing where to go。〃
Lessa had had a woodsmith make a cabinet with long； deep drawers where they could store the documents and charts that displayed chosen sites in the southern continent。 The fact that the Weyrleaders controlled such dispositions rankled with many but； after heated debate in the Council； that had been agreed。 What had also been stipulated was that each new holding had to be self…sufficient and had to have instructions about the dangers； as well as the advantages； of life in the south。
F'lar found the chart； flipped it to the worktop； angled M'rand's map； and found the coordinates。
〃You're not asking for very much。〃
〃Don't need much； and it's one in the eye for Toric；〃 M'rand said。
Pilgra and Lessa came over as F'lar was outlining the new hold with a silver marker； reserved for dragonriders。
〃A hundred square meters？〃 Lessa exclaimed。 〃A patch！〃
〃The nicest patch you could imagine；〃 Pilgra assured her stolidly and started to describe the amenities。 〃There might even have been an Original Settlement there。 Stones piled； like they finally fell； and just where you'd get a marvelous view of the sea below。 All kinds of frees and it was so warm for First Month。〃
〃There really aren't that many holdings allotted there yet； are there？〃 M'rand said； surprised。
〃More than there were；〃 Lessa said； 〃and far fewer than there will be when certain folk can make up their minds。〃 She favored her mate with a dour look。
〃More than I expected；〃 Pilgra said with a sweeping glance of the chart。 〃That isn't all of Southern there is。〃
〃No； it's not；〃 F'lar said； tapping the drawer。 〃That's just the Cathay area； eight degrees to ten degrees longitude； fifty to twenty latitude。 From the aerial photos on the Aivas scale； so they're big enough to delineate holds。 I'll send the official register down to Admin。〃 He opened another drawer and took out the register documents； which he tossed back inside。 Opened a third； smaller one and took out a form。 〃This'll be your Deed。〃 He riffled the side to show there were several pages。 〃I'll just fill it in； Lessa and I will sign it； and get it witnessed by the Weyr harper and perhaps Manora or G'bol and the holding's yours。〃
M'rand blinked。 〃Just like that？〃
F'lar grinned。 〃You're Weyrleaders。 You're entitled to your choice and require no further Council authorization。〃 He leaned over the worktop； filling in the form； printing quickly but legibly； M'rand watching him。
〃But it takes other people so much longer？〃 Pilgra asked； cocking her head to one side； her expression concerned。
〃Other people take only as long as fulfilling the requirements of emigrating do；〃 Lessa said。 〃Proof of being reliable people from hold or hall； with sufficient skills to survive in what can be hazardous terrain…where predators are bigger than the largest tunnel snakes they'd encounter here in the north…and a definite area where they will establish a new hall or hold。 It's no more than was required by the original Charter； and that's another reason why it's important that everyone knows what's in the Charter。〃
〃I did remind you of that； Pilgra；〃 M'rand said； regarding his weyrmate with a jaundiced look。 〃People can get some ridiculous notions； listening to drunken Gather talk。〃
F'lar accorded that a grumble； checking from map to form to be sure he had the longitude and latitude c