Dragon's Kin by Anne McCaffrey & Todd Mccaffrey

Author:Anne McCaffrey & Todd Mccaffrey [Mccaffrey, Anne & McCaffrey, Todd]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy Fiction, Science Fiction - General, Fantasy, Science Fiction - Adventure, Adventure, Life on Other Planets, Space Opera, Fiction - Fantasy, Science Fiction - Space Opera, Fantasy - Series, Space Colonies, Dragons, Fantasy Fiction; American, Pern (Imaginary place)
ISBN: 9780345462008
Publisher: Random House, Inc.
Published: 2004-12-28T02:34:22+00:00

Kindan was awoken roughly the next morning. Zist was shaking him, a pitcher of cold water in his other hand.

"Up now, lad!" the Harper said gruffly. Kindan rushed out of bed, looking for his clothes. "No time for it, just throw this on." Zist threw a cloak at him. "And get your boots on."

Kindan worked as fast as he could but he was fumble-fingered in his excitement.

Master Zist growled at him, "All haste, too much waste! Take a breath and try again."

As soon as he'd finished lacing up his boots, Master Zist rushed the two of them out of the cottage and up toward the beacon heights.

It was pitch black outside and Kindan only made it up the cliff without stumbling because he knew the trail well enough to walk it in his sleep.

Three figures greeted them at the top by the beacon. And one was huge. Kindan looked up and up and finally found the face of the dragon. It peered down at him as though he were a mere trundlebug, blew a breath out its nostrils that turned to steam in the cold morning, and then looked away.

"Here they are," Natalon said. "This is Master Zist, lately of the Harper Hall, and Kindan, the son of our late wher-watcher."

The man whom Natalon addressed yawned pointedly. "You set a beacon for this?"

Kindan sensed Master Zist tense angrily beside him.

"We had hoped that we could ask for the hospitality of transport," Natalon replied. "We give fair tithe."

"The beacon and dragon pennant are for emergencies, Miner," the dragonrider responded, beckoning to his dragon and preparing to depart.

"Lord—?" Zist called urgently, stopping the irritated dragonrider in his tracks.

"I am Lord D'gan, Harper, lately Weyrleader of Telgar Wyer," the dragonrider replied, drawing himself up to his full height.

"We are most honored, Lord D'gan," Zist said, sketching a courtly bow. Hastily, Kindan copied him as best he could. "Camp Natalon is a prosperous Camp with good prospects, my Lord. We have found much coal here which is greatly in demand—"

"Not by dragons or their riders, Harper," D'gan interjected. "If you were mining firestone, it would be a different matter. I care little if Holders are a bit cold this winter."

"We are mining Smithcoal, my Lord," Natalon said. "Our coal is of such quality that the MasterSmith himself has laid in a large order for it."

D'gan cocked an eyebrow at him. "I am very pleased for the MasterSmith."

"My Lord," Zist said, and Kindan could see signs of restrained anger in the old Harper's face, "that coal is used to make the steel that binds your fighting straps, strengthens your helmet, and buckles your belt."

"I am glad to hear it," D'gan replied. "We have had many complaints on the quality of steel coming from the Smith Hall. Now I know the source." He moved toward his dragon.

"My Lord!" Zist called. "Of old the dragonriders of Pern have been courteous in responding to the just requests of the Holders and Crafters."

D'gan stopped and whirled back, his hand on the dagger at his side.

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