Chapter 2 Summary

Mnementh "bursts out of between" at high altitude and calms his rider as they descend, reminding F'lar that he has called this meeting. T'ron has made the meeting as inconvenient as possible for the eastern rulers, G'narish of Igen, R'mart of Telgar, and F'lar worst of all. The real issue is a violation of fundamental rules. Dragons are never to be taken from their weyrs when green (in heat); and dragonriders must avoid situations that could cause dragons to go berserk or kill themselves if their riders is injured or dies. Today's violation is far greater than F'lar's recruiting outside riders when sufficient weyr boys can be found; breeding dragons to produce larger clutches, larger bronzes, and queens. It's even more significant than inviting Holders and Crafters to experience vicariously the "mysterious rite" of Impressions; and replacing drums by messenger dragons in every...