Author: Sam

Story: A Weyrharper's Repertoire: 4 of 14

Series: Islinne Weyr

Note: At the Weyr, Cyrus starts to question the deaths of normal Threadfall. Originally based on A Little Good News by Anne Murray, but as you can see, it bears no resemblance to it anymore, especially in 'tune'.

Passing by, I saw the weyrlings at their lessons;
A Master was drilling them in Threadfall defenses,
The Leader was teaching the Gold to fly.
I just couldn't help but wonder why
Many of those pairs would have to die...

A Second was telling Wingriders what to do,
Assigning convey duties and a sweep or two.
When Thread passed over a beholden land
The dragons and riders stayed at hand,
But all those deaths I don't understand...

A blue dragon let out a scream then went between.
His left wing was scored; his young rider hadn't seen
The tangled mass just above his head.
If no one shouted he would be dead,
As it is he'll be grounded instead...

Even the mighty Gold isn't immune to pain
When flying with others throughout that silver rain.
She can dive and glide like the others,
Fighting hard like her smaller brothers,
Yet sometimes death even comes to mothers.

The remaining riders weep while the dragons keen:
Mourning those bronzes, browns, and their small sisters the green,
Lured to the dark by pain and sickness,
Protecting the people from distress,
Stopping the land from being defenseless...

Despite careful planning, sometimes things can go wrong,
Like the eerie lines to a harper's sad death song.
And as I walked and let out a sigh,
I just couldn't help but wonder why
Many of those pairs would have to die...