As long as the people of Pern
could remember, the Holds had
protected them from Thread,the
deadly silver strands that fell
from the sky. In exchange for
sanctuary in the huge stone
fortresses,the people tithed to
their Lord Holders, who in turn
supported the dragonriders,
Pern's greatest weapon against
Thread.
But not everyone on Pern was
protected. Some had been
redered holdless as punishment
for wrongdoing. Some,like
Jayge's trader clan,simply
preferred the freedom of the
roads to the security of a hold.
Others, like Aramina's family,
had lost their holds.And they
all feared the outlaws who
preyed on holds and holdless
alike.
The Lady Thella's renegades
were the most dangerous yet.
All they needed was Aramina,
whose telepathic link with
dragns could help them evade
the dragonriders patrols. But
Jayge was out to stop Thella .... |