The next morning, F’lar reflects on the significance of the arrangement of stones on Benden Peak—the Finger Rock, Eye Rock, and Star Stone—which seems connected to the coming of the Red Star. Lessa treats him coldly despite their night together.

R'gul informs them that a large host of armed men are approaching the Weyr: It’s the Holding Lords, incensed by the dragonmens’ raiding. R’gul wants to try apologizing, but F’lar asserts his power as the new Weyrleader and tells R’gul, “[T]he days of placating the Lords are over” (128), though he stops short of wanting to respond militarily; the Weyr is sworn to protect the people of Pern, not fight them. Instead, F’lar takes dragonriders between to secure hostages from the Lords’ Holds. He believes this to be the easiest way to deescalate the situation without bloodshed. 

The rebelling Lords, including Larad of Telgar and Meron of Nabol, arrive at the Weyr. Larad reflects on how the Weyr has outlived its usefulness and overstepped its bounds; the recent raids, the taking of women on Search, and the killing of Fax are especially egregious crimes.