Pellar is an orphan taken in by Masterharper Zist. Though born mute,
Pellar is a gifted tracker, and when Zist sets off to take over as
harper for Natalon's coal-mining camp, Pellar - along with his
fire-lizard, Chitter - joins him on a secret mission of his own: to find
out if reported thefts of coal are the work of the Shunned, criminals
condemned to a life of wandering and hardship. Halla is one of the
children of the Shunned. Though innocent of their parents' crimes, these
children have inherited their cruel punishment. Lack of food, shelter,
and clothes is their lot; hope is unknown to them. And what future would
they hope for? Without a hold to call their own, there will be no
protection for them when the lethal Thread inevitably falls again. Life
is particularly tough for Halla. Her family gone, she must fend for
herself. Yet despite the brutality of her surroundings, Halla is kind
and gentle, devoted to those more helpless than she. As depraved as
Halla is good, Tenim is in league with Tarik, a crooked miner from Camp
Natalon, who helps him steal coal in exchange for a cut of the profit.
But Tenim soon realizes there is a lot more to be made from firestone,
the volatile mineral that enables the dragons of Pern to burn Thread out
of the sky. Tenim doesn't care what he has to do, or whom he has to
kill, in order to corner the market. Cristov is Tarik's son. Dishonored
by his father's greed and treachery, the boy feels he must make amends,
even if it means risking his life by mining the volatile firestone,
which detonates on contact with the slightest drop of moisture. When the
last remaining firestone mine explodes in flames, a desperate race
begins to find a new deposit of the deadly but essential mineral, for
without it there can be no defense against Thread. But Tenim has a
murderous plan to turn tragedy to his own advantage, and only Pellar,
Halla, and Cristov can stop him - and ensure that there will be a future
for all on the world of the Dragonriders.
