Part 3 opens with another disagreement between F’lar and R’gul. In the circle of ancient stones at Benden Peak, the sun appeared on the Finger Rock, and the Red Star was framed in the Eye Rock. F’lar cites tradition to argue that this means the Threads are approaching, while R’gul still refuses to believe. Eventually R’gul resigns himself, at least temporarily, to submitting to F’lar’s leadership. F’lar orders the firestone pits to be filled, the weyrling trainings to continue, and the five abandoned Weyrs to be searched for Records that might contain information on how to fight the Threads.

Lessa is still cold with F’lar, who admits to himself that he was more forceful in their lovemaking than he should have been. Lessa is angry too that she was not invited to see the phenomenon at the stones, but she lightens up when F’lar fulfills his promise to teach her and Ramoth how to fly between. As they eat, Lessa subtly tries to goad F’lar with news that a pretty and ambitious woman in the Weyr, Kylara, is bearing a child soon. They both know the child may belong to F’lar, but F’lar does not rise to the bait.