"Really?" Moreta was startled. She hadn't heard that Ruatha Hold had been approached for one of its sons, not since she joined the Weyr ten Turns before.
"Dag told me." And Oklina nodded her head vigorously to support her statement. "It was twelve Turns ago. Dag said Lord Leef was in a fury because Alessan was to be the heir, and though Lord Leef told the dragonriders they could have any other member of his Hold, Dag said that no one else was acceptable to the dragons, how do dragons know?"
"Search dragons know," Moreta said in a mysterious voice, a rote reply after so many repetitions. "Each Weyr has dragons who sense the potential in youngsters." Moreta deepened the mystery in her voice. "There are folk, weyrborn, who've known dragons and riders all their lives who don't Impress, and complete strangers, like myself, who do. The dragons always know."
"The dragons always know ..." Oklina's whisper was half prayer, half imprecation. She stole a quick look up the fire‑heights as if she feared the somnolent dragons might take offense if they heard.
"Come, Oklina," Moreta said briskly. "I'm dying to dance."
CHAPTER III
Ruatha Hold, Present Pass, 3.11.43
To Moreta, of all the Gathers she'd ever attended, the Ruatha Gather at that moment of dusk evoked best what Gathers should by folk from weyr, hold, and craft assembled to eat, drink, dance, and enjoy one another's company. The glowbaskets on their standards cast patches of golden light on the crowded tables, on the dancers, on the clusters of people standing about talking, and on the circles of men near the wine barrels. The darting figures of children wove in and out of the light patches, and occasionally their laughter and shouts cut across the music and the stamping of the dancers. The smell of roasted meats and warm evening air, of dust and pungent glows, and wine reinforced all prospect of entertainment.
Nine harpers graced the platform and five more sat waiting their turns. Moreta couldn't pick out Tirone, but the Masterharper might be circulating among the tables. Alessan might not like the Masterharper, but Tirone would discharge his obligation to the new Lord Holder's first Gather.
Moreta and Oklina had reached the edge of the onlookers, who parted while respectfully murmuring greetings as the two moved closer to the dance square. Having guided Moreta to the head table, opposite the harpers' platform, Oklina would have left, but Moreta took the girl by the hand. When Alessan rose to his feet, gesturing for Moreta to sit beside him, she pulled Oklina down, too, ignoring the girl's protest.
"There's room enough, isn't there?" Moreta asked, giving Alessan a significant glare. "She was so good about waiting for me."
"Room enough, of course," Alessan replied graciously, motioning to the table's other occupants to adjust. As Moreta seated herself, Alessan peered at her, a frown beginning to pucker his brows. "Is that the best that could be supplied you?" He pinched at the sleeve with disapproval.
"This suits me very well. Much better for dancing than mine. Though I had many to choose from," she added hastily as the reason for his frown became clear to her. "I think I should make it a practice to bring two dresses to a Gather, one to see races in," she grinned mischievously up at him, "and one to be seen in." She gave her chin an arrogant tilt and pretended hauteur.
Placated, Alessan smiled back at her and signaled for wine to be poured in her cup. "I've more of the Benden white for you." He raised his cup in a quick toast.
She had had not more than a sip when the harpers struck up a loud and lively dance tune.
"Will you honor me with a dance, Weyrwoman?" Alessan asked, jumping to his feet and extending his hand.
"Why else am I here?" She turned to Oklina with a smile. "Guard my place and my cup." Then she took Alessan's hand and allowed herself to be spun onto the square, finding the beat of the measure and stepping out into the pattern with a strong man's body against hers and firm hands guiding her. She loved to dance and, though the Weyr had musicians and songs in the evening from time to time, dancing was generally reserved for Hatching festivities. Occasionally the blue and green riders indulged in wild acrobatics, usually when they were well into the wine after a bad Fall or the death of a dragon and rider, but Moreta dreaded those dances. Leri and L'mal had felt that such excesses purged the riders, but Moreta preferred to absent herself, taking flight on Orlith to be far from the maddening drum beat and the posturing dance.
But the Gather's music soon exorcised those memories and she was breathless by the time Alessan whirled her back to the table, both of them heartily applauding the harpers' music, the sweet, uncomplicated, merry, familiar tunes.
"I must dance now with Falga," Alessan said, seeing Moreta settled, "but save me another dance?"
"Did you enjoy dancing with Alessan?" Oklina asked in a shy wistful voice as she set the goblet of Benden wine before Moreta.
"Indeed I did. He's light on his feet and knows the dance well."
"Alessan taught me to dance. When there's music in the Hall, he always asks me at least once but I don't expect he'll be able to tonight with so many other girls."
"Then I shall find you another partner." Moreta turned to search out an idle dragonrider.
"Oh, I mustn't." Oklina looked scared and her eyes flitted nervously to the crowded square where a new dance was forming. "I'm expected to help with the guests."
"You are, by making sure of my comfort and guarding my Benden wine." Moreta smiled warmly at the child. "But you must dance tonight!"
"Moreta!" A firm hand clasped her on the shoulder, and she looked up at B'lerion, bronze Nabeth's rider from the High Reaches Weyr. "There's good music begging your step. And me!"
The bronze rider did not wait for her consent, but took her hand and pulled her into his arms, laughing down at her. "I knew you couldn't resist me." And he winked over Moreta's shoulder at the astonished Oklina as he spun the Weyrwoman off to the square.
Moreta did not miss the wistful, yearning expression on Oklina's face, but then B'lerion had that effect on many women. He was handsome and tall with a fine strong body, sparkling dark eyes, a mobile expression, a ready laugh. He always had a quick remark and a fund of light gossip. Moreta and he had enjoyed a brief association when she'd first come to Fort Weyr and she was certain that he was the father of her third child. She regretted that she had had to foster, but she had always been the healer and that duty had priority. Though B'lerion was not the same caliber wingleader as Sh'gall, Moreta had hoped that Nabeth would have flown her queen during that crucial mating flight. But then, the strongest, cleverest dragon flew the queen. That was the only way to improve the breed. Twice Sh'gall's Kadith had been strongest and fastest. Or so Moreta kept telling herself.
B'lerion was in a good mood, not yet deep in his wine for his words weren't slurred and his step was firm. He'd heard of her dousing, teased her about monopolizing the young Lord Holder, told her that her love of racing would be her undoing, and asked why Sh'gall was not there to protect his interests.
"I never understood why you let Kadith fly your queen when she could have done much better with Nabeth and I'd be Fort Weyrleader. I'm much more fun to be with than Sh'gall. Or so you used to tell me."
By the intense gleam in his eyes and the sharp hold he took other waist for the last figure of the dance, B'lerion was half in earnest, Moreta realized. Moreta reminded herself that B'lerion was always in earnest for the duration of any given encounter. A charming opportunist who didn't limit his activities to any one Weyr or Hold.
"What? You be Fort Weyrleader? You don't like that much responsibility."
"With you as Weyrwoman, I'd've improved beyond all knowing. And it's only eight more Turns and then we're all free to enjoy ourselves." He pulled her tighter still. "We did enjoy ourselves before, you know."
"When didn't you enjoy yourself, light wing?"
"True, and tonight is meant for enjoyment, isn't it."
She laughed and swung away from an embrace that had best be broken. B'lerion's attentions might be misconstrued by some. She owed Sh'gall her u
ndiverted support at least until the Fall ended. As she made her way back to the table, B'lerion followed, smiling at Oklina in imperturbable good humor. Moreta wished he hadn't followed her, noting Oklina's breathless reaction as B'lerion smoothly set himself down beside the girl.
"May I have the next dance with you, Lady Oklina? Moreta will tell you I'm harmless. I'm also B'lerion, bronze Nabeth's rider from the High Reaches. May I have a sip of your wine?"
"Oh, that's Lady Moreta's wine," Oklina protested, trying to regain possession of the cup that B'lerion had seized.
"She'd never deny me a sip of wine, but I'll drink to you and your big dark eyes."
Schooling her own expression, Moreta watched Oklina's, saw her blushing confusion at B'lerion's compliments. She could see the pulse of excitement beating in the girl's slender neck, her quickened breathing. Oklina could not have been more than sixteen Turns. Hold‑bred, she'd be married off very soon to some holder or craftmaster to the east or the south, far from Ruatha, strengthening Bloodlines. By the time the Pass ended, Oklina would have children and this Gather day would have been long forgotten. Or, perhaps, better remembered for B'lerion's attentions. She smiled when the harpers struck up a slow and stately dance and B'lerion led the delighted girl onto the square. As most people felt their talents adequate to that dance, the tables had emptied. Lady Oma remained at one end, listening gravely to a prosperously dressed holderwoman. When both smiled indulgently toward the dance square, Moreta caught sight of Alessan sedately guiding a young girl. The holderwoman's daughter, possible candidate for second wife? Lady Oma's faint smile was speculative. As Moreta made her own evaluation, the girl, pretty enough with dark curling hair, smiled simperingly up at Alessan. Such an innocent would never attract Alessan, now that as Lord Holder he could have his choice from any hold or hall on the continent. Then Moreta noticed S'peren, a Fort Weyr bronzerider, watching the dance. She'd thought S'peren had been to Ista.
"Is the Ista Gather over so soon?" she asked him, surprised.
"A bit disappointing, really, once they'd taken the animal away. No racing." S'peren gave her a tolerant smile. "Nowhere near as many people as Ruatha ..." He nodded with satisfaction at the crowded dance square. "People weren't in such a festive mood, either. There's illness in Igen, Keroon, and Telgar.
"Runners?" The memory of the beast's unexpected fall flashed across her mind.
"Runners? No. People. A fever, I heard. Master Capiam was someplace about, I heard, though I didn't see him."
"Ista's Weyrleaders are well?" F'gal and Wimmia had been good friends during her Turns at Ista Weyr.
"And sent you their good wishes, as usual. Oh, by the way, I bear greetings for you from an animal healer named Talpan. Said he knew you from your father's hold."
Strange, Moreta thought, moving on after exchanging pleasantries with the High Reaches riders chatting with S'peren. Until that day she hadn't been reminded of Talpan in Turns, and now she even had greetings from him.
The dance ended and she tried to locate Alessan for another with him. He was such a good partner. Then she saw him in the square, partnering a girl whose long black hair made Moreta think at first he was dancing with Oklina. The girl turned slightly, and Moreta realized that he was doing his duty by yet another marriageable woman. She felt great sympathy for Alessan, remembering how bronze riders had besieged her before Orlith rose to mate two Turns ago.
Moreta drained her goblet, then went in search of more wine or a partner. She very much wanted to dance again but paused by the nearest wine keg first. The barman quickly filled her cup and she thanked him. At the first sip, she realized her mistake. This wine had an acid aftertaste: Tillek, not the rich full mouth of the Benden. She nearly spat it out.
This dance was a short wild hop, as much fun to watch for the people losing balance as to dance. When the harpers finished with a swirl, they added the chords that announced an intermission. It was the time for harper songs. Moreta half expected Tirone to stride in, for he should be leading singer of a Ruathan Gather, but the young Masterharper of Ruatha Hold and an older journeyman moved to the fore in his stead.
When Moreta looked toward the head table, she saw Alessan flanked by a pair of pretty girls, one of them a redhead. Lady Oma was certainly wasting no time at this Gather. Disinclined to return to the head table, Moreta found an unoccupied stool.
She enjoyed the first song, a rousing ballad, and joined in the chorus with as much verve as those around her. Fine voices near helped her find the harmony for she didn't have a high enough voice to stay with the soprano line. Halfway through the second chorus, Moreta was conscious of Orlith's mind.
"You do like the singing, too, don't you?" she sent to the queen.
"Singing is a pleasant occupation. It lightens the mind and all minds are together."
Moreta's voice faltered into a laugh, which she quickly suppressed for it wouldn't do, even if she were the Weyrwoman, to laugh through a serious song.
The harpers led the Gather in four traditional songs, each one sung with increasing zest as the dancers recovered their breaths. The young Ruathan harper, an excellent tenor, sang an unfamiliar song that he announced he'd found while going through old Records. The melody was haunting and the interval between the notes unexpected. A very old song, Moreta decided, but a good choice for the tenor's voice. Orlith liked it, too.
"Our tastes generally coincide," Moreta said.
"Not always."
"What do you mean by that?"
"The harpers sing," Orlith replied, evading, and Moreta knew that she'd get no direct answer.
Then the harpers asked for favorites from the audience. Moreta would have liked to request one of the plains songs from her own Keroon, but it was a mournful tune unsuited to the mood of the evening. Talpan had often hummed it. Coincidence again!
After the serenading, Alessan went up on the platform, thanking the harpers and offering compliments for their music and their presence. He enjoined them to make as free of Ruatha's wine as necessary to keep them playing until the last dancer surrendered the square. Everyone applauded loudly, cheering and thumping the tables and kegs to signify their appreciation of a Lord Holder who would not stint on his first Gather. The cheering went on long past what was a courteous spate and followed Alessan back to his table.
The harpers began the next session with a circle dance that permitted Alessan to accompany both of the girls. B'lerion was on his feet with Oklina again. Lady Oma seemed not to notice, so concentrated was her attention on Alessan's partners.
Her throat dry from singing and cheering, Moreta was determined to find more of Alessan's Benden white. As she made her way to the head table, she was stopped by holders asking after Leri and Holth and expressing sincere regret that the Weyrwoman had not attended.
"Pass the greetings on, Orlith. They'll like to know they were missed."
After a pause, Orlith replied that Holth was just as glad that she didn't have to sit through a long night on a cold cliff.
"You're not feeling the chill, are you?" Moreta asked anxiously.
"The fire‑heights hold the sun heat, and Nabeth and Tamianth keep me warm. You should eat. You're always telling me to eat. Now I you."
The smugness in Orlith's tone Moreta found amusing. And merited, for the rough Tillek wine was making her a trifle lightheaded. She was aware of a belly rumbling, and she'd best get to the food before the circle dance ended. She detoured to acquire a full platter of spiced roast wherry, tubers, and other tempting morsels. As she was making her way to the head table and more of the Benden wine, the circle dance ended. Alessan had no sooner bowed to his two partners when Lady Oma was introducing him to yet another girl. Then Moreta caught sight of Lord Tolocamp bearing down on her and she moved off quickly at a tangent, as if she hadn't seen him. His expression was grim and she was not going to endure one of his lectures at a Gather. She wended her way through the crowds, briefly considered stopping at the harpers' table for they would have the best wine,
but she decided she was no safer from Tolocamp in the harpers' company. Besides, they'd probably had enough of him since the Harper Hall was situated so close to Fort Hold. So, instead, she ducked behind the harpers' platform, standing a moment to accustom her eyes to the welcome darkness.
As it was, she nearly fell over the pack saddles stacked behind the dais. She upended one to make an informal seat and was quite delighted with her solitude and escaping Tolocamp. Come the end of Pass, that man was going to be high‑flying irritant, and she didn't think that Sh'gall was going to be able to handle him as well as he handled Fall.
"This is good, you are eating!" Orlith said.
Moreta neatly folded a slice of the roast wherry and took a huge bite. The meat was as tender and succulent as its roasting odor had advertised.
"It's beautiful!" she told her queen.
She ate eagerly, licking her fingers, not wishing to miss a drop of the juices. Someone stumbled around the corner of the platform and Moreta, balancing her plate and cursing the interruption, slipped into the deeper shadow. Could Tolocamp have followed her? Or was this someone answering natural needs?
"Alessan," Orlith told her, which surprised Moreta for Orlith wasn't all that good on remembering people names.
"Moreta?" Alessan sounded uncertain. "Ah, you are here," he added as she stepped forward. "I thought I saw you slip away to elude Tolocamp. I come laden with food and drink. Am I intruding on your privacy?"
"You're not if you happened to bring any more of that Benden wine. Mind you, the Tillek you're serving is not bad,"
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