The White Dragon p-4

by Anne McCaffrey

  «Brand, I can't seem to go anywhere without fire lizards from this Hold appearing. Deelan's green, and if you don't mind my saying so, your blue. Is all that really necessary anymore?»

  Brand's surprise was honest.

  «Occasionally,» Jaxom hurried on, «a fellow likes to get off by himself, completely by himself. And, as you know, fire lizards are the world's greatest gossips. They might get the wrong impression… if you know what I mean?»

  Brand did but, if he was— amused or surprised, he dissembled well.

  «I do apologize, Lord Jaxom. An oversight, I assure you. You know how anxious Deelan used to be when you and Ruth first started flying between and the fire lizards followed as a safeguard. I should have long ago altered that arrangement.»

  «Since when am I Lord Jaxom to you, Brand?»

  The steward's lips actually twitched. «Since the other morning… Lord Jaxom.»

  «I didn't mean it like that, Brand.»

  Brand inclined his head slightly, forestalling further apology. «As Lord Lytol remarked, you are well old enough to be confirmed in your rank. Lord Jaxom, and we «Brand grinned with uninhibited ease «should act accordingly.»

  «Ah, well, yes. Thank you.» Jaxom managed to leave Brand's office without further loss of poise and strode rapidly to the first bend of the corridor.

  There he stopped, mulling over the implications of that interview. «Old enough to be confirmed in your rank…» And Lord Groghe thinking to marry him to his daughter. Surely the canny Fort Holder wouldn't do that if there was any doubt of Jaxom's being confirmed in rank. The prospect now alarmed and annoyed Jaxom whereas the day before it would have pleased him enormously. Once he officially became Lord of Ruatha, any chance he might have had of flying with the fighting wings would be gone. He didn't want to be Lord of Ruatha at least not yet. And he certainly didn't want to be saddled with a female not of his own choosing.

  He should have told Menolly that he had no trouble with any of the Holder girls… when he was of the mind. Not that he had followed some of the bawdier fosterlings' examples. He wasn't going to have the reputation of a lecher like Meron or that young fool of Lord Laudey's, whom Lytol had sent back to his home Hold with some cover excuse that no one really believed. It was all right for the Lord Holder to beget a few halfbloods, quite another to dilute Holder Blood with other lines. Nonetheless, he would have to find a pleasant girl to give him the alibi he needed, and then take the time for more important things.

  Jaxom pushed himself off the wall, unconsciously straightening his shoulders. Brand's deference had been rather bracing. Now that he thought about it, he remembered other evidences of a change of attitude toward him, something his preoccupation with firestone had blinded him to until now. He suddenly realized that Deelan had not pestered him at the breakfast table to eat more than he wanted, that Dorse had been inexplicably absent the past few days. Nor had Lytol's morning remarks been prefaced with inquiries after Ruth's health but, rather, had concerned the day's upcoming business.

  The night he had returned from the Mastersmithhall, Lytol and Finder had been eager to learn about Wansor's stars and that recital had taken up the whole evening. If the fosterlings and others had been unusually silent, Jaxom had only attributed that state of affairs to their interest in the discussion. Lytol, Finder and Brand had not had trouble finding their tongues.

  The next morning there had been no time for more than a cup of klah and a meatroll as Thread was due to fall across the spring planted fields in the southwest and they had a long ride ahead.

  I should have spoken out months ago, Jaxom thought as he entered his own quarters.

  It had been established that Jaxom was not to be disturbed when he was caring for Ruth; a privacy that he was only now beginning to appreciate. Generally, Jaxom attended his dragon, oiling his skin and grooming him in the early morning or late evening. He hunted with Ruth every fourth day since the white dragon required more frequent meals than the larger ones. The Hold's fire lizards usually accompanied Ruth, feasting with him. Most people fed their pets daily by hand, but the urge for hot, fresh killed or self caught food could never be trained out of the fire lizards and it had been decided not to interfere with that instinct. Fire lizards were quixotic creatures and although there was no doubt that they became genuinely attached at Hatching, they were subject to sudden fits and frights and would disappear, often for long periods of time. When they returned, they acted as if they'd never been gone, except for transmitting some rather outrageous images.

  Ruth would be ready to hunt today, Jaxom knew. He heard his weyrmate's impatience to be off. Laughing, Jaxom shrugged on the heavy riding jacket and stamped into his boots as he politely inquired what sort of eating Ruth fancied.

  Wherry, a juicy plain wherry, none of those stringy mountain ones. Ruth emphasized his distaste for the latter with a snort.

  «You even sound hungry,» Jaxom said, entering the dragon's weyr and approaching him.

  Ruth laid his nose lightly on Jaxom's chest, his breath cool even through the heavy riding jacket. His eyes were wheeling with the red overtone of active appetite. He made his way to the huge metal doors that opened onto the stable courtyard and pushed them open with his forelegs.

  Alerted by Ruth's hungry thoughts, the Hold's fire lizards swirled about in eager anticipation. Jaxom mounted and directed Ruth aloft. The old brown watchdragon called good hunting from the fire heights, and his rider waved.

  From Hold tithings, the six Weyrs of Pern maintained their own herds and flocks on which the Weyr dragons fed. No Lord Holder ever objected to an occasional rider feeding his dragon off his land. As Jaxom was Lord Holder and technically had the right to anything within Ruatha's borders, Ruth's hunting was primarily a matter of courtesy. Lytol had not needed to instruct Jaxom to spread his beast's appetite so that no holder was overburdened.

  On this particular morning Jaxom gave Ruth coordinates of a rich grass holding where Lytol had mentioned buck wherries were being fattened for spring slaughtering. The holder was out on his runner when Jaxom and Ruth appeared, and he greeted the young Lord politely enough and replied to Jaxom's courteous inquiries for his health, the progress of the flock and the laying weight of the hens.

  «A thing I'd like you to mention to Lord Lytol,» the man began, and Jaxom detected resentment in his manner. «I've asked for a fire lizard egg time and again. It's my due as a holder and I've the need. I can't hatch wherry eggs proper if vermin burrow under and crack shells. There are four or five from each clutch gone, lost to snakes and the like. Fire lizard would keep 'em off. They do for your man down at Bald Lake Hold and others I've spoken to. Fire lizards are mighty handy creatures. Lord Jaxom, and being a holder now these past twelve Turns, it's only my due. Bald Lake Palon, now he's got a fire lizard and he's only held for ten Turns.»

  «I can't imagine why you've been slighted, Tegger. I'll see that something is done about it. We haven't a clutch at the moment but I'll do what I can when we have.»

  Tegger gave surly thanks and then suggested that Jaxom hunt the buck flock to be found browsing at the far end of the plain meadow. He wanted to take the nearer flock for slaughter and a hunting dragon ran a sevenday's weight off bucks.

  Jaxom thanked the man and Ruth warbled his gratitude, startling Tegger's runner into bucking.. Tegger grimly yanked the beast's head about, preventing a bolt.

  Tegger was unlikely to Impress a fire lizard, Jaxom thought as he leaped to Ruth's shoulder.

  Ruth agreed. That man had an egg once. The little one went between and never returned to its hatching place.

  «How did you remember that?»

  The fire lizards told me.

  «When?»

  When it happened. I have just remembered it. Ruth sounded very pleased with himself. They tell me many things that are interesting when you're not with me.

  Jaxom only then became aware that the usual fire lizard escorts weren't about, even though Ruth was hunting. He hadn't meant that Brand s
hould curtail all fire lizards excursions with them.

  Ruth plaintively asked if they couldn't get on with the hunting since he was hungry. So they proceeded to the suggested area and Ruth let Jaxom down on a grassy rise with a good view of the hunt where he made himself comfortable. No sooner had Ruth become airborne than a flight of fire lizards appeared, courteously landing to await the dragon's summons to join him after his kill.

  Some dragons took their time selecting their meal, swooping on flock or herd to scatter it and isolate the fattest. Either Ruth made up his mind quickly or else he was influenced by Jaxom's knowledge that Tegger would not appreciate overrun wherries. Whatever, the white dragon dispatched the first buck in one deft swoop, cracking the creature's long neck as he brought it down.

  Ruth left the delighted fire lizards picking the bones and killed a second time, eating as daintily as ever. The flock had barely settled at the far end of the meadow when he launched himself unexpectedly for the third.

  I told you I was hungry, Ruth said so apologetically that Jaxom laughed and told him to stuff himself with all he wanted.

  I am not stuffing myself, Ruth replied with a mild rebuke that Jaxom would think such a thing of him. I am very hungry.

  Jaxom regarded the feasting fire lizards thoughtfully. He wondered if any were from Ruatha. Ruth replied immediately that they had come from the surrounding area.

  So, mused Jaxom, I've only solved the problem of keeping Ruathan fire lizards from following. But what one fire lizard knew, they all seemed to know so he would still have to keep his activities from their sight.

  Jaxom knew a dragon needed time to chew and digest firestone for the best effect. Dragonriders would begin to feed their beasts stone several hours before Thread was due to fall. How fast could Ruth work up a full enough gullet of stone to produce the fire breath? He wondered. He'd have to go carefully. Since dragons differed in capacity and readiness, each rider had to find out for himself what his beast's peculiarities were. If only he could have trained Ruth in a Weyr and have the benefit of a weyrlingmaster's experience…

  Well, firestone was no problem. The old watch dragon had to be supplied so there was a goodly pile on the fire heights. And Ruth wouldn't need as much as a big dragon.

  When still remained the problem. Jaxom had his morning free because Ruth was to hunt and it wasn't sound practice to take a full dragon between all that rich warm food would sour a dragon belly in cold between. So Jaxom would have to take the time to fly Ruth straight to Ruatha Hold. This afternoon would be taken up with overseeing spring planting, and if Lytol were really going to arrange for him to be confirmed as Lord Holder, he couldn't get out of making an appearance.

  Idly Jaxom wondered if the Lord Holders ever worried whether he might try to imitate his tyrannical father's taking ways or not. They would run on about Bloodlines, and blood telling, but weren't they the least bit nervous about his Fax blood telling? Or were they counting on the influence of his mother's blood. Everyone was right willing to discuss his Lady Mother Gemma with him, but did they ever fumble and fight to find another subject if he mentioned his unlamented father. Were they afraid to have him get ideas from his father's aggressive ways? Or was it merely courtesy not to talk about the dead unkindly? They certainly had no bar about discussing the living in destructive terms.

  Jaxom toyed with the idea of conquest. How would he set about reducing Nabol or since Fort Hold was too big a bite Tillek? Or Crom, perhaps, though he liked Lord Nessel's oldest son, Kern, far too much to do him out of what was rightfully his. Shells, he was a fine one to talk of conquest, when he couldn't even control the destiny of himself and his dragon!

  Ruth, waddling with a full, bulging belly, belched happily as he made his way to his rider. He settled himself in the sun warmed sweet grasses and began to lick his talons. He was always neat.

  «Can you fly when you're stuffed?» Jaxom asked when Ruth had finished tidying up.

  Ruth turned his head, his eyes whirling in reproach. I can always fly. The dragon exhaled, his breath rather meaty and sweet. You are worried again.

  «I want us to be proper dragon and rider, and fight Thread, me on your back, you flaming.»

  Then we will do it, Ruth said with unshakable faith. I am a dragon, you are my rider. Why does this become a problem?

  «Well, wherever we go the fire lizards come.»

  You told the thick man with the blue Ruth's identification of Brand they were not to follow. They did not come here.

  «Others did, and you know how fire lizards chatter.» Then Jaxom recalled Menolly's comments. «What are that lot thinking of now?»

  Their full bellies. The wherries were juicy and tender. Very good eating. They do not remember better in many Turns.

  «Would they go away if you told them to?»

  Ruth snorted, his eyes whirling a bit, more with amusement than irritation. They would wonder why and come to see. I will tell them if you want me to. Maybe they would stay away long enough.

  «Just like them: they've more curiosity than sense. Well, as Robinton is always saying, there's a way to solve every problem. We'll just have to find a way.»

  On their return to Ruatha Hold, Ruth's digestion was working noisily. He wanted nothing more than to curl up on a sun warmed rock and sleep, and since the brown watchdragon was away from his usual post, Ruth settled there. Jaxom waited in the Great Courtyard until he saw Ruth safely ensconced, and then he sought Lytol.

  If Brand had commented on Jaxom's request to Lytol, the Lord Warder gave no sign, greeting Jaxom with his usual reserve and enjoining him to eat quickly as they had rather a long ride to make. Tordril and one of the other older fosterlings living under Lytol's supervision would accompany them. Masterfarmer Andemon had sent a new seed he had developed for a high yield, fast growing wheat. Southern fields, grub infested and planted with this wheat seed, had produced phenomenally healthy, blight resistant crops, that were able to survive long dry spells. Andemon wondered how the wheat would fare in a rainier. Northern climate.

  Many of the older small holders were stubborn about trying something new. «As hidebound as Oldtimers,» Lytol would mutter, but somehow or other he managed to prevail. For instance, Fidello, who owned the hold they were seeding, was only two Turns in the holding, the previous man having died of a fall while tracking wild wherries.

  So, after a quick meal, the travelers set off on some of the specially bred runners that could pace a long summer's day without thing. Though Jaxom used to find it tedious to take hours to cross country he could fly between on Ruth in a few breaths, he did enjoy an occasional runner ride. Today, with spring in the air and secure in the knowledge that he was still in Lytol's good graces, he enjoyed the trip.

  Fidello's holding was in northeast Ruatha, on a plateau with the snow capped mountains of Crom in the background. When they reached the plateau, the blue fire lizard that rode on Tordril's arm shrilled a greeting and took off to make an aerial circle of introduction to a brown that was probably looking to Fidello and set to watch for the visitors. Immediately the two fire lizards winked between. Tordril and Jaxom exchanged glances, knowing that a welcoming cup of klah and sweetbreads would be waiting at the holding. Their ride had given them an appetite.

  Fidello himself rode out to escort them on the last part of the road. He was mounted on a sturdy work beast whose summer coat gleamed with health through the rough and patchy winter fur. His hold, to which he welcomed them in an earnest but restrained manner, was small and well kept. His dependents, including those of the last holder, had assembled to serve the visitors.

  «He's got a good cook,» Tordil said in an aside to Jaxom as the three younger men made conspicuous inroads on the food laid out on the long Hall table. «And a deuced pretty sister,» he added as the girl approached them bearing a steaming pitcher of klah.

  She was pretty, Jaxom agreed, looking at her closely for the first time. Trust Tordril to spot the prettiest girl. Brand would have to keep his eye on this one when
he ventured out of the Hold to the workers' cots below the bridge. This pretty girl, however, had a timid smile for Jaxom, not Tordril, and even though the prospective Lord of Ista tried to engage her in conversation, she gave him short answers, keeping her smiles for Jaxom. She left his side only when her brother joined them to say that perhaps they'd better seed the fields or it would be a long, dark ride back to the Hold.

  «I wonder would you have got her so quick if I'd been Lord of Ruatha?» Tordril asked Jaxom as they checked their saddle girths before mounting.

  «Got her?» Jaxom stared blankly at Tordril. «We only chatted.»

  «Well, you could have her next time you… ah, have a chance to chat. Or does Lytol mind a few half bloods around? Father says it keeps the full ones on their toes! Ought to be easy for you with Lytol weyrbred, and not as stuffy about such things.»

  Lytol and Fidello joined them at that point but Tordril's envious comment set Jaxom's thoughts on a very fruitful tack. What was her name? Corana? Well, Corana could be very useful. There was only the one fire lizard about the Plateau Hold and, if Ruth could just dissuade that creature from following them…

  When they returned to the Hold late that night, Jaxom quietly climbed to the fire heights and took a good sackful of firestone from the brown's supply while the old watchdragon and his rider were having a brief evening flight to stretch wings.

  The next morning he casually asked Lytol if he thought they had brought enough seed for Fidello. Theirs did seem to be a very large field. Lytol regarded his ward from under half closed lids for a moment and then agreed that perhaps another half sack might be to the wise. Tordril's expression mirrored surprise, envy and, Jaxom felt, some respect for plausibility. Lytol duly ordered a half sack of Andemon's seed from Brand's locked stores, and Jaxom sauntered off with it to don his riding gear.