Ramoth turned her head toward the entrance.
"Your meal is coming," Lessa said, smiling. "No more talk till you've eaten. Ruth's way ahead of you, just brought down his third wherry, Ramoth says."
"Don't worry about a bird or three or four," F'lar said, for Jaxom had winced at this report of Ruth's greed. "The Weyr can support the meal."
Menolly entered, breathing heavily from the climb and, to judge by the beads of perspiration on her brow, her haste. When Lessa exclaimed that she'd brought enough food to feed a fighting wing, Menolly replied that Manora said it was nearly dinnertime and they might as well all eat in the weyr.
If anyone had told Jaxom that morning that he'd enjoy a comfortable diner with the Benden Weyr- leaders, he'd have told them to open their glow baskets. Despite the reassurances of Mnementh and Ramoth that were conveyed to him, he wouldn't sit still and eat until he'd checked on Ruth. So Lessa permitted him to walk to the ledge and see the white dragon grooming himself by the lake. When Jaxom resumed his place at the table, he found himself shaking, and he applied himself to the roast meats to restore his energy.
"Tell me again what those fire-lizards said about men," F'lar asked when they were relaxing around the table.
"You can't always get fire-lizards to explain," Men- olly said, glancing first at Jaxom to see if he wished to answer. "They got so excited when Ruth asked them if they remembered men that their images made no sense. Actually," Menolly paused, drawing her brows together in concentration, "the images were so varied that you didn't see much."
"Why would their images be varied?" Lessa asked, interested in spite of her present antagonism to fire- lizards.
"Generally a group will come up with one specific image..."
Jaxom inhaled wearily: she couldn't be foolish enough to mention the egg pictures.
"They echoed Canth's fall from the Red Star. My friends will often come back with rather good images, I think each reinforcing the other, of places they've been."
"Men!" F'lar said thoughtfully. "They could mean men elsewhere in the South. It is a vast continent."
"F'lar!" Lessa's voice was sharp and warning. "You are not exploring the Southern Continent. And, might I suggest that if there were men there, somewhere, they would certainly have ventured far enough north to be seen at some stage or another by F'nor when he was south, or by Toric's groups. There would have been signs of them other than the unreliable recollections of some fire-lizards."
"You're quite likely correct, Lessa," F'lar said, looking so disappointed that Jaxom realized for the.first time that being Benden's Weyrleader and First Dragonrider of Pern might not be as enviable a posi- tion as he'd previously assumed.
So often lately he'd come to realize that things were not as they seemed. There were hidden facets to every- thing. You'd think you had what you wanted in your grasp and, when you looked closely, it wasn't what it had seemed to be from a distance. Like teaching your dragon to chew firestone—and getting caught at it, in one sense, as he had. Now he had to train ear- nestly with N'ton's weyrlings, which was fine as far as it went but it didn't go far enough to please Jaxom— flying high in a Fort Weyr wing so his holders wouldn't even know he was there!
"The problem is, Jaxom, that we," F'lar indicated Lessa, himself and the entire Weyr, "have other plans for the South—before the Lord Holders start parcel- ing it out to their younger sons." He brushed his hair back from his face. "We learned a lesson from the Oldtimers, a valuable one. And I know what happens to a Weyr in a long Interval." Plar grinned broadly at Jaxom. "We've been mighty busy protecting land by seeding the grubs. By the next Pass of the Red Star, all the Northern Continent," and the Weyrieader's gesture was wide, "will be seeded. And safe at least from Thread burrowing. If the Holds thought dragon- riders were superfluous before, they certainly will have more cause then."
"People always feel better seeing dragons flame Thread," Jaxom said hastily, from a sense of loyalty although, from the expression on F'lar's face, the Weyrleader didn't seem to be in need of any reassur- ance.
"True, but I'd prefer it if the Weyrs no longer needed the bounty of the Holds. If we had land enough of our own..."
"You want the South!"
"Not all of it."
"Just the best part of it," said Lessa firmly.
Chapter XI
Late Morning at Benden Weyr, Early Morning at Harpercraft Hall, Midday at Rdello's Hold, 15.7.5
JAXOM AND RUTH SPENT the night in an empty weyr, but Ruth felt sufficiently uneasy in a full-sized dragon bed that Jaxom bundled his furs and curled up against his mount. Jaxom was conscious of having to pull himself out of a soft, black enfolding pit from which he was loath to move.
"I know you must be flattened with fatigue, Jaxom, but you've got to wake up!" Menolly's voice penetrated the comfortable darkness. "Besides, you'll get a pain in your neck sleeping like that."
Menolly was upside down, Jaxom thought as he opened his eyes. Beauty was precariously perched, hind legs on the girl's shoulder, her forepaws well down Menolly's breast, peering anxiously at him. He felt Ruth stir.
"Jaxom, wake up! I've brought you all the klah you can drink." Mirrim moved into his line of vision. "But F'lar's eager to go and he wants Mnementh to talk to Ruth first."
Menolly winked solemnly at Jaxom, turning her shoulder to mask her action from Mirrim. Jaxom groaned because he was never going to keep straight in his mind who knew what was to be kept secret or who could be told. He groaned again because his neck was indeed stiff.
Ruth opened his inner lid just a crack, regarding his rider with displeasure. / am tired. I need to sleep.
"You can't sleep any longer now. Mnementh needs to speak to you."
Why didn't he speak to me last night?
"Because he probably wouldn't have remembered to- day."
Ruth's head came up and he turned one eye fully on Jaxom. Mnementh would. He is the biggest dragon on all Pern.
"Just because he let you gorge yourself on his killing ground, you like him. But he wants to speak to you so you'd better. Are you awake?"
If I am able to speak to you, I am not dreaming. I am awake.
"You are a bold fellow today," Jaxom said. In one massive heave, he pulled himself out of his impromptu bed. Dragging the furs about him, he half-fell toward the table where Menolly and Mirrim had politely with- drawn. The smell of klah was very welcome and he thanked the girls.
"What time is it?"
"M'dmorning, Benden time," Menolly said, her face expressionless but her eyes dancing as she lightly stressed the last two words.
Jaxom grunted. They could all hear the creaks, groans and rumblings of Ruth as the dragon stretched himself in preparation for the day.
"When did you get Threadscored, Jaxom?" Mirrim asked with her usual forthrightness. She leaned over and traced the scar with a light touch, flattening her lips together in patent disapproval of the disfigure- ment.
"Teaching Ruth to chew firestone. At Fort Weyr," he added, after a malicious pause as he saw her gathering herself to scold him.
"Does Lessa know?" Mirrim asked, emphasizing the last word.
"Yes," Jaxom replied. Let Mirrim digest that truth. But Mirrim wouldn't let some matters alone.
"I don't think much of N'ton's weyrlingmaster then," she said, sniffing disapproval, "letting you get scored that way."
"Not his fault," Jaxom mumbled through half- chewed bread.
"Wasn't Lytol furious? You shouldn't be risking yourself."
Jaxom shook his head vigorously. He did wish Menolly hadn't brought Mirrim with her.
"And I just don't see what good it's going to do you. You can't expect to fight Ruth."
Jaxom choked. "I am too going to fight Ruth Mirrim."
"He already has," Menolly remarked, indicating the Threadscore. "Now shut your mouth and let the man eat."
"Man?" Minim's voice took a derisive swoop and she gave Jaxom a scathing glance.
Menolly made an exasperated sound. "If
Path doesn't fly soon, Mirrim, you're not going to be on terms with anyone!"
Surprised, Jaxom looked at Mirrim, who was flush- ing deeply red.
"Oh ho. Path's ready to be flown! That'll sort out some of your high-headed notions." He couldn't resist crowing at her dismay. "Has Path shown a preference? Ha! Look at her blush! Never thought I'd see the day you'd lose the use of your tongue! And you'll be losing something more soon. I hope it's the wildest flight they've had at Benden since Mnementh first flew Ramoth!"
Mirrim exploded, her eyes narrowed with her anger, hands clenched into fists at her sides. "At least my Path will be flown! That's more than you'll ever do, with that white runt of yours!"
"Mirrim!" Menolly's sharp voice made the girl wince, but not soon enough to erase the angry retort that sank coldly into Jaxom's mind. He stared at Mir- rim, trying to reject her taunt. "You take too much on yourself, Mirrim," Menolly was saying. "I think you'd better leave."
"You just bet I'll leave. And I don't care if you have to climb down from this weyr, Menolly. Indeed I don't." Mirrim ran from the room.
"Shells and Shards, but it'll be a relief when that green of hers rises to mate. And it might even be today the way Mirrim's reacting." Menolly spoke in a casual tone, almost chuckling at her friend's behavior.
Jaxom swallowed against the dryness in his mouth. Rigidly he controlled his intense emotional reaction for Ruth's sake. A surreptitious glance at the white dragon showed that his friend was still stretching and extending wings and legs. Jaxom only hoped that the dragon had been too sleepy to attend to what they had been saying. He leaned toward Menolly.
"Do you know anything about..." he jerked his head at Ruth, "that I don't know?"
"About Path?" Menolly deliberately misconstrued his direction. "Well, if you've never seen a rider re- action to a proddy dragon, Mirrim's given you a classic example."
Path is a well-grown dragon, Ruth said thoughtfully. Jaxom groaned, covering his face with one hand; he should have known that Ruth missed little.
Menolly tapped his hand imperiously, her eyes de- manding an explanation.
"Would you like to fly Path?" Jaxom asked Ruth, his eyes meeting Menolly's.
Why should I fly her? I have already outfiown her in every race we flew at Telgar. She isn't as fast as I am in the air.
Jaxom repeated to Menolly exactly what Ruth had said, trying to keep his voice as close to Ruth's puzzled tone as possible.
Menolly burst out laughing. "Oh, I wish Ruth had said that in Mirrim's hearing. That would bring her down a peg or two."
Mnementh wishes to speak to me, Ruth said in a very respectful manner, raising his head and turning toward Mnementh's ledge.
"Do you know something I don't? About Ruth?" Jaxom asked in a fierce whisper as he caught hold of Menolly's hand to bring her closer to him.
"You heard him, Jaxom." Menolly's eyes were bright with amusement. "He's simply not interested in dragons, not that way yet."
Jaxom gave her hand a hard squeeze.
"Just think logically,, Jaxom," she said, leaning over to him. "Ruth's small, he's maturing more slowly than other dragons."
"You mean, he may never mature enough to mate, don't you?"
Menolly regarded him steadily and he searched her eyes for pity or evasion, and found neither. "Jaxom, aren't you enjoying Corana?"
"Yes, I am."
"You're upset. I don't think you need be. I have never heard a word to suggest you should worry. Only that Ruth is unusual."
I have told Mnementh what he wishes to know. They go now, Ruth said. Do you think I could take a bath in the lake?
"Didn't you get enough bathing yesterday in the cove?" Jaxom was relieved to find himself answering his dragon calmly.
That was yesterday, Ruth replied equably. / have eaten since then and slept on a dusty surface. You need a bath, too, I think.
"All right, all right," Jaxom replied. "Go along with you then. But don't let Lessa see you with any fire- lizards."
How will I get my back properly cleaned? Ruth asked in mild reproach. He stepped down from the bedstone.
"What's his problem?" Menolly wondered aloud, grinning at Jaxom's expression.
"Wants his back scrubbed."
"I'll send my friends to you, Ruth, once you're at the lake. Lessa won't notice."
Ruth paused in his progress to the weyr entrance, cocking his head, patently considering. Then he arched his neck and moved forward confidently. Yes,
Mnementh has gone and Ramoth with him. They will not know that I will have a real bath with fire-lizards to scrub my ridges property.
Jaxom couldn't help but laugh at the smug satis- faction in Ruth's tone as he left the weyr.
"Sorry about inflicting Mirrim on you, Jaxom, but I couldn't get up to this level without Path. And her."
Jaxom took a long sip of klah. "I suppose, if Path's proddy, she has to be excused."
"Mirrim usually is, one way or another." Menolly's tone was acid. "Huh?"
"Mirrim generally gets away with outrageous be- havior—"
A sudden thought caused Jaxom to interrupt the harper girl abruptly. "You don't think Mirrim did sneak onto the Ground before that Hatching? I know she swears she didn't but I do know she wasn't sup- posed to Impress...."
"Not any more than you were! Oh, for goodness sake, Jaxom, can't I tease you? No, I don't think she tried to influence Path in the shell. She had her fire- lizards and was always content with them. Who wouldn't be with three? Also, you surely know how furious Lessa was after she Impressed Path? Well, no one came forward then to say they'd ever seen Mirrim sneaking onto the Ground and they would have! Mir- rim can be managing, tactless, difficult and exasperat- ing, but she's not devious. Weren't you at the Hatching? Oh, well, I was. Path came staggering over to the spot where Mirrim was sitting, crying her heart out and refusing every single candidate on the Ground un- til F'lar was forced to decide that Path wanted some- one sitting among the spectators."
Menolly shrugged. "Someone who turned out to be Mirrim. Oddly enough, her fire-lizards never uttered a chirp of objection. No, I think the partnering was as much... well, destined to be as you and Ruth. Not at all like my acquisition of Poll. As if I needed another fire-lizard." She grimaced ruefully. "But his shell cracked just as I was passing him to that addle-handed child of Lord Groghe's. He's never faulted me, and the child got a green. A bronze would have been wasted on that brat!"
Jaxom pointed a forefinger at Menolly. "You are blathering! What is it you're hiding? What is it that you know about Ruth that I don't?"
Menolly looked Jaxom straight in the eye. "I don't know anything, Jaxom. But, by your own account to me a few minutes gone by, Ruth greeted the news of Path's imminent mating with all the enthusiasm of a weyrling asked to change glow baskets."
"That doesn't mean—"
"Doesn't mean anything. So don't get defensive. Ruth is maturing late. That's all you need to think about it... especially with Corana on hand."
"Menolly!"
"Don't explode! You'll undo all the good rest you had last night. You were faded!" She put her hand on his arm, giving it a squeeze. "I'm not prying about Corana. I'm commenting, although you might not ap- preciate the distinction."
"It does occur to me that Ruatha Hold is not Harper business," he said, gritting his teeth against the words he'd like to use.
"You, Jaxom, rider of white Ruth, are the Harper's business—not young Jaxom, Lord of Ruatha."
"You're making distinctions again."
"Yes, I am, Jaxom," and although her voice was serious, her eyes twinkled. "When Jaxom influences what happens to Pern, then he becomes Harper busi- ness."
Jaxom stared at her, still baffled by her silence on the matter of the egg's return. Then he caught the odd warning expression in her eyes; for some reason be- yond his comprehension, she did not want him to con- firm that adventure.
"You're several people at once, Jaxom," she went on, earnestly. "The Lord of a Hold which canno
t be in contention, the rider of an unusual dragon and a young man who's not quite sure who or what he should be. You can, you know, be all and more, without be- ing disloyal to anyone, or yourself."
Jaxom snorted. "Who's speaking? The Harper, or
Menolly the Meddler?"
Menolly shrugged, gave a rueful twist of her mouth, neither smile nor denial. "Partly Harper, because I can't look at most things without thinking Harper, but Menolly mostly, right now, I think, because I don't want you to be upset. Particularly not after that feat you pulled off yesterday!" There was no doubt of the warmth of her smile.
Anne McCaffrey - Pern06 White Dragon Page 21