"Doing things his way," Jaxom replied, though he'd a few marks on his neck and forehead as well.
With so many to build the Hold, N'ton, F'nor, and F'lar, when he could arrange the time, had joined Piemur and Jaxom to increase their knowledge of the lands immediately adjacent to the Cove.
Piemur rather arrogantly told F'lar that dragons had to be to a place first to get there again between
-—or else get a sharp enough visualization from some- one who had. But he, with his two feet and Stupid's four, had to be first so that mere dragonriders could then follow. The dragonriders ignored the somewhat disparaging remarks, but Piemur's attitude was begin- ning to get on Jaxom's nerves.
No matter the method of accomplishment, tempo- rary camps at a good day's flight by dragon from Cove Hold were established in a wide arc fanning out from the new Hold. Each camp consisted of a small tile- roofed shelter and a stone bunker to secure emergency supplies and sleeping furs. By a tacit agreement, they had gone two days' flight on a direct bearing to the mountain and built a secondary camp.
The restriction on Jaxom flying between would shortly be removed. He had only to wait now, F'lar told him, until Master Oldive gave him a final exami- nation. Since Master Oldive would soon be in Cove Hold to check Robinton's recovery, Jaxom wouldn't have long to wait.
"And, if I can go between, so can Menolly," Jaxom said.
"Why would you have to wait until Menolly can go between?" Sharra asked, with an edge to her voice that Jaxom hoped might be a twinge of jealousy.
"She and Master Robinton found this Cove first, you know." He wasn't glancing in the direction of the Cove when he spoke, but toward the omnipresent mountain.
"By sea," Piemur said with some disgust for such a mode of transport.
"I have to admit, Piemur," Sharra said after re- garding him for a long moment, "that feet were used before wings and sail. I, for one, am thankful that there are other ways of getting from one place to an- other. And it's no disgrace to use them."
She then turned and walked off, leaving Piemur to stare after her in surprise.
The incident cleared the air and Jaxom was relieved to note that Piemur ceased his snide remarks about flying and riding.
Attesting to the accuracy of Piemur's charting was the fact that, once the Great South Current curved shoreward. Master Idarolan was able to identify his position by the contour of the now visible coast and to predict the arrival of the Dawn Sister at Cove Hold. She was twenty-two days out of Istan water before she rounded the west point of the Cove one bright morning, an event that was celebrated by a special, select welcoming committee.
Oldive and Brekke had forbidden a large recep- tion and party. There was no point in undoing all the benefit of the long, restful voyage with the strain and fatigue of a feast. So Master Fandarel represented the hundreds of craftsmen and masters who had pro- duced the beautiful Cove Hold. Lessa stood for all the Weyrs whose dragons had transported men and material, and Jaxom was the logical spokesman for the Lord Holders who had contributed the men and sup- plies.
These last moments, as the graceful three-masted ship headed up the Cove toward the stubby stone pier, seemed the hardest to endure. Jaxom strained his eyes as the ship glided closer and closer on the calm wa- ters, and let out a jubilant whoop that made the fire- lizards squeak in surprise when he discerned the figure of the Harper standing in the prow, waving to those on shore. The fire-lizards executed aerial dances of great intricacy above the ship.
"Look, he's almost black with sun," Lessa cried, clutching Jaxom's arm in her excitement.
"Don't worry, he'll have had a good long rest," Fandarel said, grinning from ear to ear in anticipation of his friend's delight and pleasure in the new Hall. It was just out of sight from the pier.
The ship suddenly wheeled as Master Idarolan swung the tiller starboard, to slip his vessel deftly broadside to the dock. Seamen leapt to the pier, snub- bing lines on the bollards. Jaxom jumped forward to lend a willing hand. The ship creaked as her timbers resisted the sudden halt. Bound bolsters were run over the side to prevent the ship rubbing against stone.
Then a plank was dropped from an opening in the ship's rail to the pier.
"I've brought him safely to you, Benden, Master- smith, Lord Holder," boomed the voice of the Master Seaman as he jumped to the cabin housing.
A spontaneous cheer burst from Jaxom's throat, echoed by a roar from Fandarel and a cry from Lessa. Jaxom and Fandarel stood on either side of the springy plank to grip Robintoh's hands as he all but slid ashore.
Ramoth and Ruth bugled overhead, startling the fire-lizards into wilder extravagances of motion. Lessa embraced the Harper by standing on tiptoe and im- periously pulling his head down so she could kiss him soundly. Tears sparkled on her cheeks and, to Jaxom's surprise, he realized his own eyes were wet, too. He stood politely back while Fandarel gently thumped the Harper off balance, sticking out a hamlike hand to steady his friend. Then he turned to assist Brekke and Menolly down the bouncing plank. Everyone began talking at once. Brekke looked anxiously from Robin- ton to Jaxom, demanding if the latter had had any headaches or eye spots, then urging the Harper to get out of the fierce sun as if he hadn't been baking in it on board ship day after day.
Good-naturedly everyone seized bundles from those the seamen were passing from ship to shore—every- one except Robinton, who was only allowed to carry his gitar.
Brekke began to walk up the shore toward the old shelter when Fandarel, laughing hugely in anticipation, placed his big hand on her back and gently propelled her toward the sanded path that led to the new Cove Hold. When Brekke began to protest, Lessa hushed her and pointed decisively at the path, taking her arm and half-pulling her along.
"I'm sure the shelter was that way..."
"It was," replied Master Fandarel, striding along beside the Harper. "We found a better site, more suit- able for our Harper!"
"More efficient, my friend?" Robinton asked, laugh- ing as he clapped his hand on the Smith's bulging shoulder.
"Much more efficient. Much!" The Smith nearly choked with his laughter.
Brekke had reached the bend of the path and stared incredulously at the sight of the new Hold. "I don't believe it!" She glanced quickly from Lessa to the Smith to Jaxom. "What have you done? How have you done it? It just isn't possible!"
Robinton and Fandarel had reached the two women, the Smith beaming so broadly that every tooth in his head showed and his eyes were mere squints in the folds of his cheeks.
"I thought Brekke said the shelter was small," Robinton said, peering at the structure and smiling hesitantly. "Otherwise I'd have asked for..."
Lessa and Fandarel could bear the suspense no longer and, each taking one of the Harper's arms, urged him toward the wide porch steps.
"Just you wait until you see what's inside," Lessa said with a crow of satisfaction.
"Everyone on Pern helped, either sending crafts- men or material," Jaxom told Brekke, taking her limp arm and escorting her on. He beckoned Menolly to hurry and join them.
Menolly glanced about and saw only the peaceful cove, carefully raked sand, trees and flowering shrubs which bordered the beach looking as unscathed as the day she and Jaxom had arrived. Only the bulk of the Hold, with its peripheral path of sand and shells, gave evidence of any change. "I just don't believe it."
"I know, Menolly. They took pains to keep it lovely. And just wait till you see inside Cove Hold..."
"It's already been named?" That seemed to irritate her, but Jaxom could appreciate her reaction.
"Well, it is a hold in a cove, so 'Cove Hold.'"
"It's all so beautiful," Brekke said, turning her head this way and that to see everything. "Menolly, don't be annoyed. It's such a marvelous surprise. When I think what I thought we were coming to..." She laughed, a happy sound. "I must say, this is much more the suitable thing!"
They had reached the steps of black reef rock, filled with white hardset, making it sturdy and attractive at
the same time. A creamy orange tile roof extended over the porch which ringed the Hold almost to the surrounding trees, their blooms adding spicy fragrance to the air. The metal shutters were folded back from the unusually wide windows so that they could see through the house and catch glimpses of the furnish- ings within. The Harper's voice was raised in delight and amazement as he moved about the main room. As Jaxom, Brekke and Menolly entered, Robinton had been peering into the room set aside as his study, and his expression was dazed as he realized that Silvina had sent down everything from his crowded workroom in the Harper Hall. Zair echoed his confusion, chitter- ing high and excitedly from his perch On a crossbeam. Beauty and Berd flew to join him, and suddenly, Meer, Talla and Farii appeared. They all seemed to be com- paring notes, Jaxom thought.
"That's Farii! I thought I'd heard that Piemur was here. But where is he?" The Harper sounded surprised and a trifle hurt.
"Sharra and he are tending the spits," Jaxom said.
"We didn't want too many people about, tiring you..." Lessa added in a soothing tone.
"Tiring me? Tiring me! I need a little tiring! PIEMUR!"
If his tanned and relaxed face had not been proof enough of his return to health, the bellow he let loose, as vigorous and deafening as ever, left no further doubts of his vitality.
Clearly audible was the distant startled reply:
"Master?"
"REPORT, PIEMUR!"
"Thank goodness we put him on a ship to rest," Brekke said, smiling at the Weyrwoman. "Can you imagine the time we'd have had with him on land?"
"What you two cannot appreciate is how much my momentary disability has set back some very im- portant—"
"Momentary disability?" Fandarel's eyes protruded in amazement. "My dear Robinton—"
"Master Robinton?" Menolly took a cup from the crowded cabinet, a beautiful glass goblet, its base stained harper blue, its cup incised with the Master's name and a harp. "Have you seen this?" She held it out to him, her eyes round with approval.
"My word, harper blue!" Robinton took and ex- amined the beautiful thing.
"From my crafthall," Fandarel said, beaming. "Mermal thought to tint the entire glass blue but I argued that you would prefer to see the red of Benden wine in a clear cup."
Robinton's eyes gleamed with appreciation and gratitude as he examined the cup carefully. Then his long face fell into a sorrowful expression.
"But it's empty," he said in a plaintive, mournful tone.
At that moment a commotion started in the kitchen corner of the Hold. The curtain was flung roughly aside as Piemur, all but losing his balance in an effort not to careen into Brekke, lurched into the room.
"Master?" he gasped.
"Ah, yes, Piemur," the Harper drawled, eyeing his young journeyman as if he had momentarily forgotten why he had summoned the young man. The two re- garded each other steadily, a puzzled frown on the Harper's face while Piemur's chest heaved as he panted, blinking sweat from his eyes. "Piemur, you've been here long enough to know where they store the wine? I've been given this lovely goblet and it's empty!"
Piemur blinked again and then shook his head slowly and said to the room at large, "There's nothing wrong with him anymore! And if that roast wherry bums..." He gave the Harper a thoroughly dis- gusted look, turned on his heel, whipped aside the curtain and could be heard noisily opening doors.
Jaxom caught Menolly's eye and she winked at him.
Piemur's gruff manner and cracking voice had not dis- guised his emotion to those who knew him. He stamped back into the main hall, swinging a wineskin, with Benden wax on its stopper.
"Don't swing it, lad," the Harper cried, holding up a restraining hand at such sacrilegious treatment. "Wine must be handled with respect..." He took the skin from Piemur and peered at the seal. "Hmmm, One of the better vintages! Tsk, tsk, Piemur, have you learned nothing from me of how to treat wine?" He made a grimace as he expertly cracked the seal and sighed with relief as he saw the condition of the stop- per's end. He passed it under his nose, sniffing deli- cately. "Ah! Yes! Beautiful! Took no harm from its travel! There's a good lad, Piemur, pour for us all, will you, please? I can see this Hold is admirably sup- plied with cups."
Jaxom and Menolly were already distributing them as Piemur, with the courtesy due good Benden vintages, poured. The Harper, holding his cup high, watched the ceremony with growing impatience.
"Your continued good health, my friend." Fandarel proposed the toast which was repeated firmly by every- one.
"I am truly overwhelmed by all this," the Harper said, giving strength to his claim by taking only a small sip of the excellent wine. He looked from one to another of his friends, nodding his head and then shaking it. "Truly overwhelmed!"
"You haven't seen everything yet, Robinton," Lessa said and took him by the hand. "Brekke, you come see, too. Piemur, Jaxom, bring the bundles."
"Not so fast, Lessa. I'll spill the wine!" The Harper watched his glass as Lessa pulled him behind her.
He was guided through the sliding panel into the small corridor that separated the main Hall from the sleeping quarters. Brekke followed, her face alight with keen interest and curiosity.
The Harper's sleeping room was the largest, occupy- ing the comer opposite his workroom. Four more sleeping rooms had been furnished to accommodate two guests in each but, as Lessa pointed out, the porch itself could comfortably sleep half a Hold of guests. Not that Robinton was to be allowed that many. He expressed pleasure at the bathing room and was suit- ably impressed by the large kitchen, and dutifully peered at the auxiliary hearth outside. He sniffed as the aroma of roasting meat wafted on the sea breeze. "Where's that being done, might I ask?" "We've steaming and roasting pits on the beach," Jaxom said, "to use when there's a horde here."
The Harper laughed, agreed that horde was prob- biy the proper term.
"Try your chair," Fandarel said, striding to the armed chair when they returned to the main room. He turned it about for the Harper to see. "Bendarek made it exactly to your measure. See if it suits? Bendarek will be anxious to hear."
The Harper took time to examine the beautifully carved, high-backed chair, covered with wherhide dyed a deep harper blue. He sat down, put his hands along the armrests, found they were precisely the length of his forearm, and that the seat of the chair admirably fit his long legs and torso.
"It is beautiful, tell Master Bendarek. And a per- fect size. How considerate Bendarek is. How over- whelmed I am by this and every other single item in this Hold. It is... magnificent. That's the only word for it. I'm speechless. Rendered completely speechless. Never in my wildest flights of fancy did I expect such luxury in unexplored wilds, such beauty, such thought- fulness, such comfort."
"If you're speechless, Robinton, spare us your elo- quence," came a dry voice. All turned to see the Mas- terfishennan standing in the open main door.
Everyone laughed, and Master Idarolan was beck- oned forward and given a cup of wine.
"There are more bundles for you, Master Robin- ton," the Seaman said, gesturing toward the porch.
"You and your crew are to eat with us. Master Idarolan," Lessa called out.
"I was hoping so. Don't noise it about, but occasion- ally I do get the craving for red meat, not white."
"Master Robinton! Look here!" Menolly's voice was high with surprise. She was looking inside one of the cabinets that lined the walls between windows. "I'd swear it's Dermently's hand! And every single Traditional song and ballad, newly written on leaves and bound in blue wherhide! Just what you've been wanting to have Arnor do for you."
The Harper exclaimed with surprise and nothing would do but he had to open each folder and appre- ciate the craftsmanship and collection. Then he began to investigate all the cupboards and presses of Cove Hold until the midafternoon heat drove everyone to the beach to swim and cool off. Brekke fretted that the Harper should rest, quietly by himself, but Fandarel dismissed the notion, gesturing to Robinton, who was sporting in the water with t
he others.
"He is indulging in another type of rest right now. Leave him. Night's soon enough for sleeping!".
The evening breezes sprang up as the sun dipped closer to the western horizon. Rugs and woven mats as well as benches were brought out so that all the guests could be comfortable. When F'lar and F'nor arrived, they were enthusiastically welcomed by the Harper, who wanted to show them his beautiful Hold and was somewhat disappointed that they were already quite familiar with it.
"You forget how many people helped build it, Robinton," F'lar said. "It's probably the best known Hold on the entire world."
At that moment Sharra and the ship's cook—a thin man because that's the only sort, he told her, who could fit in the closet-sized excuse for a galley on the Dawn Sister—proclaimed that the feast was ready and were nearly run down by the hungry guests.
Anne McCaffrey - Pern06 White Dragon Page 35