The Dragonriders of Pern - Anne McCaffrey [352]
Jaxom splashed wine in a cup and held it to Lytol.
“It doesn’t stop the pain, I know,” he said in a rough tone, “but you can get drunk enough not to hear or remember.”
CHAPTER IX
Early Summer, Harpercraft Hall and
Ruatha Hold, 15.7.3
The first hint robinton had was from Zair, who woke abruptly from a sound morning’s sleep in the sun on the window ledge and flew to Robinton’s shoulder, wrapping his tail firmly about the Harper’s neck. Robinton, not having the heart to rebuke his friend, tried to ease the tension of the tail so that he didn’t have the sensation of choking to death. Zair rubbed his cheek against the Harper’s, crooning.
“Whatever is the matter with you?”
Just then the watchdragon on the fire-heights rose to his haunches and bugled. A dragon appeared in midair, answered the summons smartly before beginning a circle to land.
A knock on the door was followed so closely by its opening that the courtesy was hardly observed. Robinton was forming a reprimand as he slewed round in his chair and saw Menolly, with Beauty clinging tightly to her shoulder, Rocky, Diver and Poll doing an aerial dance about her.
“It’s F’lar and Mnementh,” she cried.
“So I had just perceived, my dear. Why the panic?”
“Panic? I’m not in a panic. I’m excited. This is the first time since the egg was taken that Benden has come to you.”
“Then be a polite child and see if Silvina has any sweetbreads to eat with our klah. It is,” he sighed wistfully, “a shade too early in the morning to offer wine.”
“It’s not too early in Benden’s morning,” Menolly said as she left the room.
Robinton sighed again, sadly, as he looked at the empty doorway. She had grieved over the estrangement of the Harper Hall and Benden Weyr. So, in his own way, had he. He brought his thoughts sharply away from that. There’d been no hint of distress in Mnementh’s acknowledgement of the watchdragon’s challenge. What had brought F’lar to Benden? And, more important, did the Weyrleader come with Lessa’s knowledge? And consent?
Mnementh had landed now. F’lar would be striding across the meadow. Robinton began to twitch with more impatience for that final walk than he had felt during the four sevendays of coolness between Weyr and Hall.
Robinton rose and paced to the window just as F’lar entered the inner courtyard of the Crafthall. He was walking with long strides, but F’lar always did, so there did not seem to be any haste in his errand. Then why was he coming to the Hall?
F’lar spoke to a journeyman, who was packing a runner for a trip. Fire-lizards congregated on the roof. Robinton saw F’lar raise his head and notice them. The Harper briefly considered whether he ought to ask Zair to leave while F’lar was present. No sense firing resentment of any consequence right now.
F’lar had entered the Hall. Through the open window, Robinton could hear the Weyrleader’s voice and the pause for an answer. Silvina? More likely his journeyman, he thought, smiling to himself, lying in wait for the Weyrleader. Yes, he was right. He could hear Menolly’s voice and F’lar’s as they came up the stairs. The sounds of the voices were unmarked by emotion. Good girl! Easy does it.
“Ah, Robinton, Menolly informs me that her fire-lizards refer to Mnementh as ‘the biggest one,’ ” F’lar said with a slight smile on his face as he entered the room.
“They’re chary of awarding accolades, F’lar,” Robinton replied, taking the tray from Menolly, who withdrew, closing the door. Not that her absence precluded her knowing what would happen, not with Beauty attuned to Zair.
“There’s no trouble at Benden, is there?” Robinton asked the Weyrleader as he handed him a cup of klah.
“No, no trouble.” Robinton waited. “But there is a puzzle that I thought you might be able to answer for us.”
“If I can, I will,” the Harper said, gesturing to F’lar to seat himself.
“We can’t find D’ram.”
“D’ram?” Robinton almost laughed in surprise. “Why can’t you find D’ram?”
“He’s alive. We know