amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第75部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


uickly　now。　Then　the　captain　and　the　Runner　Stationmaster　emerged；　the　latter　hefting　the　heavy　message　sack　to　his　shoulder。　The　captain　smiled　and　the　Runner　murmured　something　and　made　his　way　to　the　gangplank。　He　saw　the　Lord　Holder　and　nodded　courteously。
　　〃You've　nothing　for　me；　Runner？〃　
　　〃No；　Lord　Toric；　or　I　would　have　had　it　to　hand　the　moment　I　saw　you　e　on　board。〃
　　Toric　swore　under　his　breath；　pursing　his　lips。　The　Runner　Stationmaster　angled　past　Toric；　onto　the　pier；　and　up　the　stairs　to　the　new　Runner　Station　at　Southern。
　　Sharding　Fifth！　He'd　had　no　message　since　their　meeting　at　Telgar。　Fifth　had　indicated　there　were　many　men　and　women　who　obeyed　his　directions　but　not　who　or　where　they　were；　only　the　most　discreet　shared　his　theories　about　the　Abomination　and　Master　Robinton。　Very　prudent　of　Fifth　but　sharding　infuriating　for　Toric。　He　consoled　himself　with　the　fact　that　there　were　plenty　of　men　like　that　Ruathan　renegade　that　he　could　recruit；　but　it　meant　starting　out　again。　Dorse　had　been　almost　worth　every　mark　Toric　paid　him。
　　Of　course；　he　could　approach　Kashman！　Now　there　was　a　man　who　had　a　legitimate　grievance　with　the　high　and　mighty　Lord　Dragonrider　Jaxom。　Toric　might　be　able　to　work　on　that。　Gain　another　freethinking　man　in　the　Council。
　　He　also　had　had　no　word　from　Master　Esselin　about　the　meeting　with　Fifth　that　he　had　set　up。　Surely　the　old　fool　could　do　that　much　correctly。　Unless；　of　course；　Fifth　had　decided　to　take　the　marks　and　disappear。　Toric　rather　thought　not。　The　man's　obsession　would　keep　him　fueled　for　the　revenge　he　sought。　Kashman　might　be　a　willing　associate　even　if　he'd　been　only　a　child　when　the　beloved　Robinton　had　been　alive。
　　That　was　when　he　saw　the　thin　woman；　at　one　side　of　the　wharf；　watching　him；　standing　in　a　very　awkward　position；　one　hand　in　front　of　her　clasping　the　elbow　of　her　other　arm。　He　swaggered　down　the　gangplank；　knowing　she　waited　to　speak　to　him；　Lord　Toric。　There　was　only　one　person　she　could　be：　Dorse　had　described　her　in　unflattering　terms；　but　had　grudgingly　admitted　that　she　was　meticulous　with　details；　unpromising　in　her　devotion　to　Fifth；　and　determined　to　destroy　all　Abominations　if　she　had　to　do　it　single…handedly。
　　And　here　she　was；　Toric　thought；　seeking　him　out。　Did　she　intend　to　take　Dorse's　place？　Or　Fifth's？　Whichever；　he　could　control　her　as　he　had　Dorse；　as　he　hoped　to　manipulate　Kashman。　She'd　be　very　useful　in　Toric's　scheming。　Dorse　had　once　said　that　she　had　a　knack　of　recruiting　the　disgruntled　to　their　cause。　At　the　very　least；　she　could　give　him　the　names　and　whereabouts　of　those　already　〃persuaded。〃　She'd　be　convenient　to　use　as　an　emissary　to　Keroon　Hold。
　　He　smiled　at　her　as　he　approached。　She　met　his　glance　squarely；　her　face　a　mask；　her　body　motionless；　facing　him　as　an　equal。　Toric　kept　his　smile；　but　thought　that　he　had　better　make　sure　she　didn't　consider　herself　an　equal　in　any　respect　to　Toric；　Lord　Holder　of　Southern！
　　Neither　saw　that　the　dog　handler　paused　at　the　top　of　the　stairs　and　observed　their　meeting。
　　The　dog　handler　remained　in　Southern　Hold　long　enough　to　instruct　Toric's　twin　sons　in　how　to　care　for　and　use　the　mands　to　which　the　dogs　had　been　trained。　During　that　sevenday；　he　listened　but　heard　nothing　about　any　untoward　incident　at　Landing　or　any　word　about　Master　Esselin's　demise。
　　When　Toric　set　off　with　Fourth　to　some　destination　along　the　coast；　Pinch　summoned　Bista　to　him。　She　had　been　inconspicuous　among　all　the　fire…lizards　that　darted　about　Southern。　He　met　with　Sintary　in　Southern's　Harper　Hall　and　gave　the　Master　a　sketch　of　Fourth；　asking　him　to　keep　an　eye　out　for　her。　Then　he　sent　Bista　to　Sebell；　requesting　a　dragon　to　convey　him　back　to　the　Harper　Hall。
　　　
HONSHU　WEYRHOLD…3。27。31
　　It　took　two　days　to　recover　from　the　party。　Lessa　had　managed　to　talk　F'lar　into　staying　overnight　as　a　snowstorm　had　blown　in　over　Benden　from　the　Eastern　Sea　and　she　wanted　to　stay　warm。　T'lion；　who　had　helped　build　the　ramp；　talked　one　of　the　Monaco　harpers　into　ing　along　for　the　celebration：　Jubb　had　a　guitar；　Sparling　a　fiddle；　Riller　a　drum。　Keita　sang　a　fine　light　soprano；　Sagassy　a　rich　contralto；　and　everyone；　even　Tai；　laughed　when　F'lessan　tried　to　sing　the　chorus　with　them。　He　didn't　try　to　dance　but　F'lar　partnered　everyone；　including　Tai；　though　she　excused　herself　from　other　invitations　on　the　grounds　of　her　sore　leg　and　sat　with　F'lessan　when　he　wasn't　busy　trying　to　keep　his　bronze　dragon　from　walking　up　and　down　the　ramp。　But　it　was　a　fine　evening。
　　The　next　morning　both　rider　and　dragon　were　so　lame　that　Tai　plained　that　they'd　used　up　two　whole　pots　of　numbweed　between　them　to　ease　their　aches。　Keita　decided　that　she　was　redundant　and　asked　T'lion　for　a　ride　to　the　Healer　Hall。　She'd　send　more　numbweed。
　　The　third　morning　saw　the　last　of　the　party　cleared　up。　Sagassy　said　they'd　enough　food　left　over　for　several　days　and　she'd　best　get　down　to　her　hold。　Tai　offered　to　fly　her　back；　with　the　favorite　pots　and　pans　that　she'd　brought　up　to　Honshu　to　help　out。　Suddenly　F'lessan　had　his　weyrhold　to　himself。　Taking　a　cup　of　klah　out　to　the　terrace；　he　sat；　watching　Golanth　snoring；　head　on　his　forepaws。
　　His　color's　good；　F'lessan　thought　and　firmly　turned　his　mind　to　wondering　when　Erragon　would　bring　that　new　console　so　he　could　start　working　for　his　living。　Which　brought　him　right　back　to　what　he　didn't　want　to　think　about！　The　facts　that　he　would　never　lead　a　wing　again　and　that　Golanth　might　never　fly　Zaranth。　That　he　didn't　like…especially　since　Zaranth　was　a　young　dragon　and　would　need　a　good　male　to　keep　her　content。　He；　F'lessan；　certainly　didn't　wish　to　share　Tai　with　another　rider…any　other　male。　She　enjoyed　being　with　him　now；　relaxed；　eager；　and　he　wasn't　going　to　have　her　response　to　him　destroyed　by　some　heavy…handed　rider　with　no　sensitivity　for　her　marvelous；　intricate　personality。　He　felt　himself　getting　quite　roused　by　the　very　thought。　And　they　had　work　to　do；　both　of　them；　on　the　prints：　they　weren't　half　through　that　job。　That　was　the　channel　he　should　concentrate　on。　The　stars！　The　stars　were　important。　Sky…watching　was　important　work。　He　didn't　need　to　fly　to　do　that。　He　did　need　Tai　to　do　that　job　properly。　Truth　be　told；　she　knew　a　lot　more　about　astronomy　than　he　did；　though　he　was　catching　up。　They'd　need　more　people　in　Honshu　to　help　with　that　project。　He　couldn't　keep　up　with　Erragon's　four　hours　of　sleep　a　night。　The　daytime　work；　listing　all　the　positions；　seeing　if　there　were　other　traces　of　the　orbit　from　wherever　Master　Idarolan　was　working。　Weren't　there　good　men　in　Crom　and　Southern　Boll　already　involved？　He　should　meet　with　them。　He　should　organize　his　life　on　a　new　basis…shouldn't　he？
　　Abruptly　another　revelation　occurred　to　him。　Lytol；　with　his　scarred　and　seamed　face！　He　had　been　dragonless　for　Turns；　ever　since　his　brown　Larth　had　died　in　a　routine　training　flight　at　Benden：　a　training　flight　during　which　R'gul　had　allowed　his　dragon　a　chance　to　chew　firestone　and　flame。　Only　Larth　had　caught　flame　in　the　face　and　so　had　Lytol。　The　dragon　had　managed　to　land　his　gravely　wounded　rider　with　the　last　breath　in　him。　That　should　have　been　the　end　of　the　rider；　as　a　person…a　dragonless　man。
　　Tradition　said　dragonless　riders　suicided　rather　than　live　without　their　dragon。　But　Lytol　had　defied　that　convention　and　had　bee　far　more　than　a　dragonrider。　He　had　been　a　Lord　Holder　for　Jaxom's　minority；　he　had　then　turned　his　hand　to　help　Master　Robinton　and　D'ram　to　manage　Landing　as　a　major　Hold　to　the　satisfaction　of　everyone　involved。　Now；　Lytol　and　D'ram；　in　addition　to　bearing　blind　Wansor　pany；　had　accepted　yet　another　role　for　which　they　were　unusually　qualified：　as　wise　consultants　for　the　plex　society　of　the　planet。　Briefly　F'lessan　wondered；　even　as　his　soul　cringed　at　the　thought：　would　he　have　had　the　courage　to　build　a　new　life…lives；　in　fact…as　Lytol　had　done；　if　Golanth　had　succumbed　to　his　injuries？
　　F'lessan　gave　a　snort　of　disgust　for　his　self…absorption。　The　time　he　had　wasted。　As　Tai　had　said；　there　would　be　a　way。　Lytol　had　made　several；　and　the　example　of　the　man's　quiet　heroism　rebuked　him。
　　Halfway　through　a　snore；　Golanth　woke；　alert；　looking　northward。　When　was　the　Nine　Fall　due？　Close　enough　for　Golanth　to　know　it　was　near。
　　Five　riders　appeared　in　the　sky；　and　a　sixth　came　swooping　up　out　of　the　jungle。　It　was　Zaranth　who　reached　Honshu　first；　hovering　to　let　her　rider　dismount　on　the　terrace　before　she　turned　on　her　wing　tip；　as　if　challenging　the　newers。　F'lessan　rose；　wondering　at　her　almost　defensive　attitude。　Then　the　dragons　were　close　enough　for　him　to　recognize　them：　Monarth；　Gadareth；　Path；　Galuth；　and　Arwith；　but　they　made　no　move　to　land。
　　They　e　to　practice；　Zaranth　said。　Tai；　I　will　get　his　jacket。
　　〃What　do　they　mean　'practice'？〃　F'lessan　wanted　to　know。　His　jacket　smacked　into　his　chest　and　the　reflex　action　of　his　hand　kept　it　there。
　　〃They　mean　to　practice　what　they　learned　from　Zaranth；　Ramoth；　and　Mnementh；〃　Tai　said；　as　if　reminding　him　of　something　he'd　forgotten。
　　Lessa　had　said　something　about　practice　the　other　evening。　〃Practice　what？　Who　on？〃
　　What　happened　next　was　as　astonishing　to　Tai　as　F'lessan。　As　she　watched…F'lessan　went　white　and　staggered　in　shock…Golanth　rose　vertically　from　the　stone　of　the　terrace；　hissing　in　surprise。　Instinctively；　the　bronze　spread　his　wings；　though　he　could　not　extend　the　left　far　or　raise　it　to　match　the　other。　But　he　was　being　lifted　into　the　air。
　　〃WHAT　ARE　YOU　DOING　TO　GOLANTH！〃　cried　F'lessan；　limping　frantically　to　where　Golanth　dangled　out　of　reach。
　　I'm　all　right；　F'lessan。　I'm　all　right。
　　〃PRACTICE！〃　T'lion　called。
　　〃PRACTICE！〃　shouted　T'gellan；　Persellan　behind　him。
　　That　was　what　C'reel　and　Mirrim　were　shouting；　too。
　　〃You　have　to　practice；　as　well；　F'lessan。　All　he　needs　is　height；〃　cried　Mirrim　gaily　from　Path's　back。　Her　dragon　was　staring　at　Zaranth；　indulging　in　some　munication　that　neither　rider　heard。
　　〃You　knew　about　this？〃　he　demanded　of　Tai；　recalling　her　whispered　reassurance　under　the　ramp。
　　〃Me？〃　she　was　affronted。　〃I'm　certainly　the　last　one　they'd　tell。　Zaranth　can't　keep　secrets　from　Golanth　or　you。〃
　　〃PUT　MY　DRAGON　DOWN！〃
　　It　doesn't　hurt；　Golanth　replied；　peering　down　at　his　rider；　as　he　was　supported　in　midair　by　the　other　dragons。　I'm　high　enough　to　go　between。
　　You　can't　go　between　without　your　rider；　Monarth　said　and　Golanth　began　to　descend。
　　Stop！　Golanth　cried　to　reduce　the　pressure　that　was　putting　him　back　down　on　the　terrace　stones。　That's　better。　Be　careful　of　me！　I'm　not　a　feline　to　be　tossed　about　any　old　way。　Shaking　his　head；　he　righted　himself　and　looked　around　for　F'lessan。　Why　can't　I　do　it　to　myself？
　　We　don't　know…yet！　Arwith　replied；　blinking　her　lids　with　puzzled　embarrassment。　Queens　were　supposed　to　know　everything。
　　〃We're　lucky　we've　got　this　far；〃　T'lion　shouted。　〃Get　aboard！〃
　　As　Golanth　crouched　to　allow　him　to　mount；　F'lessan　hesitated。
　　〃I'll　try　it　from　the　left；〃　he　said　and；　trying　to　disguise　his　limp；　hauled　himself　up　to　the　neck　ridge；　though　his　left　leg　hung　down　stif