Chap. 179 The Follower

Chap. 179 The Follower

He felt restless, unsure of what he wanted to do. What he didn't want to do was waste this beautiful day sitting around the Weyr.

Maybe I should try 'exploring' again?

This time, go prepared Raventh said, snidely.

Even his dragon, calling him out for his failure last time?

The last time you made mistakes. But it went right, too. So this time, we can go someplace and you must bring things that humans seem to need Raventh said, in a soothing tone.

K'ndar nodded, unconsciously.

Dragons are lucky, they have everything they need already installed

Raventh agreed without a word.

Where to go, where to go. Okay, I'll try Risal's method. He dug out his map of Pern, then, closing his eyes and circling a finger over the map, stabbed at it and opened his eyes.
There was just a small spot, without a name. Halfway between Lemos and Telgar, it appeared to be a small cothold.
After several minutes of cudgeling his brain, he remembered Francie mentioning that she was from that area, and that oh yes! They had snow tigers! What did she call it? He stretched his memory muscles, but they failed him. He remembered he'd never heard of the Hold, so he'd never memorized any dragonstones it might have.

I give up, he thought. But she'll know, if nothing else, she can send me the coordinates, maybe even the dragonstones of her hold, and I can maybe strike out from there.

He quickly wrote up a note for Francie, tucked it into Siskin's message harness, then called the blue to him. Harnessing the fire lizard, he said, "Siskin. Remember Sisi, Coora, and Keeso? Carry this to Francie."

Siskin's eyes whirled, and K'ndar imagined Francie's three fire lizards, as he'd seen them at the Gather at Ruatha.

Siskin chirped an affirmation.

Careful, he might try to go to them THEN.

Oops, good catch. I don't doubt fire lizards can time travel.

He undressed them in his mind, then added Francie's face.

"Take this to Francie," he said to the fire lizard.

Siskin chipped.

He remembers them. And her.

"On your way, my good lad," he said.

Siskin whirred out of their weyr and disappeared.

How convenient, he thought, how bloody easy it is to send messages and things via fire lizard.
He looked closer at the map, visualizing it. The mountains of the Northern Barrier Range, here…and halfway between Lemos and Telgar. That should be about…here. The spot he'd touched was in valley between two ridges stretching southeast of the Northern Barrier Range.

He remembered his classes on that feature, B'rant, the Weyrlingmaster, insisting the Weyrlings be able to visualize it in three dimensions, rather than two. Map reading and topographical information had come easily to K'ndar. It was amazing, he thought, how some things just didn't stick in his head, like meteorology, and yet land navigation did.

"You folks from the outer holds, you have it easier because you probably dealt with navigating across these topographical features on a daily basis," the Weyrlingmaster had said.

K'ndar found himself nodding in agreement. Some of his classmates, though, had never bushwhacked cross country and had a rough time translating a map into reality. He'd spent many a night helping his roommate, B'rost, learn the mental gyrations of map reading, instead of working on his own weakness, meteorology. He'd just barely grasped enough of it to Graduate.

Thank the stars dragons ALWAYS paid attention to weather.

He was still contemplating the map when Siskin reappeared, bearing his message pouch with pride.

"Good lad! You are the most clever fire lizard EVER," he said, scratching the fire lizards head. He removed the harness and opened the message pouch.

It's called Sweet Grass. Don't go just yet. Raylan is down at Honshu, I took him there two days ago. He'll be there all week. I'm bored out of my mind for something to do. I've not been back there in a very long while. Want some company? If NOT, send Siskin back with this note, and I'll draw the cairns for you. Sweet Grass Hold is so small we never really created dragonstones. If you would like me to come along, DON'T respond. I'll be there in half an hour. Pack for cold weather, it may be snowing!
Francie

That was it, Sweet Grass. Hmmm. Honshu. He still hadn't taken the time to explore the Dragon Rider's Hold.

It was tempting, but he'd already made the decision by contacting Francie, so Honshu would have to wait…again.

He wanted to go alone. But the last time he did that, turned out to be a disaster before it turned into a heroic rescue. Francie was good company, and she'd be able to guide him around a spot so remote that it was nothing but a dot on the map. I can always go by myself once I'm oriented.

What to pack? A notebook, binoculars, DeeArrPlanks "Natural History of Pern" and survival stuff. Cold weather gear. And food. I'll go down to the dining hall, grab some food for the trip and meet her there.

After harnessing Raventh, he rode him the short drop to the bowl fronting the dining hall and dismounted.

I'll be out in a few minutes. Keep Siskin with you.

Don't forget something for him, I'm full and won't be hunting.

He entered the dining hall. It was almost empty. But there was always food available.

He chose several meat rolls, some fruit, half a loaf of still warm bread, and a bubbly pie. His water flasks were full. That should hold him for the day. At the end of one of the serving lines was a covered jar labeled "meat scraps for fire lizards and pets". He removed fire lizard sized portions for Siskin, and put them into the special pouch he carried.

Siskin says that's not enough

K'ndar laughed out loud.

"What's so funny?" a voice said behind him. He turned to see Lindea. He apron was dusty with flour and her fingers stained from berries.

"Hi, Lindea! I was laughing at what Raventh said, telling me the treats I just pulled for Siskin won't be enough," he said, grinning.

"Oh. That is funny," she said,flatly, her eyes saying it wasn't funny at all. "You're obviously going out somewhere, with all that food. Going to meet your girlfriend? Rasil, is that her name?" she asked. Her tone was cold.

It felt like a punch in the stomach. His face flushed, guilt flooding him, despite his not having done anything to warrant Lindea's accusation.

"Oh, come on, Lindea, it's Risal, she's just a friend. There's nothing between us," he protested, defensively.

Shaff it, I'm my own man, Lindea! What is WRONG with you? he wanted to shout, guilt turning to anger.

His mind fumbled, blindsided, and the words died in his mouth.

"I see. Well, wherever you're going, tell her I said hello," Lindea said, and before he could react, she turned and stalked off.

His feelings shifted to resentment. He stifled the urge to follow her and try to reason with her.

Let it go. Females are strange.

THAT they are.

Motanith is here. With their three fire lizards.

GOOD. Tell her to tell Francie I'll be right out.

She's already on her way in

Francie walked in with her typical easy going stride.

She was laughing. The few other folks in the hall turned and smiled at her.

"No fire lizards or dogs! I certainly understand THAT!" she chortled.

He felt relief at Francie's friendly face.

"Ah, there you are, K'ndar! Does your hall have a pot for fire lizard treats? I hadn't any in my kitchen, I hadn't plan on going anywhere today, not until your message," she said.

"Of course, and you might want to get something to eat for yourself," he said. Her joyous greeting dispelled much of the gloom that Lindea had dropped on his shoulders.

He led the way back to the serving line. Lindea was in the doorway to the main kitchen, watching. He could feel her disapproval radiating even from a distance. He found himself taking large handfuls of scraps from the fire lizard's treat jar and absentmindedly handing them over to Francie.

"Whoa, whoa, that's more than enough!" Francie protested, and K'ndar stopped and forced himself into paying attention to what he was doing.

"Sorry, I was, um,distracted," he said.

Francie took half the scraps he'd handed her and placed them in the pouch she used for her lizards. He stuffed the rest back in the jar and hurriedly turned to leave.

What in the world is wrong with him today?

Raventh said a human is bothering him Motanith said.

How? What human?

A female human. She is angry with him.

I'm glad I packed food for myself, she thought, he needs to get out of here now.

"Thanks, K'ndar, are you ready to go?"

"More than you can imagine," he said.
____________________________________________________________________________
They were in the air, flying lazily north, K'ndar waiting for her to pass the coordinates to Raventh through Motanith. Francie's three fire lizards were festooned on her green dragon, looking like exotic decorations. They had their wings extended, appearing as if they were helping Francie's green dragon fly.

He laughed, feeling better doing so. Siskin always rode "chilly", his wings tight against his sides, just behind Raventh's head.

It's because he's protected from the wind behind my ears. But three won't fit behind Motanith's head, she's too small, so they have to put their wings out to balance. But I think they do it for fun, too. Raventh said.

In her typical, diplomatic way, Francie went right to the point.

"We can talk now, K'ndar. I've never seen you so distracted. You've something on your mind," she called across the gap between their dragons, "Do you want to discuss it?"

K'ndar felt a cascade of warring emotions. He'd wanted to talk to Someone, someone female, about Lindea, but wasn't sure if it was him overreacting to something that really wasn't happening, or what?

"Shards, yes, I'm beside myself, trying to figure her out," he said, and his story poured out of him. "I sound resentful, almost childish, but I can't phrase it any other way," he said, "I don't know why she's so pissed at me. Risal said she's jealous."

Francie nodded, thinking it through. "I agree," she said. Their dragons banked to keep the prevailing winds underneath their wings. They were far over the sea, now. Raventh told Motanith to watch for dolphins, but they didn't see any.

"But…" K'ndar said, protesting.

Francie raised a hand.

"You're going to say you've done nothing wrong, and you're right. I haven't met Lindea, but I suspect she usually is a sweet tempered girl, with a big heart, and suddenly she's hissing at you, she's got her alpha mare ears flattened and her tail's swishing. She's suddenly bitter and suspicious, and making you feel as if you're to blame for SOMETHING," she said, "but she won't say WHAT."

"YES! Thank you for understanding, because I surely do NOT," he said, overwhelmed with relief that she understood without him having to explain a feeling he had no words for.

"She-well, tell you what, let's head for Sweet Grass, because we'll never get there today at flying speed. I'll tell you what's going on there, without fear of her overhearing. For now, I can tell you, you have done nothing wrong. Okay, pay attention, Motanith is going to push the coordinates, and then we'll go between," she said.

They did not see Zeta, Lindea's gold fire lizard, flying just behind them.