Chap. 239 Impromptu Dismount

Chap. 239 Impromptu Dismount

"That was fun, K'ndar, it was fun to go home and see Mum and our cousins! They're so little but Natana can ride just as good as you and me. Her pony is so cute!!" Glyena said, as K'ndar released the buckles holding her into the harness. "I got on her and she took off with me and I said no I don't think so! Then she was the perfect ride. But I'll always love Jordan the most. Did you want to ride Jordan or are you going to go back to Landing?"

"I'm just going to drop you off, Gly, then I'm heading back to Landing. I have another trip to make but it's getting late, it will have to wait until tomorrow."

"You're not going to spend the night here?" she said, disappointed. "You can stay with us, we have room."

"No, thank you, sis."

He reached up to help her off of Raventh's back. She waved her hand and said, "No, watch this!"

Before he could grasp what she was about to do, she leaped from Raventh's back.

Raventh, startled at her leap, jumped forward. The forward edge of his wing caught the girl in the head, knocking her to the ground.

"Glyena!" K'ndar shouted, and Siskin bolted.

I hit her. I hit her, I didn't know she was going to do that!

He grabbed her and helped her regain her feet. She was crying and put her hand to her head.

"Owwwwww."

"Glyena, are you okay? You shouldn't do that, you shouldn't jump off a dragon, ever!"

He was a maelstrom of dismay and aggravation, why did she do that?

The girl stopped crying and fumbled at the straps of her backpack. It had fallen sideways and she had landed on it.

"Help me get this off my arm..oh no! My binocular!"

Tell her I'm sorry, she startled me.

"Raventh didn't mean to hit you, you shouldn't ever jump off a dragon, Glyena!"

The girl was still digging through her backpack. She finally retrieved her binocular and looked through them.

"They're okay," she sighed in relief. She tucked them back in the pack.

He took her arm. "Glyena. You scared me. You scared Raventh, he thinks he's hurt you."

She rubbed her head and wiped the tears off her cheeks.

"I didn't know his wing bone was that hard," she said. She turned and met Raventh's concerned gaze, his eyes whirling an unhappy orange.

"I'm okay, Raventh, you didn't mean it," she said, patting the dragon on the cheek.

"Look, Glyena, we don't need two of us with a bump on the head," he said, angrily.

"I know, don't be mad!"

"I'm angry, but it's because you're hurt, and that hurts me."

"Okay, you're right. I'm sorry, it was just a little bonk on the head, it doesn't hurt hardly at all now," she said.

"What in the world made you do that?"

"There's a boy who jumps off his horse like that. I thought it looked like fun," she said. She hiccuped.

"Don't. Just don't ever do that again, not to a horse, not to a dragon," he ordered.

"K'ndar of Landing. K'ndar of Landing" he heard his datalink sound.

It was his turn to dig through his backpack. Glyena was shocked.

"You have a datalink?" she asked.

"Yes, and it's a pain in the arse, sometimes," he said, "I still don't know how to use it."

He pulled it out.

"K'ndar of Landing, K'ndar of Landing."

He fiddled with it, trying to get it to respond. Shards, he hissed under his breath, I hate this thing.

"K'ndar of Landing. K'ndar of Landing."

"Here, give it to me," Glyena said, snatching it from his hand.

"Glyena..."

"K'ndar of Landing. K'ndar of Landing."

She touched it and the datalink shut up.

Even more aggravated, he took it back.

"Talk!" she ordered. He looked at the screen, trying to remember which one of the myriad icons he needed to touch.

"Which one.."

She reached up, pointing at the screen. "I already answered it. Go on, talk to it!"

Glaring at her, he said to the link, "Who calls?"

"There you are, K'ndar. D'nis here. Where are you?"

Now what!! I'm still on leave, he thought, resentfully, but he bit the retort off before it left his mouth.

"I've just landed at Kahrain," he said.

"Oh, perfect! I'm here, too!" D'nis said, "You're in the bowl?"

"Yes sir," he said.

"I'll be down there in a minute. I'm up in the Weyrmaster's office," D'nis said, and signed off.

Glyena looked at the datalink in his hands.

"That wasn't polite, Glyena," he said, testily. "You don't just grab things," he said.

"Well, you were just dinking around with it! You gotta answer it!" she said.

Obviously, this young girl was far more technologically savvy than he was.

He gritted his teeth and said,"I know. I'm still getting used to using it."

"Why didn't you tell me you have a datalink? I can call you with mine. You can call me, just turn it on, see that spot there on the screen? Tap that and say "Glyena of Kahrain" and then I answer it. You've had it all this time?"

His irritation with the whole thing flooded his mind. He scowled, feeling his face flushing with embarrassment and frustration. "Yes. I have to have it for my job, but I really don't care for it, Gly! It's," he sighed in defeat, his irritation draining away. She might tease him for being a total idiot with the thing, but she was still his baby sister.

"It's smarter than I am. It starts blaring at me and I try to get it to answer and it just won't. I tap all over and it just keeps blathering. Then just as I get it to obey the caller stops calling. Then he calls again, and I'm trying to get the shaffing thing to answer. The sharding thing makes me feel stupid, everyone else seems to have no problems with theirs and I'm a dumbarse."

She patted his arm. "No, you're not, K'ndar, you're just old. Old people don't understand these things. Not like us kids," she said.

"Old? Old?" he repeated, insulted. Old? I'm not an elder. I'm...how dare this little kid say I'm old?

Well, you are older than her Raventh observed.

Oh, thank you so much for your help he thought, in a scathing tone.

You're welcome Raventh said.

Sarcasm is lost on dragons, his Weyrlingmaster had said.

No shit.

She giggled, puncturing what was left of his ego. "Here. Don't move, I'm going to teach you, it won't take but a minute. Okay? It's easy, K'ndar, even little kids can use them."

"Yeah. So I see," he said.

_________________________________________________________________________

"I've just signed out of the Weyr," D'nis said.

K'ndar nodded.He tucked the datalink back into his pack, not at all sure that he’d remember how to use it, even after Glyena’s patient teaching.

"If you're going to return to Landing, would you be willing to transport some of my gear? I've two crates more than I thought I'd have. Corvuth can handle the weight, of course, as can Raventh, but four crates just won't balance with my harness, and if you help me, I don't have to make two trips," D'nis said.

"Of course," K'ndar said, feeling better at being able to do something competently.

"Why did you sign out?" Glyena asked. She looked worried.

D'nis regarded her with a gentle eye.

"I've been selected as Councilman Weyrleader for Southern, lassie," he said.

The girl sobered. She felt a tremor of trepidation in her soul.

"Whoa," she said, "that's, um, that's...congratulations, I think?"

He grinned. "I'm not so certain of it myself."

"Will you, you're going to leave the Weyr?"

"Yes, in fact, I'm hoping to leave here shortly."

Glyena shook her head, her eyes sad. That means M'rvin will really be Weyrleader, she thought.

Yes, D'nis was retired. Corvuth hadn't flown Mirth, how could he be Weyrleader? But D'nis had always been the backbone of the entire Weyr. Everyone but M'rvin knew it.

I'm just a kid. I can't do a thing about it. I'll just have to live with it, like Mum used to say.

"I'll miss you, Councilman," she said, in resignation.

K'ndar felt a surge of pride in his sister. She could be a pain, it was true, but she had learned courtesy and protocol.

D'nis nodded. "I'll miss you too, Glyena. But I will be coming back from time to time. Part of my job entails I visit the Weyrs of Southern. Maybe I'll bring your brother with me, if he's up to it?"

K'ndar shrugged. "Depends on what my boss says, sir," he said.

 

Errata to Chap. 238 "Hunting the Steppe"

 I have been notified by a highly observant reader that I've made a mistake in Chap. 238 "Hunting the Steppe."

K'ndar lives on the Southern Continent. Pern's weather patterns are like ours: the Northern Hemisphere has winter at the same time as the Southern Hemisphere has summer.

Turnover is at the end of the year, which, on the Northern continent, is in winter.

In "Hunting the Steppe", I have K'ndar in a winter environment...on the Southern Continent. It should be high summer there.

Rather than change the entire story, just think of it as K'ndar's on the steppe during a particularly cold summer day.

Chap. 238 Hunting the Steppe

Chap. 238 Hunting The Steppe

After two days, K'ndar was ready to leave the cothold.

I'm just not that social a person, he thought. He enjoyed talking with his family, but after hours of it, all he wanted was to be alone, with just Raventh and Siskin.

I'm a loner. I always will be.

He stared out at the sky, trying to decide if he should take his sister back to the Weyr, or tough it out another couple of days.

Are we going to go out on to the steppe? I'm getting hungry.

Guilt hit him. He'd forgotten that Raventh had wanted that.

I'll let my family know we're going. I'll need a few minutes to pack some food and water for myself.

__________________________________________________________________________

This was good, he thought. We needed this.

Far off in the distance, he saw horses moving slowly across the steppe. It was late in the season. Most of the grasses had senesced in the summer's heat, releasing a scent both spicy and dusty when stepped on. He inhaled deeply, trying to force the scent into his bones.

The air was arid and cold, but he was tucked into a small crevice of a fairly large kopje, protected from the ceaseless wind and warmed by the sun on his face. The outcropping was close to a small watercourse that had dried up in the summer heat. Shrubs and small trees lined it, leafless now with the onset of winter.

The grasses rustled with the wind. Leaves caught up in the wind danced past him.

It always felt strange to watch his dragon fly away. Raventh had gone three days without eating, which wasn't that unusual, but he'd been especially hungry this time. He saw Raventh climb high, high, searching for an unwary wherry.

He remembered being out here in the middle of nowhere when the locusts had rolled in.

"Do you remember the locusts, Siskin?" he asked the blue fire lizard, and formed the picture in his mind.

Siskin chittered excitedly. He dropped to the ground and began digging, searching for locust larvae.

He found himself thinking of the past hectic few weeks. No. I am not going to think of work. Of Landing, of the people I've had dealings with...no. No one has a clue where I am other than 'out on the steppe'. It's just me and Raventh and Siskin.

He felt as if his mind was rocketing skyward, seeing himself sitting in the rocks as if from a great height. So small I am, in the middle of this vast, open land. Yes. I am truly alone, right now. Well, without humans. I am going to just sit here and enjoy being lost without being lost.

He took deep breaths, trying to get the recent events to dissipate from his mind. How could life have become so suddenly complex, so full of twists and turns, and most of all, little time for himself? It was as if life has suddenly started yelling in a hundred voices inside his head.

Did I make a mistake, taking the position at Landing? What would life have been like had I chosen to be Lord Dorn's personal dragon transport? Or should I have stayed at the Weyr, where I knew what to expect from day to day, but I would have to deal with M'rvin? Shards, could they have forced me into taking some sort of leadership position? Teaching Weyrlings? I'm no teacher. I'm not a leader. I'm perfectly content taking orders from someone else, as long as they make sense!

Maybe we should strike out on our own? Raventh said.

He could just barely see his dragon, flying from one weak thermal to another as he scanned for prey.

Whoa. That had not occurred to me.

Others have done it.

Really? Who?

B'rost. I haven't heard from Rath, but remember, they went to the Healer Hall. And Earth's rider, Greta? She left.

I forgot about B'rost. You're right, but he was always so flighty. As for Greta and Earth...aren't they dead?

I don't know. Earth was wiser than her rider. Greta wanted to go to the starship. Earth didn't, but she would have gone, if Greta had insisted. I think Greta made a mistake.

I do, too. But as for going full nomad? I...I don't know. Right now, I think...no. We're pretty comfortable at Landing. I like the work, it's just Lefsa, so emotionally fragile, her partner attacking me without reason, it makes me wonder if it will always be so fraught with tension.

Raventh was quiet for several moments, concentrating on one particular wherry.

It makes your mind so busy, sometimes I can't get to you. Like yesterday, I was hungry yesterday.

K'ndar felt the guilt grab his heart.

I'm sorry. You're right. But we're here, now.

I have to concentrate now, I see a wherry I might be able to attack.

With reason, right?

Raventh laughed.

________________________________________________________________________

Raventh's thoughts at the moment were purely gustatorial. Siskin had joined him to feed on his kill, leaving K'ndar truly alone.

This is the first time in years, he thought, that I'd not had a soul near me.

He listened to the wind whistling through the bare branches above his head. It wasn't a mournful sound, merely the breathing of the steppe.

He heard them before he saw them, a chorus of plaintive cries, ringing from just behind the kopje. Birds, the large ones, with long necks. He heard the whuhwhuh of their great wings as they flew right over head. So many of them! He tried to count but they flew faster than his eye could group them. He remembered years ago, one of his father's hands had shot one out of the sky with an arrow, an incredible feat all on its own. The man's wife had cooked it..and cooked it and cooked it, til finally hunger forced them to try and eat it.

They had bread and fruit for the rest of the dinner.

They are too noble a bird to eat, he thought, as the flock finally passed. He watched them reach the outskirts of the horse herd and join a hundred more of their kind. They greeted each other with an extravagant show of wings and dance steps. They're like us, he thought, they have friends and family, they have a culture.

Why is it, he wondered, his thoughts aimlessly skipping from one to another, that Pern has birds, and saurians, fish and reptiles, even amphibians...but no native mammals?

He saw one raptor, circling on high, scanning, as Raventh had done, for prey. It followed the horses, hoping their hooves would scare up something to eat. The horses were moving slowly towards his position, having been shifted by Raventh's actions.

The sky was so brilliant blue, clouds sailing majestically in clumps, like ships on the sea. They were the 'good' kind of cloud, ones that said fair weather was ahead, without rain. He could see them between the horse's legs, seemingly resting on the horizon. It was so wild, so open, he felt his heart almost burst with just the joy of being alone in the wilderness.

Of course, it helps that I didn't ride this far out on a horse, or have to worry about where I was going to sleep tonight.

He heard a rustling sound and saw the dried grasses moving at the base of his rocky seat.

It seemed to take forever, but the creature finally moved away from the safety of the rock and emerged from the grasses.

It was a chmunk. Six legged like most of Pern's native creatures, it moved quickly, searching for seeds and nuts to store for the winter. He watched as it searched, and when it found something edible, it sat up on its hindquarters and stuffed the seeds into its mouth. Then it fled to its home in the rocks.

This one was a different species, he realized, looking less like the ones seen in the forests. It was the color of dead grass, even striped vertically to blend in with the tall grass.

Hoping it would come back out, he quietly pulled a packet of dried berries from his backpack. He'd taken them from his mother's winter store. She makes the best pies with these, he thought, reminiscing.

The chmunk came back out. It moved a bit further than its first foray.

K'ndar waited until its back was turned to him, and tossed a handful of the berries.

The chmunk heard the berries fall and whirled. K'ndar froze. The little creature sat up, looking, looking, not seeing the source of the noise. Then it dropped back to its feet and began to forage again. It ignored the berries.

Really, little creature? Do you not know these are the best berries?

He tossed a few more, one plinking off the chmunk's head. It vanished into the grasses.

Well, I guess not.

He pulled out his binocular and focused on Raventh. The dragon was surrounded by what seemed fifty scavengers, both wherry and avian. He could just barely see Siskin from this distance, fully fed and safe between Raventh's wings.

Should I call him back? But I want to see the chmunk again.

Several minutes later, the chmunk reappeared. It darted out, then stopped. He could see its nose twitching. It ran back and forth, searching for the source of the delicious scent.

It picked up one berry and took a small nibble. Then it ate the entire thing, and began to search for more.

K'ndar moved...and the chmunk paused, poised for flight. After several long moments, it sat up and stared at him. Then it moved towards him. He could see it was puzzled. I am probably the first human you've ever seen in your life, he thought.

He began to feel his body begin to complain about holding the same position. He finally couldn't hold the position any longer and involuntarily moved.

The chmunk ran a ways to the side, then, after staring at him for what seemed an eternity, began to climb up the rocks toward his feet.

It came closer and closer, slowly, watching for the slightest move. It came to his boot and sniffed. It sat up again, and met his eyes.

He blinked, and the chmunk leaped to the ground, then stopped again, staring at him.

Daring, K'ndar slowly moved the hand that still held some berries, and flicked them towards the chmunk.

The chmunk jumped backwards, then sat up and chittered at him. K'ndar stifled a laugh.

The chmunk dropped to the ground again and found the berries. As it ate one, he tossed the ones he had left in a scattered cloud.

The chmunk darted from berry to berry, each time, sitting up to place one in its mouth. How could it hold so many?

He watched, tickled at the idea of this wild creature actually touching him. It had apparently satisfied its curiosity, if not its appetite.

The chmunk moved further and further from the rocks. With the sun on the creature, he could see the subtle variations of color in its skin. Such a lovely little beast!

Out of nowhere, a dark winged form burst into his field of view from behind.

It swooped down, snatched up the chmunk in one smooth, taloned move, and climbed quickly back into the sky.

Oh, shit. The raptor.

I'm full, so is Siskin. What's wrong? What happened?

Shocked at what he had enabled, he felt a huge shroud of guilt cover him.

Apparently, I'm feeding the birds

 

Chap. 237 Wet Turnover

Chap. 237 Wet Turnover

As K'ndar buckled Lord Dorn into Raventh's harness, he thought, after Turnover, I'll be going home, I should take something. It's not right to show up with an appetite and empty hands. What?

He drew a blank.

"Sir, if you were going to go back to your natal home for Turnover, what would you take?" he asked Lord Dorn.

Lord Dorn smiled.

"Why, I'd take a cask of the best wine being grown on Southern!"

K'ndar grinned. "Thank you, that's an excellent idea! I wish I could say I love it, but I can't drink it. But I'm betting my family will love it."

"So you're up for it?"

"Of course, sir," K'ndar said, "how much are you charging?"

"The typical amount for a keg or a cask, one mark."

K'ndar dug around in his pouch and handed him a mark.

"But," Dorn said, "You dragonriders now charge a mark for scheduled transport, am I correct?"

"Um..." it'd been a while since K'ndar had actually charged someone for transport. "Yes, my Lord."

"So let's call it barter. Keep your mark, and I'll have one of my staff bring up a cask for you. Are you planning on staying for Turnover festivities at my Hold?"

K'ndar pocketed the mark. "It depends, sir. Flight Ops says it's raining at Singing Waters, and has been all week. Given that, I'm probably going to go to my cothold."

"Shaff it," Lord Dorn said, "That'll piss off a whole lot of folks." He sighed. "Ah, well, there's no controlling the weather. Rain or shine, I'll have one of my staff bring a cask up for you. Thank you for the ride, K'ndar. And don't forget, if you ever get tired of Landing, there's a spot for you and this handsome dragon at Singing Waters."

"Thank you, sir," K'ndar said, "I shall."

"And I promise no jealous husbands will knock you in the head!"

_________________________________________________________________________

"Well, if this isn't a disappointment," K'ndar said.

It was raining. Not a slight mist, one that could be deflected by a waterproof riding jacket or just toughed out. No, this was a flat out downpour.

He was standing just outside Singing Water's main hold. Protected from the downpour by a rock overhang, he contemplated the steady drip drip drip coming from one protruding edge. I used to love rain, he thought, but that was when we knew it would kill Threadfall in the sky, and we could relax in our quarters. Now it is an irritation, something keeping me from doing what I want.

"It's been raining since Lord Dorn left for Selection," said the man who'd trundled a cask of wine up from the cellars. "It surely puts a damper on Turnover festivities, get it? Damper?"

K'ndar laughed, more out of courtesy than real humor.

"I imagine you've been preparing for weeks?"

The man nodded. "Aye, and now it would seem all for naught. People've been coming in all week, with their wares, expecting dancing and dining. Not going to be much of the former and if this goes on for very long, the diners will eat us out of hold and home in a day."

He paused, shaking his head in dismay. "You're staying, then?" the man asked.

K'ndar wondered if he should unharness Raventh or just give up and head to Kahrain Weyr. Leather didn't care much for rain.

"Given this rain, and the fact that I'm not much for socializing, I think not, even though I had looked forward to it. I'm guessing there's not enough room in the Hold for all the festivities, the ones usually done outside?"

"Nay, dragonrider, in fact some folks was here intending to sell their crafts, and turned around and went home. Weather says it's supposed to rain clear into next week."

K'ndar sighed.

"That's what Flight Ops said, too. I may as well then just go on to my cothold, where I grew up. It's not raining, there."

"Where's your dragon, mate, and we'll lash on this cask. It's a brand new 'un, if you don't mind, please, return it sometime? We're not a big enough winery yet to have a person designated to deliver and return casks."

"I'll return it, or have it returned, but I can't say when. See that brown dragon in that cavern, the one past your stables? That's my Raventh."

"Ah, I see him. I'm no dragonrider, sir, but I did grow up in a weyr, and even from here I see he's a dandy. I'll just run this cask over to the cavern, quick like," the man said, "No use your harness getting any wetter than what it already is."

He sat aboard Raventh, almost loathe to go out into the rain. Thank the stars it was just rain, with no thunder or lightning. Even being in the air for the few moments it took to go between was risking being struck.

What would you like to do? he asked Raventh.

The brown dragon thought for several moments.

I want to go out onto the steppe and hunt.

He liked that idea, a lot. He'd been wanting to return to the steppe, to see lions and horses, whers and avians. That, and just immerse himself in the peace and silence of the vast wilderness.

Okay. Let's go, pick up my sister, and head to my cothold.

He ducked his head as they stepped out into the rain.

_____________________________________________________________________

"Rain does put a damper on festivities," his uncle said.

"I'm glad it's not raining here," K'ndar said, "I would probably have just returned to Landing."

He unlashed the cask.

Raventh shook himself and moved away from the two.

He examined his harness, looking for signs that the leather had sustained any damage from the rain. But he'd oiled it well. I'll put it out in the sun and allow any moisture on it to dry, he thought.

Fland had stopped a few meters from Raventh, looking him over.

As he picked up the cask, K'ndar took a surreptitious glance at his uncle, searching for any signs of emotional distress. Fland had lost his dragon years before, and was one of the few people who'd survived the loss. But there was always a huge part of one's heart and mind that was forever empty.

I hope I never survive losing Raventh, he thought.

"He's looking very fit, K'ndar," Fland said, watching as Raventh headed for the dragon meadow.

"Aa are you, sir. Marriage looks good on you."

Fland laughed, allowing it to soothe the ache in his soul. Will I ever get over losing Lenarth?

"Here, give me that, I'll carry it. Let's go up to the cottage," Fland said, to cover his sadness, "your sister wasted no time heading there."

K'ndar nodded. "Aye. I wasn't sure if she would want to come, she is doing so well at the Weyr," he said.

He stopped suddenly, noticing something wrong with his memory of the spot the last time he'd stood here.

As always when he returned to his natal cothold, there were glaring changes. Some, though, like now, were not so obvious, ones that refused to be remembered. There had been something over there, right? Or am I imagining it? Something had changed, but what? It was aggravating. Horses had excellent memories for where things were placed, even something as unremarkable as a shrub. How is it that the master species of the planet couldn't remember from one day to the next?

Ask Siskin. They have far better memories than either of us.

Ah! But I have no idea how to even frame the question!

Let me see if I can figure it out.

Siskin chittered. Suddenly a picture bloomed in his mind. It was obviously from the past.

A tree was missing from the spot he was looking at.

Something as simple as a tree, or its absence, had triggered the question in his mind. And Siskin had remembered it right away. What an amazing creature, these fire lizards!

Thank you. I will remember that, at least, don't forget how to ask him, because I just don't seem to understand it. Just how far back CAN he remember?

Raventh was silent for a while.

I think it's a group memory. I think he can share memories with other fire lizards, remember things others have seen or done.

I've heard that, but up until now I wasn't sure if that was true.

It seems to be true.

Teach me how to ask him.

"K'ndar? Did you hear me?" his uncle interrupted.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Uncle Fland, I was..." he said, firmly squashing his sudden irritation at being interrupted while talking to Raventh. Not polite, K'ndar. Not at all.

"Talking to Raventh. I understand. Are you coming up to the house? I'm sure your mum is anxious to give you a hug and a kiss."

He shook his head to dispel his concentration. "Of course!"

_______________________________________________________________________

"You brought an entire cask of wine? Thank you, K'ndar!" his mother said. Fland put the cask down on her stone table.

"I wasn't sure what to bring for Turnover, so I brought this. It's a new wine being bred by a journeyman at Lord Dorn's hold."

"That had to have been expensive, K'ndar," Mardriss, his eldest brother said.

He shrugged. "Not at all. It was barter. We charge a mark for scheduled transportation now. Lord Dorn charges a mark for a cask of wine. He'd like it back, please? So when it's empty, either contact me or..."

"We'll get it back to him, one way or another," Mardriss said.

"A mark for transport! That's new, isn't it?" Sandriss said, coming into the room.

"Hello, Sand! Where are your fire lizards?"

"All over Raventh, at the moment," his middle brother said. "Siskin is bossing my bronze around. It's HIS Raventh, he's saying."

They laughed.

"Yes, it's a relatively new thing. Lord Toric...boy, can I tell you some stories about HIM...was the real cause of the charges, and now all dragonriders not specifically leased by Holders ask the same price. If it's someone requesting an unscheduled ride, the rider can say yes or no, and then it's two marks. It's not a bad way to make money, I guess, and I've made a little, but so far I've not had to spend it," K'ndar said.

"Spend it on me!" Glyena piped up. The adults in the room all went silent for a moment, glaring at the girl.

She withered. "Just joking, K'ndar."

He lightened his frown.

"I believe you, but you know as well as I do that that wasn't polite," K'ndar said.

She hung her head.

"I'm sorry."

Daryat reflected that being fostered out had done so much good for Glyena. Still, it still gave her a slight pang of guilt.

"Apology accepted. And, it just so happens, I DID spend money on you."

He dug around in his backpack and pulled out a leather bundle.

She looked at him in surprise.

"What is it?"

"Look and see. Literally," K'ndar said, smiling.

She unwrapped it.

"Ooooooooooooh!! A binocular! Look, everyone, I have a binocular, now I can go watch the birds and the wherries!"

"Here," he said, realizing he no longer had to squat to be eye to eye with her. She was getting tall."I'll show you how to use it."

It took just a moment for him to show her the various functions. She excitedly put them around her neck and darted for the entrance to the cottage.

"Glyena?" Daryat said, in a tone that froze everyone save Fland. There wasn't a soul in that room who mistook its meaning.

The girl froze. She turned and gulped, feeling her mother's eye crisping her hair.

"Yes,'m. I forgot," she said, returning to K'ndar. "Thank you, K'ndar, thank you very much," she said. She stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek.

"You're welcome. Happy Turnover."

 

Chap. 236 The Selection

Chap. 236 The Selection

Raventh was sprawled out in the sunlight, allowing K'ndar to oil him. The dragon's eyes were closed in bliss.

"When you're done, can I use that oil pot?" a voice said below and behind him.

He looked down from his perch between Raventh's wings to see Francie. Siskin chipped and launched from his shoulder to join her three fire lizards swirling over her head.

"Hi, Francie, of course. I'm almost done. Every time I oil this big beast," he patted Raventh's neck fondly, "I'm grateful all over again that he's "small for a brown". I'd hate to have to oil a gold," he said.

She laughed. "I know. It's why I'm grateful that Motanith is 'just a green'. She's a quick job compared to the bigger dragons."

He paused, taking a look at his work.

Did I miss any spots?

Raventh?

I was asleep.

I know. Did I miss any spots?

Raventh was quiet for several moments.

I don't think so.

He climbed down gently from his perch on Raventh's back.

Francie nodded. She sat down on a large rock. He looked himself over. "Did I get any on me?"

She looked at him with a judging eye. "Turn around. If you did, it's going to be on your butt."

He obligingly turned, reflecting on how being a dragonrider made one ask strange questions of others, such as this one. Only another dragonrider would understand.

"Nope. You're clean. Oh, there's a small patch of oil on the back of your right calf, but otherwise, good job, hardly a spot on you."

"It took me years to learn how to oil him without getting most of it on me," he said, grinning.

She laughed in agreement.

"I'll do Motanith this afternoon," she said. "Right now, I'm beat."

"Why?"

"I've been cleaning and packing all week, and finally everything's been moved into our new quarters. Luckily my work has gotten slim, and Raylan's too, due to Selection and Petitions being focused on," she said.

"You moved? I told you I'd be willing to help you move," K'ndar gasped, feeling guilty. "I'd promised. I feel as if I've broken it."

She wagged a hand at him. "Nah, it's not that way. It's okay, K'ndar. I didn't tell you! You were tied up with taskings and transport, then had your head conked. And it was a spur of the moment notification from Grafton. We'd been told that the new quarters wouldn't be available until after Turnover. But the renovation teams got cracking on the quarters a lot faster than they'd planned. It's nice, K'ndar, not that the old quarters were bad, but the newly opened building has a bay a wee bit smaller than yours but perfect for my Motanith. Rather than wait we decided to just go ahead and move while work was slow, being that it was everything was focused on Selection and Petitioning. Now we relax and enjoy Turnover. Are you staying here?"

He shook his head. "No, I'd planned on staying at Kahrain and commute to Singing Waters for Turnover festivities, then take my sister Glyena to visit family at our cothold. How about you?"

He glanced at the four fire lizards winking in and out of between as they played.

"We're going to fly out to one of the small islands off Ista. It's completely uninhabited, and has a beautiful rain forest end to end. The snorkeling is fabulous, I'm told."

"Snorkeling?"

"Swimming underwater to see the fish and the coral reefs. You breathe through a tube that sticks up just above the surface. The dolphins say the reef is swarming with fish and the coral is even better. Then we'll camp on the beach, count the stars, cook some fresh fish, that sort of thing."

"If it weren't for the swimming part, I'd be interested in seeing it."

"You don't swim? Pity. But even so, the rain forest is wonderful. Ista's got rain forest, but there's been people in it for two thousand years. This island has nobody permanently living there. The trees are full of birds and flowers. It was in the perfect spot to avoid Threadfall, I don't know if it was ever scored. You'd like it, K'ndar, even without swimming."

"I'll have to check it out. I'm done here, want to have some lunch?"

"I would. How's your head feeling?"

He reached up, unconsciously, to feel the small patch of bandage covering the wound. It was a huge improvement over the whole head one he'd worn for two days.

"Better. The bandages were worse than the wound. But I can feel the big bald spot where they shaved my head. Did Lefsa tell you?"

"Raylan told me all about it, then later it was on the daily datalink post. Lefsa was so upset, she was afraid you'd be angry with her."

He shook his head as he gathered his equipment.

"Like it was her fault? Pffft. But Francie, this is the third time I've had a run in with a criminal at Landing. I'm beginning to think I've a target on my back. Maybe I made a mistake accepting this job."

"No, no, don't be like that. Please. You know that old saying about bad eggs, well, every place is bound to have a few. But please, don't think it's always going to be like this. Maybe you just had a stretch of bad luck, but I'm betting its run its course. Honestly, you've done Landing a favor in flushing them out," she said.

"I hope you're right, " he said, grumpily, "this is getting just a bit tiresome."

She touched his arm, gently. "It's okay, K'ndar. Part of it is..if you'll forgive me, you're a respectful, soft spoken man, you listen a lot and say little. There's a type of human that thinks of that as a weakness and tries to take advantage of it. Trust me, it happens to women all the time. We should know better, but as Raimon proved, men..and I don't mean ALL men..but some decide that a woman who is quiet deserves the mistreatment he deals her.

But those types are not common here. You're well liked, even though you're relatively new. Elene, for instance, thinks the world of you. So...tough it out just a little longer? Things are going to ease up for us, tasking wise, now that we're getting not one but TWO new dragonriders."

"One is a new council member?"

"Two, K'ndar! You know that!"

"Um, forgive me, but no, I don't. Two dragonriders and one is a council member? Or two dragonriders are both council members? I thought Lytol was retiring for good, but he has no dragon? Is it just one Holder and two dragonriders? I'm confused."

"You haven't read today's datalink post? About the Selections?" Francie said, frowning.

"Um...no. Between caring for guest's dragons, trying to get the jaw fully documented and fighting off jealous partners, I've not taken the time," he said, defensively.

Francie looked sternly at him.

"K'ndar, you need to read the datalink posts Every Day. Every day! It's no different than reading the duty roster from a slate board, like at your home weyr. You have to, K'ndar, it's part of your job. Yes, we have two dragonriders as council members now. Come on, don't kid me, you know D'nis was selected to be on the council representing Southern Continent."

"Whoa," he said, stunned. It took several moments for the import to sink in. D'nis!

"I didn't know. Francie, I'm not kidding, I had no idea. He didn't mention it, even though he's been staying in my quarters here during Selection, it's been pretty much he's leaving as I'm coming in and vice versa. He's been so tied up with the Selection that I've hardly seen him, save for him helping me after I got clobbered. What do you mean, representing Southern? Two dragonriders from Southern?"

" K'ndar, I mean it. They didn't give you a datalink for you to ignore it. I see you don't have yours NOW. From now on, it goes with you as long as you're on duty, and you ARE on duty. You know full well that we dragonriders get time from work to care for our dragons, they're as much a member of the staff as Landing's saddle horses. I'll tell you, but K'ndar, you MUST read the posts. At least once a day. Okay? You don't want to miss a tasking, you don't want Raylan to get on your case," she said. "Never mind Grafton. Get on his bad side to your peril."

He knew an order when he heard it. "Yes, ma'am."

"Good lad. Now then, it was decided that, what with Southern's burgeoning population and expansion, it's only fair that both halves of Pern be represented by people from their home continent. So Lytol and K'ran are officially retired, although both are considered 'emeritus'. Northern has selected their three members, a Holder, a Crafter and a Weyrleader to represent Northern, and we've D'nis as Southern's Councilman Weyrleader, a Holder from Western Hold and the third is a Harper from Cove Hold. SHE is our first ever female councilman!" Francie said, beaming.

_________________________________________________________________________

"I know," D'nis protested, "I didn't tell you. I thought you'd .."

"I know, read my datalink," K'ndar said, imitating Francie,"But I hadn't. I will now. Congratulations!"

D'nis tossed his backpack onto the couch. "Thank you. I still am not sure how it happened, and I'm still not convinced it's what I want. But it certainly has changed my plans."

K'ndar sighed. "Klah? The rest of the wine you brought?"

"Wine. I'm still wrought up with all the things that have happened. How's your head?"

"It's good," K'ndar said, taking a bottle of wine out of the 'refrigerator'. What an amazing little box, keeping cold things cold. He popped the cork and poured what was left of the bottle into a goblet and handed it to D'nis.

I always feel a bit strange handling a liquid I don't dare drink. Unless I want to be sick, he thought.

D'nis sipped it. "Ah. at first, I wasn't sure if I liked Dorn's wine. But it grows on one," he said. "Ashmead. Strange name, but it fits, somehow."

K'ndar whipped up a mug of klah for himself and sat down on the couch. Through the 'window' he could see fog rolling in. It was nice, he thought, that it had a clear piece of the amazing substance the ancients had made them from. It wasn't glass, it was some other substance that he doubted current Pernese would ever be able to replicate. It kept the weather out. The first time Siskin had tried to fly out the window, he'd hit it nose first. It was, K'ndar reflected, quite possibly the first time he'd ever heard a fire lizard curse. Now the blue cautiously approached every window and touched it to see if it was open.

"So what now, si...shards, D'nis, what do I call you now? Sir? D'nis? Councilman?"

D'nis shrugged. "In times like this, I'm D'nis. When I'm officiating, I'm Councilman. Or sir will do."

"Thank you."

"I'd like to ask a favor of you?"

"Of course, si...oh shards, D'nis, just settle for me calling you sir. Okay?"

"Whatever pleases you."

"What is the favor?"

"Are you staying here for Turnover?"

"No. I'd planned on going to Singing Waters for the festivities, than home to my cothold with my sister. And..I just remembered, I want to go to Nerat to drop off a gift for Harve."

"When had you planned on leaving?"

"First thing tomorrow morning," he said.

"Would you be willing to transport Lord Dorn to his Hold?"

"Certainly," he said.

"Thank you. That takes one decision off my plate," he said.

"How about you? Will you be staying here for Turnover? You're more than welcome to stay here in my quarters until you get your own."

"Hmmm. I've not decided yet. I'm not even certain if I'll be moving here or staying at Kahrain. On the one hand, I don't want to abandon Kahrain. It's home. But it's also having leadership issues with M'rvin. Ah, M'rvin, M'rvin. He's become more and more morose, more inclined to argue. He won't talk to a healer, I suspect he's slightly depressed but we have so many things that can cure that, will he take them? I don't know! I wouldn't be surprised if he resigns as weyrleader," he said.

"Oh, no. Is that..has that ever happened?"

"Of course, K'ndar, but not often if it's not as part of a queen's mating flight. And I don't see Mirth rising any time soon. Siena is so pissed off at M'rvin that Mirth is continually upset and with that, of course, it means she hasn't come into heat. Arcturuth says he tiptoes around Mirth, that upsets HIM, and it just turns into a vicious circle. Part of me is wondering if I shouldn't ask M'rvin to step down and return to being Weyrleader. But if Mirth comes into heat, Corvuth won't mate her-he's her sire! And now, being selected councilman, I can't do both jobs at the same time. So, at the moment, I'm considering moving here permanently, as you have done. I hope they have a building big enough for Corvuth."

"I wouldn't worry, sir. If there isn't, the mountain has plenty of caves for him to roost in."

"No doubt, but he wants to be near me. Nor do I want to be far from him. Do you like living in this building? Does Raventh?"

"Um, it took some getting use to, I'll admit that. But yes, I think I do. It has some conveniences that our weyr doesn't, like the kitchen, and the running water. But it doesn't have the sounds of the outdoors. I especially miss hearing..and seeing the ocean."

His mug empty, K'ndar took it into the kitchen and placed it in the sink. Such amenities...he'd gotten used to them very quickly.

He returned to the couch. "Sir, it's so strange, our world. You were the best of weyrleaders, but I remember Jenmay murdering her way to Weyrwoman, and M'rvin's causing problems..you'd think we'd come up with a better way of managing things for all three branches, like the Council Selection is done. People like Jenmay...how in the world could they be considered 'leaders'? We all hated her for her cruelty and obstinacy. She had my classmates terrified, especially poor B'rost."

"Aye. I agree. It IS an odd form of governance, choosing the weyrleaders based on which bronze can catch the gold. Add to it the Holders passing on their holdings to sons. Crafters, like Harpers, seem to be the only ones who choose their leaders on merit and ability. As much as I love my Corvuth, I wonder how we ever got to the point where we allowed a dragon to make the decision on who runs a weyr. Many people have held the position, and sometimes it turns out to be utter disaster. But, K'ndar, doing my historical research of the way things were run on Earth, I think our way is best. It's odd, but at least we don't have people like Fax running the planet. And trust me, Earth was MOSTLY run by people like Fax," he said.

K'ndar shivered, remembering the Harper's tales about the murdering, tyrannical despot Fax. He'd been dead long before K'ndar or even D'nis had been born, but every child learned of his tyranny...and were warned against it.

"So, in my humble opinion, we have three..no, four ways, if you count in the Council, of governance and for the moment, at least, it works. If you discount Aivas's rediscovery of the Charter, because that was lost for so long, it becomes five. Four mutually supportive ways of governing seems to have kept things going fairly well for over 2500 years, so I think it works."

D'nis looked wistfully at his empty goblet and stood up. "And now, K'ndar, I must head for bed. I thank you once again for your hospitality. I imagine you'll be leaving shortly after breakfast, so good Turnover to you."

"And you, sir."

The bronze rider grinned at him. "It's D'nis."