“But the Weyr’s been empty for hundreds of Turns,” exclaimed the skinniest of the new boys, Grodon, his eyes wide with anxiety.
He gulped hard.
“We’ve all done it, lad. You will, too,” Shonagar said firmly. He glanced over at Robinton, raising his eyebrows as he recognized the new apprentice. “All of you.”
Robinton had rehearsed with Shonagar many times – Shonagar was a good second tenor More important, he was fair-minded and really did keep good order in the apprentice dormitories. Though his position as head apprentice was not an official rank, Master Gennell encouraged his leadership. Shonagar would allow no bullying or improper behaviour in the dorms.
Robinton hadn’t mentioned his Hall background when the others were jabbering away about their homes, but it would soon become obvious. He hoped he could make friends in spite of having Masters as parents. He knew how apprentices could behave.
Fortunately, his innate modesty and amiability stood him in good stead as he settled in with the others. Grodon was terribly homesick the first seven-day, and Rob wheedled bedtime snacks from Lorra to ease his pain. Falawny, with sun-bleached hair and tanned skin, came from Igen; Shelline was a Neratian, also tanned; Lear was from Tillek, and delighted not to have to become a fisher like the rest of his kin. Jerint was a dark-complexioned lad from southern Keroon who spent a lot of his time softly playing his pipes. He was good at it, too, Robinton quickly realized.
Robie put himself forward ten days later when Shonagar entered their quarters after lights out.
“Right, now, who’ll be first to spend the night at the Weyr?” the head apprentice demanded, eyeing his victims sternly as they lay in their beds.
All save Robinton scrunched down further under their sleeping furs, trying to disappear.
“I guess I wouldn’t mind getting it all over with,” Robinton said, throwing back his covers.
“Good for you, Robie,” Shonagar said, nodding encouragingly.
Robinton dressed in the warmest of his clothes and, grabbing his jacket, prepared to go.
Shonagar and his two deputies waiting out in the corridor led him down the back stairs and out of the side door on the Hold side of the Hall. There were five runner beasts waiting there, held by a fourth apprentice. Robinton had always wondered how the round trip to the Weyr was managed in the one night without all the Masters knowing of the unscheduled excursion. He was glad he didn’t have to hike up the long hill road that led to the Weyr. That would be scarier than being in it alone all night. Too many tunnel
snakes across mountain roads at night… and other things.
They walked quietly across the huge Fort Hold square, up past the beastholds and cots, and then Shonagar led them through the tunnel which had been bored in the Fort Cliffside, one of the minor wonders of the world that their ancestors had made, and through to the next valley. Across it – at a good pace now that the noise the runners made wouldn’t be heard – and up the winding road that led to Fort Weyr. Again another tunnel had been bored by the amazing equipment the Ancients had once possessed, and through this they went. For Robinton, that was the scariest part, even though Shonagar opened the glowbasket he had brought. Then they were out into the night, on the floor of the Weyr itself. Robinton could just about make out the openings to the Lower Caverns and a few of the individual weyrs in the weak light of a half-moon.
“You can build a fire if you want in the Cavern,” Shonagar said, pointing and gesturing for Robinton to dismount.
One of the other lads laughed. “If you can find any firing, that
is.”
“Leave it,” Shonagar said sternly. “We’ll be back for you an hour before dawn. Have a good night.”
With that he led the others, and Robinton’s mount, away and Rob stumbled towards the black maw of the living quarters which had once teemed with weyrfolk.
His footsteps echoed slightly in the still night and he hugged his jacket closer around him. Well, it wasn’t as cold as between. He did wish he’d had some warning so he could have saved a bit of his supper. Eating always made him feel better.