feel that Fax’s delinquency in educating his holders was a subject for this table.
When he did have a chance to bring the subject up to Master Gennell during his interview with the harper, Gennell nodded soberly.
“Lobira has acquainted me with that situation. Unfortunately,
without Faroguy’s consent, the Hall can do nothing.”
“But that’s not right,” Robinton protested.
Gennell nodded again, sympathetically. “We can only do so much, Rob, and are wiser not to trespass where a harper’s life might be endangered.”
Robinton blinked in surprise. “Endangered?”
“There have been such problems before, lad, and there will be again, but somehow it comes right. As long as Fax keeps his ideas to his own hold, I can do nothing. Nor is it wise to do so. That’s something you learn as you go on. Cut your losses when you have to. One small hold in the northern lands is not as vital as a larger one nearer home, as it were. And I’m assigning you to shed the light where there has been darkness. Now -‘ Gennell swivelled and pointed to a peg “- that’s your new assignment. And I think you’ll do quite well there. You got a fine recommendation from Lobira, and he’s not easy to please. But first … Petiron is away for several days, so you might like to relax and spend some time with your mother.”
“She’s not well?” Robinton leaped on the wording.
“Yes, yes, she’s fine, lad. No need to fret about her as you’ll discover,” Gennell said. He sounded so sincere that Robinton relaxed. “There’s a ship due in at the Fort Harbour and you can passage on that… and let’s not prevail too much on a dragonrider’s favour for transport.”
“F’lon insisted …”
“Now, now, I’m not faulting you, Rob, but I think it better that you arrive at Benden—”
“Benden?” Robinton couldn’t believe in such luck.
“Yes, Benden – but arrive this time without benefit of Simanith’s wings. That young lad is a thorn in Lord Maidir’s side – both he and that father of his, the Weyrleader.”
“But, when Mother and I were there, Lord Maidir—”
Gennell held up his hand. “As I said, it would be better if you didn’t arrive on dragonwing. I don’t want you considered an alarmist too. Harper Evarel is looking forward to your assistance.
He’s retiring soon and, if you suit Lord Maidir – in fact, he asked if you were available now – you’ll probably stay on there.”
Robinton forbore to ask further questions, knowing that he could find out for himself what the situation was. It was very odd that the Weyr’s own Hold was doubting the Weyrleaders.
F’lon had expressed himself on this score during the informal party. The young bronze rider had also given him something more to think about as they crossed the courtyard to the waiting Simanith.
“That pretty girl – Silvina – fancies you, lad,” he said. “She wouldn’t give me the time of day, but she couldn’t keep her eyes off you. Don’t let a good opportunity pass you by, Rob.” And F’lon winked as he clapped the harper on the back before taking the jump-step he always used to reach Simanith’s forearm. And then he was waving farewell from his bronze’s back.
Robinton was so surprised by the comment that he had no time to tell F’lon that he’d known Vina as a child and she was probably just happy to see him again. She was much too young, anyhow. He retreated a good dragon-length to avoid getting dust and grit in his eyes when Simanith leapt upwards.
But later that night, after he and his mother had caught up on some of his more amusing adventures at High Reaches, he was too restless to sleep. Though she had told him his room was ready, he had insisted that he sleep in the journeymen’s accommodation. He knew she was disappointed, that she wanted to see to his comfort herself and enjoy his proximity. What he couldn’t say was that his old room would bring back far too many memories he had no desire to recall. Or maybe she understood that, because she didn’t press him. Casually she mentioned that Petiron was doing special music for a Tillek Holder espousal, and that was why the Hall seemed almost deserted. She had also noticed Silvina’s intentness.