CHAPTER XIII
Night at Fort Weyr:
Six Days Later
ROBINTON was weary, with fatigue of the heart and mind that did not lift to the thrill the Masterharper usually experienced on dragonback. In fact, he almost wished hed not had to come to Fort Weyr tonight. These past six days, with everyone reacting in varying ways to the tragedy at High Reaches, had been very difficult. (Must the High Reaches always push the knottiest problems on Pern?) In a way, Robinton wished that they could have put off this Red Star viewing until minds and eyes had cleared and were ready for this challenge. And yet, perhaps the best solution was to press this proposed expedition to the Red Star as far and as fast as possible as an anodyne to the depression that had followed the death of the two queens. Robinton knew that Flar wanted to prove to the Lord Holders that the dragonmen were in earnest in their desire to clear the air of Thread, but for once, the Masterharper found himself without a private opinion. He did not know if Flar was wise in pushing the issue, particularly now. Particularly when the Benden Weyrleader wasnt recovered from Trons slash. When no one was sure how Tkul was managing in Southern Weyr or if the man intended to stay there. When all Pern was staggered by the battle and deaths of the two queens The people had enough to rationalize, had enough to do with the vagaries of Threadfall complicating the seasonal mechanics of plowing and seeding. Leave the attack of the Red Star until another time.
Other dragons were arriving at Fort Weyr and the brown on which Robinton rode took his place in the circling pattern. Theyd be landing on the Star Stones where Wansor, Fandarels glassman, had set up the distance-viewer.
Have you had a chance to look through this device? Robinton asked the browns rider.
Me? Hardly, Masterharper. Everyone else wants to. Itll stay there until Ive had my turn, I daresay.
Has Wansor mounted it permanently at Fort Weyr?
It was discovered at Fort Weyr, the rider replied, a little defensively. Forts the oldest Weyr, you know. Pzar feels it should stay at Fort. And the Mastersmith, he agrees. His man Wansor keeps saying that there may be good reason. Something to do with elevation and angles and the altitude of Fort Weyr mountains. I didnt understand.
No more do I, Robinton thought. But he intended to. He was in agreement with Fandarel and Terry that there should be an interchange of knowledge between Crafts. Indisputably, Pern had lost many of the bemoaned techniques due to Craft jealousy. Lose a Craftmaster early, before he had transmitted all the Craft secrets, and a vital piece of information was lost forever. Not that Robinton, nor his predecessor, had ever espoused that ridiculous prerogative. There were five senior harpers who knew everything that Robinton did and three promising journeymen studying diligently to increase the safety factor.
It was one matter to keep dangerous secrets privy, quite another to guard craft skills to extinction.
The brown dragon landed on the ridge height of Fort Weyr and Robinton slid down the soft shoulder. He thanked the beast. The brown rose a half-length from the landing and then seemed to drop off the side of the cliff, down into the Bowl, making room for someone else to land.
Glows had been set on the narrow crown of the height, leading toward the massive Star Stones, their black bulk silhouetted against the lighter night sky. Among those gathered there, Robinton could distinguish the Mastersmiths huge figure, Wansors pear-shaped and Lessas slender one.
On the largest and flattest rock of the Star Stones, Robinton saw the tripod arrangement on which the long barrel of the distance-viewer had been mounted. At first glance he was disappointed by its simplicity, a fat, round cylinder, with a smaller pipe attached to its side. Then it amused him. The Smith must be tortured with the yearning to dismantle the instrument and examine the principles of its simple efficiency.
Robinton, how are you this evening? Lessa asked, coming toward him, one hand outstretched.
He gripped it, her soft skin smooth under the calluses of his fingers.