And they saved your profit, Nabol, Oterel put in.
Have you any idea, Weyrwoman? Sangel asked Lessa in an anxious tone.
I must complete the observations, Wansor put in, nervously dithering. It would be folly madness until we have seen the entire Red Star, and plot in the distinctive features of the various color masses. See how often the clouds cover it. Oh, there is much preliminary investigation to be done.
And then, some kind of protective …
I see, Meron broke in.
Would the man never cease smiling? And yet, Lessa thought, his irony might work in their favor.
It could be a lifelong project, he went on.
Not if I know Flar, the Harper said dryly. Ive recently entertained the notion that Bendens Weyrleader takes these latest vagaries of our ancient scourge as a personal insult since we had rather thought wed got them neatly slotted in time and place.
There was such good-humored raillery in the Harpers tone that Oterel of Tillek gave a snort. Lord Groghe looked more thoughtful, probably not quite recovered from Flars rebuttal the other day.
An insult to Benden? asked Sangel, baffled. But his time tables were accurate for Turns. Used them myself and never found them wrong until just recently.
Meron stamped his foot, his affected pose gone.
Youre all fools. Letting the Harper sweet-talk you into complacency. Well never see the end of Thread. Not in his lifetime or ours. And well be paying tithes to shiftless Weyrs deferring to Dragonriders and their women as long as this planet circles the sun. And theres not one of you great Lords, not one, with the courage to force this issue. We dont need Dragonriders. We dont need em. Weve fire lizards which eat Thread …
Then shall I inform Tbor of the High Reaches Weyr that his wings need no longer patrol Nabol? Im certain he would be relieved, Lessa asked in her lightest, sweetest voice.
The Nabolese Lord gave her a look of pure hatred. The fire lizard gathered itself into a hissing launch position. A single clear note from Ramoth all but deafened those on the heights. The fire lizard disappeared with a shriek. Strangling on his curses, Meron stamped down the lighted path to the landing, calling harshly for his dragon. The green appeared with such alacrity that Lessa was certain Ramoth had summoned him, even as she had warned the little lizard against attacking Lessa.
You wouldnt order Tbor to stop patrolling Nabol, would you, Weyrwoman? asked Nessel, Lord of Crom. After all, my lands march with his …
Lord Nessel, Lessa began, intending to reassure him that she had no such authority in the first place and in the second … Lord Nessel, she repeated instead, smiling at him, you notice that the Lord of Nabol did not request it, after all. Though, and she sighed with dramatic dedication, we have been sorely tempted to penalize him for his part in the death of the two dragon queens. She gave Nessel a wan, brave smile. But there are hundreds of innocent people on his lands, and many more about him, who cannot be permitted to suffer because of his his how shall I phrase it his irrational behavior.
Which leads me to ask, Groghe said, hastily clearing his throat, what is being done with that that Kylara woman?
Nothing, Lessa said in a flat hard voice, trusting that would end the matter.
Nothing? Groghe was incensed. She caused the deaths of two queens and youre doing nothing …
Are the Lord Holders doing anything about Meron? she asked, glancing sternly at the four present. There was a long silence. I must return to Benden Weyr. The dawn and another days watch come all too soon there. Were keeping Wansor and Fandarel from the observations that will make it possible for us to go to that Star.
Before they monopolize the thing, Id like another look, Oterel of Tillek said loudly. My eyes are keen …
Lessa was tired as she called Ramoth to her. She wanted to go back to Benden Weyr, not so much to sleep as to reassure herself about Flar. Mnementh was with him, true, and hed have reported any change in his riders condition …