Raid regarded the pair with sour disgust. Then he turned on his heel and walked back to his end of the head table.
I dont know but what there isnt truth in the wine, Larad of Telgar Hold commented as Raid reseated himself.
Lessa leaned quickly against Larad. He was nowhere near as insensitive as Raid. When he shook his head, she desisted and turned her attentions to Sifer. If she could get two of them to agree …
Dragon and his rider both belong in the Weyr, Raid said. You dont change whats natural for man and beast.
Well now, take these fire lizards, Sifer began, nodding toward the two across the table from him, in the arms of the Lord and Lady of Lemos Hold. Theyre dragons of a sort, after all.
Raid snorted. We saw today what happens when you go against natural courses. The girl whatever her name is lost her queen. Well, even the fire lizard warned her off Impressing a new one. The creatures know more than we think they do. Look at all the years peopleve tried to catch em . . ˇ
Catch em now, in nestsful, Sifer interrupted him. Pretty things they are. Must say I look forward to mine hatching.
Somehow their quarreling reminded Lessa of old Rgul and Slel, her first teachers in the Weyr, contradicting themselves endlessly as they purportedly taught her all shed need to know to become a Weyrwoman. It was Flar who had done that.
Boy has to stay here with that dragon.
The boy in question is a Lord Holder, Raid, Larad of Telgar reminded him. And the one thing we dont need is a contested Hold. It might be different if Lytol had male issue, or if hed fostered long enough to have a promising candidate. No, Jaxom must remain Lord at Ruatha Hold, and the Telgar Lord scanned the Bowl in search of the boy. His eyes met Lessas and he smiled in absent courtesy.
I dont agree, I dont agree, Raid said, shaking his head emphatically. It goes against all custom.
Some customs need changing badly, said Larad, frowning.
I wonder what the boy wants to do, interjected Asgenar, in his bland way, catching Larads eye.
The Telgar Lord threw back his head with a hearty laugh. Dont complicate matters, brother. Weve just decided his fate, will he, wont he.
The boy should be asked, Asgenar said, no longer mild-spoken. His glance slid from Larad to the two older Lord Holders. I saw his face when he came out of the Hatching Ground. He realized what hed done. He was as white as the little dragon. Then Asgenar nodded in Lytols direction. Yes, Jaxoms all too aware of what hes done.
Raid harumphed irritably. You dont ask youngsters anything. You tell em!
Asgenar turned to his lady, touching her shoulder lightly, but there was no mistaking the warmth of his expression as he asked her to request young Jaxoms presence. Mindful of her sleepy green lizard, she rose and went on her errand.
Ive discovered recently that you find out a great deal by asking people, Asgenar said, looking after his wife with an odd smile on his face.
People, yes, but not children! Raid managed to get a lot of anger into that phrase.
Lessa leaned against him. Hed be more susceptible in this state of mind.
Why doesnt he just pick the beast up? the Benden Lord Holder demanded irritably as he watched the stately progress of the Lady of Lemos Hold, the young Lord of Ruatha and the newly hatched white dragon, Ruth.
Id say he was establishing the proper relationship, Asgenar remarked. It would be easier and faster to carry the little beast, but not wiser. Even a dragon that small has dignity.
Raid of Benden Hold grunted, whether in acknowledgment or disagreement Lessa couldnt tell. He began to fidget, rubbing the back of his head with one hand, so she stopped her pushing.
The whir of dragon wings back-beating to land caught her attention. She turned and saw the gleam of a bronze hide in the darkness by the new entrance to the Rooms.