CHAPTER V
Midmorning at Ruatha Hold
Early Evening at Benden Weyr
JAXOMS PLEASURE in riding a dragon, in being summoned to Benden Weyr, was severely diminished by his guardians glowering disapproval. Jaxom had yet to learn that most of Lord Warder Lytols irritation was for a far larger concern than his wards mischievous habit of getting lost in the unused and dangerous corridors of Ruatha Hold. As it was, Jaxom was quite downcast. He didnt mean to irritate Lytol, but he never seemed able to please him, no matter how hard he tried. There was such an unconscionable number of things that he, Jaxom, Lord of Ruatha Hold, must know, must do, must understand, that his head swam until he had to run away, to be by himself, to think. And the only empty places to think in in Ruatha, where no one ever went or would bother you, were in the back portions of the hollowed-out cliff that was Ruatha Hold. And while he could, just possibly, get lost or trapped behind a rockfall (there hadnt been a cave-in at Ruatha in the memory of living man or the Hold Records as far back as they were still legible), Jaxom hadnt got into trouble or danger. He knew his way around perfectly. Who could tell? His investigations might someday save Ruatha Hold from another invader like Fax, his father. Here Jaxoms thoughts faltered. A father he had never seen, a mother who died bearing him, had made him Lord of Ruatha, though his mother had been of Crom Hold and Fax his father, of the High Reaches. It was Lessa, who was now Weyrwoman at Benden, who had been the last of Ruathan Blood. These were contradictions he didnt understand and must.
He had changed his clothes now, from the dirty everyday ones to his finest tunic and trousers, with a wher-hide over-tunic and knee boots. Not that even they could stop the horrible cold of between. Jaxom shuddered with delighted terror. It was like being suspended nowhere, until your throat closed and your bowels knotted and you were scared silly that youd never again see the light of day, or even nights darkness, depending on local time of day where you were supposed to emerge. He was very jealous of Felessan, despite the fact that it was by no means sure his friend would be a dragonrider. But Felessan lived at Benden Weyr, and he had a mother and a father, and Dragonriders all around him, and …
Lord Jaxom! Lytols call from the Great Courtyard broke through the boys reverie and he ran, suddenly afraid that theyd leave without him.
It was only a green, Jaxom thought with some disappointment. Youd think theyd send a brown at the very least, for Lytol, Warder of Ruatha Hold, one time dragonrider himself. Then Jaxom was overwhelmed by contrition. Lytols dragon had been a brown and it was well known that half a mans soul left him when his dragon died and he remained among the living.
The greens rider grinned a welcome as Jaxom scrambled up the extended leg.
Good morning, Jeralte, he said, slightly startled because hed played in the Lower Caves with the young man only two Turns back. Now he was a full-fledged rider.
Jralt, please, Lord Jaxom, Lytol corrected his ward.
Thats all right, Jaxom, Jralt said and looped the riding belt deftly around Jaxoms waist.
Jaxom wanted to sink; to be corrected by Lytol in front of Jer Jralt, and not to remember to use the honorific contraction! He didnt enjoy the thrill of rising, a-dragonback over the great towers of Ruatha Hold, of watching the valley, spread out like a wall hanging under the dragons sinuous green neck. But as they circled, Jaxom had to balance himself against the dragons unexpectedly soft hide, and the warmth of that contact seemed to ease his inner misery. Then he saw the line of weeders in the fields and knew that they must be looking up at the dragon. Did those bullying Hold boys know that he, Jaxom, Lord of Ruatha, was a-dragon-back? Jaxom was himself again.
To be a dragonman was surely the most wonderful thing in the world. Jaxom felt a sudden wave of overwhelming pity for Lytol who had had this joy and lost it, and now must suffer agonies to ride anothers beast. Jaxom looked at the rigid back in front of him, for he was sandwiched between the two men, and wished that he might comfort his Warder. Lytol was always fair, and if he expected Jaxom to be perfect, it was because Jaxom must be perfect to be the Lord of Ruatha Hold. Which was no little honor, even if it wasnt being a dragonrider.