“I’m only just back from the nursery meadows,” he told her as he led her away from Arith, his hands moving along her arm, anxious to remain in contact with her and happy at a civil excuse to do so. “I didn’t have enough vaccine with me. I never counted on foals. And Dag’s got a broken leg so we have to send the cart. There’ll be Fall here in six days! But Dag saved bloodstock for us. He saved enough and he’s saved Ruatha!”
Moreta found herself grasping and shaking his hand repeatedly and wondering suddenly if anyone was noticing, but surely she could publicly congratulate him for such splendid good fortune. Then Capiam brought Desdra forward to introduce her, and Moreta saw that Desdra was measuring Alessan with the same penetrating gaze to which she had already been subjected. Moreta felt protective of Alessan and worried that the healer would divine her attraction to him.
“I deduce that you have produced a serum vaccine and used it.” “I have indeed, Capiam, for I couldn’t risk the bloodstock in this infected area.” Alessan’s hand eloquently swept the Hold proper and its fields. “Journeyman Follen is in the process of making more.” He nodded toward the beasthold. “The plague dealt us terrible losses both in men and animals.” He motioned them all to follow him into the beasthold. “We prepared a serum as soon as I returned last eve- § ‘““g. and I injected that beast.” Alessan pointed to the lame one, its
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right front leg pointing despite the depth of the straw of its bed. “It
seems none the worse for it… .”
“It won’t be, I assure you,” Capiam said warmly, adroitly steering them to an isolated area, away from others. “The theory is as sound for animals as it has proved for people. And”he lowered his voice, peering first at Alessan and then at Tuero with a meaningful stare “absolutely essential at this juncture.” He shot Desdra a quick look at his inadvertent use of one of Tirone’s favorite phrases. A twist of her lips showed that she had marked it. With a quick motion of his hands, Capiam circled the others closely around him, tucking his hands about Alessan’s and Tuero’s arms. He glanced about to be sure that everyone was busy, Follen with his group around the centrifuge and the holders about the animals being retacked. “Lord Alessan, the plague could break out again.”
Moreta caught Alessan’s free arm as he staggered back from Capiam. The Healer supported him on the other. Tuero’s first reaction was to see how Alessan coped with the news. The harper’s expression was unusually serious and compassionate.
“Animals as well as humans must be vaccinated this time round,” Capiam continued. “All across the continent. I have worked out a plan of distribution, and Moreta will seek dragonrider assistance. What is needed is serum from recovered animals. You have them, sufficient at least to supply the needs of this Hold, Fort, Southern Boll, and that portion of Telgar which marches your boundaries. Lord Shadder, I know, will accommodate us in the east.”
“But the herds in Keroon are vast …” Alessan was clearly stunned by the enormity of the project.
“No longer,” Capiam said gently. “If this Dag of yours has saved bloodstock for you, you are richer than you think. May we have your
help?” Alessan looked at the Masterhealer, a curious expression playing
in his light-green eyes and the oddest twist to his lips.
“Ruatha lost muchof its people, its herds, its honor, and its pride. Any help which Ruatha can now oner may perhaps remove the stain of our enduring”Alessan indicated the burial mounds
“hospitality.”
There was no bitterness in the young Lord Holder’s voice but there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that the aftermath of his first Gather had burned indelibly into his soul.
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“What makes you think that you are responsible for that? Or any of this?” One nourish of Capiam’s hand indicated the burial mounds, the next their meeting in the beasthold and the veterinary preparations being made to one side. “No blame adheres to you, Lord Alessan. Circumstance, unpredictable circumstance, drove the Windtoss from her course. Opportunism prompted its master to land in the Southern Continent, and greed kept him there for three days. What prompted the crew to transport that animal to the unprotected north will never be known for every witness to that reprehensible decision is now dead. But that circumstance was beyond your control. What has been in your control, my Lord Alessan, is the courage with which you have conducted yourself, your care of the sick, your effort to sow crops, and the preservation of Ruathan bloodstock. Most of all” Capiam drew in a deep breath“most of all, that you are, in the midst of the severe trials you have endured, willing to help others.