Bridgely, moving to the edge of his chair which also reacted noisily to
the weight shift. Like this chair. You can interview any of those
we’ve taken in… and the sooner the better, so you can judge the
condition they were in before we rescued them.” I think I’d better have
an eyes-on at that, Azury told him.
He raised one hand quickly. Not that I doubt you, but impeaching
another Lord Holder. . . Nervous-making.
That’s as may be, but having a Hold that is totally unprepared for the
onslaught of Thread – one that’s adjacent to me,’ and Bridgely jabbed a
thumb in his chest, is far more nervous-making.” You’ve a point
there,’ Azury admitted. He looked over his shoulder and beckoned one of
the attendants, asking him to bring his riding gear. You said that
Jamson’s reluctant?
Doesn’t impeachment require a unanimous verdict?” It does,’ Bridgely
agreed, and set his lips in an implacable line.
Azury grinned, thanking the attendant who had quickly returned with his
gear. Then you also need me to add weight to a second delegation to
High Reaches?” If you feel you can turn Jamson’s opinion?” Azury
stamped into his boots. That one’s just perverse enough to hold out,
but we’ll see. Tashvi, Bastom and Franco are involved, and I know
Paulin is agitated . . . Who does that leave?
Richud of Ista? Well, he will go along with a majority.” He rose.
Now, let’s leave before I swim in my own sweat – Azury interviewed each
of the fourteen refugees still housed in Benden Weyr as unfit to be
transferred elsewhere. He then had a chat with three of the guards.
Not that they were in a chatting mood, he said, his light blue eyes
vivid with anger in his tanned face, but they may soon have second
thoughts on how much their loyalty is worth to Lord Chalkin.
They do claim,’ and, as he grinned, his teeth were very white against
his skin, that they were outnumbered by the influx of so many ranting,
raving maniacs and had to use force to restrain them until they could
receive orders from the Hold.
That conflicts with what the ranting, raving maniacs say, doesn’t it?”
M’shall replied.
Oh, indeed,’ Azury agreed, grinning without humour. And I do wonder
that the guards came out of the ranting and raving mass unscathed while
all of the maniacs seem to have a variety of injuries.
Clearly the truth is being pulled in many directions.
But it lies there, limpid as usual, to the eye that sees and the ear
that hears.” Well said,’ Bridgely nodded.
So let’s speak with Richud.” It was harder to find the Lord Holder of
Ista because he had taken the afternoon off to fish – his favourite
occupation.
The harbour master was unable to give any specific direction for a
search.
The dolphins went with him circle your dragon, and see can he spot
them? Small sloop with a red sail but a lot of dolphins. Richud claims
they understand him. He may be right,’ and the elderly man scratched
his head, gflnning with amusement at the notion.
They do – according to the records, Azury said. My fishers always
watch out for them in the Currents.
Wal, as you wish,’ the Harbourmaster said and went back to his tedious
accounting of creel weights lifted ashore the previous seven days.
Craigath flew his passengers in a high-altitude circle, spiralling
outwards from Ista Harbour. It was he who spotted the craft and, with
mighty use of his pinions, dived for it.
Despite the broad safety band securing him to his position, Azury
grabbed frantically at Bridgely who was sitting in front of him and
Bridgely worried lest his own grip bruise the dragon rider
M’shall merely turned his head to grin back at them. The words he spoke
– for his mouth moved – were lost in the speed of their descent.
Bridgely watched the sea coming nearer and nearer and arched himself
slightly backwards.
He’d ridden often enough not to be alarmed by dragon antics, but never
at such an angle or speed. He tightened his hold on his safety straps