Playffit, are they? Welt, another time, my friend. We still have work
to do. Sorry about that. The dolphins were tickling Craigath.
Dragons are ticklish?” Bridgely asked, startled.
Their bellies, yes.
Dolphins flowed from under the dragon now, leaping up in the air and
diving neatly back into the water as they sped off after the sloop.
So what do we do now? Beard Jamson again?” asked M’shall, stroking the
bronze’s neck affectionately. He was amused to see that Richud had
retrieved his pole and was evidently baiting his hook.
We’d probably have to drag Jamson down to Benden so he can see for
himself, as you had to, Azury,’ Bridgely said, shivering as he thought
of having to return to the frigid High Reaches.
Take the pictures, suggested Craigath, to his rider’s astonishment.
Dragons did not often offer unsolicited opinions, but then M’shall
considered Craigath very intelligent.
What pictures?” he asked.
Pictures?” echoed Bridgely. What pictures?” Maruth says there are
pictures. At Telgar.
At Telgar?” Oh, that young painter,’ M’shall and Bridgely said in
unison.
What painter?” Azury wanted to know.
Bridgely explained.
Very good idea, if Jamson will accept the proof as genuine, the
Southern Boll Holder said, sceptic ally
Which was exactly what happened.
How can you be sure these are accurate?” asked the High Reaches Lord
Holder when he had leafed through the vivid and detailed drawings on
lantine’s pad. I think the whole matter has been exaggerated out of
all proportion.” He closed the pad halfway on the stark sketch of the
hanging men.
And you won’t even accept my word, Jamson?” Azury said.
I’ve just been there and spoken to these people…” He riffled through
the pages and came to one of a holder he’d interviewed. That fellow,
for instance. I spoke to him myself, and I’ve no trouble accepting the
truth of his story. He was four nights in an animal pen with no food
and only the moisture he could get from snow, with his wife and elderly
parents.
Incidentally, they died of exposure despite all that Benden Weyr could
do to try to revive them.” I do not see why, Azury,’ Jamson said at his
most pompous, you do not content yourself with running your own Hold.
Leave Chalkin to run his. He has the right.” But not the right to
inflict atrocities on any of his people.
Azury’s reply was heated.
Jamson regarded him coldly. A few lazy holders . .
A FEW?” Bridgely exploded in frustration which, even as he did so, he
knew defeated his purpose. A few hundred is more like it, Jamson. And
for that many we should all stir ourselves!” Well, I for one shall not,
Bridgely. And that’s final.” He folded his arms across his chest and
sat there, glaring at his visitors.
Jamson,’ Azury said in a very controlled, calm voice as he pushed
Bridgely to one side and leaned across the desk towards Jamson huddled
in his furs. I, too, was sceptical when Bridgely came to me, unwilling
to believe his report, much less his solution to the problem.
One does not lightly impugn the honour of a peer. and I could not
understand why Bridgely was so agitated over a few insignificant
holders. Then, too, Bitra is too far to affect anything in my Hold.
Though I quite took his point that Thread must not be allowed to burrow
unchecked anywhere on the northern continent. So I conceived that it
was my duty, my responsibility, to personally investigate the
allegations.
I have the witness of my own eyes and ears now. As well as the
disparity between what the guards told me and the evidence of my own
eyes. The Bitran situation is dire and must be rectified. We cannot,
as intelligent, responsible leaders, allow such a situation to fester
and spread. It affects the very roots of our society, the strength of
the Charter, the fundamentals on which this whole society is based. We
cannot ignore it as the internal problem of an autonomous Holding.
You as an honourable Lord Holder owe it to yourself to investigate the
situation. Then you can come to a considered judgment. At least, set
your own doubts to rest by going, as I did, to Benden and gather