backbone next time they’re chivvied and more pride in what they do.
They’ve also asked for ground-crew training.” Nothing like losing
something – however briefly – to make you value what you have,’ Thea
said. On the practical side, though, I think High Reaches can supply
some basic items.
Anyone organizing that?” She glanced about at others in the group.
D’you have numbers yet?” Actually we do,’ Zulaya said, including Irene
in her nod.
Three hundred and forty-two – no, forty-three with that premature baby.
It’s very good of you to offer, Thea.” Thea snorted. I’ve reread the
Charter, too, and know my duty to my fellow creatures. You wouldn’t
also happen to know how many poor wretches hold in Bitra?” M’shall had
that answer. Of course, you can’t tell if Chalkin doctored the last
census or not, but he’s supposed to have 24,657 inhabitants.” Really?”
Ziilaya was surprised.
But then, Bitra’s one of the smaller holds and doesn’t have any
indigenous industry – apart from some forestry. The 5 down to what’s
needed locally. There’re a few looms , but no great competition for
Keroon or Benden.
And the gaming,’ Thea added with a disgusted sniff.
That’s Chalkin’s main industry.” Well, he’s lost a lot on this
gamble,’ Zulaya said.
Has he?” K’vin wanted to know.
ie second trial was almost anticlimactic. Gardner again :nted the seven
defendants accused of allegedly causgrievous bodily harm and death’ to
five innocent men and While Gardner again stipulated that the men had
only been ing orders to restrain by any means’ anyone trying to s the
border out of Bitra Hold, their putative domicile, it claimed that
unnecessarily severe restraint had been used caused the deaths of
persons who should not have been ied lawful’ exit, this being a
usurpation of their basic “tered Right to freedom of movement.
The subsequent mutilation and/ or torture of the seven, the prosecution
said, was not inherent in the order to restrain by any means’. Chalkin
had no right to take the lives of any holders without due cause and/ or
trial by jury.
The day’s jury retired and, within half an hour, unanimously rendered a
verdict of guilty. The men were sentenced to be transported by
dragon back to the eastern islands with a seven-day supply of food, which
was the customary punishment for murderers.
Are there many on the islands?” Thea asked. I mean, there have been
others sequestered there. Even families, I read, but that was years
ago.” Zulaya shrugged. Telgar’s never had to take anyone there, so I
wouldn’t know.
Benden hasn’t, Irene said, at least not as long as we’ve been Leaders.
My father sent two,’ Paulin said. And I do believe that both Ista and
Nerat have sent killers there.” Chalkin did, too,’ Gallian surprised
them by saying. About four years ago. I don’t know where I heard
about them. Some sort of real trouble down in his Hold, and he had Ista
transport them since the men originated from that Hold.
Oh, I remember now,’ Irene said. M’shall only mentioned he was glad he
hadn’t had to do the transport.
Maybe we should send Chalkin’s men there when they can travel,’ Zulaya
suggested.
No, let him see that we won’t tolerate his methods of Holding,’ Irene
said, her tone implacable. Maybe he’ll come to his senses.
That’ll be the day!” Zulaya said facetiously.
When snow had melted sufficiently to allow any travel out of Bitra,
Chalkin did send another blistering note of protest to Paulin, making it
plain that he intended to demand compensation at the Turn’s End Conclave
for the ritual disfigurement of men only doing their duty’. This time,
however, an elderly green rider collected the message when the urgent
banner was seen flying from the panel heights of Bitra Hold. F’tol
endured a long harangue from Chalkin that letter had better be
delivered, that dragon riders were parasites on the face of Pern, that
there’d be some changes made or . . . F’tol was neither intimidated
nor impressed.
Stoically he took the letter and responsibly delivered it.
Whether Chalkin knew, or cared, that the refugees had been returned to
their holdings was not known. F’tol was reasonably sure that would have