himself. Now, give me your requirements straight. But to ease your
mind, if you’d finish off this,’ and the pencil end tapped the montage,
in water colour, I’m ready to give you two marks for it.
Oh, and I’d like this one of T’dam giving his lecture…” he added,
flipping to that page. That’!! show some folks that dragon riders do
niething beyond glide about the skies. A mark and a half for that But.
. but. . . lantine floundered, trying to organize his t1’oughts as
well as his needs. Debera was grinning from ear to ear and so was her
dragon. I’ve no water colours with me he began, wishing to indicate
his willingness to finish the inontage.
Ah, but I just happen to have some, which is why I suggested them,’
said Jo! beaming again. Really, this meeting is most serendipitous,’
he added, and his smile included Debera. And this,’ he touched the
montage again in a very proprietary fashion, coloured up a bit and with
glass to protect it, will look very good indeed in my wagon office.
Indeed it will Advertising, I believe the ancestors called it.” Ah,
Master Jo!?” called someone from one of the trade wagons. A moment of
your time – – I’ll be back, lad, just you stay there. You, too,
Debera. I’ve not finished with the pair of you yet, so I haven’t.” As
lantine and Debera exchanged stunned looks, he trotted off to see what
was required of him, tucking the pencil behind his ear again and folding
up his pad as he went.
I don’t believe him,’ lantine said, shaking his head, feeling weak and
breathless.
Are you all right?” Debera asked, leaning across the table to him.
Gob-smacked,’ lantine told her, remembering a favourite expression of
his father’s. Completely gob-smacked!” Debera grinned knowingly. I
think I am, too. I never expected –Neither did I!’ Why? Don’t you
trust traders?” Leopol asked, sounding slightly defensive.
lantine gave a shaky laugh. One can trust traders. It’s just I never
expected such generosity . – How long were you in Bitra?” Debera asked
tartly, giving a long look.
Long enough,’ lantine said, grimacing, to learn new meanings to the
word “satisfactory”‘ Debera gave him a little frown.
Never mind,’ he said, shaking his head and patting her hand.
And thank you very much for introducing me to your cousin.
Once he saw that sketch, you really didn’t need me,’ she remarked,
almost shyly.
I believe you ordered these,’ said a baritone voice. Rider and artist
looked up in astonishment as a trader deposited an armful of items on
the table: two pads, one larger than the other, a neat square box which
held a full glass bottle of ink, a sheaf of pens and a parcel of
pencils. Special delivery.” With a grin, he pivoted and went back the
way he had come.
Master Jo! does pride himself on his quick service,’ Leopol said with
a wide grin.
There now! You’re all set,’ said Debera.
I am indeed,’ and the words came out of lantine like a prayer.
Lord Paulin’s message to the other Lords Holder and Weyrleaders received
a mixed reception: not everyone was in favour of impeachment, despite
the evidence presented.
Paulin was both annoyed and frustrated, having hoped for a unanimous
decision so that Chalkin could be removed before his Hold was totally
demoralized.
Jamson and Azury felt that the matter could wait until the Turn’s End
Council meeting: Jamson was known to be conservative, but Paulin was
surprised by Azury’s reservations. Those who lived in tropical zones
rarely understood the problems of winter weather. To be sure, it would
be more difficult to prepare Bitra Hold in full winter, which was
Azury’s stated concern, but some progress could be made to prepare the
Hold for the vernal onslaught of Threadfall.
Preparations ought to have begun – as in every other Hold two years ago:
larger crops sowed, harvests stored and general maintenance done on
buildings and arable lands, as well as Fort Hold and Bitran Borders –
Early Winter VI
the construction of emergency shelters on the main roads and for ground
crews. Not to mention training holders how to combat Thread burrows.