been in his brief encounter with the Lord Holder of Bitra.
lantine returned with the last group, letting his hand rest only in
between, sketching as they flew, propping his pad against P’tero’s back.
You haven’t stopped a moment,’ P’tero shouted over his shoulder.
You’ll freeze your hand up here, you know.” lantine waved it to prove
its flexibility and continued to sketch. He was adding details to the
men who had been hung by their heels and used in target practice. The
men had been cut down – one of the first things the rescuers had done.
lantine had only had time enough to do an outline but the details –
despite all the other sketches he had made that day – were vivid in his
mind’s eye, and he had to get every one down on paper or he would feel
he had betrayed them.
When the young blue rider deposited him in front of the Lower Cavern,
lantine, still filling in substance, managed to get himself to a table
near enough the fire to get the good of the warmth – and increase the
fluidity of his drawing. His fingers gradually thawed and his pencil
raced faster.
A touch on his shoulder startled him half out of his chair.
It’s Debera,’ and the green rider placed klah and a bowl of stew in
front of him. Everyone else has eaten. You’d better,’ she said
severely, wrenching the pencil out of one hand and taking the pad from
the other. You look awful, she added, peering closely at his face.
He reached for his pad but she slapped at his hand, swinging it out of
his reach.
No, you eat first. You’ll draw better for it. Oh, my word!” Her eye
was caught by the scene and her free hand went to her mouth, her eyes
widening in shock. Oh, they couldn’t have.
I sketched what I saw,’ he said, exhaling in a remorse that came from
his guts and then inhaling the tantalizing odour emanating from the
stew. He looked down at it, thick with vegetables and chunks of meat.
They really could do miracles with wherry here. He picked up the spoon
and began to eat, only then realizing how empty his stomach was. It
almost hurt receiving food, and that nearly made him stop eating
altogether. Chalkin’s prisoners had been without food for three or four
days.
They’re all fed now,’ Debera murmured.
lantine gave her a startled glance and she patted his shoulder
reassuringly, as she often patted her Morath.
I felt the same way when I ate earlier on.” She sat down across from
him. We’d been going flat out to feed them when Tisba made us all stop
to get something to eat, too.” She started turning the pages of his
book, the look on her face becoming more and more distressed at each new
scene of the tragedy. How could he?” lantine reached over and gently
pulled the sketch-pad from her, setting it down, closed, between them.
He gave the orders lantine began.
And knew just what would happen when he did, I know.
I’ve met some of his . . . “guards”. Even my father wouldn’t have
one about the hold.” She tapped the pad. No-one can ignore that sort
of evidence.” lantine gave a snort. Not with dragon riders verifying
what’s in here!” He finished the last of the stew and stretched out his
legs under the table, scrubbing at his face, still tingling with his
long hours in the unremitting cold of the border crossing.
Go to bed, why don’t you, lantine?” Debera said, rising.
She glanced around the cavern, which was occupied by only a few riders
and folk finishing their evening meal. They’ve all been sorted out and
you’!] be lucky if you have your room to yourself. But I’d better get
some sleep, too. That Morath of mine! She wakes positively starved, no
matter how much I give her.
lantine smiled at the affection that softened Debera’s voice.
He got to his feet, swaying slightly. You’re right. I need sleep.
Good night, Debera.” He watched her, striding purposefully out of the
cavern, observing the proud tilt to her head and set of her shoulders.