and turned his face away. You’ve done her proud, lantine. Proud.”
She’s easy. She’s beautiful,’ lantine said.
Yes, isn’t she?” Something about the tone of his voice made lantine
wonder at such a response. They were Weyrleaders, together, weren’t
they? They always made such a stance of a good partnership.
But lantine was getting as good at hearing things that weren’t expressed
as he was at seeing all that could be seen. Not his place to comment,
though, despite a growing admiration for K’vin as Weyrleader.
Zulaya was a bit reserved, he knew from having spent so much time
painting her, but she was much older than lantine. And older than
K’vin, too, for that matter.
That gown was perfect for her,’ lantine remarked to break an awkward
silence.
Yes, she had it made for the last Hatching,’ K’vin said and the smile
he turned towards lantine was easy, relaxed.
lantine wondered if all he’d seen that morning hadn’t skewed his
judgment. They were at the weyr stairs now and climbed up. At the top
of the steep flight, lantine was glad he wasn’t even out of breath.
You’re in good shape,’ K’vin said, with another friendly slap to his
back to push him on into the high-ceilinged entrance to the weyr.
I’d need to be, wouldn’t I?” lantine replied with a droll laugh.
He paused briefly, his eyes seeking the weyrlings at the lake. Yes,
Debera was there, oiling Morath. He’d have a chance to talk to her
later: maybe even take dinner with her and show her Chalkin’s portrait
before he made the changes.
Could he, he wondered as he watched K’vin change into the Gather clothes
he wore for his portrait, add to that face what went on in that man’s
miserable soul? Was he good enough to attempt such a portrayal?
Amid all the frantic preparations for Turn’s End, Clisser braved S’nan’s
displeasure to request transport to the Telgar Engineering Hall to
discuss the feasibility of the Stonehenge installation for Pern’s
purposes. Well, Clisser kept his request to a need to discuss something
vital with Kalvi since S’nan felt such bells, whistles and signals
should be unnecessary if the Weyrs were kept on their toes during
Intervals.
Jemmy had meticulously drawn a replica of the prehistoric stone circle,
plus another of a reconstruction of what it had originally looked like,
and such description as might be valuable to Kalvi and his team.
Kalvi took one quick, almost derisive glance at the drawings, and then a
second, more respectful one.
Eye Rock? Finger Rock? Solstice?” He gave Clisser a broad smile. I
do believe it will suffice and rather neatly.” Then he frowned.
Couldn’t you have given me a little more time? Solstice is only two
weeks offI Clisser began.
Sorry, friend,’ Kalvi said with a self-deprecating smile, you’d be
busy with rehearsing and all that. Hmmm. Just leave it with me. I
think we can contrive something and he riffled through Jemmy’s sketches.
Hmmm, yes, the lad has real talent.
Don’t you dare seduce him away from the College,’ Clisser said,
assembling as fierce a frown on his face as he gave to wayward students.
Kalvi grinned, pretending to recoil in terror but his eyes were on the
drawings. We’ll manage.” He gave an exaggerated sigh. It’s what
we’re good at.” Clisser left, reassured that he would not fail the
Conclave on this matter.
Turn 5 End at Fort Hold and Telgar Weyr Traditionally the Lords Holder
and the Weyrleaders and the invited heads of the various Professions –
met in Conclave the day beftre Turn’s End – the Winter Solstice – to
discuss what matters should be brought to those who would assemble for
the festivities. Should a referendum figure on the agenda, its details
would have been previously circulated. It would also be read out that
evening in every main Hold and Hall. If voting was required, votes were
cast the morning of the First Day of Turn’s End, the results counted and
returned to the second traditional sitting of the Conclave on the day
after Turn’s End, when the New Year started.
The tradition was even more important in this 258th year after Landing