enthusiasm. But he caught the paroxysm of almost uncontrollable
shivering which lantine could not hide.
Hey, man, you’re cold.
I can’t seem to stop shivering, for all that I’m on top of the fire,’
and lantine had to surrender to the shaking.
TIS HA lantine was embarrassed by Waine’s bellow for assistance, but
he didn’t resist when he was bundled back into his quarters and the
medic summoned while Tisha ordered more furs, hot water-bottles,
aromatics to be steeped in hot water to make breathing easier. He made
no resistance to the medication that was immediately prescribed for him
because, by then, his head had started to ache. So did his bones.
The last thing he remembered before he drifted off to an uneasy sleep
was what Maranis, the medic, said to Tisha.
Let’s hope they all have it at Bitra for giving it to him!” Much later
Leopol told him that Tisha had stayed by his bedside three nights while
he burned of the mountain fever he had caught, compounding his illness
by exposure on the cold slopes. Maranis felt that the old woodsman
might be a carrier for the disease: himself immune, but able to transmit
the fever.
lantine was amazed to find his mother there when he woke from the fever.
Her eyes were red with crying and she burst into tears again when she
realized he was no longer delirious.
Leopol also told him that Tisha had insisted she be sent for when his
fever lasted so long.
To lantine’s astonishment, his mother didn’t seem as pleased to receive
the transfer fee as he was to give it.
Your life isn’t worth the fee,’ she told him finally when he was afraid
she was displeased with the missing eighth mark he’d had to give the
woodsman. And he nearly killed you for that eighth.” He’s a good lad
you have for a son,’ Tisha said with an edge to her voice, working that
hard to earn money from Chalkin.
Oh yes,’ his mother hastily agreed as she suddenly realized she ought
to be more grateful. Though why ever you sought to please that old
skinflint is beyond me.
The fee was right,’ lantine said weakly.
Don’t take on so, now, Ian,’ Tisha said when his mother had to return
to the sheep hold She was far more worried about you than about the
marks. Which shows her heart’s in the right place. Worry makes people
act odd, you know.” She patted lantine’s shoulder. She wanted to take
you home and nurse you there,’ she went on reassuringly.
But couldn’t risk your lungs in the cold of between. I don’t think she
liked us taking care of you!” She grinned. Mothers never trust others,
you know.
lantine managed a grin back at Tisha. I guess that’s it.” It was
Leopol who restored lantine’s peace of mind.
You gotta real nice mother, you know,’ he said, sitting on the end of
the bed. Worried herself sick about leaving until P’tero promised to
convey her again if you took any turn for the worst. She’d never ridden
a dragon before.
lantine chuckled. No, I don’t think she has. Must have frightened
her.
Not as much,’ and now Leopol cocked a slightly dirty finger at the
artist, as you being so sick she had to be sent for. But she was
telling P’tero how happy your father would be to have those marks you
earned. Real happy. And she near deafened P’tero, shouting about how
she’d always known you’d be a success, and to get the whole fee out of
Chalkin was quite an achievement.
She did?” lantine perked up. His mother had been bragging about him?
She did indeed,’ Leopol said, giving an emphatic nod to his head.
Leopol seemed to know a great deal about a lot of matters in the Weyr.
He also never seemed to mind being sent on errands as lantine made a
slow convalescence.
Master Domaize paid him a visit, too. And it was Leopol w.h?
told the convalescent why the Master had made such a visit.
That Lord Chalkin sent a complaint to Master Domaize that you had
skived out of the Hold without any courtesy and he was seriously