well-anaesthetized injuries. She was a good girl until they come. A
good biddable girl!” Tashvi gestured peremptorily to the two litter-men
to take the man out. Then he turned back to the Weyrleaders.
I did approve the new mine, and Boris and Ganmar as owners, but I’d no
idea that Lavel was in any way involved.
He’s a troublemaker from way back,’ Tashvi said, absently shifting his
feet on the hot sands.
Zulaya gestured for them all to leave the Hatching Ground.
Despite the extra lining she’d put in her boots this morning, she was
uncomfortable standing there, and Tashvi was wearing light pull-ons.
And it’s not that he doesn’t have other daughters,’ said Salda, taking
her husband’s arm to speed up his progress.
He’s got upwards of a dozen children and had two wives already.
At the rate he’s been making these arrangements of his, he’ll have
himself sufficient land among his relatives to start his own Hold. Not
that anyone in their right mind would want him as a Lord Holder.” They
paused outside the Ground now. Adroitly, Zulaya and K’vin chose a
position so that they could also keep a weather eye on the newly-hatched
who, with the help of their riders, were rapidly devouring the piles of
cut meat prepared for their initial feeding.
Debera’s situation was unusual. Most families were glad enough to have
a child chosen on Search, because of the advantages of having a
dragon rider in the family: the combination of the prestige accrued to
the Bloodline as well as the availability of transport.
F F
Listening to the vitriol in Lavel’s criticism of Weyr life upset both
Weyrleaders and Lord Holders. It was true that certain customs and
habits had been developed in the Weyrs to suit dragon needs, but
promiscuity was certainly not encouraged.
In fact, there was a very strictly observed code of conduct within the
Weyr. There might not be formal union contracts but no rider reneged on
his word to a woman, nor failed to make provision for any children of
the pairing. And few Weyrbred children, reaching puberty, left the Weyr
for the grand parental holds even if they failed to Impress.
Right now, the festivities had already started in the Main Cavern, with
the instrumentalists playing a happy tune, one that reflected the
triumph of a successful Hatching. Although the new riders were still
feeding their dragons or settling them into the weyrling barracks, once
the sated drago nets fell asleep the new dragon men and women would join
their relatives.
Zulaya wondered if she should remind Lavel that the female riders were
housed separately from the males. He obviously had no idea at all how
much care a new dragonet required from its human. Most days the
weyrlings fell into bed too exhausted to do anything BUT sleep. And had
to be rousted out of their bunks by the Weyrlingmaster when they failed
to respond to their hungry dragons’ summonses.
The young lad, Ganmar, sulked, looking decidedly uncomfortable in his
present situation. Zulaya doubted that his heart was the least bit
broken by this turn of events. Of course, if he had to work with that
father of his building a new hold, maybe a pretty girl to bed at night
would have been a major compensation.
What I should like to know,’ Salda was saying, is why Debera arrived
here so late, on her own and with you evidently in hot pursuit.
You realize, of course,’ and the stern expression in Salda’s eyes was
one Zulaya knew well, that we – Lord Tashvi and I – would not be at all
pleased to find that Debera has been denied her holder rights.
Holder?” Lavel snorted and then moaned as the injudicious movement
caused him pain. She’ll not be a holder now, will she?
She’ll be lost to us for ever, she will.” And any chance of bagging her
legal land allotment,’ Salda said with mock remorse. Lavel growled and
tried to turn away from the Lady Holder. You’ve claimed more than most
as it is. I trust Gisa is in good health? Or have you got yet another
child on her? You’ll wear her out the same as you did Milla, you know.