The runner-beast was, however, a very smooth-gaited, powerful creature with a habit of charging on ahead, so that Robinton’s escort were hard put to keep up with him. Gradually, he got the trick of dealing with Big Black and they came to an understanding – largely encouraged by the sweetener which Robinton would offer the animal when he had reached the saddle unscathed. But reining
him in was another story: the trip went faster than perhaps the healer could have wished, and Robinton was almost faint with relief when he saw the children playing on the front court of Ruatha Hold.
The journey was seven days of hard travel. If Robinton regretted the absence of dragon wings, he knew more now about this area than he previously had – information that might prove valuable.
The way into Ruatha Hold was appallingly open. He would have to incite Lord Kale to post guards, raise beacons and alert the outlying cots and holds, in case Fax had his eye on this prosperous Hold.
“Surely there must have been some good reason behind the captain’s attack on F’lon,” Lord Kale remarked to Robinton as he offered hospitality to the MasterHarper.
He was a tall, slender man with dark hair and grey eyes, but his manner was gentle and it was obvious from the affection in which his stewards held him that he was a good Holder, considerate of his people and painstaking in his dealings with them. That made for contented holders, but it was a frail weapon against a man of Fax’s proven character. Robinton was more fearful than ever.
“If you’d been there, Lord Holder,” said Macester, the leader of the escort, with an earnest scowl of anxiety, “you’d’ve known it was no accident, and we’re lucky the MasterHarper wasn’t killed too. Giffien was out to do as much damage as he could. And then try to snake his way out of banishment.”
“Heat of the moment.” Kale smiled patronizingly.
Just then a small girl, her wide grey eyes immediately establishing her as Kale’s daughter, toddled up to him, holding her arms out.
“Ah, Lessa, not now, pet.” But he picked her up and carried her to the door, where her attendant arrived to take her away.
She kicked and screamed, straining backwards so that Robinton saw the thin face and the immense eyes, framed by a tangle of dark curly hair.
” Spirited at just four Turns,” said Kale with an indulgent smile.
“Lord Kale, as MasterHarper of Pern I implore you to follow the examples of the other Lord Holders in the west, to train men to defend this Hold. To set up a border guard with beacons to alert—”
Kale held up his hand, smiling in condescension. “My people are
very busy with ordinary tasks, Master Robinton. It is spring, you know, and we’ve herds to manage and young animals to train to saddle.”
“Did it never occur to you that your fine runner-beasts would be invaluable to Fax when he needs to cover the plains to Telgar?” Robinton said insistently.
“Oh, come now, Master Robinton, he buys our runner-beasts, and that’s good for Ruatha,” Kale replied with a laugh. “More klah?
Surely you have time to stay the night. Ruatha Hold would be honoured.”
Suddenly Robinton wanted to put distance between himself and this trusting fool. He got purposefully to his feet, about to refuse, when he saw the weary look on Macester’s face and the man’s obvious inclination to spend a night in the comfortable surroundings of one of the major Holds.
“And we are extremely grateful for the courtesy,” he said as graciously as he could.
The door to Kale’s private office was still open after his daughter’s entrance and the sounds of a struggle, man against a furious animal, could be heard.
“He’s at it again,” Macester said under his breath as both he and Robinton moved to the door. Kale, curious, followed them out to the broad outer court where Big Black was attempting to take chunks out of the Ruathan who had hold of his reins. Robinton noted wryly that none of the escort had taken charge of the beast.
“That’s a splendid animal,” Kale said, pausing on the top step to take in the scene. “Circle him, Jez,” he called to the handler. “One of Tarathel’s mountain breeds, isn’t he?”