His advice caused the soldiery to reconsider their positions.
They could scarcely fail to understand that Fax’s protection had died with him. Most of them looked worried and glanced anxiously about the Hall.
“B’rant, B’refli,” Robinton said, picking out riders whose names he knew, “accompany them to the barracks so they can pack. I suppose the runners have had enough of a rest to go through the night. At least as far as the Nabol border.” Then he turned to K’net.
“How long do you think it will take Lord Groghe’s men to make it here?”
“Not long,” K’net said amiably. “Of course we riders could go and get a few if we needed them.” He made to signal F’nor, who was walking towards the door.
“We’ll go,” the underleader said.
“I’d like you to send someone to collect Bargen from the High Reaches Weyr,” Robinton said to F’nor, who was staring at him.
“He’s the legitimate heir to that Hold, and we’ll have to see if there’s any of the Bloodlines left alive in the other ones Fax took over.”
“I didn’t know he survived,” F’nor said, surprised.
“I’ve a list of where the other survivors got to,” Nip said. “Oterel at Tillek Hold has given refuge to several, you know.”
“No, I didn’t, but it’s like him. We’ve a lot of work to do, then, haven’t we?” Robinton smiled happily at the thought. One hold, one holder. That point had been well proven over the past turns.
He hoped it could be a moral lesson for a long time. “And we must do something about—’ He stopped, realizing that Fax’s dead body had already been removed from the Hall.
“First thing I had my fellow drudges do,” Nip said. “They took an uncommon pleasure in dumping him into the midden. In the old days, he could have been left out for Thread to dissolve. Neater that way.” Then he added, as the MasterHarper shuddered, “Well, that was a deterrent, you know.”
A hungry wail alerted them to another problem which required an immediate solution.
“And a wet-nurse for the new young Lord of Ruatha Hold,” Robinton said, trying to remember if there were any nursing women back at Harper Hall. The others regarded him blankly.
“I doubt any female here has succour for him, and I intend to keep the babe alive since he had such trouble getting here,” Robinton said.
“We’ll find one, somewhere,” F’nor said firmly.
“Get Tuck to send another message,” Nip suggested.
Before they could start that search, F’lar appeared on the steps, racing down them. “Has that creature come this way?” he demanded, catching F’nor by the arm. F’nor seemed to know that F’lar was referring to the drudge.
“No. Is she the source of power, after all?” F’nor was astonished.
“Yes, she is.” F’lar looked angrily about him. “And of Ruathan Blood, at that!”
Robinton grinned with intense satisfaction.
“Oh-ho, does she depose the babe then?” F’nor asked, gesturing to the birthing-woman who occupied a seat close to the blazing hearth.
F’lar looked blank, his body half-turned to go about his search for the missing Lessa. “Babe? What babe?”
“The male child Lady Gemma bore,” F’nor replied, surprised by
F’lar’s uncomprehending look.
“It lives?”
“Yes, a strong babe, the woman says, for all that he was premature and taken forcibly from the dead dame’s belly.”
F’lar threw back his head with a shout of laughter. Then they all heard Mnementh’s roar, followed by the curious warble of the other dragons.
“Mnementh has caught her,” the bronze rider cried, grinning with jubilation. He strode down the steps and into the darkness of the main court.
Robinton could just see the huge bulk of the bronze dragon, settling awkwardly on to his hind legs, his wings working to keep him balanced. Carefully Mnementh set the girl on her feet and formed a cage around her with his huge talons. Robinton could see that she was facing the wedge-shaped head that swayed above her.
Not afraid of a thing, that one, the MasterHarper thought, and wisely he decided to let F’lar handle the interview with the recaptured Lady of Ruatha.
The two fragments of bread that he’d managed to eat were insufficient to calm his growling stomach, and for once hunger got the better of his harperly curiosity. There had to be something edible on that roast carcass, and he meant to have it before he expired of starvation. Besides, F’lar had better learn to handle the girl now, before she Impressed a queen. Then he grinned to himself.