His leg went to sleep twice under the table; and when Kasia had to leave briefly to use a facility, she limped the first few steps from cramp. Brashia and Merelan went with her, reassuring Robinton -who couldn’t bear her out of his sight – that she’d be fine with them.
As soon as the meal had been served to the main guests and the Lord Holders, those who wished to pay for their meal took places at the tables. Many dispersed to wander about the booths and enjoy the fine weather.
The singing continued in a less formal fashion, as background entertainment.
“Restless, love?” Kasia murmured when she caught Rob’s fingers drumming the rhythm.
“Oh, no, no, just habit,” he said. “Nothing can make me leave your side. Not today or ever.”
“We will dance later though, won’t we?” she asked, making her eyes wide and innocent.
“Of course. All night …”
“Not all night,” she murmured back, a sensual smile curving her lips. And then she giggled at his expression.
Dance they did, and Robinton was only going to allow Lord Melongel, her father and Groghe to partner her. He was furious with F’lon’s teasing.
“Don’t be annoyed with him,” Kasia said, serious for a moment.
“He is so fond of you, and I suspect all that foolery of his covers a far more serious problem he can’t – won’t – talk about.” She grinned. “The way he sighs, I’d say he might be in love.”
“F’lon?” Robinton was surprised. The idea put a different complexion on F’lon’s behaviour and Robinton regretted that he hadn’t been more sympathetic. He had seen F’lon looking very thoughtful and worried between his bouts of nonsense. Today was not the day for him to enquire what bothered his friend, but he’d find time tomorrow. Then he reminded himself that he and Kasia weren’t likely to encounter F’lon on the morrow.
So he permitted the bronze rider to dance with Kasia and while he watched them dance, he spoke to Simanith.
What is troubling my friend F’lon, Simanith?
There was silence for so long that Robinton wondered if the dragon had heard him at all.
I hear. I do not know. Sometimes he doesn’t tell me everything.
Simanith’s tone, so like his rider’s, sounded wistful and anxious.
He thinks a lot about Larna and he’s not happy.
Larua? The name sounded vaguely familiar, but it took Robinton
most of the dance to remember: Larua had been an annoying little child, the old Weyrwoman’s daughter. F’lon had got into trouble with Carola, and his Weyr, over the way he treated the little girl.
But little girls grow up. Robinton liked to think that this Larua had grown up into so pretty a girl that F’lon had lost his heart to her.
But then, lovers always wanted others to be in love, too.
Robinton sighed, and went off to claim Kasia for himself for the rest of the evening.
They managed to steal away unnoticed during one of the popular slow dances, and made it unencumbered out of the glow-lit dancing square and to the extraordinarily quiet Hold. For a Gather, even the old aunties and uncles were out enjoying themselves, and all the kitcheners and drudges with them.
“Look!” Kasia pointed to the heights, where twin globes of lightly whirling green showed them that Simanith was on watch.
She waved, and was startled when the bronze dragon blinked.
“Make no mistake, the dragon can see everything that’s going on,” Robinton said. He waved too, and laughed when Simanith blinked again.
“Does he know what’s troubling F’lon?” Kasia asked.
“He should, if anyone does,” he replied. “But he doesn’t.”
Then they were inside the Hold, most of the glowbaskets thriftily shut, just enough half-open to show them the way to the stairs.
“You must take Clostan with you the next time you buy clothes,” she told him as they hurried up the stairs to their level.
“When I’ve you to help me choose now?” He snorted at the very prospect of having anyone else.
They had to save their breath for the stairs and arrived, panting and gasping, at the top, Kasia giggling as Robinton handed her into their room, then firmly closed and locked the door. Not even F’lon would have the nerve to bother them here.