He laughed. This venture was scarcely as dangerous as the return of the egg. He and Ruth could go between and return before anyone in Cove Hold was aware of their intention. He took the viewer from its mounting. He’d need this with him. Once he and Ruth were airborne, he’d have to get a good long look at the mountain to find a point to which Ruth could move safely between.
He pivoted on his heel and lurched backward in surprise. Piemur, Sharra and Menolly were standing in a row, watching him.
“Do tell. Lord Jaxom, what you saw in the Seaman’s viewer? A mountain, perhaps?” Piemur asked, showing all his teeth in that smug grin.
On Menolly’s shoulder. Beauty chirped.
“Did he see enough?” Menolly asked Piemur, ignoring Jaxom.
“I’d say he had!”
“He wouldn’t have planned to go without us, would he?” Sharra asked.
They regarded him with mocking expressions.
“Ruth can’t carry four.”
None of you are fat. I could manage, Ruth said.
Sharra laughed, covered her mouth to silence the sound and pointed an accusing finger at him.
“I’ll bet anything Ruth just said he could!” she told the other two.
“I’ll bet you’re right.” Menolly didn’t take her eyes from Jaxom’s face. “I think it really is best if you have some help on this venture.” She drawled the last two words significantly.
“This venture?” Piemur echoed the words, alert as ever to nuances of speech.
Jaxom clenched his teeth, glaring at her. “You’re sure you could carry four?” he asked Ruth.
The dragon emerged on the beach, his eyes glowing with excitement.
I have had to fly straight for many days now. That has made me very strong. None of you are heavy. The distance is not great. We are going to see the mountain?
“Ruth is obviously willing,” Menolly said, “but if we don’t make a move soon …” She gestured toward Cove Hold. “C’mon, Sharra, we’ll get the flying gear.”
“I’ll have to rig flying straps for four.”
“Then do it.” Menolly and Sharra raced off down the sand.
Hunting ropes were handiest and Jaxom and Piemur had them in position when the girls returned with jackets and helmets. Jaxom hefted the Seaman’s viewer and mentally promised that they’d be back so quickly that the man wouldn’t have had time to notice its disappearance.
Ruth did have to strain to get himself off the beach, but once airborne, he assured Jaxom that he was flying easily. He veered southeast as Jaxom focused on the distant peak. Even at this altitude, he could discern no damage in the cone. He lowered the viewer fractionally until, clear and detailed, there was a distinctive ridge in the foreground of the mountain.
Jaxom asked Ruth if he visualized the objective. Ruth assured him he could. And took them between before Jaxom could have second thoughts on this venture. Abruptly, they were above the ridge, gasping. Breathless because of the incredible shock of cold between after months of baking in tropical suns, and because of the spectacular panorama before them.
As Piemur had once said, distance was deceptive. The mountain rose on the shoulders of a high plateau already thousands of dragonlengths above the sea. Far below them a broad sparkling inlet cut high cliffs: grassy on the mountain’s side, densely forested on theirs. To the south, a towering range of mountains, snowcapped and misty in the distance, lay as a barrier east and west.
The mountain, still a good distance from them, dominated the scene.
“Look.” Sharra suddenly pointed to their left, seaward. “More volcanoes. Some are smoking!”
Studding the open sea, a long chain of peak tops bent northeast, some with substantial islands at their feet, others mere cones poking from the water.
“A loan of the viewer, Jaxom?” Piemur took the instrument and peered. “Yes,” he replied casually after a long look, “a couple of them are active. Far out though. No danger.” Then he swung the viewer toward the barrier range, slowly shaking his head after a moment. “It could be the same barrier range I saw in the west.” He sounded dubious. “Take months to get there! And cold!” He turned the viewer in a short arc. “Useful thing, this. That water goes deep inland. Idarolan could likely sail up if he has a mind to.” He handed the viewer back to Jaxom and stared ahead at the mountain.