“Yes, and N’ton was to collect me,” Fandarel said, “but not for an hour yet or more. I was dragged from my couch by F’nor …”
“And Southern is in Telgar’s time area. Good! However, I want a copy of this map. Which of you three can we best spare today?” he asked.
“Jaxom!” the Harper said quickly. “He copies neatly and when the rider came for Sharra last evening, Jaxom had gone to Ruatha. Besides, it is wise to keep Ruth apart. The local firelizards will bear him company here and not chatter to Toric’s trio.”
The matter was quickly decided and Jaxom left with copying materials and all the glows. A screen of branches was contrived to hide the opening from any chance observer. Ruth was asked to entice the local firelizards to him and hopefully get them to nap. Because the morning’s exertions had tired Ruth, he was quite willing to curl up in the sun and sleep. The others departed to Cove Hold and Jaxom began to copy this peculiarly significant map.
As he worked, he tried to figure out why it had so pleased the Weyrleaders and Master Robinton. To be sure, it was a gift to know the extent of Southern without having to walk it all.
Was that it? Of course. Toric didn’t know how large the Southern Continent was! And now the Weyrleaders did. Jaxom regarded the Hold peninsula, estimating how much Toric and his holdless men had managed to explore. Never could Toric, even with his Hold swollen by younger sons from every Hold and cothold in Northern Pern, explore this vast continent. Why, even if he tried to Hold as far as the Western Range in the south, to the Great Bay in the west … Jaxom smiled, so pleased with his deduction that he nearly smeared the line he was drawing. Should he mark in the Great Bay as they now knew it, or copy the old map faithfully? Yes, it was this one that mattered. And when Toric finally saw it … Jaxom chuckled, imagining with intense pleasure the chagrin which Toric would feel at first sight.