“No,” Jaxom said, surprised at this unexpected confidence. “But then, few people ever mention my parents to me.”
Lessa’s expression became severe. “Now I wonder why I called Fax to mind …” she said, glancing in Toric’s direction and adding, more to herself than to Jaxom and Sharra, “except he was ambitious, too. But Fax made mistakes.”
“Such as taking Ruatha Hold from its rightful Bloodline,” Jaxom said, grunting as he swung the pick.
“That was his worst mistake,” Lessa said with intense satisfaction. Then she noticed Sharra staring at her and smiled. “Which I rectified. Oh, Jaxom, leave off a moment. Your enthusiasm exhausts me.” She mopped at the perspiration on her forehead. “Yes, I think some strong backs will have to be drafted. At least for my mound!” She patted it, almost affectionately. “There’s no telling how deep the covering goes. Perhaps,” the thought amused her, “the mounds aren’t big at all, just so overloaded. We may end up with nothing larger than a wherhole for all our digging.” Jaxom, conscious of Toric’s scrutiny, continued to dig, though his shoulders ached and his hands were hot and stiff with blister.
Just then, Sharra’s two firelizards popped into the air, chirruping at each other as if they didn’t understand what their friend was doing. They dropped lightly to the spot where Sharra had just planted her shovel and, with tremendous energy, they began to dig, their strong forepaws lifting the dirt to either side, their hindquarters pushing it farther out of the way. They had tunneled almost an arm’s length while Lessa, Sharra and Jaxom watched in amazement.
“Ruth? Would you lend us your aid?” Jaxom called.
The white dragon obediently rose from his sunny perch and glided over to his friend, his eyes beginning to whirl more quickly with curiosity.
“Would you mind digging holes for us, Ruth?”
Where? Here? Ruth indicated a spot to the left of the firelizards who had not stopped their efforts.
“I don’t think it matters where, we just want to see what the grass covers!”
No sooner had the other dragonriders seen what Ruth was doing than they called on theirs. Even Ramoth felt inclined to lend her aid, with Lessa giving her every encouragement.
“I wouldn’t have believed it,” Sharra said to Jaxom. “Dragons digging?”
“Lessa wasn’t too proud to dig, was she?”
“We’re people, but they’re dragons!”
Jaxom couldn’t help laughing at her incredulity. “You’ve got a jaundiced view of dragons, living among the Oldtimers’ lazy beasts.” He caught her about the waist, pulling her toward him before he felt her stiffen. He looked in Toric’s direction. “He’s not watching, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“He might not have been,” she pointed skyward, “but his firelizards are. I’d wondered where they were.”
A trio of firelizards, a golden queen and two bronzes, were circling lazily above Jaxom and Sharra.
“So? I’ll just speak to Master Robinton to mediate…”
“Toric has other plans for me …”
“Am I not included in your plans?” Jaxom asked, experiencing sudden shock.
“You know you are, which is why … we loved each other. I wanted you while I could.” Sharra’s eyes were troubled.
“Why should he interfere then? My rank is …” Jaxom took both her hands in his and retained them when she tried to pull away.
“He doesn’t think much of the young Northern men, Jaxom. Not after coping with fairs of younger sons in the past three Turns who are really,” Sharra sounded exasperated, “enough to try the patience of a harper. I know you’re not like them, but Toric …”
“I’ll prove myself to Toric, never fear.” Jaxom brought her hands to his lips, holding her eyes with his, determined by the force of his will to banish the unhappiness in her eyes. “And I’ll do it properly, through Lytol and Master Robinton. You will be my lady, won’t you, Sharra?”
“You know I will, Jaxom. For as long as I can …”
“For as long as we live …” he corrected her, gripping her hands tight enough to make her wince.
“Jaxom! Sharra!” cried Lessa, who had been far too engrossed in Ramoth’s industry to notice their quiet exchange.