“It’s been a joint effort,” Jaxom said, grinning broadly. He hugged her swiftly just once more, relieved that the winter’s uncertainty had given way to spring.
He’d never been busier: managing the Hold and delving into the ancient mysteries of the Plateau and the Ship Meadow whenever he could spare a few hours. Lytol, as Jaxom had hoped, had found himself tremendously involved in the excavations, spending more and more time with the Harper at Cove Hold. With his Confirmation now a certainty, Jaxom had been admitted to the inner councils of the Lord Holders, as much because of his association with Toric as his own rank. Jaxom doubted that Toric would tolerate much more of the conservatism that dominated the Lord Holders’ attitudes to anything. Larad of Telgar Hold, Asgenar of Lemos, Begamon and Sigomel seemed more of Toric’s mind, and Jaxom found himself willing to be ranked with them rather than side with Groghe, Sangel and some of the older men. Some of the old Lord Holders simply didn’t understand the needs of today-nor the call of the vast Southern lands with their infinite variety and challenge.
Today’s formalities were token and excuse for a gathering of Weyr, Craft and Hold, a festival of the end of the cold months of the Turn, a happy day when no Thread fell on any part of Pern.
Lioth landed in the small kitchen courtyard, Ruth backing into his quarters to give the great bronze dragon sufficient space. The Harper slid from his shoulder, waving a thick roll, and N’ton’s crack-faced grin indicated they had news of great import.
“Lessa and F’lar must hear our news, too,” N’ton said, as he and the Harper joined the young Holders. “They’re just coming now.” He signaled Lioth to the fire-heights.
The two men removed their flying jackets, Robinton never relinquishing hold on the roll as he did so. They watched with growing impatience as first golden Ramoth and then bronze Mnementh discharged their passengers and ascended to the fire-heights to join Lioth.
“Well, Harper, Mnementh says you’re bursting with news,” F’lar said, handing Jaxom his flying gear as Sharra assisted Lessa.
“Indeed I am, Benden,” and the Harper exaggerated each syllable, brandishing his roll in emphasis.
“So, what have you here?” Lessa asked.
“Nothing but the key to that colored map in the ship!” the Harper said, grinning at their response. “Piemur figured it out, working with Nicat, because we had the feeling it had something to do with the lay of the land. It does! The rock underneath the land, to be precise.” He was unrolling the map with Lessa and F’lar holding comers. “These dark-brown patches indicate very old rock, in places that have never known earthquake or volcanic action. Never changed from this map to our present ones. The Plateau, shaded here as yellow, obviously had to be abandoned because of the eruption. See, here and here on the south and in Tillek, we have the same coloration. My dear friends, the ancients came to the North, to Fort, Ruatha, Benden, Telgar, because that land was safer from natural disasters!”
“Thread being an unnatural disaster?” Lessa asked in a droll voice.
“I prefer to cope with my disasters one at a time,” F’lar said. “Being attacked from the ground and the air would be a bit much!”
“Then Nicat and Piemur have also deduced where the ancients discovered metals, black water and black stone. The deposits are clearly marked both North and South! We’ve already worked many of the Northern mines.”
“More in the South?” F’lar asked, deeply interested. “Show me!”
Robinton pointed to half a dozen small markings. “How rich the deposits are is not yet known but I’m sure Nicat will tell us soon enough. He and Piemur make a potent team.”
“How many mines are in Toric’s Hold?” F’lar asked.
N’ton chuckled. “No more than he’s already discovered and produced. There’re far more to be worked in dragonrider country,” he said, tapping the southeast. “When this Pass is over, I think I’ll turn miner!”
“When this Pass is over …” F’lar echoed the words, his eyes catching the Harper’s, suddenly aware that neither of them were likely to see that moment.