Robinton relived briefly the compound terror he had experienced during the egg’s absence. He winced thinking of Lessa’s fury. She was still likely to arouse the Northern dragonriders. She was quite capable of sustaining the unthinking frenzy that had all but dominated the events of the morning. If she continued in her demand for vengeance against the guilty Southerners, it could be as much a disaster for Pern as the first Threadfall had been.
The egg had been returned. Robinton clung to the comforting fact that it was apparently unharmed despite its aging in that elapsed subjective time. Lessa could choose to make its condition an issue. And, if the egg did not hatch an unimpaired queen, there was no doubt in Robinton’s mind that Lessa would insist on retribution.
But the egg had been returned! He must drum in that fact, must emphasize that obviously not all Southerners had been party to this heinous action. Some Oldtimers still honored the old codes of conduct. No doubt one of them had been perceptive enough to guess what punitive action would be launched against the criminals and wished, as fervently as Robinton, to avoid such a confrontation.
“This is indeed a black moment,” someone with a deep sad voice said. The Harper turned, grateful for the sane support of the Mastersmith. Fandarel’s heavy features were etched with worry and, for the first time, Robinton noticed the puffiness of age blurring the man’s features, yellowing his eyes. “Such perfidy must be punished-and yet it cannot be!”
The thought of dragon fighting dragon again seared Robinton’s mind with terror. “Too much would be lost!” he said to Fandarel.
“They have already lost all they had, being sent into exile. I often wondered why they didn’t rebel before.”
“They have now. With a vengeance.”
“To be met with more vengeance. My friend, we must keep our wits today as never before. I fear Lessa may be unreasonable and unthinking. Already she has let emotion dominate common sense.” The Smith indicated the leather patch on Robinton’s shoulder where his firelizard, Zair, customarily perched. “Where is your little friend now?”
“Brekke’s weyr with Grall and Berd. I wanted him to return to the Harpercrafthall with Menolly, but he refused.”
The Smith shook his great head again in sad slow sweeps as the two men entered the Council Chamber.
“I do not have a firelizard myself but I know only good of the little creatures. I never occurred to me that they constituted any threat for anyone.”
“You will support me in this then, Fandarel?” asked Brekke, who had entered behind them with F’nor. “Lessa is not herself. I do really understand her anxiety but she cannot be allowed to damn all firelizards for the mischief of a few.”
“Mischief?” F’nor was perturbed. “Don’t let Lessa hear you call what happened mischief. Mischief? Stealing a queen egg?”
“The firelizard’s part was only mischief … popping in to Ramoth’s cave like how many others have been doing since the eggs were laid.” Brekke spoke more sharply than she usually did, and a tightness about F’nor’s eyes and mouth indicated to Robinton that this couple were not in accord. “Firelizards have no sense of wrong or right.”
“They’ll have to learn …” F’nor began with more heat than discretion.
“I fear that we, who have no dragons,” said Robinton, quickly intervening-lest today’s event fracture the bond between the two lovers-“have been making too much of our little friends, carting them about with us wherever we go, doting as parents of a late child, permitting too many liberties of conduct. But a more restrained attitude toward firelizards in our midst is a very minor consideration in today’s affair.”
F’nor had dampened his aggravation. He nodded now at the Harper. “Suppose that egg hadn’t been returned, Robinton …” His shoulders jerked in a convulsive shake and he pushed at his forehead as if trying to eliminate all memory of that scene.
“If the egg hadn’t been returned,” Robinton said implacably, “dragon would have fought dragon!” He spaced out his words, putting as much force and distaste as he could in his tone.
F’nor quickly shook his head, denying that outcome. “No, it would not have come to that, Robinton. You were wise…”