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"However, they would not have passed the threshold," Aivas assured him.
Robinton shuddered and drank down the rest of his wine. "Let's get them out of the hall. Surely we have some secure building to hold them in. It's almost-almost obscene leaving them sprawled in the hallway like this."
"Assistance just arrived," Jaxom said.
They heard the bugling challenge of many dragons-F'nor, T'gellan, Mirrim, and nearly a full wing of Eastern Weyr riders.
"From now on there will be full dragon surveillance for Aivas," F'nor said when he had heard Lytol's concise report.
"Eastern insists on the honor," T'gellan said.
"I just wish it hadn't come to this," Robinton said, shaking his head wearily.
"My dear friend," Lytol said, placing a consoling hand on the Harper's shoulder, "it was bound to happen. You should have taken time to read the histories as I did. You would then have been better prepared for the cultural upheaval which is occurring in every Hold, Hall, and Weyr."
"I had hoped that Aivas would insure a bright future for us all..." Robinton began, raising his arms in an expansive gesture before letting them fall limply to his knees.
"That's because you're the eternal optimist," Lytol said with a sad smile.
"That's no bad way to be," Piemur said firmly, shooting Lytol a quelling glare. It pained the young journeyman to see his master so depressed and listless. The warder shrugged and turned away to hide his cynicism.
T'gellan dispatched a rider to bring Swacky from Paradise River Hold in the hope that he might recognize one of the intruders. Jayge, reckoning that he, too, might be of some help since he had seen so much of the Eastern Holds during his trading days, arrived with Swacky.
"Yeah, I recognize this pair," Swacky said, reaching out to turn one lolling head from side to side. "Bitrans, if I remember rightly. Bitrans'll do anything if you give 'em enough marks."
"Any name come to mind, Swacky?" F'nor asked, frowning.
Swacky gave a shrug of his thick shoulders. "No. Bitrans aren't friendly, and I don't think you're going to get much out of this lot. They're too stubborn to give in and too stupid to give up. They do stay bought," he added with grudging respect.
Jayge, kneeling by another man, shook his head. "I know him. I don't know where I know him from. I'll tell you one thing, though-he's worked fishnets. Look at these three-corner tears on his fingers and palms. That's net damage."
Robinton heaved a long sigh, and Lytol looked grimmer than ever.
When the first of them finally regained consciousness late that evening, he stared around with bleak panic in his face; it soon became obvious that he had lost his hearing. To written questions he merely shook his head. Consultations between Aivas and the healer about a return of hearing produced no helpful results.
"As a consequence to the extreme deterrent required to prevent their entry, regrettably permanent damage may have been inflicted," Aivas said.
When the vandals' animals were brought in, none of the gear identified its source. The saddles were new but bore no leatherman's stamp; the ru
"Probably stolen from Keroon or Telgar herds before spring culls" was the opinion of Masterherder Briaret, who came the next day to assist in the inquiry. "Whoever chose them knew his ru
The tack, he said, was all apprentice-made, pointing out the flaws that would have made them unsalable at any reputable Ta
"These could have been picked up from various Halls over the course of a Turn or two, from 'prentices needing Gathermarks. I'd say that whoever pla
The sturdy but worn clothing was of a style and fabric available all across the continent, and the camping equipment had seen considerable use.
"Could've staked out here for a spell, just waiting for a good opportunity," Briaret guessed. "Like the ceremony at Telgar."
In one saddlebag the searchers found a small collapsible telescope of the sort used by fishermen, but it bore no other mark than the usual Telgar Smith stamp on the metal rim of the eyepiece.
When Master Idarolan was asked his opinion, he was outraged that any of his Craft could have been involved. He promised to investigate, admitting that there were some who were, unfortunately, no credit to their calling and were not above making a clandestine voyage for a full purse of marks after a bad season. He would name no one as yet, but he knew whom to watch, he assured everyone.
Swacky volunteered to stay at Landing as warder of the invaders, hoping that he might yet get one of them to confide in him.
Jayge lingered, too, finally admitting to Piemur and Jancis that he would very much like an interview with Aivas, if that was at all possible.
"No problem, Jayge," Piemur reassured him. He gri
Jayge gave a wry chuckle. "I need to know if Readis and Alemi are both losing their wits. They swear they've had more conversations with shipfish-dolphins. The dolphins say they came with the original settlers." Jayge set his jaw as if waiting for derision.
"Dolphins did come with the settlers, Jayge," Piemur reassured him. Jancis nodded, as well. Then the young harper's expression turned rueful. "We've been so busy with space that we really still haven't caught up on other important details. C'mon. Everyone else's busy with the intruders right now, so Aivas is free."
"The dolphins are indeed capable of communicating with humans," Aivas told Jayge when he asked. "Mentasynth enhancement is genetically transmitted, so that the ability would have survived through any number of generations. They were the most successful of the mentasynth experiments. It is good to know that the species has survived. Are they numerous? It would appear from the question, Holder Jayge, that contact has not been maintained. Is that so?"
"No, it has not," Jayge admitted apologetically. "Though my wife and myself, as well as my son and Masterfisherman Alemi, owe our lives to them."
"The species has always been considerate of humankind.
"And they do speak a language we humans could learn?"
"Since humans taught them the language, yes. But it would be the language of your ancestors, not that which is in current usage. This facility was able to make linguistic adjustments that would not be available to the dolphins, despite their great intelligence."
"The shipfish have great intelligence?" Piemur asked in surprise.
"They possess an intelligence measurably equal to, if not surpassing, most human intellects."
"I find that hard to believe," Piemur muttered.
"Believe it," Aivas replied. "Holder Jayge, if you are interested in reviving the communications link with dolphins, this facility would be glad to assist you."
Jayge grimaced. "It's not me, Aivas. I was just here and wanted to know. It's my son, Readis, and our Masterfisherman Alemi, who thought the dolphins were speaking."
"The resumption of that link could be of great value to fishermen and all who use the seaways. Time can be allotted to that study."
"I'll tell Alemi. He'll be delighted to hear it."
"Your son?"
"Oh, Readis is a child."