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"Apart from that necessary contingency," Aivas went on smoothly, "this undertaking should be recorded. There is nothing to match this endeavor of yours in the a
"Not that any other world is interested in our feats," Master Robinton said in a droll murmur.
"Mankind needs heroes," Aivas replied. "This project is of heroic stature."
F'lar gestured in disclaimer. "What has to be done can scarcely be termed heroic!"
Master Robinton shot the Weyrleader a long, thoughtful look.
"We have three engines to place," F'lar went on, ignoring the Harper's stare, "so the leaders of each group need to visit the place. I lead one..."
"Jaxom leads another," Aivas said crisply.
"All right," F'lar allowed.
"And I lead the third," Lessa said.
F'lar immediately objected. "You've risked yourself and Ramoth enough already."
Lessa's expression hardened. "If you go, I go. Ramoth's scarcely the only queen on Pern these days."
Suddenly F'lar's resistance dissolved, which surprised Jaxom but not Ruth.
Why not? Jaxom asked his dragon very privately.
Lessa would not risk Ramoth if she is in clutch, would she?
Jaxom hurriedly covered his mouth with his hand and turned a guffaw into a cough. No wonder F'lar hadn't pressed the point of Lessa's involvement in the event-and Mnementh would cooperate by getting Ramoth in clutch. F'lar had learned subtlety in handling his weyrmate!
"On this one admissible expedition," Jaxon said, "I think F'nor ought to be included."
F'lar gave Jaxom a friendly clout, gri
"It's only fair," Robinton said, nodding wisely. "And Canth won't object to taking Perschar, who's got the best eye for detail. D'ram must be allowed this opportunity. And Tiroth can easily convey me," he added, daring protest.
"You can't be put at risk," Lessa said, rising to the bait.
"There'd be no risk involved, would there, Aivas?" Robinton said, shamelessly appealing to the one authority that Lessa would respect.
"The Harper would not be at risk."
"Tiroth's too old!" Lessa declared, glowering at Robinton.
"Tiroth is sturdier than most beasts his age, and the insight of both his rider and Master Robinton might prove invaluable," Aivas said.
It took a few moments for Lessa's irritation to subside, but the matter was soon settled. One more exploratory jump would be made to the Red Star's surface. The group would include D'ram, F'nor, N'ton, and Jaxom, with the dragons carrying Master Robinton, Fandarel, Perschar, and Sebell as observers. The discretion of these few was unassailable, so there would be no chance of careless talk generating more rumor and misconception than already abounded.
Lord Larad of Telgar and Lord Asgenar of Lemos asked Masterharper Sebell to meet them at Telgar Hold at his convenience.
Since Sebell appreciated the diplomatic tone, he dispatched his fire-lizard, Kimi, with a message that he would attend them an hour after the evening meal at Telgar.
"What do you suppose is bothering them?" Menolly asked when Sebell told her of the meeting.
"Rumors have abounded lately, pet," Sebell said with a sigh.
Menolly leaned back from the lectern on which she composed much of her music and, gri
"I'd rather not have so much choice." He carefully tucked a vagrant strand of her long hair back into its clasp before bending to kiss her neck. "I hadn't heard of either Telgar or Lemos having any problems with vandalism, so it can't be that."
"Those who approve do so wholeheartedly, while those who are fearful, apprehensive, or downright skeptical scuttle around the edges and ruin what they haven't the wit to understand."
"It's our task to see that they do understand," Sebell said, gently remonstrating.
"But some don't want to," she replied in a rebellious tone, stretching both arms well above her head to ease her back. "I know the breed. Oh, how I know the breed! It's just too bad we can't leave them alone with their closed minds, but they're standing in our way forward."
"We are altering the fabric of their lives. That frightens people. It always has; it always will. Lytol's sent me some fascinating excerpts from Aivas's historical data. Fascinating. People don't change, love. React first, think later, regret at leisure."
He bent to kiss her cheek. "I've time to tell Robse and Olos a ,story before I go."
Menolly snaked an arm around his neck before he could straighten. "You are such a loving man," she said, and then kissed him again deeply before releasing her hold.
When he paused at the threshold to look back at her fondly, she was already bent to her composition. He smiled at the concentrated pose of her back, one shoulder angled up. She did love him, but he accepted the fact that he would have always two rivals-music and the Master. He had the same loves. With that thought, he went down the corridor to sing to his sons and to admire his daughter, Lemsia, who was too young for more than adoration.
Laradian, Larad's oldest son, was waiting for Sebell in the well-lit court when the obliging Fort Hold dragon deposited the harper at Telgar.
"My father and Lord Asgenar are in the small study, Masterharper," Laradian said formally, and then, relaxing, gri
A fine fire was burning on the hearth angled in the corner of the pleasant room, the walls of which were hung with rich tapestries and framed sketches-probably by Perschar, if Sebell didn't mistake the skill-of the current Holder's offspring. Several heavy old wherry-hide chairs, sagging from the comfort they had given several generations of weary bodies, and the huge desk and table where the Lord Holders of Telgar had done their accounts for centuries, furnished the room adequately. Sebell immediately noticed the latest addition: a very good rendering, though considerably reduced in scale, of the Honshu mural.
"Hmmm, yes," Larad said, noticing his glance. "My daughter, Bo
"You'd be welcome to see the original," Sebell said, nodding to Asgenar, who was ensconced in one of the armchairs.
"What?" Larad asked, his pleasant face affecting a horrified expression. "And let rumor have it that I wanted the place for one of my sons?" He gestured for Sebell to take a chair and held up a wine bottle. "It's Benden." His grin was for the allusion to a harper preference for that wine; but his reference to rumor told Sebell that he was seriously concerned.
"I follow many of Master Robinton's traditions," Sebell said, accepting the generous goblet. He sipped judiciously and raised his brows in appreciation. "A 'sixteen?"
"Indeed, and it was Master Robinton who urged me to acquire as many skins as I could wheedle."
"So?" Sebell turned politely to the two Lord Holders. "Rumor bites?"
"I wish it were only rumor, Sebell," Larad said. He took a small message roll from his sleeve cuff and handed it to the harper. "This is far more serious and demands your urgent consideration. I know the sender well enough to heed his words."
After a glance at the message, Sebell shot out of the comfortable chair, seething with anger and swearing blackly." 'I have good reason to believe that Masterharper Robinton may be abducted to force those at Landing to destroy what they call the Abomination.' " Sebell was consumed with outrage. "Hazard the Masterharper! Ransom him for the destruction of Aivasl"