Chapter 4

M'gol had warned of the disharmony at Highspire Hold, but outwardly there was nothing of it showing in the Gather atmosphere. Traders were still arriving, and officially the Gather would not begin until the next day; but stalls were going up and the runnerbeast corrals had been erected: and no-one was going to turn down early business. Small Gathers such as this one tended in any case to be more informal affairs than those held at the Major Holds like High Reaches or Nabol. This Gather would also be blessed with a wedding; a girl of some fifteen turns was to wed the younger son of a neighbouring cotholder. Her groom was a turn or two younger than she, and the unusual situation was – as Kirilly explained to Kaili – that the boy was to live with the bride's family and help out with the heavy, man's chores on the understanding that he inherited the property through his wife who was the eldest of eight daughters.

Kaili blinked.

"EIGHT?" she queried. Kirilly gave a dirty little chuckle.

"Folk lore has it" she grinned "That the more you're at it, the more daughters you'll have. And with eight…" she left the sentence unfinished.

Kaili burned red.

"I don't even want t' think about it!" she declared primly; and Kirilly laughed, winked and slapped her on the back. Kaili added "And besides f' sure, I think they're too young."

Kirilly shrugged.

"Maybe. Maybe not. Depends on the girl more than the boy. No doubt she's been acting spare mother for the younger ones, which is enough to make anyone older than their years. With the added responsibilities she'll be a sight more mature than a younger daughter several turns her senior. Pretty much robbed her of her own childhood I'd say." She added thoughtfully, not noticing Kaili's quick flush of shame to think of her sister's motherly devotion to her. Kirilly went on "At least this way she has a stake in the property. And her mother is on hand when she begins birthing. As for the boy, he'll be proud of the chance to prove himself a man, and to make his new father in law proud of him."

Kaili flushed again as she thought of her own childhood. With nothing but the beasts and the trade to pass on, traders could afford to wed older; and she had been informed bluntly by the Weyrfolk that she had been kept something of a baby. Which since most folk always declared that Weyrfolk pampered their children and kept them young was a little disconcerting! Yet the Impressed were anything but pampered. As Kirilly suggested, perhaps it was more personality and training than actual turns that determined true adulthood. And the girl at least was over what the Weyr called the 'age of choice'.

Kaili reflected that people were actually feeling encouraged to wed young and have many children because of the excellent cover provided by High Reaches Weyr; it became viable to expand Holdings. Even so an excess of daughters would make things hard for any family, with dowries to provide. It was economically sound for all concerned, and if there was no deep love, doubtless the young people knew each other and held each other in some respect. This lad would not have to break turf to establish himself on a new cothold, doubtless having to take out loans to keep his head financially above water until the land was proved as many who set up for themselves must do. Still, something about the cold bloodedness of it revolted her; and she was glad that her uncle Morrity never saw fit to use her or Mirielle to forge alliances to expand his trade!

Kaili and Kirilly got busy seeing to the stabling of Tragen's sale beasts while Morill was arranging for a demonstration of the carriage pair. He would be driving them to show them off to the best advantage, though as he said rather cynically there would be few enough among the purchasers who would appreciate even half the level of training they had had. Tragen had promised to teach Kaili to drive, but for now she was just to put the puncherons through their paces as a preliminary teaser before the ploughing contest of the morrow.

They were leaving the stable area when Kaili saw Holder Vorn and his obnoxious daughter again, handing over a beautiful grey stallion to the Highspire grooms. Kaili curled her lip. They couldn't even manage to see to his well-being themselves. And the poor creature was terrified! Surely anyone could tell that, she thought, by his whole nervous manner and rolling eyes, even without being a whisperer?

The young whisperer had some warning through her extra perceptions when Vorn threateningly brandished the whip; and the petrified stallion reared and plunged: and came down running.

"Mad runner!" someone screamed a warning; and Kaili was half-aware of someone reaching for a hunting crossbow as the maddened creature ploughed through the screaming throng. She was already running towards the beast, thrusting from her path those who were fleeing incontinently away; and she was projecting soothing thoughts. Soon she made the intercept and grabbed for the bridle. For a moment it seemed that the unhappy creature would jerk his head to toss her under his plunging hooves; but her soothing voice and empathic calm prevailed! He slowed as she ran beside him, only dimly aware of the crossbowman explaining that he could not get a clear shot for fear of hitting the red haired lad; and then the stallion was walking – had stopped! He nuzzled his great head unhappily against her.

"Ye great eejit" she said lovingly. "And where would ye have run to anyway?"

Without further ado she sprang lightly onto his bare back, patting him and talking to him as she rode back to the stabling area. Tragen was there; and he nodded approvingly.

The Lady Vorinia had been knocked over and had torn her skirt; and she was loudly demanding that the vicious runnerbeast be put down. The stallion put back his ears and bared his teeth.

"Don't be wherry headed" admonished Kaili. "That stupid little chit can't hurt ye. Tragen's going to buy ye and I'll be havin' the ridin' av ye" she cast a scornful glance at Vorinia; she knew that Tragen was powerful enough and respected enough that if he desired to buy the beast, the Holder would not dare to just kill it, even though it was his own property. It would lose him too much face.

Tragen put a hand on the stallion's neck; and the beast whickered gently at him.

"What do you want for him, Vorn?" he asked.

"Two hundred marks. What I paid for it." Snapped the Holder, sulky faced.

Tragen raised his eyebrows as in mild surprise.

"I'm here to trade, Vorn, not to jest." He said. "Since you bought this beast he's been badly abused and spoiled. His mouth is sore where some inadequate has been pulling on the snaffle. Since he's been in your Hold he's been ridden by someone who has devalued him. Not to mention the whip marks on his flanks – which spoil the whole look of his coat. If one of your dependants has so spoiled him, I suggest you should take up the question of compensation with them. But he's no longer worth a pedigree price."

The Holder flushed a dull crimson of rage. Nobody likes to be called an inadequate and Vorn was particularly fond of himself!

"He needed schooling for his vices!" he declared angrily. "And he's still pedigree breeding stock!"

"If the ill treatment he's had in your stables hasn't spoiled his temperament so far as to make it risky letting him near my mares."

Kaili did not frown to hear her mount so miscalled. She recognised the canny trader in Tragen. The Runnerholder continued,

"Most people couldn't ride him now, you know. Only someone as skilled as Kai here. I'd say right now he's worth no more than ten marks."

"Preposterous!" Vorn snapped at the suggestion that his stallion was worth no more than a pedigree-less pony. There were some murmurs of assent in his support from the crowd; others were firmly behind Tragen.

"Brave thing that lad did!" called a cotholder. "Turned that gurt beast afore he ploughed on into me goodwife!"

Kaili flushed.

" And didn't I just want t' stop him before he hurt himself – or anyone else" she added hastily.

"That be a new lad, or I be mistaken, Tragen." Came another voice.

"Kai is my fosterling." Said Tragen.

There were one or two ribald comments over Kaili's parentage: and she flushed. Tragen shook his head.

"Kai is an orphan" he said firmly. "In the care of a brother over young to have care for three siblings now he's recently Impressed. I offered to take Kai, who as you can see is brilliant with runnerbeasts. The only reason, may I add, that this poor creature is not still running amok. I say again, my suggestion is ten marks."

Kaili appreciated the skill with which Tragen had avoided mentioning her gender. Though the widow Zeleika might know, Kaili had a feeling that she would find it mortifying to discuss the matter, being too conscious of her own dignity and status.

"I might drop to one hundred" muttered Vorn.

"He should be given a drink, Tragen" interposed Kaili. "And sure, don't we all know that you'll both settle for fifty, so why not get there now and ha' done with it?"

The crowd laughed at the 'boy's' blunt insolence; and Holder Vorn flushed furiously. He also knew she was a girl of course and so did his daughter; but to gossip to commons was something that would not occur to him. His daughter however was made of more spiteful stuff.

"That supposed stable boy is nothing more than…" she began, but got no further. Her shrill, venomous voice was one of the things that unsettled the stallion more than anything else and the sound of it was enough to start him rearing and plunging in the girl's direction. That Kaili delayed before calming him was noticed by none but Tragen; and he watched with admiration as his protégé made a show of bringing the creature under control. She also managed to stick her tongue out at Vorinia unseen by anyone else. The Holder Girl had fallen back with a faint shriek.

"Even high voices unsettle him" said Tragen, unperturbed. "Kai, you imp, I had hoped to bring him down to thirty five."

She shrugged.

"Sorry, Tragen" her voice was unrepentant. "I don't think he'd had gone for it though for sure."

Tragen looked at Vorn.

"Fifty is suggested as a compromise" he said. "I'll go no higher and you'd be lucky to get half from anyone else."

"Very well!" Vorn spat the words. "Let me see your marks!"

Tragen opened his eyes wide; and there were gasps at this display of discourtesy and mistrust for a well known Runnertrader. Tragen however counted out the marks from his pouch, and the Highspire Gatherstewards recorded the sale.

"And will you rename him?" asked Tragen of Kaili as she rode beside him to the stabling set aside for their personal use.

"He is white, powerful and a little bit sudden" she patted the beast's neck. "I'm thinking 'Avalanche' would be appropriate, don't you?"

Tragen smiled grimly and stroked Avalanche's muzzle.

"Indeed yes" he said. "Most appropriate."

Kaili found her fame spread quickly; many came up to her to congratulate her on her bravery. Feeling mildly embarrassed she demurred the incident self deprecatingly, for she did not feel that she had done anything out of the ordinary. Her modesty was as much approved by most as the original deed!

Apart from having to deal with those who wanted to praise her, Kaili enjoyed the Gather, small as it was. It was a pinnacle of her pleasure when a pair of Bronze dragons circled in to land, one of which she recognised as Esruth!

"D're!" she cried happily, waving a cheerful hand at her brother as he slid happily from his partner's back. She would have liked to have run over to him, but she was temporarily in charge of two puncherons about to engage in a ploughing competition that would advertise their assets before Tragen put them up for sale.

Holder Trabin was overwhelmed at the honour of having two Bronze Riders at his little Gather. He and his lady wife Dara and mistress Dalia went to greet them formally, an unspoken truce between the women for so grand an occasion!

D're and M'gol – for it was he who was the second Rider – said all that was necessary as perfunctorily as possible; and excused themselves to make a beeline for Tragen.

The runnerholder found himself shaken heartily by the hand and thumped cheerfully on the back by the man he had learned to call 'friend' as well as by the brother of his fosterling.

"Sure, 'tis plain you've done a good job with our brat" said D're boisterously ruffling Kaili's vibrant curls. "It's bonnie and well the kiddie's looking, for sure!"

"Aye, Kai's a hard worker and thrives on fresh air and exercise" said Tragen. "And a Whisperer too! You never told me!"

"And if I'd ha' known, I'd've told you for sure!" said D're, amazed. "Well, 'tis like the seein' of the colours of dragons, I'm thinkin', or talkin' with them. These things run in families seemingly."

M'gol went round greeting all the jockeys he knew, especially Morill and Kren. Kren was to drive the ploughing team: and M'gol slapped him on the back and wished him luck and a steady pair of wrists.

"Your lizards not hatched yet, then?" he asked Kaili. She shook her head. She was a little in awe of the tall Wingleader. He grinned and winked. "Not long now, I guess. Then the others a sevenday or so behind."

"It is a generous gift, M'gol; and we thank you" said Tragen. M'gol grinned.

"It's that reprobate Z'kan. He knows just where to go looking!"

Tragen allowed himself a smile; and gripped M'gol's wrist firmly in thanks.

The close association of the two Bronze Riders with Tragen and his group raised questions – and envy! Tragen had always received respect for the quality of his stock and his proven ability at the races – now it seemed that his status was even higher! Some interested parties recalled that he had mentioned that the lad Kai had an older brother who had Impressed, and by the red hair, the one on the younger dragon was he – how typical of Tragen not to boast that the young man had Impressed a Bronze dragon!

Some, of course, recognised D're; for although the Mulgan family had only recently moved their trading operation further north, some visitors were from further south; and the looks of the family were in any case distinctive. A few rumours started that day that those same Ruathan traders were in fact related somehow to Weyrwoman Lessa and acted as hers and Lord Jaxom's spies!

Zeleika watched Tragen's easy concourse with the riders with chagrin. She had not doubted that the Holder had spoken truth about the girl's brother; but that the said brother should be on such good terms with Tragen did suggest that the chit really DID mean to wed him – and the runnerholder was a great prize. Not only was he extremely wealthy, he was also fit and strong; and did not look anywhere close to his forty-odd turns!

There was a deal more than chagrin in the breasts of Holder Vorn and his daughter. Vorn had half suspected that Tragen had lied, or at least exaggerated Kaili's position. Yet he had not! It was all very galling – and it meant that he and his kin would have to be very circumspect over dealings with a man of such powerful friends!

Vorinia had been starting a whisper that the boy Kai was a girl, and dressed like that must be no better than she ought to be! To her disgruntlement, most of those to whom she dropped her poison merely shrugged.

After all, Tragen already had one female jockey. And this one was just a youngster; and obviously as brave as any boy could hope to be! With the arrival of the Bronze dragons, any small doubts held quickly disappeared. For did not the Weyrwomen often cut short their hair and wear breeches? It was safer so. And was not one of those Queenriders, the one who had solved the race fixing, a redhead? They must be kin. And if it were a thought strange that Kai should be fostered out of the Weyr, why, poor scrap, perhaps she had Impressed and lost her dragon to some weyrling accident!

Of such speculations grew stories and things that people 'heard particularly' or 'knew for a fact'; and Kaili as well as Tragen found themselves lionised by those who wanted to bask in vicarious power!

Kren performed creditably in the ploughing contest; and brought in his team into a close second. Only a failure to keep one furrow totally straight lost him the prize. Kren shrugged.

"Next time I'll have had more practice; then I'll win" he said philosophically.

His skill was enough to show off the beasts to advantage; which was the main object. Tragen took three hundred marks for the pair; and the Puncherons went as dowry to a young couple breaking new land at a new cot not far from Tragen's own property. The Runnerholder took a liking to the determined young man and his supportive young wife; each of whom had the support of their kin in starting out anew. Their respective families had helped build the new little stone cot and its outbuildings and seemed glad to give the young couple the best of starts in their married life as they were now at distance from kindred. Kaili had a feeling that Tragen would be dropping in on young Alaman and Lowri! In truth, she too warmed to Lowri, a merry girl with a firm chin and no older than Kaili herself; and quite plainly madly in love with her young husband. Almost, Kaili envied her.

oOoOo

The girl Clemelly frowned to herself. Did she dare? It was a terribly audacious thing to do – and if she were wrong she would be in trouble.

She had to know.

Carefully, eyes down, she approached the Bronze Rider.

"Please excuse me, Bronze Rider" she said politely "But am I correct in thinking that you have visited Highspire Hold before?"

M'gol quickly searched such of her face as was not averted for signs of venality suggesting blackmail; all he could see was honest puzzlement. He came to a quick decision.

"You are correct, Clemelly" he saw her amazement that he had remembered her name and grinned. He went on, "You see, I count Tragen as a close friend; and he had been having trouble with crooks. But it would have been wrong to involve the Weyr officially, so I had to act as a private person and not drag my Weyrleader into it – apart from gaining his permission."

Her brow cleared.

"I see!" she said. "I suppose that's the real reason you turned me down" she added regretfully "I'm too low."

"Not at all" declared M'gol, firmly. "But what sort of man would take a casual lover when he's got his own good woman at home?"

"Many" she said dryly. "You do have a woman then? As…as a proper thing?" she flushed at her temerity and was about to stammer apology; but M'gol smiled, rather mistily.

"Oh yes, I do, the very best. I enjoyed talking to you because you reminded me a little of her" it had been true enough; the resemblance was superficial, but the girl Clemelly did share J'nara's sense of practicality. Clemelly smiled warmly.

"Thank you for explaining" she said. "I'm glad you did not lay with me. It makes me hope that one day I might also meet a man as loyal and constant."

M'gol flushed, both with pleasure at the compliment and some embarrassment – for it was only since he had met J'nara that he had abandoned his previous promiscuous existence!

"It was certainly not because you are not attractive either" he assured her. "Had I not had J'nara I would have been strongly tempted by your offer – though I'd still have paused, for I'd have wished to tell you my true identity. It's not right to lay with someone under false pretences."

She looked up at him with regret and not a little envy.

"Your J'nara is a lucky woman" she said softly.