Chapter 6
Kaili valued her walks with L'rilly. She urged the older girl to give her news of the Weyr and her other family; and L'rilly was delighted that the girl asked about her sister Mirielle only a little more wistfully than the rest of her kin. Evidently she was learning to stand on her own two feet – or rather on several of Tragen's four hooves, thought the weyrwomen whimsically.
Kaili spoke readily about her new friends; and Tragen came into the conversation more than any others.
"You like him don't you?" asked L'rilly.
Kaili flushed.
"He – he makes me feel so safe. And comfortable. He's kind" she said. "Though he tries to hide it in gruff."
"And the 'but' is?" L'rilly raised an eyebrow.
Kaili laughed self consciously.
"My friend Lowri so plainly adores her Alaman. As you adore D're. I – I just feel as though there should be more. And, well, Alaman and D're show how much they adore Lowri and you by the way they look."
L'rilly thought quickly.
"You are young" she said "And perhaps holding back inside yourself for having been hurt; and Tragen knows how much you have been hurt. He may well be making sure to behave only in a fatherly sort of way because of that."
"Perhaps" said Kaili dryly "It is because he only thinks of me as a daughter. And perhaps I'll never feel more than for my own darling brother" she sighed.
"Don't try to rush anything" L'rilly suggested. "Things usually have a way of sorting themselves out in time. I've learned that lesson for myself."
Kaili smiled at her.
"Thanks. Your advice is much appreciated. I'll – L'rilly, why has it gone so quiet?"
The tiny weesweets had fallen silent, flocking quickly to fly in determined beeline for some haven. The air was still; and in the northwest the sky hung grey and heavy.
"THREAD!" cried Kaili going white.
"SNOW!" corrected L'rilly grimly, recognising the signs. "RUN!" she caught the younger girl by the hand and they ran willy-nilly down the from the gay meadow. The wind caught them on the path as they slithered and ran down the slope to the Northfork Valley. The hown of the blizzard assailed their ears with the alarmed squawks of their respective firelizards; then the painful, stinging snow was at their backs! L'rilly stumbled and nearly fell; and Kaili slipped an arm about her, half dragging, half carrying the flagging weyrwomen down the precipitous path. The air had become white in mere seconds; nothing was visible, and Kaili was glad she had had the foresight to grab one of Tragen's path marker poles. Light chain ran along each pole for just such an emergency, and deftly she felt her way along. It was a slow way of travel, but Kaili knew she must not be tempted to risk heading more quickly for the next pole, for directions were deceptive in the blizzard; and she carried on feeling a painstaking way though she and L'rilly were shivering uncontrollably in their light tunics. It was with relief that Kaili walked hard into the wall of the stable complex and felt her way along and tumbled into the door!
"Tragen – they're here! Thee doesn't need to go!" was the last thing Kaili heard; for those few minutes it had taken to reach safety had taken a major physical toll on both girls. Rubbed with straw like cold runners, they were rolled in blankets; and carried to Tranora for immediate hot baths before being bedded down with stone hot water bottles. Kaili drifted in and out of her faint as Tragen carried her to her room. She stiffened against his chest – and cried out,
"L'rilly! Is she safe?"
"L'rilly's fine, my imp" answered Tragen. "Thanks to you dragging her for all as if you were a well trained burro. The pair of you saw the signs in time to get home."
"L'rilly knew….we ran though – her innards…"
"Don't worry!" said Tragen, firmly, tucking her under several layers of quilts and furs.
Tragen himself did worry; and with due consideration sent little Windfire to enquire advice from T'lana. T'lana in turn sent her Merry to Masterhealer Oldive; and before long Tragen received terse but practical advice:
"Rest her well. Shouldn't do any significant damage but pamper her until she screams at you."
Tragen permitted himself a wry smile at this reference to the notorious trait of dragonriders to be bad patients; and hoped that L'rilly would be in a temper soon!
Kaili was up first thing, dark eyed and streaming with cold but otherwise unharmed; and begged to take breakfast to her sister-in-law. Beyond commenting tartly that she'd do better to stay abed herself, Marilly complied by arranging a pretty tray for the weyrwomen.
L'rilly was flushed and feverish looking; and could only manage a wan smile at Kaili.
"Thank you!" she said. "Though I'm not very hungry. I expect I'm supposed to stay here in bed – and I don't even mind too much!"
Kaili looked aghast.
"How's your belly?" she asked sharply.
L'rilly brightened.
"When we were running, it hurt terribly" she confessed. "I was half fainting on you from it, I'm afraid. But as it's worn off, only a slight ache, I guess it was just a stitch. If you'd not helped me, I'd have been there yet."
"Good job you knew what was happening – else we'd both have been there yet" said Kaili prosaically. "I don't know these mountains well enough yet, though Tragen filled me in on the poles and way chains when he first showed me around, thank goodness!"
"Well" L'rilly managed a grin "One of your questions is answered!"
"Huh?" Kaili was puzzled.
"It wasn't me Tragen was desperate to tramp out into the blizzard after" revealed L'rilly. "I saw his face when he picked you up after you fainted. Right before I followed you into oblivion" she added dryly. "No lack of feeling there."
Something deep inside Kaili gave a terrific surge; and she grinned idiotically.
"And that" said L'rilly "Answers your questions about your own feelings I guess!"
Kaili nodded happily.
Then she started sneezing.
When she finished she blew her nose hard and started sobbing.
L'rilly patted her hand.
"I know" she said sympathetically. "It's impossible to feel romantic with a running nose!"
Kaili hiccoughed and nodded.
"You UNDERSTAND!" she sniffed.
L'rilly hugged her, and Kaili snuggled up to her. And there Tranora found them later, in each other's arms, sleeping a healing sleep.
As soon as the late, unlooked-for blizzard died away, Tragen and his men were out checking on the cotholders and near neighbours. The storm had lasted only the full day round and had carried away with it frozen Thread from anticipated Fall. Kaili, now up, begged to join the searchers; and Tragen scanned her face.
"Well, you've taken cold already" he said grudgingly, looking at her red nose "And you're fit enough. Ride across to Lowri and Alaman to see if they're all right - and any other of our neighbours out that way. Alaman'll help you if there's others in need, he's a good man. Wrap up well!"
Kaili nodded. She hated enforced inactivity!
Lowri and Alaman were surprised but pleased to see Kaili when she explained her mission. Alaman had already saddled Beau, one of the big Puncherons, for the same purpose of seeing if any needed aid; and he and Kaili quickly worked out how to split the few outlying cotholders between them.
"I were in the field when it come on" said Alaman "But Beau and Pol had sense. They'd already turned for home afore I realised what be up; and they just kept going until we hit the stable!"
"Good job too!" said Kaili. "My sister-in-law and I got caught on the high pasture. My! How we had to high-tail it back!"
"You were lucky." Said Alaman soberly.
"And Tragen well prepared with poles and chains! Though I confess sheer terror made dragons of us – we all but flew!" Kaili had rapidly recovered from her fear enough to make a light tale of it.
Not all had been so fortunate. Kaili was met by several cotholders on similar neighbourly missions to herself, gratified that Tragen had sent out his own fosterling; and they found one poor man stiff in his field beside his ploughbeast, bared by the cruel wind that blew the snow away as soon as it had lain. Kaili and another neighbour bore the body back to the cot, scarce ten lengths away, where his wife received it in dull-eyed, dumb shock, her frightened infants clustered around her skirt.
"How will you manage?" asked Kaili gently.
"I don't know" the woman said simply.
Kaili bit her lip.
"Will you have me talk to Tragen? See if he can arrange a deal that you share profits to keep house for any man he send to help you, or to come to his Hold if he buy you out?"
The widow buried her head in her hands and wept.
"I'm sorry to seem insensitive" said Kaili "But with the little ones to feed, there are practicalities to consider. Perhaps you should come back with me anyway to think it over."
"Aye, I got to think what's best" the woman choked. "It be good of you to think of it. But I'm so confused right now!"
"Get into warm things, and the babes too" said Kaili authoritatively "I'll take you to Northfork. At least we can see you cared for until you can make a decision."
"What of the stock?" the woman was putting herself together somewhat to think of that, Kaili was pleased to note. The girl turned to one of the neighbours.
"Can you see to the stock – bovines is all you have, isn't it?" she asked the widow, who nodded "in return for the milk they give to your use?"
The neighbour nodded.
"'Tis a fair deal" he agreed.
"Then that's sorted. You've a cart I see. Now I have only to persuade Avalanche to pull it." Said Kaili dubiously.
Avalanche was not well disposed towards pulling a cart and snorted, showing the whites of his eyes when Kaili even suggested it; and it took her a lot of careful cajoling! However, by hinting that the noble beast was not so clever as a burro she finally did it; and took the widow and orphans – six of them not in double figures and crying for their daddy – back to Northfork.
Kaili's doleful little band were not the only refugees. Not all of Tragen's cotholders had survived this sudden, unseasonal storm; and many were ill or injured from their efforts to get to safety. Those who had ovines lambing in the hills had stayed out through the blizzard; for most had stone bothies to shelter from weather or Thread in, though it had not been easy. Tragen was busy telling the human cost with Calum, and calculating the degree of hardship to be expected from the loss of stock.
"'Tis fortunate that many had barned the greater part of their in-lamb ewes in preparation for Threadfall" he said.
"Aar, that ut be fer sure" Calum agreed. "That coul ha' been worse, so it could!"
Tragen caught sight of Kaili, raised an eyebrow at Avalanche being used as a cart-beast and asked questions with a look about the little family. Quickly Kaili explained; and the Runnerholder nodded.
"See them fed and warm; and give her time to grieve" he said. "If the stock's being fed, her choices can wait yet awhile."
A man believed missing walked into the Hold as Kaili stabled Avalanche; he had a ewe round his shoulders and a lamb in each pocket.
"Stoll! I'd given you up for lost!" cried Tragen.
The man laughed.
"That take more than them ow' weather ter do fer me!" he said dismissively. "Owd Dolly here, she were determined to have her twins at the most inconvenient time, so I done stay wi' her. Then I got her up like this, and they lambs agin me and I walked. Knew it'd hev ter end sometime. And by-'n' by I find a snow bank and I dig in. that oony blow away long 'nough ago f'r ussen ter walk in."
Tragen laughed in relief.
"Your wife'll be in a worry." He said.
"Not her!" Stoll disagreed. "Frettin' over whether I've saved the mutton I'll be bound, and ready ter scold me good fer getting wet. Well, I'd best be off home" he added laconically "Now 'tis fine she'll hev set klah and stew waitin' for me." And he set off with his bleating burden.
Tragen shook his head wonderingly.
"It's folks like Stoll make you realise that there are still unsung heroes" he remarked to no-one in particular.
It took Kaili very little time to throw off her chill; and she found herself caring for her own twin babes while L'rilly was still unwell. She found a measure of compassion – even love – towards them that she had never thought possible; and the picture of rearing Tragen's child rose before her eyes, teaching a sturdy toddler to ride. She pushed the picture firmly down – time would sort all things, L'rilly had said.
L'rilly herself was forced to rest for a protracted period until forced from her bed – she claimed – by being driven half between by being waited on hand and foot by her sister-in-law. Not to mention having to put D're's fears to rest when he came visiting after he found out what had happened! L'rilly was glad to get up and about, though; for after the brief spell of aberrant weather, spring resumed as though nothing had happened, and the little weesweets were back in the meadows making up for lost time sipping nectar and L'rilly resumed her interrupted holiday!
The widow Kaili had brought in agreed to sell her property to Tragen; and take a post at Northfork where her children could get Harper teaching easily and training in skills from older hands as they grew. She held the cot price against their needs; and laid aside such markes as she was paid in addition to her keep. As Tragen's employee she had a measure of independence such as she would not have as an unpaid drudge to one of her own or her husband's kin in exchange for the 'generosity' of giving her a home. Tragen was readily able to find a tenant; and the broken land would not be lost.
After L'rilly had returned to the Weyr, Tragen made good his promise to begin teaching Kaili to drive; though she had other duties beside, since Tragen's Spring Gather, delayed by the storm, was coming due. As was the High Reaches Spring Gather that was a great high point in Tragen's racing year.
As far as driving was concerned, Kaili took to it naturally. It was not long before she was making pointed remarks about racing buggies! Tragen laughed.
"We'll see" he said. "But not for THIS year's races, my imp!"
Tragen was not, in any case, taking a racing team to the Nabol Gather this year as he sometimes did, one of the most famous buggy racing venues. It generally took two to three sevendays to travel there; and with the need for extra men to sort out the chaos from the storm he regretfully decided not to commit a team with many of his people tired from the extra effort. It would not be fair on them; and would yield too little return, even if they did well, to make it worth their travails, especially as he had no intention of cancelling his own Gather. The next racing would take place at the High Reaches Gather: and Kaili would not be ready to race there natural driving talent or no! She was to be riding for him, racing the mare Silver Flyer; a difficult ride for all but the most experienced – or a Whisperer. Morill had been known to have trouble with her and the bets would be long. Tragen hoped that Kaili's skill and ability would prove a surprise to the other punters!
The weeks of preparation for Tragen's Runnerfair Gather were about to reach fruition. Everyone worked hard to put together a gay Gather atmosphere to dispel the gloom the blizzard had laid upon the region. Several visitors arrived early, having travelled a longer distance, who had not been apprised of the problems; and were a trifle put out by the delay. Part of Kaili's duties lay in soothing ruffled feelings and calming frayed tempers. It did not come naturally to the girl: but when she lost her cool with one grumbling runner trainer and asked him tartly if he thought Tragen so powerful he could order the weather, the man stared; and then roared with laughter, mollified more by bluntness than smooth tact!
The day dawned fine; and was filled with colour and gaiety at all the races, with small holders and cotholders also bringing produce and stock for sale. A wide rift valley into which Tragen's Holdings extended was filled with small farming communities whose occupants found travelling to a major gather difficult; and Tragen's twice turnly fairs fulfilled a major need. Indeed, Tragen was talking about making his Harvest Gather this turn a two or three day event as at High Reaches – for there was enough business! Kaili had been through the economics of the Gather with Tragen and Calum; and knew that this could be a major source of revenue to a Hold large enough to field such an event. But major extensions would be needed for a three day Gather. Yet it might be worth it; for a longer Gather made it worth the while for more traders to come and set up stalls, especially if there was shelter against Thread in preceding or following days. Tragen would of course charge for the pitches which would be profitable. His Gather Stewards received a percentage of all sales that were arranged of stock or produce for their part in seeing the bargaining kept fair and above board: and half of that went to the Hold's coffers. From the proceeds, Tragen must hire harpers to amuse the crowds; and healers in case of accident or illness. Food and drink on sale came at least in part from his own kitchens, prepared by his own staff; and the profits from that mounted up. At first Kaili was inclined to scoff at the bother for such negligible profits as accrued from, say, bubbly pies: but when she found out the quantity of bubbly pies likely to be sold she realised that the policy of 'stack 'em high and sell 'em cheap' worked extremely well!
One of the groups of traders were the Mulgan family, their first time at Tragen's Gather on account of Kaili, though they had escorted beasts for Tragen before; and Morrity Mulgan drove a hard bargain to get a good pitch 'on account of family connections!" Tragen was pleased to do so – for the Mulgans travelled wide, and would spread word if they were happy, that would bring other traders in for the proposed three day event. Kaili was delighted to see her kin; and bestowed hugs all around. But her duties as Holder's fosterling gave her very little time to socialise! Even Lowri and Alaman received no more than a wave and a grin as Kaili flew from place to place with messages. Later she was to show off riding tricks for the amusement of the crowd while young Lynel went around with a cap. The performance went down very well with the crowd, for Kaili was athletic and supple as well as having the complete trust of her mount. When Tragen added up the proceeds from the thirtyseconds dropped in the hat, and divided it up, Kaili was astonished when he gave her four whole marks as her share! Lynel received a mark for his skill with shaking the cap, and Tragen put aside five more for the Hold.
"Who'd have thought we should take so much!" marvelled Kaili. Tragen smiled.
"That's why the show goes on when everyone has had the chance to see around and buy or sell their most pressing needs; and to drink a little too much and are feeling happy and expansive" he explained. "Now go enjoy what's left of the day!"
Kaili grinned and shot off. Cheerfully she filched a bubbly pie from under Marilly's nose as a fresh batch came out of the oven; and ran out into the early evening. The sun was still warm, but it was chill in the lengthening shadows and Kaili was glad of her ovine-skin jerkin.
First she ran to see her family. Morrity had left most of the family in the Weyr as they seemed happy there; they had made themselves useful by undertaking trading forays around to add to the Weyr's tithe store, using crafts the snowbound dragonmen had produced over winter as trade goods. Morrity's son Teeg was also skilled enough at metalwork to patch holes in iron cooking vessels, and to make simple jewellery from scraps purloined from broken metalware. Both Teeg and his younger brother Kinnete had come with their father; though Teeg had left his wife and three infant children within the Weyr. Best of all from Kaili's point of view was that Morrity had brought his next youngest niece, her sister Mirielle!
"It's good to see you looking so well and happy!" Mirielle declared, hugging her little sister. "L'rilly said you were doing well – I had to come and see myself!"
Kaili laughed.
"Indeed and I am, sister mine! I say, I'm truly sorry I was such a pain!"
"Fardles!" declared Mirielle. "You'd had a hard time!"
"But I could have behaved better. It wasn't your fault I'd had a hard time. I was selfish. Is L'rilly all right?" she asked anxiously.
Mirielle chuckled.
"She's only talking about flying next Fall" she said "Putting forward the help she's had from a candidate who's healer trained that's been helping her, a woman called Sibealle. T'bor was talking about manacles!"
Kaili laughed.
"Yes, she told me something about Sibealle. I'm glad she's feeling her oats; I was worried about that frantic running damaging her."
"Seems not to have" said Mirielle.
"I guess she's tougher than she looks" nodded Kaili. "Come and meet my friend Lowri and her husband."
Lowri looked tired; she was having a difficult pregnancy and a Gather had worn her out. Kaili gave her a hug and introduced Mirielle.
"Say, sister mine, is D're picking you lot up?" she asked.
Mirielle nodded.
"He said he would."
"Excellent! Alaman, when you want to take the beasts home, why not leave Lowri – and I'll ask my brother to take her back dragonback? He'll go Straight, not risk baby between" she added hastily.
Alaman dithered, pride warring with concern for his young wife.
"Dragonback?" exclaimed Lowri "That's for important folks!"
"You are important folks to me" said Kaili. "What's the point of having useful relations if you can't do nice things for friends?"
Alaman laughed.
"You do be so straightforward, Miss Kai" he said. He never could quite lose the 'Miss'! "It do be a pleasure to be your friend!"
"Then that's settled" said Kaili, firmly.
D're arrived before the dancing had long got underway, smelling faintly of firestone from a Fall near Tillek. At just a turn old, Esruth was part of the team lugging firestone for fully blooded riders, and D're was proud to be part of the fighting force of the Weyr to be doing such chores! He soon put Lowri at her ease, chatting about her little green firelizard 'Aunt Nosy'; and the girl took her first ride dragonback with only a hint of trepidation. D're flew straight on Kaili's recommendation; it was only a short distance for a dragon, and, as he told her, worth enjoying all the scenery from above. Lowri, once she had got over being so high, agreed!
When D're returned to Northfork he said,
"T'bor is talking about stationing a permanent dragon and rider here, Kaili, as you've a large Hold with many dependants. It should have been done before – Tragen is too modest for sure not requesting it! Can you be talking to him about sorting out a weyr – if he's not opposed to the idea?"
Kaili nodded.
"Who's to be sent?"
D're shrugged.
"Sure, and I'm not certain, but I'll check them out for me sister's own hold so I will!"
Kaili was not sure if he was teasing her; so stuck a tongue out in case he was. He ruffled her effulgent mop; and went to look up his passengers.
Tragen was delighted at Kaili's news.
"It would certainly be useful to have a dragonrider available" he said. "We could have had worse trouble with the blizzard – and in winter it would help if we have to search for lost people. If we get a rider not too proud – though that's not likely from High Reaches! 'Tis a mark of respect to the importance of a Hold to be given a dragon; we shall start work on a weyr at once. And you know what is required, so I put you in charge!"
Kaili sent Swiftwind with a message to her brother; but with word that they'd not be ready until after the High Reaches Spring Gather, for Tragen would want to see that any dragon stationed at Northfork had worthy quarters!
D're showed the note to T'bor, who nodded approval.
"Tragen's a good man" the Weyrleader said. "He should have had dragon support before."
"Who are you sending?" asked D're, curiously/
"I'd thought of T'mon and Denth as they could be spared from the fighting wing" T'bor referred to the sport miniature brown and his rider "For I'm sure Tragen and his people would not make fun of them. But there are those who would construe it as a slur on Tragen himself."
D're nodded. It would not do to give the wrong impression to touchy holders. The Weyrleader went on.
"I'll send T'han. He's a good hearted boy for all that he's so clumsy: and he feels low right now because he can't keep formation. I'll be sure and impress upon him that I want someone reliable to go, that it's not makework just because he can't figure out where he ends and his dragon begins. He needs time to gain co-ordination. And in the meantime it's a compliment to send Tragen a Brown Rider."
"I'll say" agreed D're.
"It's a big Hold – and with scattered cots. A Brown's strength could be useful. They are good reasons. And young T'han can learn to find himself" said T'bor, nodding in satisfaction.
Kaili did not dance more than a few dances at Tragen's Gather. She was too tired! Next time she would know more, and so have to run about less to perform her duties; but the day had proved exhausting – and there was still the clearing up to do on the morrow before they could prepare to leave for High Reaches! Kaili fell into her quilts with a groan – and was asleep before she could even think about the hard work the next day!