She had a lovely dress for the wedding, but she hated it. The entire time Yarrow stood in front of everyone, she kept thinking about Piemur and Jancis. Would they be staying at Southern or nearby? She thought the two lived at Cove Hold, but had no idea. Yarrow cursed her parents the whole time she stood there, for bringing her to this sweltering backwater, where everyone thought her an idiot just because she couldn't hear them, and where she had to marry a man she definitely didn't want.
Dragons mate others regardless of how they may feel about a certain one, she sensed from Visigoth and groaned inwardly.
Listen, I know you don't have the same feelings, but -- Yarrow paused a moment. Hannin was babbling about something with regard to marriage. -- How do Weyrmates feel when Flight happens? It was something she'd never considered before.
She got a chuckle for her pains. It's really something new Weyrfolk worry about, B'nick put in. The most pressure is on Weyrleaders and Wingleaders, to say nothing about Goldriders. I believe they have much the same worries you do... not to fear, I doubt he bites! At which point, she caught a sense of "private joke" that she had often had with the pair, but they had never explained it to her.
She looked around the inner hallway for some way out. I wish I could run like Menolly did, she thought, but that was not possible, she quickly saw. Regardless that all the Weyrleaders had been invited to the wedding, and none had come, the hall was yet full with all of Southern's holders. They probably didn't dare say no, or else Petia and Hannin bribed them. She knew Hannin ruled with an iron fist, constantly raising tarrifs and not paying the Weyr much of what he got. He never thought she was paying attention, or that she understood what was going on, when she copied his words into the log book, but she could figure it out. Hannin kept his Hold looking lovely, hoarding away food like a starving rat...
Yarrow blinked. The first part of the puzzle was there, then, and she'd never thought of it. Sure, the Lord Holder of Southern acted like no Lord Holder she'd ever heard of, but this one in fact was acting like a poor man, or someone during a time of plague. Yarrow had read about people acting like Hannin during Moreta's time and other plagues before and after the great woman.
Hannin isn't a Lord Holder by birth! she thought.
We think so too, but what proof do you have? asked B'nick. T'gellan's been trying to scout that out for a long time.
Quickly, Yarrow explained her thoughts on the matter. ...and no young lord would be living in such circumstances as to need to hoard food, not in this Pass.
She was brought back to reality by a sharp twist of her left arm. Petia had yanked it, hard.
"SAY -- 'I -- DO!'" the thin woman mouthed at her, an angry look on her face. She shook the girl. "SAY IT!"
Yarrow pursed her lips angrily.
We'll help you, B'nick sent, but this needs to happen.
Yarrow groaned and nodded.
She felt tears in her eyes as Hannin the false Lord Holder finished the ceremony, and everyone applauded politely. People began to come to her, their eyes wide and somber as they congratulated the new wife of the heir to the Hold.
Take heart, B'nick sent, since he isn''t the real Lord of this Hold, this marriage can be declared illegal...
...as soon as you find out evidence of why he killed Toric, Yarrow finished in her thoughts. That's all you want me for, isn't it?
Bitterly, she faced her new people.