B'nick was the first to respond to Yarrow's drum-signal, which she hoped she'd kept cryptic enough that the would-be Lord Holders didn't fully understand it. What's going on? 'Issues at Southern' could be anything; we haven't heard of any new 'quakes. Briefly, she sent him news of what had happened and got an unmistakable feeling of surprise. She could practically see him whistling far away. I'll come; T'gellan's busy but he's concerned, he sent back a moment later. And we'll notify those – who'd be interested.
I think there's something to find out here, she returned. For one thing, who let him know about it? Him specifically? And why? He never said anything before.
Very true, sent the green rider. Are you in danger? This isn't some long-lost cousin of Toric's, you know. This is his heir, and he's as wily as the old man was.
I'm all right at present. She was on her guard, that was for sure; the man made her hairs stand a little on end in a way Petia and Hannin never had. Those two had just been mean. Besic was – something different. Offhand, she sent, do you have any idea how Lord Brevis and his Hold are doing?
Do you think he's involved?
That gave Yarrow a start. She didn't like that thought one bit; Brevis was almost the exact opposite of his elder brother. He would have made an excellent Holder of Southern. But B'nick had a point: Brevis was also Toric's son. She might need to watch that. . . I – don't know, she sent back. Has there been word from him?
No, but I was sweep-riding in that area today and saw very little rebuilding going on. In fact, Brevis seems to be holed up in a cavern system not far from there. A little cove on the seacoast, some miles from his original Holding. There are a few of his fishermen there with him. If he's planning something, we need to know.
Yarrow thought about it and nodded to herself. At that moment, Nisha and Tointel flew in from the ledge on the eastern side of the dilapidated tower. She smiled to herself; the little ones had always known that she couldn't hear them, and had figured out how to not startle her by appearing too much out of nowhere. Yarrow patted Nisha absently, though both lizards were alert, she noticed. Are you picking up on the tension in the Hold, little ones? She wondered, looking at whirling yellow eyes. Alert, but not too freaked-out, then. With a sigh, Yarrow headed back downstairs.
She found the main hall in an interesting state; Besic seemed to be holding court. He had a number of the residents gathered around, whether by their own volition or not remained to be seen. He was making a speech of sorts, while eating – from our small supplies, he gets a banquet, it seems, she thought, looking for Mink. The young man caught her eye from a corner where he was standing, looking uncertain. This fight might already have been won. But. . . .
Mink shrugged and signed something to her, around the order of "Well, he is Toric's heir. . . ."
Yarrow pursed her lips, heading toward him. "You are the designated Lord Holder of Southern," she signed. "Remember the committee? Lady Sharra is Toric's sister and she didn't make any claims to the land here. And where was he all this time, if he really wanted the place?"
There was a tap on her shoulder then, and she whirled to find Besic standing there, smiling pleasantly at her. He bowed. "You have drummed?" he said, over-enunciating his words in that way people had when speaking to her here. He even made a little tap-tap sign with his fingers so she'd be sure he was understood. Yarrow simply nodded. "Good, then! Of course, you may stay on as Harper once this unpleasant business is cleared up. Just a formality."
How did you find out about it in the first place, then? She wondered, but knew a direct question would never be met with a direct answer, not by this one.
He was nodding to Mink anyway, having apparently had all he wanted to do with her. ". . . quite good, though your stocks could use a little boost," he was saying.
Yarrow had an idea just then. Perfect timing, she thought. Quickly, she signed to Mink, "I could go check on Brevis – see what he's doing. Fish, you understand." She really hoped the young man understood. First he didn't seem to, and then a few seconds later undrstanding dawned.
He nodded to Besic. "My Harper has volunteered to go for assistance with supplies to the holding of your brother, Lord Brevis," he said. "They were hit rather hard by the quake themselves, but surely there's enough to share."
For only a second, she saw concern flicker across the older man's face, but he just bowed. "Very good, you're doing just as you should," he said, and added another bow for Yarrow.
The sooner I get away from you the better, she thought, wondering how Mink could stand the condescending tones. Oh, right, he was the son of Hannin and Petia. She bowed again and turned away, out of the Hold.
Out – and not far off – were more signs of destruction from the quake. Right – of course those people wouldn't think to clear up the debris around the Hold; they never listen to Harper teachings here, she thought, groaning inwardly as she climbed over broken branch after broken branch, stumbling on bits of stone and wood. Not like the Pass was already over or anything. T'gellan would have a fit. Then again so would any Weyrleader. Slowly she made her way out eastward.
The usual landmarks were missing, like the patch of fellis and nettle that Yarrow used to figure out whether to go left or right when on a walk. She paused to take a breath, watching a trundlebug making its steady way over the remains of a large couple of bushes. For the first time she was a little nervous out here; the local felines must be hunting whatever was left for food. Yarrow had no doubt that they at least were happy there was more debris to cover them, make stalking prey easier.
Come along now; you've firelizards and dragons a thought away, you can do this, she scolded herself. It was probably just nerves, Besic must have rattled her more than she'd thought. Then again, it's more likely the idea of Brevis being involved in this somehow. She paused again after a particularly rough patch and wiped her hand over her brow. The heat that day wasn't helping.
But, she discovered after another half hour of tedious climbing and slow movement, she seemed to be going in the right direction. Yarrow started to see a few trenches, cracks in the ground – in one spot, a wide pit had opened and swallowed a whole patch of fellis root and some wildflowers. The insects were thick and the haze was merciless as the heat. She was thankful that she'd thought to bring a little flask for water.
The charred pool brought her up short. It was still steaming, and she had a coughing fit after a few moments standing near the place. It's not passable here – and that's probably why Brevis hasn't been around to Southern, she thought, feeling a flash of relief. It meant he was clear, he couldn't possibly be involved in whatever his slimy brother was up to. It meant – ...and he has a fire lizard who can send messages.
She sighed and resumed looking for a way around again, finally having to backtrack a ways to the south around yet another giant patch of insects and rubble. At least the bug population had been lower at the smoking pit.
Two hours later, Yarrow started to see signs of a cleared-out way, and headed for that with a sigh of reief. Firmer ground, much better – well at least it was kind of steady. I bet this is Brevis's doing, so he must be nearby,she thought and walked along the new path. After a while, she came to the coastline, that was likewise tidied up somewhat. He's somewhere around here anyway. He must be.
A small entryway to the north led her directly along the coastline. No sign of boats or netting, so B'nick wasn't kidding, she thought, wondering again just why Brevis wasn't rebuilding like even Southern Hold was. She started to see the rubble that meant she was near the remains of his place, too; none of it had been touched and it had been entirely destroyed. Little was there that showed any sign of life, maybe a twig or leaf poking out of piles of stone and wood. Some smashed pottery.
Another mile, and she spotted the cove. It must have been hidden by the buildings the last time she was up here; the caves were fair-sized but could easily have been missed if you were only looking at the larger hold ones that were once there. Sure enough there was activity. People moved around; Yarrow spotted the rougher man who'd grabbed her on her first walk miles away from Brevis's Hold.
The second man she spotted made her blink: a dragonrider? Why was one here, arguing with Brevis, it looked like? The rider looked very upset, and he was wearing – Southern Weyr's colors, the same ones B'nick wore. Definitely not B'nick though, she thought, wondering what to do now as the man stomped off. His scarred face didn't tell her anything. Yarrow had no clue who he was. She gulped and headed for Brevis's general direction once the strange rider had gone off a fair distance.