KaraOhki, thanks for the message; I had intended to write a long reply if I had been able to; but may I say he sound brilliant! there will be a lot of developments over several books; and thanks so much for the lovely letter and encouragement. There are things that need highlighting. I hope you continue to enjoy!
CHAPTER 7 The Missing Brooch, and a Hatching
Talana squirmed out from between the sleeping furs reluctantly as Brown rider T'chal's slightly nasal voice addressed R'gar.
"It's Breeneth, R'gar, I'd be pleased if you can take a look at his ear, he says it's giving him discomfort." She heard R'gar rumble a question, and the brown rider replied,
"Well he first mentioned it last night, but we were out of the weyr – I was, uh, busy, uh, with Bellova."
Talana snorted. The little brat who had complained about Hallon's firelizards was certainly making the most of her time in a weyr. She had complained that there was no Queen egg, and refused to consider trying for a green; but she was prepared to wait to see what Tamalenth laid!
R'gar had little time for the girl either. His snort was audible to Talana.
"Pour some warmed oil in to ease the pain and loosen any blockage." He told T'chal. "I'll be right down as soon as I've seen to Laranth."
Talana hustled through her ablutions and galloped out. She'd never helped with ear blockages before and looked forward to learning more. She went through Laranth's weyr, pausing to kiss her beloved, on the morning quest for Klah. She was to be foiled in her search; for coming up the passage boiling with indignation, was Bellova.
"Weyrwoman! I want that insolent journeyman disciplined and his thieving lizards put down!" She screeched.
Talana stared at her.
"Assuming for one moment that there is any validity in your complaint" she chose the words carefully "Your second suggestion is so ridiculous that it would be laughable were it not so outrageous. Now rather than screeching like a fishwife on the stairway, I suggest you repair to the teaching hall whence I shall summon Hallon, and this matter can be discussed like civilised human beings."
Bellova subsided a little before the young Weyrwoman's censure and went muttering to the teaching hall. Talana thought direct to Sniffer, who could be trusted to pass good visualisations; and followed her.
oOoOo
Hallon was furious. That girl had come to his quarters that morning and accused him of theft, aided and abetted by his firelizards. She had promised to go to someone in authority and have him stripped of his rank and thrown from the weyr; worse, she threatened to get them to kill his firelizards. It had been all he could do not to slap her. Now Sniffer brought a visualisation of the weyrling teaching room and the impression of a summons from T'lana. He was so far from his crafthall – could this bitch actually carry out her threats? He hurried across the bowl in some trepidation, determined to protect his pets, no matter what.
oOoOo
Bellova shook her cloak at Talana.
"I had it right here last night! I always wear that brooch with this cloak – and this morning it was gone! We know that Hallon's a thief."
"Indeed?" Hallon entered as Talana uttered the single, icy word.
"He must be! How else would a low born journeyman have acquired four firelizards when I, the daughter of a Ranking Holder have only one?"
This of course was, Talana knew, the real reason for her complaint; though whether the girl would have the patience to properly care for any more was dubious! Talana said,
"Hallon was on a beach performing duties for the weyr when a wild nest hatched. R'gar's father was with him. Bearing false witness is seriously frowned upon here, Bellova and I advise you to remember that wild unfounded rumours are too. Have you any solid grounds to suggest that Hallon may have stolen from you?"
"My brooch is gone, isn't it?" The girl scowled. "And he's so insolent to me, I bet he'd do it out of spite, not just because it's extremely valuable. And his firelizards are always fetching and carrying for him, he sent them in to get it."
"That's not true!" Burst out Hallon. "If any firelizard took your beastly bauble, I bet it was yours – it's probably in your quarters somewhere. I don't want your brooch!"
Bellova retorted,
"Don't want it? Don't give me that. Apart from the value, you could give it to your current lover – whichever greasy little drudge that is."
Talana bellowed,
"That is ENOUGH! Bellova, your accusations have no apparent foundation. Give me that cloak." She snatched it from the girl and looked at the tear near the neck. "Your precious brooch has torn off – probably while T'chal was divesting you of your clothing last night." Bellova opened her mouth in surprise.
"How do you know about that?" she asked indignantly.
"That's for me to know and you to wonder." Said Talana shortly. Suddenly her eyes widened and she began to chuckle. Hallon regarded her with deep concern, Bellova with disgust. Talana wiped her eyes. "And I know where your brooch is." She said. "That must have been some ripping off of clothes you went in for!" And she turned and left the room, beckoning to them imperiously.
Breeneth was in the yard, complaining softly. R'gar was about to reach into his ear, a hand full of glows to assist him.
"May I?" asked Talana. He looked at her; then nodded. Talana dived into the unhappy Brown dragon's ear, and emerged with a wax covered object, which she wiped with a cloth.
"Would THIS be your brooch, Bellova?" She asked, sweetly. Bellova gasped, then snatched it angrily, her face burning. She held it with some repugnance at the dragon ear wax smeared on it.
"You!" She hissed at T'chal.
"What did I do? It wasn't my fault!" he said, injured.
"T'chal – my office." Said T'bor, who had been watching. T'chal swallowed, nervously. T'bor added, "May this be a lesson to you, Bellova; I'm sure weyrwoman T'lan will have something to say to you."
T'lan had several things to say to her; and when the girl had fled, sobbing, she snorted.
"And I still haven't had my morning Klah!" She said plaintively.
oOoOo
Hallon got Talana some klah; and thanked her. She snorted.
"Can't abide those that give themselves airs just because of their birth. At least the Lords and the Holders themselves work – even if some of them can only remember their own names because people address them by them all day long." She added, "We respect journeymen in the weyr, you'll see no false ranking at High Reaches at least."
Hallon was interested to see Talana's logical deduction at work; he'd heard about it and rather diffidently asked her about solving mysteries with logic. She had changed names to explain to him where confidences were involved but he was pleased to find himself able to follow the logic through, and sometimes reach the answer before she revealed it. The Mathematical aspect appealed to him as well and he was glad to study with a few other interested souls Talana's mathematics book. Talana saw in him a kindred spirit with a love of order and pattern, which she fostered. Bellova of course started the rumour that Hallon was the junior Weyrwoman's lover; a suggestion which amused Talana more than irritating her as a ridiculous idea. As though such a thing would matter in a Weyr anyway! R'gar made sure to be seen with Hallon in public – not difficult since he entered fully into T'lan's projects – for he liked the young man and did not wish him to feel that any credence was placed on the silly girl's spite, for Hallon was inclined to be a little prudish about relationships. It backfired on Bellova, for she whined to L'gani, the Weyrsecond. L'gani liked Hallon, and as an amateur woodworker himself had soon introduced himself. Hallon had been glad of his aid, and had taught him a lot in return, and the two were soon firm friends. L'gani, moreover remembered how L'rilly had tried to smear R'gar, and was not about to encourage that sort of thing again. Thus, Bellova had the undignified experience of having her mouth washed out with sweetsand; for his best friend could not accuse L'gani of subtlety.
oOoOo
Talana meanwhile could have wished that she had not acquired the reputation as someone to tell troubles to. Both L'rilly and Sh'len cried on her shoulder over each other. As she suspected, neither was mature enough for a serious relationship, and the mutual immaturity caused problems. Talana got L'rilly involved in her wood working projects, a trifle reluctantly, and made sure she worked with L'gani a lot. L'gani gave Talana an old fashioned look; but he was pleasantly surprised by the changes in L'rilly after the maturing experience she had undergone. He had a strong suspicion that Talana considered it his duty to look after the girl as he was presently unattached; and decided to let matters take their course without prejudice. Sh'len was in some ways harder; but Talana felt that his heart was resilient enough to find a solution, or at least solace of a temporary nature.
oOoOo
The large number of sea-bred candidates led to Hallon being wheedled into building a skiff for ventures onto the lake. Vargion explained solemnly to R'gar that the weeds were clogging it up and needed clearing for the dragons to bathe; and R'gar, lips twitching thanked him equally solemnly and made sure the boys cleared the weeds. Rossan and Corgall thoughtfully stuffed Vargion's tunic with the slimy weeds as soon as R'gar's back was turned.
"They seem so very young." One of the candidates spoke to Hallon as he watched, grinning. Hallon knew him slightly, a harper journeyman named Lugal.
"If they Impress, they'll grow up soon enough. And they've the sense of responsibility too – they've learned to respect the sea." Hallon said. This young man was about his own age and was newly arrived; Hallon was surprised that a journeyman would wish to attempt Impression if he was doing well at his own profession. Certainly Lugal seemed very competent at singing and playing to entertain the weyrfolk; and he had enough medical knowledge to make himself useful to both Calla and R'gar when Threadfall brought casualties. He also joined in the mathematics classes, and let drop the information that master Robinton was considering setting up some kind of information exchange symposium with progressive peoples from craft, hold and weyr. Hallon had been fascinated; and Talana had disappeared for several hours. She told him later that she had been to see master Fandarel about the matter; and the enthusiastic smith had introduced her to the Master Starsmith, Wansor.
"He's utterly brilliant" she told Hallon. "Worked out a lot of what I had to read about. I had to time it coming back so the Horrors didn't miss their feed – they still need the milk bar last thing at night." Hallon blushed and she grinned at him. "You get used to being open" she said, "I have."
oOoOo
R'gar got a more detailed account of Talana's talk with Wansor and listened with deep interest as she explained many of his theories.
"I was at Fort when he set up the distance viewer" he told her "And it was truly awesome to see the Red Star through it." He shuddered. "I also remember how excited he got when he found the other planets."
"I promised I'd run some calculations for him." Talana told R'gar. "Both to back up his own and to add to his work. We live in exciting times!"
oOoOo
The most exciting thing about the times for most people was hatching. When T'lana felt that it was close, R'gar went to fetch Tyrin and Camo and then Talana's aunt and uncle; and the tiers started to fill with interested spectators. Talana was delighted to see the wondering joy on Camo's face as he stared around; and she grabbed Hallon by the sleeve as he stood, wondering whether he was allowed to go into the hatching cavern or not.
"Hallon! Just the person I wanted! Could you look after Camo and take him to a good seat? He's a guest of Mirrith's." She pushed Camo towards Hallon. "Go with Hallon, Camo. I have to be with Mirrith. Hallon has four pretties."
"Four pretties?" The simple man's face if anything glowed more. "Camo likes pretties."
Hallon had never encountered anyone simple minded before; but T'lana seemed to treat him a bit like a child, so Hallon felt he could manage that.
"Come on then, Camo." He said. "Let's get a good place to watch like the weyrwoman says."
"Camo watch. Camo never seen hatching. Weyrwoman very good to Camo. Big pretty kind too." He waved happily to Mirrith who accorded him an inclination of the head – to the consternation of some of the watchers.
"That's the Harper hall dummy!" Hallon heard one shocked voice say. "What's he doing here?" There was a discontented whine to the voice.
Hallon turned to the guest who had spoken.
"He was invited, same as you; only he was invited by a dragon. They have good reasons for what they do."
"Well really!"
Hallon turned deliberately away from the incensed holder, and spoke to Camo.
"It's my first Impression too. I'm really excited." His firelizards chirped happily, and Camo stroked them gently with one of his enormous fingers. Suddenly they started a descant hum, which was echoed in base in the immense throats of the dragons. White clad candidates came forward onto the sands, girls and boys – the latter by far in the majority – all hoping that a dragonet awaited them.
oOoOo
The first shell to crack was a Bronze – a good omen! He made without hesitation for Vargion, whose whole face lit up in a soppy grin as he yodelled at the top of lungs trained to outshout a howling gale. The yodel was echoed by the strong seacrafter contingent in the audience and several landsmen holders held their ears. Eggs started hatching fast, and Hallon found he could hardly keep up with seeing who was Impressing, though both of the other sea-bred lads seemed to have dragonets, and the weyrbred half brothers, though only one of these four was a Bronze. Camo was on the edge of his seat in excitement, just like a child, thought Hallon before realising he was almost in the same position himself. One of the dragonets was butting aside candidates, his mouth wide and creeling for love that he had not yet found. Camo jumped up as the little creature fell, and Hallon found himself on his feet too.
"Help pretty?" Asked Camo, tugging at Hallon's sleeve. Hallon nodded, and involuntarily found his feet taking him down the tiers. He knelt beside Melth and helped him to his clumsy dragonet feet.
"I do love you" Melth told him "And I'm hungry"
What had happened had just dawned on Hallon.
"But – I'm not supposed to Impress!" He said out loud. The dragonet eyes whirled orange in worry and concern.
"Don't you love me?"
Hallon threw his arms around the little creature's glistening neck.
"Of course I love you" he said softly. "I'll always love you. I just wasn't expecting this!"
Melth nuzzled at him; and nothing else mattered except the hunger the little dragon felt. Hallon started to lead him to the cavern entrance towards the others. R'gar grinned at him.
"Well done H'llon – just don't let him overeat, Bronze rider."
It was only at that moment that it occurred to H'llon that he had not just Impressed a dragon – he had Impressed a Bronze dragon! Until then he had only been thinking of how beautiful Melth was, how wonderful. But a Bronze dragon? What would Master Bendarek say?
oOoOo
Lugal – L'gal – also had a Bronze dragonet and wore an equally bemused look.
"I don't know what Master Domick's going to say about Solpeth" he said. "I wasn't supposed to Impress.
H'llon stared at him.
"But you were a candidate!" He said.
"Only because Domick set him to check up on me." T'lana's crisp voice came behind them. "Am I right, L'gal?"
The young man grinned shamefacedly.
"He thought it worth while." He said.
"Well I shall have to have a long chat with him." Said Talana. "Cheer up, H'llon! When he's grown up, you'll be able to go off together to get wood instead of having to ask for lifts!"
"You mean I won't lose my position?"
"Shards, no! It's great, because now I know you can't take it into your head to go off and abandon us. Of course" she grinned "We'll have to put up with broken woodwork until he's finished being a walking tummy and you've time to call your own!"
oOoOo
T'lana was well satisfied with the hatching. She'd suspected that H'llon would Impress – large numbers of firelizards seemed to be an indication – and she was delighted that all her cousins had Impressed too. Z'linda had a Green and Z'nil and L'zayn had respectively a Brown and a Blue. The young widow from High Reaches Hold had also Impressed a Green, and T'lana was wondering whether the contraction A'ira worked. She had hugged the stunned girl: and reassured her that all the women in the weyr would rally round to help with her young children while the dragonet demanded all her attention. She added that she, T'lana, would see that she got help so that she would not have to foster out if she didn't want to.
Pilgra was delighted. Her tactics of a larger lower layer taking account of the strengths and weaknesses of Green dragons would have a chance to be tried and tested, and if necessary modified.
oOoOo
H'llon beckoned Camo over as the big man emerged, looking slightly lost; and T'lana left him to it. H'llon grinned.
"I wasn't expecting this" he indicated Melth. "Will you help me feed him?"
Camo's face shone.
"Camo help feed baby dragon-pretty! I tell Silvina!" Happily he helped to feed the ravenous dragonet, stroking the soft glistening bronze skin. "H'llon." He said.
"Yes?"
"Your name now. Not Hallon." He was pleased with himself. H'llon grinned and nodded. As Melth came close to capacity, R'gar stepped over to warn H'llon again about overfeeding.
"You'll have to catch up on some theory" he said "But basically it's like your wretched flutterbugs only bigger. And they'll help you with the bathing too as he grows." H'llon's Firelizards cheeped and hummed happily, perching on portions of Melth and chatting away as proudly as though they had Impressed a Bronze dragon!
T'lan watched Camo helping.
"That man belongs in a weyr" she told R'gar. "The dragons love him for his simplicity; and he so enjoys helping feed 'pretties'. Only I've a feeling Silvina is his mother – just a gut reaction really. She might not be too happy for him to come away from her."
"Why not have a chat about it next time you're down there?" suggested R'gar. "Just generally, about how well he fitted in, and how much the dragons like him. Then she can suggest it if she thinks it a good idea."
"You really are wise, dearest." She murmured, dropping her head against his arm. "I love you so much, you know."
He put an arm around her; and the weyrlings were astonished to see 'Old Grumpy' kissing his weyrmate passionately in public and not looking grumpy in the least.
You're going to see a lot more of H'llon; and his relatives.