Part 2 (2/2)
”Well, that was one reason, Jaxom said, smiling. ”So what did happen to you and Alemi the other day?”
Aramina emerged from the house, carrying her squirming daughter under one arm and a tray in her free hand. Jayge quickly sprang to relieve her of the tray but she gave him Aranya instead, and served Jaxom a tall cool drink and some freshly baked sweet biscuits. It took a few more minutes until Readis was settled on his stool, with two biscuits and a small gla.s.s. When his mother was seated, Readis looked to his father for his cue to begin.
He took a deep breath and launched into the well-rehea.r.s.ed tale. He kept his eyes on Lord Jaxom's face to be sure he was listening properly - and he was - almost from the start.
”s.h.i.+pfish?” Lord Jaxom exclaimed when Readis got to that part of his recital. He glanced at Jayge and Aramina then and Readis saw their solemn confirmation of his claim.
”A whole pod of ”em,' Readis said proudly. ”Unclemi said there must have been twenty or thirty. They pulled us far enough in for us to reach the beach safely on our own. And,' he added, pausing to give emphasis to his final words, ”the next morning the skiff was found beached up by the fishhold, like they knew exactly where it belonged.”
”That is some tale, young Readis. You're a harper born. An amazing rescue. Truly amazing.”
Readis caught the genuine feeling in the Lord Holder's tone.
”The redfins weren't by any chance returned with the skiff?” he asked.
”Nah,' and Readis dismissed that with a flick of his wrist although he had been disappointed the lock-box hadn't appeared on the sh.o.r.e as well. ”They drowned. So we had to eat ol' stringy wherry ”stead of good juicy redfin steaks. And you know something else?”
”No, what?” Jaxom responded.
”It wasn't just that they rescued us, they talked to us, too!'
”What did they say?”
The expression on Lord Jaxom's face was suddenly alert and his eyes bored into Readis as if he'd caught him out in a lie.
Readis stiffened his back and threw out his chest.
”They said ”wielcame” when we thanked ”em. And they called themselves ”mamls”, not fish. Unclemi will tell you!'
Readis caught Jaxom glancing at his father, as if doubting him.
His father gave a slow nod to Jaxom, then turned to him.
”Readis, why don't you run down and see if the fire-lizards are giving Ruth a proper scrubbing?”
Having said his piece, Readis was delighted to be released to help bathe Ruth, who was his favorite dragon of all the ones he'd met so far.
”Can I? Really?” And he looked up at Lord Jaxom.
”Really, you can,' Jaxom said.
Readis let out a loud yell as he jumped off the porch and pelted down to the sh.o.r.e where Ruth was afloat.
When the boy was out of earshot, Jaxom turned to his parents.
”I know for a fact that dolphins, what we've been calling s.h.i.+pfish all these centuries, came with the original settlers. And they speak? Amazing.” He glanced towards Ruth.
”They'll never be compet.i.tion for dragons,' Jayge said quickly, flas.h.i.+ng Jaxom a look.
”No,' Jaxom replied with an easy grin, ”nothing could be but you seaside holders might want to encourage a renewal of the old friends.h.i.+p. Especially with the squalls you have.”
”Hmmm,' and Jayge was clearly taken with that idea.
”You are not,' and Aramina paused to emphasize the negative, ”to give my son any more ideas than he already has.
”Why not?” Jayge said, blinking at her. ”Catch ”em while they're young and train ”em up in the way they're to go.
”Readis will follow you as Holder of Paradise River ” she began, hotly.
”And, as he is Holder of Paradise River right on the coast, I think it'd be smart if he is aware of all the possibilities available,' Jayge said, making a sweeping gesture of his arm which included the sparkling waters beyond. ”Of course, onl when he's old enough to appreciate the advantages, he added as her expression turned slightly mutinous.
”Can't start ”em too young, you know, Jaxom told Aramina.
”You're as bad as he is. Don't tell me that Sharra would allow Jarrol to go careening about the coastline?”
”We don't have much of a one at Ruatha, Jaxom said with immense good humour. ”And speaking of my wife, I'd best get back to her. Surprise her with my early return. So I have your permission Lord Holder, to use Paradise River sands . - - He turned to Jayge.
Jayge raised both hands in broad a.s.sent. ”However much you need.”
”Thanks. Jaxom drank the last of the juice, made a satisfied smack of his lips. ”That hit the spot. Now, to entice my dragon away from all his admirers.
Jayge, circling Aramina's shoulders with one arm, waved a farewell. Then he looked down at his wife, always somewhat amazed that she had chosen to live her life with him.
”Some people have affinities for the sea, others for horses, or dragons.” He gave her an encouraging squeeze when her face clouded, hearing that preamble. ”Readis has had a great adventure for a young lad. Let's bend with it for the time being.
I would like to hear what Aivas has to say about the s.h.i.+pfish.
After all, love, we, too, owe our lives to them - and all that they brought us to. We ought, for the sake of our son, to listen to what is known about them.”
She leaned into him, borrowing his strength once again. ”He is just a little boy.”
”Who will grow, I hope, into a fine st.u.r.dy man. Who will probably be as stubborn as his mother,' and he grinned down at her.
”Ha! And not just his mother by any means,' she replied tartly.
”Just don't force the issue, Jayge.
”I hadn't intended to, but I must admit to being curious as to what Aivas will say about talking fish.”
”Yes,' Aramina said, moving away from his side to take a sand-covered biscuit out of her daughter's hand, ”people can imagine such odd things in moments of stress.”
”Didn't we though!” And Jayge's grin was for their own rarely mentioned rescue. ”We never thought to thank them, either.”
Aramina gave him a long and indignant stare. ”Considering we barely made it to sh.o.r.e, and never really thought the s.h.i.+pfish were speaking to us, why would we have?”
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