Part 10 (1/2)
”As well, but Hally won't walk the tables for another nine or ten months and it's not good to start the teaching process and then interrupt it for such a long time. The children of this hold are eager to learn and I don't like to put them off.”
She went on to point out the strengths and failings of each of the other young men. Perschar, the best artist in the Harper Hall, had sent along portrait sketches of Boskoney, Tomol and Lesselam, several poses of each including a full length drawing in color.
”I never expected we'd have a choice, Aramina said, scrutinizing the drawings.
Menolly grinned at her. ”What? And deprive my nieces, and nephew, of the best education there is? Of course, whoever comes here will have to spend some time helping the archivists with the music Aivas has been churning out for us. Tagetarl's in charge of the actual printing but the Paradise River Hold Harper is close enough to a.s.sist the work. That won't be a problem, will it?”
”Not at all,' Jayge said. ”We're quiet here and there are not that many children ”Yet,' Aramina added with a wink. When the excitement of that admission had abated, she asked if any of the men were married.
”Not yet,' and Menolly grinned. ”You've several lovely girls here among your holders. We have to give them some choice, too, and not limit it to smelly seamen.” She grinned at her brother.
”I like him,' Aramina said, pointing to Boskoney. ”He has a kind eye.” Boskoney was not the handsomest of the three, nor as tall as Lesselan. His curly hair was sun-bleached and there were laugh wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. She felt comfortable looking at his portrait whereas the other two faces didn't seem as candid. ”Ista bred, did you say? Then he won't mind the heat so much as the other two. And we won't have to explain about firehead and the other disadvantages of living in a tropical climate.”
”Very well,' Menolly said briskly, pus.h.i.+ng the sketch of Boskoney over to her. ”Sebell will inform Boskoney of his posting and I'll ask T'gellan to send a rider to collect him. I'd like to discuss the various children with him so he'll know what aspects to concentrate on. They're such a lovely handful. I've quite enjoyed my time. Ooops, there's the baby awake again.” Boskoney arrived, was duly briefed by Menolly on his students' abilities, and settled in the Harper's Hold as if he'd always been there. Menolly promised to visit Paradise River Hold again, especially when Camo volunteered the information that he would like to stay warm here. He didn't like winter but then, as Menolly explained, he had trouble remembering to put on his jacket as the year progressed into winter, and to forget to take it off as the year wound into spring and summer.
Boskoney elected to do his Harper Hall duty at Landing in the evenings, and T'lion and Gadareth were usually a.s.signed to convey him. That suited T'lion, Gadareth and Alemi for they continued to improve their relations with the dolphins, and now there were many pods who would respond to the Bells. In the biggest tree bordering the strand nearest Eastern Weyr, T'lion had cobbled a sort of belfry arrangement - using a smaller bell than Alemi used at Paradise Head.
It wasn't that he was trying to be secretive about this activity.
It was more he was relis.h.i.+ng the a.s.sociation too much as was Gadareth - that he didn't want his efforts ridiculed or demeaned.
After all, it wasn't as if Weyrleader T'gellan didn't know that dolphins rescued the sea-stranded. It was only that he, T'lion, hadn't exactly explained the connection he was improving all the time.
A summons to the Weyrleader's quarters that morning in no way alarmed T'lion since T'gellan often sent for him to a.s.sign the day's ch.o.r.es. But he did not expect to see his brother there and he was not at all rea.s.sured by the smug expression on K'din's face and the stern ones T'gellan and Mirrim wore.
I don't know why you're upset, Monarth, T'lion heard his dragon say quite loudly in his head. They are dolphins that the Ancients brought here. They save lives. They can speak to anyone.
That gave T'lion the clue he needed: K'din had been spying on his evening sessions with the dolphins.
”I believe you have some explaining to do, T'lion, T'gellan said sternly, c.o.c.king an eyebrow at his young rider. Mirrim also looked repressive.
”About the dolphins?” T'lion hoped he sounded more relaxed than he actually was.
”Dolphins?”
”Yes, dolphins is what Aivas called them,' and he saw the Weyrleaders exchange glances as he casually dropped in that authority. ”They came with the Ancients, you know. They had been given mentasynth enhancement so they could speak with their human partners, the dolphineers.” He got all the big words out without tripping over them.
T'gellan frowned. ”You've been to Aivas with this?”
”Well, no, he interviewed me. Master Alemi at Paradise River Hold is working very closely with the dolphins since they give him weather reports, news about what fish are running and where. Saves the fishmen a lot of trouble. And better yet, they warn about squalls.”
”They do!” T'gellan said, more statement than question, digesting T'lion's cheerfully rendered explanation.
”And just how did you get involved, T'lion?” Mirrim wanted to know.
”Oh, you know how these things happen, Mirrim. Like the time you impressed your fire-lizards.”
She frowned, giving him a ”don'tyoubec.o.c.kywith-me stare. You impressed these creatures?”
”No, nothing like that, and T'lion dismissed the suggestion with a flick of his hand. ”Nothing like dragons,' and his tone also relegated the a.s.sociation to a less significant interface. ”They are useful, though,' and he decided not to add ”like fire-lizards'.
”You summon them with a bell peal. If they feel like it, they answer. Mostly they do because we're sort of a new game for them.
”New game?” T'gellan leaned forward.
”That's what Master Alemi said. The pod that lives in these waters is different to the one he's in contact with. Aivas wants us to find out how many there are and try to improve their language skills.
”Language skills?” Mirrim said, blinking at him.
T'lion gave a shrug. ”That's the term Aivas used. They speak badly . they say ”mans” for ”men” and ”gayve” instead of gave . messing up words something fearful. I have to sort of teach them how to speak correctly.”
K'din gave a scornful guffaw. ”You, a teacher?”
”I do know more words than the dolphins do,' T'lion replied serenely. -Just when do you teach them, T'lion?”
The young bronze rider could see he wasn't out of the fire yet as far as his Weyrleader was concerned. ”Oh, when I have time. Like when I'm bathing Gadareth. He rather likes the dolphins. They swim under him and tickle his belly. And when I'm scrubbing his wings, they vault over them.”
”Do they so?” The Weyrleader's tone was rhetorical and T'lion remained silent, trying to act nonchalant.
Had K'din actually suggested that he was depriving or neglecting Gadareth in favor of dolphins? Not that he could be drummed out of the Weyr or anything! However, he could be disciplined and kept from a.s.sociating with the dolphins. Had he mentioned Aivas enough so that T'gellan would be satisfied?
Or had he made too much of that a.s.sociation for a Weyrleader's unease?
”I think we'd better meet these Dolphins, Weyrleader. They'd be pleased to make your acquaintance, too.” T'lion sounded as cheerful as he could but he hoped the dolphins would display their positive talents instead of their love of play and games. ”Can my brother come?
So he can get a good square look at the dolphins?”
T'gellan regarded the older brown rider with a speculative look. ”I do believe that might be salutary.”
Yes, very,' Mirrim added with a sour look in K'din's direction.
Monarth and Path are interested. I told them everything we do. But we should have told the Weyrleaders sooner. That is one thing wrong. I don't understand the other.
Not the most rea.s.suring remark Gadareth could have made.
As T'lion turned to follow the Weyrleaders out to their waiting dragons, he realized that Gadareth was correct about not informing his Weyrleaders sooner. But, with conveying Menolly and others about, he hadn't been much in the Weyr these days.
But much on the seaside talking to dolphins, Gadareth reminded him conscientiously.
That brother of mine, T'lion thought back to his bronze, he'd love nothing better than to get me in trouble with the Weyrleaders.
Buleth doesn't like it.
Good on Buleth, then.
Fortunately for T'lion's purpose of demonstration, Tana and Natua appeared as soon as the bell peal had echoed across waters slightly roughened by a sea breeze and the incoming tide. T'lion walked in to waist depth to meet the two while the others stood on the sh.o.r.e, dragons, riders and Mirrim's fire-lizards.
”Just you two?” T'lion asked, having hoped to have more of the pod to show off. Then he raised his voice so those on the beach could hear what he said as he made introductions.
”Tana, Natua, that's my pod leader, T'gellan, and his mate, Mirrim. And K'din.” He was not going to introduce him as his brother.