Part 13 (1/2)
And then there was that infamous meeting of Weyrleaders and Lords Holder - which he had been unable to attend while he was involved with ousting the renegade Denol from lerne Island. That's when all those old-womanish Lords had actually established that the dragonriders had the right to control the Southern Continent land grabbings. ”Out of respect for the services dragonriders have given Hold and Hall over the centuries of Threadfall.” As if t.i.thing to support the indolent riders hadn't been reward enough for dragons doing what they had been bred to do. Much less the gratuities which had always been lavished on dragonriders.
When Toric had heard of that decision, he had been infuriated, especially as it had been voted on behind his back. He'd have stopped the whole notion right then if he'd been able to come.
The first insult to him had been that the Northern Lords hadn't waited until he could come to a meeting that, when all was said and deplorably done, affected him more than any of them, since he was the only confirmed Lord Holder in the south.
And Lord of Hold so much larger than anything in the north, including Telgar, that it had been ludicrous to hold such a meeting without him. Of course, the Weyrleaders had planned it that way, knowing he would protest. Knowing he would have been able to sway some of the indecisive idiots who had their t.i.tles by default and certainly wouldn't have been able to survive a season in the south. He'd've seen that the Southern Continent would be wide open for those with the guts to work to hold any land. And apply for confirmation to a full Council of Lords Holder and no Weyrleaders present for it wasn't up to dragonriders who held and where! Not in Toric's lexicon.
On his bedroom and office walls were outsized copies of the Southern Continent: several aspects, including one which had cost him a sack of marks, a spatial view of the south, its terrain stretching out and out to the curve of the horizon. That view caused him the most irritation since it was proof positive that he had been cheated. The Weyrwoman had shown him only a small section of the continent when she and F'lar had tricked him into settling for only the land between the two rivers. He had been deceived into settling for a tiny portion when he could have had more, much more. And those two Weyrleaders had known it. Although his wife had tried to convince him that they couldn't have known the extent of Southern, not until Master Idarolan and Master Rampesi had sailed, one west and one east, until they had met, was the size of the southern continent truly discovered. Toric could not be convinced otherwise. He had wanted more and, since the Weyrleaders had thwarted him in that devious meeting, he would have more. Especially when the dragonriders had not helped him regain the big island from Denol's clutches. He was especially bitter about that.
Right now, of course, with everyone scurrying about following the orders of that machine, Aivas, he had to bide his time. It was as essential to his future plans as everyone else's that Thread be stopped from ever falling on Pern again. He had even allowed Hamian to spend full time experimenting and contriving the new machines and equipment needed to end the airborne menace. He had informants in place so that anything of any significance occurring at Landing was reported to him.
He appeared when vital decisions were being discussed. He also tagged those who would be of use to him later on. If, and Toric entertained some doubts, Aivas managed to do as it had promised: rid the planet of Thread.
He had already started to make his plans: spurred by his animosity for the Benden Weyrleaders. He still had the notes which young Piemur had made of his explorations along the coast. He himself had taken short trips - no absences long enough to arouse suspicion, and never where dragonriders might inconveniently overfly him. He would personally select those he placed where he wanted them, and enough on large enough holdings so that, after Threadfall, there would be enough Lords Holder grateful to him, Toric, to vote a majority over the northern idiots. When the time was ripe . . . And he smiled again. The domination of the Weyrs over the Southern Continent would suffer a major curtailment. He had no doubt he would find support among the Lords Holder, especially since he could use that Ancient doc.u.ment to justify the actions. Ah, yes, when the time was ripe The next morning was the seventh day when Boojie was supposed to report to Persellan. Healer and dragonrider arrived at first light on the beach and saw dolphins cavorting in the water on a sh.o.r.eward course.
”I do hope Boojie isn't one of those leapers, Persellan said in a grouchy tone. ”He'll pull his st.i.tches and I won't sew him up again.
T'lion gave the bell a few pulls to be sure their presence was noticed. Then he and Persellan, who was dressed in shortlegged pants and had put what he needed out of his healer's bag in a small pouch slung over one shoulder, waded out to meet the incoming sea creatures.
The one who glided in across their path stopped right in front of them and eased over on to his back. The long gash was visible, just under the water.
”Gaddie, we may need you again . T'lion began.
”No, I don't think we need trouble Gadareth,' Persellan said because the dolphin was holding steady, presenting the injury well enough for the purpose of removing the sutures. ”Here, hold this for me,' the healer said, having removed a blunt-ended pair of scissors from his pack before he pushed it at T'lion.
Running skilled fingers along the injury, Persellan gave one of his meditative hums, his expression registering approval and satisfaction.
”It's well closed, not a single suture torn or pulled. Really, if I'd known they heal so quickly, I could have removed the st.i.tches earlier. Remarkable recovery.”
”The salt water?”
”Could be, and the excellent state of health these wild creatures enjoy. Now tell him not to move. I don't want to inadvertently puncture him at this stage of his recovery.”
T'Iion bent close to Boojie's head, noticed the brightness of the eye regarding him and patted the melon.
”Hold as still as you can, Boojie. Won't hurt.”
Boojie dropped his jaw in token of understanding. T'lion nearly fell backwards, though, as the tip of another dolphin snout protruded from the water just beyond Boojie's head.
He hadn't been aware that a dolphin lurked that close, Tana probably.
”Hold your hand out, please, T'lion. I need to be sure I've removed all the st.i.tches.”
T'lion obeyed and the procedure was very quickly accomplished. Persellan bent his head to peer at the closed wound.
”Hmmmm. Yes, remarkable. I really should encourage patients to swim Or at least to immerse themselves in the water here for its curative powers. Good fellow, Boojie. You've been a grand patient. Where do I scratch?”
”Not there,' T'lion said hastily and grabbed Persellan's hand away from what was indecently close to dolphin privates. ”Here, under the chin. They love it.”
Persellan caressed Boojie. ”You've been a very good patient.
I could wish humans were as well behaved. But then I didn't have to oversee you in your watery ward, did I?” Persellan's hum turned into a chuckle. ”Dragonriders do not take kindly to having to remain in bed. Shards!” Persellan backed away in surprise as Boojie suddenly loomed up out of the water until he was on eye level with the healer. Then, with great care, the dolphin touched his nose to Persellan's mouth before dropping back into the water.
”Thank you, Peerrssss-lan,' Boojie said with an enthusiastic squee to emphasize his statement.
”You are very welcome, Boojie. Very welcome indeed, Persellan said, executing a few short bows at the dolphin.
”Hmmm. I don't always get thanked by my human patients either. You know, T'lion, I don't think I'd mind being healer to the dolphins after all. D'you think I should see what other information Aivas has on sea mammal ailments and cures?”
T'lion grinned as he handed the healer back his pouch and they both waded out of the sea.
”I don't see why not. The more we learn from Aivas the better. Have you heard anything from Master Oldive?” T'lion asked.
”Yes, I have. Most gratifying. Oddly enough, it was the Harper Hall - Master Menolly, in particular - which supported my suggestion,' and Persellan glanced quizzically at T'lion.
”She was at Paradise River Hold and Alemi is her brother.
He might have told her what he was doing with the dolphins.”
”Which is?”
”Much what I'm doing, getting to know them and teach them our words.”
”But they know them ”No, they know the words people used to use,' T'lion said, mastering an urge to grin at the healer's confusion. ”Our language has s.h.i.+fted slightly from what the dolphins learned long ago from us.
”Language s.h.i.+fted?” Persellan was indignant.
”Aivas told me.”
”For a rider who hasn't even flown Thread yet, you seem to be remarkably well connected.”
”Me? Shards, no, Persellan, I just have to convey a lot of people here and there,' T'Iion said in an earnestly selfdeprecating tone. He didn't wish to give Persellan the impression that he was boasting or anything. ”I was conveying Master Alemi when he rang that old bell they dredged up from Monaco Bay and summoned the dolphins. That's how I got involved.”
”But you've put up a bell here.”
”Aivas asked me to. I'm supposed to help count how many dolphins there are these days.
”Doing well, I see. Hmmm. What does Gadareth think about all this?”
”You saw for yourself, healer. He was quite ready to help with Boojie.”
”So he was. Well,' and they had entered the clearing around the Weyr Hall, ”let me know if they need any more st.i.tching or something. Like dragons, they are appreciative!” He sniffed once disparagingly and made for his quarters.
At Fort Hold, Menolly. Sebell, Master Oldive and two of his journeymen had made their way to the Fort harbor.
”I find it most fascinating that no-one . . . ” Master Oldive paused to emphasize the negative, ”ever bothered to ask why that bell was known as the ”doll fins bell”.”
Menolly laughed, enjoying this outing from the Healer Hall now that the weather was more clement with an early spring warming. It was good to be on runner-back and especially to have something which could pry Sebell loose from his increasingly heavy duties as Master Harper. They scarcely seemed to have any time together these days with all the activity and industry connected with Aivas' plan to rid Pern of Threadfall. ”Surely you've had come across enigmas in your Healer Hall records.”
”Oh, indeed,' Master Oldive said with a laugh. ”Even the most legible entries contain references to procedures the authors were familiar with but which we lost over the centuries.