Part 21 (1/2)
”I, too, am overwhelmed, Weyrleaders, put in Master Nicat.
”Every mine known to the Craft, and certainly all the new ones from the Ancients' records, are being worked and I've had to ask those older miners I asked to return to the Hall to answer the priorities required to do Aivas' work to remain on in supervisory capacities. I can't afford to lose one able-bodied man or those women we have in the Hall.
”Then,' and he threw up his hands, ”people started applying to me for stoneworkers. There's not much call for stoneworkers as most holders enlarge their quarters over the winter months.
And masonry's not strictly a Miners Craft skill. But no-one else trains men to work stone. And all the dressed stone will have to be s.h.i.+pped south! I ask you, how will that be accomplished'?” If he saw R'mart's knowing look or the glances that F'lar and Lessa exchanged, he gave no notice. ”One thing Aivas didn't seem to have in those exhaustive files of his was much about improvements in quarrying and masonry.” Unexpectedly, a grin spread across Nicat's round face with its fringe of white hair.
”Really'? Well, it's almost a relief to find out he wasn't infallible,' F'lar remarked at his driest. ”Do you have men trained for stonework?”
”Actually, we're training some right now, Nicat said, s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g his face up and sighing. ”That sculptor fellow, Edwinrus, has a couple of young sons and has taken on a few more likely lads. He's put aside some artistic commissions to give me a hand. I could use half again as many apprentices in that trade and the same number in mining, what with Hamian wanting more and more trained miners down at Karachi. He'll have to take apprentices and train them up as he wants them. I even walked those Caves of Laudey's to see if there were any men able-bodied enough for that sort of work.”
”Laudey still has people in the Caves?” Lessa asked in surprise. ”I thought they all got put to work during the special projects.
”Some of those projects have ended, you know, - Nicat remarked. ”So he got some of the holdless back but mainly it's the old and infirm who're in those Caves. However, Larad says he could free up some of those prisoners,' Nicat continued, ”the ones who he feels have served sufficient time and could be more profitably used elsewhere. At least they're accustomed to stonework.”
”In point of fact, it's the dearth of suitable stone that curtails settling in some of the open plains areas, Talmor said, shuffling around his various maps and reports.
”Those areas will just have to wait until after the Pa.s.s is over,' F'lar said, dismissing that consideration. ”Sometimes I wonder why we let ourselves get talked into being responsible for the development of the Southern Continent ”Because Weyrleaders are the only ones who could be entrusted with such a responsibility . . . ” Fandarel bellowed at the same moment that Master Nicat rose half out of his chair to say much the same thing. They regarded each other with their uncharacteristic vehemence.
G'dened and R'mart grinned.
”With the Harper Hall as your consciences,' Talmor added in a mild tone, ”and the fervent agreement of all the Lords Holder and Master Craftsmen - ”With the notable exception of Toric,' Lessa said, sardonically c.o.c.king one eyebrow.
”Be that as it may,' F'lar went on, with a nod of grat.i.tude to the two Master Craftsmen, ”dragonriders are stretched, too, between Threadfalls all over the world, mapping and conveying. Shortly, we'll have to open a Weyr in the Honshu area ”Surely not at Honshu Weyrhold,' Fandarel said, shocked out of his usual phlegmatisim to pounce on F'lar's words.
”Not likely,' Flar said with a laugh, glancing at Lessa to forestall a terse comment from her as well. ”But we will need stone for a decent Weyrhall for that as we haven't been able to locate any suitable craters down south.”
”You do remember, don't you. your promise to T'bor,' said R'mart, leaning toward F'lar and smiling lopsidedly.
”That he could turn over the Weyrleaders.h.i.+p of High Reaches and go back south?” F'lar nodded his head. ”When this Pa.s.s is over, he can do what he pleases.”
”When this Pa.s.s is over Nicat said wistfully on a long sigh.
A respectful silence followed that as each member of the meeting let thought dwell on the time when.
”By the by, Master Fandarel,' R'mart said, snagging one of the maps out of the array on the table and sliding it to the Smith, we located that ridge for you, the one which is indicated as a source of iron on the Ancients' spatial map.”
”Where?” Fandarel was instantly alert and reached his long arm across the table to retrieve the paper.
”There, in those foothills. We've staked and flagged it to be recognized. Good site, actually, a fine river nearby. You might consider setting up another Hall down there.” R'mart was half-teasing, knowing how devoted Master Fandarel was to the main Craft Hall site in Telgar.
”We may indeed have to consider that in due course,' Fandarel said, his eyes scanning the map while one huge index finger followed the course of the river. ”It wouldn't be fair to have all the Main Craft Halls in the north. Give some of my good Masters a chance to show their abilities.”
”Make it easier to mine and process the ore at the same site, Master Nicat said, rising to peer over Fandarel's shoulder at the map. ”See any blackstone?”
”Didn't look for it, Master Nicat, but we can,' R'mart replied.
”Nice stretch of trees nearby. And a sweet little valley where folks could farm.”
”Ah, the possibilities are endless now, are they not?” Nicat said with great satisfaction.
”Did we but have the trained men and women,' Fandarel added wistfully.
”Well,' F'lar began, ”it is obvious that we can proceed no faster than we are doing in the matter of southern settlements, no matter what accusations are made.”
”We shall do our best to counter those,' Fandarel said, looking at Nicat, who nodded vigorous accord. ”We shall also do our best to indicate that it is a lack of trained personnel that holds the whole process up. I shall so inform my Craft Masters, Journeyfolk and apprentices.” He looked at Master Nicat who hastily added that he would do likewise.
”When will more of these be available?” F'lar asked, holding up one of the intercom devices.
”I was thinking of the most efficient way of doing that;' and now Fandarel turned to Master Nicat, ”those elderly and infirm at Igen, do they have their wits about them and the use of their fingers?”
Nicat frowned down at his fingertips, splayed out on the stone table. ”Aye, I believe they do.”
”Good then. That is all that is really needed, sight and ten fingers. We've already put some of our elderlies to work and they are glad of the marks in their hands, I can tell you.”
”Besides which, it's an efficient use of available personnel, isn't it,' Lessa said, managing to keep a straight face though Talmor took a fit of coughing and R'mart and G'dened looked everywhere except at her or the Smith.
”I shall leave this one with you, F'lar, Lessa,' Fandarel said, formally bowing to make the presentation. ”It will reach me at the Smith Craft Hall should you need to speak with me.”
”Quite useful, I a.s.sure you,' Nicat answered. ”I don't know how I've managed without it..
F'lar escorted the two Master Craftsmen out of the Council Room. Then Lessa allowed herself the luxury of a chuckle while the others smiled broadly. When F'lar returned, he was grinning as well but he rubbed his hands together.
”We'll just wind this meeting up, shall we?”
”Not much more to say, is there?” Talmor said. ”And we thought we were busy doing Aivas' bidding!'
”I wonder if he knew just how much he was altering our whole lives . . . ” Lessa said, making a sweeping movement with one arm.
”Quite likely he did,' R'mart said sardonically, ”which is why he quit on us before we could disconnect him, or whatever it is one does with a machine.”
”He could at least have stayed around until we were well into the Transition,' Lessa said, slightly mutinous.
”And bear your reproaches, my dear?” asked F'lar, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he looked at his weyrmate.
Lessa gave a sniff.
”He knew at least one person would make efficient and effective use of the Library,' Talmor said, grinning.
”Enough out of you, Harper,' Lessa said with mock astringency. ”Did you find anywhere, R'mart, remotely resembling a weyr possibility?”
”Not a cave nor a crater we could use among any of those hills,' R'mart said with disgust.
”Plenty of stone for Master Nicat, though,' G'dened said.
Talmor continued making his notations on the borders of the charts and sighing occasionally.
”Now here 1 have no special comments,' he said, turning the edge of the map toward R'mart.
”That's because there is nothing special to comment on. More hills, valleys, rivers, rocks.”