amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第12节

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　pastry　flakes　from　her　fingers。
　　F'lar　sat　down　and　she　noticed　the　bone…weariness　evident　in　the　slow　way　he　settled　his　body　in　the　fortably　padded　chair　across　from　her。　Only　with　her　did　he　have　the　luxury　to　relax。　If　she　missed　the　painful　stiffness　that　indicated　his　bones　were　aching；　Mnementh　would　tell　her　and　she'd　make　him　take　a　dose　of　the　medication　Oldive　had　made　to　relieve　the　problem。
　　〃Is　there　ever　enough　time？〃　she　asked。
　　〃There　should　be。〃　He　scowled；　sweeping　back　the　forelock　that　was　silver　now。　〃There　should　be　all　the　time　in　the　world　After。〃
　　〃Have　you　decided　where　we'll　go　After？〃　He　frowned；　brushing　the　inquiry　aside。　She　fretted　at　his　reluctance。　They　certainly　should　have　their　choice　of　residence；　barring　beautiful　Honshu　in　deference　to　F'lessan's　proprietary　interest　in　it。　But　what…and　a　dreadful　thought　arose　from　the　deepest　part　of　her　mind。　She　did　not　refuse　that　flash　of　unnecessary　alarm；　she　did　hold　it　deep　in　her　thoughts。　What　would　happen　if　Ramoth　should　fail　to　rise　to　mate　in　the　ing　Turns；　as　Bedella's　Solth　had　done　recently？　R'mart　had　gratefully　retired　to　Southern　with　his　Weyrwoman。　But　somehow　Lessa　had　always　assumed　that　she　and　F'lar　would　remain　Weyrleaders　until　the　end　of　this　Pass。　There　would　e　a　time；　even　if　it　wasn't　imminent；　when　Ramoth　would　not　feel　the　challenge　of　fertility。　Lessa　gave　her　head　an　impatient　shake；　smiling　as　she　remembered　the　most　recent　time　Ramoth　had　risen　gloriously　to　challenge　the　bronzes　and　Mnementh　had　vigorously　conquered。　Her　grin　broadened　as　her　dragon　caught　that　thought。　But　Mnementh　lived　in　constant　danger　of　injury。
　　He　is　strong　and　clever　fighting　Thread。　He　evades　score　and　ash　as　nimbly　as　any　green；　Ramoth　responded　in　stout　support。　Mnementh　is　the　only　bronze　I　will　ever　accept　and　there　isn't　another　as　daring。　Even　if　he　sleeps　more　than　he　used　to。　Be　easy。
　　With　the　bond　between　the　riders　so　acute；　F'lar　invariably　knew　when　Ramoth　had　spoken　to　her　rider。　He　cocked　one　eyebrow　at　his　weyrmate。
　　〃What's　on　her　mind？〃　Then　he　chuckled。　〃Or　yours？〃
　　〃When　are　you　going　to　make　up　your　mind　where　we'll　go　After？〃　she　asked　with　a　hint　of　exasperation；　as　if　that　was　what　occasioned　Ramoth's　remark。
　　F'lar　gave　her　a　long　patient　look。　〃We　can　go　where　we　want。　Be　certain　of　one　thing：　we　shall　not　be　dependent　on　anyone。〃　Briefly　his　jaw　settled　into　an　inflexible　line。
　　〃That　will　make　a　very　nice　change；〃　she　said　at　her　driest。
　　〃We　could　see　if　one　of　those　eastern　islands　would　suit。〃
　　〃What？〃　She　scowled　fiercely　at　him；　realizing　that　she　had　risen　to　his　bait。　He　chuckled　again。　At　least　he　was　in　a　good　mood。
　　〃I　know　the　weather　here's　terrible　but　I've　spent　all　my　life　in　this　pile　of　rock。〃　He　shot　her　a　look　to　see　if　she　would　disagree。
　　〃Rock　is　cool　in　the　summertime；〃　she　agreed　diffidently；　then　added　in　a　nostalgic　tone　of　voice；　〃When　I　think　of　how　much　history　we　have　made　here。。。　〃
　　〃Indeed。　And　how　many　changes　have　occurred　since　we　became　Weyrleaders。〃
　　〃Too　sharding　many　losses　in　the　past　Turn；　too。〃
　　〃　'There　is　a　time　for　every　purpose　under　the　heaven；'　〃　he　quoted　softly。
　　Tears　welled　quickly　in　Lessa's　eyes　at　that　reminder　of　Robinton…and　Aivas。　Two　Turns　and　a　few　months　were　not　enough　to　distance　that　double　loss。
　　〃I　miss　Robinton　so　much。〃
　　〃Who　doesn't？〃　F'lar　replied　softly；　lifting　one　hand　briefly　in　resignation　before　he　continued。　〃I　was　thinking　more　of　Laudey　and　Warbret。　And　good　old　R'gul。〃　He　let　out　a　sigh　of　remembered　frustration。
　　〃We　must　be　charitable；〃　she　reminded　him　in　her　more　usual　caustic　fashion。　The　bronze　rider　had　been　a　thorn　in　both　their　sides　despite　his　outward　acquiescence　to　F'lar's　Weyrleadership。　There　was　always　the　hint；　when　R'gul　took　orders　from　F'lar；　that　he；　R'gul；　would　have　done　differently。　〃He　did　obey；　you　know；　and　his　wing　thought　highly　of　him　as　a　leader。〃
　　F'lar　grunted；　twirling　the　stem　of　his　glass　and　apparently　absorbed　in　admiring　the　ruby　color。
　　〃I'll　miss　Laudey；〃　she　went　on　after　nibbling　at　a　pastry；　〃although　I　do　like　Langrell　as　Igen　Holder。　Very　nice　person。〃
　　〃Handsome；　too。〃
　　She　shot　him　a　glance。　〃He　needs　a　good　wife。〃
　　〃He'll　have　no　trouble。〃　F'lar　poked　at　the　contents　of　the　basket　before　selecting　a　triangular　pastry　and　popping　it　in　his　mouth。　〃Not　bad。〃
　　She　found　another　of　the　same　shape。　〃No；　it　isn't。〃　She　licked　her　lips。
　　He　sipped　his　wine；　regarding　her　from　the　corner　of　his　eye。　〃Do　you　favor　Janissian　for　the　Holdership　at　Southern　Boll？　That's　another　issue　for　the　next　Council　to　decide。〃
　　〃Boll　has　an　historical　precedent　for　Lady　Holders；　you　know。〃
　　He　nodded；　waiting　for　her　to　continue。
　　〃Certainly　Lady　Marella　has　been　directing　the　Hold　unofficially　for　a　long　time；　saving　Sangel's　face。　She　got　Janissian　educated　at　Landing；　too。〃
　　〃Groghe　likes　the　girl。　Old　enough　to　take　Hold。　Well　respected。〃
　　Lessa　shrugged。　〃Jaxom　says　she's　as　organized　as　Sharra　is。　He'd　be　glad　to　step　down　from　the　position　of　youngest　Lord　Holder。〃
　　F'lar　stretched　out　his　right　leg；　grimacing　as　the　tendon　resisted　full　extension。　He　gave　a　sigh。
　　He's　all　right；　Mnementh　told　Lessa　privately；　waking　from　his　nap。
　　All　that　dancing　he　tried　to　tell　me　he　didn't　enjoy；　Lessa　replied。
　　〃We　need　younger　minds　dealing　with　all　the　changes；〃　she　said　aloud。
　　He　turned　his　amber　eyes　on　her；　amused　and　slightly　condescending。　〃Young　heads　can　be　as　certain　that　they　are　right　as　the　old　ones。　And　no　experience　to　draw　on。〃　He　ate　another　pastry；　licking　his　fingers　as　the　juice　within　leaked。　〃Idarolan's　been　studying　astronomy　with　that　journeyman　of　Wansor's。　He　got　Morilton　to　make　him　some　special　mirrors　for　a　telescope　to　set　up　on　that　bridge　of　his　down　at　Nerat's　Ankle。〃
　　〃For　all　that　I　like　Curran　as　Masterfishman；　I'll　miss　Idarolan's　sly　wit　in　the　Council。〃　She　took　another　tidbit　and　then　a　sigh　escaped　her　lips　after　she　swallowed。　〃I　shall　miss　them。　I'll　miss　them　all。〃
　　F'lar　reached　over　the　table　to　cover　her　thin；　small；　but　remarkably　capable　hand；　squeezing　her　fingers。
　　〃We　both　shall；　love。〃　He　picked　up　his　glass。　〃To　absent　friends。〃
　　She　raised　hers；　the　glasses　touched；　and　they　finished　off　their　wine。
　　Simultaneously　they　rose。　F'lar　slipped　his　arm　about　her　slender　shoulders；　drawing　her　against　his　body　as　they　walked　in　step　to　the　sleeping　room。
　　Lessa　didn't　think　she'd　gotten　to　sleep　before　they　were　both　roused　by　angry　dragon　trumpeting。
　　
SOUTHERN　HOLD…1。1。31
　　Toric　was　recovering　from　too　much　wine　consumed　the　night　before。　The　red　had　definitely　been　too　young　to　be　potable；　even　if　it　had　e　from　his　own　vineyard　and　therefore　was　handy　and　cost　him　nothing。　Except　this　morning's　headache。　Well；　it　took　time　to　establish　vines　and；　considering　the　cost　of　the　starts　from　Benden；　he　had　been　eager　to　see　some　return　on　the　investment。　MasterVintner　Welliner's　estimate　of　how　much　wine　he　would　be　bottling　from　the　hillsides　under　cultivation　was　inaccurate；　too。　If　this　year's　press　was　not　up　to　what　he'd　been　led　to　believe　he　could　expect；　he'd　have　a　long　chat　with　Welliner。　Toric　slowly　opened　dry　eyes　in　his　aching　skull。
　　〃You're　getting　old；　Father；〃　Besic　said。　He　handed　Toric　a　steaming　mug。　〃Mother's　pliments。〃
　　Toric　stifled　a　groan　as　he　took　the　mug。　Though　he　knew　from　experience　that　Ramala's　morning…after　cure　was　efficacious；　the　steam　was　slightly　nauseating　and　he　averted　his　head　before　attempting　the　first　gulp。
　　Besic　settled　himself　in　the　sling　chair；　stretching　his　legs　out　and　crossing　his　ankles；　thumbs　hooked　in　his　belt　as　he　regarded　his　father　with　a　bland　expression。
　　〃Hosbon's　here。　Sailed　in　from　Largo　last　night。　Got　here　at　dawn。〃
　　Toric　nearly　dribbled　the　potion　down　his　chin　at　the　unwele　news。　Had　Besic　timed　that　remark　until　he　had　the　cup　to　his　lips？　The　two　men　tolerated　each　other　warily；　not　because　of　Blood　ties　but　out　of　begrudged　respect。　Toric　grunted　and　drank　as　fast　as　the　heat；　and　the　taste；　allowed。　〃I　told　him　that　you　were　busy。〃
　　〃I　am；〃　Toric　said。　The　liquid　made　him　belch　and　left　a　vile　taste　in　his　mouth。　He　stood；　balancing　himself　on　his　bare　feet；　to　prove　that　he　was　capable　of　overing　the　previous　night's　excesses　as　easily　as　ever。　He　strode　to　where　Ramala　had　laid　out　fresh　clothes　and　stepped　into　the　new　short　trousers　and　matching　loose　shirt　that　would　be　fortable　during　the　heat　of　the　day。　He　growled　as　he　had　to　sort　the　rank　cords　against　his　right　shoulder。　Nuisancy　things。　As　if　everyone　didn't　recognize　the　Lord　Holder　of　Southern。　That　caused　him　to　snort；　as　any　reminder　did　of　how　he　had　been　gulled　by　the　Weyrleaders。　From　the　corner　of　his　eye　he　saw　the　smirk　on　Besic's　face；　as　if　he　read　his　sire's　thought。
　　〃Didn't　you　think　to　bring　in…〃
　　Besic　interrupted　him　by　pointing　to　the　breakfast　tray　on　the　table。
　　Despite　the　fact　that　the　pounding　in　his　head　was　easing；　Toric　was　still　in　a　foul　humor。　〃What's　on　Hosbon's　mind？　He's　always　at　me　f