amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第79节

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　　〃Well；　I　suppose　I　was　naive　to　think　we　could　keep　what　happened　within　the　Weyrs；〃　F'lar　remarked　as　the　two　dragons　quickly　took　off　again　to　find　sun　on　Telgar　Heights。
　　〃Fire…lizards　spread　the　word；〃　Lessa　said；　her　voice　tight　with　irritation。　Does　everyone　on　Pern　know　what　happened　at　Honshu？　she　asked　her　dragon。
　　That　felines　attacked　dragons；　yes；　Ramoth　said。　More　is　for　you　to　say。
　　Scattering　replies　to　the　questions　about　the　injured…thank…you…for…your…concern　or　both…dragons…and…riders…will…be…fine；　F'lar　took　Lessa's　arm　and；　with　some　of　Telgar's　guards　hastily　opening　a　path　for　them；　reached　the　ramp　up　to　Telgar's　forecourt。　Lord　Larad；　his　Lady　Dulsay；　and　their　tall；　gawky　son；　Laradian；　were　standing　there　to　wele　the　official　members　of　the　Council。　More　guards；　in　fine　new　tunics　bearing　the　Telgar　shield　of　white；　bright　red；　and　medium　blue；　bowed　them　into　the　forecourt　just　as　a　triumphant　bugling　caused　them　to　turn　around　and　witness　the　arrival　of　the　Ista　Weyrleaders。
　　〃By　the　Egg；〃　F'lar　said；　〃they　seem　to　be　glowing。〃　He　cast　an　amused　look　at　his　weyrmate。　〃What　has　happened　to　G'dened　and　Cosira？〃
　　Lessa　nearly　missed　a　step。　G'dened？　Of　course；　he'd　know　about　Honshu　but　she　hadn't　seen　Baranth　that　bright　in　Turns。　After　over　three　decades　of　fighting　Thread　as　well　as　the　recent　exertions　during　the　Flood；　it　was　hard　to　keep　good　color　in　the　dragons。　So　long　as　some　of　the　resurgence　spilled　into　the　Oldtimer　and　thawed　him　a　bit！　She　couldn't　be　sure　that　G'dened　would　grasp　the　importance　of　this　unexpected　new　facet　of　dragons；　but　maybe　he　would　be　encouraged。　Certainly　the　vibrancy　of　his　color…and　even　the　restored　gleam　to　the　hides　of　Ramoth　and　Mnementh　as　she　checked　them　and　saw　how　bright　they　appeared…suggested　that　all　the　dragons　of　Pern　had　been　renewed　in　vigor　and　purpose。　Lessa　took　a　deep　breath。　Now；　if　they　could　use　this　telekinesis　effectively。。。
　　〃The　dragons　and　riders　are　all　recovering？〃　Larad　said；　stepping　down　and　holding　out　both　hands　to　F'lar　and　Lessa。　Taking　his　hands；　she　realized　that　he　was　genuinely　concerned。
　　〃Indeed；　although　truly；〃　and　Lessa　projected　her　voice　to　be　sure　that　everyone　listening　for　news　would　hear；　〃if　Master　Oldive　had　not　been　provided　with　so　much　invaluable　medical　information　from　Aivas's　records；　we　would　have　lost　them　both。〃
　　〃Saved　by　Aivas？〃　Larad　asked；　likewise　raising　his　voice　and　implying　gratitude。　〃What　I　don't　understand　is　how　did　the　felines　get　into　Honshu？〃
　　〃The　creatures　were　not　in　the　weyrhold。〃　F'lar　gave　the　simplified　version。　〃F'lessan　and　Tai　had　taken　their　dragons　down　to　the　river　to　bathe。　That's　where　the　felines　attacked　them。　The　area　around　Honshu　hasn't　been　much　bothered　by　the　felines　but　the　new　holds　nearby　have　been　rounding　up　and　domesticating　more　and　more　wild　stock。　Naturally　the　predators　were　attracted。〃　F'lar　shrugged　as　if　dismissing　the　circumstances。　〃A　concatenation　of　circumstances。　Right　place；　wrong　time。　They'll　heal。〃
　　〃Oh；　splendid！　We　are　relieved　to　hear　that；〃　Lady　Dulsay　said　and　then　her　expression　altered　to　concern。　〃And　you　have　to　attend　a　Council　Meeting　when　you　must　yearn　to　be　at　Honshu　with　your　son。〃
　　Lessa　was　momentarily　surprised；　few　people　referred　to　F'lessan　as　〃your　son。〃　He　was　the　one　child　she　had　been　able　to　bear　F'lar　and　she　had　once…briefly　and　keenly…regretted　her　inability　to　have　more。　But　that　was　long　ago。　The　Weyr　was　more　important。　Today　it　was　vital　for　the　Weyrwoman　to　be　present　at　this　meeting。
　　〃As　to　that；　F'lessan　is　very　well　attended　and；　being　weyrbred；　he　would　not　expect　me　to　absent　myself。〃
　　Lady　Dulsay　recoiled　slightly。　〃My　pardon；　I　do　forget。〃
　　〃This　is　one　of　those　times；〃　Lessa　said　as　kindly　as　she　could；　for　Lady　Dulsay　meant　well；　〃when　the　customs　of　hold　and　weyr　conflict。〃
　　Larad　suddenly　whipped　binoculars　to　his　eyes。　Was　everyone　growing　those　things　about　their　necks；　Lessa　wondered。　〃Here　e　N'ton　with　Margatta　and　the　blue　at　his　right　wing　is　Boll's　watch　dragon；　conveying　Lady　Janissian。〃　He　lowered　the　instrument　and　smiled　self…deprecatingly。　〃I've　only　had　them　a　sevenday；〃　he　apologized。
　　〃At　least　you　find　them　useful；〃　Lessa　said　drolly。
　　〃And　hope　to　use　them　more；〃　Larad　said　with　a　pleased　grin。
　　Lessa　swallowed。　Could　news　of　the　Weyrleaders'　meeting　at　Cove　Hold　have　leaked？　No；　Larad　was　merely　showing　off　his　new　acquisition。
　　〃There　are　more　dragons；　that　much　I　can　see　with　my　own　eyes；〃　Lady　Dulsay　remarked；　pointing　to　the　skies。　〃Are　any　of　them　likely　to　be　bringing　contenders　to　Southern　Boll's　Holdership？〃　She　turned　to　Lessa。　〃It　was　so　sad　when　most　of　that　Bloodline；　and　all　four　of　Lord　Sangel's　sons；　succumbed　to　the　plague。　Such　promising　young　men；　so　my　father　said。〃
　　〃Now；　of　course；　with　all　the　vaccines　available　to　the　Healer　Hall；　we　won't　have　such　tragic　losses　again；〃　Lessa　replied。　She　saw　another　pair　of　dragons　enter　from　between。　〃I　suspect　this　is　G'bear　and　Neldama；　Lady　Dulsay。　Have　you　had　a　chance　to　meet　them？〃
　　〃Oh；　yes。　They　arrived　the　very　next　day；〃　and　Lessa　was　surprised　to　see　Lady　Dulsay　blush。　〃Most　respectful　to　let　us　know　how　the　Weyrleadership　had　been　decided。〃
　　〃Good　of　them　to　be　prompt　to　introduce　themselves；〃　Lessa　said；　suppressing　a　desire　to　grin。　Why　was　it　that　holders　were　invariably　embarrassed　by　mating　flights？　It　wasn't　as　if　Dulsay　and　Larad　hadn't　been　very　much　attached　to　each　other　when　they　had　formally　wed。　〃Are　many　of　the　Council　here？〃
　　Before　anyone　could　answer；　another　triple…tone　bugling…in　Hem's　unmistakably　tenor　voice…heralded　the　arrival　of　the　Southern　Weyrleaders。　They；　too；　were　gleaming；　Lessa　noted　before　she　took　the　shallow　stairs　up　to　the　main　entrance。
　　〃Would　you　like　to　change　out　of　your　flying　gear　now？〃　Dulsay　asked。
　　〃Since　you've　already　met　G'bear　and　Neldama；　I　think　I'll　take　the　opportunity；　thank　you；　Dulsay；〃　and；　inside　the　imposing　Hall；　Lessa　slipped　to　the　left　before　she　could　be　intercepted。　It　was　a　matter　of　moments　to　strip　and　put　on　the　skirt　and　the　more　formal　tunic　she　had　brought；　fold　and　leave　her　riding　gear　on　the　shelves　provided。　Menolly　came　up　to　her　as　soon　as　she　emerged。
　　〃They　continue　to　improve？〃　Menolly　asked　anxiously；
　　Sebell　close　behind　her。　Sebell　was　rather　spectacular　in　dark　Harper　blue；　wearing　the　sapphire　pendant　of　his　rank。　His　eyes　were　tired　and　he　was　as　eager　to　be　reassured　as　Menolly。
　　〃Yes；　yes。　It　was　sheer　luck　that　both　Oldive　and　Crivellan　have　been　studying　the　Aivas　files　on　perforated　intestines…such　accidents　occur　often　enough　to　warrant　study；〃　Lessa　said。　〃Once　again　we　can　be　grateful　to　reacquire　the　skills　that　save　lives。〃
　　Menolly　pursed　her　lips。　〃Those　wretched；　narrow…minded；　deceitful　misfits。　They　really　are　abominable！〃
　　〃Are　they　making　life　miserable　for　harpers；　too；　Menolly？〃　Lessa　saw　the　tension　in　Sebell's　manner。　Music　might　be　Menolly's　life　but　she　no　more　liked　Sebell　distressed　than　she　had　Master　Robinton。
　　Just　then；　trying　to　look　pletely　at　ease　and　not　quite　managing；　G'bear　came　in　with　Neldama　and　smiled　with　great　relief　to　be　met　by　friendly　faces　and　congratulations。　Once　again　Lessa　gave　reassurances　about　the　invalids'　progress　and　then　had　it　all　to　do　again　when　K'van　and　Adrea　walked　in。　G'dened　and　Cosira　arrived；　N'ton　and　Margatta；　too；　escorting　Lady　Janissian　who　halted；　looking　about　her。　Menolly　went　right　up　to　the　girl；　putting　an　arm　around　her。
　　〃You　came！〃
　　〃I　couldn't　not　e；　could　I？〃　Janissian　replied；　and　then　caught　Lessa's　eyes；　relaxing　when　the　Weyrwoman　gave　her　an　encouraging　smile。
　　〃No；　you　have　to　be　here；〃　N'ton　said；　grinning；　〃to　get　there；〃　and　he　pointed　to　the　closed　door　of　the　room　where　the　Council　would　be　held。　〃I'll　get　you　some　wine。　Lessa；　what　would　you　prefer？　You've　had　a　rough　few　days。〃
　　〃I'd　prefer　the　klah。　I　suspect　we　must　all　keep　our　wits　about　us　in　this　Council；〃　she　replied。
　　〃Yes；　I　expect　we　will；〃　N'ton　agreed；　his　smile　now　for　Janissian　as　he　gestured　for　one　of　the　servers　to　approach　with　the　tray　of　drinks。
　　To　Lessa's　surprised　gratification；　fifteen　minutes　later　the　entire　Council　was　in　their　spaces　around　the　U…shaped　table　in　Telgar's　vaulted　Hall。　Toric　was；　as　usual；　the　last　to　arrive。　There　were　seventeen　Lord　Holders；　sixteen　MasterCraftsmen　and　…women　（since　Joetta　had　replaced　old　Zurg　as　MasterWeaver　and　Ballora　was　the　new　BeastMaster）；　and　eight　Weyrleaders　and　six　Weyrwomen。　Nadira　and　Talina　rarely　attended。　The　heavy　sky…broom　doors　shut　behind　Toric　with　a　resounding　thunk。
　　Lips　pursed；　scowling；　the　Southern　Lord　Holder　strode　past　Sebell；　directly　to　K'van　and　planted　his　hands　on　the　table；　leaning　aggressively　toward　the　Weyrleader。
　　〃Why　wasn't　I　informed　that　dragons　had　been　badly　injured　by　felines？〃　he　demanded。
　　〃Because　it　doesn't　affect　Southern　Weyr　nor　your　interests；〃　K'van　said；　blandly；　not　intimidated。
　　〃Well？〃　and　Toric　swung　round　toward　Lessa　and　F'lar。
　　Lessa　gave　him　a　bland　look。　Toric　must　have　enjoyed　hearing　that