Renegades of Pern - Chapter Eight
Feb. 8th, 2024 09:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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i_read_whatSo last time, Larad and Asgenar teamed up, and we had a full on draconic raid on Thella's base. Unfortunately (fortunately for me!) Thella escaped.
Oh, and nothing really happened on the Southern Continent, but we still had to see those folks for some reason.
So we're back with Jayge and company. Jayge, his mission accomplished, has collected his pay and a written character reference from Swacky. He's leaving to go somewhere, but he's given Swacky a letter for his dad.
Asgenar also expresses regret at losing "such a clever auxiliary", so that's pretty nice.
For his part, the Harper spy, Perschar is upset to learn his sketches of Readis are gone. Hm. Can he re-draw them? I suppose if he doesn't have a photographic memory, that might be difficult. Dushik, we're told, had been on an errand for Thella. He never came back, so he's still at large. As are Thella, Giron and Readis. All of whom are "exceedingly dangerous". There are plenty of Holdless folk who are desperate enough to join up with such successful renegade leaders.
Hm. I feel like maybe following what's-her-name's lead and making conditions better for the Holdless on a whole might help lessen this concern. But what do I know?
OH, I spoke too soon. Perschar ends up drawing more images of Readis and distributes them. He also asks that Asgenar and Larad hint to the captives that he (Perschar) also escaped, in case they need his services again. He wants to go to Nerat for now, to be warm again, and meet the family of the girl that he remembers painting so fondly.
It does sound like Larad maybe has learned a lesson or two from this. He appoints a "trustworthy and diligent herdsman" named Eddik as a temporary holder. And, we're told, that most of Thella's band are genuinely relieved that they won't be holdless again. They're actually afraid of Dushik, and much reassured both by having a new holder and by the Lords offering a reward for Dushik's capture.
...okay, you know, for all my complaints, I'll give McCaffrey credit here. She's doing a really good job of giving the Holdless folk a lot of nuance. The anvils are pretty obvious of course - the holdless are obviously stand-ins for real world houseless folk. But it's not a bad message: houseless people are as varied and complex as any other group of people, and while there may be some genuine bad actors, the vast majority are simply trying to survive and have their needs met.
Anyway, for Jayge, it's complicated:
Jayge was driven by mixed emotions, chief of which was revenging the deaths of Armald and his other friends and exacting retribution for the economic losses sustained by the train from Thella’s attack. And in the back of his mind was always the thought that if Readis had had sufficient loyalty to risk death to stop the attack on his Bloodkin, then perhaps he could be persuaded to leave Thella’s malign influence. Jayge had always admired his big uncle. Readis’s departure from Kimmage Hold had seriously depressed the young Jayge, who could not comprehend why Readis had deserted them in that terrible situation. His father had explained that Readis had every right to leave in search of more suitable employment. And before long Jayge had come to recognize Childon’s many little ways of humiliating the impoverished traders, giving them the most unsavory chores and condescending even about the food they ate and the quarters they were crowded into. Proud Readis could not have endured such treatment. Jayge, only ten Turns old, had had no choice. Even if he had been old enough to strike out on his own, he would never have left his sick mother, Gledia, behind.
OH, hey, we finally get an age for Jayge. Though we could have done the math himself. He's twenty-three. And he's now old enough to set out on his own. His thought is that if he can stay close to "the amazing girl who heard dragons", he might find Thella.
Okay wait a sec. This is idiotic.
He reasoned that if he could stay close to the amazing girl who heard dragons, whose ability had caused so much trouble for those he loved, he might also find Thella. He did not think that Thella would give up on her own pursuit of Aramina, either because without her secure mountain camp she would need the girl’s talent more than ever, or out of revenge for the loss of that fine base. When Jayge had seen her there on the track to Far Cry, surveying the damage her plans had wreaked on his train, he had thought her malevolence unusual. Her knifing that burden beast had been an act of savage, almost deranged, vengeance. And her imbalance had been further demonstrated by her willingness to let everyone in her hold be killed by that avalanche — once she and her chosen followers were safe.
I mean, obviously, Jayge will be right.
But McCaffrey. WHY? Thella has, at least until the attack on the Lilcamps, been portrayed as someone careful and deliberate. She secures her resources, she establishes a base of power, she expands gradually and carefully, and uses her knowledge and support to reach farther.
She's lost everything right now. She has, presumably, no base and no followers.
Aramina is useful, sure. She has a great power. BUT she's not a willing recruit. Neither she, nor her family, want anything to do with Thella. So what exactly would Thella be able to DO here?!
If Thella DOES succeed in going after Aramina, she's going to need:
a) leverage against her - some means to keep her obedient and under control (especially so that she doesn't just call dragons to rescue her...again!)
b) a place to keep her where she cannot easily escape
c) manpower who can guard Aramina, because Thella herself will not be able to watch the girl 24 hours a day.
d) additional manpower for re-establishing her power base
e) ADDITIONAL manpower to secure whatever leverage she has.
And this is all, I remind you, ON PERN, where THREAD is a daily risk!
Why on Earth would Thella think it's a good idea to go after Aramina NOW?! Ten years from now, sure. Once she's restored her power base.
Jayge genuinely seems to believe that Thella intends to go TO BENDEN WEYR to get Aramina. The heck?!
That said, the notion of going to the Igen low caverns is a good one. That IS one of Thella's common waypoints.
Sadly, though, Brare is dead. Everyone is "bemoaning" his death while calling him a "dreadful cheat, rogue, extortionist, and pervert" out of the other side of their mouths. Okay.
Everyone is gossiping though and this is interesting and worth unpacking:
The cavern was buzzing about the spectacular raid on Thella’s base, all sorts of people relating the tale with many fanciful embellishments that Jayge did not bother to correct. There was considerable confusion about how many raiders there had been and what had become of them. Some believed that Lord Larad — and who could have blamed him — had had them transported to his mines. Everyone knew the Holder needed help in those black pits of his, considering the shortage of metals needed to make the weapons for fighting Thread, not to mention those other queer things the Mastersmith was always banging away at. Others were of the opinion that the offenders had been shipped South, and there was a curiously fearful sort of envy over that fate. Jayge listened closely, wondering if there were any substance to the rumor. Would Thella and Giron have gone South with Readis — to disappear in what some claimed was a vast continent and others thought was merely an island, like Ista, only larger? Were they on their way to the boiling waters of the Southern Seas? Everyone knew how hot it was there, hotter than Igen ever could be. No, somehow he was positive that Thella would still attempt to secure Aramina — if only to kill the girl. And he particularly did not want Readis to be involved if it came to that.
a) Who would blame Larad for sending the raiders to the mine? Me. Because that would be SLAVERY.
b) What IS the justice system like on Pern? I feel like Emily Boll would disapprove.
c) The idea of criminals being "shipped South" is annoying. Poor Toric! Not only does he have to deal with worthless second sons, but also criminals now? Clean up your own messes, Lords!
d) It's a shame Thella isn't going South, because Thella and Toric would make an amazing team. Or adversaries. They should bang. Also it'd make the Southern plot relevant, so I doubt that'll happen.
e) Seriously though, it is really stupid for Thella to go after Aramina now. How the hell are the fugitives supposed to keep a hostage under control who can CALL DRAGONS.
So Jayge considers the trek that the fugitives will follow. He doesn't think the Benden dragons will have much luck finding them, even though he does now have a grudging admiration for dragonriders like "F'lar, T'gellan and the young K'van".
Hm. It's interesting how often T'gellan pops up now. He's pretty much a staple for all the side stories that take place in the Ninth Pass. Even more than N'ton was. K'van seems to be following the same route. Eh, I don't mind. They're both far less offensive than F'nor or Jaxom. (And more T'gelllan might mean more Mirrim too.)
Oh, interesting:
From one old trader friend of his father’s, Jayge did establish that Thella and Giron had been in the low caverns during the time the Lilcamp-Amhold train had been taking on its shipments for Far Cry. He showed the sketch of Readis to the trader, and although the man had not seen Readis with Thella at that time, the sketch was much admired for itself.
‘Why, you expect the man to draw breath. Nice-looking chap. Your kin, you say? Aye, no-one could deny the Blood between you. Now whoever did this so handy? What’d they use? Charcoal would have smudged. Leads, you say? They’d be expensive — of course, you being trader connected, you’d have the chance.’
So...now that Readis's image has been distributed, has anyone on Asgenar's side picked up on the resemblance?
Also, did no one ever notice Perschar drawing with lead and paper? They're not cheap materials, as we're seeing!
Jayge ends up purchasing a map of the eastern side of the continent: Keroon to Benden. He also learns that Dowell and family were such long term residents that the folks actually feel a great deal of pride that "their" Aramina is likely to Impress the queen egg in Benden.
Hm. I know Aramina won't impress the queen egg. I'm familiar with her story to that extent, but it would be interesting to have a Weyrwoman come from Holdless folk. Would there be a way to help them?
...heck, could the Holdless folk sign on to become Weyr staff? Kylara and many other initially rejected candidates stuck around, after all.
I'm also a bit curious about how much time has passed:
It had become known fact that Dowell, Barla, and the other two children had gone back to Ruatha, reinstated into their original home by Lord Jaxom, who had given them workmen to repair it, and who generally treated Barla as long-lost Bloodkin. The family was half the world away from Thella, and Aramina was safe in Benden Weyr.
Also, continuity error! Jaxom isn't actually Lord yet. This is a couple of years before White Dragon, after all. The Southern Weyr is still held by the Oldtimers.
Actually, to be fair, I could see Lytol pushing Jaxom to be more publicly involved, so it could just be that they attribute it to him when he's not actually in charge yet.
Jayge disagrees about Aramina being safe. Thella's the most evil person he's met.
So Jayge goes out adventuring. He's careful - staying on well traveled routes and avoiding likely thief ambushes. He's not sleeping well - thinking about the raid and what went wrong, and what he could have done better. Aw. Poor kid. He also has some revenge fantasies. Understandably.
When he gets to Keroon, Jayge is recruited to help a Beastmaster who just lost his apprentice to a broken leg. Eek. I hope it's a temporary loss, but Pern's medical technology doesn't seem great, so maybe the guy died from it. Jayge listens for any word of Thella, though he doesn't ask about her directly. He does ask about a dragonless man (how would anyone know?) and shows the sketch of Readis.
You know dude, if you want to keep your uncle's involvement a secret, you probably should stop waving the sketches around.
He also always asks about the Weyr. Oh, the Hatching did happen by now - the queen went to a girl named Adrea in Nerat. The Neratians are proud and she is a "very attractive but biddable girl".
That description amuses me. It would be skeevy, but the "but" saves it. I could imagine F'lar or T'gellan thinking being "biddable" is a negative, based on their respective tastes in women.
The beastmaster, Uvor, is a "lean, likable man" who cares for his beasts like they're children. As they travel, he teaches Jayge some survival tricks.
Jayge also ends up learning about the trading with the Southern continent, which thus far is clandestine:
‘There’re reasons, you know, new reasons to reestablish trade south. There’re reasons,’ an older journeyman assured Jayge, looking as if there was plenty he could add but he was being discreet. ‘Some say it has to do with mines dwindling down and plenty of rich ore just lying loose over the ground in the South. Some say it’s because the Holders have put pressure on the Weyrleaders to give land to younger sons. A couple of Fort Holder’s Bloods are going, and now that that raider group has been knocked into a deep pit, some of Gorman’s might foller.’
Jayge snorted. ‘And what about the holdless folk in Igen low caverns who’ve no decent place of their own?’
‘Them!’ The journeyman’s expression was disdainful. ‘There’s plenty of jobs for them what’s willing to work and please their Lord Holder.’
As I said, the allegory here isn't really subtle.
One journeyman actually speaks up in defense of the Holdless, bringing up some folks that came from Bitra, who Lord Sifer turned away. Jayge also thinks about his own experience with Childon after that first Threadfall. He can think of other cases where "pride - and sheer exhaustion" had forced people to holdlessness rather than endure any longer.
See, this is why I can't hate Thella too badly. She's evil, but the feudal system of Pern sucks. I'd love to see more people wreak havoc on it.
Jayge is team Toric, in a way, pointing out that the Southern Continent would probably need more workers than holder's sons. OH, maybe THAT's why we get the parallel storylines. Okay.
Jayge ends up asking for permission from the Smithcrafter to use the forge to make new shoes for his beast. And I have to mock my own lack of reading comprehension because it took me until now to realize that Kesso is his goddamn horse. I initially thought he was another person, then I forgot he existed. Oops.
Anyway, Jayge learned how as part of being a trader, and he had worked under Maindy's farrier for a season. He does pay for the set that he makes. And Uvor's very impressed. He's able to get Jayge a job with another Beastmaster, to deliver a runner to Benden Hold. Woo.
Even better, he's got an escort - there are some drovers heading up that way too.
--
We switch scenes to the South. Piemur's back, apparently. And he's FINALLY cornered Toric.
Piemur was back at Southern and had finally cornered Toric into fulfilling his promise to let him explore freely in the South. He had arrived armed with a polite request from Master Robinton, a request that, since it bore F’lar’s signet, was more of an indirect order.
‘I’ve got my journeyman’s knot, I spent hours with Wansor, Terry, and that oaf of a Fortian, Benelek, so I’m qualified to keep Records that will be accurate as long as the Dawn Sisters remain in place. So you’ll know, my Lord Holder—’
‘Don’t call me that,’ Toric snapped, his eyes flashing so angrily that Piemur wondered if he had overplayed his hand.
As much as I like F'lar and Lessa, I'm not fond of the idea that F'lar can order Toric to things. I suppose I should be grateful that it isn't Robinton making the order. But really, what leverage does F'lar have given that they're not patrolling Southern.
I love Toric's distaste for titles.
...
I like this bit too:
‘I get the impression,’ the boy said in his most conciliatory tone, ‘that that is a formality that the Benden Weyrleaders will bring before the Conclave at the next possible occasion. You’re as much a Lord Holder as Jaxom is, and you’re working at it. But—’ He held up his hand. ‘It would be wise to know how much you’re going to Hold. You prove, one—’ He ticked off each point on his fingers, ‘—how diligent you’ve been; two: how serious you are about all this; three: limit what their idiot sons — presuming some of them survive their initiation here — can possibly think to control; and four: make legal and binding your own claim by virtue of the fact that that’s how much you’ve been holding.’
I'm sure the "and you're working at it" is not MEANT to be a potshot at Jaxom's lazy ass. But I want it to be.
This paragraph is both interesting and contradictory:
Toric stared across the room to the map of what he already, by virtue of having accurately charted it, held. Much of the cartographic detail had been filled in by Sharra, Hamian, and Piemur, but that only whetted Toric’s appetite to establish how much more there was. He had no intention of sharing it with any northern holders’ sons — possibly not even his own, although he was proud of the twin sons Ramala had just delivered… again. Piemur was astonished, and secretly envious, of Toric’s large family. The man would need every one of them to hold for him, that was certain. And Toric had plans for Sharra’s offspring — whenever he did find someone he felt worthy-of his beautiful sister. Piemur had about given up that daydream. He knew that Sharra liked him, enjoyed his company, and accepted him as a partner in their explorations, but whether she was careful to keep the friendship objective because she felt nothing stronger for him than platonic affection, or because she did not wish to bring Toric’s wrath down on him, Piemur was not sure.
a) So Toric doesn't want to share with the Holders' sons. Good. Fuck them. But he also doesn't want to share with his own...okay, cool. Fuck nepotism.
b) But then we're told that he'll need every one of his large family to "hold for him". So he WILL be sharing with his sons.
c) More Sharra stuff. I suppose I'm supposed to be offended on her behalf, but I'm not sure how this is different than anyone else on Pern. Kylara was supposed to get married off as I recall.
d) I appreciate that, unlike certain others, Piemur appears willing and happy to take "not interested" for an answer. That said, as we see further on, he's not opposed to seeing if he can broaden Toric's holding, and appreciation of him, and that it might be worth trying to see if said appreciation might encompass Sharra as well.
Damn, this is making me regret White Dragon all over again. Sharra shows as much interest in Piemur as she did with Jaxom for most of the story (read: none), but Piemur at least understands and respects her abilities AND loves and lives in the Southern Continent.
And MORE to discuss here:
What Piemur kept very much to himself was that he would be doing the survey as much for Master Robinton as for Toric. Just where his loyalties would be tested remained to be seen. In no fashion would Piemur risk Master Robinton’s good relationships with the Benden Weyrleaders. He had a suspicion that perhaps F’lar and Lessa wanted a good bit of Southern to be dragonriders’ territory. He hoped that the continent would be big enough for all. How much did Toric possibly think he could manage to Hold? Should someone — maybe Saneter could get away with it — remind Toric of what had happened to Fax, the self-styled Lord of Seven Holds? In any event, as long as Piemur got to set one foot in front of the other until he ran out of land, he would let the disposition of it rest with others — such as the Masterharper and the Benden Weyrleaders. They deserved more of the South than Toric ever did. But then, Lessa had a habit of giving perfectly good Holds away.
I don't begrudge Piemur working for Robinton, even if I hate Robinton. It does remind me of my perpetual Harper related anger.
Hey, by the way, since being a Harper is clearly about being a spy and scout as it is a performer, why ISN'T Audiva a Harper? She'd honestly be better at a lot of it than Menolly would!
I have to argue with Piemur about Fax though. Fax was a monster, of course, but, at least according to the prologue of this book, the standard of living in his fiefdom was apparently pretty high. Except Ruatha of course. And it's not like Fax was overthrown, or even betrayed by a follower. Fax was brought down because Lessa manipulated the situation and F'lar knifed him.
I don't really see that happening to Toric.
Anyway, Toric is happy to send Piemur and would like LOTS of information.
Piemur sails out to "Island River" where he stays with the holders: a fisherman and wife who are cousins of Toric. They've excavated the ruins and rebuilt things. It sounds nice. They gush about their cousin who "rescued them from a holdless existence". Aw.
I'm still not sure if I'm supposed to dislike Toric or not. But I still like him. (And to be fair, it IS more nuance than McCaffrey usually allows).
We shift from Piemur's travels to Jayge.
Jayge is getting along with the drovers, though his beast is winning all the informal races. Of course. I suppose it makes sense, since Jayge makes his living by said beasts in a way that Hold-folk don't. But still. It's very McCaffrey to have the protagonist always win.
The mare is pretty good too. Jayge won't risk her though. He's nicknamed her Fancy. He's actually pretty sad when the drovers split off to go their separate way.
More traveling. Not much interesting. The weather on the second night is pretty rough, and Jayge has to ask for shelter. Fortunately he has the travel note from Keroon and the character reference from Swacky, so he's permitted to stay. They gossip a bit as to who might be receiving the pretty mare. She's also hoping for a Gather soon. (There's a nice bit too - the children had had a bad fever recently, and the Lady Holder had sent her own special medication down to help. Aw.)
So more travel. Jayge is within site of Benden Hold and we get some description:
He was soon close enough to Benden Hold to see its splendid proportions, the multitude of windows in the sheltering cliff face, and the south end of the broad east-facing inner yard. It was an hour or so of good riding away, but already small cotholds were visible on either side of the river, making use of cliff and cave. Behind and to the northeast were the Benden Mountains, and almost directly north -Benden Weyr.
He's then accosted by riders - young people who admire the beasts and demand, "in a high spirited fashion" answers.
The young folk are brought in line by one of the girls:
She was not the prettiest of the three girls in that group. She had black hair, plaited in one long, thick braid down her back and covered with a blue scarf; her face was oval, strong-featured without being the least bit coarse. He could not tell what color her eyes were under rather level black eyebrows, but she had a nice straight, longish nose, a sweet shape to her mouth, a firm chin — and an odd sadness in her expression.
Interesting. That's a major character description. I'm not sure who she could be though. I suppose we'll find out!
We get a very unnecessary "not like other girls" bit here. The other two girls in the group are very flirty and coquettish. The leader is no-nonsense though, which Jayge appreciates a lot more. Of course. They ask if he'll stay for the Gather. He likes the idea, if he can complete his mission in time. "In the dancing square all were equal."
So Jayge delivers Fancy. It goes well. He earns his marks. He lies and says he intends to go to Bitra next, and is advised to leave his marks with honest men. Apparently the Bitrans have a bad reputation. Jayge is a trader though, so he's unconcerned.
Aw. He also gets a second character reference added to the one from Swacky. Woo.
So what's Benden Hold like?
Such a main Hold was sinfully luxurious, Jayge thought, looking at the smooth, painted walls, the deep window apertures, and the burnished and etched shutters. The upper portions of the walls were embellished with brilliantly colored paintings, some of them quite old, to judge by the clothing depicted. It was the habit of the very old Holds to include portraits of notable lords, ladies, and prominent crafters. Some had been done in miniature on the borders, and some were so high up the wall as to be practically invisible. Idly Jayge wondered if any of those portraits could be Perschar’s work.
Swanky. I think this might be our first time seeing it.
Jayge gets hit on by a handsome journeyman and ends up seeing the black haired girl again. Someone notes his interest and comments that the girl's intended for Benden Weyr. They think she's sure to be Impressed.
...wait, is she Aramina? Did McCaffrey actually, FINALLY, give our McGuffin some page time and NOT BOTHER TO NAME HER???
(Skipping forward a chapter and there's definitely a reference to Aramina being at Benden Hold, so I guess so! Yeesh!)
Jayge is definitely into her.
Jayge had thought that girls found on Search went immediately into the Weyr, but if she was a fosterling of Benden’s, maybe that made a difference. He did know that there was no clutch on the Hatching Grounds at the moment.
‘She was in the hunting party that passed me on the track,’ Jayge said casually. He tried to keep his eyes from her but could not. There was a sweet calmness about her; it was soothing just to watch her deal with her food platter. Jayge thought that he had never seen a girl quite like her. And she was not for him. He wrenched himself away and turned, smiling, to the journeywoman, who was eager to continue conversation.
Well, I am glad that they're theoretically going to have the opportunity to interact. I was a little worried about that.
So the next morning, Jayge encounters presumably-Aramina again. They chat about his experience with beasts. She looks sad. He is also rather sad, since he knows she's meant for the Weyr and "that was that!".
I mean...you could ASK her. See what she's actually interested in?
Oh well. The chapter ends with Jayge heading out, utterly oblivious to the fact that he just met (I think) the girl he's intending to protect.
I admit, I do find Aramina intriguing. I tend to find Hears All Dragons annoying as a trait, because McCaffrey clearly uses it as short hand to highlight heroines we're supposed to like for no real reason or story purpose (See: Brekke. Arguably Robinton, because while these books present it as though the dragons choose to talk to whomever, I dimly recall the dreadful Masterharper of Pern actually explicitly giving him that trait.) But the idea that someone could have this trait and NOT want to be a dragonrider, and NOT want to be around dragons, who might even find it unpleasant or uncomfortable - THAT's interesting.
I really am looking forward to seeing where that goes.
I'm also looking forward to Aramina actually getting to appear in the story and DO shit. Ideally with a name attached. Maybe soon!
Oh, and nothing really happened on the Southern Continent, but we still had to see those folks for some reason.
So we're back with Jayge and company. Jayge, his mission accomplished, has collected his pay and a written character reference from Swacky. He's leaving to go somewhere, but he's given Swacky a letter for his dad.
Asgenar also expresses regret at losing "such a clever auxiliary", so that's pretty nice.
For his part, the Harper spy, Perschar is upset to learn his sketches of Readis are gone. Hm. Can he re-draw them? I suppose if he doesn't have a photographic memory, that might be difficult. Dushik, we're told, had been on an errand for Thella. He never came back, so he's still at large. As are Thella, Giron and Readis. All of whom are "exceedingly dangerous". There are plenty of Holdless folk who are desperate enough to join up with such successful renegade leaders.
Hm. I feel like maybe following what's-her-name's lead and making conditions better for the Holdless on a whole might help lessen this concern. But what do I know?
OH, I spoke too soon. Perschar ends up drawing more images of Readis and distributes them. He also asks that Asgenar and Larad hint to the captives that he (Perschar) also escaped, in case they need his services again. He wants to go to Nerat for now, to be warm again, and meet the family of the girl that he remembers painting so fondly.
It does sound like Larad maybe has learned a lesson or two from this. He appoints a "trustworthy and diligent herdsman" named Eddik as a temporary holder. And, we're told, that most of Thella's band are genuinely relieved that they won't be holdless again. They're actually afraid of Dushik, and much reassured both by having a new holder and by the Lords offering a reward for Dushik's capture.
...okay, you know, for all my complaints, I'll give McCaffrey credit here. She's doing a really good job of giving the Holdless folk a lot of nuance. The anvils are pretty obvious of course - the holdless are obviously stand-ins for real world houseless folk. But it's not a bad message: houseless people are as varied and complex as any other group of people, and while there may be some genuine bad actors, the vast majority are simply trying to survive and have their needs met.
Anyway, for Jayge, it's complicated:
Jayge was driven by mixed emotions, chief of which was revenging the deaths of Armald and his other friends and exacting retribution for the economic losses sustained by the train from Thella’s attack. And in the back of his mind was always the thought that if Readis had had sufficient loyalty to risk death to stop the attack on his Bloodkin, then perhaps he could be persuaded to leave Thella’s malign influence. Jayge had always admired his big uncle. Readis’s departure from Kimmage Hold had seriously depressed the young Jayge, who could not comprehend why Readis had deserted them in that terrible situation. His father had explained that Readis had every right to leave in search of more suitable employment. And before long Jayge had come to recognize Childon’s many little ways of humiliating the impoverished traders, giving them the most unsavory chores and condescending even about the food they ate and the quarters they were crowded into. Proud Readis could not have endured such treatment. Jayge, only ten Turns old, had had no choice. Even if he had been old enough to strike out on his own, he would never have left his sick mother, Gledia, behind.
OH, hey, we finally get an age for Jayge. Though we could have done the math himself. He's twenty-three. And he's now old enough to set out on his own. His thought is that if he can stay close to "the amazing girl who heard dragons", he might find Thella.
Okay wait a sec. This is idiotic.
He reasoned that if he could stay close to the amazing girl who heard dragons, whose ability had caused so much trouble for those he loved, he might also find Thella. He did not think that Thella would give up on her own pursuit of Aramina, either because without her secure mountain camp she would need the girl’s talent more than ever, or out of revenge for the loss of that fine base. When Jayge had seen her there on the track to Far Cry, surveying the damage her plans had wreaked on his train, he had thought her malevolence unusual. Her knifing that burden beast had been an act of savage, almost deranged, vengeance. And her imbalance had been further demonstrated by her willingness to let everyone in her hold be killed by that avalanche — once she and her chosen followers were safe.
I mean, obviously, Jayge will be right.
But McCaffrey. WHY? Thella has, at least until the attack on the Lilcamps, been portrayed as someone careful and deliberate. She secures her resources, she establishes a base of power, she expands gradually and carefully, and uses her knowledge and support to reach farther.
She's lost everything right now. She has, presumably, no base and no followers.
Aramina is useful, sure. She has a great power. BUT she's not a willing recruit. Neither she, nor her family, want anything to do with Thella. So what exactly would Thella be able to DO here?!
If Thella DOES succeed in going after Aramina, she's going to need:
a) leverage against her - some means to keep her obedient and under control (especially so that she doesn't just call dragons to rescue her...again!)
b) a place to keep her where she cannot easily escape
c) manpower who can guard Aramina, because Thella herself will not be able to watch the girl 24 hours a day.
d) additional manpower for re-establishing her power base
e) ADDITIONAL manpower to secure whatever leverage she has.
And this is all, I remind you, ON PERN, where THREAD is a daily risk!
Why on Earth would Thella think it's a good idea to go after Aramina NOW?! Ten years from now, sure. Once she's restored her power base.
Jayge genuinely seems to believe that Thella intends to go TO BENDEN WEYR to get Aramina. The heck?!
That said, the notion of going to the Igen low caverns is a good one. That IS one of Thella's common waypoints.
Sadly, though, Brare is dead. Everyone is "bemoaning" his death while calling him a "dreadful cheat, rogue, extortionist, and pervert" out of the other side of their mouths. Okay.
Everyone is gossiping though and this is interesting and worth unpacking:
The cavern was buzzing about the spectacular raid on Thella’s base, all sorts of people relating the tale with many fanciful embellishments that Jayge did not bother to correct. There was considerable confusion about how many raiders there had been and what had become of them. Some believed that Lord Larad — and who could have blamed him — had had them transported to his mines. Everyone knew the Holder needed help in those black pits of his, considering the shortage of metals needed to make the weapons for fighting Thread, not to mention those other queer things the Mastersmith was always banging away at. Others were of the opinion that the offenders had been shipped South, and there was a curiously fearful sort of envy over that fate. Jayge listened closely, wondering if there were any substance to the rumor. Would Thella and Giron have gone South with Readis — to disappear in what some claimed was a vast continent and others thought was merely an island, like Ista, only larger? Were they on their way to the boiling waters of the Southern Seas? Everyone knew how hot it was there, hotter than Igen ever could be. No, somehow he was positive that Thella would still attempt to secure Aramina — if only to kill the girl. And he particularly did not want Readis to be involved if it came to that.
a) Who would blame Larad for sending the raiders to the mine? Me. Because that would be SLAVERY.
b) What IS the justice system like on Pern? I feel like Emily Boll would disapprove.
c) The idea of criminals being "shipped South" is annoying. Poor Toric! Not only does he have to deal with worthless second sons, but also criminals now? Clean up your own messes, Lords!
d) It's a shame Thella isn't going South, because Thella and Toric would make an amazing team. Or adversaries. They should bang. Also it'd make the Southern plot relevant, so I doubt that'll happen.
e) Seriously though, it is really stupid for Thella to go after Aramina now. How the hell are the fugitives supposed to keep a hostage under control who can CALL DRAGONS.
So Jayge considers the trek that the fugitives will follow. He doesn't think the Benden dragons will have much luck finding them, even though he does now have a grudging admiration for dragonriders like "F'lar, T'gellan and the young K'van".
Hm. It's interesting how often T'gellan pops up now. He's pretty much a staple for all the side stories that take place in the Ninth Pass. Even more than N'ton was. K'van seems to be following the same route. Eh, I don't mind. They're both far less offensive than F'nor or Jaxom. (And more T'gelllan might mean more Mirrim too.)
Oh, interesting:
From one old trader friend of his father’s, Jayge did establish that Thella and Giron had been in the low caverns during the time the Lilcamp-Amhold train had been taking on its shipments for Far Cry. He showed the sketch of Readis to the trader, and although the man had not seen Readis with Thella at that time, the sketch was much admired for itself.
‘Why, you expect the man to draw breath. Nice-looking chap. Your kin, you say? Aye, no-one could deny the Blood between you. Now whoever did this so handy? What’d they use? Charcoal would have smudged. Leads, you say? They’d be expensive — of course, you being trader connected, you’d have the chance.’
So...now that Readis's image has been distributed, has anyone on Asgenar's side picked up on the resemblance?
Also, did no one ever notice Perschar drawing with lead and paper? They're not cheap materials, as we're seeing!
Jayge ends up purchasing a map of the eastern side of the continent: Keroon to Benden. He also learns that Dowell and family were such long term residents that the folks actually feel a great deal of pride that "their" Aramina is likely to Impress the queen egg in Benden.
Hm. I know Aramina won't impress the queen egg. I'm familiar with her story to that extent, but it would be interesting to have a Weyrwoman come from Holdless folk. Would there be a way to help them?
...heck, could the Holdless folk sign on to become Weyr staff? Kylara and many other initially rejected candidates stuck around, after all.
I'm also a bit curious about how much time has passed:
It had become known fact that Dowell, Barla, and the other two children had gone back to Ruatha, reinstated into their original home by Lord Jaxom, who had given them workmen to repair it, and who generally treated Barla as long-lost Bloodkin. The family was half the world away from Thella, and Aramina was safe in Benden Weyr.
Also, continuity error! Jaxom isn't actually Lord yet. This is a couple of years before White Dragon, after all. The Southern Weyr is still held by the Oldtimers.
Actually, to be fair, I could see Lytol pushing Jaxom to be more publicly involved, so it could just be that they attribute it to him when he's not actually in charge yet.
Jayge disagrees about Aramina being safe. Thella's the most evil person he's met.
So Jayge goes out adventuring. He's careful - staying on well traveled routes and avoiding likely thief ambushes. He's not sleeping well - thinking about the raid and what went wrong, and what he could have done better. Aw. Poor kid. He also has some revenge fantasies. Understandably.
When he gets to Keroon, Jayge is recruited to help a Beastmaster who just lost his apprentice to a broken leg. Eek. I hope it's a temporary loss, but Pern's medical technology doesn't seem great, so maybe the guy died from it. Jayge listens for any word of Thella, though he doesn't ask about her directly. He does ask about a dragonless man (how would anyone know?) and shows the sketch of Readis.
You know dude, if you want to keep your uncle's involvement a secret, you probably should stop waving the sketches around.
He also always asks about the Weyr. Oh, the Hatching did happen by now - the queen went to a girl named Adrea in Nerat. The Neratians are proud and she is a "very attractive but biddable girl".
That description amuses me. It would be skeevy, but the "but" saves it. I could imagine F'lar or T'gellan thinking being "biddable" is a negative, based on their respective tastes in women.
The beastmaster, Uvor, is a "lean, likable man" who cares for his beasts like they're children. As they travel, he teaches Jayge some survival tricks.
Jayge also ends up learning about the trading with the Southern continent, which thus far is clandestine:
‘There’re reasons, you know, new reasons to reestablish trade south. There’re reasons,’ an older journeyman assured Jayge, looking as if there was plenty he could add but he was being discreet. ‘Some say it has to do with mines dwindling down and plenty of rich ore just lying loose over the ground in the South. Some say it’s because the Holders have put pressure on the Weyrleaders to give land to younger sons. A couple of Fort Holder’s Bloods are going, and now that that raider group has been knocked into a deep pit, some of Gorman’s might foller.’
Jayge snorted. ‘And what about the holdless folk in Igen low caverns who’ve no decent place of their own?’
‘Them!’ The journeyman’s expression was disdainful. ‘There’s plenty of jobs for them what’s willing to work and please their Lord Holder.’
As I said, the allegory here isn't really subtle.
One journeyman actually speaks up in defense of the Holdless, bringing up some folks that came from Bitra, who Lord Sifer turned away. Jayge also thinks about his own experience with Childon after that first Threadfall. He can think of other cases where "pride - and sheer exhaustion" had forced people to holdlessness rather than endure any longer.
See, this is why I can't hate Thella too badly. She's evil, but the feudal system of Pern sucks. I'd love to see more people wreak havoc on it.
Jayge is team Toric, in a way, pointing out that the Southern Continent would probably need more workers than holder's sons. OH, maybe THAT's why we get the parallel storylines. Okay.
Jayge ends up asking for permission from the Smithcrafter to use the forge to make new shoes for his beast. And I have to mock my own lack of reading comprehension because it took me until now to realize that Kesso is his goddamn horse. I initially thought he was another person, then I forgot he existed. Oops.
Anyway, Jayge learned how as part of being a trader, and he had worked under Maindy's farrier for a season. He does pay for the set that he makes. And Uvor's very impressed. He's able to get Jayge a job with another Beastmaster, to deliver a runner to Benden Hold. Woo.
Even better, he's got an escort - there are some drovers heading up that way too.
--
We switch scenes to the South. Piemur's back, apparently. And he's FINALLY cornered Toric.
Piemur was back at Southern and had finally cornered Toric into fulfilling his promise to let him explore freely in the South. He had arrived armed with a polite request from Master Robinton, a request that, since it bore F’lar’s signet, was more of an indirect order.
‘I’ve got my journeyman’s knot, I spent hours with Wansor, Terry, and that oaf of a Fortian, Benelek, so I’m qualified to keep Records that will be accurate as long as the Dawn Sisters remain in place. So you’ll know, my Lord Holder—’
‘Don’t call me that,’ Toric snapped, his eyes flashing so angrily that Piemur wondered if he had overplayed his hand.
As much as I like F'lar and Lessa, I'm not fond of the idea that F'lar can order Toric to things. I suppose I should be grateful that it isn't Robinton making the order. But really, what leverage does F'lar have given that they're not patrolling Southern.
I love Toric's distaste for titles.
...
I like this bit too:
‘I get the impression,’ the boy said in his most conciliatory tone, ‘that that is a formality that the Benden Weyrleaders will bring before the Conclave at the next possible occasion. You’re as much a Lord Holder as Jaxom is, and you’re working at it. But—’ He held up his hand. ‘It would be wise to know how much you’re going to Hold. You prove, one—’ He ticked off each point on his fingers, ‘—how diligent you’ve been; two: how serious you are about all this; three: limit what their idiot sons — presuming some of them survive their initiation here — can possibly think to control; and four: make legal and binding your own claim by virtue of the fact that that’s how much you’ve been holding.’
I'm sure the "and you're working at it" is not MEANT to be a potshot at Jaxom's lazy ass. But I want it to be.
This paragraph is both interesting and contradictory:
Toric stared across the room to the map of what he already, by virtue of having accurately charted it, held. Much of the cartographic detail had been filled in by Sharra, Hamian, and Piemur, but that only whetted Toric’s appetite to establish how much more there was. He had no intention of sharing it with any northern holders’ sons — possibly not even his own, although he was proud of the twin sons Ramala had just delivered… again. Piemur was astonished, and secretly envious, of Toric’s large family. The man would need every one of them to hold for him, that was certain. And Toric had plans for Sharra’s offspring — whenever he did find someone he felt worthy-of his beautiful sister. Piemur had about given up that daydream. He knew that Sharra liked him, enjoyed his company, and accepted him as a partner in their explorations, but whether she was careful to keep the friendship objective because she felt nothing stronger for him than platonic affection, or because she did not wish to bring Toric’s wrath down on him, Piemur was not sure.
a) So Toric doesn't want to share with the Holders' sons. Good. Fuck them. But he also doesn't want to share with his own...okay, cool. Fuck nepotism.
b) But then we're told that he'll need every one of his large family to "hold for him". So he WILL be sharing with his sons.
c) More Sharra stuff. I suppose I'm supposed to be offended on her behalf, but I'm not sure how this is different than anyone else on Pern. Kylara was supposed to get married off as I recall.
d) I appreciate that, unlike certain others, Piemur appears willing and happy to take "not interested" for an answer. That said, as we see further on, he's not opposed to seeing if he can broaden Toric's holding, and appreciation of him, and that it might be worth trying to see if said appreciation might encompass Sharra as well.
Damn, this is making me regret White Dragon all over again. Sharra shows as much interest in Piemur as she did with Jaxom for most of the story (read: none), but Piemur at least understands and respects her abilities AND loves and lives in the Southern Continent.
And MORE to discuss here:
What Piemur kept very much to himself was that he would be doing the survey as much for Master Robinton as for Toric. Just where his loyalties would be tested remained to be seen. In no fashion would Piemur risk Master Robinton’s good relationships with the Benden Weyrleaders. He had a suspicion that perhaps F’lar and Lessa wanted a good bit of Southern to be dragonriders’ territory. He hoped that the continent would be big enough for all. How much did Toric possibly think he could manage to Hold? Should someone — maybe Saneter could get away with it — remind Toric of what had happened to Fax, the self-styled Lord of Seven Holds? In any event, as long as Piemur got to set one foot in front of the other until he ran out of land, he would let the disposition of it rest with others — such as the Masterharper and the Benden Weyrleaders. They deserved more of the South than Toric ever did. But then, Lessa had a habit of giving perfectly good Holds away.
I don't begrudge Piemur working for Robinton, even if I hate Robinton. It does remind me of my perpetual Harper related anger.
Hey, by the way, since being a Harper is clearly about being a spy and scout as it is a performer, why ISN'T Audiva a Harper? She'd honestly be better at a lot of it than Menolly would!
I have to argue with Piemur about Fax though. Fax was a monster, of course, but, at least according to the prologue of this book, the standard of living in his fiefdom was apparently pretty high. Except Ruatha of course. And it's not like Fax was overthrown, or even betrayed by a follower. Fax was brought down because Lessa manipulated the situation and F'lar knifed him.
I don't really see that happening to Toric.
Anyway, Toric is happy to send Piemur and would like LOTS of information.
Piemur sails out to "Island River" where he stays with the holders: a fisherman and wife who are cousins of Toric. They've excavated the ruins and rebuilt things. It sounds nice. They gush about their cousin who "rescued them from a holdless existence". Aw.
I'm still not sure if I'm supposed to dislike Toric or not. But I still like him. (And to be fair, it IS more nuance than McCaffrey usually allows).
We shift from Piemur's travels to Jayge.
Jayge is getting along with the drovers, though his beast is winning all the informal races. Of course. I suppose it makes sense, since Jayge makes his living by said beasts in a way that Hold-folk don't. But still. It's very McCaffrey to have the protagonist always win.
The mare is pretty good too. Jayge won't risk her though. He's nicknamed her Fancy. He's actually pretty sad when the drovers split off to go their separate way.
More traveling. Not much interesting. The weather on the second night is pretty rough, and Jayge has to ask for shelter. Fortunately he has the travel note from Keroon and the character reference from Swacky, so he's permitted to stay. They gossip a bit as to who might be receiving the pretty mare. She's also hoping for a Gather soon. (There's a nice bit too - the children had had a bad fever recently, and the Lady Holder had sent her own special medication down to help. Aw.)
So more travel. Jayge is within site of Benden Hold and we get some description:
He was soon close enough to Benden Hold to see its splendid proportions, the multitude of windows in the sheltering cliff face, and the south end of the broad east-facing inner yard. It was an hour or so of good riding away, but already small cotholds were visible on either side of the river, making use of cliff and cave. Behind and to the northeast were the Benden Mountains, and almost directly north -Benden Weyr.
He's then accosted by riders - young people who admire the beasts and demand, "in a high spirited fashion" answers.
The young folk are brought in line by one of the girls:
She was not the prettiest of the three girls in that group. She had black hair, plaited in one long, thick braid down her back and covered with a blue scarf; her face was oval, strong-featured without being the least bit coarse. He could not tell what color her eyes were under rather level black eyebrows, but she had a nice straight, longish nose, a sweet shape to her mouth, a firm chin — and an odd sadness in her expression.
Interesting. That's a major character description. I'm not sure who she could be though. I suppose we'll find out!
We get a very unnecessary "not like other girls" bit here. The other two girls in the group are very flirty and coquettish. The leader is no-nonsense though, which Jayge appreciates a lot more. Of course. They ask if he'll stay for the Gather. He likes the idea, if he can complete his mission in time. "In the dancing square all were equal."
So Jayge delivers Fancy. It goes well. He earns his marks. He lies and says he intends to go to Bitra next, and is advised to leave his marks with honest men. Apparently the Bitrans have a bad reputation. Jayge is a trader though, so he's unconcerned.
Aw. He also gets a second character reference added to the one from Swacky. Woo.
So what's Benden Hold like?
Such a main Hold was sinfully luxurious, Jayge thought, looking at the smooth, painted walls, the deep window apertures, and the burnished and etched shutters. The upper portions of the walls were embellished with brilliantly colored paintings, some of them quite old, to judge by the clothing depicted. It was the habit of the very old Holds to include portraits of notable lords, ladies, and prominent crafters. Some had been done in miniature on the borders, and some were so high up the wall as to be practically invisible. Idly Jayge wondered if any of those portraits could be Perschar’s work.
Swanky. I think this might be our first time seeing it.
Jayge gets hit on by a handsome journeyman and ends up seeing the black haired girl again. Someone notes his interest and comments that the girl's intended for Benden Weyr. They think she's sure to be Impressed.
...wait, is she Aramina? Did McCaffrey actually, FINALLY, give our McGuffin some page time and NOT BOTHER TO NAME HER???
(Skipping forward a chapter and there's definitely a reference to Aramina being at Benden Hold, so I guess so! Yeesh!)
Jayge is definitely into her.
Jayge had thought that girls found on Search went immediately into the Weyr, but if she was a fosterling of Benden’s, maybe that made a difference. He did know that there was no clutch on the Hatching Grounds at the moment.
‘She was in the hunting party that passed me on the track,’ Jayge said casually. He tried to keep his eyes from her but could not. There was a sweet calmness about her; it was soothing just to watch her deal with her food platter. Jayge thought that he had never seen a girl quite like her. And she was not for him. He wrenched himself away and turned, smiling, to the journeywoman, who was eager to continue conversation.
Well, I am glad that they're theoretically going to have the opportunity to interact. I was a little worried about that.
So the next morning, Jayge encounters presumably-Aramina again. They chat about his experience with beasts. She looks sad. He is also rather sad, since he knows she's meant for the Weyr and "that was that!".
I mean...you could ASK her. See what she's actually interested in?
Oh well. The chapter ends with Jayge heading out, utterly oblivious to the fact that he just met (I think) the girl he's intending to protect.
I admit, I do find Aramina intriguing. I tend to find Hears All Dragons annoying as a trait, because McCaffrey clearly uses it as short hand to highlight heroines we're supposed to like for no real reason or story purpose (See: Brekke. Arguably Robinton, because while these books present it as though the dragons choose to talk to whomever, I dimly recall the dreadful Masterharper of Pern actually explicitly giving him that trait.) But the idea that someone could have this trait and NOT want to be a dragonrider, and NOT want to be around dragons, who might even find it unpleasant or uncomfortable - THAT's interesting.
I really am looking forward to seeing where that goes.
I'm also looking forward to Aramina actually getting to appear in the story and DO shit. Ideally with a name attached. Maybe soon!
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Date: 2024-02-12 07:08 pm (UTC)= Multi-Facets.