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i_read_what2024-02-26 05:56 pm
kalinara) wrote in i_read_what2024-02-26 05:56 pm
Renegades of Pern - Chapter Ten
So last time, I got to bitch about the fact that apparently fifty-one pages of story, THIS story, exists only in the form of a separate short story.
And I mean, fine. I'll let it go. The problem is, without this story, Aramina is nothing but a McGuffin who makes demands. And Thella, by default, is the closest thing we have to a main character.
And we haven't seen her in like four chapters.
But look on the bright side, because this chapter gives us McCaffrey utterly fucking her timeline dry.
So we're back on the Southern Coast. I'd rant about how the Southern Continent portions do absolutely nothing to actually move plot or character along, but I've already done that. I'll let it go. Besides, I'll have more to bitch about in a few.
Piemur is reporting into to Toric, who is looking all impassive. Toric asks why all the Dragonriders have gone.
We get some long overdue clarification here:
‘They’ve left?’ Piemur wondered that Toric was not ecstatic. He glanced at Saneter for confirmation and the old harper flapped his fingers in a confusing sign that the boy could not interpret. When T’ron had died, T’kul had insisted that he was Weyrleader, and the situation at Southern Weyr had deteriorated rapidly. None of the other bronze riders had contested T’kul, but no-one was happy with his irrational attitudes and demands.
So that's what happened. That's why we see T'kul in White Dragon instead of T'ron. It makes sense. And I suppose this, retroactively, even gives T'ron (or once, T'ton) a bit of his nuance back, because T'ron was comparatively a competent leader...apparently.
Mardra's still going, by the way, but her dragon is "more dead than sleep".
We're also told that Toric is rarely without some kind of course of action - not always one that Saneter or Piemur approves of, but generally an action meant to protect Southern Hold. I appreciate that acknowledgment.
I'm kind of speeding through this conversation, when I'd usually provide more detail. But well, you'll see.
They discuss Piemur's loyalty. And Toric's.
‘My first loyalty is to my Craftmaster,’ Piemur replied, holding Toric’s gaze. So far Piemur had managed to retain, his first allegiance warped a trifle but unsullied.
‘Understood.’ Toric flicked his fingers in acceptance of Piemur’s response. ‘But my first loyalty is not to those — those sisters’ mothers.’
‘Understood.’ Piemur grinned at the description of the Oldtimers, though the incestuous implications drew a gargled protest from Saneter. ‘And I’m sure you already know that you’ve got your Southern holders behind you all the way,’ he added, thinking that was the reassurance Toric wanted.
Honestly, the way I read it, Toric might well have been insulting Harper Hall, but okay.
There's more apparently:
‘What could they be up to?’ There were not that many Oldtimers to be effective at anything: both men and dragons were old, tired and more pathetic than dangerous. Except T’kul — lately no hold woman was safe from that womanizer.
I mean, I'd judge, but pretty much every modern male lead except Sebell, Jayge and Toric has committed rape. But T'kul's also annying and an idiot.
Toric does like the idea of the Oldtimers doing something so awful that the Northern Weyrs would have to confront them. Which leads them into the sudden arrival of Ramoth and Mnemeth...looking for their egg.
WHAT THE FUCK.
WHAT THE FUCK.
PIEMUR, per White Dragon, had been mapping the Southern Continent for years. He has the maps to show it! He's able to eyeball some of the Dragondawn era maps and IMMEDIATELY pinpoint discrepancies, because he'd seen them himself!
And yet, and yet, we've already become contemporaneous with the egg snatching. The egg snatching that Jaxom won't be shutting up about for twelve fucking chapters. And Piemur hasn't fucking LEFT yet?!
This is absurd. It's pointless. And it totally destroys some very important aspects of Piemur's characterization in White Dragon.
Remember how he really had trouble dealing with the crowded cove because he'd spent so long alone? That's going to be like a few weeks from now!!! IF THAT!!!
So not only is the Southern Continent focus utterly useless, telling nothing about Toric, Sharra, Piemur and company that we didn't already know. Wherein NOTHING of substance happens that couldn't be told in a paragraph (Toric likes new blood, but only if it's useful. The Lord Holders' sons are not.) Not only does it take up a big chunk of the narrative with its meaningless bullshit while the actual STORY of one of the LEAD CHARACTERS doesn't even make it into the book...
It also utterly trashes McCaffrey's own timeline and characterization. For fucking nothing.
It's one thing if McCaffrey contradicted herself because she wanted to make a better story. It happens. But this ISN'T a better story. Instead of spending a few years (or even a few months) exploring the continent in a vital and unique way, Piemur is basically just Toric's courtier here!
ARGH.
Though this makes me mad all over again for other reasons:
Suddenly Ramoth flung her head up, uttering the most poignantly sorrowful cry Piemur had ever heard. Not the keen of mourning, but a weird and terrible anguished plaint. Despite the heat of the day he shuddered, the flesh on his arms rising in chill bumps. Even Toric paled slightly, and Saneter gave a moan. Mnementh’s deeper voice echoed his queen’s in a discordant tone that increased the pathos of their call.
Remember what an asshole Robinton was to Lessa? Lessa, who is mentally bonded with the grieving mother? Remember that?
Piemur's vital role in this scene, by the way, the one worth destroying his timeline for is to shake his head when Toric asks what's going on and say "Whatever's happened, it's bad."
But we can't not talk about current events, so Lioth and N'ton arrive to fill them in. And hey, check this out:
‘It is regrettable that we hesitated to inform you of their recent erratic behavior—’ Toric lifted both hands in mute apology. ‘But who would have expected them to commit such a heinous crime against the Weyrs?’ He sounded unusually subdued. ‘How could they hope to… how could that help? Where could they hide — no, not here!’ He lifted his hands, fending off the mere hint of any complicity. ‘Search! Search!’ He gestured expansively. ‘Look everywhere!’
‘It is apparently a matter of everywhen,’ N’ton said grimly. Piemur groaned, suddenly understanding the significance of the Oldtimers’ latest exercises: They had been practicing going between times, a dangerous use of draconic abilities, even for the best of reasons — which Lessa’s famous ride had been, but which stealing an egg was not.
How is TORIC more sympathetic to F'lar and Lessa than Robinton?
And don't think I don't catch you indirectly shilling Jaxom here, McCaffrey. I guess she got tired of having her prince Marty Stu not mentioned in a while. Harrumph.
And yep, here we go:
The next few hours were exceedingly anxious. But just when Piemur had made himself ill with imagining the consequences — for the Oldtimers as well as for Southern Hold — Tris, N’ton’s brown fire-lizard, appeared with a message on his leg for Piemur. He was also wearing an intricate neck design, an addition so recent that the paint still glistened.
Unrolling the message as he ran, Piemur raced for Toric’s office. ‘It’s all right, Toric! The egg’s back!’
Aside from the opportunity to insult Robinton some more, I don't understand why this needed to be in this book. This is literally a page later.
Oh, of course, it does give us a chance to lie about Robinton.
" . . . Master Robinton urged caution and deliberation, even spoke out against a punitive search, and has been peremptorily dismissed from Benden Weyr. N’ton.’
‘So!’ Toric said, leaning back in his chair. He tapped the message against his desk. ‘So the Oldtimers have compromised only themselves. That is a relief.’
‘If you see it as one,’ Piemur murmured, and abruptly strode out of the hold. Toric could be as relieved as he wished, but Piemur was far from easy. The Masterharper exiled from Benden? That was bloody awful. The more he thought of the consequences of such an estrangement, the more depressed he became. It had come so frighteningly near the worst catastrophe that could afflict Pern — dragon fighting dragon. Those accursed Oldtimers! What consummate fools! Especially T’kul, who undoubtedly had instigated the senseless scheme. There would be retribution for their act, and Piemur devoutly hoped that the future of Southern Hold — and Toric’s ambitions — had not been jeopardized. But he worried most of all about Master Robinton’s anomalous situation.
That is NOT what happened! Robinton basically called Lessa an idiot. He was NOT thrown out or exiled, by the way. Everyone treated him as though he was right. FUCK this bullshit. I suffered through every page of that goddamn book.
I'm not blaming Piemur here. It's natural he'd side with Robinton. But this steams me to no end.
And none of it is necessary. We don't need to see Piemur side with Robinton to know he would. We don't need to see Toric being shocked and wary at the loss of the egg. NONE of this is STORY.
Aramina's experiences in Benden Weyr were apparently so traumatizing that she went from innocent kid to terrified victim, begging to hide in the South off page. But THIS is worth including???
Toric rants about how there's not much to choose between Northern and Southern riders, which is interesting and probably worth exploring considering he went back in time with T'bor and F'nor. How had those guys fucked things up, I wonder? (Probably a lot, given dragonrider attitudes in Dragonflight.) But again, none of this is interesting or noteworthy.
There is an interesting timeline note about Toric claiming everything he's worked for for twenty years is about to be ruined.
I mean...it probably should be closer to thirty. Unless he came BACK from the past with T'bor and F'nor. In which case, why go back there at all? That part has never made a lot of sense.
But, Jaxom is around 20 in White Dragon. Dragonflight covers a span of four years. F'nor and company go back ten years earlier, and spend four years breeding up an extra generation or two of dragons.
So...either seventeen, twenty-four, or twenty-seven, depending on when we start counting and what exactly happened.
I realize I'm being nitpicky, but it's this or repetitively rant about the same thing yet again.
UGH.
‘For a little while there, I saw everything I’ve worked twenty Turns to accomplish about to be ruined.’ Another sweep of Toric’s arm knocked a glowbasket from the wall bracket and spilled its contents over the Records. Piemur grabbed them out of the way and closed the basket, stamping at the spillage. ‘I’m going to set a watch on those Oldtimers, Piemur. I’ll have Saneter draw up a roster. I can’t let something else happen. I was hoping to have a few words with F’lar…’ Piemur nearly choked at that bit of arrogance. ‘No, I guess this wasn’t the time for it,’ the holder added with a rueful shake of his head. ‘That Masterharper of yours has good ideas, I’d like you to get in touch with him about this.’ Toric turned to look sharply at Piemur.
How is it arrogant for Toric, the sole Lord Holder in the South, to confer with F'lar?
I mean, for one thing, he's done it. In the beginning of White Dragon, which would be before this.
Piemur just uncomfortably shuffles, not wanting to mention that Robinton and the Weyr leaders are on the outs.
Ugh, I'm sorry, I just...agh. They're talking about dragons now and how they now intend to inform Benden Weyr whenever suspicious behavior starts. Which raises an interesting question as to how?
Toric doesn't have a dragon stationed in his hold, remember? There isn't a pony express. Do they have any other means of correspondence that isn't by ship? I know it's not THAT long of a journey from Ista to the South, but still...
There is a cute bit where Toric actually admits gratitude to Piemur and Saneter for their support, but yeesh. This is aggravating. At least show us Jayge and Aramnina NOW. Or hell, Thella! Where the fuck is Thella!
How am I supposed to buy Thella as a formidable adversary when last we saw, her base was destroyed, her SOLE henchman presumably dead as he murdered her other henchman. What is she DOING?
And MORE nonsense we've already known:
‘If today didn’t prove that, I don’t know what will,’ Piemur said, cocking his head to one side. He liked Toric, admired him, but he did not entirely trust him. Which was fair. Toric did not completely trust Piemur, especially not too often in Sharra’s company. Piemur had noticed how Toric tried to keep them apart; the holder had just given Sharra her long-sought permission to go on an adventurous trip south, beyond Hamian’s mines. ‘So, if we’re back to normal tomorrow, I’d like to see what’s beyond that headland east of Island River. Maybe even get as far as the cove that Menolly found when they were storm-lost.’ He noticed the alertness in Toric’s eyes. The holder had not liked that inadvertent excursion; he had always been suspicious of just how far Menolly and the Masterharper had gone, though he could never deny that they had been storm-driven, and that only Menolly’s sea skills had kept the small boat afloat. ‘A dragon can’t go between to a place he’s never seen,’ Piemur reminded the Southerner. ‘Likewise, a man can’t hold what he hasn’t beheld! How about it, Toric?’
Speaking of stories that we never got to see, I really would have liked seeing Menolly and Robinton find that cove. But these character dynamics are repetitive as fuck. We KNOW THIS.
And I'm as repetitive as this book. Sorry. But the days of a passing grade are becoming farther and farther away.
But yay, Piemur's FINALLY off to see the world. You know, like a week before Jaxom is going to be an idiot and get sick. FUCK this bullshit.
Now at least we get to some nice description and imagery of what Piemur's seeing. And honestly, based on this description, it ought to take years to cover this area. One really intriguing point though is when Piemur actually encounters PEOPLE.
...
Actually, they meet Jayge and Aramina. Wait. WHAT?!
We're going to skip past them actually leaving the northern continent, and whatever that entails?!
There was glad astonishment and a warm, if shy, welcome from the shipwrecked couple, as well as an immediate invitation to share their meal, which was cooking over a most fascinating stove. The man, Jayge, tanned and well-muscled, was several Turns older and taller by several handwidths than the harper. He had an open face, a nose slightly bent out of line from some brawl, light-colored eyes, and a steady gaze. He wore a sleeveless vest and short pants of roughly spun cotton, and around his lean hips was a fine leather belt from which hung a bone-handled knife. On his feet were rather ingenious sandals that protected toes and heels but were open across the foot. They looked much more comfortable and cooler than the heavy boots Piemur wore,
Ara was younger, with an appealing face that looked both innocent and yet was oddly mature; at times she looked sad. Her black hair was braided down her back, but curls escaped the plait to frame her face. She wore a loose, sleeveless cotton dress, dyed a deep red and embroidered on scoop neck and hem, a narrow leather belt dyed a red to match her dress, and red leather sandals. She was utterly charming, and Piemur did not miss Jayge’s proud and proprietary gaze.
While Piemur ate his way through the best meal he had eaten since he had left Southern, he listened to Jayge and Ara tell of their adventures, occasionally throwing in a question or a comment to encourage them to add details.
WHAT???
Oh, just to add to my massive irritation, apparentlythey'd been hired by the Keroon Beasthold THIRTY MONTHS AGO.
I mean, it's possible that Jayge and Aramina are lying here, but certainly enough time has passed to get them all past the initial survival stage and into a real settlement.
Oh, apparently they were dragged to shore by shipfish. Gosh, it's not like that would have been exciting or anything. There were other passengers too, at one point. How Jayge and Aramina met them and how they feel about them? Totally not worth talking about.
But you know, rehashing the stupid egg thing. That was worth talking about.
Oh, and more stupid White Dragon references. Another passenger eventually went blind from fire head. Aramina had tried to cure them, but felt helpless. Yep, totally not something worth reading about.
Are you fucking SERIOUS, McCaffrey?
Look, I almost understand not giving us Aramina in Benden. I'm still mad about it, but I get the logic at least. The story's told elsewhere.
BUT THIS IS FUCKING CRIMINAL.
Even granting that I have no real emotional attachment to Ms. McGuffin over here, I DID like Jayge. We followed Jayge through some really horrifying formative events! We saw him fall in love with Aramina from afar!
We deserved to see this relationship develop! We deserved to see these characters settle into a home! We deserved a fucking lot here that we apparently aren't going to see. I'm infuriated.
I mean LOOK at this:
‘Don’t fret yourself. Look—’ Piemur hauled his pack over and pulled out a small vial, which he handed to her. ‘I’ve medicine here. Instructions on it, as you see. Just don’t go near beaches stained yellow. It’s at its worst in mid- or late spring. And now that we know where you are, I’ll see that Sharra — she’s had Healer Hall training — sends you a record of symptoms and treatment for some of the southern nasties.’
‘I hope we’ve found most of them,’ Jayge said with a rueful grin, rubbing the scar on his forearm. Piemur recognized the blemish as an old needlethorn infection.
WHY DO WE NOT GET TO SEE OUR MAIN CHARACTERS ENCOUNTER THESE THINGS???
Oh, and the place they're living?
‘We found all this,’ Jayge said, his gesture including the house and the buildings beyond.
‘Found it?’
Jayge grinned, his teeth very white in his tanned face. He had curious yellow-green eyes, with flecks of dark in them, and a one-sided smile that Piemur liked. ‘Found the whole settlement. Mind you, it saved our lives. There were appalling storms for weeks after we were swept in here.’ He paused, hesitant. ‘I didn’t think anyone had been allowed to settle in the south, except at Southern Hold. This isn’t part of Southern, is it, and we just didn’t search far enough west?’
WHY DO WE NOT SEE THIS DISCOVERY?!
I'm sorry, I know I'm a broken record. But AAAAGGGGHHH.
Piemur considers the question, then figures Toric can't expect to claim the whole south, so he reassures them that they're safe. He intends that it would be a long time before Toric knows about them.
Isn't it amazing, by the way, that Piemur found this after only a few weeks of traveling.
UNLESS of course we're meant to think there are years between the stolen egg and Jaxom's illness. Which would be hilarious if so, as it means the snivelly little dick has been whining about the egg for YEARS.
And oh dear god.
‘More than we need right now,’ Ara said, swatting at Jayge affectionately when he winked at Piemur. Though her figure was not yet distorted, the harper had suspected she might be pregnant again. There was a luminous quality to her eyes and face that Sharra had told him often enhanced the beauty of a gravid woman. ‘Twelve rooms, but some would be awfully small to house a whole family. We had to shovel out the sand in the front rooms. The walls were filthy; I was afraid we’d have to scrub them clean, but the dirt sort of slid off when we washed them. I haven’t quite got the stains completely off, but now you can see what pretty colors they used.’
Pregnant AGAIN???
I think there had been mention of kids earlier, but I blocked it out in sheer offense.
So after all the Jayge-side build up, we skip from the rescue of the traumatized girl to an off screen romance, marriage AND CHILDBIRTH.
We don't get to see Aramina recover from her experiences. We don't get to see them build a new life. We don't get to see ANYTHING that would be remotely interesting.
I...I can't deal with this. This is the first time I've ever been tempted to just drop a book entirely. I'm just so offended. And they keep talking about the cool stuff at this compound, which is fine, but we missed all the discovery.
They have dogs, though, to protect against snakes and spotted cats. Because Ted Tubberman can't just be remembered as a hero. Even though the cat project still makes no sense. Fine. Dude wanted a kitty. That's last book's rant anyway.
But yes, more environmental gushing. More shit that pisses me off. And the chapter doesn't even do me the courtesy of ending here so I can stew on my rage and let it go before continuing. AGH.
Apparently Piemur stays with them longer than he should have. Well, it can't be longer than Jaxom in the cove. I do appreciate how the massacred timeline makes Jaxom so much worse. If Piemur had time to do all this discovery, then Jaxom must have been convalescing forever. Lazy ass.
Oh, more fucking retcons:
Piemur remained with Jayge and Ara for longer than he should have. Not only did he admire their fortitude and industry — even Toric would consider them resourceful and diligent — but also he wanted time to delve into the mystery of the buildings there on the far edge of nowhere. In the oldest of the Harper Hall Records, there had been elusive fragments, which Piemur, as Master Robinton’s special apprentice, had been allowed to see. When man came to Pern, he established a good Hold in the South, one fragment had begun, only to conclude ambiguously, but found it necessary to move north to shield. Like Robinton, Piemur had always wondered why anyone would have left the beautiful and fertile Southern Continent and settle the far harsher north. But it must have happened — the discovery of the ancient mine had been evidence of that. And now these incredible buildings!
Excuse me, McCaffrey, I read Dragondrums. Piemur's "special apprenticeship" was basically just an excuse to send him on missions and ignore his mistreatment by the drum apprentices. There was NO sign of any kind of special study or any historical documents that Piemur was allowed to see.
Oh, okay, Aramina and Jayge have one child so far. Readis. You know, named after one of Aramina's kidnappers. Yeah, he tried to help rescue her. But she wasn't there for that. I'm not saying Jayge can't convince her, but I'd have...again...liked to see that conversation.
I'm just tired. If McCaffrey doesn't care about her story, then why should I?
We started so good. We had Thella as an awesome adversary. She's apparently gone now though. MAYBE we'll be lucky and she's just building up her strength for a more long term revenge.
We had Asgenar vs. Thella, a fun plot that died with the siege on her headquarters. We had survivor Jayge and his caravan, all gone. Jayge and his search for Aramina - done! and we skip everything after he finds her.
The ONLY consistent storyline is the southern plot where NOTHING HAPPENS.
AAAAGGGGHHHHHH!!!
They talk about more discoveries: A stake for Paradise River. Aramina shows off what she thinks is a teaching room.
As Piemur turned it in his hand, its texture, despite the stains of age, was somehow soapy. The leaves fell open to clever illustrations so humorous that he smiled; he glanced at the words beneath them — short sentences all, and the letters, while recognizable, were absurdly big and bold. Master Arnor would never have let Harper Hall apprentices waste so much space; he taught them to write in small but legible letters, so that more could be crammed on to each page of hide.
‘Clearly a youngster’s book,’ he agreed. ‘But no teaching song I’ve ever read.’
...they found a BOOK. A BOOK.
I can't, I just can't deal with this. Jayge and Aramina, perhaps realizing their importance to the story is over, offer Piemur some of their findings, but Piemur admits there's a chance that he'd lose it in exploration.
On one hand, I appreciate how Jayge and Aramina's discovery is so much bigger than the discoveries they found in White Dragon. A BOOK. But again. Off page.
I'm sorry, I'll try to let it go.
There are cute bits that I wish I cared about. Piemur has a reed flute and pipe that he made, copying Menolly's design of course, because of course we need to shill her in absentia. Jayge has a raspy baritone, by the way, and Aramina has a clear, sweet soprano.
Anyway, he does some cartographical shit that really sounds like it should take a fucking while, then moves on. Oh, hey, Piemur's got the message that Jaxom's ill with fire-head. He's been with these two for five days.
Okay, fine. Whatever. But to make the timeline even MORE confusing:
‘Useful that way, though they have to know where they’re going.’ Piemur’s reply was somewhat distracted, for the message told him that Jaxom was gravely ill with fire-head at the Masterharper’s Cove. How Sharra knew where that was, Piemur could not guess. He himself had been hunting for that particular cove for the past three months. ‘I’ve got to leave. A friend needs me,’ he added. ‘Look, Farli now knows who you are and where you are. As soon as I can, I’ll send you a message by her. When you’ve got it, just tell her to find Stupid — who isn’t.’
...how long has Piemur been exploring? How long since the stolen egg?
I suppose, maybe, we're supposed to believe that Piemur's been making short ventures out before this. But that's not what we saw or was implied in White Dragon. So I'm annoyed.
Anyway, thank the fucking gods, the chapter ends here.
And I mean, fine. I'll let it go. The problem is, without this story, Aramina is nothing but a McGuffin who makes demands. And Thella, by default, is the closest thing we have to a main character.
And we haven't seen her in like four chapters.
But look on the bright side, because this chapter gives us McCaffrey utterly fucking her timeline dry.
So we're back on the Southern Coast. I'd rant about how the Southern Continent portions do absolutely nothing to actually move plot or character along, but I've already done that. I'll let it go. Besides, I'll have more to bitch about in a few.
Piemur is reporting into to Toric, who is looking all impassive. Toric asks why all the Dragonriders have gone.
We get some long overdue clarification here:
‘They’ve left?’ Piemur wondered that Toric was not ecstatic. He glanced at Saneter for confirmation and the old harper flapped his fingers in a confusing sign that the boy could not interpret. When T’ron had died, T’kul had insisted that he was Weyrleader, and the situation at Southern Weyr had deteriorated rapidly. None of the other bronze riders had contested T’kul, but no-one was happy with his irrational attitudes and demands.
So that's what happened. That's why we see T'kul in White Dragon instead of T'ron. It makes sense. And I suppose this, retroactively, even gives T'ron (or once, T'ton) a bit of his nuance back, because T'ron was comparatively a competent leader...apparently.
Mardra's still going, by the way, but her dragon is "more dead than sleep".
We're also told that Toric is rarely without some kind of course of action - not always one that Saneter or Piemur approves of, but generally an action meant to protect Southern Hold. I appreciate that acknowledgment.
I'm kind of speeding through this conversation, when I'd usually provide more detail. But well, you'll see.
They discuss Piemur's loyalty. And Toric's.
‘My first loyalty is to my Craftmaster,’ Piemur replied, holding Toric’s gaze. So far Piemur had managed to retain, his first allegiance warped a trifle but unsullied.
‘Understood.’ Toric flicked his fingers in acceptance of Piemur’s response. ‘But my first loyalty is not to those — those sisters’ mothers.’
‘Understood.’ Piemur grinned at the description of the Oldtimers, though the incestuous implications drew a gargled protest from Saneter. ‘And I’m sure you already know that you’ve got your Southern holders behind you all the way,’ he added, thinking that was the reassurance Toric wanted.
Honestly, the way I read it, Toric might well have been insulting Harper Hall, but okay.
There's more apparently:
‘What could they be up to?’ There were not that many Oldtimers to be effective at anything: both men and dragons were old, tired and more pathetic than dangerous. Except T’kul — lately no hold woman was safe from that womanizer.
I mean, I'd judge, but pretty much every modern male lead except Sebell, Jayge and Toric has committed rape. But T'kul's also annying and an idiot.
Toric does like the idea of the Oldtimers doing something so awful that the Northern Weyrs would have to confront them. Which leads them into the sudden arrival of Ramoth and Mnemeth...looking for their egg.
WHAT THE FUCK.
WHAT THE FUCK.
PIEMUR, per White Dragon, had been mapping the Southern Continent for years. He has the maps to show it! He's able to eyeball some of the Dragondawn era maps and IMMEDIATELY pinpoint discrepancies, because he'd seen them himself!
And yet, and yet, we've already become contemporaneous with the egg snatching. The egg snatching that Jaxom won't be shutting up about for twelve fucking chapters. And Piemur hasn't fucking LEFT yet?!
This is absurd. It's pointless. And it totally destroys some very important aspects of Piemur's characterization in White Dragon.
Remember how he really had trouble dealing with the crowded cove because he'd spent so long alone? That's going to be like a few weeks from now!!! IF THAT!!!
So not only is the Southern Continent focus utterly useless, telling nothing about Toric, Sharra, Piemur and company that we didn't already know. Wherein NOTHING of substance happens that couldn't be told in a paragraph (Toric likes new blood, but only if it's useful. The Lord Holders' sons are not.) Not only does it take up a big chunk of the narrative with its meaningless bullshit while the actual STORY of one of the LEAD CHARACTERS doesn't even make it into the book...
It also utterly trashes McCaffrey's own timeline and characterization. For fucking nothing.
It's one thing if McCaffrey contradicted herself because she wanted to make a better story. It happens. But this ISN'T a better story. Instead of spending a few years (or even a few months) exploring the continent in a vital and unique way, Piemur is basically just Toric's courtier here!
ARGH.
Though this makes me mad all over again for other reasons:
Suddenly Ramoth flung her head up, uttering the most poignantly sorrowful cry Piemur had ever heard. Not the keen of mourning, but a weird and terrible anguished plaint. Despite the heat of the day he shuddered, the flesh on his arms rising in chill bumps. Even Toric paled slightly, and Saneter gave a moan. Mnementh’s deeper voice echoed his queen’s in a discordant tone that increased the pathos of their call.
Remember what an asshole Robinton was to Lessa? Lessa, who is mentally bonded with the grieving mother? Remember that?
Piemur's vital role in this scene, by the way, the one worth destroying his timeline for is to shake his head when Toric asks what's going on and say "Whatever's happened, it's bad."
But we can't not talk about current events, so Lioth and N'ton arrive to fill them in. And hey, check this out:
‘It is regrettable that we hesitated to inform you of their recent erratic behavior—’ Toric lifted both hands in mute apology. ‘But who would have expected them to commit such a heinous crime against the Weyrs?’ He sounded unusually subdued. ‘How could they hope to… how could that help? Where could they hide — no, not here!’ He lifted his hands, fending off the mere hint of any complicity. ‘Search! Search!’ He gestured expansively. ‘Look everywhere!’
‘It is apparently a matter of everywhen,’ N’ton said grimly. Piemur groaned, suddenly understanding the significance of the Oldtimers’ latest exercises: They had been practicing going between times, a dangerous use of draconic abilities, even for the best of reasons — which Lessa’s famous ride had been, but which stealing an egg was not.
How is TORIC more sympathetic to F'lar and Lessa than Robinton?
And don't think I don't catch you indirectly shilling Jaxom here, McCaffrey. I guess she got tired of having her prince Marty Stu not mentioned in a while. Harrumph.
And yep, here we go:
The next few hours were exceedingly anxious. But just when Piemur had made himself ill with imagining the consequences — for the Oldtimers as well as for Southern Hold — Tris, N’ton’s brown fire-lizard, appeared with a message on his leg for Piemur. He was also wearing an intricate neck design, an addition so recent that the paint still glistened.
Unrolling the message as he ran, Piemur raced for Toric’s office. ‘It’s all right, Toric! The egg’s back!’
Aside from the opportunity to insult Robinton some more, I don't understand why this needed to be in this book. This is literally a page later.
Oh, of course, it does give us a chance to lie about Robinton.
" . . . Master Robinton urged caution and deliberation, even spoke out against a punitive search, and has been peremptorily dismissed from Benden Weyr. N’ton.’
‘So!’ Toric said, leaning back in his chair. He tapped the message against his desk. ‘So the Oldtimers have compromised only themselves. That is a relief.’
‘If you see it as one,’ Piemur murmured, and abruptly strode out of the hold. Toric could be as relieved as he wished, but Piemur was far from easy. The Masterharper exiled from Benden? That was bloody awful. The more he thought of the consequences of such an estrangement, the more depressed he became. It had come so frighteningly near the worst catastrophe that could afflict Pern — dragon fighting dragon. Those accursed Oldtimers! What consummate fools! Especially T’kul, who undoubtedly had instigated the senseless scheme. There would be retribution for their act, and Piemur devoutly hoped that the future of Southern Hold — and Toric’s ambitions — had not been jeopardized. But he worried most of all about Master Robinton’s anomalous situation.
That is NOT what happened! Robinton basically called Lessa an idiot. He was NOT thrown out or exiled, by the way. Everyone treated him as though he was right. FUCK this bullshit. I suffered through every page of that goddamn book.
I'm not blaming Piemur here. It's natural he'd side with Robinton. But this steams me to no end.
And none of it is necessary. We don't need to see Piemur side with Robinton to know he would. We don't need to see Toric being shocked and wary at the loss of the egg. NONE of this is STORY.
Aramina's experiences in Benden Weyr were apparently so traumatizing that she went from innocent kid to terrified victim, begging to hide in the South off page. But THIS is worth including???
Toric rants about how there's not much to choose between Northern and Southern riders, which is interesting and probably worth exploring considering he went back in time with T'bor and F'nor. How had those guys fucked things up, I wonder? (Probably a lot, given dragonrider attitudes in Dragonflight.) But again, none of this is interesting or noteworthy.
There is an interesting timeline note about Toric claiming everything he's worked for for twenty years is about to be ruined.
I mean...it probably should be closer to thirty. Unless he came BACK from the past with T'bor and F'nor. In which case, why go back there at all? That part has never made a lot of sense.
But, Jaxom is around 20 in White Dragon. Dragonflight covers a span of four years. F'nor and company go back ten years earlier, and spend four years breeding up an extra generation or two of dragons.
So...either seventeen, twenty-four, or twenty-seven, depending on when we start counting and what exactly happened.
I realize I'm being nitpicky, but it's this or repetitively rant about the same thing yet again.
UGH.
‘For a little while there, I saw everything I’ve worked twenty Turns to accomplish about to be ruined.’ Another sweep of Toric’s arm knocked a glowbasket from the wall bracket and spilled its contents over the Records. Piemur grabbed them out of the way and closed the basket, stamping at the spillage. ‘I’m going to set a watch on those Oldtimers, Piemur. I’ll have Saneter draw up a roster. I can’t let something else happen. I was hoping to have a few words with F’lar…’ Piemur nearly choked at that bit of arrogance. ‘No, I guess this wasn’t the time for it,’ the holder added with a rueful shake of his head. ‘That Masterharper of yours has good ideas, I’d like you to get in touch with him about this.’ Toric turned to look sharply at Piemur.
How is it arrogant for Toric, the sole Lord Holder in the South, to confer with F'lar?
I mean, for one thing, he's done it. In the beginning of White Dragon, which would be before this.
Piemur just uncomfortably shuffles, not wanting to mention that Robinton and the Weyr leaders are on the outs.
Ugh, I'm sorry, I just...agh. They're talking about dragons now and how they now intend to inform Benden Weyr whenever suspicious behavior starts. Which raises an interesting question as to how?
Toric doesn't have a dragon stationed in his hold, remember? There isn't a pony express. Do they have any other means of correspondence that isn't by ship? I know it's not THAT long of a journey from Ista to the South, but still...
There is a cute bit where Toric actually admits gratitude to Piemur and Saneter for their support, but yeesh. This is aggravating. At least show us Jayge and Aramnina NOW. Or hell, Thella! Where the fuck is Thella!
How am I supposed to buy Thella as a formidable adversary when last we saw, her base was destroyed, her SOLE henchman presumably dead as he murdered her other henchman. What is she DOING?
And MORE nonsense we've already known:
‘If today didn’t prove that, I don’t know what will,’ Piemur said, cocking his head to one side. He liked Toric, admired him, but he did not entirely trust him. Which was fair. Toric did not completely trust Piemur, especially not too often in Sharra’s company. Piemur had noticed how Toric tried to keep them apart; the holder had just given Sharra her long-sought permission to go on an adventurous trip south, beyond Hamian’s mines. ‘So, if we’re back to normal tomorrow, I’d like to see what’s beyond that headland east of Island River. Maybe even get as far as the cove that Menolly found when they were storm-lost.’ He noticed the alertness in Toric’s eyes. The holder had not liked that inadvertent excursion; he had always been suspicious of just how far Menolly and the Masterharper had gone, though he could never deny that they had been storm-driven, and that only Menolly’s sea skills had kept the small boat afloat. ‘A dragon can’t go between to a place he’s never seen,’ Piemur reminded the Southerner. ‘Likewise, a man can’t hold what he hasn’t beheld! How about it, Toric?’
Speaking of stories that we never got to see, I really would have liked seeing Menolly and Robinton find that cove. But these character dynamics are repetitive as fuck. We KNOW THIS.
And I'm as repetitive as this book. Sorry. But the days of a passing grade are becoming farther and farther away.
But yay, Piemur's FINALLY off to see the world. You know, like a week before Jaxom is going to be an idiot and get sick. FUCK this bullshit.
Now at least we get to some nice description and imagery of what Piemur's seeing. And honestly, based on this description, it ought to take years to cover this area. One really intriguing point though is when Piemur actually encounters PEOPLE.
...
Actually, they meet Jayge and Aramina. Wait. WHAT?!
We're going to skip past them actually leaving the northern continent, and whatever that entails?!
There was glad astonishment and a warm, if shy, welcome from the shipwrecked couple, as well as an immediate invitation to share their meal, which was cooking over a most fascinating stove. The man, Jayge, tanned and well-muscled, was several Turns older and taller by several handwidths than the harper. He had an open face, a nose slightly bent out of line from some brawl, light-colored eyes, and a steady gaze. He wore a sleeveless vest and short pants of roughly spun cotton, and around his lean hips was a fine leather belt from which hung a bone-handled knife. On his feet were rather ingenious sandals that protected toes and heels but were open across the foot. They looked much more comfortable and cooler than the heavy boots Piemur wore,
Ara was younger, with an appealing face that looked both innocent and yet was oddly mature; at times she looked sad. Her black hair was braided down her back, but curls escaped the plait to frame her face. She wore a loose, sleeveless cotton dress, dyed a deep red and embroidered on scoop neck and hem, a narrow leather belt dyed a red to match her dress, and red leather sandals. She was utterly charming, and Piemur did not miss Jayge’s proud and proprietary gaze.
While Piemur ate his way through the best meal he had eaten since he had left Southern, he listened to Jayge and Ara tell of their adventures, occasionally throwing in a question or a comment to encourage them to add details.
WHAT???
Oh, just to add to my massive irritation, apparentlythey'd been hired by the Keroon Beasthold THIRTY MONTHS AGO.
I mean, it's possible that Jayge and Aramina are lying here, but certainly enough time has passed to get them all past the initial survival stage and into a real settlement.
Oh, apparently they were dragged to shore by shipfish. Gosh, it's not like that would have been exciting or anything. There were other passengers too, at one point. How Jayge and Aramina met them and how they feel about them? Totally not worth talking about.
But you know, rehashing the stupid egg thing. That was worth talking about.
Oh, and more stupid White Dragon references. Another passenger eventually went blind from fire head. Aramina had tried to cure them, but felt helpless. Yep, totally not something worth reading about.
Are you fucking SERIOUS, McCaffrey?
Look, I almost understand not giving us Aramina in Benden. I'm still mad about it, but I get the logic at least. The story's told elsewhere.
BUT THIS IS FUCKING CRIMINAL.
Even granting that I have no real emotional attachment to Ms. McGuffin over here, I DID like Jayge. We followed Jayge through some really horrifying formative events! We saw him fall in love with Aramina from afar!
We deserved to see this relationship develop! We deserved to see these characters settle into a home! We deserved a fucking lot here that we apparently aren't going to see. I'm infuriated.
I mean LOOK at this:
‘Don’t fret yourself. Look—’ Piemur hauled his pack over and pulled out a small vial, which he handed to her. ‘I’ve medicine here. Instructions on it, as you see. Just don’t go near beaches stained yellow. It’s at its worst in mid- or late spring. And now that we know where you are, I’ll see that Sharra — she’s had Healer Hall training — sends you a record of symptoms and treatment for some of the southern nasties.’
‘I hope we’ve found most of them,’ Jayge said with a rueful grin, rubbing the scar on his forearm. Piemur recognized the blemish as an old needlethorn infection.
WHY DO WE NOT GET TO SEE OUR MAIN CHARACTERS ENCOUNTER THESE THINGS???
Oh, and the place they're living?
‘We found all this,’ Jayge said, his gesture including the house and the buildings beyond.
‘Found it?’
Jayge grinned, his teeth very white in his tanned face. He had curious yellow-green eyes, with flecks of dark in them, and a one-sided smile that Piemur liked. ‘Found the whole settlement. Mind you, it saved our lives. There were appalling storms for weeks after we were swept in here.’ He paused, hesitant. ‘I didn’t think anyone had been allowed to settle in the south, except at Southern Hold. This isn’t part of Southern, is it, and we just didn’t search far enough west?’
WHY DO WE NOT SEE THIS DISCOVERY?!
I'm sorry, I know I'm a broken record. But AAAAGGGGHHH.
Piemur considers the question, then figures Toric can't expect to claim the whole south, so he reassures them that they're safe. He intends that it would be a long time before Toric knows about them.
Isn't it amazing, by the way, that Piemur found this after only a few weeks of traveling.
UNLESS of course we're meant to think there are years between the stolen egg and Jaxom's illness. Which would be hilarious if so, as it means the snivelly little dick has been whining about the egg for YEARS.
And oh dear god.
‘More than we need right now,’ Ara said, swatting at Jayge affectionately when he winked at Piemur. Though her figure was not yet distorted, the harper had suspected she might be pregnant again. There was a luminous quality to her eyes and face that Sharra had told him often enhanced the beauty of a gravid woman. ‘Twelve rooms, but some would be awfully small to house a whole family. We had to shovel out the sand in the front rooms. The walls were filthy; I was afraid we’d have to scrub them clean, but the dirt sort of slid off when we washed them. I haven’t quite got the stains completely off, but now you can see what pretty colors they used.’
Pregnant AGAIN???
I think there had been mention of kids earlier, but I blocked it out in sheer offense.
So after all the Jayge-side build up, we skip from the rescue of the traumatized girl to an off screen romance, marriage AND CHILDBIRTH.
We don't get to see Aramina recover from her experiences. We don't get to see them build a new life. We don't get to see ANYTHING that would be remotely interesting.
I...I can't deal with this. This is the first time I've ever been tempted to just drop a book entirely. I'm just so offended. And they keep talking about the cool stuff at this compound, which is fine, but we missed all the discovery.
They have dogs, though, to protect against snakes and spotted cats. Because Ted Tubberman can't just be remembered as a hero. Even though the cat project still makes no sense. Fine. Dude wanted a kitty. That's last book's rant anyway.
But yes, more environmental gushing. More shit that pisses me off. And the chapter doesn't even do me the courtesy of ending here so I can stew on my rage and let it go before continuing. AGH.
Apparently Piemur stays with them longer than he should have. Well, it can't be longer than Jaxom in the cove. I do appreciate how the massacred timeline makes Jaxom so much worse. If Piemur had time to do all this discovery, then Jaxom must have been convalescing forever. Lazy ass.
Oh, more fucking retcons:
Piemur remained with Jayge and Ara for longer than he should have. Not only did he admire their fortitude and industry — even Toric would consider them resourceful and diligent — but also he wanted time to delve into the mystery of the buildings there on the far edge of nowhere. In the oldest of the Harper Hall Records, there had been elusive fragments, which Piemur, as Master Robinton’s special apprentice, had been allowed to see. When man came to Pern, he established a good Hold in the South, one fragment had begun, only to conclude ambiguously, but found it necessary to move north to shield. Like Robinton, Piemur had always wondered why anyone would have left the beautiful and fertile Southern Continent and settle the far harsher north. But it must have happened — the discovery of the ancient mine had been evidence of that. And now these incredible buildings!
Excuse me, McCaffrey, I read Dragondrums. Piemur's "special apprenticeship" was basically just an excuse to send him on missions and ignore his mistreatment by the drum apprentices. There was NO sign of any kind of special study or any historical documents that Piemur was allowed to see.
Oh, okay, Aramina and Jayge have one child so far. Readis. You know, named after one of Aramina's kidnappers. Yeah, he tried to help rescue her. But she wasn't there for that. I'm not saying Jayge can't convince her, but I'd have...again...liked to see that conversation.
I'm just tired. If McCaffrey doesn't care about her story, then why should I?
We started so good. We had Thella as an awesome adversary. She's apparently gone now though. MAYBE we'll be lucky and she's just building up her strength for a more long term revenge.
We had Asgenar vs. Thella, a fun plot that died with the siege on her headquarters. We had survivor Jayge and his caravan, all gone. Jayge and his search for Aramina - done! and we skip everything after he finds her.
The ONLY consistent storyline is the southern plot where NOTHING HAPPENS.
AAAAGGGGHHHHHH!!!
They talk about more discoveries: A stake for Paradise River. Aramina shows off what she thinks is a teaching room.
As Piemur turned it in his hand, its texture, despite the stains of age, was somehow soapy. The leaves fell open to clever illustrations so humorous that he smiled; he glanced at the words beneath them — short sentences all, and the letters, while recognizable, were absurdly big and bold. Master Arnor would never have let Harper Hall apprentices waste so much space; he taught them to write in small but legible letters, so that more could be crammed on to each page of hide.
‘Clearly a youngster’s book,’ he agreed. ‘But no teaching song I’ve ever read.’
...they found a BOOK. A BOOK.
I can't, I just can't deal with this. Jayge and Aramina, perhaps realizing their importance to the story is over, offer Piemur some of their findings, but Piemur admits there's a chance that he'd lose it in exploration.
On one hand, I appreciate how Jayge and Aramina's discovery is so much bigger than the discoveries they found in White Dragon. A BOOK. But again. Off page.
I'm sorry, I'll try to let it go.
There are cute bits that I wish I cared about. Piemur has a reed flute and pipe that he made, copying Menolly's design of course, because of course we need to shill her in absentia. Jayge has a raspy baritone, by the way, and Aramina has a clear, sweet soprano.
Anyway, he does some cartographical shit that really sounds like it should take a fucking while, then moves on. Oh, hey, Piemur's got the message that Jaxom's ill with fire-head. He's been with these two for five days.
Okay, fine. Whatever. But to make the timeline even MORE confusing:
‘Useful that way, though they have to know where they’re going.’ Piemur’s reply was somewhat distracted, for the message told him that Jaxom was gravely ill with fire-head at the Masterharper’s Cove. How Sharra knew where that was, Piemur could not guess. He himself had been hunting for that particular cove for the past three months. ‘I’ve got to leave. A friend needs me,’ he added. ‘Look, Farli now knows who you are and where you are. As soon as I can, I’ll send you a message by her. When you’ve got it, just tell her to find Stupid — who isn’t.’
...how long has Piemur been exploring? How long since the stolen egg?
I suppose, maybe, we're supposed to believe that Piemur's been making short ventures out before this. But that's not what we saw or was implied in White Dragon. So I'm annoyed.
Anyway, thank the fucking gods, the chapter ends here.
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