The White Dragon - Chapter Two

[kalinara]

So, except for trying to convince me that a guy who inherited his kingdom at birth, AND got a dragon, was some kind of sad little underdog, the first chapter of the White Dragon was actually pretty decent. Even F'nor didn't piss me off that much.

Apparently the key to keeping me happy is to show me F'lar and Lessa being a good, healthy partnership, and Lytol being tragic and awesome. Who knew?



So Chapter 2 starts us with Robinton heading up to the Queen's Weyr, which apparently, he's done a lot in thirteen turns. I think that means we've skipped ahead a little. Or McCaffrey flubbed her timeline. Either's possible.

This is definitely not a continuation of Chapter 1 though as Robinton isn't alone: Toric's with him. Toric seems pretty nervous and he's very impressed when he catches sight of Mnementh. Apparently Mnementh is almost twice as big as any of the Oldtimers' beasts. Robinton notes that Mnementh is the largest bronze and greets him respectfully.

There's a passing note about a twinge in his chest. He's recently had unexpected rest, which he thought would have eased it.

Anyway, Mnementh returns the greeting, which is a little surprising. But IMO, the ability to hear dragons is commonly used by McCaffrey as some sort of moral litmus test. Robinton, is of course, the Best of the Best. (Ugh).

Toric, amusingly, keeps Robinton between himself and Mnementh. Robinton merely notes that Ramoth is larger still.

Lessa comes out and greets Robinton with a hug, which is shocking. Robinton thinks he should get stormlost more often. This is probably a reference to Dragondrums, it occurs to me. Maybe I should have followed the recommended order. Oops. Too late now.

It is interesting to hear the hints about the adventure. Apparently Menolly had been there too, and her expertise as a Seaholder's daughter came in handy. While he explains this, F'lar grips his arm in greeting, and Robinton realizes that the Weyr had been very worried about him!

Anyway, we hear a bit more about Menolly's heroics: she'd kept Robinton from realizing the danger, saved most of the sail, rigged a sea anchor, and lashed Robinton to the mast when he was weak from nausea. I'm looking forward to reading that. It sounds much more interesting than Dragonsinger.

But anyway, Robinton has news: the Southern Continent is even bigger than they thought. Apparently Toric has been able to map quite a lot, "beyond what F'nor was able to do during his journey south."

Suddenly I'm reminded that while T'bor, as Southern Weyr Leader in Dragonquest was unable to explore as they wanted because of concerns of Thread, et cetera. In DragonFLIGHT, T'bor, F'nor and Kylara spent four years in the past, trying to breed up a few generations of dragons. Why didn't they map shit then? What were they doing?

Anyway, Toric apparently asked T'ron's permission to continue the exploration, and T'ron said that he could do what he liked, as long as he kept supplying the Weyr with game and fruit. F'lar is appalled, since the Southern Countinent is so plentiful that they literally could walk to get food, but Toric is pragmatic. If his holders supply their demands, T'ron and company don't bother him. He prefers that.

The Southern Continent is full of jungle type vegetation, and is very hard to get to. But he did scout some rivers and such, and he thinks that it must be at least twice the size of South Boll or Tillek.

F'lar, the constant do-er, can't quite comprehend that the Oldtimers aren't interested in exploring this. Toric admits that he can't really go farther, at least without an easier way to get through vegetation. He just doesn't have men. And to be honest, he's got all the land he can hold and protect already. You KNOW. Given that "what would dragonmen do after Thread is stopped for good" was apparently a genuine issue in Dragonquest, I think this is one solution. Why couldn't a small green or blue chew firestone and burn this shit out of its way?

Toric has some unfortunate news though: basically the dragonmen don't bother to protect the Southern Hold. Lessa is furious while F'lar is contemplative. (Robinton can see however that Lessa's appalled reaction to the delinquency gratifies Toric. Aw.)

F'lar just asks if Toric can manage. He can. He's got plenty of flamethrowers that F'nor (of course) made sure were left in his care. Gosh, imagine if F'nor had been so effective in his own damn book. Toric maintains his holds grassfree, and keep the animals in stone stables. They're doing okay.

Things start getting tense and I rather like this:

"I told you, Lessa, they're not harming us. We manage fine without them!"

A sort of challenge in Toric's tone made Robinton hold his breath. Lessa had a quick temper.

"Is there anything you need from the North?" asked F'lar, in oblique apology.

This scene has such great give and take with F'lar and Lessa. He's cold and callous, so her fury and indignation appeal to Toric's sense of injustice. But when she starts losing her temper, he helps calm her down and apologizes for it. I like seeing them compensate for each other.

So anyway, Toric realizes that F'lar can't break honor and interfere with the Oldtimers, but he is running out of some things: metal and flamethrower parts that only Fandarel can make. F'lar promises to see to it. Toric then has some more ambitious requests:

First, he wants his young sister, Sharra, to study with Master Oldive of the Harpers to learn healing.

Second, he would like some "adventurous men and women who'd be willing to make do at [his] Hold." He thinks he can take them in without the Oldtimers noticing.

"Why, yes," F'lar said with a nonchalance that caused Robinton to stifle a laugh, "I believe there are a few hardy souls who would be interested in joining you."

I included this because it made me laugh.

Anyway, Toric figures that if he has more people, he might be able to explore farther past the river.

Toric is pretty great, and Robinton is enjoying this too:

So far, Toric's audacity had delighted Robinton. The Harper was very pleased at how he'd managed to prime the man into requesting the very thing that the North needed the mosta place to send the independent and capable men who had no chance of attaining holds in the North. The big Southerner's manner was quite a change for the Benden Weyrleaders: neither subservient and apologetic nor aggressive and demanding. Toric had become independent as a result of having no one, dragonmen, Craftmasters or Lord Holders, to fall back on. Because he had survived, he was selfconfident and he knew what he wanted, and how to get it. Therefore he was addressing Lessa and F'lar as equals.

I really like that Toric is so forthright. It's very rare that we get to see Lord Holders hold their own with F'lar. I think only Lytol and Groghe have been able to really interact as equals and Toric is implicitly quite a bit younger than them.

Toric has one last concern:

"Yes?" F'lar prompted him.

"What happens to Southern, to my holders, to me, when the last of those Oldtimers is gone?"

"I'd say that you will have more than earned the right to Hold," F'lar said slowly, with an unmistakable accent on the final word, "what you have managed to carve out of that jungle for yourself!"

I love Toric's audacity. But this kind of ties into a question I asked last chapter, why is F'lar in charge of this? I mean, I suppose I can see why a guy who could kidnap your family is listened to. But F'lar doesn't seem interested in ruling the world. (...Lessa might. Hah)

It looks like Toric's actual idea is to take about six or eight people and have them carve out little holds for themselves at a time. There's lots of room in the South, a statement that pleases F'lar because he's got plans for it himself. Oh?

He also asks Robinton how far east he and Menolly went, but sadly Robinton can't tell. He does know they sailed for nine days along the coast. Toric's willing to go, but he needs supplies. For his part, F'lar doesn't dare send the supplies by dragonback, though that would be easiest from his point of view.

But Robinton has an idea: a ship could be blown off course from Ista Hold. Rather like what happened to him. And we close out the chapter with some banter.

I like this a lot. More F'lar and Lessa as co-leader. I'm not annoyed by the tale of Robinton and Menolly's adventure. (I will be if it's not detailed in Dragondrums). And I think I love Toric. He's forthright, knows what he wants, and he knows what can offer. Well done dude.