The White Dragon - Chapter Four

[kalinara]

So last time, I got seriously mixed up when it came to timelines and Jaxom whined a lot. Also Menolly was inexplicably mean, what the hell was up with that?!



So we're told that over the next few days, Jaxom has been TRYING to find time to teach Ruth how to chew firestone, but he's having no luck. Jaxom even wonders if N'ton told Lytol about his plan, but then realizes that's unfair: N'ton is not a treacherous or sly man. Instead, Jaxom is forced to realize that he's ALWAYS been busy: "with Ruth's care first, then lessons. Hold duties and, in past Turns, meetings at other Holders which Lytol felt he must attend-as a silent observer-to extend his knowledge of Hold management."

Hm. Tell me again how you're not really able to act like a Lord, Jaxom?

Jaxom admits though that he hadn't realized how involved he actually was until now, when he wanted some time for himself. Okay, I can buy that.

There's one other problem though. It doesn't matter where Ruth and Jaxom go, one of the Hold fire lizards will show up. At first, Jaxom wants to confrot Lytol about it, but he realizes that no, Lytol wouldn't have asked his steward or Deelan to sic their lizards on him. He can't confront Deelan either, because she'd weep and wail. He can however talk to Brand, the steward.

There's a weird bit in which we're told that Brand had come from Telgar Hold two years ago, because the old steward "had proved unable to control the lustiness of the fosterlings." Ew. Anyway, Jaxom thinks that Brand might understand the problems of a young man.

...is he going to tell Brand he needs time alone to masturbate?

So he goes to see Brand. Brand is apparently disciplining some drudges "for the depredations of tunnel-snakes in the storage rooms", they're instantly dismissed to bring two dead tunnel snakes apiece, or they'd go without food for a few days.

WOW. Jaxom is "astonished" but not horrified by this act of blatant cruelty. He is surprised by Brand's prompt attention, and how Brand waits with "all the deference he would show to Lytol or a ranking visitor."

...okay, actually, he apparently IS telling Brand he wants to jerk off:

“Occasionally,” Jaxom hurried on, “a fellow likes to get off by himself, completely by himself. And, as you know, fire-lizards are the world’s greatest gossips. They might get the wrong impression ... if you know what I mean?”

Brand apologizes. Apparently when Jaxom and Ruth started flying between, Deelan had been anxious, and the fire lizards would follow as a safeguard. Brand thinks he should have altered that arrangement long ago. He also calls Jaxom, "Lord Jaxom", which is a new development that Jaxom asks about.

Apparently, it stems from Jaxom's outburst the other morning. Kind of:

Brand inclined his head slightly, forestalling further apology. “As Lord Lytol remarked, you are well old enough to be confirmed in your rank. Lord Jaxom, and we-“ Brand grinned with uninhibited ease “-should act accordingly.”

Lytol is so awesome.

So Jaxom leaves to contemplate what he's learned:

There he stopped, mulling over the implications of that interview. “Old enough to be confirmed in your rank ... ” And Lord Groghe thinking to marry him to his daughter. Surely the canny Fort Holder wouldn’t do that if there was any doubt of Jaxom’s being confirmed in rank. The prospect now alarmed and annoyed Jaxom whereas the day before it would have pleased him enormously. Once he officially became Lord of Ruatha, any chance he might have had of flying with the fighting wings would be gone. He didn’t want to be Lord of Ruatha-at least not yet. And he certainly didn’t want to be saddled with a female not of his own choosing.

...you know what? Suck it up, Jaxom.

I don't think it's remotely fair that you get to be both Lord Holder and dragonrider, but you are. Which means you have fucking duties. Maybe Lytol doesn't WANT to rule Ruatha forever. Lessa certainly doesn't want that. And if Ruatha was heirless, the other Lords would tear each other apart for it.

You were never going to fly in a fucking fighting wing. Deal with it. And don't get me started on the dismissive attitude toward women.

He also thinks about his conversation with Menolly:

He should have told Menolly that he had no trouble with any of the Holder girls ... when he was of the mind. Not that he had followed some of the bawdier fosterlings’ examples. He wasn’t going to have the reputation of a lecher like Meron or that young fool of Lord Laudey’s, whom Lytol had sent back to his home Hold with some cover excuse that no one really believed. It was all right for the Lord Holder to beget a few halfbloods, quite another to dilute Holder Blood with other lines. Nonetheless, he would have to find a pleasant girl to give him the alibi he needed, and then take the time for more important things.

...wow. You sound like an utter dick, Jaxom. I think I miss when you were whiny.

So anyway, Jaxom muses on how attitudes toward him have apparently changed, something he hadn't noticed because he was focused on firestone. Deelan hasn't pestered him to eat more than he wants. Dorse has been absent. Lytol hasn't asked after Ruth's health, but instead talks about upcoming business.

Aw. Lytol CARES. That's a good thing! Let the dude who lost his dragon ask after yours, you little cocknoodle.

Heck, even after he returned from the Mastersmithhall, Lytol and Finder had wanted to hear about the stars, and Jaxom's account had taken the whole evening. The other fosterlings had been unusually silent. So basically Jaxom realizes that he should have spoken out months ago.

Or years. I mean really, I appreciate we're at the beginning of the book, so Jaxom has some growing to do, but I don't see anything yet that makes me think this kid has the initiative to lead.

Jaxom does get some private time though: when he's caring for Ruth. He attends Ruth in early morning or late evening, and hunts with him every fourth day. Apparently Ruth needs more frequent meals. The fire-lizards come along with the hunt to feast. They get hand fed, but generally can't resist a fresh kill. Cats.

Anyway, Ruth is ready to hunt. They discuss what Ruth is hungry for, and the fire lizards indeed come along. We learn something about Weyr economy:

From Hold tithings, the six Weyrs of Pern maintained their own herds and flocks on which the Weyr dragons fed. No Lord Holder ever objected to an occasional rider feeding his dragon off his land. As Jaxom was Lord Holder and technically had the right to anything within Ruatha’s borders, Ruth’s hunting was primarily a matter of courtesy. Lytol had not needed to instruct Jaxom to spread his beast’s appetite so that no holder was overburdened.

So Jaxom gives Ruth coordinates to a rich grass holding that Lytol had recommended. There are apparently buck-wherries being fattened. The young Lord greets Jaxom courteously, but adds:

“A thing I’d like you to mention to Lord Lytol,” the man began, and Jaxom detected resentment in his manner. “I’ve asked for a fire-lizard egg time and again. It’s my due as a holder and I’ve the need. I can’t hatch wherry eggs proper if vermin burrow under and crack shells. There are four or five from each clutch gone, lost to snakes and the like. Fire-lizard would keep ‘em off. They do for your man down at Bald Lake Hold and others I’ve spoken to. Fire-lizards are mighty handy creatures. Lord Jaxom, and being a holder now these past twelve Turns, it’s only my due. Bald Lake Palon, now he’s got a fire-lizard and he’s only held for ten Turns.”

“I can’t imagine why you’ve been slighted, Tegger. I’ll see that something is done about it. We haven’t a clutch at the moment but I’ll do what I can when we have.”

1. I feel like we're supposed to see him as unreasonable. But why shouldn't he ask? Especially when his Lord is helping himself out to some of his herd. It doesn't sound like Jaxom is paying for this though, given that line about his rights.

2. I'm also very interested by this use of fire lizards as a sign of status and favor. There's some merit to the resentment, as the people with fire lizards seem inclined to just hand them out to friends or as political currency as they please.

But anyway, Ruth says that this Lord, Tegger, had an egg once, but the little fledgling went between and never returned. Of course. Because McCaffrey has never met a nuance that she didn't cross the street to avoid. Ruth learned this from the fire lizards.

So Ruth hunts, killing three bucks. The third was a bit unexpected, but he was hungry. He eats, with the fire lizards joining in. Jaxom thinks about his firestone plan.

The problem is the fire lizards all seem to share knowledge, so he has to stay out of sight. Dragons need time to chew and digest firestone. Generally, they're fed several hours before Thread. The exact length of time varies and Jaxom thinks again about how, if only, he could have trained Ruth in a Weyr, with a weyrlingmaster's experience.

Dude, you have the Weyrleader of Fort at your beck and call. You can write to ask F'lar or Lessa and they'd listen, or send F'nor. Stop fucking whining.

At least obtaining firestone is easy: the watchdragon has to be supplied, so there's a good pile there. Ruth won't need that much. Timing remains a problem though: =
When still remained the problem. Jaxom had his morning free because Ruth was to hunt and it wasn’t sound practice to take a full dragon between-all that rich warm food would sour a dragon belly in cold between. So Jaxom would have to take the time to fly Ruth straight to Ruatha Hold. This afternoon would be taken up with overseeing spring planting, and if Lytol were really going to arrange for him to be confirmed as Lord Holder, he couldn’t get out of making an appearance.

Is it just me or does it seem like Jaxom gets a lot of perks by having a dragon?

Also, what the fuck is up with the "if Lytol were really going to arrange for him to be confirmed" nonsense. Jaxom was literally raised with the idea that he's going to have Ruatha since birth. Lytol has, at least as far as we can tell, made that clear to Jaxom over and over. Jaxom is made to be involved, at least observing, in meetings.

Hell, one of the "poor Jaxom" beats in Chapter One was that Lytol has OVER-emphasized Jaxom's sense of responsibility.

Well, that's not really coming across here. Jaxom's denial is probably a character beat to overcome, but it doesn't seem remotely realistic.

More interestingly, Jaxom starts wondering if the Lord Holders were ever worried that he'd try to mimic Fax. They talk about Bloodlines a lot, but no one's talked about Fax. People are happy to discuss his mother, Lady Gemma, with him, but they change the subject when he brings up Fax.

Were they afraid to have him get ideas from his father’s aggressive ways? Or was it merely courtesy not to talk about the dead unkindly? They certainly had no bar about discussing the living in destructive terms.

Here's a thought, Jaxom. You're about nineteen years old, if the count is right. You were born the same day Lessa joined the Weyr. Threadfall started about four years after. Assuming you're talking to adults, then you're asking the subjects of an occupied country about a man who directly terrorized them.

We haven't heard a lot of details about Lytol's backstory yet, but if the Pern wiki is any indiciation, the man has more than enough reason to flinch away from talking about Fax. Lessa was the only survivor of the royal family. And a lot of these others may well have suffered similar horrors. Maybe THAT's why they're not talking to you about it.

Anyway, Jaxom considers the idea of conquest:

How would he set about reducing Nabol or-since Fort Hold was too big a bite-Tiliek? Or Crom, perhaps, though he liked Lord Nessel’s oldest son, Kem, far too much to do him out of what was rightfully his. Shells, he was a fine one to talk of conquest, when he couldn’t even control the destiny of himself and his dragon!

You probably could if you actually fucking tried.

But you're too busy clinging to the idea of being a thread-fighting dragonrider, something that has never been an option for you.

They discuss whether or not the lizards would go away if Ruth told them to. Yes, probably, but they're curious and would come back just to see why they've been told to stay away.

So Jaxom returns home to Ruatha and heads over to meet with Lytol. Apparently, the plan is to head to a holding in the Northeast. Masterfarmer Andemon has developed a new seed, for a fast growing, high yield wheat. It's done very well in the south, and Andemon wants to see how it does in the rainier Northern climate. Apparently, the Hold that's been chosen belongs to a man named Fidello.

Tordril, a fosterling (and prospective Lord of Ista), accompanies them, appreciating their host's good cook and very pretty sister. The sister has a timid smile for Jaxom as opposed to Tordril. Of course she does. She sticks around Jaxom, only leaving when Fidello comes to say that they'd better start seeding.

“I wonder would you have got her so quick if I’d been Lord of Ruatha?” Tordril asked Jaxom as they checked their saddle girths before mounting.

“Got her?” Jaxom stared blankly at Tordril. “We only chatted.”

“Well, you could have her next time you ... ah, have a chance to chat. Or does Lytol mind a few halfbloods around? Father says it keeps the full ones on their toes! Ought to be easy for you with Lytol weyrbred, and not as stuffy about such things.”

Lytol and Fidello joined them at that point but Tordril’s envious comment set Jaxom’s thoughts on a very fruitful tack. What was her name? Corana? Well, Corana could be very useful. There was only the one fire-lizard about the Plateau Hold-and, if Ruth could just dissuade that creature from following them ...

Ahh, of course. I'm not sure why McCaffrey insists on giving the younger characters of this series friends that exist primarily so her main character can be better than them. We saw it with Mirrim, we saw it with Audiva, we saw it with F'lessan to some extent (which is a little bizarre really, considering F'lessan's parentage), and we see it here with Tordril.

Tordril has a supposedly equivalent rank. He seems focused on his libido. And thus far, the girls are choosing an oblivious Jaxom instead. If Tordril does have a talent other than finding the prettiest girl in the Keep, we don't hear about it.

I'm pretty sure I'm not supposed to be disgusted by Jaxom thinking about how he's going to use this poor girl.

(I am however fascinated by the idea that uptight, standoffish Lytol is seen as LESS "stuffy" in this respect.)

Later that night, Jaxom steals a sackful of firestone. The next morning, he puts his plan into motion:

The next morning he casually asked Lytol if he thought they had brought enough seed for Fidello. Theirs did seem to be a very large field. Lytol regarded his ward from under half-closed lids for a moment and then agreed that perhaps another half-sack might be to the wise. Tordril’s expression mirrored surprise, envy and, Jaxom felt, some respect for plausibility. Lytol duly ordered a half-sack of Andemon’s seed from Brand’s locked stores, and Jaxom sauntered off with it to don his riding gear.

Okay, I'll grant Jaxom this. It is clever. No one actually thinks it's about the seed. They think it's about the girl.

Fidello is very happy to see him, so much that Jaxom feels guilty about playing games. Fidello really really wants a good return of the crop, so as to justify Lytol's opinion. He starts leading Jaxom inside for refreshments. Meanwhile, Jaxom is happy to see that the main Hall is as tidy as it had been for the royal visit. Dude, it's only a day later. I'm a slob and it'd take me more than twenty-four hours to wreck my place after cleaning.

The wife also seems to have drawn her own conclusion as to why Jaxom's here, and she coquettishly tells him that everyone else has gone to the river to "gather withies". A quick hop for Jaxom's "beautiful dragon." Fidello is endearingly oblivious, wondering why Jaxom would want to see withies gathered. I think Fidello and F'lar would get along.

So anyway, Jaxom goes off with Ruth to the mountain. The hold's only fire-lizard follows, but Jaxom tells Ruth to tell him to get lost.

So they start experimenting with the firestone. They don't quite get the hang of it: Ruth can chew it, and manage eruptions of hot searing gas, but isn't yet able to sustain a continuous eruption. Ruth is disconsolate, but Jaxom reassures him:

“We should have been allowed to train you properly with the other weyrlings. It’s just not fair. I’ve always said so. You can’t help your difficulties today. But, by the First Shell, we’ll eventually succeed together.”

I like the encouragement. But "it's not fair" is a sentiment I find annoying from a prince at birth.

So Ruth thinks they'll just have to steal more firestone. The watchdragon never uses much anymore, he's too old to chew. That's why he's a watchdragon.

Okay, so that's interesting. Dragon retirement! I assume he's got a rider somehow. I wonder if this is one of F'lar and Lessa's improvements. It makes some sense! Telepathic lookout roles for dragons too old to really fight.

Jaxom was originally going to head back to Ruatha, but then decides that he should consolidate his alibi. He goes to the river, and Corana greets him eagerly. (We're told that she's very pretty.) Corana is actually a bit inconveniently observant though. She immediately asks if there's been thread, because she smells the firestone.

Jaxom covers by explaining that the riding clothes are ones he uses during Threadfall, so the smell must cling. I feel like that's the kind of lie that can be easily exposed. But okay.

Corana becomes shy, and Jaxom decides he likes drawing her out, and insists on helping with the withies.

“This Lord Holder wants to know how to do everything he requires of his holders,” he said, to silence her protests.

Lytol would probably approve of the sentiment, but Jesus, stop manipulating this poor girl. Apparently, they do enjoy themselves. He offers her a ride home on Ruth, gets in a few kisses, and decides that "one way or another, Corana would no longer be just an excuse".

They head back to the lake to scrub off firestone sink. And I'm reminded that Lytol's dragon died during a firestone training accident, so...yeah. Probably best to keep this from the poor guy.

Later that evening, Ruth starts calling for him. His stomach is burning! And worse, he can't fly. He has to regurgitate the firestone ash. Which he does in his weyr. Thankfully, Lytol hadn't followed, so Jaxom can get it cleaned up.

The next night, they steal as much firestone as Ruth can carry from the mines in Crom. Fire-lizards appear, but Ruth sends them away. Then they head to the Keroon desert to bathe and get rid of the scent. The Chapter ends here.

I think I'm probably being unfair to Jaxom. But I do think he's being rather inconsistently written so far. And while I ALSO think it's bullshit that he gets to be a dragonrider AND a Lord Holder, I'm also not very sympathetic to his unhappiness in the situation. Sometimes life sucks. But while I appreciate the frustration of not having a choice in his circumstances, those drudges that Brand punished didn't have a choice in THEIR circumstances either. And it's a lot more comfortable being a Lord than being a drudge.

The thing is, while some adolescent rebellion is understandable, Jaxom really ought to be used to the idea of responsibility by now. This denial doesn't make sense. And it's definitely not compatible with the idea that Jaxom is a responsible young man. Maybe that'll improve over time.

Comments

[copperfyre]

URGH Jaxom

I very much dislike his whole attitude towards women, too.

But I like the little bits of competency we get from Andemon and people!

[kalinara]

I really like the parts that aren't Jaxom. It's just unfortunate that he's the lead character.