The White Dragon - Chapter Five
Aug. 29th, 2020 12:28 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kalinara posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
i_read_whatSo last time, Jaxom ended up showing us how incredibly dumb his angst actually is, and being really gross about women to boot.
I want to like you, Jaxom. Be better, please.
We rejoin Jaxom after another Threadfall passes. He apparently has been having trouble getting out to the plateau. However, [h]e seemed to have more success with Corana than in getting Ruth to sustain flame properly.
I'm not really interested in hearing about your misleading conquests, jerk. But maybe, just maybe, Ruth isn't meant to chew firestone?
And in fact, we're told, that poor Ruth's throat is nearly burned from keeping in his belches, when the fire lizards return at inopportune times. Apparently even Ruth got impatient, and they ended up having to "time it" by a six hour span so as not to be noticed.
Yes, because this is the sort of bullshit that's worth risking an heir to a throne in time travel.
Look, I don't LIKE that Jaxom is the heir while being a dragonrider. It IS unfair to Lessa or F'lessan who have far better claims, if we're going by blood. And it's not like Jaxom has done jack shit to show us that he's earned it by merit.
But that aside, you are the fucking heir to a throne! That means your safety is fucking important. The Weyr HAS dragons, plenty of them, that can go out and fight thread. They do not need you, and you don't need to be hurting your dragon because your fucking machismo can't take the fact that you're not fighting on the front lines.
And dragons DIE, a lot! Riders die! We've seen it! Thread killed C'gan. A TRAINING exercise killed Lytol's Larth. Your only fucking job in this series, so far, is to survive to adulthood and take the goddamn kingdom. So suck it up and do it!
Anyway, Jaxom goes to bed exhausted and frustrated and whining about having to go to the Masterharperhall (...since when is it called anything but Harper Hall? What's with that mouthful? Are they suddenly German?) in the morning. Basically, Finder, the Ruathan Harper, has to go and learn how to read the star charts. Every Harper is expected to master that, so at least one person beside the Holder could check on Threadfall.
That makes sense. Gosh, though, considering that these charts had been in existence for seven years before Dragonquest, it's a shame it couldn't be taught to apprentices as part of the nonexistent school curriculum.
But anyway, shut the fuck up, Jaxom. Ruth is the one who actually is suffering through all of this.
However, things are suddenly happening. The fire lizards are freaked the fuck out, and very angry. Menolly comes running out:
"There you are! You got my message?" Menolly came racing out of the Hall up to them, dragging on her flying gear as she ran."We’ve got to go to Benden Weyr. They’ve stolen the queen egg."
Okay, wait a fucking second. How does Menolly know about this before Jaxom? Yes, Jaxom's an idiot, but the dragons are fucking telepathic. And their telepathy seems to work across Pern. The fire lizards don't speak in words. Ruth does. By the time Menolly has decoded what her lizards tell her, Jaxom and Ruth should already fucking know what's going on, because Ruth would have been told!
So anyway. They're all pretty sure that Southern Weyr took the egg, so they're calling in all the bronzes and other queens to go down there and get it back.
How the fuck did they even steal the egg? Though maybe I shouldn't bitch so much, as there may be an explanation to that.
Anyway, Menolly joins Finder and Jaxom on Ruth's back. She asks belatedly if Ruth is okay with all this weight. I'm not going to judge her for that, it actually amuses me to see her act like a normal, sometimes insensitive person for once. Ruth is fine.
They appear in Benden. Ruth is almost attacked before he identifies himself. Menolly had forgotten to tell them to come in yelling, she'd figured Ruth is distinct enough to not have to identify.
Wow, two flawed moments in a row. Nice! Menolly is actually getting to make mistakes.
Jaxom asks the question I've been wondering, which is how the Oldtimers actually did it:
“How could they get away with such bare-faced thievery?” Jaxom wanted to know. “Ramoth never leaves a clutch.” Not since the time F’lessan and I disturbed her eggs, he added guiltily to himself.
Oh fuck off, you got a dragon out of the deal.
F'nor had brought the news. Okay, fucking SHENANIGANS. This means that F'nor had to get ready, get on Canth, launch, go between, get to Harper Hall, explain everything before RUTH THE TELEPATHIC DRAGON knew what was going on?
EVEN granting that between is instantaneous, EVEN granting time travel, NO.
So anyway, Ramoth had gone to feed, and among all the Benden fire-lizards were a few visiting Southern Weyr ones. They figured out when she was out, and...okay, this is dumb, sorry:
F’nor said she’d just killed when three bronzes appeared, passed the watchdragon ... I mean, why would the watchdragon question bronze dragons? They ducked in the upper tunnel to the Hatching Ground, Ramoth gave an almighty shriek and went between. The next thing three bronzes came flying out of the upper entrance, they had heard Ramoth scream. She came charging out of the Hatching Ground but they had gone between before she’d got a winglength off the ground.
...DRAGONS ARE SENTIENT AND TELEPATHIC. Why the fuck WOULDN'T the Watchdragon recognize that these three bronzes are not supposed to be here? Why isn't it all "Hey, Onth, Konth and BiGonth, what are you doing here?"
Anyway, the thieves immediately went between time, so they couldn't chase.
By that time they had reached the outskirts of the crowd, where dragonriders from other Weyrs as well as Lords Holder and Craftmasters had gathered. Lessa stood on the ledge of her weyr, F’lar beside her along with Fandarel and Robinton, who both looked extremely grim and anxious. N’ton stopped hallway down the steps, talking earnestly and with angry gestures to two other bronze riders. Slightly to one side were the three other Benden weyrwomen, and several other women who must be queenriders from the other Weyrs. The atmosphere of outrage and frustration was oppressive. Dominating the entire scene was Ramoth, who paced up and down in front of the Hatching Ground, pausing now and again to peer in at the eggs remaining on the hot sands. Her tail started lashing and she let out angry buglings that obscured the discussions going on above her on the ledge.
Aw, poor Ramoth.
Folks discuss whether or not it's dangerous to take an egg between. (Yes, but it can probably go a reasonable ways, as long as it's warm and and uninjured). Whether or not they should go to war for it. (And have dragon fight dragon?)
Menolly explains to Jaxom that the Southern Weyr is desperate. Their queens haven't flown to mate, the bronzes are dying. They don't even have young greens.
Oh, series, I did not miss how you belittle the group that takes the majority of the battle risks because they're female dragons bonded primarily to men (and Mirrim).
But then, as quickly as this excitement happened, it dissipates, as the queen egg is returned to the Hatching Ground...okay?
I was about to rant about the anti-climactic nature of this scene, but I suddenly remember that these characters can travel through time. So...this is probably a legitimate plot point.
The egg is quite a lot older and harder though. It's ready to hatch.
This leads to more chaos. And Lessa and Robinton arguing. Lessa insists that the egg was kept ten days or more, and that demands action. Robinton tries to calm her down and when she brings up cowardice says:
“If to be brave,” Robinton’s voice laid scorn on the quality, “means to pit dragon against dragon, I’d rather be a coward.” Lessa’s white-hot outrage noticeably cooled. Dragon against dragon. The words echoed through the crowd. The thought turned sickeningly in Jaxom’s mind and he could feel Menolly beside him shutting off the implications of such a contest.
Of course, Robinton is right, but still, fuck you dude. Lessa's allowed to be upset. She's got legitimate reason too. If the egg was in the Oldtimer's custody long enough, it probably was handled by their candidate. It might not Impress.
Robinton points out that it's never been proven exactly how much pre-Hatching handling effects things. And again, Robinton is right, but I really do dislike how he's basically mansplaining dragons to LESSA, THE QUEEN RIDER.
F'lar speaks up:
“Obviously, we can no longer be complacent,” said F’lar, glancing up at the watchdragons, “or secure in the delusion of the inviolability of the Hatching Ground. Any Hatching Ground.” Nervously he pushed the hair back from his forehead. “By the First Shell, they’ve a lot of gall, trying to steal one of Ramoth’s eggs."
THANK YOU for pointing out that the watchdragons didn't do their fucking jobs. At least that's how I'm choosing to interpret this.
So Lessa wants to ban fire-lizards, calling them tattlers and worse than useless. HAH. On one hand, that's not really possible considering that they're mentally bonded to dragon riders, but I will perpetually adore how much Lessa hates them.
Brekke(!) speaks up with her first line in three books, saying that some of the lizards come on legitimate errands and assist.
God, poor Brekke. I know not everyone grieves the same way, but Lytol couldn't abide living in the Weyr. She's stuck there as long as she's with F'nor. Maybe hearing all dragons actually helps, but it must be a constant reminder.
Anyway, Lessa doesn't give a shit. She doesn't want to see them there, and she doesn't want Ramoth pestered. She wants them kept where they belong. Okay, she's not trying to ban the lizards entirely. Just the ones that don't live there. That...seems reasonable to me?
Brekke has a solution though: mark the fire lizards with specific colors and teach them to announce name and origin. Robinton suggests having them report to Brekke or Mirrim. This bit makes me smile:
“Just keep them away from Ramoth and me!” Lessa peered in at Ramoth and then whipped around. “And someone bring up that wherry that Ramoth didn’t eat. She’ll be the better for something in her belly right now. We’ll discuss this violation of our Weyr later. In detail.”
F’lar ordered several dragonmen to get the wherry and then courteously thanked the rest of the assembled for their prompt reply to his summons. He gestured to several of the Weyrleaders and Robinton to join him in the weyr above.
F'lar is so much more likable when he is whipped.
So anyway, the fire lizards have fled, and something's wrong with Ruth. He is trembling with anxiety, and his eyes whirling erratically. He doesn't feel right in his head. It's not because of the fire lizards' absence though, he's able to tell Jaxom that the fire lizards fled because they remembered something that scared them.
Menolly and Jaxom share their own anxiety over cadged meatrolls. Both are choked up at the thought of dragon against dragon.
We switch viewpoints to (ugh) Robinton. He's apparently thinking faster than he'd ever done. He thinks the fate of the world will depend on what happens now. He apparently knows more than he ought of Southern Weyr, but he'd been as obtuse as any dragonrider for assuming that the Weyrs were inviolable and a Hatching Ground untouchable.
Well, it SHOULD have been. If McCaffrey remembered that dragons are sentient, intelligent and not fucking idiots.
And it's funny but as much as I hate the Weyrs on general principle, I'm annoyed at Robinton's whole "obtuse as any dragonrider" bullshit. Hey, dude, clean your own fucking house before you throw stones. I READ Dragonsinger. Your Hall is a trainwreck.
Yet, in light of today’s occurrence, he ought to have arrived at the logical conclusion that the desperate Southerners would make this prodigious attempt to revive their failing Weyr with the blood of a new and viable queen. Even if he had reached the proper conclusion, Robinton thought ruefully, how ever would he have been able to persuade Lessa and F’lar that that was what the Southerners planned today. The Weyrleaders would have been properly scornful of such a ridiculous notion.
I like how Robinton can both angst about something and immediately dismiss it as anything he could have done anything about. "Oh, I should have done this, but it wouldn't have worked anyway!"
Fuck you, you guilt dodging codmoggler.
Anyway, he notes that it's strange that everyone had assumed the Oldtimers would meekly accept exile. Robinton thinks the never seen T'kul must be the motivating force, since T'ron had "lost all his vigor and initiative after that duel with F'lar".
He notes that the two Weyrwomen, Merika and Mardra, wouldn't have wanted to be supplanted by a younger queen and her rider. Right. Because women are shallow like that.
Also, I'm still pissed off that T'kul could shirk his duty entirely and be joined by his whole Weyr, while Mardra loses her followers because she's bitchy. Fuck off with that bullshit.
Robinton considers whether or not one of the women might have brought back the egg. Nah, that would require McCaffrey to give one of her evil bitch characters a hint of nuance. Instead, Robinton thinks it had to be someone with an intimate knowledge of the Hatching Ground.
Robinton is also a bitch about Lessa:
Robinton relived briefly the compound terror he had experienced during the egg’s absence. He winced thinking of Lessa’s fury. She was still likely to arouse the Northern dragonriders. She was quite capable of sustaining the unthinking frenzy that had all but dominated the events of the morning. If she continued in her demand for vengeance against the guilty Southerners, it could be as much a disaster for Pern as the first Threadfall had been.
I mean, she totally could do that, sure. Maybe, given that you're the supposedly sensible and sensitive Harper dude, you could actually help comfort your friend? We both know F'lar's shit at that stuff.
Robinton thinks there's no point in retribution when the egg's returned and...yeah, maybe, but what's to stop them from trying again? I'm not saying dragon war is the answer, but maybe you could consider something.
Fandarel comes up, and Robinton notices for the first time, the puffiness of age blurring his features. Oh shit. When a writer like McCaffrey notes age like this, it usually means the guy's going to die. NO. I LIKE Fandarel!
Fandarel's position is similar to mine. He thinks they have to be punished, but that they can't have a war. Apparently, Fandarel had wondered why they didn't rebel before, given that the Southern Weyr folks have basically nothing.
Fandarel starts losing me here:
"My friend, we must keep our wits today as never before. I fear Lessa may be unreasonable and unthinking. Already she has let emotion dominate common sense."
Wow. Wow. You know what? FUCK YOU dude.
Yes, Lessa is wrong here. But there's nothing unreasonable or unthinking about her reaction.
a) She's mentally linked to the egg's MOTHER.
b) The Oldtimers took the egg out of the Hatching Ground of the Weyr, the most guarded and protected place.
c) The Oldtimers did this by spying on the Weyr through firelizards.
d) THEY WILL PROBABLY TRY AGAIN.
What deterrent do they have not to try again?
Dragon vs. Dragon is a very bad idea, yes. But Southern Weyr is the aggressor here. If they do nothing, Southern Weyr can just keep terrorizing them!
On the plus side, there is trouble in the F'nor/Brekke Household:
“You will support me in this then, Fandarel?” asked Brekke, who had entered behind them with F’nor. “Lessa is not herself. I do really understand her anxiety but she cannot be allowed to damn all fire-lizards for the mischief of a few.”
“Mischief?” F’nor was perturbed. “Don’t let Lessa hear you call what happened mischief. Mischief? Stealing a queen egg?”
“The fire-lizard’s part was only mischief ... popping in to Ramoth’s cave like how many others have been doing since the eggs were laid.” Brekke spoke more sharply than she usually did, and a tightness about F’nor’s eyes and mouth indicated to Robinton that this couple were not in accord. “Fire-lizards have no sense of wrong or right.”
“They’ll have to learn ... ” F’nor began with more heat than discretion.
“I fear that we, who have no dragons,” said Robinton, quickly intervening-lest today’s event fracture the bond between the two lovers-“have been making too much of our little friends, carting them about with us wherever we go, doting as parents of a late child, permitting too many liberties of conduct. But a more restrained attitude toward firelizards in our midst is a very minor consideration in today’s affair.”
Well, honestly, my sympathy is more for Lessa's side, and unfortunately F'nor's here.
However, in general, I like Brekke more than F'nor, and I like any sign she might ditch him and find some happiness elsewhere.
I can't help but notice which characters are adamantly opposed to both war, and any kind of consequences re: the Firelizards:
Menolly, Jaxom, Robinton, Brekke.
Basically the characters that McCaffrey will always make infallible and right. Actually, I'm surprised that F'nor's not in that list. Okay, well, maybe that might almost count as nuance after all.
Oh, here we go:
F’nor had dampened his aggravation. He nodded now at the Harper. “Suppose that egg hadn’t been returned, Robinton ... ” His shoulders jerked in a convulsive shake and he pushed at his forehead as if trying to eliminate all memory of that scene.
“If the egg hadn’t been returned,” Robinton said implacably, “dragon would have fought dragon!” He spaced out his words, putting as much force and distaste as he could in his tone.
F’nor quickly shook his head, denying that outcome. “No, it would not have come to that, Robinton. You were wise ... ”
F'nor's of course, shifted to the right side. Well, you let us have a moment with him being "wrong", so I'll give you that.
Lessa on the other hand arrives, furious. And god, I'm going to end up excerpting this whole damn passage:
“Wise?” Spat out by the infuriated Weyrwoman, the word cut like a knife. Lessa stood at the entrance to the Council Room, her slender frame taut with the emotions of the morning, her face livid with her anger. “Wise? To let them get away with such a crime? To let them plot even more base treacheries? Why did I ever think it necessary to bring them forward? When I remember that I pleaded with that excrescence T’ron to come and help us? Help us? He helps himself! To my queen’s egg. If I could only undo my stupidity ... ”
“Your stupidity is in carrying on in this fashion,” the Harper said coldly, knowing that what he had to say before the Weyrleaders and Craftmasters assembled in the Council Room might well alienate them all. “The egg has been returned-”
Go fuck a porcupine Robinton.
He insists that Lessa has no right to set dragon against dragon, which is true, but I think this really should be a fight between dragonriders, not the interloper who can't run his own goddamn guild. He shouts her down for a while, until Robinton switches tactics, pointing out that it's a compliment, not an insult.
Basically, there've been a lot of queen eggs laid, and in Weyrs that the Oldtimers would know better, but instead they went to Benden because they wanted RAMOTH's egg. The best. Lessa is shocked and unresisting at this argument, and I'd like to think it's because it's fucking stupid.
Robinton FINALLY decides to show sympathy to her, but still manages to piss me off:
“Come, Lessa,” he said with great sympathy and compassion, “we’re all overwrought by this terrible event. None of us is thinking clearly ... ”
He passed his hand across his face, no sham gesture for he was perspiring with the effort to redirect the mood of so many. “Emotions are running far too high. And you’ve borne the brunt of it, Lessa.” He took her by the arm and led the shocked but unresisting Weyrwoman to her chair, seating her with great concern and deference. “You must have been halfcrazed by Ramoth’s distress. She is calmer now, isn’t she?”
Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE the hysterical woman trope? But I still maintain Lessa's rage makes complete sense!
F'lar finally speaks up:
“He was right, Lessa,” F’lar said from the entrance where he’d been watching the scene. He walked into the room, toward the table where Lessa sat. “We only had cause to invade Southern to search for our egg. Once it was returned, we would be damned by all Pern to pursue vengeance.” He spoke to her but his eyes had gone to each Weyrleader and Craftsmaster to judge their reactions. “Once dragon fights dragon, for whatever reason,” his gesture wiped away any possible consideration, “we, the dragonriders of Pern, lose the rest of Pern!”
He gave Lessa a long hard look which she returned with frozen implacability. Squarely he faced the room. “I wish with all my heart that there’d been some other solution that day at Telgar for T’ron and T’kul. Sending them to the Southern Continent seemed to be the answer. There they could do the rest of Pern scant harm ... ”
This might be my character biases showing, but this bothers me less than the rest. I think because it doesn't feel like F'lar is arbitrarily on Robinton's side because all the "right" characters are.
It DOES make sense that he'd be opposed to the infighting given his entire arc in Dragonquest. And it's not about whether or not Lessa is being unreasonable here (SHE IS NOT), but about the good of Pern. And he's acknowledging his own role in the matter.
And I particularly like how he looks at EACH Weyrleader and Craftsmaster. He's not ganging up on her, this is directed to everyone.
Lessa bitterly thinks this is T'ron and Mardra trying to get back at them. Brekke (of COURSE) says that Mardra wouldn't want to be deposed.
Because Brekke's always right of course and has vast experience with Mardra. (I do remember Brekke disliking her in Dragonquest because of injured men from her wing, but I'm not inclined to be fair right now.)
There's a weird line about F'lar's fingers being tight and whitened around Lessa's shoulder, but she doesn't react. I'm going to interpret that as the characters being distraught and upset together, but you're on thin fucking ice, McCaffrey. DO NOT RUIN THEM.
D'ram, who I'm happy to see has lines, says that Merika wouldn't want it either. Thanks for reinforcing what Robinton already magically knew, because Robinton is always right.
Robinton does show some sympathy to D'ram of all people:
More than any of the others in this room, Robinton thought that the Oldtimer felt this turn of events most keenly. D’ram was an honest, loyal, fair-minded man. He had felt compelled to support F’lar against those of his own Time. By such backing, he had influenced R’mart and G’narish, the other Oldtime Weyrleaders, to side with the Benden Weyr at Telgar Hold. So many undercurrents and subtle pressures abounded in this chamber, Robinton thought. Whoever had conceived of kidnapping the queen egg might not have succeeded in that stratagem, but they had effectively shattered the solidarity of the dragonriders.
I don't know, I think Lessa and F'lar, given that they're psychically bonded to the egg's parents, might be feeling it keenly.
Make up your fucking mind, McCaffrey, is Lessa hysterical or not?
D'ram, thankfully, is actually sympathetic though. He apologizes to Lessa, then makes a cryptic comment: basically that he doesn't understand the point of this, T'kul's bronze couldn't hope to fly a Benden Queen. None of the dragons of the south could.
Hell, D'ram realizes, by the time the egg matures, the bronzes might be dead. Eight of them died this past turn.
Damn, how long do dragons live? What happens to riders when their dragons die of old age? We really ought to know this given that there's been 400 years of peace time.
Fandarel notes that stealing the egg wasn't for nothing: it set everyone at each other's throats and almost led to a dragon war. And of course, he ends up choosing Robinton's side, exiting with a judgy little: “This has been a terrible, terrible day! I am sorry for all of you.” His gaze rested longest on Lessa. “But I think I am sorrier for myself and Pern if your anger doesn’t cool and your good sense return. I will leave you now.
Fuck you.
Robinton adds to this insult:
Fandarel had clearly stated what Robinton wanted to be sure Lessa heard and understood-that the dragonriders stood in grave peril of losing control over Hold and Craft if they permitted their outrage and indignation to control them. Enough had been said, in the heat of the moment, in front of those Holders summoned to the Weyr during the crisis. If no further action was to be taken now that the egg had been returned, no Holder or Craftmaster could fault Benden.
But how was anyone to get through to that stubborn Lessa, sitting there wallowing in fury and determined on a disastrous course of revenge? For the first time in his long Turn as Masterharper of Pern, Robinton was at a loss for words. Enough that he had lost Lessa’s goodwill already! How could he make her see reason?
Maybe it's not your fucking job to get through to her? Maybe you can acknowledge her hurt and anger and let her take precautions to protect herself and the Weyr? F'lar's on board with the "no dragon war" plan. Maybe let him and Lessa hash that out?
But maybe that won't work. Because F'lar's silence for most of it seems to have its own cause:
“Fandarel has reminded me that dragonriders can have no private quarrels without far-reaching effect,” F’lar said. “I permitted insult to overcome sanity once. Today is the result."
Of course everyone starts murmuring and shaking their head at that. Rightly so. I spent all of Dragonflight hating F'lar. He won me over in Dragonquest. And there was no other way that that scene could have gone.
But I like this, because it shows that it's not just Lessa who's severely emotionally affected by this violation of their trust and safety. F'lar is expressing it differently. But the silence and passivity he's shown throughout this scene is not in character for him any more than this pure rage is in character for Lessa (though I still maintain that she is making sense!).
And this is why Robinton, Fandarel and every other mansplaining fuckwad should have shut the fuck up:
“Nonsense, F’lar,” Lessa said, roused from her immobility. “That wasn’t a personal fight. You had to fight T’ron that day to keep Pern together.”
“And today I cannot fight T’ron, or the other Southerners, or I won’t keep Pern together!”
Lessa stared back at F’lar for another long moment and then her shoulders sagged as she reluctantly accepted that distinction.
“But ... if that egg does not hatch, or if the little queen is in any way damaged ... ”
“If that should happen, we will certainly review the situation,” F’lar promised her, raising his right hand to honor the condition.
See, THAT's how you stick to a moral principle while still acknowledging that someone's emotions are valid.
Lessa didn't NEED people fucking yelling at her, or acting like she's irrational! Especially not assholes who have never bonded with dragons or lost a fucking child. All she needed was to have her fucking feelings validated!
Robinton hopes that by the Hatching, he'll have some information to appease Lessa and save F'lar's now pledged honor.
(Hey, dude, you ever think maybe F'lar might feel something too? It's HIS dragon's egg too.)
Lessa goes out to tend to Ramoth. F'lar suggests tea (and of course Brekke serves, fucking sexism), and they discuss all the Weyrs taking precautions in the future.
R'mart observes something interesting: if eight dragons died, then the Southern Weyr only has two hundred and forty-eight dragonriders left, and only five bronzes. Who brought the egg back.
We see another sign of F'lar's uncharacteristic behavior:
“The egg is back: that’s all that matters,” F’lar said then half-emptied his cup at the first swallow. “Though I am deeply grateful to that rider.”
“We could find out,” N’ton said quietly. F’lar shook his head. “I’m not sure I want to know.
I’m not sure we need to know-just as long as that egg hatches a live and kicking queen.”
This passivity is NOT in character. This is not a critique of McCaffrey, mind you. I just think it's clear that F'lar isn't okay with this either.
Brekke gets a little speech about not blaming the firelizards, and F'lar just says that they'll have to go softly on that score. He notes that much was said that was not meant to stand.
Meanwhile both Brekke's Berd and Robinton's Zair have wild notions of fire lizards being flamed by dragons. Of course our heroes would never do that.
F'lar plays diplomat again:
“Then we must make sure that the queen is not further upset by any sight of fire-lizards,” F’lar said, his glance sweeping around the room for agreement. “For the time being,” he added, raising his hand to stop the half-formed protests. “It is the better part of wisdom for them not to be seen or heard right now. I know they’ve been useful, and some are proving to be very reliable messengers. I know many of you have them. But direct them to Brekke if it is absolutely necessary to send them here.” He looked directly at Robinton.
...you know, MAYBE if you guys had done this at the start, Lessa might have calmed down a little?
But I have to admit, while I do not like this whole hysterical woman motif, I am kind of digging F'lar as the soft, conciliatory partner.
Brekke earns my scorn by declaring: “Fire-lizards do not go where they are not welcome,"
That is PATENTLY untrue, you little twit. I've read three books that showed me how untrue that is. The entire beginning of this book tells me how untrue that is.
They note that there's not much they can do until the Hatching, except assemble the girls from the Search, asap.
Robinton has the fucking audacity to "half-hope[] that F'lar might hold him back as the others dispersed" He's talking to D'ram though. Robinton regrets being at odds with the Benden Weyrleaders, but notes that F'lar had supported his plea for deliberation.
You're an asshole who doesn't seem to realize that you're essentially dealing with frightened, traumatized parents here. Or as close to it as possible.
N'ton shows up to validate Robinton though, but I still like him because he wasn't actually a dick this chapter, while F'nor invites Robinton and N'ton to his weyr. They get there and are assaulted by four hysterical flying cats.
Apparently, they've remembered something. When N'ton makes the mistake of asking if it's the Red Star, they freak out more, but F'nor clarifies that it's not that.
It's kind of funny that for the rest of this section, the dragonriders all spell out "Red Star" as though the firelizards aren't fucking telepathic.
They note that firelizards have the same skills as dragons, but dragons have no memory to speak of.
Conversation goes back to today's events. F'nor fervently hopes that the lack of memory thing will wipe out what happened today in record time.
Wait a second. There are PLENTY of times in Dragonquest and Dragonflight where Mnementh remembered shit. Ruth remembers shit. What is this new nonsense?
“Lessa does not suffer that gift,” Robinton said with a heavy sigh.
“She’s not stupid either, Masterharper,” N’ton said, adroitly reaffirming his respect for the man by the use of his title. “Nor is F’lar. Just worried. They’ll both come round and appreciate your intervention today.” Then N’ton cleared his throat and looked the Masterharper squarely in the eyes. “Do you know who took the egg?”
Die in a fire, Robinton.
But N'ton, YOU can stay.
Then things get gross. N'ton asks if Robinton knows who took the egg:
“I had heard that something was being planned. I knew, which would have been obvious to anyone counting Turns, that the Southern men and dragons are slowing .with age, and desperate. I’ve had only the experience of Zair wanting to mate ... ” Robinton paused, remembering that astounding revival of desires he had thought himself well past, shrugged and met the understanding twinkle in N’ton’s eyes. “So I can appreciate the pressures that randy brown and bronze dragons can exert on their riders. Even a willing green, young enough to be flown, would help ... ” He looked questioningly at the two dragonriders.
Ew.
...also, WHAT?
This is clearly not about sex. A green won't do because she doesn't lay fucking dragons. The Oldtimers are running out of dragons. This isn't fucking rocket science you weird pervert!
Anyway, F'nor asks Robinton how much he knows about Southern Weyr. He knows more about the Hold, but Piemur has apparently been sending some messages about the dragonriders being more closed off than usual. He's seen a lot of dragons going between, without circling or cruising.
F'nor thinks they must be timing it. Meanwhile, the firelizards get antsy and distracting again.
There is something interesting though: N'ton had been among the bronzes who went to Southern Weyr to see if the egg was there, and it was deserted.
We switch over to Jaxom and Menolly. The lizards are freaking out about the idea of dragons breathing fire at them. Gosh, I wonder what bad people we know have dragons and generally kick puppies?
Menolly and Jaxom reassure the Harpers that Benden dragons didn't flame any lizards, but also relay the message that firelizards must stay away from Benden unless sent to Brekke or Mirrim and must be marked.
They fill the Harper Hall in, and we get some unnecessary praise for Menolly again: "Jaxom’s respect for the girl increased greatly as he listened to her flowing voice evoke the emotions appropriate to each part of her narrative, without distorting what he knew to have happened. One of the senior Harpers, soothing the blue fire-lizard in the crook of his arm, kept nodding his head as if approving her use of Harper tricks."
I shouldn't bitch too much. Honestly, Menolly is among the least annoying characters this chapter. Jaxom too.
So Menolly and Jaxom work a little on designs to symbolize Harper Hall. Jaxom ends up roped into holding fire lizards still, and they keep trying to look him in the eye. Fucking cats.
Also it comes out that Ruth is the only dragon that the lizards aren't afraid of, because he doesn't chew firestone. (Technically the queens don't either?) Jaxom's reaction:
Jaxom sighed because he could see that Ruth’s sudden popularity was going to ruin his private plans. Much as he was loath to do so, he was going to have to time it because if the fire-lizards didn’t know when they went they couldn’t follow him!
Wow, you're a fucking dick.
Menolly gives him the charts that he'd originally come for, and Brand's blue lizard appears to fetch him. Menolly notes that he's been on legitimate business this time. And indeed, he ends up explaining everything at Ruatha.
"He found himself unconsciously using Menolly’s turns of phrase and he wondered how long before she’d make a Ballad of the event."
Tell me more about Marc Remillard's massive elegance.
Jaxom finishes, directing everyone to mark the lizards with Ruatha colors. Then he notices that Lytol looks distressed. Jaxom manages to reassure him that there won't be dragon against dragon, and that he shouldn't have to go to Benden Weyr. He seems to snap himself out of it. And relieved, Jaxom announces that he has both equations and charts, and then finds himself drafted into instructing Brand and Lytol in how it works.
Later that night, Jaxom is awakened by Ruth whimpering, with the fire lizards burrowed about him. Like a dick, Jasom shooes them away, and Ruth goes into a deeper sleep. The Chapter Ends here.
Actually, I really liked this chapter, even though I hated almost everyone.
McCaffrey did a really great job of showing how utterly traumatizing the loss of the egg was. Lessa remains the only character to have any semblance of nuance, and I appreciate how she's actually allowed to be wrong. But that said, I would have liked for the characters arguing with her to have bothered to talk to her like a HUMAN BEING. The only character that acknowledged her reaction as valid was F'lar.
I'm not fond of the whole hysterical irrational woman characterization, but I appreciate the subtle ways that McCaffrey showed us that Lessa wasn't the only one affected. F'lar's behavior is as out of character as hers. That's what makes this frustrating of course. McCaffrey does such a good job of making me feel Lessa's anguish and rage, and F'lar's shut down passivity and guilt, that I'm very frustrated that their so called friends aren't remotely trying to help.
OBVIOUSLY a dragon civil war is a terrible idea. And we know that because of which characters take that side. But the idea that Lessa should have to forgive and forget is ridiculous. No one bothers to even try to find a solution that could accommodate the need for retribution without killing people. Hell, F'lar ends up appeasing her simply by saying that they'll see what happens at the Hatching and decide accordingly.
That's ALL Lessa really needed: validation. And she should have been able to get that from these oh so saintly assholes that McCaffrey never allows to be wrong. F'lar shouldn't have had to be the one to step up and give her that validation, when he's got his own burdens. Any one of these characters, his good friend? His fucking BROTHER? could have and should have stepped up to support both of them.
And Robinton having the NERVE to expect to be asked to stay. The NERVE to take potshots at Lessa afterward. Fuck you, dude. When you've saved the world as often as she has, then you can fucking talk.
(The shallow, petty part in me enjoys that for all that we're supposed to see Lessa as irrational, there's no indication that F'lar and Lessa's difference of opinion will negatively impact their marriage, unlike the much more minor disagreement between Brekke and F'nor. I'll take what satisfaction I can get.)
I want to like you, Jaxom. Be better, please.
We rejoin Jaxom after another Threadfall passes. He apparently has been having trouble getting out to the plateau. However, [h]e seemed to have more success with Corana than in getting Ruth to sustain flame properly.
I'm not really interested in hearing about your misleading conquests, jerk. But maybe, just maybe, Ruth isn't meant to chew firestone?
And in fact, we're told, that poor Ruth's throat is nearly burned from keeping in his belches, when the fire lizards return at inopportune times. Apparently even Ruth got impatient, and they ended up having to "time it" by a six hour span so as not to be noticed.
Yes, because this is the sort of bullshit that's worth risking an heir to a throne in time travel.
Look, I don't LIKE that Jaxom is the heir while being a dragonrider. It IS unfair to Lessa or F'lessan who have far better claims, if we're going by blood. And it's not like Jaxom has done jack shit to show us that he's earned it by merit.
But that aside, you are the fucking heir to a throne! That means your safety is fucking important. The Weyr HAS dragons, plenty of them, that can go out and fight thread. They do not need you, and you don't need to be hurting your dragon because your fucking machismo can't take the fact that you're not fighting on the front lines.
And dragons DIE, a lot! Riders die! We've seen it! Thread killed C'gan. A TRAINING exercise killed Lytol's Larth. Your only fucking job in this series, so far, is to survive to adulthood and take the goddamn kingdom. So suck it up and do it!
Anyway, Jaxom goes to bed exhausted and frustrated and whining about having to go to the Masterharperhall (...since when is it called anything but Harper Hall? What's with that mouthful? Are they suddenly German?) in the morning. Basically, Finder, the Ruathan Harper, has to go and learn how to read the star charts. Every Harper is expected to master that, so at least one person beside the Holder could check on Threadfall.
That makes sense. Gosh, though, considering that these charts had been in existence for seven years before Dragonquest, it's a shame it couldn't be taught to apprentices as part of the nonexistent school curriculum.
But anyway, shut the fuck up, Jaxom. Ruth is the one who actually is suffering through all of this.
However, things are suddenly happening. The fire lizards are freaked the fuck out, and very angry. Menolly comes running out:
"There you are! You got my message?" Menolly came racing out of the Hall up to them, dragging on her flying gear as she ran."We’ve got to go to Benden Weyr. They’ve stolen the queen egg."
Okay, wait a fucking second. How does Menolly know about this before Jaxom? Yes, Jaxom's an idiot, but the dragons are fucking telepathic. And their telepathy seems to work across Pern. The fire lizards don't speak in words. Ruth does. By the time Menolly has decoded what her lizards tell her, Jaxom and Ruth should already fucking know what's going on, because Ruth would have been told!
So anyway. They're all pretty sure that Southern Weyr took the egg, so they're calling in all the bronzes and other queens to go down there and get it back.
How the fuck did they even steal the egg? Though maybe I shouldn't bitch so much, as there may be an explanation to that.
Anyway, Menolly joins Finder and Jaxom on Ruth's back. She asks belatedly if Ruth is okay with all this weight. I'm not going to judge her for that, it actually amuses me to see her act like a normal, sometimes insensitive person for once. Ruth is fine.
They appear in Benden. Ruth is almost attacked before he identifies himself. Menolly had forgotten to tell them to come in yelling, she'd figured Ruth is distinct enough to not have to identify.
Wow, two flawed moments in a row. Nice! Menolly is actually getting to make mistakes.
Jaxom asks the question I've been wondering, which is how the Oldtimers actually did it:
“How could they get away with such bare-faced thievery?” Jaxom wanted to know. “Ramoth never leaves a clutch.” Not since the time F’lessan and I disturbed her eggs, he added guiltily to himself.
Oh fuck off, you got a dragon out of the deal.
F'nor had brought the news. Okay, fucking SHENANIGANS. This means that F'nor had to get ready, get on Canth, launch, go between, get to Harper Hall, explain everything before RUTH THE TELEPATHIC DRAGON knew what was going on?
EVEN granting that between is instantaneous, EVEN granting time travel, NO.
So anyway, Ramoth had gone to feed, and among all the Benden fire-lizards were a few visiting Southern Weyr ones. They figured out when she was out, and...okay, this is dumb, sorry:
F’nor said she’d just killed when three bronzes appeared, passed the watchdragon ... I mean, why would the watchdragon question bronze dragons? They ducked in the upper tunnel to the Hatching Ground, Ramoth gave an almighty shriek and went between. The next thing three bronzes came flying out of the upper entrance, they had heard Ramoth scream. She came charging out of the Hatching Ground but they had gone between before she’d got a winglength off the ground.
...DRAGONS ARE SENTIENT AND TELEPATHIC. Why the fuck WOULDN'T the Watchdragon recognize that these three bronzes are not supposed to be here? Why isn't it all "Hey, Onth, Konth and BiGonth, what are you doing here?"
Anyway, the thieves immediately went between time, so they couldn't chase.
By that time they had reached the outskirts of the crowd, where dragonriders from other Weyrs as well as Lords Holder and Craftmasters had gathered. Lessa stood on the ledge of her weyr, F’lar beside her along with Fandarel and Robinton, who both looked extremely grim and anxious. N’ton stopped hallway down the steps, talking earnestly and with angry gestures to two other bronze riders. Slightly to one side were the three other Benden weyrwomen, and several other women who must be queenriders from the other Weyrs. The atmosphere of outrage and frustration was oppressive. Dominating the entire scene was Ramoth, who paced up and down in front of the Hatching Ground, pausing now and again to peer in at the eggs remaining on the hot sands. Her tail started lashing and she let out angry buglings that obscured the discussions going on above her on the ledge.
Aw, poor Ramoth.
Folks discuss whether or not it's dangerous to take an egg between. (Yes, but it can probably go a reasonable ways, as long as it's warm and and uninjured). Whether or not they should go to war for it. (And have dragon fight dragon?)
Menolly explains to Jaxom that the Southern Weyr is desperate. Their queens haven't flown to mate, the bronzes are dying. They don't even have young greens.
Oh, series, I did not miss how you belittle the group that takes the majority of the battle risks because they're female dragons bonded primarily to men (and Mirrim).
But then, as quickly as this excitement happened, it dissipates, as the queen egg is returned to the Hatching Ground...okay?
I was about to rant about the anti-climactic nature of this scene, but I suddenly remember that these characters can travel through time. So...this is probably a legitimate plot point.
The egg is quite a lot older and harder though. It's ready to hatch.
This leads to more chaos. And Lessa and Robinton arguing. Lessa insists that the egg was kept ten days or more, and that demands action. Robinton tries to calm her down and when she brings up cowardice says:
“If to be brave,” Robinton’s voice laid scorn on the quality, “means to pit dragon against dragon, I’d rather be a coward.” Lessa’s white-hot outrage noticeably cooled. Dragon against dragon. The words echoed through the crowd. The thought turned sickeningly in Jaxom’s mind and he could feel Menolly beside him shutting off the implications of such a contest.
Of course, Robinton is right, but still, fuck you dude. Lessa's allowed to be upset. She's got legitimate reason too. If the egg was in the Oldtimer's custody long enough, it probably was handled by their candidate. It might not Impress.
Robinton points out that it's never been proven exactly how much pre-Hatching handling effects things. And again, Robinton is right, but I really do dislike how he's basically mansplaining dragons to LESSA, THE QUEEN RIDER.
F'lar speaks up:
“Obviously, we can no longer be complacent,” said F’lar, glancing up at the watchdragons, “or secure in the delusion of the inviolability of the Hatching Ground. Any Hatching Ground.” Nervously he pushed the hair back from his forehead. “By the First Shell, they’ve a lot of gall, trying to steal one of Ramoth’s eggs."
THANK YOU for pointing out that the watchdragons didn't do their fucking jobs. At least that's how I'm choosing to interpret this.
So Lessa wants to ban fire-lizards, calling them tattlers and worse than useless. HAH. On one hand, that's not really possible considering that they're mentally bonded to dragon riders, but I will perpetually adore how much Lessa hates them.
Brekke(!) speaks up with her first line in three books, saying that some of the lizards come on legitimate errands and assist.
God, poor Brekke. I know not everyone grieves the same way, but Lytol couldn't abide living in the Weyr. She's stuck there as long as she's with F'nor. Maybe hearing all dragons actually helps, but it must be a constant reminder.
Anyway, Lessa doesn't give a shit. She doesn't want to see them there, and she doesn't want Ramoth pestered. She wants them kept where they belong. Okay, she's not trying to ban the lizards entirely. Just the ones that don't live there. That...seems reasonable to me?
Brekke has a solution though: mark the fire lizards with specific colors and teach them to announce name and origin. Robinton suggests having them report to Brekke or Mirrim. This bit makes me smile:
“Just keep them away from Ramoth and me!” Lessa peered in at Ramoth and then whipped around. “And someone bring up that wherry that Ramoth didn’t eat. She’ll be the better for something in her belly right now. We’ll discuss this violation of our Weyr later. In detail.”
F’lar ordered several dragonmen to get the wherry and then courteously thanked the rest of the assembled for their prompt reply to his summons. He gestured to several of the Weyrleaders and Robinton to join him in the weyr above.
F'lar is so much more likable when he is whipped.
So anyway, the fire lizards have fled, and something's wrong with Ruth. He is trembling with anxiety, and his eyes whirling erratically. He doesn't feel right in his head. It's not because of the fire lizards' absence though, he's able to tell Jaxom that the fire lizards fled because they remembered something that scared them.
Menolly and Jaxom share their own anxiety over cadged meatrolls. Both are choked up at the thought of dragon against dragon.
We switch viewpoints to (ugh) Robinton. He's apparently thinking faster than he'd ever done. He thinks the fate of the world will depend on what happens now. He apparently knows more than he ought of Southern Weyr, but he'd been as obtuse as any dragonrider for assuming that the Weyrs were inviolable and a Hatching Ground untouchable.
Well, it SHOULD have been. If McCaffrey remembered that dragons are sentient, intelligent and not fucking idiots.
And it's funny but as much as I hate the Weyrs on general principle, I'm annoyed at Robinton's whole "obtuse as any dragonrider" bullshit. Hey, dude, clean your own fucking house before you throw stones. I READ Dragonsinger. Your Hall is a trainwreck.
Yet, in light of today’s occurrence, he ought to have arrived at the logical conclusion that the desperate Southerners would make this prodigious attempt to revive their failing Weyr with the blood of a new and viable queen. Even if he had reached the proper conclusion, Robinton thought ruefully, how ever would he have been able to persuade Lessa and F’lar that that was what the Southerners planned today. The Weyrleaders would have been properly scornful of such a ridiculous notion.
I like how Robinton can both angst about something and immediately dismiss it as anything he could have done anything about. "Oh, I should have done this, but it wouldn't have worked anyway!"
Fuck you, you guilt dodging codmoggler.
Anyway, he notes that it's strange that everyone had assumed the Oldtimers would meekly accept exile. Robinton thinks the never seen T'kul must be the motivating force, since T'ron had "lost all his vigor and initiative after that duel with F'lar".
He notes that the two Weyrwomen, Merika and Mardra, wouldn't have wanted to be supplanted by a younger queen and her rider. Right. Because women are shallow like that.
Also, I'm still pissed off that T'kul could shirk his duty entirely and be joined by his whole Weyr, while Mardra loses her followers because she's bitchy. Fuck off with that bullshit.
Robinton considers whether or not one of the women might have brought back the egg. Nah, that would require McCaffrey to give one of her evil bitch characters a hint of nuance. Instead, Robinton thinks it had to be someone with an intimate knowledge of the Hatching Ground.
Robinton is also a bitch about Lessa:
Robinton relived briefly the compound terror he had experienced during the egg’s absence. He winced thinking of Lessa’s fury. She was still likely to arouse the Northern dragonriders. She was quite capable of sustaining the unthinking frenzy that had all but dominated the events of the morning. If she continued in her demand for vengeance against the guilty Southerners, it could be as much a disaster for Pern as the first Threadfall had been.
I mean, she totally could do that, sure. Maybe, given that you're the supposedly sensible and sensitive Harper dude, you could actually help comfort your friend? We both know F'lar's shit at that stuff.
Robinton thinks there's no point in retribution when the egg's returned and...yeah, maybe, but what's to stop them from trying again? I'm not saying dragon war is the answer, but maybe you could consider something.
Fandarel comes up, and Robinton notices for the first time, the puffiness of age blurring his features. Oh shit. When a writer like McCaffrey notes age like this, it usually means the guy's going to die. NO. I LIKE Fandarel!
Fandarel's position is similar to mine. He thinks they have to be punished, but that they can't have a war. Apparently, Fandarel had wondered why they didn't rebel before, given that the Southern Weyr folks have basically nothing.
Fandarel starts losing me here:
"My friend, we must keep our wits today as never before. I fear Lessa may be unreasonable and unthinking. Already she has let emotion dominate common sense."
Wow. Wow. You know what? FUCK YOU dude.
Yes, Lessa is wrong here. But there's nothing unreasonable or unthinking about her reaction.
a) She's mentally linked to the egg's MOTHER.
b) The Oldtimers took the egg out of the Hatching Ground of the Weyr, the most guarded and protected place.
c) The Oldtimers did this by spying on the Weyr through firelizards.
d) THEY WILL PROBABLY TRY AGAIN.
What deterrent do they have not to try again?
Dragon vs. Dragon is a very bad idea, yes. But Southern Weyr is the aggressor here. If they do nothing, Southern Weyr can just keep terrorizing them!
On the plus side, there is trouble in the F'nor/Brekke Household:
“You will support me in this then, Fandarel?” asked Brekke, who had entered behind them with F’nor. “Lessa is not herself. I do really understand her anxiety but she cannot be allowed to damn all fire-lizards for the mischief of a few.”
“Mischief?” F’nor was perturbed. “Don’t let Lessa hear you call what happened mischief. Mischief? Stealing a queen egg?”
“The fire-lizard’s part was only mischief ... popping in to Ramoth’s cave like how many others have been doing since the eggs were laid.” Brekke spoke more sharply than she usually did, and a tightness about F’nor’s eyes and mouth indicated to Robinton that this couple were not in accord. “Fire-lizards have no sense of wrong or right.”
“They’ll have to learn ... ” F’nor began with more heat than discretion.
“I fear that we, who have no dragons,” said Robinton, quickly intervening-lest today’s event fracture the bond between the two lovers-“have been making too much of our little friends, carting them about with us wherever we go, doting as parents of a late child, permitting too many liberties of conduct. But a more restrained attitude toward firelizards in our midst is a very minor consideration in today’s affair.”
Well, honestly, my sympathy is more for Lessa's side, and unfortunately F'nor's here.
However, in general, I like Brekke more than F'nor, and I like any sign she might ditch him and find some happiness elsewhere.
I can't help but notice which characters are adamantly opposed to both war, and any kind of consequences re: the Firelizards:
Menolly, Jaxom, Robinton, Brekke.
Basically the characters that McCaffrey will always make infallible and right. Actually, I'm surprised that F'nor's not in that list. Okay, well, maybe that might almost count as nuance after all.
Oh, here we go:
F’nor had dampened his aggravation. He nodded now at the Harper. “Suppose that egg hadn’t been returned, Robinton ... ” His shoulders jerked in a convulsive shake and he pushed at his forehead as if trying to eliminate all memory of that scene.
“If the egg hadn’t been returned,” Robinton said implacably, “dragon would have fought dragon!” He spaced out his words, putting as much force and distaste as he could in his tone.
F’nor quickly shook his head, denying that outcome. “No, it would not have come to that, Robinton. You were wise ... ”
F'nor's of course, shifted to the right side. Well, you let us have a moment with him being "wrong", so I'll give you that.
Lessa on the other hand arrives, furious. And god, I'm going to end up excerpting this whole damn passage:
“Wise?” Spat out by the infuriated Weyrwoman, the word cut like a knife. Lessa stood at the entrance to the Council Room, her slender frame taut with the emotions of the morning, her face livid with her anger. “Wise? To let them get away with such a crime? To let them plot even more base treacheries? Why did I ever think it necessary to bring them forward? When I remember that I pleaded with that excrescence T’ron to come and help us? Help us? He helps himself! To my queen’s egg. If I could only undo my stupidity ... ”
“Your stupidity is in carrying on in this fashion,” the Harper said coldly, knowing that what he had to say before the Weyrleaders and Craftmasters assembled in the Council Room might well alienate them all. “The egg has been returned-”
Go fuck a porcupine Robinton.
He insists that Lessa has no right to set dragon against dragon, which is true, but I think this really should be a fight between dragonriders, not the interloper who can't run his own goddamn guild. He shouts her down for a while, until Robinton switches tactics, pointing out that it's a compliment, not an insult.
Basically, there've been a lot of queen eggs laid, and in Weyrs that the Oldtimers would know better, but instead they went to Benden because they wanted RAMOTH's egg. The best. Lessa is shocked and unresisting at this argument, and I'd like to think it's because it's fucking stupid.
Robinton FINALLY decides to show sympathy to her, but still manages to piss me off:
“Come, Lessa,” he said with great sympathy and compassion, “we’re all overwrought by this terrible event. None of us is thinking clearly ... ”
He passed his hand across his face, no sham gesture for he was perspiring with the effort to redirect the mood of so many. “Emotions are running far too high. And you’ve borne the brunt of it, Lessa.” He took her by the arm and led the shocked but unresisting Weyrwoman to her chair, seating her with great concern and deference. “You must have been halfcrazed by Ramoth’s distress. She is calmer now, isn’t she?”
Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE the hysterical woman trope? But I still maintain Lessa's rage makes complete sense!
F'lar finally speaks up:
“He was right, Lessa,” F’lar said from the entrance where he’d been watching the scene. He walked into the room, toward the table where Lessa sat. “We only had cause to invade Southern to search for our egg. Once it was returned, we would be damned by all Pern to pursue vengeance.” He spoke to her but his eyes had gone to each Weyrleader and Craftsmaster to judge their reactions. “Once dragon fights dragon, for whatever reason,” his gesture wiped away any possible consideration, “we, the dragonriders of Pern, lose the rest of Pern!”
He gave Lessa a long hard look which she returned with frozen implacability. Squarely he faced the room. “I wish with all my heart that there’d been some other solution that day at Telgar for T’ron and T’kul. Sending them to the Southern Continent seemed to be the answer. There they could do the rest of Pern scant harm ... ”
This might be my character biases showing, but this bothers me less than the rest. I think because it doesn't feel like F'lar is arbitrarily on Robinton's side because all the "right" characters are.
It DOES make sense that he'd be opposed to the infighting given his entire arc in Dragonquest. And it's not about whether or not Lessa is being unreasonable here (SHE IS NOT), but about the good of Pern. And he's acknowledging his own role in the matter.
And I particularly like how he looks at EACH Weyrleader and Craftsmaster. He's not ganging up on her, this is directed to everyone.
Lessa bitterly thinks this is T'ron and Mardra trying to get back at them. Brekke (of COURSE) says that Mardra wouldn't want to be deposed.
Because Brekke's always right of course and has vast experience with Mardra. (I do remember Brekke disliking her in Dragonquest because of injured men from her wing, but I'm not inclined to be fair right now.)
There's a weird line about F'lar's fingers being tight and whitened around Lessa's shoulder, but she doesn't react. I'm going to interpret that as the characters being distraught and upset together, but you're on thin fucking ice, McCaffrey. DO NOT RUIN THEM.
D'ram, who I'm happy to see has lines, says that Merika wouldn't want it either. Thanks for reinforcing what Robinton already magically knew, because Robinton is always right.
Robinton does show some sympathy to D'ram of all people:
More than any of the others in this room, Robinton thought that the Oldtimer felt this turn of events most keenly. D’ram was an honest, loyal, fair-minded man. He had felt compelled to support F’lar against those of his own Time. By such backing, he had influenced R’mart and G’narish, the other Oldtime Weyrleaders, to side with the Benden Weyr at Telgar Hold. So many undercurrents and subtle pressures abounded in this chamber, Robinton thought. Whoever had conceived of kidnapping the queen egg might not have succeeded in that stratagem, but they had effectively shattered the solidarity of the dragonriders.
I don't know, I think Lessa and F'lar, given that they're psychically bonded to the egg's parents, might be feeling it keenly.
Make up your fucking mind, McCaffrey, is Lessa hysterical or not?
D'ram, thankfully, is actually sympathetic though. He apologizes to Lessa, then makes a cryptic comment: basically that he doesn't understand the point of this, T'kul's bronze couldn't hope to fly a Benden Queen. None of the dragons of the south could.
Hell, D'ram realizes, by the time the egg matures, the bronzes might be dead. Eight of them died this past turn.
Damn, how long do dragons live? What happens to riders when their dragons die of old age? We really ought to know this given that there's been 400 years of peace time.
Fandarel notes that stealing the egg wasn't for nothing: it set everyone at each other's throats and almost led to a dragon war. And of course, he ends up choosing Robinton's side, exiting with a judgy little: “This has been a terrible, terrible day! I am sorry for all of you.” His gaze rested longest on Lessa. “But I think I am sorrier for myself and Pern if your anger doesn’t cool and your good sense return. I will leave you now.
Fuck you.
Robinton adds to this insult:
Fandarel had clearly stated what Robinton wanted to be sure Lessa heard and understood-that the dragonriders stood in grave peril of losing control over Hold and Craft if they permitted their outrage and indignation to control them. Enough had been said, in the heat of the moment, in front of those Holders summoned to the Weyr during the crisis. If no further action was to be taken now that the egg had been returned, no Holder or Craftmaster could fault Benden.
But how was anyone to get through to that stubborn Lessa, sitting there wallowing in fury and determined on a disastrous course of revenge? For the first time in his long Turn as Masterharper of Pern, Robinton was at a loss for words. Enough that he had lost Lessa’s goodwill already! How could he make her see reason?
Maybe it's not your fucking job to get through to her? Maybe you can acknowledge her hurt and anger and let her take precautions to protect herself and the Weyr? F'lar's on board with the "no dragon war" plan. Maybe let him and Lessa hash that out?
But maybe that won't work. Because F'lar's silence for most of it seems to have its own cause:
“Fandarel has reminded me that dragonriders can have no private quarrels without far-reaching effect,” F’lar said. “I permitted insult to overcome sanity once. Today is the result."
Of course everyone starts murmuring and shaking their head at that. Rightly so. I spent all of Dragonflight hating F'lar. He won me over in Dragonquest. And there was no other way that that scene could have gone.
But I like this, because it shows that it's not just Lessa who's severely emotionally affected by this violation of their trust and safety. F'lar is expressing it differently. But the silence and passivity he's shown throughout this scene is not in character for him any more than this pure rage is in character for Lessa (though I still maintain that she is making sense!).
And this is why Robinton, Fandarel and every other mansplaining fuckwad should have shut the fuck up:
“Nonsense, F’lar,” Lessa said, roused from her immobility. “That wasn’t a personal fight. You had to fight T’ron that day to keep Pern together.”
“And today I cannot fight T’ron, or the other Southerners, or I won’t keep Pern together!”
Lessa stared back at F’lar for another long moment and then her shoulders sagged as she reluctantly accepted that distinction.
“But ... if that egg does not hatch, or if the little queen is in any way damaged ... ”
“If that should happen, we will certainly review the situation,” F’lar promised her, raising his right hand to honor the condition.
See, THAT's how you stick to a moral principle while still acknowledging that someone's emotions are valid.
Lessa didn't NEED people fucking yelling at her, or acting like she's irrational! Especially not assholes who have never bonded with dragons or lost a fucking child. All she needed was to have her fucking feelings validated!
Robinton hopes that by the Hatching, he'll have some information to appease Lessa and save F'lar's now pledged honor.
(Hey, dude, you ever think maybe F'lar might feel something too? It's HIS dragon's egg too.)
Lessa goes out to tend to Ramoth. F'lar suggests tea (and of course Brekke serves, fucking sexism), and they discuss all the Weyrs taking precautions in the future.
R'mart observes something interesting: if eight dragons died, then the Southern Weyr only has two hundred and forty-eight dragonriders left, and only five bronzes. Who brought the egg back.
We see another sign of F'lar's uncharacteristic behavior:
“The egg is back: that’s all that matters,” F’lar said then half-emptied his cup at the first swallow. “Though I am deeply grateful to that rider.”
“We could find out,” N’ton said quietly. F’lar shook his head. “I’m not sure I want to know.
I’m not sure we need to know-just as long as that egg hatches a live and kicking queen.”
This passivity is NOT in character. This is not a critique of McCaffrey, mind you. I just think it's clear that F'lar isn't okay with this either.
Brekke gets a little speech about not blaming the firelizards, and F'lar just says that they'll have to go softly on that score. He notes that much was said that was not meant to stand.
Meanwhile both Brekke's Berd and Robinton's Zair have wild notions of fire lizards being flamed by dragons. Of course our heroes would never do that.
F'lar plays diplomat again:
“Then we must make sure that the queen is not further upset by any sight of fire-lizards,” F’lar said, his glance sweeping around the room for agreement. “For the time being,” he added, raising his hand to stop the half-formed protests. “It is the better part of wisdom for them not to be seen or heard right now. I know they’ve been useful, and some are proving to be very reliable messengers. I know many of you have them. But direct them to Brekke if it is absolutely necessary to send them here.” He looked directly at Robinton.
...you know, MAYBE if you guys had done this at the start, Lessa might have calmed down a little?
But I have to admit, while I do not like this whole hysterical woman motif, I am kind of digging F'lar as the soft, conciliatory partner.
Brekke earns my scorn by declaring: “Fire-lizards do not go where they are not welcome,"
That is PATENTLY untrue, you little twit. I've read three books that showed me how untrue that is. The entire beginning of this book tells me how untrue that is.
They note that there's not much they can do until the Hatching, except assemble the girls from the Search, asap.
Robinton has the fucking audacity to "half-hope[] that F'lar might hold him back as the others dispersed" He's talking to D'ram though. Robinton regrets being at odds with the Benden Weyrleaders, but notes that F'lar had supported his plea for deliberation.
You're an asshole who doesn't seem to realize that you're essentially dealing with frightened, traumatized parents here. Or as close to it as possible.
N'ton shows up to validate Robinton though, but I still like him because he wasn't actually a dick this chapter, while F'nor invites Robinton and N'ton to his weyr. They get there and are assaulted by four hysterical flying cats.
Apparently, they've remembered something. When N'ton makes the mistake of asking if it's the Red Star, they freak out more, but F'nor clarifies that it's not that.
It's kind of funny that for the rest of this section, the dragonriders all spell out "Red Star" as though the firelizards aren't fucking telepathic.
They note that firelizards have the same skills as dragons, but dragons have no memory to speak of.
Conversation goes back to today's events. F'nor fervently hopes that the lack of memory thing will wipe out what happened today in record time.
Wait a second. There are PLENTY of times in Dragonquest and Dragonflight where Mnementh remembered shit. Ruth remembers shit. What is this new nonsense?
“Lessa does not suffer that gift,” Robinton said with a heavy sigh.
“She’s not stupid either, Masterharper,” N’ton said, adroitly reaffirming his respect for the man by the use of his title. “Nor is F’lar. Just worried. They’ll both come round and appreciate your intervention today.” Then N’ton cleared his throat and looked the Masterharper squarely in the eyes. “Do you know who took the egg?”
Die in a fire, Robinton.
But N'ton, YOU can stay.
Then things get gross. N'ton asks if Robinton knows who took the egg:
“I had heard that something was being planned. I knew, which would have been obvious to anyone counting Turns, that the Southern men and dragons are slowing .with age, and desperate. I’ve had only the experience of Zair wanting to mate ... ” Robinton paused, remembering that astounding revival of desires he had thought himself well past, shrugged and met the understanding twinkle in N’ton’s eyes. “So I can appreciate the pressures that randy brown and bronze dragons can exert on their riders. Even a willing green, young enough to be flown, would help ... ” He looked questioningly at the two dragonriders.
Ew.
...also, WHAT?
This is clearly not about sex. A green won't do because she doesn't lay fucking dragons. The Oldtimers are running out of dragons. This isn't fucking rocket science you weird pervert!
Anyway, F'nor asks Robinton how much he knows about Southern Weyr. He knows more about the Hold, but Piemur has apparently been sending some messages about the dragonriders being more closed off than usual. He's seen a lot of dragons going between, without circling or cruising.
F'nor thinks they must be timing it. Meanwhile, the firelizards get antsy and distracting again.
There is something interesting though: N'ton had been among the bronzes who went to Southern Weyr to see if the egg was there, and it was deserted.
We switch over to Jaxom and Menolly. The lizards are freaking out about the idea of dragons breathing fire at them. Gosh, I wonder what bad people we know have dragons and generally kick puppies?
Menolly and Jaxom reassure the Harpers that Benden dragons didn't flame any lizards, but also relay the message that firelizards must stay away from Benden unless sent to Brekke or Mirrim and must be marked.
They fill the Harper Hall in, and we get some unnecessary praise for Menolly again: "Jaxom’s respect for the girl increased greatly as he listened to her flowing voice evoke the emotions appropriate to each part of her narrative, without distorting what he knew to have happened. One of the senior Harpers, soothing the blue fire-lizard in the crook of his arm, kept nodding his head as if approving her use of Harper tricks."
I shouldn't bitch too much. Honestly, Menolly is among the least annoying characters this chapter. Jaxom too.
So Menolly and Jaxom work a little on designs to symbolize Harper Hall. Jaxom ends up roped into holding fire lizards still, and they keep trying to look him in the eye. Fucking cats.
Also it comes out that Ruth is the only dragon that the lizards aren't afraid of, because he doesn't chew firestone. (Technically the queens don't either?) Jaxom's reaction:
Jaxom sighed because he could see that Ruth’s sudden popularity was going to ruin his private plans. Much as he was loath to do so, he was going to have to time it because if the fire-lizards didn’t know when they went they couldn’t follow him!
Wow, you're a fucking dick.
Menolly gives him the charts that he'd originally come for, and Brand's blue lizard appears to fetch him. Menolly notes that he's been on legitimate business this time. And indeed, he ends up explaining everything at Ruatha.
"He found himself unconsciously using Menolly’s turns of phrase and he wondered how long before she’d make a Ballad of the event."
Tell me more about Marc Remillard's massive elegance.
Jaxom finishes, directing everyone to mark the lizards with Ruatha colors. Then he notices that Lytol looks distressed. Jaxom manages to reassure him that there won't be dragon against dragon, and that he shouldn't have to go to Benden Weyr. He seems to snap himself out of it. And relieved, Jaxom announces that he has both equations and charts, and then finds himself drafted into instructing Brand and Lytol in how it works.
Later that night, Jaxom is awakened by Ruth whimpering, with the fire lizards burrowed about him. Like a dick, Jasom shooes them away, and Ruth goes into a deeper sleep. The Chapter Ends here.
Actually, I really liked this chapter, even though I hated almost everyone.
McCaffrey did a really great job of showing how utterly traumatizing the loss of the egg was. Lessa remains the only character to have any semblance of nuance, and I appreciate how she's actually allowed to be wrong. But that said, I would have liked for the characters arguing with her to have bothered to talk to her like a HUMAN BEING. The only character that acknowledged her reaction as valid was F'lar.
I'm not fond of the whole hysterical irrational woman characterization, but I appreciate the subtle ways that McCaffrey showed us that Lessa wasn't the only one affected. F'lar's behavior is as out of character as hers. That's what makes this frustrating of course. McCaffrey does such a good job of making me feel Lessa's anguish and rage, and F'lar's shut down passivity and guilt, that I'm very frustrated that their so called friends aren't remotely trying to help.
OBVIOUSLY a dragon civil war is a terrible idea. And we know that because of which characters take that side. But the idea that Lessa should have to forgive and forget is ridiculous. No one bothers to even try to find a solution that could accommodate the need for retribution without killing people. Hell, F'lar ends up appeasing her simply by saying that they'll see what happens at the Hatching and decide accordingly.
That's ALL Lessa really needed: validation. And she should have been able to get that from these oh so saintly assholes that McCaffrey never allows to be wrong. F'lar shouldn't have had to be the one to step up and give her that validation, when he's got his own burdens. Any one of these characters, his good friend? His fucking BROTHER? could have and should have stepped up to support both of them.
And Robinton having the NERVE to expect to be asked to stay. The NERVE to take potshots at Lessa afterward. Fuck you, dude. When you've saved the world as often as she has, then you can fucking talk.
(The shallow, petty part in me enjoys that for all that we're supposed to see Lessa as irrational, there's no indication that F'lar and Lessa's difference of opinion will negatively impact their marriage, unlike the much more minor disagreement between Brekke and F'nor. I'll take what satisfaction I can get.)