The White Dragon - Chapter Seventeen

[kalinara]

To be perfectly honest with you, I completely forgot what happened last time. I had to read my last chapter review to jog my memory. And that's probably not a great sign. Especially since we're only three or four chapters from the end of the book.

But Piemur came, and was far more likable than Jaxom. And someone decided that the best place for Robinton to recover is here at the cove, so a lot of folks came by to make everything pretty for him. I can't blame them. If I had the opportunity to ship Robinton off to another continent, I happily would.



So the chapter starts in Fort Hold. Fire lizards are greeting enthusiastically. Lord Groghe is presiding over this meeting and he's invited Sebell and the Fort Weyrleader. This is pretty noteworthy for Sebell, who'd been there frequently, but never as the spokesman for his Crafthall and not for such an important meeting.

So Groghe starts. He notes that he'd backed F'lar when he'd fought T'ron, and that he'd believed that exiling the Oldtimers was the right idea. It made sense to leave them alone as long as they'd left him alone, and they mostly did.

We're told that there was the occasional "depredation" in Fort Hold that could only be the Oldtimers, and Sebell and N'ton are aware of it.

So anyway, Groghe notes that the Oldtimers are dying. Or waiting to die. And D'ram's settling in, as "sort of F'lar's representative", bringing in folks from other Weyrs and making it a functioning Weyr again. He approves. But well, now he's figuring that with the Southern Continent safe, the Weyr should be up to supporting more than one Hold, right?

So we get to the crux of the character conflict. One that's been building all book. Basically Groghe wants to set up more Holds in the South. There's plenty of unheld land after all. And it seems like it's big enough.

Sebell and N'ton listen politely as he talks, which causes him to start laughing outloud as to how "well trained" they are. He doesn't blame them, because they shouldn't give up Weyr secrets. But he wants them to do him a favor and basically just remind F'lar that "it's better to attack than defend" and that he should be prepared. Robinton moving south will give people ideas.

I really do love Groghe. And I like that Ms. McCaffrey's making more of an effort to make at least some of her adversaries layered and interesting. Groghe is not a villain by any means, but he is at cross purposes.

N'ton points out that the continent is too big to be adequately protected. Groghe gets that, but notes that people know they can live without a Hold and survive. Menolly did it. Toric's had very little help.

Sebell asks if he's ever been out in Fall, and Groghe takes the point. But he notes that it would separate boys from men. He gazed up at N’ton, a sly look in his eyes though his expression continued bland. “Or don’t the Weyrs want the boys separated?”

I'm...not sure what that means. But N'ton laughs: "It's time we separated more than the boys, Lord Groghe."

He doesn't explain his cryptic statement, but says he'll pass the message onto F'lar, which makes Groghe happy. Groghe asks Sebell about Robinton (ugh).

Honestly, to be fair, it's not like McCaffrey shows MORE favoritism to Robinton than Wurts does to Arithon in Mistwraith, or Julian May to Marc Remillard in one of my favorite series, or even R. A. Salvatore with Drizzt. The problem is that this sort of favoritism only works if we like the characters in question. And I really really hate Robinton.

So per Sebell, Robinton's resting comfortably. Groghe is skeptical. Sebell clarifies that he's told Robinton is comfortable, but Robinton might disagree. They confirm that Robinton is going "where young Jaxom's trapped, and have a little banter about that and about the Weyr secrecy as to the location.

When Sebell and N'ton leave, Sebell chuckles with satisfaction. He's happy because "it worked." Groghe, representing the Lord Holders, is asking the Weyrleaders' permission to go South.

And...that's a good point really. They don't need to! The Weyrleaders have no built in authority over the land.

N'ton doesn't see it as odd, of course, and Sebell grins because N'ton fell for it too. (Sebell's friendly relationship with N'ton here is more evidence, IMO, for his relative youth. I'm still mad that Masterharper tries to retcon Dragonsinger and tell us he's older than Lessa!)

Anyway, N'ton still doesn't get it, and Sebell promises that if N'ton still doesn't understand at Benden Weyr, he'll explain it.

And the explanation comes when they go to talk to F'lar. F'lar has just come back from fighting Thread, and had an irritating meeting with "Lord Corman". Initially, he's dismayed at Groghe's warnings, and skeptical at Sebell's statement that things aren't out of hand.

But F'lar is, admittedly, a very clever man. And when Sebell points out that the Lord Holders are asking Benden Weyr's permission first. He gets it.

“Ask Benden’s permission? How does that come about?”

“Master Robinton’s doing,” N’ton said, grinning from ear to ear.

I guess N'ton's figured it out. And of course it's Robinton's doing. It's what a Harper does, I suppose.

Actually though this is interesting. Basically Sebell's been sent all about recently, with the job of "tak[ing] the temper of every small Hold as regarded duty to Hold and Weyr" and alongside that, he was to "reinforce the belief that it is to Benden Weyr everyone on Pern must look!"

Not to beat a dead horse, but this supports what Elgion did in Dragonsong too. So it would have been very nice to see Dragonsinger actually teach Menolly the skills involved in this.

So this is the logic.

“Benden Weyr only could appreciate the changes that had occurred to Hold and Craft during the Long Interval, because only Benden had changed with the Turns. You, as Benden Weyrleader, saved Pern from Thread when no one else felt Thread would ever fall again. You also protected your Time from the excesses of those Oldtimers, who could not accept the gradual changes of Hold and Craft. You upheld the rights of Hold and Craft against your own kind and exiled those who would not look to you for leadership.

“Hmm. I hadn’t ever heard it put quite like that,” F’lar said.

To N’ton’s amusement, Benden’s Weyrleader squirmed, partly embarrassed but mostly gratified by the summation.

Aw. Hee.

Anyway. It's basically because they'd been following F'lar's lead that the South became closed off. There's some excursions, but always with the tacit permission of Benden.

F'lar doesn't remember saying that at Telgar after the fight with T'ron, but he still struggles to recall the full events of that day. He just remembers a wedding, a fight, and Threadfall. Well, sepsis will do that.

Sebell says that he didn't say so in so many words, but he'd asked for and received the support of three other Weyrleaders, every Holder and Craftmaster and Robinton rode with that.

Ugh. Of course:

“I’d no idea that Master Robinton had taken a chance remark of mine so much to heart.”

“Master Robinton has always had the best interests of the Weyrs clearly in mind.”

Grimly F’lar thought of the painful estrangement when the Harper had intervened on the day the egg had been stolen. But again, though it hadn’t seemed so at the moment, the Harper had acted in the best interests of Pern. If Lessa had carried out her intention of setting the Northern dragons against the poor old beasts at Southern ...

“We owe the Masterharper much.”

NO. Don't let them brainwash you, F'lar. YOU were the one who talked Lessa down. And you did this by being respectful of her feelings. Robinton was harsh, dismissive and hurting her worse.

And you kept reaching out to Robinton! HE never once apologized!

Anyway, F'lar's still skeptical. Some of the Holds must still believe that the Weyrs haven't gone after the Red Star because they want to keep their dominance in Pern.

But as it turns out, F'nor's idiot flight had an effect. So yay. I credit that to Lessa.

So there's more discussion. F'lar realizes that this basically means that the problem of Southern is shoved back in his lap, and just as he says this, Lessa arrives.

For Lessa, the issue is simple. They have first rights in Southern. F'lar agrees, and notes that thanks to Robinton (bleh), that's not in contention.

"Then what is the problem?” She nodded at Sebell and N’ton by way of greeting, then looked sternly at her weyrmate for his answer.

I love Lessa.

So anyway, she asks if Jaxom has done nothing with his time down at the cove. Which makes me laugh again. But of course:

Sebell extracted a bulky packet from his tunic. “He has, among others. Perhaps this will ease your mind, Lessa.” With an air of quiet triumph, Sebell unfolded the carefully joined leaves of a large chart, portions of which remained white. A clearly defined coastline was occasionally expanded inland with colored and shaded areas. In the margins were dates and the names of those who had surveyed the various sections. The thumb of land pointing at Nerat Tip was completely filled in and familiar to the Weyrleader as Southern Weyr and Hold. On either side of that landmark was an incredible sweep of continent, bounded on the west by the delineation of a great sandy waste on two sides of a huge bay. On the east, ever further from the thumb of Southern, a longer coastline stretched, dipping sharply south, punctuated at its most easterly point by the drawing of a high, symmetrical mountain and a small, starred cove.

I love maps. But I dislike how Sebell presents this. It makes it sound like it's all Jaxom's work. But it's not!

This is PIEMUR's work. Jaxom mapped one tiny cove!

To be fair, I spoke too soon. Lessa asks who did the survey work, and Sebell credits himself, N'ton, Toric's holders, but mostly Piemur.

Lessa realizes that this is what happened to Piemur after his voice changed. I feel like I'm going to be spending a lot of Dragondrums bitching about Harper Hall bullshit. But we'll table that.

So F'lar notes that by the scale of the map, they could fit the entire North in one bay. Sebell points out that the western half of the continent could easily accommodate the Lord Holders, while the Eastern half, per Piemur, is the best part.

It is of course, near that mountain.

Is there a reason they can't set up more Weyrs in the South as well?

We scene shift now to Piemur. He's brought a string of fruit to Sharra to apologize for skipping out that morning. It wasn't just Stupid, Piemur's not used to dealing with a lot of people anymore.

Jaxom is sympathetic, noting that he wasn't much better off. He'd gotten away by hunting, and then tracking down the clutch and rigging fishnet.

Piemur's bemused by his own change of circumstances:

Piemur nodded. “Funny thing that, not wanting to be among people. Felt as if I couldn’t breathe with so many using the same air supply. And that’s downright foolish.” He looked about him, at the black bulks of supplies lining the cove. “We’re not stuffed in a Hold, with fans going!” He shook his head. “Me, Piemur, harper, a social fellow. And I turn and run from people ... faster than Stupid did!” He gave a snort of laughter.

Piemur really is the far more interesting lead.

And tangent of course, but WHY isn't Jaxom taking more of a leadership role in Ruatha? He whines about it, but we see Lytol constantly trying to involve him. I'd thought maybe some Lord Holders were resistant, but so far, we haven't seen any of that. Groghe's the only spokesman and he's very pro-Jaxom. So what's the obstacle?

The trio discusses how overwhelming the people were. Piemur considers his travels, and how he's seen so many scary places and beautiful places where no one has ever been before. Then he perks up, wishing he had a far viewer. He points out the Dawn Sisters: three very bright stars that are only visible at dawn or dusk in the South. He's used them as guides.

Piemur notes that they'll fade soon, unless one of the moons is out. He thinks he should ask Wansor about that. They don't act like proper stars. This perplexes the others, but Piemur explains:

Piemur pointed with several stabs of his right arm at the Dawn Sisters. “Most stars change position. They never do.”

“Sure they do. In Ruatha they’re almost invisible on the horizon ... ”

Piemur was shaking his head. “They’re constant. That’s what I mean. Every season I’ve been here, they’re always in the same place.”

“Can’t be! It’s impossible. Wansor says that stars have routes in the sky just like-“

“They stay still! They’re always in the same position.”

“And I tell you that’s impossible.”

...why are you being a dick about this, Jaxom? Piemur isn't denying it's weird. But he's been observing them and you haven't. Piemur insists it's "bloody peculiar behavior for stars!" and will send a message to Wansor.

Finally, we switch over to Robinton, who is moaning about his circumstances:

For a change, no one was seated in watch over him. The respite of surveillance pleased him. He had been touched by the concern of everyone, though at times the attention bade fair to smother him. He’d curbed his impatience. He had no choice. Too weak and tired to resist the ministrations. Today must be another small indication of his general improvement: leaving him alone. He reveled in the solitude.

I would admittedly be more sympathetic if I liked Robinton.

Anyway, they're making good speed down south.

The Master Fisherman was as pleased with this expedition as everyone else connected with it. Robinton snorted to himself with amusement. Everyone else apparently was profiting by his illness.

Now, now, Robinton chided himself, don’t be sour. Why did you spend so much time training Sebell if not to take over when it became necessary? Only, Robinton thought, he hadn’t ever expected that to happen. He wondered fleetingly if Menolly was faithfully reporting the daily messages from Sebell. She and Brekke could well be conspiring to keep any worrying problem from him.

...there's a lot to unpack here.

1) Why shouldn't people also benefit when they're helping you out, dude?

2) Stop being so resentful of your student, who, as near as I can tell from Dragonsinger, has actually been doing your real job for a while.

3) Have we EVER seen you think about young Harper kids by the way?

Anyway, I do sympathize with Robinton's restlessness. He wishes he could use the journey time to catch up on craft business, write those songs he'd been meaning to write, or take on a project or two. But he's not feeling up to it. Instead, he's been content to lay down and...

Oh you have to be fucking kidding me:

The Dawn Sister, that’s what Idarolan called her. Pretty name. That reminded turn. He must borrow the Fisherman’s far-viewer this evening. There was something odd about those Dawn Sisters. They were visible, higher up than they ought to be, in the sky at dusk as well as dawn. Not that he’d been allowed to be awake at dawn to check. But they were mostly in the sky at sunset. He didn’t think that stars should act that way. He must remember to write Wansor a note.

NO. This is Piemur's discovery after months of observation and work! You don't just get to hand it to Robinton because he happens to glance at the sky at the right time! Hmph, well, at least we now know Piemur's right.

Robinton hears a soft step behind him, and through Zair, observes Menolly. He snaps at her to not creep up on him. But smiles later "to take the petulance from his words"

Too late, dude.

She gives him some fruit juice, lightly laced with wine. "They knew better now than to offer him plain juice."

Hahaha, that Robinton and his alcoholism.

Anyway, Robinton apologizes for his sulks, and Menolly's honestly just happy that he's able to sulk. And this is actually really sweet. And...oh NO.

Silly of me, I know. Because you are getting well, and we’ll see to it that you never strain yourself again ... ” Menolly wiped her eyes impatiently with the back of her hand and sniffled.

It was an endearingly childlike action. Her face, now blotchy from crying, was suddenly so vulnerable that Robinton felt his heart give a startling thump. He smiled tenderly at her, stroked tendrils of her hair back from her face. Tilting her chin up, he kissed her cheek. He felt her hand tighten convulsively on his arm, felt her lean into his kiss with an appeal that set both fire-lizards humming.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU??!

The humming breaks the mood:

“I’m sorry,” she said, her head bent, her shoulders sagging.

“So, my dear Menolly, am I,” the Harper said as gently as he could. In that instant, he regretted his age, her youth, how much he loved her-the fact that he never could-and the weakness that caused him to admit so much. She turned back to him, her eyes intense with her emotion.

I hate this so much.

I liked Rune and Talaysen, but Talaysen didn't think Rune being childlike was a fucking turn on!

Ew ew ew.

He held up his hand, saw the quick pain in her eyes, as the merest shake of his fingers forestalled all she wanted to say. He sighed, closing his eyes against the pain in her loving eyes. Abruptly he was exhausted by an exchange of understanding that had taken so few moments. As few as at Impression, he thought, and as lasting. He supposed he had always known the dangerous ambivalence of his feelings for the young SeaHold-bred girl whose rare talent he had developed. Ironic that he should be weak enough to admit it, to himself and to her, at such an awkward moment. Obtuse of him not to have recognized the intensity and quality of Menolly’s feelings for him. Yet, she’d seemed content enough with Sebell. Certainly they enjoyed a deep emotional and physical attachment. Robinton had done everything in his subtle power to insure that. Sebell was the son he had never had. Better that!

...also, dude. Sebell was the son you never had?! I HOPE McCaffrey just hadn't decided Camo was Robinton's son at this point, because that's so fucking awful.

Robinton mentions Sebell, and Menolly says that she loved Robinton first.

WOW. Poor Sebell. I hope he never realizes that he's basically her second choice.

Robinton tells her that she's been a dear child to him, and they both manage a smile. And I'm still shuddering.

So Robinton ends up going to talk to the Masterfisher about the Dawn Sisters. And I'm relieved to see that Idaloran had seen it himself and has already sent word to Wansor. He'd never seen the phenomenon before coming this far South.

Okay, I'm still pissed that Piemur has to share credit, but I'm glad someone beat Robinton to the punch. However Robinton asks for a distance viewer, and he'll be making some observations. Ugh.

I really really really hate Robinton.

Comments

[copperfyre]

I'M SO MAD

ROBINTON IS SO CREEPY

I did like the brief bit of the chapter he wasn't being the worst in, at least.

BUT UGH

[kalinara]

IT'S SO AWFUL.