“What we need,” the Harper said, planting his fists on his belt, “is an accurate rendering of the settlement.” He looked around the dim storehouse, at the pile of nets and the tumble of crates and barrels. “Where each building is, the state of it—a list, if you wouldn’t mind, of the items you’ve made use of, what’s left! I think I must send for Perschar. He finds it tedious to draw straight rows of empty buildings.”
“Perschar?” Jayge exclaimed.
“You’ve met him?” Robinton was surprised.
“I was one of those who assaulted Thella’s mountain base,” Jayge replied with a bark of laughter. “I know him! I didn’t know that you did.”
“Of course I did. I prevailed on him to use his talents for the Harper Hall, and so I’d been informed of many of the thefts and the ingenious ways in which they were carried out long before Asgenar and Larad realized what was happening. Would you mind Perschar coming here for a few days on my behalf?”
Jayge hesitated, caught Ara’s nod, and agreed. “A very clever man, and brave.”
“Likes a bit of a challenge now and then, but he’s as discreet as they come.” The Harper smiled reassuringly at Ara. “I think some company would do you both the world of good. You can be on your own too long.” Piemur noticed the sly glance directed at him and snorted. “My Zair,” Master Robinton said, indicating the bronze fire-lizard that had landed on his shoulder only moments before, “could also take a message to your parents at Ruatha Hold if you’d like, Aramina. In fact, he’s quite capable of carrying several, you know,” he added, looking inquiringly at Jayge.
“Master Robinton—” Jayge began in a rush and then hesitated, looking helplessly at Aramina. She put her arm about his waist.
“Yes?”
“What are we?” And when the Harper regarded him in surprise, he elaborated. “Trespassers? Or what?” He gestured to the other buildings and the rich fields beyond. “Piemur says this isn’t anybody’s hold?” His voice lifted questioningly, and his eyes held an eloquent appeal.
Just as Piemur had hoped, the Masterharper had taken a liking to the couple. He beamed at them. “In my opinion,” he said, shooting his journeyman a stern look, “you have undeniably established a secure and productive hold here. In my opinion, Holder Jayge, Lady Aramina, you may now do as you see fit. You have two Harper witnesses here to properly attest to your claim. We’ll even wake P’ratan up,” he offered, gesturing to the beach where the old green and his rider were dozing in the sun, “and ride a sweep of what should be included in this Paradise River Hold.”
“Paradise River Hold?” Jayge asked.
“That’s what I’ve been calling it,” Piemur explained a bit sheepishly.
“It’s a perfect name, Jayge,” Ara put in. “Or should it be called ‘Lilcamp Hold?’ ” she added noncommittally.
“I think,” Jayge said, taking her hands in his and looking deeply into her eyes, “that naming it ‘Lilcamp Hold’ just because we got shipwrecked here would be presumptuous. I think out of gratitude we ought to use the name the ancients had for it.”
“Oh, Jayge, I do, too!” She threw her arms about his neck and kissed him. “Is becoming a holder as simple as this, Master Robinton?” Jayge asked, his face a bit red under his tan.
“In the south it will be,” the Harper announced firmly. “I shall, of course, submit this matter to the Benden Weyrleaders, who should be consulted, but you have demonstrated your ability to Hold on your own, and according to traditional methods”—he gave Piemur a stern glance as the journeyman guffawed—“that has always been the rule!”
“Then if you don’t mind, sir, if a message could be sent, could it be more than just that we’re alive?” Jayge’s face was eager, all trace of patient resignation erased. “There’s so much more that could be done with more hands. If that’s allowed?”
“It’s your hold,” the Harper said, and Piemur thought his tone defiant. The journeyman wondered just what the new Lord Toric’s reaction would be.
Jayge was looking across the river with a proprietary smile, reexamining buildings and the lush forestry crowding against them. Aramina whispered to him, and he looked down at her, giving her shoulders a squeeze.
“I’d like to send for some of my Bloodkin,” Jayge said.
“Always a good idea to have them share your good fortune,” the Harper said approvingly.
Although the Harper would have been happy to sift through the contents of the storehouse, Piemur, with some assistance from Jayge and Ara, urged him to come back to the cool house and compose the messages. Zair was dispatched to Ruatha Hold with reassurances to Barla and Dowell, while Farli went to the harper at Igen Hold, who would locate the Lilcamp-Amhold train and deliver Jayge’s missive.
“I’ve asked my aunt Temma and Nazer if they’d be willing to join us,” Jayge said tentatively as he finished writing. “Only how will they get here? I’m still not sure where we are!”
“Paradise River Hold,” Piemur replied irrepressibly.
“The Southern Continent is much more extensive than we originally believed,” Robinton said after a reproving glance at his journeyman. “Master Idarolan is still sailing eastward and updating me by means of his second mate’s fire-lizard. I believe that Master Rampesi is continuing westward past the Great Bay. In the meantime, I think we might prevail on P’ratan to convey your kin here, if they’re willing to come and wouldn’t overload Poranth. Would Temma and Nazer object to flying between on a dragon?” His eyes twinkled.
“Nothing fazes Temma or Nazer,” Jayge replied with conviction.
After a refreshing lunch, Piemur suggested firmly that perhaps the time had come for Aramina to give the Harper a full account of the past two years, while he and Jayge figured out boundaries for Paradise River Hold.
“A fine thing when a harper has to teach a trader to bargain,” Piemur said, mildly scoffing, though he found Jayge’s reluctance a refreshing change from Toric’s rampant greed. Jayge had to be reminded of Readis’s and any future children’s needs, as well as the requirements of Temma and Nazer, if they joined him. “You told me how far you and Scallak had walked west, east, and south. Well, we’ll just make those your boundaries. I’m good at figuring out how far one can travel in a day over what kind of terrain. This’ll be a good spread and still won’t take that much of a bite out of the continent.”
When the heat of the day had passed, P’ratan was quite willing to take harper and holder on an aerial sweep. Bright red stakes of the ancients’ durable manufacture were taken from the storehouse and pounded into the ground; trees were distinctively cut and distances confirmed. Piemur marked two maps, properly witnessed them with Master Robinton and P’ratan, and left one with Jayge.
The Masterharper assured the young couple that he would personally speak to the Weyrleaders and the Conclave on their behalf at an imminent meeting.
“Please come back whenever you can, Master Robinton, Rider P’ratan,” Aramina told them as they escorted them to green Poranth. “Next time it won’t be such a shock not to hear the dragon coming!”
Master Robinton took her hands in his, smiling kindly down at her. “Do you regret that you no longer hear dragons?”
“No.” Aramina shook her head violently. Her smile was more wistful than sad. “It’s better this way. Listening to the fire-lizards is quite enough, thank you. Have you any idea why I should stop hearing them?” she asked shyly.