A grin tugged at the worried line of F'lar's mouth. "Oh, yes. She insisted. No luck. The fire-lizards need a direction to go between time just like dragons."
"I didn't exactly mean sending them. I mean, asking them to remember a lone bronze dragon."
"Asking those creatures to remember?" F'lar laughed with incredulity.
"I'm serious, F'lar. They have good memories which can be triggered. For instance, how could the fire-lizards have known that the Red Star…" He was interrupted by a squeal of protest from Zair, who launched himself so quickly from Robinton's shoulder that he scratched the Harper's neck. "I will mention it in his presence!" Robinton said, ruefully patting the scratch. "My point is, F'lar, that the fire-lizards all knew that the Red Star was dangerous and could not be reached before F'nor and Canth tried to go there. If you can get a fire-lizard to make any sense when you mention the Red Star, they say they remember being afraid of it. They? Or their ancestors when our ancestors first attempted to go to it?"
F'lar gave the Masterharper a long searching stare.
"That isn't the first memory of theirs that has proved to be accurate," Robinton went on. "Master Andemon believes that it's entirely possible that these creatures can remember unusual events that one of their number has witnessed or felt. Instinct plays a part with all animals-why not in their memories, too?"
"I'm not sure I see how you intend to get this-this fire-lizard memory to work in helping to find D'ram, whenever he's got to."
"Simple. Ask them to remember seeing a lone dragon. That would be unusual enough to be noted .. . and remembered."
F'lar was not convinced it would work.
"Oh, I think so if we ask Ruth to ask them."
"Ruth?"
"When every fire-lizard was scared to death of the other dragons, they beleaguered Ruth. Jaxom's told me that they talk with his white wherever they are. With so many, there's bound to be one that might remember what we want to know."
"If I could relieve Lessa's fears, I'd even forget my antipathy to those nuisances."
"I trust you'll remember that statement." Robinton grinned to soften the remark.
"Will you come with me to Ruatha Hold?"
In that moment, Robinton remembered Jaxom's Threadscoring. Of course, it would be long healed. But he couldn't remember if N'ton had ever discussed Jaxom's training with Benden Weyr.
"Shouldn't we find out if Jaxom's at the Hold?"
"Why wouldn't he be?" F'lar asked, frowning.
"Because he's often about the Hold, learning the land, or at Fandarel's with the other young people."
"A point." F'lar looked away from the Harper, out the window, his eyes unfocused. "No, Mnementh says Ruth's at the Hold. See, I have my own message sender," F'lar added with a grin.
Robinton hoped that Ruth would think to tell Jaxom that Mnementh had bespoken him. He wished that he'd had time to send Zair with a message to Ruatha but he had no excuse and certainly no wish to jeopardize this gesture of F'lar's.
"More reliable than mine and farther reaching than Fandarel's little wire." Robinton donned the thick wherhide jacket and helmet he used when flying. "Speaking of Fandarel, he's got his lines as far as Crom's mines, you know." He gestured F'lar to precede him out of the room.
"Yes, I know. That's another reason to locate D'ram."
"It is?"
F'lar laughed at the Harper's bland question, a laugh that held no constraint so that Robinton sincerely hoped that this visit mended their relationship.
"Hasn't Nicat been at you, too, Robinton? To go south to those mines?"
"The ones Toric's been trading from?"
"I thought you'd know."
"Yes, I know that Nicat's worried about mining. The ores are getting very poor. Fandarel's a good sight more worried than Nicat. He needs the better quality metals."
"Once we allow the Crafts into the South, the Lord Holders will press for entry…" F'lar instinctively lowered his voice though the courtyard they were crossing was empty.
"The Southern Continent is large enough to take all of Northern Pern and rattle it. Why, we've only touched the fringes of it, F'lar. Great Shells and Shards!" Robinton slapped his forehead. "Talk about fire-lizards and associative memories. That's it! That's where D'ram has gone."
"Where?"
"At least I think that's where he might have gone."
"Speak, man. Where?"
"The problem is still when, I fancy. And Ruth is still our key."
They had only several dragonlengths to go before they reached Mnementh in the meadow. Zair fluttered above Robinton's head, chittering anxiously well away from the bronze dragon. He refused to alight on Robinton's shoulder, though the Harper gestured for him to land.
"I'm going to Ruatha to the white dragon, to Ruth. Join us there, then, you silly creature, if you won't ride on my shoulder."
"Mnementh doesn't mind Zair," F'lar said.
"It's still the other way round, I'm afraid," Robinton said.
A hint of anger danced in the bronze rider's eyes. "No dragon flamed a fire-lizard."
"Not here, Weyrleader, not here. But all of them remember seeing it happen. And fire-lizards can only tell what they or one of them have actually seen."
"Then let's get to Ruatha and see if one of them has seen D'ram."
So the fire-lizards were still tender subjects, thought Robinton sadly as he climbed up Mnementh's shoulder to sit behind F'lar. He wished that Zair had not been so wary of Mnementh.
Jaxom and Lytol stood on the Hold steps as Mnementh bugled his name to the watchdragon and circled to land in the huge courtyard. As the two visitors were being greeted, Robinton scanned Jaxom's face to see if the Threadscore was obvious. He couldn't see a trace of it and wondered if he was examining the right cheek. He could only hope that Ruth had healed as well. Of course, F'lar was so involved with this business of D'ram he wouldn't be looking for scoring on Ruth or Jaxom.
"Ruth said Mnementh inquired for him, F'lar," Jaxom said. "I trust nothing is wrong?"
"Ruth may be able to help us find D'ram."
"Find D'ram? He hasn't…" Jaxom paused, looking anxiously at Lytol, who was frowning and shaking his head.
"No, but he has timed it somewhen," Robinton said. "I thought perhaps if Ruth asked the fire-lizards, they might tell him."
Jaxom stared at the Harper, who wondered why the lad looked so stunned and, curiously, scared. Robinton did not miss the quick flick of Jaxom's eyes toward F'lar nor the convulsive swallowing.
"I remembered hearing you comment that fire-lizards often tell Ruth things," Robinton went on in a casual manner, giving Jaxom time to recover his composure. Whatever was bothering the boy?
"Where? Possibly. But when. Master Robinton?"
"I've a hunch I know where D'ram went. Would that help?"
"I'm not sure I understand," Lytol said, looking from one to the other. "What's this all about?" Lytol had been guiding the visitors into the Hold and toward the small private room. Wine and cups had been set on the table, together with cheese, bread and fruits.
"Well," Robinton said, eyeing the wineskin, "I'll explain…"
"And you'll be dry, I'm sure," Jaxom said, as he strode to the table to pour. "It's Benden wine, Master Robinton. Only the best for our distinguished visitors."
"The lad's growing up, Lytol," F'lar said, taking the cup and raising it approvingly toward Lytol.
"The lad has grown up," Lytol said in a half-growl. "Now, about those fire-lizards…"
Zair appeared midair, squealed and swooped to Robinton's shoulder, wrapping his tail tightly about the Harper's neck and cluttering in a nervous tone as he reassured himself that Robinton had taken no harm riding the biggest one.