Robinton saw the tears coursing down the dragonrider's cheeks.
He reached out to lay his hand on F'lon's arm, unable to bear his friend's pain.
F'lon brushed him aside."You aren't the only one bearing a terrible loss right now."
"No, I'm not.But I don't seem to be able to bear it either."
"No, you don't.If you want, you can go too."
"Go, too?" Robinton looked up at F'lon."What do you mean?" "Couldn't be simpler," the dragonrider said drolly."We go out to Simanith, he takes you in his arms, we go between and Simanith opens his arms? ' which F'lon demonstrated with an upward flourish
"? and only the two of us go on to Benden.Simple."
"Yes, simple," Robinton agreed, thinking almost wistfully of the cold black nothingness of between where one felt nothing, heard nothing, was shortly nothing.
Tears filled his eyes and his heart seemed to burst.He'd been cold so long now.It would be simple…but…it wasn't simple.
"No, it isn't simple," F'lon said gently, and Robinton realized he had spoken aloud."There's something in us humans that clings to life even when the most beloved one we have leaves us.Lytol couldn't go when we gave him the option.He was badly burned, and too full of fellis and numbweed to be able to decide.And when he could, he decided to go back to High Reaches with his family."
Robinton gave a start."That's not a wise place for anyone to be right now, I think.Much less a…former dragonrider."
F'lon shrugged."His choice.He needs his family right now.I saw your mother is still here."
"Yes, she's been wonderful.Everyone has."
"So, let's get on with life, shall we?" The kindness in that soft gentle suggestion reached and thawed the cold "nothingness" Robinton had been enduring.
"Thank you, F'lon," he said and rose."I think I'd better eat something, and you look as if you could stand a good meal too."
Indeed, F'lon looked haggard as well as weary, but at Robinton's suggestion his smile flickered.Stretching an arm across the harper's shoulder, he wheeled him to face the door and then accompanied him out of the room and down to the warm kitchen to ask for a meal. It was ironic that the grip of terrible weather broke shortly afterwards, and milder weather not only improved those who had been stricken by the feverish cough but also allowed everyone's normal duties to be resumed.
Living in Tillek Hold was hard on Robinton for it was filled with memories: one moment he would think he saw Kasia, just turning that corridor; the next, he would hear the echo of her voice in the room.Still numb with his grief, he tried very hard to overcome it with work and just living.
He briefly roused when Minnarden and Melongel told him that they had proof now of Lord Faroguy's death."We asked for confirmation of Faroguy's well-being," Melongel said."Gave the inaccuracy of the last message as our excuse."
"The one that came back was nearly as badly drummed as the first, and all the Towers asked for several repeats to be sure they had heard it correctly before passing it along," Minnarden said.
Then he shook his head."Lobira never sent so badly formed a message.And Mallan was always good at drumming."
"So we sent…a friend." Melongel paused to nod significantly at Robinton."A runner who keeps his eyes and ears open in the course of his duties.His report has disturbed us all." By "all',
Robinton knew that Melongel meant the Lord Holders.
"Then is Farevene Lord Holder?"
"No." Melongel's tone was sharp."Farevene's dead.In a duel."
"With Fax?Then where's Bargen?”
Melongel shrugged."The runner heard nothing about him, and Lady Evelene is evidently grieving in her apartments.I hope that much is true."
"Then will there be a Council to confirm the new Lord Holder?" "A Council is convened at the request of the heir.The heir has not been heard from," Melongel said, his face mirroring anger and doubt.
"Then Fax is in control." Robinton stated that as a fact.An anger and a fear took a corner off his sorrow.He got to his feet to pace.
"That man's dangerous, Melongel.And he's not going to be satisfied with just High Reaches."
"Oh, come now, Rob," Melongel said."He has the Hold he coveted, yes.But that's large enough to satisfy anyone's ambitions."
"Not Fax's.And where are Lobira and Mallan?And Bargen!”
"Yes." Minnarden's voice was anxious."I worry about them."
"We should," Robinton said, still pacing, and smoothing the hair back from his face.He needed to have it trimmed again…Kasia had done it the last time…Quickly he seized on Fax's aggression as distraction."First he takes over the Holding from an uncle.He refuses to allow harpers to teach what every holder has the right to know.Then he "acquires" other holds, duelling the legitimate holders to death and ousting their families from their homes.You can't let him continue unopposed, Melongel."
"Lord Holders are autonomous within their property," Melongel said wearily, as if trying to convince himself.
"Not if they have taken illegal possession."
"That's not specified," Melongel said.
"It will seem," Minnarden began carefully, "as if silence confirms him in the position of Lord Holder of High Reaches."
"I know.I know.And you've sent my messages to the other Lord Holders," Melongel said testily."You know their response."
"They'll let Fax get away with this?" Robinton was indignant.
Couldn't they realize that they were taking an awful risk?"I'd guard my borders, brother."
Melongel shot him a hard look, then relaxed and gave a little smile."I have.So far all they've done is succour those fleeing Fax's new management.He's a hard man."
"And will the Lord Holders act?" Robinton demanded.
Melongel twisted his head slightly to indicate uncertainty, lifting his hands in helplessness."I cannot act on my own."
Robinton sighed, knowing that that would be foolish."Lord Grogellan would support you, especially since Groghe can endorse your word."
"Grogellan would, but I doubt I could get much support from old Lord Ashmichel at Ruatha Hold.His son, Kale, though…"
Melongel thoughtfully fingered his chin."Telgar's another matter, but his Hold borders High Reaches."
"Lord Tarathel's protective, and his foresters are very well trained," Minnarden ventured.
"Lord Raid is too far away to feel anxiety," said Robinton with a touch of asperity.
"I know that Master Gennell wants to know about Lobira and Mallan," Minnarden said, exchanging another glance with Melongel."If he isn't satisfied with the answers, he'll withdraw all harpers from the Hold."
Robinton snorted, still pacing."That would suit Fax perfectly.
No one to tell anyone in his Hold what their rights are." Then he paused."I know High Reaches Hold welclass="underline" how to get in and how to get out."
"Yes, and Fax knows your face," Minnarden said.
"He can't be everywhere," Robinton replied.
"You are far too valuable to be sent on that sort of a task," said Minnarden, his face set in denial.
"I've nothing to lose…" Robinton began.
"I have…brother," said Melongel.
"You've all to lose if you cross Fax," Minnarden said at the same time."Master Gennell has men who are versed in quiet investigations.
He has arranged all." His expression said clearly that that was that.
After Robinton left that meeting, he realized how he had shut himself away from what was happening around him.He fretted about Master Lobira, Lotricia and Mallan.And, considering what the fleeing women had told Chochol, he worried about pretty Sitta, Triana and Marcine.He was still worrying about their fates when he sought his bed, and it was a long time before he could get his mind to stop and let him sleep.
He completed his summer tour of the upper holds, although sometimes the folk, in expressing their sympathy for his loss, caused him more pain than they knew.Chochol's hold was enlarged by several tents, sheltering a contingent of armed men who patrolled the high ground.