Anne Mccaffrey_ Dragonriders of Pern 20 by Dragon Harper Read Free Book Online Page A

they’re not respected in the Harper Hall.”
    “Then I must fight him,” Kindan declared. The Masterharper glanced at him quizzically. “Not just for Kelsa, or Nonala, but for Verilan and other people who bullies hate for their talents.”
    “Spoken like a true harper,” Murenny said approvingly. “But—”
    “What, Master?” Kindan asked, his tone verging on a challenge.
    “If you lose…”
    “I won’t lose,” Kindan declared.
    “If you kill him, it won’t be much better,” M’tal observed.
    Murenny nodded, saying in agreement, “That will only open the door for the next bully or retaliation.”
    “I won’t kill him,” Kindan said.
    “But he means to kill you,” M’tal said.
    Kindan let out a long, slow sigh and nodded. “I know.”
    “Vaxoram has demanded the earliest possible date,” the Masterharper said.
    “I would prefer that also.”
    Murenny nodded understandingly. “I have set the date for a sevenday after your wounds have healed.”
    “Thank you.”
    “He’s larger than you, heavier than you, and has the greater reach,” M’tal declared. Kindan turned to him and nodded bleakly. “What can I do to help?” the Weyrleader asked.
    “Take me to Mikal.” Mikal was a legend at the Harper Hall: the ex-dragonrider who had found himself a home in a natural cave in the hills beyond the Harper Hall, the man who could track anyone across bare rock, who used crystals and meditation to effect healing in ways that not even the Masterhealer fully understood. He was a better swordsman than Master Detallor, himself a master of the blade. When Kindan had last seen Mikal, the man had been at Master Aleesa’s camp, tending to the sick Whermaster.
    “When?” M’tal asked.
    “Now,” Kindan replied.
    “I’ve set Menengar and Detallor to keep an eye on Vaxoram,” Murenny said. “He’s been posted to the infirmary.”
    “What about Verilan?” Kindan asked, concerned.
    “He’s in the isolation room,” the Masterharper replied. “Vaxoram would have to get past the Masterhealer before he could harm him. And there are guards beyond that.”
    Kindan nodded but his fears were still not quite relieved. “Someone might try to harm Nonala and Kelsa.”
    For the first time since the interview started, Master Murenny smiled. “
They’re
Verilan’s guards.”
    “What about the fire-lizard eggs?” M’tal asked.
    “I will send them up to the Hold,” Murenny decided. “Most of them will go to Bemin and his folk.” He glanced at Kindan. “You should be able to get to a hatching in ample time.”
    “Better,” M’tal suggested, “assign him up there.” Kindan started to protest, but M’tal held up a hand. “For now.”
    “What about Mikal?”
    “When he’s ready, I’ll come for you,” M’tal promised.
    “Thank you, Weyrleader,” Kindan said, feeling honored.
    “I feel partly to blame,” M’tal said. “If I’d been a bit quicker, I would have heard him myself.”
    Kindan furrowed his brow in confusion.
    “And then he would have fought
me,
” M’tal explained.
    “But you’re a dragonrider!” Kindan exclaimed, appalled at the thought of Vaxoram striking the Weyrleader with a sword.
    “Which would have given me the right of weapons,” M’tal said with a grin. He held up his hands in a fighter’s style. “I wouldn’t have killed him, but he would feel it for the rest of his Turns.”
    Kindan grinned back at him, imagining the look of horror on Vaxoram’s face as he squared off against the older, stronger, taller, and fiercer dragonrider.

CHAPTER 3

    Be sparing with your wrath
Take not the angry path
Lest harsh words create harsh deeds
And fill your heart with bitter seeds.
    A LEESA’S W HERHOLD
    I hear you let your green go to a girl,” Master Aleesa said when Kindan and M’tal arrived at the wherhold two days later.
    “Yes, Master,” Kindan replied.
    “I hear she did good,” Aleesa added. “Flew
between
just like a proper dragonrider and saved her