Pern 07 - Dragon Harper by Anne McCaffrey

Author:Anne McCaffrey
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: ePub Bud (www.epubbud.com)
Published: 2011-10-15T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

Harper to your word be true Holder, cra er you also hew To honesty, integrity, and respect All others without regard to intellect.

BENDEN WEYR

T

he cold of between remained in Kindan’s bones as they burst out into the waning daylight of a Benden Weyr experiencing a midwinter freeze. The crest of the Weyr was snow-covered as were all the mountains in the distance.

The cold of between was also in the air they brought with them from the Harper Hall, the moisture frozen out into a rainbow of ice crystals that surrounded Gaminth and his riders un l they dropped through it when the bronze dragon dove steeply into the Weyr Bowl.

Gaminth landed de ly, but Kindan was s ll so numb physically and emo onally that he nearly fell from his perch on the dragon, slamming awkwardly against Vaxoram and managing to stay on the dragon’s back only with the help of Vaxoram’s steadying hand.

Mor fied, he swi ly clambered off the dragon. A er he helped Vaxoram down, he stood in to help Koriana only to be elbowed aside by the older harper.

“My job’s to serve you, and you’re likely to drop her,”

Vaxoram told him curtly.

Hurt, Kindan stood back and watched enviously as Vaxoram gently caught Koriana in his strong arms and lowered her to the Weyr Bowl.

“Come on, I’ll show you the Records room,” M’tal called as soon as he hopped down from his dragon. He led a brisk pace up two flights of stone stairs and turned right, leading through the first doorway. The room was stacked full of Records, with many more stacked awkwardly in dark alcoves.

Dim morning light from the Bowl shone in from a window cut in the far side of the room.

“Kindan,” M’tal ordered, “come with me and we’ll get some klah and glows.”

Out of breath, Kindan turned immediately and started to follow M’tal only to be stopped by Vaxoram, who said to the Weyrleader, “I am under vow to be with him at all times.”

M’tal pursed his lips, then nodded quickly. “Very well, you may come.” He glanced toward Koriana. “Will you get started?”

“Of course,” Koriana replied, her gaze reaching out to Kindan for a moment before she turned her head quickly away and began to search through the first stack of Records.

“By the Shell of Faranth!” M’tal swore to Kindan as they tro ed down the stairs toward the Weyr Bowl.

“What ever could you have been thinking of, Kindan?”

“I-”

“And you,” M’tal rounded on Vaxoram. “Didn’t you duel him for much the same reason?”

Before Vaxoram could respond, he con nued, “Don’t you know you can re-challenge him and win your honor?”

“He did nothing dishonorable,” Vaxoram declared hotly. “They were never out of my sight.”

Kindan looked at Vaxoram in surprise and then realized that the older harper had spoken the truth.

“ Then why-?” Kindan began ques oningly only to be cut off by M’tal who spoke with dawning

comprehension, “Forsworn, you could not provide witness to Lord Bemin.”

“Yes, my lord,” Vaxoram agreed, glancing apologetically to Kindan.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.